Wow! What a spring we are having with all the flooding in our province. Let us remember those Manitobans who may be losing everything as water continues to rise. We personally know of two families, one couple in their 70's who turned their old farmhouse into their retirement home, who now expect to lose their home, and another dear family who have a greenhouse operation, whose business is bursting with flowers and vegetable plants, ready for the season, who are unable to move anything - they will lose their home and their livelihood after months of intensive work and financial investment this winter getting their plants ready for sale. Flood insurance is not available to anyone. Oh, how we wish there was something we could do! We continue to pray for God's strength in them and for a mighty miracle that only He can do.
How grateful we are that although we are located between the Red River and the floodway, we have no concern for our home and business.
As the May long weekend approaches - which is the official planting weekend in Manitoba - the new plants are being picked up now because by the long weekend all the new stuff will be gone. There will still be many, many choices, but for those who like to try the new things, you'd better be picking up those things soon. Our stock of giant King Tut grass is very low as are some of the new hanging petunias.
What can you plant already? Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus, carnations, dracaena spikes. By planting these plants now, you can extend your summer by a whole month by having blooming flowers today that won't mind being nipped with frost. You don't have to cover them or move them if a frost warning comes because they can take -10C.
Also you can hang baskets and wallbags already. They are very easy to move if a frost warning occurs. We may only have 2-3 warnings where you'll have to move them but how nice to be able to extend your summer by having a beautiful basket hanging where you can see it from your window, or wallbags hanging from your garage lights where you can enjoy them every day.
Then in a few weeks, you can add geraniums, daisies, petunias and most of the other plants, leaving begonias and impatiens and fuschias till the last.
So, if you haven't already done so, get that BBQ out, put the cushions back on the deck furniture, plant a spike with a coupla packs of pansies in a tub nearby, hang a basket or two, add a few gorgeous wallbags and begin to enjoy what we've all been waiting for for so many months!
Remember, if you're buying soil to top up the grass or add to the beds, don't settle for anything less that the 4 part mix. It's the cake mix of soil, and is good for everything. We sell it too!
Someone said that rainy days are good for gardeners because it gives them a chance to do other things.
Hope all is well with all of you. Please send us your comments and tell your gardening friends about this blog.
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