Column plants the seed of a spring floral passion
I don’t know about you, but garden columns have a way of growing on me.
The Tribune’s garden columnist, Theresa Forte, has a knack for sowing words that have that kind of lasting impact.
Last week’s column about Niagara’s spectacular but largely little known and hence unappreciated greenhouse industry is but one example. I read it, then reread it probably a half-dozen times in the past few days.
As Forte wrote, as travellers we have seen some of these greenhouse operations while buzzing along the Queen Elizabeth Way in Lincoln, well at least spied them out of the corner of our eye, and not given them as much as a second thought.
But they deserve that second thought, and more.
The column brought back to mind a “coffee table” book about this industry, titled “Floral Passion.” It involved collaboration by Albert van der Mey (author), Welland-based master photographer Thies Bogner (photography) and the late John van Kooten (publisher).
I’m not going to comment on the book (published in 2004) other than to opine that Bogner’s photography, as to be expected, was lush and breathtaking. In my view it was enough on its own to merit acquiring a copy of the hardcover.
Forte’s column (and some of her recent others) helped reawaken floral passions of my own, dormant after an excruciatingly-long winter and stunted spring. It didn’t take long to realize my own green thumb needed working out, along with creaking bones and locked joints, signs of off-season inactivity.
We have many reminders of the return to gardening here in Canada’s Rose City.
Welland’s parks staff are out and about early in places like Chippawa Park and along Parkway Drive to name two examples, giving the city’s roses their spring maintenance. Over the years, I came to learn that if unsure about when this should be done in one’s own beds, following the example of the city’s gardeners is probably the most reliable signal one can count on.
And we have Welland’s always outstanding floral display beds, such as those at Prince Charles Drive at First Avenue, and Riverbank at Niagara Street to name two, to keep our peepers trained on. Right now these beds are flush with tulip displays (late though this is due to unseasonable weather that lingered) one of the eye-candy type of treats the parks department gardeners provide local residents season after season, year after year.
Stemming from this, soon it will be time for a distinctly Welland gardening treat: the free, used-tulip-bulb giveaway for which Welland has become noted.
Used bulbs will be distributed to Welland residents Wednesday, May 23, by city horticultural staff at Chippawa Park’s maintenance building between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., said Peter Boyce, the always co-operative manager of parks planning and maintenance.
Varieties, colours and quantities are limited and bulbs will be distributed on a first-come basis with a limit of two dozen bulbs per recipient. People should bring their own containers to take them home in.
“Absolutely no bulbs will be released before 8 a.m.,” Boyce said.
Coming up Saturday, May 19, is a red-letter date on the calendars of many local gardeners. It’s the day Welland Horticultural Society holds its popular plant sale at Niagara Regional Exhibition grounds, Building “B” from 9 a.m. to noon. Annuals, perennials, shrubs and more will be available for purchase and experienced gardeners will be on hand to answer questions from visitors.
Oh yes, just one more thing to mention.
I had a copy of “Floral Passion” in my collection of gardening publications but am saddened to report it as missing.
It was given on loan to someone several years back and for the life of me I can’t recall to whom. Maybe by planting the seed here in this space asking for its return, the book might one day soon find its way back to where my garden grows.