HELEN CHESNUT,
Crocuses, snowdrops, dwarf irises pop up
Happily, moderate weather in recent weeks has awakened gardens on the Island. Crocuses, snowdrops, winter aconite (Eranthis) and dwarf irises have painted patches of colour onto the landscape, fresh perennial growth is nudging through the soil surface and over-wintered greens are filling out with fresh, juicy foliage.
My mizuna planting is especially gratifying. Its lacy leaves add ornamental value and a zesty tang to spring salads.
A puzzling six-plant row of Aspabroc, transplanted into the garden in early summer, once again is loaded with little broccoli florets.
This has been a highly unusual, entirely unexpected result, to have a summer minibroccoli planting produce wave after wave of florets from late August through late winter. I wonder how much longer this marathon can continue.
The wakening of the garden and the sense, hopefully accurate, that the active growing season might begin early this year, has me thinking about some of last summer’s outstanding delights, as I anticipate their recurrence this year.
Kiftsgate. As I empty some of the compost enclosures and spread the “finished” product over the plots to be planted first, I remember how, early last summer, the composting area was transformed into a charming scene when long canes of a neighour’s ‘Kiftsgate’ rose rambled over the fence to hover over the enclosures and create an impressive cascade of small, creamy white flowers.
Directly beneath the massive floral display in one of the enclosures, a young zucchini transplant was taking hold and growing nicely in a partly finished compost heap that I’d topped with good garden soil prior to transplanting.
Jenny and Neville, owners of the rose, have several of these enthusiastic ramblers in their garden.
Kiftsgate has significant nostalgic appeal, especially for gardeners from England, where the rose is a popular plant for growing into trees.
I’m more than pleased to enjoy Kiftsgate’s yearly show of bloom across the fence and certainly don’t mind some of the bounty spilling over into my garden.
Salade niçoise. One of the most memorable, satisfying and fun-to-make meals last summer was a “niçoise” style salad that I concocted by retrieving an old memory of the first such salad I ever ate — on my first stay in Nice during my early travelling years.
I still can recall gazing down at the plate and thinking how appetizing it looked. My approximate duplication of the colourful salad involved arranging on a plate lightly steamed green beans and potato pieces, a few chunks of solid tuna, greens and finely sliced sweet onion, hard boiled egg, and fresh tomato, all drizzled over with a slightly creamy, tangy dressing.
For the dressing, I used olive oil, apple cider vinegar, creamy Dijon mustard and garlic grated into mush on a “rasp” from Lee Valley Tools. A small spoonful of yogurt or sour cream adds extra creaminess if that is desired.
For added colour and flavour diversity, I used garden potatoes with both white and red flesh. The red-fleshed one is AmaRosa, an elongated oval potato that produces well in my garden.
It has a really delicious, true potato flavour, especially when halved lengthwise, drizzled with oil, dusted with freshly grated salt, and roasted.
I use an oil (grapeseed) with a neutral taste to allow the full potato flavour to shine, unmasked.
AmaRosa seed potatoes are available at some garden centres in early spring.
Garden Events
Sundays at Milner Gardens. Milner Gardens and Woodland, 2179 West Island Highway in Qualicum Beach, has opened the gardens for “Spring Sundays” through March 25, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the last entry at 3. Come and enjoy the early spring bulbs in this garden oasis and ancient forest by the sea. The tea room will open at 11 for tea, soups and scones with the last seating at 3. Admission: Adults $6, youth $4. Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult, Milner Gardens members, and current Vancouver Island University students with identity care are admitted at no charge. www2.viu.ca/MilnerGardens/ 250-752-6153.