EVEN THOUGH ‘‘perennial favorites’? is a trite phrase,
the use of perennials is still not commonplace in our

gardens.

The average gardener still
spends too much money on an-
nuals and bedding plants, or even
worse, on truckloads of bark
mulch.

Do not get me wrong, annuals
have their place. It is a small, lo-
calized, high-profile area where a
splash of color will get the atten-
tion it deserves. Even bark has its
place; it may not be in the garden,
but I am sure there is a spot out
there for it somewhere.

‘Things are improving, however.
An increasing number of home-
owners view gardening .as a
therapeutic pastime, rather than
an extended version of homework.
Combine this with the fact that
the cottage garden is again in
vogue and it is easy to imagine
perennial favorites in gardens.

The Astilbe is one of my
favorite perennials.

In our coastal areas, they can
leok as good in shade as they do
in the sun, but filtered shade is
best. They are strong, hardy
plants that produce mounds -of
deeply divided foliage in various
sharies of green and bronze. The
saw-toothed edges of the leaves
have a distinctive fern-like ap-
pearance that makes a major con-
tribution to the shade garden
when mixed in. with other’ plants
such as hostas, primulas, ferns,
bergenia and others.

Perennial favorites

Geoff
Tobiasson

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

The foliage is great, but the
light, delicate plumes of red, white
or pink flowers held well above
the foliage are the most notable
feature of the astiibe.. They can
appear as early as the first weeks
of May and last well into August.

This plant is a must for the cut-
ting garden.

Astilbes do not like drought.
We often see them planted under
the boughs of huge evergreens
where the soil is far too dry. |
believe this to be the main reason
for the relative scarcity of this
great perennial. ;

Quiz

Enter to win a pair of
season’s tickets to the
‘B.C. Lions

It's easy — simply answer the trivia question
and have the entry into the North Shore
News by Monday June 29, 12 noon.

A winner with the correct answer will be
randomly drawn and notified by phone.

What was the last year in which the
B.C. Lions won the Grey Cup?

Name _
Phone :

To VOCE U8 MOTH ANO WEST WANCOUVER
we rag

Evenings

If you had the chance to see
them flourishing in their preferred
locations of moist soils and
filtered shade, they would already
be happily at home in your
garden.

In order to get the most from
the astilbe, prepare the area to be
planted with a humus-rich topsoil.
Highly organic soils such as these
will hold moisture for longer
periods of time. If the soil on site
can be worked, try cultivating in a
good portion of compost or
mushroom manure. Plant them 12
to 16 inches apart to achieve the
best effects.

The addition of bonemeal is an

Phenomenal

ARE YOU into lepidopterology
this summer? The mild winter
and early spring have had sev-
eral interesting effects on local
gardens: one is that this will be
a phenomenal year for but-
terflies.”

Native species which usually
breed just once will probably
breed two or three times in this
year’s ideal conditions, so we
are all likely to .see many
swallowtails and other varieties

in our gardens in the next few -

excellent method of promoting
speedy root development and an
abundant flower display. Water
them well throughout the growing
season as cool, damp roots are a
must for peak performance.

Divide the clumps every fourth
or fifth year and replant in topsoil
freshly supplied with copious
quantities of compost and
bonemeal. Further topdressing
with bonemeal and compost every
fail will assure the ‘right growing
conditions for the maximum
displays of healthy flowers and
foliage.

Weevils can be a problem, but
good garden sanitation should go

‘include astilbe

orth Shore News - 47

a long way towards keeping the
population down. Make sure you
remove as many of the needles
and dead leaves as you can from
around the area. Weevils do not
like moist soils; it is therefore
doubly important that you water
on a regular basis.

Some suggested varieties would
“Fanal” and a.
“Fire’’ for red plumes, a. “Bress-
ingham Beauty’’, .a. ‘‘Federsee’’
and a. *‘Colonge’’ for pink and a.
*“Deutschland’* as white. Mass
plantings of astilbe ‘‘Sprite’’ can
make an exceptional groundcover
in shady areas.

year for butterflies predicted

months.

Those who would like to
find out about the different
species — where they feed,
breed, fly and die — can come
and learn from enthusiast
Richard Beard at Lynn Valley
Library on Wednesday, July 8
at p.m.

Dr. Beard has hada love-
affair with butterflies for most
of his life, but has recently
become involved in a breeding
project for B.C, species. His il-

lustrated talk will cover the
life-cycle of butterflies, and the
creation of gardens to attract
those native to B.C.

.He will also give suggestions
for the preservation of species
which may be decimated by
mass spraying programs.

The talk will appeal to
nature lovers of all ages. There
is no charge, but participants
are asked to come in good time
as seating is limited. For more
information, call 984-0286.

1139 Lonsdale Ave.
North Vancouver
B.C. V7M 2H4

SUNDAY + WEDEROAY - FRIDAY