HOME & GARDEN Colorful allium easy to grow MANY OF the people to- day who take garlic pills as a way of maintaining good health may not realize it, but they are carrying on a tradition that dates back to the most ancient days of agriculture. Historical evidence shows that the onion has been cultivated for almost 10,000 years by the Chal- deans in Persia, and later by the Greeks and Italians. In the middle ages garlic was considered to be an_ effective remedy for leprosy; lepers some- times were known as garlic peelers. In fact, garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the Allium genus of the lily family (Liliaceae). In addition to the edi- ble ones, there are many grown simply for their lovely flowers. From the aptly named giant, Allium giganteum, to the tiny Allium oreophilum, allium tend to bloom either late in spring or ear- ly in summer. Alliums are growing in popu- larity as garden flowers, thanks to their dramatic appearance — globular flower clusters atop tall, leafless stems — and _ attractive colors. In addition, the allium’s ability to retain these shades of blue, white, yellow and pink as dried flowers also makes them popular with many people. These bulb flowers suffer little from garden pests and have vir- tually no special soil or location tequirements, enjoying both sun and light shade. This makes them as well-liked by the novice as the experienced gardener. Plant them in the fall, !0 to 12 centimetres, or even deeper for the larger allium, such as A. giganteum. As for bulbs generally, © dig them in at least twice as deep as the height of the bulb. If in doubt, it’s better to go too deep, rather than too shallow. Virtually any well-drained soil will do, although a sandy com- position is usually best. Make sure it’s not too rich, and water regu- larly during the growing period. Allium. require little or no feeding. Allium range in height from a half-metre to nearly two metres. The following is a list of the most readily available cultivars: Allium giganteum, the tallest at 170 cm (approx. 5% ft.) bearing * Ask about our spedal buitder’s "251 2390:Ea oe £s Photo submitted ALLIUM GIGANTEUM - This flower’s name means ‘‘the giant’’ and rightly so, since it stands 170 cm. (5% feet) high. Like most other alliums, this one blooms in late spring or early summer, bridging the gap between spring and summer flowers nicely. huge, bright blue flower clusters, about 10 to 12 cm in diameter, and strap-like foliage; A. aflatunense is very similar but only half the height (i.e. 90 cm, approx. 3 ft.), with purple flower clusters; A. sphaerocephalon (commonly called ‘drumsticks’), 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in.); naturalizes well in lightly shaded wooded areas and biooms reddish-purple; A. caeruleum, about the same height, with dense flower clusters a half-centimetre wide in bright blue; A. christophii (a.k.a. A. albopilosum), called **Star of Per- sia’, also about 50 cm (20 in.), whose silvery-purple flowers are 15 to 25 centimetres wide; A. roseum, again approx. 40 cm (16 in.) which bears soft rose- colored umbels about nine cen- timetres wide. The smaller alliums include sev- eral suitable for the rock garden; such as: A, neopolitanum, 30 to 45 cm, (12 to 18 in.), sweet, white flowers in loose clusters; A. karataviense, 20 cm (8 in.), which bears lilac to pink flowers, and A. moly, 25 to 35 cm (9 to 14 in.) is often called the lily leek. THE BRASS & PINE STORE EXTRAORDINAIRE The Best in Brass | The Most in Pine | 420 Richards 669-8024 Friday, May 15, 1992 — North Shore News - 24 First Night seeks proposals FIRST NIGHT is seeking per- formers for this New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts. Proposals are being sought from performers of da theatre, music, mime, pu Hing, poetry, film, isual, plus inter- y and wearable and AN INNOVATIVE SPLASH IN THE POOL COMMUNITY performance art. Special consideration is given to submissions that incorperate children’s, multi-cultural or environmental themes. Deadline for proposals — is June 30, 1992. Mail to: Suite 215, 900 W. Georgia St., Van- couver, V6C 2W6. Barbacoa's Specialized Maintenance Programs are designed to meet individual needs by providing more reliable, efficient and warranted service. Fully qualified to handle all aspects of your swimming poot and equipment. For this busy poo! season... Call Barbacoa. 246 E. 4th St. North Van. V7L 1H9 986-21 66 Gute Paving Stones & A) on direct delivery : ‘rom PD ¢ a ft. | : Great Prices on all iv other gardening products | i vast selection 1