46 - Friday, August 23, 1991 —- North Shore News HOME & GARDEN Garden council answers questions THE FOLLOWING are questions addressed to the Canadian Garden Council by gardeners Canada- wide. Mrs. J.1. Dumas of Peter- borough, Ontario, writes asking for clarification. She says she “recently saw references to the correct planting time for (her- baceous perennial) irises as being the autumn."* She had previously understood it to be mid-summer. She goes on to say she **would like to buy some new varieties, in- cluding some whose flowers are black or almost black. I also need to transplant my existing clumps. When is the proper time?” The Canadian Garden Council explains that Mrs. Dumas is cor- rect, the ideal planting time for all iris is just after they finish their blooming in late spring/early summer. However, many garden centres now sell iris potted, mean- ing they can be planted at any time, including when they are in full bloom. If transplanting older clumps (which generally needs to be done about every three to five years after the initial planting) the best time to do this is right after the spring blooming. Dig each clump up using a garden fork, then use a sharp knife to cut the rhizomes (fleshy roots) into segments. each containing one fan-shaped section of foliage. Plant iris so the top of the thizomes are at the surface level of the soil if your soil is clay; not more than 4-5 cin below the sur- face if your garden is a sandy soil. Fertilize with a low nitrogen gen- eral garden fertilizer (eg. 5-10-15 or 5-20-20) and water well im- mediately after planting. Remove all leaves showing any browning, and burn or place in the garbage all pieces of rhizome which are at all soft or mushy. Only firm rhizomes should be planted. Many iris growers shorten the fans of foliage back by one-half after replanting, but most profes- sional growers now agree this is not necessary. In any case, no clipping of the foliage should be undertaken of established iris; just remove the flower stalks once the bloom turns brown. Iris of a black, or predominant- ly deep purple color, are fairly numerous. No grower or garden centre will have all varieties. You UBC Botanical Garden holds Dried Stem sale THE FRIENDS of the UBC Botanical Garden are holding a first-ever Dried Stem Sale on Sunday, Aug. 25 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the UBC Botanical Garden Reception and Education Centre at 6804 Marine Drive. There will also be demonstra- tions of dried flower arranging at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Flower arrang- ing supplies will be available for sale in the shop in the garden. The majority of the flowers have been grown and dried by the Friends of the Garden. August 25 is also the final tour of the summer to be led by David Tarrant, host of the “Canadian Gardener’ and educational co- ordinator for the Botanical Garden. The tour will begin at 10 a.m. and will be approximately 1% hours long. Tours begin at the gate house and reception area of the garden, at 6804 Marine Drive. For more information call 228- 3928. should look for: Night) Owl, Titan's Glory or Swazi Princess. Odette Allain of Buctouche, New Brunswick, has written ask- ing for ‘tany information I could get.’ She asks specifically about “perennials, evergreens, flowering shrubs and trees.”’ The Canadian Garden Council replies that since Mrs. Allain is new to gardening, the best route for her, and others like her, is to obtain a good general gardening K. CARDS. © BELOW-JHE SELT +. BAINS:TRA' re = LUGARO JEWELLERS: ©" JHRIFIY'S: *COTTON: GINRY. ° WATERCOLORS *. IRENE:Hili’*: AU COTON '« RERR'S- KEYS’ «-RADIO SHACK: ¥ JULIA” SHOES-* SHOPPERS DRUG MAG é There are several books, now out of print, which may be avail- able in libraries. A good general book was ‘‘Chatelaine’s Garden- ing Book"? by Lois Wilson; one on perennials, ‘Canadian Garden Perennials’’ by Arthur R. Buckiey: and on evergreens and sheubs, ‘tOrnamental Shrubs for Canada"’ by Lawrence C. Sherk and the same Mr. Buckley. The latter two were originally publish- ed by Agriculture Canada, and many libraries may have copies. woo DLINES Custom Built Furniture for Your Special Needs Clear Red Oak * Desks * Book Cases ¢ Computer Furniture * Home or office AVAILABLE AT: CANADIAN CLOSET ‘A farmly owned business since 1984” 1385 Crown St.N. van. 986-4263 SHOWROOM OPEN MON.—-SAT. 9-5 1208'S CINNAMON BUNS 5 | surplus BASKIN ROBINS « MEGABITES + ATHENA: CAPILANOMALL SAT. 9:30-5:30, SUN. NOON-5. 935 MARINE DRIVE., (NEXT TO DAVE BUCK FORD) NORTH VANCOUVER. MON.-WED. 10-5:30, THURS, & FRI. 10-9, WQANOGIU +-35/10H AWad/d YH V SiAQVT.« SHAINN 40 ISNOH's SAGL RVLSIIHD: SHH’ “‘FlOS.« S308. BaAW © SYALAVEOSNAT: « OINITO VIN WON > CAA AONVE + STIOOIO 9 STIUERIOS «SHANKS « SHOVE © 18OsHIOD