14 - Friday, December 19, 1986 - North Shore News DURING MY years as the manager of a North Shore fall is all that would be required garden center, few plants produced frustration and con- sternation for both buyer and seller alike, as the Christmas Rose (helleborus niger). It is difficult to propagate com- mercially, relatively expensive, hard enough to transplant suc- - cessfully tet alone establish, takes forever to come into flower, and the massive demand greatly outstrips the almost non-existent supply. So what’s all the fuss? Why is there. such avid interest in such an uncooperative garden perennial? Well, although it seldom blooms in time for Christmas, it can be a welcome sight in the drab months of January through March. It is strikingly elegant as a cut flower and can he extremely long lasting when the stem end is seared or dipped in boiling water. over the garden gate by Geoff Tobiasson These handsome, evergreen plants have leathery, dark green leaves with seven to nine lobes. The flowers are white with a gold- en eye, saucer-shaped, and about two inches in diameter. They ap- pear atop leafless stems about 12 to 18 inches from the ground. But I think the best reason I’ve ever heard concerning the justification for raising these and other cantankerous: plants is the one given me by an equally can- tankerous yet amiable North Shore gardener of some repute: “‘If it's common (easy) it’s not worth hav- ing’’. Now that I’ve made it sound as though it would be more trouble than worth, let me give you a few tips which if followed should make you successful. First, do not try to divide and transplant a mature clump as this will probably lead to a decline. It is better to move younger garden seedlings or newly purchased starters and wait it.out while they become established and begin to bloom (usually one to three years, depending on size), rather than run the risk of losing a productive specimen. The optimum period for transplanting is the month of Oc- tober and, as nursery grown plants usnally become available in April/May, newly acquired plants should be kept in their containers in a bright, shady location and watered frequently enough to keep the roots moist but not wet. These plants prefer these bright, -but- shaded. locations such .as: on: - the north or east side of fences or walls, or under high-branching trees with non-competitive roots. Here, on the North Shore, our cool, moist, coastal air permits us to give them more sun than could be tolerated in interior climates, but be careful not to over do it. Try to avoid locations which are susceptible to harsh, dry winter winds or, if unavoidable, mulch when the weather is raw. Deep, well-drained but moist soils will provide the cool root run these plants prefer. The addition of a light layer of compost and a small nandful of bonemeal in the for feeding, although a little 6-8-6 in March would do no harm. Mass plantings of five or more plants spaced 18 inches apart create the best effect. Combine with rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris, skimmia, etc. as a foreground planting or with cam- panula, vinca, ajuga, cyclamen as a background. Propagation is best achieved by sowing ripe seed in June or July, in a sterile, slightly sandy medium. Keep them in trays in a cold frame over the first winter and plant them out the following October. If you are attempting any divisions, do it in October and be careful with the brittle root structure. There are approximately 20 species of Helleborus genus. DUXURY RENOVATIONS BAT, HROOMS and KITCHENS ——= — Estimaies 987-3055 - formerly © Luxury Marble Showroom 153 W. 3rd if you want-to snow your appreciation to the boy or git who delivers your commt do it in:;December. A tip at Chris make théir day. If you want to find:out-your.car- rier’s nam please call Circulation:Department. 986-1337 1139 Lonsdale, North Vancouver Well I’m off for the holidays and won’t be back until the new year. I'll therefore take this oppor- tunity to say thank you and wish you and yours (including the gardens) a very merry Chicistmas AXLPINE TREE SERVICE LTD. Professional Tree Care 2) National Arborist Association ¢ Pruning ¢ Trimming © Shaping * Failing ° Spraying e Planting « Danger Tree Removais * Cabling & Bracing ¢ Diagnosis Gary Kincald, Brian Fishes, Duncan Isberg, Richard Maingst Brad Madden, Joeft Schorer 985-3022 CANADIAN SR. CLOSET SHOPS and a happy New Year. Please send any questions you may have to the North Shore News, attention Over The Garden Gate, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, V7M 2H4. DECEMBER SPECIALI! DANGEROUS TREES — TAKE DOWN SAFELY OR REDUCE BOOK NOW! SAVE $9500 UNDER CABINET | PULL-DOWNS Spice rack or knife rack that fold up out of view. COAT HANGERS 14 vibrant colours (Reg. 35¢ ea.) Wire basket storage i system with butcher block § top is ideal for kitchen, kids room, bathroom... 00] 986-4263