gilthingles: GARDEN PLANTS, HERBS, PESTS

GARDEN PLANTS, HERBS, PESTS

A seed is both an end and a beginning.

A garden is a friend you can visit any time.

Everything you give to the world will come back to you threefold.

Every person, everywhere in the world, should plant six native trees, one a year for six consecutive years, to help combat climate change.

The more gardens we plant, the healthier we and the Earth will be.

Plants native to the land you live on are the best choices for a garden.

My lawn hasn't been sprayed, so I thought I had a head start on a "mixed" lawn of grass and "native plants." An expert from York University corrected me, saying my dandelions and white clover are not actually "native" and are not the best plants for helping endangered pollinators. But I think it's better having these "weeds" in the lawn than just grass. Bees love the dandelions and clover.

I scattered red clover seed in the bare spots of my lawn and bumblebees loved the pink flowers. A plain green lawn is what we've been trained to think of as ideal by pesticide and herbicide providers, but it is not.

Pollinators need patches of meadow in the urban landscape with plants like milkweed, goldenrod, buttercups, monarda (bee balm) and echinacea (coneflowers.) Set aside at least one sunny patch of garden for them.

If a "weed" starts growing in your garden, do some research before pulling them. It could be a beneficial native plant to save, or an invasive garden plant you should pull.

Young dandelion leaves from the lawn can be picked, washed and added to a salad. But maybe not if your lawn is next to a busy road.

Clover flowers can be used to make tea.

Purslane is high in heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

But only pick and eat wild plants that you absolutely know are safe.

My mother was told that a poultice made from an invasive "weed" called Creeping Charlie, can ease the pain of arthritis. There is a lot of this in my lawn and hers and we have spent a lot of time on our knees ripping it out. Maybe Creeping Charlie is both the cause and cure of knee pain? Some say what you need will grow.

If you have enough time, help and money, you can grow the garden you've dreamed about.

Achillea (see "Yarrow")

Agave

Here in the north, you can plant agave (a spiky plant) in pots with softer-looking trailing plants around it. Some people mix agave nectar with tequila in summer drinks.

Aloe

A really helpful plant, the gel inside aloe leaves soothes burns and moisturizes skin.

Fine in indirect light. Aloe thrives anywhere near a window indoors.

Outside in the summer, aloe will turn pale in the sun and yellow if you water it too much. My houseplant aloes don't seem to like being moved outside into the sun.

Aloe gel can be added to smoothies but the gel from my indoor aloe plants tastes bitter.

Aloe Mask: Its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties are calming, softening and plumping. Mix milk and sugar and then stir in aloe vera to make a mask, then apply to a clean face and let sit 15-20 minutes before removing with warm water.

1/2 Tbsp almond milk
1 Tbsp sugar (brown or white)
4 Tbsp aloe vera juice or gel

Aphids: Garden Pest

Small green garden pests that suck sap and excrete the excess as a sticky residue which falls on leaves and creates mould and damages emerging shoots and leaves. The fungus-filled "honeydew" residue falls on cars and discolours the paint.

Aphids can spread viruses between roses, lilies and tulips.

Beneficial insects that eat aphids are the hoverfly and the ladybug.

You can pick aphids off plants by hand and drop them in a bucket of soapy water.

Spray plants with a soft soap (not detergent) solution to keep aphids away. Insecticidal soap is made for this.

Aphids don't like chives, so plant chives on the border of your vegetable garden.

Nasturtiums attract aphids so plant them as a sacrificial plant near vegetables you want to keep aphid-free, like broccoli.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
High in potassium, eat this (as well as bananas) if you have rheumatism.

You don't need to avoid asparagus if you have gout.

Barley

Scatter outside the door or on the floor to keep evil away.

Drinking a cup of barley water a day may bring love, or weight loss, or have other health benefits.

Poultices of barley and onions draw out infection.

Basil

An annual herb to grow where you can keep the soil moist.

Don't cut basil until you see it flower, then count three main stems up from the ground and harvest above this point. If you harvest this way the plant will keep growing all summer as long as you don't let it dry out and wait for it to flower again.

Bay Leaves

Always add bay leaf to a pot of boiling chicken for flavour.

Write a wish on a leaf of bay, burn the leaf for the wish to come true that day. The smoke takes your wish out into the universe.

A bay laurel plant in the house is protective.

Bay leaves sewn into a dream pillow aid sleep and may bring prophetic dreams.

Beans

Autumn Leaves

Catch twelve leaves falling from a tree before they hit the ground.

Each one you catch foretells a month of health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Have fun trying to catch leaves!

Mulch fallen leaves on your lawn with your lawn mower.

Leave the shredded leaves on the grass to fertilize the lawn.

Earthworms will pull mulched leaves down into the soil for you.

Elsewhere, rake fallen leaves into a pile and place in an old garbage can.

Shred with a string trimmer to mulch.

Put the shredded leaves in your garden or compost bin.

Mulched leaves protect perennials over the winter, provide food for worms, and improve the soil. Soil without worms or insects is poor soil.

Whole leaves can be raked onto the garden and left over the winter and small leaves like those of the honey locust will break down themselves.

Deep masses of large leaves buried under snow may not break down, can turn slimy, and may have to be raked out and discarded in the spring, so mulch them if you can. If not, leave them on your garden anyway to protect small animals and helpful insects during the winter. Don't clean up until you've had at least 10 straight days of temperatures 10 degrees above zero C.

American Basswood Tree (Linden)

"The greatest nectar-producing tree on earth," important to pollinators like bees.

Threatened in North America by the invasive gypsy moth caterpillar.
If gypsy moths are killing the tree, experts spray with BTK in early May.

I have never sprayed but have tried to help the Linden tree on our boulevard survive by picking off the caterpillars every day and dropping them in a pail of soapy water. Wear gloves if you do this because the caterpillars' surfaces have little hooks that can stick in your skin and irritate. Wear a mask too so you don't inhale any hooks. Don't let children play with these caterpillars!

Water the tree deeply. Give a deep-root watering around the treeline in the fall, and at least a full pail of water a week in hot summers.

Anise

Mildly licorice-tasting.

Simmer anise, rosemary, honey and cloves in water for a pleasant drink that can be a love potion if you both want it to be.

Anise-Hyssop

Easy-to-grow perennial flower producing a sweet licorice scent all summer, into early fall.

Long-lasting flowers.

Plant in sun.

Azalea

Okay in part-shade but will struggle in deeper shade as trees planted nearby grow taller. Two of my three azaleas have withered away over time as the trees have grown.

Likes acidic soil.

Back Door Plantings:

Grow often-used kitchen herbs near the back door: basil, thyme, rosemary, sage.

Plant lavender here in a sunny spot for its pretty flowers and scent.

Balcony or Deck Gardening

A large potted tree with branches hanging over a balcony railing might attract songbirds to perch.
A flowering oleander could trail over a railing. But oleander is poisonous so take care.
Water damages wooden deck surfaces and rusts iron railings so be mindful where you place plants and always put a saucer beneath them on a deck.
Colourful flowering plants and vegetables will attract birds and pollinators. Try hibiscus, mandevilla and zinnia. Hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers and will visit scarlet runner beans, though they prefer larger blooms. If you don't want bees and hummingbirds visiting an outdoor eating area, don't plant colourful annuals here.
Hang a fake wasp nest to deter wasps from building homes next to your deck or house. They are territorial.
If you're outside mostly in the early evening, plant moonflower (Ipomoea noctiflora) in a big pot with a trellis, the white flowers will open at dusk and be visible in the dark. Since white reflects light, an all-white flower garden is nice for people who can only enjoy their garden in the evenings, though white flowers aren't best for pollinators, especially in the city where pollinators need more help. White cut flowers are beautiful in any decor setting, but buying only white flowers encourages commercial gardens to grow them, again not helping pollinators.
Birds love the berries of the mulberry bush. Its berries can stain hard surfaces so this is not the best choice for a concrete balcony, patio, stone or cement pathway, or beside a driveway. Plant them in a grassy space where staining would not be an issue. If you have a country cottage or property, plant mulberry, serviceberry and nut trees for the good of the planet.

Banishing

Vines banish their host tree by twining up them counter-clockwise, eventually strangling the host plant.
If you need a dinner guest to leave promptly, stir the food counter-clockwise as you prepare it.
Pull weeds by digging out the root completely if you wish to banish them. Pulling at the leaves, flowers and stems will often make the roots stronger and encourage new growth.
Scatter barley by the door to keep evil away.

Basil

Plant basil in the north area of your yard or home for prosperity.
Basil is a natural anti-inflammatory so cook with basil if you have inflammation problems.
Do not eat a lot of basil in the early stages of pregnancy.
Tender, basil doesn't tolerate too much sun or shade or water, but it does need consistent moisture, so that means regular watering in addition to sunshine and some organic fertilizer to perform well. Do not plant basil with nasturtiums or other herbs that prefer sandy soil and like to dry out.
Plant basil in its own pot, or with Tarragon. It, like basil, needs more water than some other herbs that prefer drier conditions.
To harvest basil seed, allow the plant to flower. Remove spent flowers when dry. Place in a fine sieve, rub gently over a white bowl until the tiny black seeds are dislodged and fall inside.

Bee Balm / Bergamot (Monarda)

Flowers late summer/ fall, blooms have a light sweet scent.
Use in bouquets.
Easy to grow in moist, fertile soil. Will grow in heavy clay, but needs the sun. Mine died out in part-shade.
Red or magenta flowers attract pollinators.
Clumps get bigger each year in a sunny garden.

Black-Eyed Susan

A perennial to plant in the spring. Tolerates poor soil and doesn't need much organic fertilizer.
Water it in the first year, after that it is usually drought hardy.
Yellow flowers are appreciated by pollinators.
Non-toxic to people and pets but some people experience rashes and asthma from exposure to it.

Black Locust

Do not plant. In the wild, this plant out-competes at-risk tree species like oak, beech, maple and aspen. Like a fern when young, it grows into a woody tree with sharp spines on the branches. Its white flowers make pea-like seed pods. Cut down the tree then smother any remaining new growth (suckers).

Blazing Star or Gayfeather (Liatris)

A native plant with round, purple flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

Looks nice with native grasses.

Blue

Blue flowers, fabric, thread, beads are protective.

Embroider in blue thread on a baby blanket and the hem of your slip.

Looking at the colour blue will temporarily raise your IQ in a testing situation, so wear blue on a test day.

My grandmother who endured the invasions of three armies over her lifetime, sewed hidden pockets inside her clothes to hide a little money and important papers; you can do this with blue thread.

Boxwood

A deciduous evergreen that you can shape with hedge trimmers to line a path, trim into a sculpture, or let grow naturally into its own form. Has tiny flowers and a sometimes peculiar scent that attracts pollinators but to me can smell like pee.
Boxwood is being attacked in North America by an invasive non-native moth. Boxwood plants that are not sprayed may die out. If you want to avoid using pesticides in your garden don't plant boxwood. I did not spray mine and had to cut the diseased bushes down.
Boxwood can suffer from moisture loss in the winter and I've read they can be sprayed with a pine resin wax in late fall called Wilt Pruf, to keep moisture loss at a minimum.

Boulevard Garden

A city curbside "hell strip" garden, planted on city property, might be allowed as long as the garden is maintained and visibility for drivers and pedestrians isn't obstructed.
Plantings should not exceed 16 to 25 cm in height. Soil level should be at or below the level of a sidewalk to allow water to run-off pavement. Add flagstone or mulched paths to allow people to walk through and across the garden, especially if planted next to a curb and parking area or if trash cans need to be placed here for garbage collection.
Suggested plants: creeping thyme, native perennials, sedum, lower-growing yarrow that can be mowed at summer's end like King Edward, or A. ageratifolia.

Bulbs

Plant bulbs in higher, sunny, well-drained areas. Bulbs planted in areas where water sits and the soil is constantly damp are likely to rot or quickly deteriorate. Plant bulbs in an area that stays wet in the winter and you likely won't see flowers in the spring.
Most flowers that grow from bulbs need 5-6 sunny hours daily. Early spring-flowering bulb can be planted under trees because they'll get the sun since the trees haven't formed their leaves yet. That's why you can plant small, early-blooming bulbs like snowdrops anywhere.
Plant root end down. The pointed end is usually the top.
See the instructions on the package for planting depth.
Plant early in fall rather than late so bulbs can get established and grow some roots, but it's better to plant them late than not at all. Ottawa tulip growers say you can plant a tulip bulb even after it snows, as long as you can get your spade into the ground.
Don't get excited by sale bulbs and then leave them languishing in the garage unplanted. Better to stick them in a pot of dirt in a cold place and take your chances.
Mix a little bone meal into the soil at the bottom of the hole to feed the bulb when planting in fall.
Deter skunks and squirrels from eating tulip bulbs by mixing blood meal with the soil that covers the bulb and cover the soil with mulch. Sprinkle some dried chilli pepper around too, repeat pepper application after a rain.
In very early spring, when the garden is still covered in light snow, lightly scatter bone meal on top of the snow and the melting snow will carry this organic fertilizer into the soil to strengthen the plants in spring.

Butterfly Bush

Flowers August through fall. Remove spent blossoms for more blooms.
Attracts butterflies.
Plant a non-invasive hybrid variety, in sun or partial sun.

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

A healing flower. Contains the skin-soothing antioxidant carotenoid.
Sow from seed in early June for flowers in 6-8 weeks.
Cut the stem deeply at first to encourage more flowers.
Grows 20-30 cm tall.

Calendula (Marigold) Salve

A skin balm; may promote healing of wounds,calm inflammation, reduce redness.

1 cup coconut oil
2 cups dried organic calendula petals
1 piece muslin
1 sterilized glass jar

Gently heat coconut oil in the top of a double boiled until liquified.
Add calendula petals, stir to submerge.
Cover and simmer over low heat until the mixture turns orange (up to 6 hours).
Prepare the glass jar: follow instructions for sterilizing jars for canning or preserving.
Strain the oil through the muslin into the prepared glass jar.
Seal the jar tightly and store in a cool, dry spot.

Calm/Peace

Drink teas of organic chamomile, clary sage, marjoram, mint, or lemon balm.
Wear turquoise jewelry or amber beads. Real amber beads are sometimes used (under close supervision) as teething aids.
Take a deep breath before saying anything when you are upset. Breathe out slowly. Do this three times. Teach your children to do this too.

Carrot

To harvest carrot seed, leave the carrot in the ground all winter. In the spring, when the plant flowers, allow it to go to seed. Remove the seeds when dry. Plant where you want new carrots.
My children left carrots on the lawn for a wild "lawn bunny" but it didn't eat them. Rabbits actually like the green, leafy tops of carrots so if yours gets eaten, you might need to buy a packet of seeds.

Catmint

Easy to grow, attracts pollinators, a perennial that blooms early in summer.
Plant any time. Plant in a pot if you don't want catmint spreading everywhere.
Grows tall. Cats like it.

Coping with change, cleansing herbs: sage, thyme

Chamomile

Plant in full sun.
Perennial, but disappears from spots where the ground is too wet in the spring. It is always disappearing from my too-wet-in-spring garden and I now only plant it in a pot in the sun, but this doesn't give me much of a crop for tea or my hair.
Dried, the flowers make a pleasant tea that is calming before bed.
Steeped in hot water and strained and cooled, the liquid brightens blonde hair when used as a hair rinse.

Chickweed

Chickweed is nutritious and some say eating it helps control obesity.
Use in a warm poultice to ease skin irritations and cysts.
A chickweed cream calms red, irritated skin.

Clematis

Climber. Its flowers like the sun but its roots should be shaded. Place a rock or brick in front of the base of the plant to shade roots, or mulch well.
Should be supported. Can be trained up a trellis on a fence or grown up a bamboo teepee in the garden, tied with string.

Climbing Rose

Plant next to a fence or wall with a trellis as a backdrop for other lower flowering plants.

Many old-fashioned climbing roses have long, sharp thorns and will deter human fence-climbers but you will need to wear long, sturdy gauntlets when pruning them.

Coffee

The coffee plant has fragrant flowers. Not suitable for a northern climate outdoors, but coffee seeds can grow into indoor houseplants.

Use purchased ground coffee to make an exfoliating, invigorating skin mask. Buff on clean skin then rinse off. (You can use the leftover grounds from freshly brewed coffee after they cool.)

Stir together:

1/2 cup finely ground coffee beans
1/2 cup yogurt or milk
1 Tbsp honey

Cinnamon (bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

You can't grow this in Toronto, but you can buy cinnamon sticks to add to hot drinks.
Treats nausea, vomiting.
Intestinal stimulant. Cinnamon ingested in large quantities can be toxic.
High in antioxidants.

Companion Plants

Always plant marigolds with tomatoes as the flower scent will keep bugs away from your tomato fruits
Plant rosemary with tarragon.
If aphids are a problem, plant nasturtiums as a "sacrifice" plant near your vegetables.

Cone Flower (Echinacea)

Perennial that thrives in the sun. Roots of some varieties (Echinacia) have medicinal uses.
See also "Rudbeckia"

Container Gardening

Always plant in a clean container.
You can plant in practically anything if you drill large drainage holes into the bottom of the container, but avoid planting edibles in black plastic containers that may contain toxic substances, or in wooden boxes made from wood treated with chemicals.
Containers need good drainage so the roots don't rot. If the container sits flat against the ground, you might use bricks or pieces of wood as "legs" for the pot, especially if it is sitting on a hot stone patio. You want air to circulate underneath.
Add accent plants to mixed planters of flowers: sweet potato vine for lime green leaves or dusty miller for silver foliage. Poke in nasturtium seeds for their pretty edible leaves and flowers.
For vegetables and flowers, use quality organic soil or potting soil that retains moisture. Never re-use bagged potting soil as the nutrients are exhausted after a growing season. Add it to your garden as a top-dressing under fall leaves at the end of the season. If you mix a pile of it with mulched leaves in the fall you can re-use it in pots outdoors in the spring if you add organic nutrients or compost.
Many herbs, like nasturtiums, don't need enhanced soils, they flower best when planted in somewhat sandy soil without fertilisers.
You can make potting soil by combining compost, soil and vermiculite.
Save on soil in a very tall pot by using bubble wrap or corn starch packing peanuts in the bottom of the pot, top this with landscape liner fabric. Cut the liner so it extends over the edge of the pot (tuck in later after adding the soil.) Then add soil to the depth required by the plant.
Very large or tall pots can be partially filled with with coiled pool noodles. Make them level, then place an earth-filled fabric pot on top inside the oversize container..
Vegetables in planter pots made from heavy felt also work well placed in a sunny spot on pavement as long as the concrete doesn't get too hot, otherwise raise the pots so air gets underneath.
Keep the soil in potted plants moist, but water in the early morning, and water the soil not the leaves. It's best not to water late in the day or in the evening to avoid problems like blight, bottom rot, and fungus.
Don't put plants in containers and then abandon them to the hot summer sun. The roots of plants in containers are trapped and depend on you for their water. Water once or twice a day if necessary and find a caretaker for your plants if you need to be away. If you can, water from the bottom (plants can soak up water from a pot or saucer through holes in the bottom of the container in which it is planted.)
The depth and width of the pot is important. Lettuces, herbs, strawberries, green onions, Tiny Tom tomatoes are fine in a 12 inch pot.
Taller tomatoes, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, watermelon need a pot 2-3 feet deep.
Bush beans can be planted in a 1 gallon pot but climbing beans require a deep 3 gallon pot.
When planting herbs or flowers in containers, choose plants that have the same sun and water requirements. Herbs that can handle sunny, dry conditions: lavender, marjoram, nasturtium, oregano, sage and thyme. Herbs that need consistent levels of moisture: basil, cilantro, parsley, tarragon. Herbs that should be potted alone: varieties of mint, including lemon balm.

Coriander/Cilantro

Prefers sun and consistent moisture.
Deadhead flowers if you wish to use the leaves, or it will go to seed. This plant has a tendency to bolt.
When pulling coriander (cilantro) from patio containers at the end of the summer season, wash the roots and wrap in foil. Freeze for future use. Defrost by holding under cold running water. Mince the root to use in recipes like marinade for Thai grilled chicken.

Cosmos

Sow seeds directly in garden soil, in sun, for prolific hot-coloured flowers in 8 weeks.

Cut flowers often, they grow back.

Pollinators love them.

Grows to 1-1/2 metres.

Couch Grass (Agropyron repens)
Antiseptic, used for bladder infections.
Diuretic properties, used for bloating.
You will see dogs eating couch grass as the antibiotic compounds are good for their intestines.

Dogs will sometimes eat enough couch grass to make themselves vomit if they feel unwell.

Courage Herbs: basil, chives, horseradish, nettle, pepper.

Courage tea: combine dried currant, vanilla, green tea, thyme.

Courage fashion: wear red. If nervous embarking on a trip or new venture, wear red boots or shoes.

Cucumber:

Start cucumber and zucchini in seed trays indoors and harden outside in about 3 weeks when the plants are stronger and less prone to damage.

Succession plant cucumber and zucchini as they live fast and die hard.

Once you plant one, start another from seed in a peat pot to replace it (every 6-8 weeks). Start the seeds inside and harden outside in about 3 weeks.

Plant a sunflower near a zucchini or cucumber as a pest trap.

Mulch the soil around cucumber plants to help keep the soil evenly moist and roots cool. Use natural mulch (not dyed) and don't let the soil dry out.

Provide support so the plant grows vertically, off the ground, for better air flow and to keep the fruit away from crawling pests. Example: suspend string vertically from an overhead horizontal pipe and use tomato clips to clip the vine to the string.

Cucumber Compress: a compress made from grated cold cucumber soothes skin around the eyes and help with puffiness. Slices of cucumber on closed eyes helps too but not as well.

Cut Flowers:

Harvest flowers in the morning, use sharp, clean snips. Clean your pruners or scissors with a mild bleach solution and dry well, or use alcohol.

Place stems in water right away (take a pail of cool water with you.)

Strip off leaves that would be under water in the vase.

Change vase water daily.

Flower Preservative for Cut Flowers in a Vase:

2 Litres water
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp bleach

Change water every few days when cut flowers are placed in a vase in this solution.

Cuttings

A branch or stem placed in water to root can turn green and slimy. Prevent this by putting a little 3% hydrogen peroxide in the water.

Daffodils

Plant bulbs in fall for flowers in the spring.

Daffodil bulbs aren't eaten by squirrels and deer, although squirrels will dig up your tulip bulbs.

Deadhead faded flowers but leave the leaves to die naturally to return energy to the bulb.

Spring bulbs are pretty planted in a grass lawn but then you can't mow it until all the flowers' leaves have died back.

Plant the late-blooming, self-seeding annual Cleome among daffodils and/or Butterfly Lilies which will bloom in June and July, so the garden still looks pretty as the daffodil foliage dies back.

Dandelion

Dried dandelion root can be used as a coffee substitute, along with Chicory root.

Add the young leaves to your salad.

Let pollinators enjoy the dandelion blooms.

If you have too many dandelions, dig out the roots by hand.

Daylily

The old-fashioned orange day lily (Ditch Lily or Hemerocallis fulva) my great-grandmother planted around her cottage is now on the invasive species list. Because it spreads by root runners and seed, through ditches and waterways, it is now considered a nuisance plant. Instead, plant hybrid daylilies that do not spread, but mature over several years into clumps of flowers.
Daylilies will grow in heavy clay soil that retains moisture and by edges of pools.
Plants form thick clumps. Transplants easily, multiplies quickly, survives in shade but flowers best in full sun.
Thrives through a drought as the bulbous roots store water underground for long periods of time, so you don't need to water them once established (after a year in the garden.) Ditch lilies don't need watering ever, but you're not supposed to plant those.
Divide in the fall on an overcast day when the soil is still a bit damp from a rainfall a few days before. Divide every 5-6 years or it will become difficult to move them.
Spade around the entire clump, then lift.
Cut through the root ball with a clean garden knife.
When transplanting, plant right away, tamp the soil lightly around, then water.
If you're ridding the garden of orange "ditch" daylilies, they are edible. Watch the rabbits come to eat the shoots around Easter, and let them. You can eat them too.
In early spring, snip the leafy shoots off just above ground level while no more than 3 to 5 inches tall. Eat raw in salads or stir-fry with butter and garlic. Shoots taller than 5 inches can be too tough.
In late spring, the flower buds can be prepared like green beans and eaten, stir-fried, tossed in soups, or pickled, or eaten raw.
In summer, pinch a fully open, orange flower at the stem end. Hold the end of the flower to your mouth and suck out the sweet nectar.The petals of open flowers are edible but remove the pistil, stamens and stem first. Dry the petals in the oven on its lowest setting. Crumble the petals and sprinkle over pasta or a side dish of vegetables.
In late fall, when leaves have died to the ground, if you have many daylilies, instead of discarding the tubers you dig out, wash them. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast at 450 degrees until tender. If you have allergies or any concerns, consult your doctor before eating ditch lilies.

Dill

A favorite of tiny pollinators. Always plant some dill. If not using dill to make pickles, make a dip by mixing some with plain Greek yogurt and feta cheese. It's good with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.

Children who kept a caterpillar as a pet used to put them in a jar with holes in the lid, and a sprig of dill inside for food. This would not work with a monarch caterpillar, as they eat only milkweed.

Earwigs

Earwigs feed at night, shredding the leaves and eating the flowers of dahlias, chrysanthemums, clematis. They also eat aphids, so don't set out traps for them without checking that they're actually damaging your plants (go out at night with a flashlight and have a look.)

Echinacia (Coneflower)

Coneflowers that flower in the fall can be divided in the early spring.

Collect the seed in the fall and sow it in the ground then.

If you dry and save the seed to plant in the spring, put the seeds in the fridge for 7-14 days before starting in pots or sowing in the ground, they need a period in the cold before sprouting.

Echeveria (Hens & Chicks)

An easy-care perennial succulent. You can make more by rooting cuttings.

Drought tolerant. Likes bright light and good drainage.

If you plant it in a pot make sure there's a drainage hole and put spacers to elevate the pot from the surface so the water does drain. Place gravel around the inside edge of the pot.

Elderberry (Sambucus)
Poisonous except for the flowers/berries, which are used to relieve tired eyes, rejuvenate aging skin, and used as an immune-system booster. If you don't have an elderberry bush, you can buy bottled elderberry syrup at Ikea to mix with water and drink instead of juice. It's nice in cocktails too.

Euonymous

A deciduous evergreen that will climb a fence and provide colour and berries for birds.

Attracts pollinators.

Exposure

Choose garden plants according to the exposure to the sun in your garden.
The shade of a tree can make a difference in the garden no matter what the exposure, so watch the light at different times in the garden before choosing plants.
Eastern exposure (morning light) is cooler. Hostas, columbines, impatiens, wild lilies and daylilies thrive.
A western exposure with hot afternoon sun: plant daisies, centaureas, poppies, salvia, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, cornflowers. If you can water regularly, plant annuals like zinnias, marigolds, petunias and sunflowers.
Southern exposure (brightest light getting both morning and afternoon sun): most flowers thrive, except for delphiniums which need full sun (best with an unshaded south-west exposure.)

Ferns

In spots shaded by trees, plant ferns. Use wood mulch.

Fertility herbs:

cinnamon, coriander, gooseberry, mint

Don't drink raspberry leaf tea until the last month of pregnancy.

Fertilizer

Avoid commercial fertilizers with high middle numbers (like 45) in the N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) formula. Safer combination: a 5-10-5 fertilizer. Phosphorus promotes bloom and has been recommended for bulbs in the past but it's bad in rainwater runoff, it taints the water supply.

The best fertilizer is compost.

For a garden that needs a little boost try time-released fertilizer (beads that you apply in the spring so that rains have time to wash nutrients down to the roots before the growing spurt begins) but don't put fertilizer anywhere you want to grow nasturtiums.

A fertilizer with a high first number (high in nitrogen) will give you lots of green leaves (like grass) but few flowers. Never use it in the fall before a frost because it will promote a growth spurt at the wrong time.

Potassium builds strong stems and roots so it helps tall flowers like daffodils, tulips and lilies.

Organic fertilizer: Put organic compost in an old cotton pillowcase until it is half full. Tie the top. Place in a garbage can or rain barrel full of water. Leave overnight. Use the water to fertilize your plants, applying every ten days to two weeks throughout the summer.

Potted Plant Fertilizer #1 : In a jar, mix 1 cup warm water, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 Tbsp baking soda, a few drops of white vinegar. Close the jar, let sit 24 hours, shake. Water the soil around your plant.

Potted Plant Fertilizer #2: (for tall flowering plants): In a jar, put the skins only from a large potato, with a few drops of white vinegar and 1 cup of warm water. Soak covered for a day, remove the skins, water the plant with the liquid.

Flower Fertilizer: Cook and cool a cup of soybeans. Sprinkle in a handful of tea leaves, 1 capful white vinegar, add 1 Litre warm water. Cover and allow to ferment for 3 days. Strain out the solids and use the liquid to water an outdoor flowering plant.

Commercial fertilizers: Use water soluble or granular, check instructions on the box. Avoid fertilizers with phosphates. Phosphate run-off is harmful in the water system, which is why phosphates have been taken out of laundry detergents.

Fig (Ficus carica)
Fig fruit is a mild laxative. High in B complex vitamin.

Flower Arranging

Add greenery to a vase first to create a base.

Layer in larger blossoms before filling in with smaller buds.

Add some taller stalks, like foxglove, to create height.

Stand back and look at the bouquet. Balance any overly green patches with sparser flowers or fill in holes with greenery or wispy flowers like Queen Anne's Lace.

Two-colour flower arrangements let the shape of the flowers stand out.

Example of a pink arrangement: garden rose, fat pink peony, delicate pink columbine with tall white foxglove, wispy Queen Anne's Lace, and for greenery maidenhair fern and geranium leaves.

Cream or white coloured flowers with greenery look nice in any space, but aren't as attractive to pollinators so don't grow only these colours. To keep pollinators away from bouquets at an outdoor wedding they're a good choice.

A mix of flowers from your garden brings happiness into your house.

A gift of flowers sends a wish:

Red for health and wealth

Yellow blooms for cheer

Red roses express passion

Pink, affection through the year.

A gift of pussy willow branches in the spring brings luck to the giver and receiver. Root them in water and replant near a natural source of water, or arrange dry branches in an empty vase and do not discard until the fuzzy buds drop.

For a new baby, take a single rose from your garden with one thorn. This brings a wish that the baby will have beauty in its life, few troubles, and learn from a mistake.

Forget-Me-Not

Biennial, self-seeding. Will grow in clay soils that are moist, well-drained.

Foxgloves
"Fairies sleep in foxglove flowers, so don’t pick them."
Foxgloves contain the chemical digitalis, which can speed up the heartbeat.

Flower Garden (Mostly perennial, successive blooms)

Tall, at the back: Ninebark (Physocarpus Diabolo) burgundy leaves and white blooms in early summer 8-10 ft., Unique Hydrangea (cold-hardy) grows 6-10 ft.
Grasses: Micanthus grass 4 ft. Red Head Fountaingrass (2-3 ft), Japanese Silvergrass (y ft)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea) 2-4 ft., Joe-Pye Weed 3-5 ft., Limelight Hydrangea 6 ft., Hardy Hibiscus 4 ft., Cleome 4 ft (self-seeding annual), Russian Sage, Phlox 3-4 ft., false Sunflower (Helipsis) attracts butterflies 3-6 ft.
Mid-height, 2-3 feet tall: Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) the Goldsturm variety blooms for 2 months beginning in midsummer, Phlox (dwarf Volcano Purple White-Eyed hybrid), Lanceleaf Coreopsis (1-2 ft), Maestro Sedum (18 in.) or Autumn Joy Sedum (2 ft)
Shorter annuals for the front: Begonia, Profusion Zinnia (18 inch annual), Sweet Alyssum (edging plant like a carpet of white flowers),

Freezing Fresh Herbs:

Fill each compartment of an ice cube tray with clean herbs and 1 tsp olive oil. Freeze.

Pulse herbs and oil in a blender into a pesto, freeze in ice cube trays.

Front Door Plantings
Myrtle bush, a bay tree—one for love and one for peace.
Peony to bring prosperity to your door.

Yew for protection.

Lilac for luck.

Garlic

If you have dogs, plant garlic in raised planters or a fenced-in garden as chewing on garlic can make them sick.

Wild Garlic is a perfect native forest area plant to allow to spread in shade under trees, but do not plant this if you have dogs as eating the leaves can poison them. A large dog would have to eat a lot of garlic leaves to actually die, but small dogs are more vulnerable and ingesting the leaves could cause kidney damage.

Plant domesticated garlic bulbs in a sunny spot in the fall. Mulch with straw to protect from heaving.

Cut the garlic scapes back in spring and eat them, (unless you are a dog,) but don't touch the leaves. Harvest bulbs in July.

Store bulbs to use in cooking in a cool, dry place.

Combine garlic, rosemary and salt in foods for protection (rosemary works against the cancer-causing compounds in grilled foods).

Goldenrod (Solidago)

A necessary plant to support bees and butterflies and attract songbirds.

Drought tolerant.

The dried bright yellow flowers of goldenrod can be used as tinder to quickly start a fire with a match when camping.

Does not aggravate hay fever. Goldenrod is not the same as ragweed (which has greenish white flowers) and which triggers allergies.

Gooseberry Bush

Always take care of gooseberry bushes because that is where babies are found.

A home with a gooseberry bush in the garden will be blessed with the presence of children, and maybe fairies.

Plant a gooseberry bush in the north area of the yard or home for prosperity, where it will get some sun, and place a basil plant beside it.

Groundcover

Plants once promoted as groundcovers for areas with deep shade and poor soil that are now recognized as invasive species dangerous to the survival of native woodland plants: periwinkle (vinca minor), English ivy (Hedera helix), goutweed (looks like a pretty variegated white and green leafed plant), winter creeper (Euonymous fortunei). When removing these from the garden, do not compost.

Alternative native groundcovers to plant: running euonymous (euonymous obovatus), bloodroot, Pennsylvania sedge, foamflower.

Pachysandra will grow under trees in very shady conditions, needs watering to become established.

Any groundcover will eventually take over the garden if not restrained.

Grasses

Ornamental grasses grow in large, easy-care clumps in full sun.

Be careful if you have pets, as seeds from feathery grasses can be inhaled.

My veterinarian said he'd seen dogs with respiratory issues caused from inhaled grass seeds becoming imbedded in nasal/sinus passages and growing into cysts.

Happiness: cinnamon, feverfew, mint

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogya)

Lowers blood pressure. Bark contains elements used as a vasodilator after coronary-bypass surgery.

Health/Longevity: allspice, angelica, chamomile, cinnamon, coriander, poppy seed, sage, turmeric.

Wear amber beads.

High blood pressure:

Drink hibiscus tea to lower blood pressure.

Helenium

Hardy perennial, grows in any garden soil. Late summer flowers (yellow and reds).

Attracts butterflies.

Herb Garden

Always grow garlic, chamomile, coriander (cilantro), lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme.

Herb Gathering

Collect herbs in baskets, boxes, cloth bags. Place herbs in containers loosely as pressing them will cause them to heat up and reduce the quality of the active ingredients.

Buds of trees and shrubs are harvested early in the spring when they are full but not unfurled.

Pick leaves, stems and flowers in later morning, when dew is gone, during the full moon, when active substances are in the upper part of the plant. For short plants, cut the stem low. For tall herbs, cut the growth near the top. Harvest herbs (leaves, stems, flowers) when they start to flower. In a meadow, only harvest one out of every two plants.

When gathering herbs For medicinal purposes, cut the the complete flower head, including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers, of flowers like daisy, lily of the valley, and clematis. Pick the individual flowers of cilantro and marigold. Flowers are picked at the beginning of flowering; at the end, the healing value is lower.

Leaves should be harvested at full size, when the plant is just starting to flower. Don't choose yellowed leaves or leaves damaged by disease or insects. Take a few leaves from each plant and cut carefully to minimize damage.

Gather roots and rhizomes to be used for medicinal purposes in autumn during the new moon, when active substances are in the lower part of the plant. After lifting, brush off dirt then clean and rinse them immediately. Cut off small hairy roots and remnants of the stem. Large roots can be cut before drying.

Harvest fruit and seeds when they are ripe.

Hickory Trees
Like other North American nut trees (beech, black walnut, sweet chestnut, hickory, oak) nut trees should be planted to sustain life in times of famine.
Tree nuts are very high in fat, carboydrates and protein.

These nuts sustain wildlife and and sustained indigenous peoples when animals were scarce.

Grass and flowers don't like to grow under a black walnut tree, so it's not the best tree for a mixed city garden.

Holly

A deciduous evergreen. Plant both male and female holly plants for red winter berries that feed the birds.

Provides a shrubby retreat for small birds and its flowers attract pollinators.

Slow-growing, some species of holly can grow into tall trees.

Important in medieval Europe, as the English holly tree was believed to have the power to ward off evil influences or bad luck. Holly branches were trimmed in late winter and burned to signal the end of winter.

Branches of holly are brought into the house at Christmas or made/tucked into wreaths at the front door.

In severe winters when the ground is fully frozen and roots cannot get moisture, evergreens like holly use the moisture stored in stems and leaves. Prevent leaves from losing moisture to cold winds by spraying with an anti-dessicant like Wilt Pruf in late fall.

Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea)
Anti-inflammatory.

Infuse and use as an herbal tea or mouthwash for coughs and respiratory problems.

Hostas

A favorite shade plant for its beautiful big leaves.

Thrives in dry shade.

Solid green varieties grow well in the sun, though can be scorched by direct midday sun.

In direct sun, variegated leaves will bleach out.

Blue hostas stand up to drought best and are least likely to be eaten by deer because the leaves are waxy.

In summer all hostas have white or violet flowers, some are fragrant, all are edible.

Flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators mid-summer.

Young leaves of Hosta Montana are prepared like spinach or collards.

Harvest shoots in mid-spring before the leaves unfurl. Snip off tight rolls of young leaves above the soil line. Chop, stir-fry and serve as a side dish or over pasta or rice.

Mature leaves need to be boiled 15 to 20 minutes.

In late fall, dig, divide and replant the biggest plants so you will have enough to harvest for greens.

Honeysuckle Bush

Non-native honeysuckles are now on the invasive species list. Identify them by their simple leaves that remain green throughout the fall. Cut down and replace with drought-tolerant native bush honeysuckles (their dark green leaves turn yellow to red in the fall) and they attract and provide shelter for wildlife incuding hummingbirds.

Hyacinth

Fragrant bulb to plant in pots or in the ground at the front of your garden or near your door.

Plant Dutch bulbs when they arrive in Canada in early September.

Hydrangea

Likes acidic soil. Put coffee grounds around hydrangea and holly bushes or apply aluminum sulfate in April. Cover the coffee grounds or fertilizer with soil and mulch and put a barrier around the plant if you have pets. Caffeine can be harmful to dogs and fertilizer on paws is a bad thing.

Hydrangea bushes need consistent moisture. Don't plant them against your house where they will be under the eaves or beneath any underhang where rain won't reach them.

Blue hydrangea flowers will turn pink if soil is alkaline.

A blue hydrangea planted in sorrow in memory of a lost loved one, may in time turn to the pink of happy memories.

Climbing hydrangea: One of the best vines on brick or stone walls, arbors or trees. White flowers bloom for over 2 weeks in early summer. Grows in full sun/part shade. Prune to control size. Mulch roots. Mine is on the shady (north) side of a privacy fence. My hydrangea climbed to reach the sun on my neighbour's side and bloomed there, which my neighbour liked but was sad for me. When the neighbour rebuilt their house and replaced the fence the climbing hydrangea was cut to the ground. It's come back but hasn't reached the sun yet. My neighbour planted hydrangea bushes on her side of the fence, but I can't see the blooms. Plant yours where you are more likely to see the blooms.

Deadhead hydrangeas only after the winter, in the spring, when the first shoots appear.

After new blooms fade in summer, do not deadhead the flowers. Leave them on for the winter to protect flower buds from damage.

Insect Repellant Spray: Make a mixture of peppercorns, mashed garlic, 2 chopped small onions, 500 ml (2 cups) warm water, a few drops of white vinegar. Cover and let sit for a few days, strain out solids, place liquid in a spray bottle, and spray the plant foliage.

Insight: orange, lemon, marjoram.

Iris

Tall perennial flowers with beautiful blooms that spread nicely.

Though they are perennials they won't last forever, and need to be divided or eventually replaced with new ones.

Juniper

Dry the berries, which have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory medicinal properties.

Infuse in vodka with dried chamomile flowers, lavender, other herbs to make an herbal gin.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruit and seeds have antibacterial and skin-sloughing properties. Rub this mixture only clean skin with a circular motion then rinse well with warm water:

1 kiwi, peeled and mashed
2 tsp brown sugar
A few drops olive oil

Lamium

Groundcover that grows where nothing else will. Grows about a foot tall.

Variegated foliage of silver or gold.

Lavender

Lavender never used to last long in my garden but apparently will now because of climate change. Should I try again?

Sweet Romance Lavender will bloom in a sunny spot from late July to late fall. Because it blooms after trees are in full leaf, don't plant under a tree as it will be in shade.

Prune lightly with shears after first flowering so that lavender will flower again.

Take cuttings for propagation in late summer, but use stems that haven't flowered yet.

Don't cut back in fall.

Cut right back to new shoots in early spring or as soon as new shoots begin to appear.

Dried lavender and chamomile make a calming, fragrant tea.

Tuck lavender into your coat pocket, along with sage, for luck and protection and its scent.

Lavender oil added to water and sprayed onto pillow cases and bedlinens as you press them will help induce sleep.

Leaf Cuttings

Leaf cuttings from many plants will produce roots. Some are best rooted in water, others will root if dipped in a rooting powder and then "planted" in a soil-less rooting mixture. You could also try this (said to work for Money Tree leaf cuttings.) Cut a healthy leaf at its stem. In a paper cup, place 1 cup cooked and cooled soybeans mixed with 1 Tbsp sugar. Poke the stem of the leaf in the soybeans and wait 2-3 weeks for roots to form. (I haven't tried this yet as I am wondering if the soybeans might start to smell bad.)

Lemon Balm

The oil is most potent just before the plant blossoms, so that is the best time to pick the leaves.

Makes a calming tea, a balm for your nerves that is nice to drink before bed too.

Lemongrass:

Add to Thai dishes, chicken, and soups, and tea whenever you need insight into a problem.

Luck

For luck, cook with allspice and nutmeg.

To hold: make a poppet or charm bag of clover, comfrey, and heather.

Grow a lilac bush near your home. Wandering spirits are said to avoid homes with lilac bushes. If you are afraid of ghosts, place a bouquet of lilac by your bed in the spring. Wash your hands with lilac-scented soap.

Lettuce
Sow leaf lettuce, arugula and mesclun-mix seeds. Cut and eat the greens, leave the roots in place. They will grow again to be cut again.
If you buy "Living Lettuce" complete with the root at the grocery store, eat the tops and plant the root, you may get another lettuce in awhile.
Harvest lettuce before it bolts to seed or it will be bitter-tasting.

If lettuce has bolted, wait for the puffy flower heads to dry on the plant. Place the whole flower in a paper bag and shake to remove the hard, black seeds. Plant more lettuce.

Lilac

Plant lilacs near the house for luck, spring flowers, scent, happy bees, and to keep wandering spirits away.

Pruning Lilacs: Do not prune until the bush has been in the ground three years. Then, after flowers fade, prune the bush within two weeks. Do not prune any other time (summer, fall, winter, early spring) or risk cutting off next year's flower buds. The oldest, thickest stems are less disease-resistant and less insect resistant and should be pruned down to the ground. Not pruning the old stems could result in the whole bush suffering and perhaps dying from insect infestation. Never prune more than a third of the bush's live wood or the bush will put its energy into regrowing and won't flower for a few years. A bush with fewer stems has bigger flowers.

If you cut lilac flowers, smash and splay the ends of stems to make sure the flowers absorb water and so the flowers last longer in a vase.

Linden: see American Basswood

Love Herbs: cinnamon, coriander, sorrel, vanilla, barley water

Share with a willing partner. Do not use to bind an unwilling or disinterested partner.

Trying to compel someone specific to love or want you is dark energy that brings trouble and heartache eventually.

Love Potion #9: Anise, honey, cloves, rosemary mixed in spring water, simmered over low heat slowly 9 for hours. Strain, drink at the 9th hour of the 9th day in the 9th month.
Enjoy a spring soup of new sorrel leaves. My mother has sorrel growing in her garden and likes this soup, I do not. You might if you like sweet and sour soups.
Love Salt: mix rock salt, dried rose petals, rosemary, and lavender, ginger flakes, coriander seeds, cinnamon powder.
Love Sugar: mix dried rose hips, cinnamon, vanilla bean in sugar. Seal jar tightly to infuse. Let stand, when sugar seems scented, sift and use the sugar in tea or baking.
To bring love into your life, drink a cup of barley water every day.

Marshmallow Root (Althea Officinalis, Mortification Root)

Drink dried marshmallow root as a cold tea to help with throat inflammation. Drink the tea warm for digestive upsets like acid reflux.

Also called mortification root because a poultice made out of the root was used to help wound healing and was thought to stop gangrene from setting in.

Milkweed (Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa)

This is the only plant monarch butterfly caterpillars eat, so they are necessary for the survival of monarch butterflies.

Seeds need moisture to germinate but grown plants are drought tolerant and grow in almost any soil.

Milkweed sap is irritating to skin and eyes so wear gloves and eye protection if cutting stalks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten by people and most animals, like dogs and sheep. Teach children to avoid picking these flowers and playing with the seed pods. Wash hands thoroughly after touching. The flowers and pods shouldn't be brought indoors.

Money/Prosperity Herbs: basil, dill, cinnamon, ginger, spearmint.

Grow in your house: a Money Tree plant.

Let grow in your garden: goldenrod (which is different from ragweed, which causes allergic reactions.)

Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus)

Bright blue flower spikes.

Contains the sedative aconitine. The plant is poisonous and was once used on arrows in battle and hunting. In fact, while the colour blue is considered protective, in the wild blue plants are often poisonous. When in doubt, never eat a blue flower or berry from a bush you don't know.

In the rainforest, the tiny blue frog is very poisonous.

Morning Glory

The seeds of the morning glory vine are very tough so they take long to germinate. To speed the process, nick the seed with a knife before planting beside a trellis.

Mulch

Reduces water evaporation from the soil and helps the ground absorb rainfall without runoff, keeps the soil cooler, reduces splashing from rain falling on bare soil and keeps leaves cleaner.

But don't use mulch where you want flowers to self-seed, (like around cleomes).

To keep down weeds between tomato rows you can use newspaper with holes poked into it. Don't use shredded paper or newsprint with color dyes.
Use bark chips around evergreens or other trees. Bark chips last but take years to add organic matter to soil. Don't mound mulch against the trunk.
Compost is the best mulch you can get....get it when the city gives away compost made from collected leaves.
Well-rotted manure still smells when it gets wet. Peonies don't like it.
Grass clippings heat up when they rot so you can't use it next to plant stems. If they form a dense mat, grass clippings will keep rainwater from the soil.
Shredded leaves, pine needles and shredded straw will keep down weeds. Spread leaf mulch around emerging perennials to smother weed seeds before they sprout.
Cocoa shell mulch smells like chocolate when it gets wet, but cocoa shells are dangerous to use around pets like dogs.

Mushroom

My father's mother, the only person I knew born in the 1800s, knew all the mushrooms of the forest in Lithuania near the Latvian border, where she lived. She could safely forage for edible mushrooms and for wild herbs used in medicines.

Never pick a mushroom you don't know as they can be very poisonous. Take a foraging course and find out from an expert where the safe wild mushrooms grow near you.

If you are not a local mushroom expert, buy mushrooms from the store or learn to grow your own.

Mushrooms grow where old wood has been buried under the ground, and near dead trees. Rings of toadstools are sometimes called fairy rings.

Nasturtiums

These herbs like poor soil so never fertilise them, and don't waste money on potting soil with added fertiliser, or they'll produce lots of leaves but won't bloom as much. They like sandier soils and a sunny spot. That said, I have grown them in Miracle Gro potting soil in containers in part-shade.

Water them too much and you'll get lots of leaves and few flowers, but the leaves are pretty too, and look like little faces.

Chipmunks are fond of eating the seeds so collect them as they begin to drop.

Direct sowing outdoors is recommended on seed packets, but if there are hungry chipmunks outside, plant your seeds in peat pots or paper rolls indoors in early spring and transplant outdoors later without disturbing the roots.

For faster germination, soak seeds in water for a day before planting.

Flowers are peppery and edible. Serve in salads or use as a garnish.

Nasturtiums are usually the last annuals to succumb to frost in my garden.

If you've seen the Lord of The Rings movies, you've seen the tumbling nasturtiums outside the Hobbit homes in Hobbiton.

Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)

Hummingbirds like its long flowers.

Fragrant, the scent is most obvious in the still of the evening. Evening-scented flowers attract night insects which can attract bats, which eat mosquitos.

This self-seeding annual grows very tall and needs lots of space in the sun. Plant among tiny tulips, the seeds will germinate in June and will flower in August.

Nigella

Plant seeds directly in the ground or a container, grows 50 cm tall in sun, use for cut flowers.

Also known as Love-in-a-Mist or Devil-in-a-Bush.

Night-Scented Stocks

Plant from seeds in early spring, where you'd like to sit on a summer evening.

Releases a really sweet scent at night, attracting night insects and possibly the bats that eat them.

Papaya

Don't try to grow them outdoors in a northern climate, but buy a ripe papaya, eat half to aid digestion and use the other half to make an anti-aging skin mask.

1/2 papaya, seeds removed, diced
1 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp white tea, brewed and cooled
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 egg white

Blend ingredients in a food processor or whip with a fork until a paste is formed.

Apply to clean face and neck, leave on 20-30 minutes.

Rinse with lukewarm water and apply a neutral moisturiser like Cetaphil lotion.

Peonies

Suggested varieties: Coral Charm (pink), Bowl of Cream (white), Raspberry Sundae (pink bicolor, heavy scent).
Put a peony ring around each peony plant in the spring to support the heavy flower heads later. A peony tree may have smaller flower heads and stalks that don't need support.
Remove dead wood in mid-summer. Cut off dead pieces of stem once the flowering shoots have died back.
Peonies for bouquets: semi-double blooms (visible yellow anthers in center) and fully double blooms make the fullest bouquets. Cut stems when buds are just starting to show some colour. In a warm location, buds open readily after cutting. Change vase water daily (they drink a lot.)
A peony bush is said to bring wealth and prosperity to your home.
A red peony in the south corner of your garden brings prosperity and love.

Phlox

I loved the scent of my great-grandmother's cottage phlox flowers drifting into the open bedroom window before I fell asleep when I was a little girl. Phlox will grow tall and peek in the window. Susceptible to mildew if you water the leaves. Water the surrounding ground, use a soaker hose in a garden of phlox.

Planters

For privacy or to create a "room" on a deck: a raised planter, planted with native ornamental grasses like Sweetgrass, and sweet potato vine. Mulch.
Pedestal plante: Annabelle Hydrangea, Lavender, trailing English ivy. This hydrangea will bloom all summer in a pot. Transplant it into the ground in early fall if you want to keep it. Lavender (also a perennial) will bloom sporadically in summer, deadhead faded blooms to encourage new growth. Keep ivy evenly watered.
Edibles in a low planter in full sun: Layer in watercress (edible leaf for fresh greens), English lavender, rosemary.
Plant herbs in pots that like the same conditions. Basil likes to be continually moist so it's not great in planters with herbs that like dry conditions.

Plum Tree

"A big crop of plums means a good year ahead."

Primula

Suitable for a woodland garden. Likes moist, acidic soil.

Pine

White pine needles make a medicinal tea for winter ailments.

Prosperity:

Gooseberry and basil planted in the north area of the yard.

Protection

Herbs: angelica, basil, bay, cinnamon, marjoram, mint, rosemary, pepper, peppermint, rue, sage.

Blue cloth, blue beads, blue thread in your hem.

Dried sage, lavender in a sewn cloth bag.

To the stew, add bay leaf, garlic, salt, rosemary and basil.

Pruning

Use sharp, clean pruners.

Prune shoots that cross or rub up against another.

Cut out dead shoots, pruning back as far as the healthy part of the stem, cutting diagonally, just above a bud.

If green leaves appear on a variegated plant, cut the plain leaf back to the point of origin to prevent the variegated plant from reverting to a plain-leaved plant.

Pumpkins

Field pumpkins need a field. The vines take up a lot of space and need sun and air circulation.

If you don't have space, plant a pie pumpkin seed in a 5 gallon bucket at least 1 foot deep and place it where you do get sun.

My children wanted to grow pumpkins from seed saved from their Hallowe'en jack-o-lantern. We dug up a patch of lawn in the least shady spot of our backyard, that was shaded by a big willow and a crabapple tree. At first the pumpkins did grow, and we gave them lots of encouragement and water, but then the leaves grew grey and fuzzy with fungus and the pumpkin project had to be pulled up. We learned that despite our good intentions, it is best to plant plants where they grow best or not at all.

Raspberry Leaf

Some say drinking red raspberry leaf tea in the last month of pregnancy can ease the pain of childbirth.

Rhododendron

Deadhead the flowers every year after flowering in the spring.

Doesn't require pruning for 10-15 years (till fully grown) then cut one stem in every three in the summer to promote healthy growth and keep its shape.

Likes acidic soil.

Rosa Rugosa

I bought mine from a local garden centre years ago, it was advertised as a desirable, pretty, low-maintenance flowering bush that produces many rose hips, a good food for birds in the winter, high in vitamin C. Now these plants are on the invasive species list and should be cut down--beware of their long, spiky thorns while you cut them.

Rose of Sharon

A beautiful, easy to grow flowering shrub that some gardeners consider invasive as the dropped flowers will start seedlings sprouting elsewhere in your garden. Excellent for pollinators. Prune in late March.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a cool-climate vegetable grown for its edible stems. A new plant shouldn't be picked for two years and in year three, only pick 1/3 of the stalks.
In the 4th year you can harvest more heavily, leaving the smaller stalks behind and avoiding harvesting the main stem so as not to damage the crown.
Harvest rhubarb when the leaves are fully opened and the stalks are 7-15 inches long. Colour isn't an indicator of being ready as colour varies by variety
It is unusual in our area to be able to pick enough rhubarb for a Mother's Day pie, the rhubarb is often not ready till a week or two after..
Harvest in May and June but let rhubarb rest in June and July (don't pick stalks then.)
After harvesting stems, cut off and discard the leaves. They are toxic.
If main stem begins to flower, break off the flower head so the plant doesn't go to seed early.
If the flower head goes to seed, save some to try to start new plants, though starting rhubarb from seed isn't easy.
It's easiest to divide the plant in the very early spring and start a new plant from the budded crown. Plant 3-4 feet away from the first plant. Rhubarb needs space. Plant 1-2 inches deep in the soil (not too deep).
A rhubarb plant is perennial and is said to produce for about 10 years. My mother's rhubarb, planted in a strip of garden along the south wall of a brick garage, has produced for decades. It was planted from a budded crown passed down from her grandmother's rhubarb planted in the early 1900s.

Roses

Plant garlic near roses to deter aphids.
Meadow rue is a good companion plant for roses as its scent deters beetles.
Roses from your garden, given to a new mother and baby, bring a wish that the child will know happiness in life. Leave one thorn on a stem so that the child will learn from life's thorns.
A fragrant hybrid tea rose: Double Delight
David Austin roses: He bred them to look old-fashioned and have a beautiful fragrance. At my first house, I planted a yellow David Austin rose in the backyard, when it bloomed the scent was heavenly. I wonder if it's still there. (Note: David Austin roses are now very expensive.)
Favorite climbing rose: New Dawn
Little-care rose: Rosa Rugosa. Its sharp thorns will keep anyone from climbing into your window or over your fence. I bought one from a garden centre and liked the fact that it grew quickly, needed little care, had pretty, small pink flowers and rose hips high in vitamin C that you can dry and use to make tea. The birds will peck at the rose hips for the seeds in the dead of winter, and the seeds in their droppings can spread this bush. So it is now considered an "invasive" plant because it will take the place of native bushes in the wild. You're not supposed to plant it.

Rosemary

There's a saying: if you grow and share rosemary, you’ll never be short of friends.
It's a perennial bush in warmer climates, but dies out in Ontario winters. I saw large, pruned-to-a- shape rosemary bushes thriving year-round on the roof of a boutique hotel in Paris.
Rub rosemary on a cut, the oil is a natural antiseptic.
Toss fresh rosemary on boiled or baked potatoes, delicious. Dried rosemary has a stick-like texture, though.
Always place a stalk of rosemary on meat that's grilling on the BBQ. Rosemary oil can break up the potentially cancer-causing compounds that can form when meat is grilled and charred.
Steep in hot, boiled water, strain and use the liquid as a rinse for dark hair.

Rosy Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
Contains agents used to treat leukemias and lymphomas.

Rudbeckia

Sun-loving perennial coneflower.
Clumps over time and produces more flowers each year.
Goldstrum variety blooms up to 10 weeks long.
Grows up to 120 cm high.

Rue (Meadow Rue / Ruta)

Rue, a symbol of purity, is said to deter evil. Rue was placed in a vase in front of judges during the Middle Ages. It was an ingredient in the Seven Thieves herbal formula thought to prevent infection from the plague.
Rue leaves were woven into wreaths and worn in the hair of young girls in Mayday rites in Lithuania. It is the country's national flower.
Do not plant near sage, rue will inhibit its growth.
The scent of rue is disliked by beetles. Plant near trees, where Asian beetles are a problem. Plant meadow rue under cherry trees, rose bushes, near grape vines and Linden trees.
Do not plant near sage, which doesn't like it.
Some people are sensitive to the oil of rue flowers and can get rashes from touching it.

Salvia

Use the same method for harvesting salvia seed as for basil.

Sage

As the saying goes, "With sage in my garden, why should I grow old?" This is an herb for health and longevity, purification and protection.
Plant in full sun near your door. It's low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and perennial.
Let it bloom, its purple flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Russian sage flowers are a pretty blue color and are easy to grow, requiring little nurturing.
Russian sage did well near my front steps, trapped in a small garden space between an east-facing wall and the driveway, beside a shrub rose and behind a low yew bush. It is close to the house foundation so doesn't get too much rain water. Sometimes I forget this plant doesn't like a lot of water and give it too much, but it still grows. If given sun and room, Russian sage will grow into a bush. Note: as the yew grew and blocked the sun, the sage began to decline.
In pots, plant sage with rosemary and thyme as these herbs all enjoy fairly dry soil and sun.
Grow near strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and cabbage as its scent repels insects that harm these vegetables.
Sage does not like to grow near rue.
The scent of burning sage will help keep away mosquitoes and other biting insects.
Bundle dried white sage stalks with natural twine and light the end, to make a smudge stick. Sage smudge sticks are used in purification rites. White sage has protective qualities.
Tuck a sachet of dried sage and lavender into your coat pocket.
Eating sage helps in the digestion of fats, which is why it's used in Thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipes.

Scabiosa

Blue or purple pompom flowers, good for cutting gardens, grows in sun to part shade.

Scarlet Runner Beans

Tie together long poles to form teepees or pyramids and plant scarlet runner beans at the base. They'll climb tall and the red blooms will attract hummingbirds.
They are easy to grow, a good plant for a children's garden and when you see how high they will grow, even up onto a pergola, you will think these could be the magic beans that inspired the Jack and the Beanstalk story.
Let some of the pods dry on the plant and when you see the seeds bulging, crack them open. The seeds are beautiful, save them to grow another plant next year.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'/Stonecrop

This plant edges the garden near our swimming pool, where the stone pool surround can get hot and the ground can get dry in the summer. This area is a little too wet in the spring, but the sedum survives. It's an amazing perennial succulent plant that takes little care once established.
It withstands drought and also heavy rains because of its sturdy stem and thick green leaves.
In a bright, sunny location it's almost indestructible.
They don't need daily watering--water when you stick your finger in the ground and the top 2" is dry. The fleshy leaves hold moisture and release it as needed by the plant.
Hybrids grow tall and have pink or mauve broccoli-like flowers that deepen in color during the season and attract pollinators. These flowers are always buzzing with little bees.
Flower heads bloom in autumn.
Effective as cut flowers in arrangements but not great on the kitchen table as the flowers will really drip after a day or so.
Varieties include low ground-huggers to those 18 to 24 inches tall (Sedum Spectabile).
Don't deadhead, leave the flowers to dry on the stalks and stand through the winter and snow will cap the flower tops, making these plants pretty all year round. I clip the dried flower heads in the spring for new growth.
If planted in semi-shade they might get leggy. Prune back early June to get a sturdier plant (blooms will be smaller.)
Propagate more tall hybrids by taking stem cuttings, pop in a glass of water on the windowsill and you'll quickly have more plants.
When the centre of the plant dries out, divide the roots and replant to propagate more.
Sedum can be planted in the openings of retaining walls or rock gardens.

Seed Bombs

A strategy for guerilla gardeners who want to plant pollination helpers like Milkweed (the only plant Monarch Butterflies lay eggs on) in urban spaces that could use them.

In your own garden, use seed bombs to give light, fly-away seeds a hand.

Put the seeds AND 3 times as much dry clay as you have seeds, in a bowl. (Crayola clay will work.) Mix in 5 times as much soil as you have seeds.

Example mixture:

1 Tbsp seeds
3 Tbsp dry clay
5 Tbsp soil

Press mixture into balls. Toss onto the ground to germinate.

Seed Harvesting

Zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, hollyhocks and calendula: seeds should be removed from their seed pods by hand before they fall to the ground or get eaten by birds.

Poppies: Very small seeds can be shaken from their pods/husks over a bowl.

Beans, peas, nasturtium, corn : Large seeds are easy to remove by hand, dry and store.

Lettuce: Let lettuce bolt to form puffy flower heads, allow to dry on the plant, place flower in a paper bag and shake the seeds loose.

Tomato: Cut tomato in half, squeeze juice, gel and seeds into a clean bowl. Pour three times as much water into the bowl, mix with your fingers. Let stand a few minutes. Seeds that sink are good. Skim off and discard the floaters. Drain off liquid, retrieve the sunken seeds. Lay on a paper towel in a sunny window for a week until dry. Pick seeds off the towel and place in paper envelopes, then into sealed containers. You will get more consistent results (the same type of tomato) using seed from heirloom plants. Hybrids will produce unpredictable results.

All Seeds:

Seeds are ready to harvest when they are brown and dry.

If you have to pick them when they're damp, dry them in a sunny window indoors for several days before storing.

Package dried seeds in labeled paper envelopes. Store the envelopes in a lidded glass jar with a silicone packet added to absorb excess moisture (take out the packet after a week or so.)

Seed Starting

Use a soilless mix to help prevent a disease called damping-off (a fungus attacks and weakens the stem base so little plants fall over and die.) If white fuzz appears in seed trays you might have to try soaking whole tray in an antifungal solution (Bentomul or Benlate).

Keep soil moist.

Position a fluorescent fixture 2-3 inches aabove plants, raising the light as they grow.

When frost danger has past, set seedling outside in a spot sheltered from wind and sun for a few days to "harden off" before planting.

Self-Seeding Annuals:

Ageratum (blue), alyssum, strawflowers, nicotantia, cleome (spider flower), cosmos.

Shade: (see notes under "Trees")

Shasta Daisy

Sun-loving, reliable perennial flower for cutting.

Easy to grow. Look for the variety "Becky".

Silver Sea Holly
Produces nectar for butterflies in late fall

Slugs and Snails

Delphiniums, hostas, and young seedlings are susceptible to snug and snail attack. They feed mostly at night or after rain.

Slugs have sensitive skin and don't like crawling over surfaces like crushed eggshells, sawdust, wood ash, sharp sand. You can put a ring of this material around a plant but the barrier only works as long as it is unbroken so you'll have to reapply the material. You can also cut a 10 cm (4 inch) high ring from a plastic bottle and push it in the ground around the plant or use a barrier made of copper.

Soil Preparation for a New Garden

To convert grass to a garden, lay down a layer of uncoated cardboard.

Cover with a 5-6 cm deep layer of triple mix. This isn't necessary if you don't have or can't afford the soil, but it speeds up the process.

Cover that with 4 inches of natural bark mulch.

Leave for a year to allow the grass to die and the cardboard to decompose to create a good bed for a new garden.

Choose plants that will grow well in the type of soil you have (sand, silt, clay, loam).

South Corner

Plant something red in the south corner of your yard to have a loving home.

Spacing

Follow the guidelines for optimum spacing on plant labels and seed packages. Plant too close together and roots will compete for nutrients. Fungal disease spreads in congested, humid conditions.

Squirrels

Squirrels like to bury things in my planters in the fall, and chipmunks forage for the nasturtium seeds that I would like to collect to plant next year. Sprinkling paprika or hot chili pepper flakes among the plants is said to deter them somewhat. When you need to shoo away a squirrel (or raccoon), open the door and bark like a dog.

For Success: bay laurel, celery seed, lovage, marjoram, rosemary, saffron

Sweet Potato Vine

The lime green leaves of the sweet potato vine are beautiful in planters and window boxes. These do well in shade too.

Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)

Thymol is a protective, antiseptic, physically and spiritually cleansing herb oil.

Used for gastrointestinal and respiratory complaints as well as breaking bad habits, making positive changes, stopping nightmares.

Make a strong infusion by covering thyme with boiling water and allow to steep. Let the infusion cool while you bathe, then strain out the herb and use the liquid as a hair and body rinse.

Carry thyme in your pocket.

Season food with thyme, especially chicken.

Travel: caraway seed, dill, fennel, mustard, parsley

Trees:

Choose a tree that will fit your space, not one that you will have to heavily prune in later years. It should have room to grow, away from house rooflines and overhead wires, and the reach of the roots (the width of its widest branches) should be able to draw water from the earth.

Planting in the shade of a tree

Even shade-tolerant flowers like impatiens won't thrive in the deep shade of a big oak, maple or beech tree. Try a woodland plant like mayapple.
In dappled shade (under a birch, crab apple or pine) try: ferns, impatiens, hostas, spring bulbs (Trout Lily), Bluebells, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Solomon's seal.

Birch: The silver birch was my father's favorite tree, both in nature and in landscape paintings. We had silver birch planted on our front and side lawns when I was growing up, and one still stands. It is one of the earliest trees to grow leaves in the spring and in folklore, the tree is associated with renewal, purification, and new beginnings.

Don't prune birch trees in the spring.

In very early spring before the leaves turn darker green, they can be picked and fried in oil and then seasoned like potato chips. I haven't tried this. After hard winters, people may have once eaten these leaves to survive. A tea made from birch leaves picked in the early spring and dried, is said to have diuretic and antiseptic properties and was used to treat urinary tract infections.

Tapped birch sap can be rubbed on the skin to relieve skin rashes and inflammation from gout. Birch sap, brewed into a wine, was taken as a tonic for kidney stone.

European white birch has small green summer leaves. Its multiple trunks and white-and-black bark are attractive in winter. Can be pruned to keep down its size. Can be used in container roof gardens.

Callery or Bradford Pear: Now considered invasive, do not plant.

Dogwood: Attractive little trees with large flowers in spring, orange or red fall leaves.

Flowering Crab Apple, Cherry or Plum: Flowers in the spring, pretty little apples in fall but not messy, can be pruned to size.

Gingko: Female gingko trees produce thousands of small green fruits that squish underfoot and have the odor of putrid meat--don't plant a female gingko tree near your house.

Japanese Maple: Small (under 6 ft) ornamental accent plant, deeply cut and lacy leaves, prune well.

Honey Locust: A small-leafed tree with leaves that turn yellow in the fall and don't require mulching, provides semi-shade in the summer. Though the trunk isn't that thick, the branches spread wider than you'd think, so it may require trimming so branches don't interfere with rooflines and wires. Trim in the summer as it's difficult to tell dead wood from good wood in the winter.

Linden/American Basswood: one of the best trees for pollinators, now attacked by Asian beetles as well as aphids. Urban Forestry likes to plant these on boulevards but they're better in parks, not ideal near driveways or parking areas because aphid excrement can stain car paint.

Lilac: Beautiful and fragrant, this tall-growing shrub performs best with lots of sun. Don't plant near azaleas or hydrangeas as they don't like overly acid or alkaline soil. Every garden used to have a lilac bush. Lilacs are said to keep away wandering spirits.

Mugo Pine: Long-lived, small, thrives without care, fine for containers on a roof.

Native Smaller Trees

Serviceberry: A smaller, slender tree that can also be bushy, provides berries and shelter for smaller birds.

Redbud: A smaller ornamental tree with pretty purple blooms in the spring.

Non-Native Small Trees

Star Dogwood Tree: a small Asian import that is less susceptible to fungus than native dogwoods, with beautiful star-like flowers in the spring.

Plum Leaf Crabapple: from China, pretty flowers.

Mountain Ash: protective tree planted near the home. The berries sweeten after a frost, providing winter food for birds like Cardinals, and for squirrels. Leaves are small and do not require mulching, just rake into the garden.

Oak: A protective tree. A tall oak near your home will be hit by lightning first, protecting a house from fire. Branches shelter birds, flowers benefit pollinators, acorns nourish wildlife.

Privacy Trees

Columnar trees planted along a fence provide privacy from close neighbors:

columnar maple, oak, European green beech, cedars.

Willows:

Beautiful along a river in the countryside, willow species are the original source of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) used to treat pain and fever. Infusion used to be made by boiling the young bark from taller branches.

Unfortunately, willows (including pussy willows) are not best planted in the city or anywhere their long roots can strangle and break sewer and water pipes.

Cut branches at the base, flush with the supporting trunk. Don't leave a stub of a limb (an entry point for boring insects or diseases.) Let the cut h

A gift of pussy willows in the spring brings good luck to the recipient.

Twitch Grass
See Couch Grass

Vines

Vines naturally twine up a tree or post counter-clockwise, so do not try to tie them up otherwise.

Watering: Finger Tips

When planning a garden, make sure you have accessible outside water.

Gentle watering with a soaker hose or drip irrigation system in the early morning is best (before 5 AM).

Watering in the evening promotes mildew and other fungi to grow (unless you're in the American southwest.)

Push your finger into the dirt.
When dirt is dry to the first finger joint, water seedlings and newly planted bedding plants deeply.
When dirt is dry to the second finger joint, water roses, flowering shrubs and perennials.
Perennials that have been growing in your garden for over a year only need to be watered in a drought. Use collected rainwater if you can.
Sandra waters house plants with dirty aquarium water to fertilize.
If you water plants with cooled water in which you've boiled vegetables, don't use salted water, or cabbage or broccoli water, the sulfurous smell will linger. Boiled potato water will contain starch that could cause mold to grow in houseplant soil.
Walls and Wind
Air circulation in the garden discourages disease, distributes pollen and seeds and reduces humidity.
High winds can break and damage plants and harsh winds are drying so in high wind areas choose plants adapted to drought.
Seaside winds carry salt that can kill plants not native to those conditions.
Wind scorch can kill new buds and blacken and wither leaves.
Trees planted as a windbreak on a very exposed site should be spaced approximately 10 times their height apart, to allow 50 per cent of the wind to permeate the windbreak.
Low-growing drought-tolerant plants, planted close together, will do better on exposed windy sites.
Constructing solid wind barriers creates downdraughts and frost pockets on either side of a solid wall or fence so don't plant a garden against them.
The area beside a sheltering wall or a house with an overhanging roof receives little rain so plant only drought-tolerant plants here.

Wisdom herbs:

Basil, bay, chamomile, chervil, cumin, dill, marjoram, parsley, sage, thyme, turmeric

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Stops bleeding, used as a skin astringent.

Wolfsbane: see Monkshood

Yarrow

Delicate appearance with feathery leaves but almost indestructible when grown in the sun.

Likes a dry, well-drained location and you don't have to water it much or at all once established.

Winter-hardy, it will come back for many years.

Some varieties grow up to 70 cm tall. Use low-growing varieties for naturalized boulevards.

Flat-faced white, red, orange or yellow flowers.

Cut flowers for bouquets.

Yews

Deciduous evergreens that attract pollinators and provide protection for small birds.

Plant near your house for protection.

Easy to grow.

Zinnia

Keeps flowering all summer to early fall.

The tall "cactus" flowering varieties are best for cutting according to the Cullens and will grow a metre high or more in full sun.

Zucchini

See notes for cucumber.