Variety abounds in the garden! Enjoy the different scents, flavors and textures
By LaVERLE McCANDLESS
Contributor
“How miraculous that growing on my own little plot of land are plants that can turn the dead soil into hundred flavors as different as horseradish and thyme, smelling ranging from stinkhorn to lavender.” John Seymour, English Naturalist.
What a wonderful quote! Then I got to thinking, ‘Just what is a stinkhorn to be in the quote opposite of lavender which is one of the most soothing aromas around.” You can bet your last dollar, I did some checking. The name “stink horn” comes from the stinking smell of the slime while the mushroom is developing. Some of these mushrooms are shaped like a horn, some are kind of pretty with tentacles, some look like the morels which are edible, some are ugly, ugly! There are a lot of sites on the computer to check out this plant. Have fun checking this out, just enter “stinkhorn” in search, look at the pictures and read all about these amazing stinkers.
Have you always done gardening of some type? When did you start? As a child alongside a parent or grandparent? Was your first “garden” a planter or two? Did you start as an adult for the fun of it with a few flowers here and there? Or because you got tired of mowing the grass and wanted something else in that very spot?
Maybe it's a planter, small raised bed, a small berm of plants in the middle of the lawn or a few square feet for a few tomatoes. Whatever you started with has now become a project that is done each and every spring. Each time the soil is turned, compost added, seeds or plants transplanted, a vigil begins. This vigil includes checking the thermometer several times a day, listening or watching the weather news more intently, watching the birds, (oh yes, after a while you begin to tell when the robin's chirp says “rain or storm is coming” or “it's a good weather day”), when the plants are doing good, when they aren't.
All this is not an exact science, there are so many variables in growing plants of all types. Not all plants react the same to sunshine, shade, wind, watering, transplanting, etc. There are temperamental plants that resent transplanting but will reward you if you are very gentle with their roots when transplanting, there are plants just the opposite that don't mind being moved about at all. Once the non-temperamental plant really likes its place in the soil and it flourishes like never before, leave it there. It is a happy camper.
Be sure to check the plant labels for the ideal planting site. Most of the labels will state full sun, part sun or full shade. Some companies add the type of soil conditions and watering amounts the plants needs to reach full potential. If not, do some checking and ask the sales person about the requirements of the plants. Then use your judgment whether you got enough information or not to justify purchasing the plant. You can also check the local library for information and/or use their computer for checking on the plants if you don't have one at home. You want the best for the plant so it rewards you all summer or all year if it is a perennial.
Many thanks to each and everyone who came to the Gardeners of Cheney Plant Sale on May 15 to purchase plants. The winners of the raffle baskets: Walt Johnston of Cheney and Carol Bordeaux of Medical Lake. Enjoy all the goodies in your basket.
Questions and comments should be directed to LaVerle at (509) 455-7568 or [email protected].
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