Gardening by Osmosis

The epitome of a warm June afternoon is enjoying ice cold lemonade and fresh oatmeal cookies with my friend Hetty in her garden.

We shared secrets and funny stories. We talked of flowers, family and friends. I listened to plans for a new garden by the side of her house.

All too soon it was time to part.

As I walked through the gate my sorrow in leaving her was comforted knowing hers was a spiritual garden.

My advice this week is to enjoy your garden with a friend.

Qualities of plants in my garden remind me of this dear soul.

Mock orange and honeysuckle, what could be more delightful to the senses?

Philadelphus virginalis, the native mock orange perfumes the air in gardens and forests this month. Often referred to by many as syringa, this sweet scented shrub is extremely hardy.

Its needs are few: Moisture from winter snow, occasional spring rains and moderated temperatures.

Blue skies seem to be part of this equation as well.

A cultivated variety such as the dwarf double flowering Minnesota snowflake is a lovely companion in the spring shrub border.

The honeysuckle variety, Lonicera periclymenum, Berries Jubilee, a favorite of honeybees and hummingbirds, shares its gifts throughout the growing season. Its fragrant pale yellow flowers sweeten entry ways and walls and then present white flowers in early summer and again in late summer. In the fall, red berries shine on the plant. More food for the birds, though a word of caution, the berries are poisonous and can be toxic to humans.

Lavender, another aromatic plant offers fragrance with a mere brush to its foliage. After the bees and other pollinators have had their fill, pruning the flower stalks not only perfumes your house it encourages resurgence of new growth for next year’s blooms.

Lavendula augustifolia, Munstead is an English lavender that is excellent to grow in our dry summer climate.

Perovskia, Russian sage, a fragrant, drought tolerant graceful perennial shrub sends up blue flower stalks after lavender plants are finished flowering.

If you live in a deer restricted area, roses can provide an enduring treat for the olfactory. Many roses have a slight sweet/spicy fragrance. Some of my favorites are the hardy rugosa roses, especially the ‘Therese Bugnet’ with its pink buds and large double blooms and Royal Edward, the pink climber. For more information about roses, contact the Northland Rosarium @northlandrosarium.com or call 509-448-4968.

Other aromatic plants include artemisia and the herbs, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage, and lemon balm among many other culinary choices.

A beautiful tree to incorporate in your yard is the Linden tree with its delicious fragrance of demure flowers. The bees will love you for it.

I can’t believe it! I went away for three days and when I returned and inspected my garden there were little round holes everywhere the lawn. The holes were open and about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. There were too many holes to place traps and not enough predators around so I had to resort to chemical control.

If you are plagued with voles “mole and gopher” bait is available to home owners. Though not specifically registered for voles, this treatment is effective. It is must be administered, however, exactly according to label directions.

I do hope however that the wildlife that visits your garden are the varieties that fly and sing songs. Your guests will appreciate these inhabitants.

Please contact the WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners

@http://spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/

or call 509-477-2181 for more information

Master Gardeners are available at the Cheney Library 1st & 3rd Fridays April to October