What a privilege it is to have a garden. When I contemplate my good fortune, after the raging wildfires claimed my friends and neighbors homes and gardens, I am reminded how I have taken my home and garden for granted.
Reflection is good, rebuilding is hard. Though we can’t take away the anguish of loss we can encourage loved ones and neighbors with support through these times.
Joining our community’s efforts to distribute food, clothing and shelter are tangible ways to help. School supplies and messages of heartfelt concern are welcome as well.
Though my garden is not the productive phenomena I had envisioned I have plenty to share with the food bank for distribution to those whose dinner plans are bleak.
We can prepare for catastrophe but as we have learned this summer, we are often at the whim of the wind.
If I didn’t learn anything else from the wildfires in my neighborhood I learned we are all in this together.
As we look forward to the longer, cooler and nights in September we might be able to extend tender crop production by covering the plants at nighttime.
It is a good idea to leave root crops such as carrots, and beets in the ground until after a hard frost. The roots are sweetened by the frost.
When your potato vines look yellowed and withered, do not despair. That means the potatoes underground are ready to be harvested. Before you store them let the potato skins dry and toughen up for a few days in a shady protected place.
The end of August/ first of September is a good time to decide which of your perennials to divide and where to put them.
Then when the weather cools a bit and there is no wind you can safely move them to their new homes.
Many perennials can be divided and transplant well in the fall. Some of my trusty favorites are iris, rudbeckia, (Black-eyed Susan), guara, hardy geranium, yarrow, sedum, Shasta daisies, salvia, Russian sage, echinacea, herbaceous peonies, penstemon, and hellebores. I also divide and tuck in spring flowering bulbs at this time.
Though the smoke in the air has raised havoc in our lungs and eyes, much of the fine particles have found their way into the ground. It almost seems nature’s way of apologizing for the devastating destruction of the fires in and around our towns.
— Margaret Swenson is a Spokane County Master Gardener and can be reached at 509-477-2181
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