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SIDNEY, CENTRE 655-1514

“Third St.

- Following, the eny
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rer pooenain snmp ermeon Waren

econd St

THE REVIEW ’ 9781- 2nd St, $ Sidney B.C.

Wednesday, May 3, 1989

Himself’s hobbles: lawnmower, cord and cane

“Himself is not exactly what
you. would call.an hysterically
keen gardener, but he does like
things to look nice. Possibly you
know that he has two plastic hips,
which give him a cerlain amount
of trouble (lots, actually) but, as
we have lost our regular lawn-
cutter, and the ‘grass was begin-

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a ne a a et et mm net we ee ae nt me om een eee of

ning to look like an untilled field,
he decided to mow the lawn.

He has a new toy — well, not
exactly new, but new-lo-us,
bought from a friend who was
moving away, an clectric mower.
Yesterday he decided to give it a
whirl.

For about two hours he par-
aded around the garden, one
hand holding the cord and his
cane, and the other guiding the
mower. It was complicated and
hazardous, but he did it. He
didn’t even cut the cord!

He arrived inside flushed with
success, perspiring profusely, and

Soin

| ay _ Sanctioned ese .
: Nicosia “:

looking about 10 years younger
than when he had started. Now
that he has. proven he can
actually do it, he can relax, and
we will try to hire someone else
to do the weckly lawn cutting.

Actually he has taken more
interest in the yard this year than
anytime I can remember. Makes
me a bit nervous. He does love to
slice things back, or cut. them
down, but what better year than
this when we have lost several
major shrubs.

He has had a wonderful time,
playing logger, hacking down an
enormous photinia, giving the
pool a lot more light'and chopp-
ing off the two huge seneccios.

He even ended up raking off

all the pine needles from one of

the raised beds (leaving the pile
on the cdge of the lawn). I kept
saying weakly, ‘But, dear, it
serves as a mulch.” He just went

-on raking, with that set expres-

sion he sometimes gets, so I left.
Now | must admit it looks a lot

_ onions, leek sccdlings,. spinach, *
"potatoes, lettuce ‘seedlings: and ~~
broad: beans (which astounded...
“me. by showing up, after-I had a; °
_- lot more pre-sprouting to replace...

the originals).-A° pretty. shabby :

-* showing; if you ask me!’ ee

“ve got: some Heavenly Blue «~~

“morning glories corning up in the

idier. I guess the rhododendrons
will survive without a mulch,
bul, poor dears, they did have ¢
hard winter!

1 am going to try something
new this year with the tomatoes.
They are still babies, all 293 of
them, now transferred into four-:
inch pots, but because it is sud-
denly so warm, T think with so
many plants I can afford to take a
chance.

As soon as we can get down to
the beach to collect some
scaweed to put in the bottom of
each hole, I’m going to plant six
of them out in the garden. Then
T’li plant another six at the usual
time (about May 24) and we will
make some comparisons,

These early ones will have
their own private homes,.a
tomato cage with a clear plastic
soil-bag pulled down over it, the
top cut out, and the bag fastened
with clothes-pegs to the cage. If
we have frost threatening, a piece
of newspaper tucked into the
cage-top should keep cach plant
from freezing.

We’ ll see what happens, but it
would be fun to have early tomat-

— ocs for a change. We always secm @)

to be about the last pcople on the
Peninsula to harvest a-ripe, juicy,
red, succulent tomato. Yum!

This is directed to those of you
who may be having trouble get-
ting your vegetable garden
started. The local farmers are just
now getting their ficlds
ploughed, and fertilized, I might
add: Nearly drove off the Pat Bay’
highway yesterday as I passed by @
Island View Road. The smell was
just stunning.

When ‘farmers start to plant,
it’s time to get your. secds sorted
and into’ the ground. This is all
probably a secret excuse for our

‘ yard which is so bare. at: the

moment I could weep. The soil
has all been turned over, but we
now have a sea of what Hazel
used to call. ‘‘clarts”’ (large,
unyielding chunks of soil).

_A heavy smack with the: spade.
reduces: ‘them .to” manageable
pieces, but a good rain would do

wonders. I-hate. to be. a rain- >.
“monger, but it would : be me

~wouldn’t it? ~.. :
so -far all: we: ‘have: planted are...

greenhouse. It was very interest-
_ing;.T put the seeds into a cup of.
watcr for 48 hours, and lo, right
there in. the cup, they sent out
roots. I hustled them. into: tiny
pots, and this morning there arc
four little fellas. with: their, heads
above the soil, funny looking
little characters they are, too!
We had a dear. friend: in-Saa-
‘nich Peninsula hospital recently.
We brought her some flowers, but
the only vase available. was ¢
quart jam jar, Tt was adequate, of
course, but not pretty. wondered -
_if anyone with extra-vases would@
consider. donating one to the
hospital; im sure the staff would
he delighted,
‘To keep tulips trom Hopping
over when brought inside, just
adda half teaspoon of corn
starch: tot he water, they will
“stand up straight. © ;
~ Ppicked up a tulip that. had -
been sliced off with. the Wee-
deater, and left lying i inthe sun, It
made-a neat circle when lifted,
but within an hour of being put @
© in water with the corm-stareh, had
WHS head held high: again, -
te Barber- Starkey had a yireal
dea. He has froit-trees: ine his
warden In Oak Bay, birt no bees to
pollinate their flowers. He: suje ”
gested (hat-the municipality rent
a hive of bees, keeping then in
the public works yard during the
Hime fruit trees are blooming,
returning them to their, owner!
When they had done their import
ant job,
Those of you in- C entral and
North. Saanich, probably don't
know what fam talking about,
hat Sidney-ites will understand,
The arrival of one fat bumble bee
is acause for celebration here!

“THAT'S HOW-MANY §
CANADIANS ARE |
SOPTRARL Avene

Ios ae nde’ G.

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