Hits & Misses: Brave birds & biting cold
Question of the Week: I need to sod my yard and plant trees and shrubs this spring. Which should I do first?
The Business: Special delivery

Ah…there’s nothing like record-low temperatures to get one dreaming about spring. Right now we’re on the cusp of sending our spring 2010 edition of Enjoy Gardening to press. Our editor extraordinaire, Carmen Hrynchuk, and her team have been working flat out to finalize all the details before handing the magazine over to the printers. It should arrive on store shelves across the country in late January or early February. Here’s a sneak peek at the cover.

In case you’re wondering, the cute golden bear on the cover is McGregor; the guy in the corner is me. Yes, people have already alluded to the similarities between the two of us. “Hey, you played football for the Golden Bears and spent most of that time sitting on your rear end looking just as dejected.” Funny…very funny.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Brave Birds
The other day I watched birds, a blue jay in particular, feed in my neighbour’s yard. What fascinated me was how the jay happily flew about in total disregard of the record low daytime temperature of –40°C! The paradox is that a bird’s body temperature is, on average, a balmy 40°C. How birds can manage to maintain their body temperatures when it’s that cold is beyond me. But it was an uplifting experience to see a robust blue jay flitting about the yard, seemingly oblivious to the frigid Arctic air. Let’s keep the feeders full!

Miss: Biting Cold
The cold is definitely the miss of the week. In fact, if last weekend’s temperatures had held, we’d have been forced to completely shut down poinsettia deliveries this week. That’s because the plants wouldn’t have survived the short trip from the vans to homes and offices, even with double bagging. Fortunately, the weather is improving, and the poinsettia frostbite risk has diminished considerably.

The Business
Special Delivery
Speaking of poinsettias, ‘tis the season for our delivery department to be really busy. We normally have one delivery truck on the road, but for the Christmas season that jumps to five. From the beginning of December, our five drivers and their swampers average 125 separate stops a day. However, the total number of poinsettias, floral and indoor arrangements each day is usually twice that number—and sometimes even three or four times. The entire process is an amazing feat of logistics. First, orders are taken. Then, poinsettias are picked from the growing range, bagged, tagged, and sorted into the appropriate delivery quadrant. Of course, the final step is the actual delivery. For me, finding all those addresses would be a Christmas miracle. But, fortunately, it’s not my responsibility, and our staff does a great job.

Question of the Week
I need to sod my yard and plant trees and shrubs this spring. Which should I do first?
Practically speaking, it’s much easier to plant the trees and shrubs first. That’s because you’ll need to dig a hole that is one-and-a-half times the depth and twice the diameter of the plant container. You also need to amend the soil in the planting hole. We recommend one part topsoil, one part peat moss and one part compost or manure. Then when you place the sod, keep a grass-free area around each plant that’s at least twice the diameter of the container.

Did You Know?
Sodium and potassium salts from kelp are used for industrial purposes.

“Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.”
–John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Greenhouse space is a big challenge in the garden centre industry. You need thousands of square feet for growing and selling plants in the spring, but for the rest of the year most of that square footage becomes surplus space. Traditionally, garden centres simply can’t repurpose their greenhouses because of physical limitations, which is the case at our current location.

So, when we initiated the Enjoy Centre, we began with the idea that for the eight months of the year when we weren’t growing a crop our greenhouse would be home to events such as conventions, trade shows, weddings and other celebrations. It meant needing to design a space that would allow our retail greenhouse to be used for more than selling plants. Of course, that’s added significantly to the cost, but the result is a magnificent design that’s aesthetically pleasing as well as practical.

It does, however, create a new challenge: explaining how our new greenhouse is different. It’s a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, both our old facility and the Enjoy Centre are greenhouses, but they’re so distinctive it’s almost unfair to compare them.
The merits of building a greenhouse so it doesn’t always have to be a greenhouse have always been evident to us. And once you see it, we know you’ll agree.

I came across this lovely set of photos of the Lois Hole Commemorative Gardens at the Alberta Legislative building.

first published December 3, 2009

When we think about plants that have deep historical significance on the Prairies, I’m certain that wheat, canola or forage grasses are at the top of most lists. But there’s one rather unorthodox plant that also deserves its place in Prairie history—the Christmas cactus.

The Christmas cactus?! Yes, I know that a plant indigenous to tropical climes seems an unlikely candidate to share a podium with wheat. But, then again, since Alberta’s first premier, Alexander Rutherford, loved Christmas cactus, it deserves honourable mention.

At the historic Rutherford House on the University of Alberta campus, cuttings from Premier Rutherford’s original 100-year-old Christmas cactus are still growing today.

Alberta’s first premier was a passionate naturalist. In fact, his passion for flora was instrumental in inspiring university students to plant trees, which are part of the verdant oases of American elms and other shade trees on campus today. And since Rutherford didn’t believe in sacrificing evergreen trees for Christmas, the cactus became his surrogate Christmas tree (and a self-decorating one when it bloomed on time).

Of course, the task of nurturing the 100-year-old cactus has long since passed from the family to the passionate staff at Rutherford House, who have taken cuttings numerous times when the plant has outgrown its pot. However, life hasn’t always been easy for this precious cactus. It’s had to endure the occasional dousing from visitors, who believed the poor cactus was in desperate need of a drink. Apparently, it’s also enjoyed the odd libation from time to time during the course of an evening event.

So, if Premier Rutherford’s cactus passion has inspired you to start your own heirloom houseplant, now is the perfect time. December is when they are in full bloom and available everywhere. Here’s what you need to know.

Watering
You’ll want to choose a healthy plant with a vigorous root system and keep it that way by avoiding the temptation to overwater. Christmas cacti are prone to crown rot if the soil surface stays consistently wet, so allowing the top 1–2 cm of soil to dry between each watering is really important. If possible, do not water from the top. Instead, place your potted cactus into a tray of water, and let the soil draw up its fill. However, remember to never let your Christmas cactus sit in the tray of water for more than an hour.

Getting blooms
It’s not usually hard to get a Christmas cactus to bloom, especially where we live. You can trigger the blossoms by providing cool, indoor night temperatures (12–14ºC) for a period of four to six weeks. Alternatively, 13–16 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day (which is easy to provide at this time of year) for two weeks will also set blooms. Remember, though, that Christmas cacti must receive plenty of sunlight during the day to have enough energy to produce flowers in the first place.

Once the blooms have set, don’t be tempted to move your cactus to a showier location or to rotate it too much. Because the buds turn towards the light, reorienting the plant can weaken bud necks and cause them to drop. Changes in the intensity and duration of light can also cause flowerbuds to drop.

Repotting
A Christmas cactus has a very fine root system, and can be grown in the same sized pot for years. However, the soil in that pot needs to be replaced every few seasons. This should be done after the plant has finished flowering.

There’s no denying that the Christmas cactus is a great holiday plant—even if you’re not ready to trade in your Christmas tree for one. And, although I concede that grains, oilseed plants and forage grasses helped build the Prairie provinces, the Christmas cactus most definitely deserves some recognition of its own. After all, I doubt there’s another plant that’s been subjected to (…er…I mean privy to) as many political discussions as Rutherford’s cactus.

I have never had as many meetings as I’ve had in the last four months. I knew planning, organizing and executing the Enjoy Centre would be a complex project, but I didn’t know there would be so many meetings.

Not that every meeting is high-level and difficult, but each takes time and moves me in a little different direction.

Recently, it was warehouse walls, gas line permits, electrical distortion loads, fire-tube boilers and paintings. Yes, paintings.

There it was on the agenda at one of my meetings—a discussion about art at the Enjoy Centre. So, just when I was immersed in fire-tube boilers, I had to stop in my tracks and try to think about art.

Boilers and art—together at last! I can’t wait to see where the path takes us next week.

Hits & Misses: Grass for the dogs & a furry threat
Question of the Week: Why are the bracts on my poinsettia turning black?
Science & Technology: Killer tomatoes

We really lucked out with the recent weather. Yes, I know you’re probably questioning my sanity, considering the huge dumps of snow and low temperatures we’ve had. But had temperatures plunged without that snow, a lot of our garden plants would have suffered. Snow is the plant equivalent of a down-filled blanket and offers a lot of protection to crowns and roots. The foot or so of snow prior to the arrival of the frigid arctic air means plants—especially the more tender ones—will have a better chance of surviving winter relatively unscathed. Remember, though, that no amount of snow will protect the potted banana plants you left on your deck…I should know; I’m speaking from experience.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Grass for the Dogs
If cat owners can buy cat grass, then why can’t dog owners buy dog grass? Well, now they can. “Organic dog grass” (a.k.a. barley grass packaged in a biodegradable rice-hull pot) has hit the market and should make Rex happy. This trendy product is, apparently, good for dogs because barley grass is full of essential vitamins and minerals that can improve their vitality. Plus, biodegradable pots might just transform your dog from tree destroyer to tree hugger.

This trendy new seed kit—complete with a biodegradable pot
—is meant to be grown for fido.

Miss: A Furry Threat
Can you hear that chewing sound? It’s the sound of mice and voles feasting on the bark of your tender fruit trees. OK, to be honest, these furry little critters likely haven’t begun to attack your trees, yet. However, the recent, heavy snowfall has provided rodents with good shelter from predators, as well as from the cold. Therefore, when they do eventually attack, you won’t even be able to see them. So, as unappealing as the idea may be in this cold weather, I’d suggest caging the trunks of young trees now. It’s a far better option than having trees damaged beyond repair in the spring.

Science & Technology
Killer Tomatoes
According to Dr. Mike Fay, from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in England, tomato plants can be carnivorous. Well, he’s not saying you have to watch your back in the tomato patch. But, he did discover that some wild species of tomatoes can trap insects in their sticky stem and leaf hairs, and absorb the dead insect nutrients through their epidermis. As well, insects trapped on the hairs often fall to the ground where they decompose and provide nutrients for the tomatoes. I’m beginning to think that Attack of The Killer Tomatoes, while definitely not a documentary, might be a movie based on a true story.

Question of the Week
Why are the bracts on my poinsettia turning black?
It’s quite simple—they got too cold. More than likely, the damage happened during transportation. Poinsettias are extremely sensitive to cold and have to be wrapped in an insulating material (paper as opposed to plastic) before they go from store to vehicle. And when single-digit or negative temperatures exist, you can’t leave them in an unheated vehicle, even for a short time. Before turning black, the first sign of cold damage will be wilting bracts. You can even get wilting bracts from cool drafts in your house (although usually not blackening), so, remember to keep your poinsettia away from the front door.

Did You Know?
Claviceps purpurea, a fungus that infects rye, produces an alkaloid that is a precursor to the hallucinogenic drug LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).

“Content is a word unknown to life; it is also a word unknown to man.”
–John Fowles

This whitefly pupae has been colonized and killed by a fungal species called Beauvaria bassiana. Amazingly, the yellow coloured part of the photograph shows the adult whitefly was starting to emerge when the fungus took hold. The fuzzy-looking fungus is being tested on our poinsettia crop and is just one part of our biological control program. The naturally occurring fungus is harmless to people, but deadly to insects such as whiteflies and aphids. Under ideal conditions (high humidity and fairly cool temeperatures) the fungus will germinate within an hour and be visible to the human eye within three days. The fungus is working well and will likely be trialed on other crops such as annual vines.

Snow Maestas from the Ecke Ranch and GrowerTalks editor Chris Beytes enjoy a meal of poinsettia leaves

Hits & Misses: Feathered wreaths & A not-so-fine feathered friend
Question of the Week: Can I grow potted herbs indoors?
Science & Technology: Small and mighty

It was exam time for me last week. I was back in the classroom because I wanted to become recertified as a professional arborist. Yes, I confess, I didn’t keep up with the mandatory continuing education credits, so the only alternative was to rewrite the International Society of Arboriculture exam. If you’re unfamiliar with the ISA, it’s an organization whose objectives include “fostering a greater appreciation for trees.” Of course, an arborist is a professional in the field of tree care, so to become certified you need practical experience, as well as a passing grade on that darn 3.5-hour exam. If you’re wondering, yes, I did pass and, yes, I will help the ISA “promote research, technology and the professional practice of arboriculture.” I also promise to retain my certification by completing my yearly credits. But, no, I will never, ever climb a 50-foot tree with a chainsaw in hand—and neither should you.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Feathered Wreaths
Christmas greens and wreaths are popular once again and it seems one type of wreath is practically flying out the garden centre this year. The wreaths I’m talking about have a few ostrich feathers strategically placed in with the usual complement of boughs, cones and ornaments. I guess it reflects people’s desire for traditional Christmas items that still have flair. Hmmm…I suppose that since the ostrich is a flightless bird, the wreaths are actually walking rather than flying out the store.

Miss: A Not-So-Fine Feathered Friend
Staying with the trees-and-feathers theme, here’s a skill-testing question: what looks like a tree and feels like a tree, but isn’t a tree? A hot tub, obviously. Well, obvious to one persistent pileated woodpecker, at least. Just ask Linda Bodo, who is both friend and the author of Enjoy Life Outside. She owns a wooden hot tub that was, apparently, the perfect surrogate tree for one woodpecker. Having a soft spot for these beautiful birds, Linda patched the hole with a metal cover and all was forgiven—until the woodpecker moved down a few inches and bored another hole. Sometimes there’s just no fighting nature.

It doesn’t look much like a tree; nevertheless,
it still caught the attention of a woodpecker.

Science & Technology
Small and Mighty
Some of the world’s smallest plants are poised to become some of the world’s most important plants. That’s what I learned from David Bressler, a specialist in the field of biofuels, at a lecture sponsored by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. He said companies, such as Exxon Mobil and British Petroleum, are funding research into extraction of biofuel from algae. They’re doing so to the tune of $600 million and $500 million, respectively. Who’d have thought big, multinational oil companies would see pond scum as the solution to the world’s insatiable appetite for energy?

Question of the Week
Can I grow potted herbs indoors?
Yes, but remember that herbs need at least four or five hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. That means you’ll need a west- or south-facing window to catch that much light, especially during our short winter days. Unfortunately, the diminished intensity of indoor light means an indoor herb garden will never be as productive as one grown outdoors. With our climate, that means gardeners who want fresh herbs year-round have little choice but to make the best of indoor light.

Did You Know?
Silk production in China was a closely guarded secret in ancient times. In fact, the punishment for anyone caught smuggling silkworms or eggs out of the country was execution.

“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
–Japanese proverb

The buzz of construction activity at the Enjoy Centre site the other day was amazing. There were workers everywhere—pouring concrete, building forms, moving materials, cleaning debris. And I could see the elevation changes, curved walls, big openings in the floor and thousands of metres of pipe running every-which-way. To some it may have looked confusing. To me, the site has always made sense.

At first, there were even some confused looks among the construction workers, mostly because of the dramatic elevation drop from the south side to the north side of the property. But as work has progressed, the building concept has become easier to understand.

I know the concept is even harder to visualize for those without access to the site. So that’s one of the reasons we’ve been sharing the progress through resources such as this electronic newsletter, our websites, Twitter and Facebook. We’re extremely excited about the Enjoy Centre, and today’s technology is helping us channel that energy.