This spring, so many perennials bloomed weeks ahead of normal. This is still happening. Usually, the lilies, phlox and Shasta daisies don’t begin to bloom until mid-July. This year, they started to flower in late June. I can’t help but wonder if this is the “new norm.”
When the tall delphiniums have bloomed all the way to the top, cut each bloom stalk all the way to the ground. This way, the plant will bloom again in the fall. It won’t be quite as spectacular, but nice just the same.
Foxgloves are about bloomed out too. These plants are done for, so be sure to let some go to seed, or you won’t get any new ones. For appearance sake, go ahead and cut most of the bloom stalk down, but not all the way. Leave a couple of inches of seed pods which will continue to develop.
Speaking of seed pods, there are two schools of thought about those on the lilac bushes. They’ve turned brown and don’t look all that great but actually it doesn’t matter whether you leave them on or cut them off. It’s just personal taste.
If your lettuce “bolted” during those days of 90 degrees, go ahead and pull the plants out. Toss them into the compost pile. If you’d like another crop, wait until fall, when the weather cools off.
Now for another job. July is the time to divide irises. This needs to be done about every 3 or 4 years. If not, they will stop blooming. Once you decide which plants need surgery, get out your garden fork or shovel and go to it. Dig up the entire clump, then break all the old center growth out. Toss that part. Replant only the healthy looking parts that grew on the outer edges.
Dig a nice deep hole for each. Sprinkle in some bone meal and plant away. The trick is to put the big fat root, called a rhizome, on a mound in the center of the hole with the roots fanned down on either side. Cover the roots with dirt and be sure the top of the rhizome is at ground level. Water well and you’re done.
I hope the butterflies have been visiting your yard. I’ve been seeing quite a few and most are the huge tiger swallowtail variety. They are tame enough so you can sneak up on them for a good look, or a photo.
The hummingbirds have also been frequent visitors. They can suck a sugar water feeder dry in no time. If that isn’t happening, you’ll need to dump out the mixture every few days in hot weather. It will go bad if you don’t. Refill and rehang it (in shade if possible,) and they’ll be back to guzzling away.
We have only three types of hummingbirds in North Idaho. These are the Calliope, the Rufous and the Black-Chinned. The males are easy to identify, but most of the females and youngsters look similar. Have you ever seen one of their nests? They’re so tiny, about the size of half a walnut. The eggs resemble Tic Tacs. The females do all the work of making the nests and raising the young. Meanwhile, the “menfolk” are busy showing off their finery and running off the other males. Enough said.
Ladies, we need to remember this: “If a man says he’ll do something, HE WILL. There’s no need to remind him every six months.”
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Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column appears in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October.