Plants awaiting their move to the outdoors

If you are new to gardening you may not be in the know about hardening off. This is a reminder to amateurs and seasoned gardeners alike to please harden off your plants before you put them outside to enjoy the summer!

I was over at a friend’s house recently and she was proudly showing off her newly-planted vegetable garden. After telling me what each row would grow into she frowned and said “and these were the pepper plants I grew form seed indoors, and they just died when I put them in the ground.” I should have known what happened right away, but I have been out of the greenhouse for a couple of years now.

I first learned about hardening off the first spring I worked at Kingsbrae. It was the first warm beautiful sunny day, and I was cleaning in a room where we had stored some plants for the winter. These plants had a few windows and artificial lighting all winter. Since the floor really needed a wash I moved all the plants outside to a table in the sun thinking they would just love it. Well the Garden manager came along about 30 minutes later, explained what I had done wrong, and showed me the plants had been burnt by the sun. I was all done scrubbing the floor, so we moved everything back inside as he explained hardening off to me. Since it was early in the season, and they had only been out for 30 minutes, the plants would recover but not without some love and care. I had learned a very important lesson!

Plants grown inside or even in a greenhouse are not used to outside elements and direct sunlight. They need to be gradually introduced to the outside weather so they do no become shocked and die. This should be done over the course of a week or even more. Start by putting your plants outside on a warm day in a sheltered and shady location. Leave them out for no more than four hours then bring them back inside. Do this for three or four days, leaving them out an hour or two longer each day.

Now that your plants are used to the outside air they can handle dappled sunlight and a slight breeze. If it still getting cool at night be sure to keep bringing the plants back inside for the night. The next day you can put them in a location where they will get a few hours of direct sun light. Now, if the plants are sun lovers, they may be ready for direct sunlight all day. The process of hardening off really depends on the individual plant, but no plant should go from inside directly outside and into the ground.

If you have started vegetables inside, after a couple of days of hardening off you can set them (still in their pots) in what will be their permanent locations in the garden for a day or two before planting them in the ground. Also remember to ask, when purchasing plats from a plant centre, if they are ready to go in the ground or if they should be hardened off some before planting.

Gradually introducing your plants to the outside elements helps them strengthen their stalks and shoots to withstand wind and rain. Plants just like you can become sunburnt even if they are sun loving varieties, so be sure to work them up to direct all-day sun just like you would by building up a tan for the summer months!

During my four years as propagator I learned a lot about hardening off. Some plants would be ok if I put them outside on a warm rainy or cloudy day. Some would require more attention. It can be tempting on a beautiful sunny day to put your house plants out to get some sun, but beware! If you are unsure how tough your plants are always use the gradual approach to familiarizing them to the weather outside.

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.

We could not have asked for better weather for the opening weekend at Kingsbrae Garden. The sun was shining and the temperatures were nice and warm but not too hot. I had a busy weekend, but I finally made it down to the Garden on Victoria Day to see how it looked at the beginning of the season.

My Grandfather was visiting form Saskatchewan, so he met my husband, my son and I at noon. We headed into the Garden like regular visitors.  As usual the Entry Garden was not fully planted yet, but there is some colour from perennials and flowering trees.  The White Garden has many blooming flowers but what caught my eye was our Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ which is a White Bleeding Heart that is in full bloom and looking great! 

When my Grandfather paid for his admission he was presented with a Gift Certificate equal to his admission price good at the Garden Café, Gift Shop, and the Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre. This special runs until the end of May, but the Gift Certificates are good for the entire season! This is just to make up for the Garden not being fully planted with annuals as it is still a bit risky to put the most tender annuals out this early.

We decided to start by following the path toward the Café and Gift Shop but turned after the hedge and started down the Peony Walk. The Fruit Trees are in full bloom and smelling fabulous, and we have several different varieties of Magnolia Trees in various stages of bloom throughout the Garden as well. Our Wollemi Pine has grown so much that I don’t know if will fit in its protective cage this summer! [ed. note: You should see how that problem got solved!] The Peonies are off to a great start, but have not developed buds yet.

The Sculptures are starting to arrive for the 2012 Canadian Sculpture Competition that opens on June 14 with the awards ceremony.  Some are already in place and others are still arriving. This year’s entries will be on display the entire season for Garden Visitors to enjoy. June 14 also marks the opening of Charlotte County’s brand new festival ArtRageous  which runs June 14-17. Please follow the link to the festival page for a list of all the events taking place during the festival.

After leaving the Peony Walk we could hear the Peacocks calling from their pen. It is their mating season, so the males are fully feathered and they are very vocal! On our way to see the animals we passed the Blue Garden which already has some beautiful blue blossoms. The Dwarf Conifer Garden which was planted in 2009 is finally becoming established and the Hyssop Ribbon which runs through it adds a nice splash of colour. The Gravel Garden was looking wonderful as it always does this time of year with the Quinces and other Fruit Trees in bloom.

Before we got to the alpaca / goat pen we had to stop at the Children’s Fantasy Garden so Ethan could play in the different play houses and check out the bunnies. We were there for quite a while! When we finally lured Ethan away from the play houses we got to see Kingsbrae’s newest alpaca, Auguri.  Kingsbrae has quite a variety of animals now. Two years ago we got Muscovy ducks down in the pen to control the slugs and bugs bothering the goats and alpacas. They are doing a great job!  We also have two Silkie chickens which are not typical chickens—they are quite calm and friendly and have an unusual appearance.  I have also heard that we will be getting two miniature donkeys this summer!

I was getting pretty tired at this point as I am due to have a new baby myself in about two weeks, but before calling it a day I had to see the azaleas and rhododendrons. They are all looking great some are in full bloom while others are just beginning. After that I passed by the new Scree Bed which is planted with different varieties of sedums—mostly unusual Hens and Chicks. It is really taking shape now and should fill in rather nicely over the summer months.

We decided to go for lunch at the Garden Café we walked back toward the Café but had to stop at the Children’s Garden. Ethan played in the play house and sat down on the child size bench while we all took a break before walking up the hill. We walked back up through the Perennial Garden where we couldn’t help but notice the enchanting smell of the Purpleleaf Sand Cherry Standard (Prunus x cistena standard) which was in full blossom and looking magnificent.

There were many other guests enjoying lunch on the Patio but we decided to sit inside where it was quiet and cool. We all enjoyed some ice water while we waited. The food was excellent as it always is! I must mention that I had the seafood chowder for the first time and it was delicious! I guess it has taken me so long to try it because chowder is usually not what one would want after a long walk in the Garden, but it hit the spot in true Maritime fashion! 

The Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre still has a nice selection of plants and trees but with the beautiful weather we have been having things are moving quickly! Please come in to see what is hot this season and check for specials. We have many exciting events planned for this summer please join us on our Facebook Page to keep up to date on all that is happening at Kingsbrae Garden this summer!

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.

A world of colour and variety awaits you at the Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre

With opening weekend only a little over a week away, the workers are back at Kingsbrae Garden getting the Garden cleaned up and ready for visitors.

The Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre is already open for the season and stocked with hard-to-find perennials and lots of annual hanging baskets that are already full of colour. Come check out this season’s selection of perennials, seeds and pick up a hanging basket for your mom. The overnight and morning temperatures have still been quite cool but we will soon be stocked with annuals ready for planting as well. The Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre is open from 9:30am to 5pm seven days a week!

The Garden came through the winter gloriously! It was so refreshing to see everything coming back to life. The magnolia trees are in various stages of bloom. Don’t worry—there will be some in full beautiful flower for visitors to see and smell on opening day which falls on May 18 this year.

It is going to be a busy and beautiful season at the garden. This year we have the ARTrageous Festival, Kingsbrae’s Annual Sculpture Competition, Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s Whirligigs: Going with the Wind, and the Folk Art Festival all opening on June 14. Mark that date on your calendar and be sure to schedule a visit to the garden during these events to see all they have to offer. If you are on Facebook you can keep up with all that is happening at the garden this season by joining our Facebook page.

We also have some new additions to come and see! Maggie and Madeleine are our new miniature donkeys and we have Auguri, the baby alpaca born during the winter. Of course we still have the peacocks, rabbits, ducks and goats as well. There is a lot to see and do at the Garden this season!

They say when the forsythia blooms that it is time to plant your peas and prune your roses! Depending on where you are in Charlotte County the forsythias are either in full bloom or just finishing up. Grab your seeds and pruners and get back into gardening because the season has arrived!

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.

Witch Hazel in bloom

With record-breaking temperatures reaching the upper twenties, spring has arrived like never before! I had to be reminded that it was still March, and snow could still show up in the forecast. I am sure I am not the only one who forgot what month it was because with weather like we have been having it feels more like June or even July!

I spent Wednesday in the garden. There was not a cloud in sight—in fact nothing but sunshine throughout the entire Maritimes! The native honey bees were out in full force seeking the first flowers of the season, and they found some.

The first blossoms I saw were on the Witch Hazel Tree (Hammamelis mollis) in the Gravel Garden. This tree smelled beautiful and looked gorgeous! Then I saw that our hazel nut tree  (Corylus Webb’s Prize)had both the male and female blossoms out and the bees were  working their magic pollinating them. This is great because that means that there will be nuts! I found some of these nuts attached to a branch that had fallen off a passing Gator one year in the maintenance area. I cracked them open with a hammer and they were the best-tasting hazel nuts that I had ever come across!

The last blossoms I found were on Erica carnea commonly known as Heather. The varieties in bloom were ‘R.B. Cooke’ and ‘Springwood White’. The bees just loved these! I saw way too many honey bees to count and even a bumble bee!

They say “March will break your heart” and so it would seem with cooler temperatures and the possibility of snow in the forecast for next week. There may be plenty of broken hearts in our future.

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.

On the Front Lawn, with magnolia in bloom. Picture taken May 13, 2011

While spring has not officially sprung yet it is definitely in the air! I was in the garden briefly last week while it is still mostly covered in snow and ice; I could tell the Magnolias are getting ready to bloom.

To celebrate Spring’s impending arrival my husband and I took our son to Sugarbush Weekend at Kings Landing. This event will go again this coming weekend (March 24 and 25). I encourage anyone who would like to enjoy the sweet taste of spring to check it out, but wear your rubber boots as the spring thaw has the grounds pretty muddy!

I will be spending some time in the garden this spring as I am assisting with training the new Propagator. I loved my position at the garden, but I also love being a mother and returning to work even on a part time basis is not possible for me at this time. Even though I am expecting a new baby in the first week of June I will continue to contribute to the website as often as time allows. I look forward to seeing the first blooms of spring, and I hope to share them with you all as they pop up!

I would like to thank everyone who has ever commented on any of my previous posts. The past two years have been busy at home, and I neglected my work e-mail. When I finally sorted it out I was very pleased to see compliments on how informative my post are. I post as often as I can, but sometimes I am just too tired to at the end of the day to write a quality post. I have lots of ideas, and I will continue to share my knowledge and experiences with you all as I have time in the future.

I came across an interesting article recently on the internet that I would like to share because I think it is fantastic that this sort of thing is going on just across the border in Maine. It is called Securing Food One Greenhouse at a Time. If something like this can be built in Maine then there is no reason why it could not be built here in our region. I am planning on building some sort of greenhouse at my house in the future. One like this is probably out of my budget range, but anyone considering a build should check it out.

I am hoping to spend more time in the Greenhouse at Kingsbrae this week getting some of our ornamental trees ready for this summer. I hope to also go hunting through the garden for some Pasque Flowers. I don’t think I could ever walk away from the Garden completely because it was really through Kingsbrae Garden that my love for all things that grow truly blossomed. I feel that I owe it to the Garden to continue to contribute any way that I can!

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.