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My wife and myself send this brief message of sympathy, and our prayers, to the relatives and friends of those involved in the terrible events of September 11 in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania.
Flowers are symbols. Placed at accident spots, at embassies, at palaces and at other places - to help us remember about people. The full significance of what happened on September 11th has yet to get through to the world. Sorrow in flowers guys. As gardeners, planters, and growers spend some time thinking and planning what you can do about a 'Garden of Remembrance' for all those who in some way suffered from (to quote John Howard) 'an international action of bastadry'. That is what it is - and that is what it was. I have to think about what kind of flowers to plant in my garden of remembrance - roses, azaleas, rhododendrons - who knows. Whatever they are - we will remember. The azaleas were excellent this year. The pinks, the whites, the reds were at their very best. I have a lot of space in a shady spot - just in the middle of reorganising and laying some new paving stones. Under the trees would be an ideal place for a lot of azaleas, and I could plant some rhododendrons as well. I keep forgetting that the real family name for the azalea is rhododendron. Azaleas need an acid soil with a pH reading of 4.5 to 5.0. I will get the soil tested in a couple of weeks and then begin the job of preparing the ground. Ready mixed azalea soils are available in the garden centres I believe. It is quite all right to mix ones own. Rotting compost, peat moss, liberal amounts of animal manure and other composts would be quite good. Each bed should be firm and watered well. The roots of the azaleas are thin and fine and grow close to the surface - best not to disturb them. A good mulching around the plant will help to preserve them and weeds kept well away from the plants at all times. Go To Page: 1 2 |
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