Wire Coat Hangers


© Howard Deutch
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brought over Purple Loosestrife. May his soul forever be assigned to subsisting entirely on boiled Loosestrife. Then there are other types of weeds. Kay is a lover of the small flowers of  Violas. Last year I planted almost 100 as a border to a brick sidewalk. Now there are quadrillions of Johnny-Jump-Up Violas sprouting in the spaces between all the bricks. Weeds? Yes. Despite this, upon succumbing to Gardener's Spring Folly at a favorite gardencenter, I have purchased Sorbet "Red Wing" and Sorbet "Lavender Ice" Violas. Ah well, some weeds have nice flowers. I have noticed in the past that when I indulged Kay's desire for Violas and planted some tricolor ones, after some years the self seeded plants in the lawn reverted to single and bicolor varieties. With the new additions there will be some strange combinations in years to come.

Dandelions are another desirable/weed plant. While some mercilessly destroy all Dandelions, others convert them to wine. Years ago a friend had me try some Dandelion wine he had made. It probably would have been useful as a deer repellant. Our local Farmer's Market displays fresh Dandelion greens which are sold as people food. Then again we have some who abhor Broccoli and others, like me, who love it.

Jerusalem artichokes have, I believe, nice flowers. The crunchy tubers, "artichokes", are a useful addition to a salad or a stir fry. But be careful. While your back is turned they can multiply beyond both reason and your appetite. Even a small section of tuber left behind after a harvest will produce a new plant the following season.

Beware of "friends" bearing gifts of extra plants. First check to make certain that they are not invasive which may be why your "friend" has so many. Kay received a gift of some forget-me-nots. I foolishly planted them. Does anyone want a few thousand of them? They have gone wild. To humor Kay, a lover of miniscule flowers, I tried to retain a few. I should have destroyed them all when I still had the upper hand. No more. They crop up everywhere now.

The recent past has been one of extremes. First a week of unusual and record breaking April warmth with a high temperature of 89°F (32°C). Buds burst into bloom and everything turned green. Then an earthquake hit early one morning shaking the house. This was followed by more usual local spring weather, snow again and a hard frost. Gardening is a never ending challenge.

Sisyphus
     

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

10.   May 6, 2002 3:30 AM
In response to message posted by Howie:

I might have to give this a try.

Those coat hangers scare me though. I know I woul ...


-- posted by Cottage_Garden


9.   May 4, 2002 6:31 AM
In response to message posted by MaggieM:

<img src="http:/ ...

-- posted by Howie


8.   May 3, 2002 3:43 PM
In response to message posted by MaggieM:
They made a couch out of socks??? Too bad it was radio - I'd love to have see that! ...

-- posted by CarolWallace


7.   May 3, 2002 3:42 PM
In response to message posted by Howie:
Oh, uou can keep them. It may not be needed for deer, but it might deter the rabbits. Jus ...

-- posted by CarolWallace


6.   May 3, 2002 1:22 PM
I will tell my brother in law about the coat hangers, it may work to save the hostas he has planted at his island lot on Lake Muskoka!
As for odd socks, Arthur Black, a CBC host and humourist had peo ...

-- posted by MaggieM





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