HELEN NICOLAOU, Special to The Standard
SCUGOG: Summer has certainly been a joy bringing us much-needed smiles and a feeling of relaxation.
July had perennials exploding with waves of daylilies, daisies, hydrangeas and annuals, putting on a great show. But if you’re like me, getting towards the end of August, the garden looks a bit drab, with only the odd bloom reminding us summer has ended. After years of feeling this disappointment, I’ve realized garden centres are not just a one-stop-shop in spring. They offer a great selection of bright late-blooming perennials, which will continue to dazzle us during the shorter days of fall.
August brings relief from the hot, humid days and is a great month to divide overcrowded perennials. Then it’s time to split and replant your favourites or toss them, if they haven’t performed as expected
Share or trade your extras with a neighbour or gardening friend. It’s satisfying to see a plant you’ve enjoyed flourish in another yard.
On an evening out, I visited The Grey Silo Lavender Farm. Owners Michelle and Dave Graham hosted a Cooking Demo at the beautifully restored century barn.
Chef Alex Page served up all things Lavender, featuring locally sourced produce from within Durham Region.
The event began with a refreshing Lavender mocktail allowing us to lose ourselves amongst the heavenly scented rows of lavender. We settled in with the demo continuing on to the main course of roasted vegetables with savoury lavender parm infused whipped cream, crab cake with lavender aioli and a delicious chocolate mousse topped with a hint of lavender-infused sea salt for dessert. It was a wonderful change from the ordinary and a super night out.
Micol Marotti, last month’s presentation on Flower Food was informative. She gave us a new way of appreciating edible flowers for more than just their beauty. We were thankful that Micol shared some of her favourite recipes.
Come out to Pioneer Days and step into the past with us, at Scugog Shores Museum on Sunday, August 22nd, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We would love to see you at the Herb Garden behind the Lee House.
Our next virtual meeting with guest speaker Jeff Mason on “Bringing Colour to your Spring Garden” will be at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7th. Jeff will be open for Questions and Answers after his presentation.
We are not experts, just amateurs who love to garden and want to share our enthusiasm. For information on becoming a member, visit PineRidgeGardenClub.com.