Getting the garden ready for Valentine’s Day

Steve Kawaratani

“All mankind love a lover.”

-- RALPH WALDO EMERSON

“I have been in love ... This many and many a year.”

-- ALEXANDER BROME

According to Western tradition, the Roman priest Valentine was

martyred during the persecution of Christians, in the third century

A.D. A Roman feast was Christianized in memory of the saint. During

the ensuing millennia, St. Valentine became associated as a patron of

lovers.

The modern history of the holiday was initially observed with the

exchange of romantic greeting cards, called “valentines.” Through

skillful marketing and exploitation, the ante for St. Valentine’s Day

has risen considerably.

Today, a “feast” at one of Laguna’s fine restaurants would be a

good beginning accompanied by diamonds, Godiva chocolates and an

outrageous bouquet of flowers.

Your recent questions for the Plant Man, my friends, included:

Q: Hello Plantman. I have just bought a new home and my neighbors

are really messy. What can I plant that will grow fast and hide next

door?

A: A word of caution, many plants that grow quickly may also

develop into view blockers for others. I would consider the merits of

hopseed bush, Carolina laurel cherry and podocarpus as possible

screening plants. Good luck!

Q: Is it OK to prune my pine tree?

A: November through February is the safest time to prune most

conifers. The danger of attracting insect predators is lessened due

to limited sap flow.

Q: My pyracantha turned black and died during the holidays. What

happened?

A: A bacterium, commonly called Fireblight, likely killed your

plant. Symptoms include a blackening of infected flowers, twigs and

leaves. Prevention includes removing infected branches (disinfest

pruning shears with 10% bleach solution after each cut) and spraying

copper sulfate before bud break in the spring.

Q: Is it too late for bulbs?

A: Spring bulbs, like callas, gladiolus, lilies and Lily of the

Valley are available at your favorite garden center. If you can find

them, there is time to plant daffodils, ranunculus and narcissus.

Q: Is it safe to prune roses if the rose bush is still leafy and

is even producing flowers?

A: I would wait until the “flush” of flowers ends and then prune

my roses. Remember, you have until the end of February to prune your

roses in Laguna.

Q: Plantman! What flowers look good now?

A: Delphinium, English primrose, foxglove, Iceland poppy, pansy,

snapdragon, stock and viola top my garden color list for this month.

Q: I have an apple tree that has produced well, however, there

were no apples this past year. What happened?

A: Apples are produced on short fruiting branches that are two

years older or more. If you pruned your tree severely there could be

no fruit. Many apple varieties will sometimes experience “off-years,”

a lack of fruit after a particularly heavy crop the previous year.

Weather-related problems, such as cold or heavy rains at blossom time

can also cause crop reduction.

Valentine’s Day, need I remind you my friends, is next weekend. It

is a day we celebrate the love we hold for that special someone.

Catharine and I plan to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day at home with

champagne, but without diamonds. Be assured I will say, “I love you,”

along with the loveliest flowers I can find. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1278 Glenneyre St. in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist,

Catharine Cooper, and has three cats. He can be reached at (949) 497

2438 or e-mail to landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.