Appreciating the garden and thinking of dad

Steve Kawaratani

“Remembrance and reflection how allied. What thin partitions divides

sense from thought.”

-- Alexander Pope

“More grows in the garden than the gardener knows he has sown.”

-- Spanish Proverb

My garden was a refuge from last weekend’s holiday -- a safe house

for curious reflections. Another birthday came and went; I struggled

with the thought that it really didn’t matter, until I read my

birthday cards again and then again. I fed the house finches and gold

finches. I tied my tomato plants and their familiar smell triggered

thoughts of my father. I smiled to myself as the clouds dissipated

into blue skies.

This first month of summer in Laguna will bring sun, as well as

the expected gloomy skies. June gloom challenges a gardener to

control snails, weeds and diseases. Don’t forget that Sunday the

20th, is Father’s Day ... make it a special one, as dad enjoys

flowers too! Happy gardening from the Plant Man.

Q: Was Father’s Day invented by greeting card manufacturers?

A: No. Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington state, first proposed the

idea of a “father’s day” in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to

honor her father, William Smart. The first Father’s Day was observed

on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Wash. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson

signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June

as Father’s Day.

Q: Why are birds suddenly attracted to my lawn?

A: If you’re not leaving birdseed on your lawn, it is probably

being attacked by Sod webworm. It’s a little early for this lawn

pest, but the warm weather hastened the activity of the insect

larvae. Ask your favorite nurseryperson about control, as soon as you

suspect a problem.

Q: My gift cyclamen has finished blooming. Now what?

A: Cyclamen are best grown outdoors. Keep it in a cool, filtered

sun area. If it becomes too warm, the leaves will turn yellow. During

the fall, gradually withhold water until the plant becomes dormant.

Store the pot in the garage and bring it back out in the spring. With

warmer weather and water, it will return to flower.

Q: My rose leaves look like my grandmother’s old doilies, just

like lacework. What’s up!

A: Lacework holes in rose leaves are classic caterpillar damage.

Spray infested plants with either Orthene or Orthonex for immediate

control. Catharine prefers to control caterpillars with BT (Bacillus

thuringiensis), which is a biological control and most effective

while the caterpillars are small.

Q: How often should I water my tomatoes?

A: Often enough to keep the soil uniformly moist at all times, to

a depth of several inches. Fluctuating moisture can cause blossom-end

rot on tomatoes.

Q: Why are my tomato leaves curling inward?

A: Leaf roll on tomatoes is a physiological result of excessively

wet soil, most commonly seen during wet springs. It is a temporary

disorder and generally only staked tomatoes and the larger tomatoes

like Big Boy and Beefsteak are affected. Within a few days, as the

soil dries, the plant leaves should return to normal.

Q: Why do my gloxinia buds turn brown and wither?

A: Might be mites (have a nursery person take a look), but more

likely the air is too dry. A draft-free, moist environment would be

congenial for your plant.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of

Mark Tiner and Maxwell Sadler. Words cannot express the sorrow I

share with the entire community. I will spend a little extra time in

my garden as a remembrance this week. 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 two cats. He can be reached at (949)

497-2438, or e-mail to landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.