Wicked Weeds
Last Saturday was a grey and rainy day. The only motivation to stir the Izzie from her serpent snooze was the Farmer’s markets in Subiaco. Now that I’m working every second Saturday, it would be a shame to waste a free one but there was another more important method to our madness.
Knowing that it is infinitely easier to honour commitments to others rather than to myself, on my previous visit on the Easter weekend I had asked one of the stall holders if she had any saffron bulbs to spare since every other year they have a surplus. Of course they also sell the bright and shiny precious in little glass vials as a side line to the main business which is olive oil.
Several years ago I had bought some bulbs from their stall and was pleased as punch to get my paws on such precious specimens. Following their instructions plus those obtained from the Oracle of Google, I planted the critters and waited patiently. It did not take too long for little green shoots to appear but the flowers never did follow. Izzie was a foolish creature back then and had hogged the precious corms all to herself. I learnt my lesson the hard way when they all shrivelled up and this time decided to reserve one third for Petunia to plant in her own veggie patch. She has magic powers when it comes to green and growing things so this is a sort of insurance policy.
The lady running the stall said that she did not have any bulbs for sale that day but I could order some for the next few weeks before the end of the season. So I chose a specific date and number.
So the thought of six precious saffron bulbs was sufficient motivation to be out and about reasonably early especially since it was 3 years ago since last setting eyes on them.
It was a very pleasant surprise to be handed the little brown paper bag and told that since they were rather small this year we would be getting 12 for the price of 6 but that they would need to be planted pretty quickly. Within a week or two at the most.
Several were already sprouting and some cute little devils had two little horns on the side rather than one at the tip.
They don’t like wet feet and live quite happily in nasty sandy soil. With 8 specimens to play with, there is no need to put all the eggs in one basket so the chances of survival should be greatly increased.
They will most definitely not be sharing beds with the ginger and turmeric which are growing like crazy. They like it hot and wet and are very happy indeed lurking in the Lair.
They will also not be lurking amongst the angel’s trumpets with their bewitching and intoxicating perfumes. Two of them are now displaying their pretty poisonous pendulous petals.
The lavender and cactus patch will be the perfect place to put these precious specimens.
So they will be kept separate from the other green and growing things in little pots of their own that can be moved around according to the weather.
Since this is the time when everything comes to life in the garden, it is essential to make the most of the opportunity to get critters planted and pampered and set up for the nasty stinking sizzle to come at the end of the year.
Knowing that it is infinitely easier to honour commitments to others rather than to myself, on my previous visit on the Easter weekend I had asked one of the stall holders if she had any saffron bulbs to spare since every other year they have a surplus. Of course they also sell the bright and shiny precious in little glass vials as a side line to the main business which is olive oil.
Several years ago I had bought some bulbs from their stall and was pleased as punch to get my paws on such precious specimens. Following their instructions plus those obtained from the Oracle of Google, I planted the critters and waited patiently. It did not take too long for little green shoots to appear but the flowers never did follow. Izzie was a foolish creature back then and had hogged the precious corms all to herself. I learnt my lesson the hard way when they all shrivelled up and this time decided to reserve one third for Petunia to plant in her own veggie patch. She has magic powers when it comes to green and growing things so this is a sort of insurance policy.
The lady running the stall said that she did not have any bulbs for sale that day but I could order some for the next few weeks before the end of the season. So I chose a specific date and number.
So the thought of six precious saffron bulbs was sufficient motivation to be out and about reasonably early especially since it was 3 years ago since last setting eyes on them.
It was a very pleasant surprise to be handed the little brown paper bag and told that since they were rather small this year we would be getting 12 for the price of 6 but that they would need to be planted pretty quickly. Within a week or two at the most.
Several were already sprouting and some cute little devils had two little horns on the side rather than one at the tip.
They don’t like wet feet and live quite happily in nasty sandy soil. With 8 specimens to play with, there is no need to put all the eggs in one basket so the chances of survival should be greatly increased.
They will most definitely not be sharing beds with the ginger and turmeric which are growing like crazy. They like it hot and wet and are very happy indeed lurking in the Lair.
They will also not be lurking amongst the angel’s trumpets with their bewitching and intoxicating perfumes. Two of them are now displaying their pretty poisonous pendulous petals.
The lavender and cactus patch will be the perfect place to put these precious specimens.
So they will be kept separate from the other green and growing things in little pots of their own that can be moved around according to the weather.
Since this is the time when everything comes to life in the garden, it is essential to make the most of the opportunity to get critters planted and pampered and set up for the nasty stinking sizzle to come at the end of the year.