Gardening Violets smelling lovely as spring I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. No one would believe it! We have daffodil, tulip, snow- drop and muscari foliage up as much as six inches in some of the pots that get a lot of sunshine. There are pansies and primroses, vibummum bodnantense and winter jasmine flowering but that doesn’t seem too unusual ... what really surprised me were the violets in a large pot near the back door. I smelled something lovely as I walked by, so, being the curious type, | went looking, or should that be “sniffing?” Anyway, I moved aside some larger leaves, and there they were, ten violets, the dear things looking both shy and jaunty, and smelling as lovely as spring. I suppose we'll have to pay for this wonderfully mild weather sometime this month or next but at the first hint of freezing winds I’m headed outside to cover all these overly optimistic sprouts with whatever mulch I can lay my hands on. It may be compost, pine boughs left over from Christmas, Reemay cloth, even old bed-spreads, or taggedy blankets, just anything that will break the force of the wind, and provide even a few degrees of additional warmth. What I really have in mind, and have mentioned several times to “himself” (who, so far, refuses to bite) is a trip out past Sooke to a place where the seaweed lies three feet deep, on the beach of a small cove right beside the road. Several bags of seaweed would give me.enough mulch to cover all those ambitious bulbs, plus the - = delphinium -shoots which,- very: foolishly, are also poking their heads above the soil. Last-time we went out there and got seaweed we arrived home bringing a fantastic number of uninvited guests. I opened the car trunk because I could hear the strangest faint rus- tling noises. I closed it again in horror! There must have been 2,000 sand fleas leaping about in an insane dance of death. The follow- ing day they were all kaput ... no more seashore for them, poor things! “himself” and I felt like com- plete heels. Actually, I probably felt the worst, as I was the one who had to vacuum up all those squitty little bodies. If you decide to use a seaweed mulch over sprouting greenery, I think it would be wise to wash the salt off the seaweed. This isn’t considered necessary if you are just putting seaweed on top of bare ground, as the rain takes care of the salt over a winter, but fresh green growth might bum. Mrs. Fyffe brought me the nicest Christmas basket containing a large jar of crabapple jelly, a collection of European chocolate bars, and a lovely slice of light Christmas cake, all done up in bright red cellophane. This was her delightful way of saying, “thank you” for a line in the column asking if anyone had crabapples to spare. She got a call from a Mrs. Dr. D. who had a tree laden to the ground with fruit. From this Mrs. Fyffe made innumerable jars of jelly which were later sold in aid of “the animals,”-a cause dear to her heart. - It was fun for me to be a small part of something so-worthwhile, and good of The Review to be so cooperative, eh? (You hear those kind words, Boss?) (I love my job, and the odd compliment can’t hurt, can it?) I have several neat things to tell you, but this is the wrong season. But maybe Vl tell you now, and then remind you later on, when these hints really might be useful. The first one is maybe slightly vulgar, but I'll be as discreet as possible, while hopefully still get- ting the message across. It seems that something called “Fox Lure” Wills Laurie Salvador & Susan Davis 2412 Beacon Ave., Sidney 656-3951 NOTARIES PUBLIC mentioned here almost a year ago is more readily available than any of us dreamed, at least a variation is. Rumor has it that this product is undiluted fox urine. This product was mentioned in an American gardening magazine as a deterrent for raccoons who, as anyone living near them knows, can ruin a com patch in one night, and strip a walnut tree in the same length of time. Now, these stories are connected ... a bit vaguely, but connected! A man found that, at night, sea otters were playing on the deck of both his boat and all other craft moored at the same wharf. Each morning they left behind gross reminders of their noctumal visits. These fellas had no couth! Our boater had an idea. He had read Farley Mowatt’s book about wolves, so, during the dark of night he unnated on the bow, the stem and both sides of his vessel. The following day his boat was the only one unsullied. After every rain he stealthly repeated this operation, and has since had no further trouble with sea otters. His boat may smell a bit unu- sual, but none of his passengers has had the nerve to mention it! A certain Mr. X at 656-5015 will test your garden soil to fine the ph for you, at a cost of $2 a test. Ph, as most of you will already know, 1s the measurement of soil acidity, which can be an important factor in the growth of plants. Our coastal soils tend to be acidic, and most need to b limed before planting vegetables. Pota- toes and strawberries are excep- tions. Please;don’t spread lime > ‘where ‘you intend to plant these. TheReview Wednesday, January 8, 1992 — A10 2411 BEACON AVE., SIDNEY FASHIONS FOR HER 656-5252 The Latch Burger Ground and seasoned inhouse and grilled to order. Our burger is served with cheddar and all the fixings and french fries. [ LEGENDARY COUNTRY DINING ; Luncheon Tues. - Fri. From 12 Noon 95 5 2328 Harbour Road Sidney, B.C. 656-6622 A Choice of 6 Entrees Including Soup or Salad, Dessert, Coffee or Tea { LEGENDARY COUNTRY DINING | Sundown Menu 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Daily $1 9°>.. : 2328 Harbour Road Sidney, B.C. 656-6622 A s | Sunda Omlettes to Order, Salads, Seafood, Breakfast Meats, Eggs, Carved Roast, Dessert Table & more _ LEGENDARY COUNTRY DINING ) Buffet Brunch Sundays from 11:00 a.m. 2328 Harbour Road Sidney, B.C. 656-6622 132. A RMAcDonaids BS o X Road AS Wereonliveys The with 2473 Mt. Newton 5 1 CHRIS BARTON alia! : ue 3 iba - 2475 Mt. Newton X Rd. 05 - 2506 Beacon Ave. Review Carrier of the Week has been selected Carrier of the Week. Chris is a student at Parklands. He is a member of the Air Cadets. Chris has been a carrier since 1989.