It’s Friday, time for Hortense Hoelove to once again answer readers’ questions!

Dear Hortense,

I must quibble with you, Hortense, over that comment “Veggies Make A Garden Real.” So what are shade gardens? Figments of the imagination? Illusory gardens? Am I imagining the plants grouped together, growing and blooming, providing scent, color & texture, shelter & food for critters? I hope you address this issue in your next post.

Respectfully,
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter

Dear Mr. McGregor’s Daughter,

What is there to quibble about? Veggies make a garden real because they address all five senses, including taste. They are complete in that regard. It does not mean that other gardens don’t exist, because they clearly do. They grow, they flower, and sometimes they provide scent. They exist, but are they complete?

I contend that to make a garden real, as in complete, there should be at least a vegetable plant or two, even in a separate pot in the only sun the garden may get. Then when you taste that vegetable, you will realize how real that garden is, because it addresses all five senses.

Veggies Make A Garden Real,
Hortense

Vegetables harvested from a real garden earlier this summer.

Dear Hortense,

I saw a post about ordering spring flowering bulbs way back in July. Is it too late to order them now?

Sincerely,
Spring Flowering Sally

Dear Sally,

Goodness no! As long as bulb companies haven’t run out of bulbs and it isn’t too late to plant (and they haven’t and it clearly isn’t), then it isn’t too late to order bulbs. But I wouldn’t put it off too much longer because some of the unusual bulbs and new varieties will soon be sold out, if they aren’t already sold out.

I have noticed that some of the “power buyers” have been completing their orders, and I myself ordered most of the bulbs I want weeks ago. But I just thought of some more bulbs I’d like to plant so I’m going to order them this weekend. These bulbs will mostly just be regular ol’ tulips, so there should still be plenty available.

But remember, last one to order ends up with those undersized bulbs sold in the big box stores!

Bulbiliciously,
Hortense

Tulips blooming in the spring at May Dreams Gardens

Dear Hortense,

How many times should a gardener try a plant that always dies for her before she gives up?

Still trying,
Leslie

Dear Leslie,

Though I have answered this question before, I am happy to answer it again because this is a far more complex question than many people realize and the answer depends on the circumstances. If the plant is growing just across the fence in the neighbor’s garden, never give up. You should politely ask the neighbor how he or she manages to grow that particular plant that is eluding you. Most gardeners will respond with, “Aw shucks, I don’t do anything special”. But don’t be fooled by that! If you can’t grow it and ten feet away, your neighbor can, then there is some secret to it and you have every right to find out what that secret is, by any means necessary.

Start out by asking probing questions that require more than a “yes or no” answer. For example, don’t ask “do you fertilize that plant?” Ask, “what kind of fertilizer do you use and when do you apply it”? If the neighbor is tight-lipped and won’t give you answers, please contact me “off post”, and I’ll provide details on secret methods for getting information out of reluctant gardeners.

But if you are trying to grow a plant that is clearly not suited to your climate or just doesn’t like the weather the year you try it, then the number of times you should try is inversely proportional to the cost of the plant. In other words, the cheaper the plant, the more times you should try to grow it! But always try at least once. Or twice. Maybe even three or four times.

Never give up,
Hortense F. Hoelove

The Night Bloomer looks like a flower with secrets…

If you have a question for Hortense Hoelove, please let her know!