August buzz on the pelargonium

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The secret garden
The secret garden

Once belonging to Lamb House, the Secret Garden, pictured right,  was sold to the Fullertons on Mermaid Street when the James family bequeathed the House to the National Trust.  The image, reproduced with the owners’ permission,  is taken from the corner of EF Benson’s writing gazebo, overlooking the lawn, pond and majestic magnolia in the far corner. It was from the current owner that I received one of my treasured geranium pelargoniums, itself grown from a cutting.

It’s the perfect time of year in the garden because really all you can do is bask in the fruits of your labour- quite literally, save for the occasional rain battered rose. My tomatoes have blight, (Again! More potassium!) but that’s fine. They’re bearing some fruit. You think I would have learned by now, but gardening is a fine thing for appreciating weakness as well as strength. It provides balance and solitude against the rages of the world.

I haven’t clocked in for a while because I’ve been busy with many pursuits, but despite this hive of anxiety, I return to the garden where all is calm, save for some white fly on my treasured geranium. If that’s the worst of my worries, then surely it should stand as a metaphor for life?

The beastly white fly
The beastly white fly

White fly aren’t unto themselves particularly damaging, just more of a lingering pest which rise like dust when they are disturbed. Their nymphs cause rust as they inhabit the underside of leaves. They also appear to have taken a liking to the basil next door, which frankly is a brash invasion, so I’ve stopped them in their tracks with a simple solution of (eco) washing up liquid and water poured into a recycled pump action sprayer.

The first thing I did was upturn the geranium and basil (be firm, they won’t mind) and rinsed the underside to wash and gently rub off the pesky dwellers. Back in situ, or maybe on the doorstep, I then sprayed the whole plants with my soapy mix. If the weather allows and is sunny and dry, I may leave them outside. On the whole, my geraniums and basil live in the kitchen as a sculptural addition peering out the window and herb-to-hand respectively. Hey presto, no more pesky white flies.

Your soapy mix can now be left at hand by the sink to fend of all manner of pests at will. Use especially on the underside of leaves where most pests hide. If you still have undevoured cabbages, they work wonders against the plague of caterpillars if sprayed regularly, although I admit it’s a little late in the season for that tip. I hope your harvest season is abundant and look forward to checking in again sooner rather than later!

Photos: Tim Redfern

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