Last updated 10:05, Thursday, 17 July 2008

Gardening with Toni Magean, head of parks at Copeland Council

solomon’s seal sawfly: Plants should recover after attack

THE wet weather has made it difficult to get into the garden to do anything positive. But at least the ground is moist again and my borders have responded with new flush growth.

I managed to pull up a number of weeds, most of which were clevers, also known as goosegrass (Galium aparine). This weed is an annual whose seed heads have stiff backward-curving hairs which hook onto animals for dispersal. I suspect in this case the animal spreading clevers around my garden is my trusted and loyal West Highland terrier Angus!

You may be surprised to learn that clevers are edible and were used by herbalists to lower blood pressure.

While I was doing the weeding at the weekend, a passing neighbour asked what was that wonderful smell. I joked that it was my “Hai Karate” (I know, I’m showing my age). Seriously, though, the smell was from my lilies which are in full flower. The scent is simply wonderful.

I planted the lilies about five years ago and at the back of the border Lilium longiflorum (“White American”) is in full flower; towards the front of the borders, Lilium Oriental “Casa Blanca” and Lilium Oriental “Stargazer” are also providing an excellent show.

Lilies are the most popular summer flowering bulbs and there are about 110 species, giving plenty of choice.

July is a time when a gardener should be relaxing a little and appreciating the hard work since the start of the year. On Sunday, with the weather being dry and quite sunny, I sat in the garden relaxing in my recliner chair enjoying a bottle of pre-2000 Rioja when my daughter Annalee and her husband David visited. I am always pleased to see them but this was a particularly special day to be informed that I am to become a grandfather!

My wife Melanie and I are overjoyed and can’t wait for our first grandchild to be born.

In my position I’m often asked gardening questions and early this week I was asked by a collegue: Our Solomon’s seal is infested with milky grey caterpillars, about one inch long – any idea what they could be please?

Solomon’s seal is a lovely plant which I also grow in my garden. The pests described are the larvae of the Solomon’s-seal sawfly – Phymatocera aterrima. The adult is rather undistinguished, but the larva has a beautiful dove grey colour but can totally destroy the foliage.

They only have one generation a year, so you can either spray them with a contact insecticide or remove the larvae by hand. But generally the plant should recover and the foliage will return the following year.