Note to self: buy more drumstick allium in the fall. The inexpensive bulbs are simple to plant in the fall and are worth it.

By the way, a climber rose is a misnomer. They do not actually climb. In the old books they are referred to as long cane roses. The canes need assistance of some sort to “climb” along a fence or pergola.

It is remarkable that we have had so little rain in the past two months and the perennials still look so wonderful. The newly planted baby annuals, not so much!

I’ve had deer eat every one of the flowers of Caesar’s Brother iris. I’ve never had them eat iris before. They’ve been too busy polishing off the daylillies.

One would hope that a long, cold, snowy winter would, at least, put a damper on the bug population. The garden pests are back in force, and the root maggots and flea beetles are enjoying my broccoli, cabbage and kohlrabi. The Colorado potato bug has found my once beautiful potato crop. The cabbageworm is back and already an inch long.

I spoke too soon. Last column I bragged about my dahlias and tomatoes. Last Thursday night-early Friday morning brought a killing temperature of 30 degrees to my big garden. It is located in the center frost pocket area of the Island.