Saturday June 3 & Sunday June 4 This weekend, a truly fabulous Vancouver-area nursery, Phoenix Perennials, will donate 25% of sales to the HomeStart Foundation. Phoenix Perennials is a mecca for local plant-lovers, inspiring inspiring many, and causing more than a few to rack up the Visa. At least this weekend I can say, “But […]
Goodbye Heronswood
Goddamn it. The bastards have closed Heronswood. Corporate-giant Burpee has closed the beloved Northwest-Washington nursery after purchasing it six years ago. Burpee’s president George Ball says, “We tried for six years and it just wasn’t profitable.” I’m sorry, but how did Dan Hinkley manage for the first 14 years while sliding deeper and deeper into […]
Evergreen
I discovered Evergreen, a non-profit environmental organization, at my local farmer’s market last weekend. They were there promoting their Lawn and Garden Smart program, a garden consultation and design service created to promote ecological gardening to Greater Vancouver residents. Some municipalities, like West Vancouver and Richmond, are buying up blocks of the consultations to be […]
A different kind of water feature
How cool is this outdoor sink – sorry, water centre – from Smart Home? While probably not all that necessary for gardeners blessed with potting sheds or garages, this would be a fabulous amenity for my small backyard. It connects to any tap, and folds down to double as a work surface. Now if only […]
Container success
I’m so excited. I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it. Yes, I’ve finally found some decent pots for the front patio. At a Home Hardware, of all places (I don’t know what they’re like elsewhere, but my local Home Hardware is a dinky little store that […]
Biting the peach tree
It’s Ascension Day, the day Christians believe Jesus went to heaven after his resurrection. Like most religious events and symbols, there are a bunch of superstitions rooted in paganism associated with this day. I always find this stuff fascinating: On Ascension Day: – If the weather is sunny, the summer will be long and hot; […]
Meeting momma spider
As a gardener, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m afraid of spiders – afterall, they’re so good at keeping garden pests at bay. But I’ve been scarred by a childhood in which wolf spiders – those terrifyingly quick-moving, giant, hairy beasts – haunted my summers. They’d emerge when the weather warmed, appearing in the bathroom […]
God save the Queen
I was supposed to post this yesterday, but Movable Type was giving me grief. Here it is anyway, one day late. It’s Victoria Day here in Canada, heralding the end of the May long weekend. And, while I’m no monarchist, the holiday gives me a chance to mention one of my favourite perennials, Lobelia cardinalis […]