Just when you think you know everything there is to know about composting, someone says, “hey you, why aren’t you throwing that freezer-burned fish on the compost?” Huh? Marion Owen, creator of PlanTea, has a list of 163 things you can compost in her latest issue of the UpBeet Gardener newsletter. Hair clippings, wood ashes, […]
Solar powered fountain
This solar-powered fountain makes so much sense. Not only is it eco-friendly, it’s also practical. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has faced a lack of electrical outlets in the garden! Not to mention the Problem of Cords. This particular design isn’t really my style so doesn’t make it to my wish list, […]
Japanese garden style
One of these days, our new townhome will be finished (it’s currently six weeks behind). Although you can’t tell from this floorplan, in addition to the deck on the third floor, there’s a small front garden and a slightly larger back garden. By larger, I’m talking approximately 13′ x 13′ (3.96m x 3.96m). Acreage this […]
Bulb thieves
Over at Takoma Gardener, Susan reveals her secret to detering squirrels from stealing her bulbs: she scatters red pepper flakes over her bulb plantings. Brilliant!
The child-friendly garden
Often, just a quick glimpse at a house reveals whether its residents include children. Kids have a tendency to make their mark: vagrant toys and boisterous games have a deleterious effect on perennial borders, while the brightly hued durable plastic that is typical of children’s play structures doesn’t make for the most elegant of garden […]
To do: Coax Paperwhites
There’s something untoward about the term, “forcing bulbs.” I always feel for the poor mistreated bulb: was it bullied? Terrorized? Coerced? That’s why I prefer coaxing. Whatever you choose to call it, forcing bulbs refers to the act of creating conditions that mimic nature’s springtime, confusing the bulb in winter. My favourite bulb to coax […]
Preparing for winter
Today, a milestone. The first of many mornings with ice on the windshield. Joy. In the garden, winter preparations are well underway. The bulbs are planted, the beds are tidied. It may be too late to plant a cover crop (also known as green manure) but according to Garden Organic, where you’ll find a good […]
Galiano weekend
Please excuse my absence: I’ve been without a computer – gasp! – for two whole days. Ben and I spent the weekend on lovely Galiano Island. Galiano is part of the Gulf Islands, which lie between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. Home to artists and artisans, farmers and small business people, they run on “island […]