I know very little about roses, and I don’t totally understand their appeal. (Gulp! I can’t believe I just admitted that on a gardening blog! I feel like the Rosarians are going to target me for a hit now. Better watch my back.) So when the fine people at the World Rose Festival asked me […]
Vancouver
Vancouver City Council votes on chickens
Quick! If you live in Vancouver (hey, neighbour!) drop a note to City Council and let them know you support the amendment of the animal control bylaw to allow Vancouverites to keep chickens. There are so many great reasons to allow chickens in urban settings. Council is debating this issue tomorrow night (March 3) has […]
European chafer beetle control
Metro Vancouver has a European Chafer beetle problem. Actually, the beetles themselves aren’t too troublesome, but their grubs, which feed on the roots of turf grass, are wreaking havoc. As an introduced pest, the beetle has few natural competitors to control it. That’s where the urban wildlife steps in. Raccoons, skunks and crows enjoy tearing […]
Illicit activity: start ’em young
In my pre-baby life, my neighbour called me The Napper. I love sleeping, and I especially love a late, lazy afternoon nap. I was hoping my own daughter would see the beauty of daytime shut-eye, but, for now at least, she’s not all that fond of stationary beds. She’ll nap in her car seat as […]
Book review: Hardy Succulents
Hardy Succulents in two words: Eye candy. I love the look of succulents: their drama, their modernism. And maybe, just maybe, I covet them because I can’t really grow many of them all that successfully here, even though I’m in practically-balmy Zone 8. So I was really excited to receive a copy of Hardy Succulents: […]
Earth Day garden and baby update
“Oh the days are long/ ‘Til the baby comes…” – Sinead O’Connor That’s right – I’m still waiting for this baby. One week past my due date and just learned today that the baby, which for the last nine months has been perfectly positioned, has rotated and is now posterior. This just confirms my suspicions […]
Nature’s idea of a joke
So, today’s the frost free date for Vancouver, and this is what it’s doing outside? Big, fat flakes. Doesn’t look like much in the photo, but come ON!
Berlin community garden destroyed
Garten Rosa Rose, in Berlin, before. Garten Rosa Rose after. As a member of the Vancouver Guerrilla Gardening Group, and of course, through this blog, I am often privileged to be in contact with guerrilla gardeners around the world – a very cool feeling! The similar challenges we all face – and of course, the […]