As with outdoor plants, choosing the right plant for the desired location indoors is one of the keys to successful growing. To help choose best possible plant locations a few points to consider are: Most indoor plants do best in…
How to make potpourri for the holidays
The Christmas season is truly a time that appeals to all of the senses. Memories abound as we work to create new ones to cherish. In many respects, our homes are a shrine to the holidays and a simple bowl…
Why is my hydrangea not blooming?
Hydrangeas have been popular garden shrubs going back to olden days. They are cherished for consistent performance and easy care. In summer, we anticipate the beautiful, large and long-lasting blooms of hydrangeas. However sometimes hydrangeas DO NOT BLOOM! We despair!…
Putting the Garden to Bed for Winter
Not necessarily a set routine but just the term most used to refer to all the odds and ends to take care of as we wrap up another harvest season. Clearing out the vegetable garden before the winter is an…
Gardening with bulbs (spring & summer)
Spring flowering bulbs can be planted anytime in the fall after temperatures cool down, but before the ground freezes. Bulbs need to establish strong root systems before winter sets in. The end of September or early October is a good…
The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The Eastern Redbud (Cercis ) tree provides a delicate supplemental beauty to early spring gardens in southern Ontario. It welcomes spring with clouds of deep magenta blossoms that cover its branches before leaf buds start unfurling. During summer it has…
Get Crackin’: How to Grow Seedlings in Eggshells
Save your eggshells & egg cartons as perfect containers for your seedlings! Wash in hot water, and keep large darning needle by sink to punch drainage hole in bottom (it is easier to punch thru from the inside/out). Put back…
The Halifax Public Gardens
A gentle Victorian-era garden in the middle of the city The chance to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, presented itself to my husband and me in July 2015, so we happily pulled out the maps, updated the GPS, and took a…
Electrify Your Garden: Grow Artichokes and Cardoon!
I have always been attracted to gigantic perennials to add both structure and architectural interest to our garden. This is true of both the borders and kitchen garden on our property. Two plants that I have constantly returned to when…
Heritage Apples
When we started eating with our eyes instead of with our taste buds the availability of some excellent apples took a serious hit! Thousands of apple varieties have been named and grown in North America, but today 80 percent of the…