Final Thoughts: “Shrubs in the garden, perennials from seed and garden surprises” by Mala Gunadasa-Rohling A nice surprise greeted me one morning a couple of weeks ago – I looked out the window at the weeping willow that hangs over one corner of our garden from the neighbours (a very nice ‘borrowed’ plant) and saw [...]
June In-Depth How-To: Increase your vegetable production with Succession Planting Many beginner gardeners plant their crops in the spring, harvest the vegetables, then clean up the garden and wait till next year to start all over again. It is very easy to get more enjoyment, not to mention more production out of your garden. Try [...]
It’s official – summer is here, although the rainy and cold weather that we’ve been having so far in Vancouver (and also in England if Chelsea coverage is anything to go by) wouldn’t let on to that fact…still, there is lots to do in the garden now, so out you go! Start to sow quick [...]
May and June are really the best months for many perennials, before the real heat of the summer cuts them short. Work in the garden takes on the familiar rhythm of seasons past, with some staking, potting up seedlings, preparing beds for annuals, planting out, etc etc. A busy time, but filled with promise and [...]
“Beneficial Insects – Part III” by Sharon Hanna.Lacewings are unmistakeable: pale green, with slender, elongated bodies, and two pairs of extremely delicate netted wings. Their larvae are similar to that of the ladybird beetle (ladybug), in that they resemble little dragons or alligators, except that they are beige with brown markings. Adult lacewing While adult [...]
Reprinted with permission from the New York Institute of Photography website at www.nyip.com. All photographs on this page by Mala Gunadasa-Rohling. Sunshine on the new buds and blossoms of a lavatera. (MGR) It’s spring in many parts of the world. For those of us who spent the winter trapped inside, spring means, among other things, [...]
With all the Millenium hype and the lack of holidays during the first part of this Canadian year, winter has been drearily dragging on and on and on.. But, I know spring is really here when the huge magnolia trees are ready to burst. Magnolia stellata (Zone 4-9) has already peaked, but M. kobus (Zone [...]
There are already many signs of the approaching spring season – make sure you take the time to notice them now, while you are out in the garden – early spring bulbs such as aconites, snowdrops, crocus, iris reticulata will already be peeking through, the lovely scented winter jasmine and witch hazel, and later this [...]
by Sharon Hanna Everyone’s favourite “BI” – the ladybird For years, well-meaning gardeners routinely maimed, swatted, sprayed and squished every bug they could get their hands on. However careful observation of nature and the move to organic practices have shown that encouraging “good” bugs, or beneficial insects (the politically correct name) is one way to [...]
January Garden Action Items: As long as you aren’t buried under three feet of snow, there is always a lot of work to do in the garden, so bundle up warmly, put on your wellies and out you go… 1. Hardwood Cuttings Take hardwood cuttings of your favourite shrubs to increase your stock – just [...]