Open-Line Garden Show

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T12:54:00.000-05:00

A Christmas Break for the Open-Line Garden Show

2011-12-17T08:05:00.001-05:00

The Open-Line Garden Show will return to the airwaves on 105.1 Ed-FM on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 8:00 am.

Glider Flying_Take Off to Landing_Part 1

2011-09-29T15:02:00.000-04:00

Glider Flying_Take Off to Landing_Part 2

2011-09-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

The Edible Front Yard -- Book Review

2011-09-15T07:37:00.002-04:00

1/2

Each gardener has their individual style of gardening, in short we garden to the best of our abilities. The "Edible Front Yard" by Ivette Soler gives numerous suggestions for the gardener to adapt to their own personal needs.

The idea most prevalent in the "Edible Front Yard" is the old idea of mixed edible plants and non-edibles to add colour, texture and of course functionality to the home garden. Many plants in the "Edible Front Yard" are not hardy here or our growing season is not long enough. Here you adapt their function in the garden with suitable plants to mimic them. eg. growing citrus is not practical on many levels for me, so I use a hardy orange tree in my garden. You can also winter some tropical effects so I winter a banana tree. You can also surprise many people as I do with a hardy cactus. My wife has never like the cactus, so it can stay. I just have to trim it with a spade to control the size.

You should also consider local by-laws and the neighbours before you turn your front yard into edibles. In my area the city could come in and harvest your front garden right down to the soil. The neighbours might think I am now unemployed and desperate to have enough to eat. This is all a good idea as long as you do not go overboard. eg: photo on pg 178.

The growing information is basic but the photographs really tell the story. Enjoy these photographs especially the best photograph in the book on pg 152 of the lovely Lola.
--
Bruce

Sugarsnaps and Strawberries -- Book Review

2011-08-31T17:59:00.000-04:00

1/2

Sugar Snaps and Strawberries by Andrea Bellamy is the worst named book I can remember. With that being said, it is an excellent book for small space gardening. It illustrates that almost any space can be a productive space.

Growing food locally has become a trend that all long term gardeners have always known, done and benefited from. My family has never not known fresh home grown vegetables. In our case we have reduced what we grow to our favourites, swiss chard, red onions, carrots and lots and lots of many different kinds of tomatoes.

This book recommends seed bombing. Please be very careful as the land is private property, the police and neighbours are not that knowledgeable, but most importantly what you are seeding can be considered invasive species or not native to the local environment.

The building of raised planters is excellent. The section on soil gives you all the good basics but I do not use food waste in my composter because it can attract animals. The section on garden maintenance has all the basic, the vegetable section with instructions on each vegetable is good.

Buy this book if you are a beginning gardener or any gardener who needs help with difficult or unproductive spaces of any size.
--
Bruce

Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic.,

2011-08-30T19:17:00.001-04:00

Bruce & I went to garage sales on Saturday morning. At one particular garage sale Mrs. Homeowner knew who Bruce was, asked him to identify a plant in her garden. She was having a debate with her daughter who said it was a weed. Mrs Homeowner was adamant it was not!! I took photos of this plant for Bruce to identify.

Here is the photos I took: The flower, the pod and the leaf

Bruce identified the plant as Velvet Leaf or Abutilon theophrasti

In Ontario it is classified as a weed on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website. Other names for this weed are abuliton, Butter-print, Elephant ear, Indian-mallow, Pir-marker, abutilon feuille de velours & it is of the Mallow Family (Malvaceae)

Sorry Mrs. Homeowner, your daughter is correct on this one.
--
Juleigh

Tune Your Head to Ed. 105.1 ED-FM Takes Over Niagara Radio!

2011-08-24T21:50:00.001-04:00

The Open-Line Garden Show will return to the airwaves on 105.1 Ed-FM on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 8:00 am.

Ed Heads Unite!

Haliburton Broadcast Group Inc., owners of CKEY-FM and CFLZ-FM in Niagara today introduced Ed FM, a brand new radio station for St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls and all of Southern Ontario.

Playing from a massive song list, 105.1 Ed FM will be playing all the great hits you’re familiar with PLUS a ton of tunes that you may not have heard for awhile, songs from the 80's, 90's and whatever else. You never know what you'll hear next on Ed FM.

HBG Radio's mandate is to create innovative and compelling radio with a strong focus on local information and community service.

Press Release

Fiskars SmartPower™ Propane 4-cycle Trimmer Recall

2011-08-06T07:54:00.004-04:00

There is a recall on the Fiskars SmartPower Propane 4-cycle Trimmer.

Fiskars Canada, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls SmartPower Propane Trimmers

U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Fiskars Brands Recalls SmartPower String Trimmers Due to Burn, Fire and Laceration Hazards

Picasso Petunias in Hanging Baskets

2011-07-14T10:57:00.001-04:00

These are Picasso Petunias planted in 12 inch plastic baskets. They were bought from Midway Garden Center earlier in the spring. These petunias are watered twice a day and fed regularly.

50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants - Book Review

2011-07-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

Ruth Rogers Clausen's book "50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants" is simply the best book I have read on this subject. It's obvious that she gardens in "Deer Country". The practical points Ruth makes are clear and manageable. Her advise on physical and chemical barriers is excellent. She points out their limitations and strongly believes that no one way will work. The plant material will make any deer gardener's heart pound with enthusiasm. Each plant is covered well even if you are a beginning gardener. There is also a list of plants that are "Deer Candy" and hence to be avoided. Throughout the book 50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants the photography of Alan L Detrick & Linda Detrick strongly supports corresponding text and it's beauty inspires the reader to get out and garden even in Deer territory.
This is the book to have before you even step out into your garden in Deer country.

Containers - June 2011

2011-06-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

You can do a lot with containers!!

& they can be moved!!

Area beside the swing with the patio dining area behind

Ball Horticultural New Improved Wave Petunias.

We overplanted the pot but don't they look great!!

Sunflowers planted in pots

Varieties: Van Gogh, Valentine & Music Box

Container of Cordaline & Gerberas

PC Gigantico

Container of Coleus - PC Gigantico

Marigolds - Ball Horticultural

Angelonia - Ball Horticultural

I love this plant in a container!

Cordaline - PC Gigantico

Dragonwing Begonias - Ball Horticultural

Collection of containers beside a sitting area.

Caught Bruce pruning something in the garden!!

Vegetable Garden - June 2011

2011-06-27T20:56:00.000-04:00

As you can tell our vegetable garden is in our patio.

We do not have much space so we pack in the tomatoes into the area.

Tomatoes plants as of June 27, 2011.

They are monsters & they haven't stopped growing

Tomatoes!!

I want them to ripen!!

The view of the vegetable garden from a different angle.

When the tomatoes ripen, it will be interesting!! I think we went overboard this year!!

Tomatoes which need to ripen & so do the Peppers.

Cannot wait!!

Small Green Roofs Low-Tech Options for Greener Living -- Book Review

2011-06-15T13:16:00.001-04:00

If you have ever contemplated or desired your own green roof, then this book is a required read. While this book is British, the information is excellent including checking your project out with an engineer or architect. Don't forget Snow loading!! The next step is to check out your local by-laws. The last thing you want, is to find out your green roof prairie garden plants exceed the by-law heights. I would hate to see the city workers come in and butcher your roof garden. This was done to a Niagara-on-the-Lake home backyard garden just a few years ago, with not so much as a we are sorry or compensation for the damage to plants and hard materials.
This book gives numerous garden designs from the simple to the complex and they even know what a rain chain is. So if you want to green roof your tool shed, child's play cottage, potting shed or your carport this book covers it. After you have read this book, no small roof is safe from your plant's person eye. Your bicycle shed or that ugly garden shed, consider replacing it with a more practical Green roof potting/garden/pumphouse shed.


Chicago City Hall green roof garden

Chicago City Hall green roof garden


Chicago City Hall green roof garden

Chicago City Hall green roof garden: Rubeckia

Chicago City Hall green roof garden: Echinacea

--
Bruce

National Home Show and Canada Blooms Sign Agreement To Co-Locate

2011-06-13T20:40:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL HOME SHOW AND CANADA BLOOMS SIGN AGREEMENT TO

CO-LOCATE

- Creating Single Largest Home and Garden Event in North America -

June 13, 2011, TORONTO – Marketplace Events, organizers of The National Home Show and the Board of Directors of Canada Blooms: The Flower and Garden Festival, have signed an agreement that will see the two powerhouse events take place side by side beginning next year at the Direct Energy Centre, creating the single largest home and garden experience in North America.

“The idea for co-locating the events is a natural extension of our audience interests,” explained Tom Baugh, CEO of Marketplace Events. “Guests attending The National Home Show love the event but consistently tell us they want to see bigger and better gardens and floral displays. Guests attending Canada Blooms (virtually all homeowners) love their garden festival and will be thrilled in seeing its growth in stature under this new arrangement.”

“Putting these events side-by-side creates a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Gerry Ginsberg, General Manager of Canada Blooms. “We strongly believe this co-location will allow us to achieve a new standard of excellence and significantly enhance the customer experience for hundreds of thousands of garden and home enthusiasts throughout Ontario that visit these events each year.”

The agreement to co-locate is not a merger, nor is Marketplace Events purchasing Canada Blooms. Each event will maintain its own identity and operate separately, expanding into an impressive footprint of 600,000 square feet – Canada’s largest consumer event under one roof. Both shows will run for ten days, from March 16 – 25, 2012, at the Direct Energy Center in Toronto.

Canada Blooms, presented by The Home Depot, will create and expand their feature gardens and floral displays, but in the larger Hall A of the Direct Energy Centre. The Canada Blooms “Marketplace” will move into Heritage Court. The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX will occupy the remainder of the exhibit space including Halls B, C, D, North Extension (Hall H) and the Industry Building (Hall G), where the innovative feature home will continue to be located, as well as the previously unused East Annex (Hall F). Ricoh Coliseum may also be used in future years as the two events expand.

The Marketplace Events team will sell all exhibit space within both events, including the Canada Blooms “Marketplace” while the Canada Blooms team will focus on creating the expanded feature gardens, garden educational programs and floral displays. Sponsorship will continue to be sold separately by each event although cross-over packages will be available for those interested in partnering for both events.

As a convenience to consumers, a single ticket purchased for either event will allow attendees to visit Canada Blooms, The National Home Show or both events. A recent audience survey confirmed that 47% of respondents have attended both events in the past and 62% indicated that the opportunity to see both events for one ticket price would make it more likely that they would attend. 41% of respondents said they would be likely to purchase a two-day pass. Based on the survey results, two day passes and an all access pass, good all days of the events, will also be sold.

“The survey results, combined with already intense exhibitor interest, confirms the thinking by both groups that co-locating these events will create an exciting dynamic experience for our guests, our exhibitors and our respective organizations” said Baugh. “It’s a progressive move for the betterment of the GTA’s horticultural community,” added Ginsberg, “and a decision that will elevate the not-for-profit status of Canada Blooms.”

About Canada Blooms: The Flower and Garden Festival

Canada Blooms is a not-for-profit volunteer-driven festival celebrating flowers, gardening and landscaping in Canada. To date, over $500,000 of Canada Bloom’s proceeds have been reinvested into community horticultural projects. Named One of North America’s Top 100 Events by the American Bus Association, Canada’s Top Gardening Tourism Festival by Canada’s Garden Tourism Conference and One of Ontario’s Top 100 Events by Festivals and Events Ontario, Canada Blooms is Canada’s largest annual horticultural and garden celebration. Proceeds from Canada Blooms benefit charitable horticultural organizations across Ontario. Celebrating its 16^th Anniversary in 2012, Canada Blooms was founded by Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto. For more information, please visit www.canadablooms.com.

About The National Home Show

The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX, is Canada’s largest and longest-running consumer show. More than 145,000 people attend the Show annually, seeking helpful advice, solutions and new products for in and around their homes. The show will celebrate its 60^th Anniversary in 2012, Visit www.nationalhomeshow.com for full show details.

The National Home Show is produced by Marketplace Events in partnership with the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). Marketplace Events currently produces 31 home shows in 21 markets that collectively attract 14,000 exhibitors, 1 million attendees and another 1 million unique webs visitors annually. From 12 offices, the 100-person staff produces some of the most successful and longest-running home shows in the U.S. and Canada. On the web: marketplaceevents.com.

Dream Gardens Across America - Book Review

2011-06-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

I have never been a fan of coffee table gardening books. Better Home and Gardens: Dream Gardens across America has its place first because it is a soft covered. This shows a concern for the purchaser's pocket book. Secondly the money has been put into the colour photography. After all it is not the role of a coffee table book to be beautiful?
The photography shows excellent examples of the use of plant material. Most gardeners just put in whatever strikes their fancy or what is trendy that year. The photography also shows the use of colour, repetition and most important enhancing the view. I find a mish mash of colour and plants annoying and disturbing. There are examples in this book on pages 26-30.
Just as a photographer frames his picture, a garden must frame a view in the garden, a good example is the photograph on page 49 and their good example of colour usage, contrast of texture and frame a view or a feature is the picture on page 51. You are being invited into this cottage by the potted plants. The section called "Going All Out" I find touches the heart.
The section "Simple Geometry" is important to show contrast in soft and hard lines. One of my teachers used to say that geometric gardens are for accountants and people who cannot colour outside the lines. The photograph on pages 112 and 113 is a very good example of a geometric garden. Although I have a strong objection to showing the invasive weed Variegated Gout Weed that novice gardeners may use incorrectly. Is there a correct way to use this plant?
The sections "Pushing the Limits" and "Backyard Retreats" when combined are my personal gardening style, so no one but family enters my personal paradise.
The "Cottage Garden" section shows their beauty but not their intense planning, planting, and occasionally a roughing out or two or three.
This book will inspire you and help you determine your gardening style.
--
Bruce

Container Gardening

2011-05-21T22:19:00.000-04:00

The Hired Help potting up the container garden.

More planting by the Hired Help

Isn't he good. Still planting!!

Some of the Finished Containers

Gerbera's, PC Gigantico
Coleus, PC Gigantico
Petunia Shock Wave 'Coral Crush', Ball Horticultural Company

Cordaline, PC Gigantico
Gerbera, PC Gigantico

Coleus, PC Gigantico
Marigold Bonanza Deep Orange, Ball Horticultural Company

My NEW Instant Water Garden
Same instant water garden as last year but a new pot!! Love it!!

Front Entrance to our house.

Hardy Banana Tree with PC Gigantico Petunias in front

May in the Garden 2011

2011-05-21T21:42:00.000-04:00

Hardy Orange Tree in bloom

Semi-Dwarf Iris & Iberis

Fernleaf Peony

Fernleaf Peony doing very well.

This is the one that was moved from my vegetable garden

Clematis behind the ladder.

Crocheted Wasp's Nest in the Hardy Orange

Yes it does work!!

Tree and Twig Tomato Days, May 21 & May 22, 2011

2011-05-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

Miracle-Gro Complete Guide to Orchids

2011-05-18T21:59:00.001-04:00

Miracle-Gro Complete Guide to Orchids is a pleasant surprise. It is so good! The basics are well covered and accompanied with excellent pictures that are marked so that you can go back and forth from text to picture until you are completely familiar with the concepts. The sections on temperature, light and water are so good that I could have used this book when I was teaching Indoor Plants at Niagara College. The section on insects, diseases environmental problems are so easy to understand because of the matching colour pictures. Every section of this book is exemplary. The encyclopedia of orchids is no exception. The information is good, concise and with colour pictures as an example of the many different orchids you can review their needs before you purchase them. This alone will allow you to be more successful with growing orchids. This book will save you money and a lot of disappointment at $23.95 CDN/$19.95 US it is even less than the cost of one orchid. This book is truly a bargain.
--
Bruce

Taste of Niagara Lavender Festival

2011-05-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

Niagara Essential Oils and Blends in Niagara-on-the-Lake is having a first annual

"Taste of Niagara Lavender Festival" July 16, 2011. Tickets are limited!

Click on the image to go to www.neoblavender.com

Malcolmson Eco Park Plant Sale, May 14 & 28, 2011

2011-05-14T08:17:00.002-04:00

* Malcomson Eco-Park is a 36-acre park in St. Catharines, main entrance
on Lakeshore Road opposite the north end of Niagara Street, near Lock
One of the Welland Canal.

* The Friends of Malcomson Eco-Park are managing the park along with the
city's parks department, working to establish Ontario prairie plants in
the 6-acre open area, and a Carolinian forest in the remainder.

* To help raise funds for our operations, we hold a series of plant
sales every spring. One has already occurred on April 30th; two more are
scheduled on Saturday May 14th 8 AM to noon, and on Saturday
May 28th 9 AM till noon. Sales are held in the greenhouse enclosure at
the southeast corner of the parking lot by the main entrance.

* We offer a wide selection of potted wildflowers (most at $5) with some
grasses and pond plants, plus potted shrubs and trees (trees mostly at
$12-$14).

For example we have butterflyweed and swamp milkweed, boneset and
Joe-Pye-weed, three species of silphiums (cup plant, compass plant and
prairie dock), three species of mountain mints, wild bergamot, marsh
marigold, wild ginger, red and white trilliums, and many more.

This year we have especially good deals on spicebush ($5) and small 40
cm white pines ($4). We have ironwood and chinquapin oak (a good yard
tree with edible acorns, especially for dry soils), among others.

Fiskars Momentum™ Reel Mower -- Product Review

2011-05-12T09:03:00.000-04:00

Fiskars Reel Hand Mower is a joy to push. I have tested the following and know it to be true. A 95 lb weakling (our daughter) can successfully cut my lawn with this mower. It is important to set the blade height using the paper strip method. When you perform this task use long paper strips and be very careful as those blades are fast and sharp! I have also found that cutting a double mowing strip around the edges of the turf area to be mowed helps prevent the lawn clippings from being thrown on your sidewalks, gardens and driveway. This reduces your cleanup and if necessary allows you to do those strips again to mulch up any buildup of clippings. What I like best of all is I am not paying for hydro to run my lawnmower. Bonus!!
--
Bruce

Fresh Flower Arranging -- Book Review

2011-05-11T15:21:00.030-04:00

Dorling Kindersley Fresh Flower Arranging by Mark Welford and Stephen Wicks is the best fresh floral arranging book I have ever seen. The arrangements are up to date. Their step by step with pictures and text makes this a good instructional book. This book covers how to select fresh flowers, their preparation and maintenance. I liked the pictures and text on how to wire and attach a rose to a man's lapel. Very important today is hand tying bouquets, this is well covered. Fresh Flower Arranging Step-by-Step Designs for Home, Weddings, and Gifts covers arrangements for every reason and season they use a multitude of containers in their designs as well. I have left the photography for last, the photography is exceptional. In fact it is so good that you should leave this inspirational book out on the coffee table. This one 'joins' my library. Touch it and die!
--
Bruce

Garden Sitters Wanted for Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticultural Society Garden Tour

2011-05-08T19:49:00.000-04:00

The Niagara on the lake Horticultural Society is celebrating our 20th annual GARDEN TOUR on Saturday July 9, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 5pm.

They have put together an incredible tour of 25 gardens showcasing communities that make up Niagara-on-the-Lake.

They need Garden sitters…..lots of Garden Sitters!

Garden Sitter duties:
Two sitters at each garden for a 3 hour shift between 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Garden Sitters will receive:
An invitation to our Thank You Wine & Cheese Party later in the summer.
A FREE ticket to tour the gardens.
A FREE Ticket for our "Garden Sitter Draw" to be drawn at the Wine & Cheese party.

If you would like to be a garden sitter we welcome you to join us, member or not.
Please email: Gloria Thurston jthurston2@cogeco.ca

Craftsman Riding Lawn Mowers, Walk Behind Lawn Mowers - Sears Media Day

2011-05-05T21:56:00.000-04:00

When the Niagara Region was being battered by the wind storm on April 28, 2011, Bruce was being chauffeured to Hasquvarna in Mississauga for the Sears Media day.

Fun Wow! The fast track Craftsman Riding Lawn mower, speed, beauty and power. (No picture as I was moving too fast!!) I loved driving this beauty of a beast. Give a boy a fast toy and what will he do? Go as fast as I can! Any faster and I would need racing gloves, helmet and goggles. These Craftsman Professional mowers are fast and stable. I did donuts at full speed on wet asphalt. There was only very very minimal roll and no skidding. The mower deck is mounted with three pull pins and is easy to attach or take off. It is all mounted such that stepping on it is perfectly acceptable. The mower deck comes with a gardenia quick disconnect for your hose. This attaches to the mower deck to wash the underside while it is running. This cleans it just like your dishwasher washes your dishes. The hydrostatic transmission is so easy to use but the best part is that when it is in neutral the brakes are automatically on. This allows you to to get off and on quickly to pick up debris or move the lazy dog on the lawn. This was the most fun I have had on a lawn mower.

The Craftsman lawn tractors have all the features of the Craftsman professional I liked the model with the cast iron front axle. It is more durable and has a longer life. The hydrostatic transmission, turf tires, neutral brake and washer for the deck make this the mower of choice for yards of an acre or so. It just not as fast as the fast track models. The Craftsman rear mounted engine model riding mower is a dream to drive. The seat like all the craftsman mower seats are adjustable but his one has the best lumbar support. The steering wheel is small and easy to grip. With no engine or hood in front the visibility is the best. The hydrostatic transmission makes this the easiest riding mower to hop on and off. The machine is designed to go through gates with just a 30 inch wide mower deck. Each of these models have right turn technology making them the best to go tightly around trees and similar objects without having to stop and back up all the time. For smaller large properties this model is the Cat's pyjama's (What aisle are they in?)

The walk behind Craftsman Eco Lawn mower have the over-sized wheels for better rolling but was most impressive was the fact that right out of the box after attaching the handle and adding tho oil then the gas the Craftman Eco Mower started on the first pull. This Craftsman is the easiest pull start mower I have ever experienced. The Briggs and Straton engines with the hotter spark plugs are more efficient and pollute the air less. To make sure you are getting these models, always look for the green gas cap with no hole in them. This reduces the evaporative emission of the gas tank. I have never liked the self-propelled mowers. They force you to walk too fast or too slow, the Eco Lawnmowers have an easy double squeeze handles that you squeeze to regulate your traveling speed. Each Craftsman Eco Walk behind Lawn mower like their Big Brothers have a deck wash port to wash the underside of the mower deck. The port on these models just thread on to your garden hose threaded end. Simple!
There are more models and accessories available but most importantly please pick the model that best suits your budget and your needs. For those of you with the budget and need for boy toys get the zero turn technology Craftsman mowers.

Backyard Harvest -- Book Review

2011-04-27T20:50:00.000-04:00

Normally I have a problem with picture gardening books. These books are pretty to look at but are lacking substance. Not so with Dorling Kindersley Backyard Harvest by Jo Whittingham. This book is so beautiful it inspires you to grow and try other varieties you have never grown. Many varieties in this book are those I would strongly recommend as well as some I am not familiar with. I like this as an old gardener, it encourages me to try something new. The recipes are simple, practical but this is not a cookbook, it focuses on growing and harvesting. This is a good book to add to my library to inspire and use as a reference. In Canada with our wide range of environments some gardeners may have to adjust their procedures accordingly.
--
Bruce

Grow Plants in Pots -- Book Review

2011-04-27T20:34:00.002-04:00

Grow Plants in Pots covers the selection basics of pots, growing media, location and general care. This can be expected, what was not expected was the wide variety of plant material it covers. This book covers fruit trees, trees, broad-leaf evergreens, herbs, perennials,citrus, houseplants, orchids and small water gardens.
Obviously not all varieties in this book can be grown in your area. Some plants are best for summering outdoors while others may need to be sunk or buried in the garden for winter with a heavy winter mulch.
Again this book sets a high standard for photography--I only found one photograph of a missed named plant, that being Yucca filmentosa 'Bright Edge' on page 67. The photograph is actually Yucca filmentosa 'Golden Sword' The only difference in the varieties is the variegation in the leaf --even so the photographs combined with its good information, this is a good cost effective book to add to yours and my library.
--
Bruce

Take Apart Garden Shears -- Product Review

2011-04-27T20:24:00.000-04:00

Bruce likes these to cut flowers from the garden, but what he really likes them for is slicing open bags of manure, fertilizer, pinebark or peatmoss. They do a really good job. The finger openings are a little small if you are wearing heavy gloves.
They are really easy to keep clean and sharpened
--
Bruce

What is Missing in my Vegetable Garden?

2011-04-24T18:37:00.000-04:00

As you can see there is nothing in my vegetable garden.

It is ready to be dug and planted.

So what is missing?

The Double Scarlet Fernleaf Peony has been MOVED!!! I am so excited!!

As you can see from the pic below it has a permanent place in another part of the garden!!

Bruce must have Spring Fever as he was NEVER going to move that fernleaf peony.

You are actually supposed to move these peony's on August 15th.

He didn't divide it, just took it in one clump.

At least it is OUT of my vegetable garden!!!

Now I have room for another tomato!!

What is Blooming in our Garden, Easter Weekend.

2011-04-24T16:00:00.002-04:00

Here is what is blooming in our garden this Easter Weekend. The weather was absolutely beautiful on Saturday that we dragged out the patio furniture and ate outside. Cannot wait to do more of this!!

Double Scarlet Fernleaf Peony.

This is in the middle of our vegetable garden. I am NOT happy!!

but Bruce will not move it.

Yes it is beautiful when it blooms but it is very temperamental.

He did divide it once, the other piece is doing ok after being babied for over 2 years.

Helleborus or Christmas Rose

Daffodils

Erica

Primula

Our Inukshuk

The Kitchen Garden Cookbook -- Book Review

2011-04-22T11:35:00.004-04:00

This cookbook is set up differently than others. It has the recipes set up by season and then by edible plant. This makes it easy to flip to the vegetable or fruit you are ready to harvest of if you decide to cheat a little, the grocery store. At the beginning of each new plant recipe section it tells you when to pick, how to store fresh, how to preserve, and how to freeze. Also a large section on 'Techniques' at the end of each season with advice on things like oven-drying fruits, making freezer jam, how to dry herbs and preserving in oil.
One of the most important features about this cookbook is the ingredients are typical kitchen items. In The Kitchen Garden Cookbook there are a few exceptions but most recipes are simple enough and look and sound delicious.

It is very knowledgeable with many recipes for all types of fruits and vegetables.
--
Daughter #1

Japanese Barberry: Canadian Grower Industry Declines to Pursue Addition of New Cultivars.

2011-04-20T10:25:00.003-04:00

Japanese Barberry: Canadian grower industry declines to pursue addition of new cultivars at this time.

"Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) was once again make aware by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of the threat posed by a new and virulent strain of wheat rust known as Ug-99 (the name relates to Uganda as the country of origin and first discovered in1999) Although Ug-99 was previously considered to be a factor in the decision to not pursue the registration of additional barberry cultivars, more recent scientific studies continue to reinforce the threat of Ug-99 to the billion-dollar Canadian wheat industry". (CNLA Newsbrief January-February 2011)

Complete article at: CNLA - www.canadanursery.com

Gardening With Color - Book Review

2011-04-19T16:11:00.002-04:00

The Lone Pine book 'Gardening with Color' Creative Design Ideas for Canadian Gardens by Rob Sproule should really have a longer title by adding the words 'in Containers'

This book concentrates on colour in containers. It uses colourful plants from all over the world and its various climates in new and exciting combinations. One of my favourites sections is "the untamed Canada". His use of tropical, subtropical, annual, perennial and water garden marginals add a spice to containers that will thrill most old jaded gardeners.

This book has been added to my library.
--
Bruce

Beginning Gardening In Canada -- Book Review

2011-04-19T15:14:00.002-04:00

The Lone Pine book 'Beginning Gardening For Canada' by A. H. Jackson is a good book for the beginning gardener, no matter what age the gardener is. The Beginning Gardener book gives the gardener the basics of soil,sunlight, fertility,and pruning.

This book helps with the selection of plant material as well. Sometimes her choice of plant material avoids the problematic issues with a plant, an examples the use of Barberry (Berberis thumbergii) as a hedge. As a boy my job was pruning them, a nasty job! I was not upset when this plant was banned.

The new voluntary cessation of introducing of new varieties by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) because a new virulent strain of wheat rust Ug-99 from Uganda is not addressed and may misguide a new beginner gardener.

Overall a good book for the very novice gardener.
--
Bruce

Nessie Topiary Green Piece Wire Art -- Product Review

2011-04-19T14:52:00.006-04:00

Bruce has been coveting 'Nessie' for quite some time. He finally broke down and bought Nessie for our garden. It is still in the box at the moment as we all have to agree where Nessie will be placed in the front garden. Bruce wants to put it in the middle of the front lawn but we will see. He is also not sure whether he will be getting another hump. I am not sure what the neighbours will think, but that's ok as guests to our house say, we don't need to know your house number, we just drive down the street and look for the garden!! Will post pictures when we have decided where to put Nessie.


Mossed Nessie

Update: April 22, 2011
Bruce has ordered another hump for Nessie. This will make her even longer. This should be interesting!! The hump arrived yesterday, April 29, 2011.

Update: May 21, 2011
It's official. Directions to our house. Just look for the house with a Loch Ness Monster on the front lawn!!
Nessie has officially been set in place in the lawn & anchored. She is going NOWHERE!!

Nessie was placed on our front lawn & positioned with all family members in attendance. Once she was anchored there was no changing your mind! Bruce spray painted around Nessie so we knew exactly where to put her. The tail & second hump were anchored.

Bruce anchoring the tail

Bruce putting the finishing touches on Nessie

Nessie still needing a few finishing touches.

Decided we didn't like the gills looking like ears so changed those.

Official Pic of Nessie on our front lawn.

Now is the hard part!! What to plant on her & if we are going to leave her in the lawn or make her part of a garden. Time will tell!!

Canada Blooms May Co-Locate with the National Home Show!

2011-04-14T18:21:00.000-04:00

"Canada Blooms is exploring the potential to co-locate next year's Festival at the Direct Energy Centre at the same time that The National Home Show would be held there, but we are not merging. Canada Blooms will remain an independent not-for-profit Festival dedicated to the celebration of horticulture, landscape, floral design and education. We believe the possibility of offering visitors Canada's favourite flower and Garden Festival as well as the popular National Home Show at one location is an exciting one, but we will never compromise on our commitment to showcasing the best horticulture, landscape and floral artistry and knowledge Canada has to offer. If confirmed by the two organizations, the co-located events would operate for a ten day period with the 2012 event presented from March 16 to 25 and would become one of the largest consumer events in North American with a combined audience of over 25,000 guests attending. We will contact you with further details once the agreement is confirmed by both parties." (Gerry Ginsberg, General Manager, Canada Blooms)

What do you think of Canada Blooms co-locating with the National Home Show and operating for a ten day period?

Super Garden Hose -- Product Review

2011-04-12T21:02:00.001-04:00

The Perfect Garden Hose has a unique polypropylene double helix construction making it the most flexible, crush-proof and kink-free hose.

It has lightweight characteristics making it 35%-50% lighter than conventional garden hoses. It also maintains flexibility in extreme temperatures of –20F to +158F

The Super Garden Hose has no memory and straightens itself with no effort and coils easy, taking away the frustration of reeling and unreeling. It is a ¾” hose with a 5/8” inside diameter and has heavy duty brass threaded sleeve making leaks virtually impossible.

The working pressure of this hose is 100 psi @ 70F and a burst pressure of >300 psi @ 70F

These features make this hose ideal for both residential and industrial users. It is suited for all purposes from washing the car, the house or garden watering as it is for use on cement trucks, landscaping and horse barns.

It is available at Rittenhouse

The Complete Book of Potatoes: What Every Grower and Gardener Needs to Know -- Book Review

2011-04-11T20:49:00.003-04:00

The secondary title of this book says it all. What every grower and gardener needs to know. The Complete Book of Potatoes covers propagation, cultivation, insects, diseases, mutations, harvesting and most importantly storage.

An important chapter in this book is growing potatoes in the organic way. It covers organic disease, insect and weed management. There is also a chapter on alternative techniques for growing potatoes. This is one of my favourite chapters, as I like to grow my potatoes in containers.

The list of the different potato cultivars is extensive, informative and backed up with colour plates of the varieties. The chapter on insects and diseases is backed up as well with colour plates.

Simply put this book not only being added to my personal library replacing all others.

Bruce

Ontario Horticultural Association Convention 2012 Rose

2011-04-11T19:25:00.002-04:00

District 9 of the Ontario Horticultural Association will be hosting the 106th Annual Convention in 2012 from August 17-19, 2012.

The theme for the Convention is "Gardening Then & Now 1812-2012" This coincide with the Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812.

The venue will be at the Niagara College, Niagara on the Lake campus

This hybridized, disease resistant red rose will be a fundraiser for the District 9 Societies at the Ontario Horticultural Association Convention. Plantings at Niagara College are planned to showcase this yet unnamed rose.

City of Welland Rose

2011-04-11T19:10:00.000-04:00

City of Welland Rose-Sale · Welland Horticultural Society

The Welland Horticultural Society is again selling their City of Welland Rose.

Orders will be taken at the Welland Market by their members for the next few Saturday mornings April 16, 23 & 30, 2011 between 9 am & 11 am.

Cost: $20 per rose

Pick up is on Saturday May 7 behind the Welland Civic Centre from 9 am to 12 noon.

Designer Potatoes

2011-04-10T11:05:00.005-04:00

"Potatoes are cheap, right? Well, that may be so when selling tubers by the 10-pound bag but a marketing company in the U.S. is selling its potatoes for more than $1 a piece. What it is doing is wrapping the pre-washed potato in an attractive package and putting a label on the wrap listing cooking and microwave instructions. " (FruitandVeggie.com)

Who would buy potatoes at more than $1 a piece? I buy a 10-pound bag of potatoes approximately every 1.5 - 2 weeks. Yes, we go through a lot of potatoes. The girls love potatoes especially smashed taters--as they call them--they have the leftovers as fry-ups the next night. Yummy!! If I bought these designer potatoes, we would be broke.

Complete article at:
Designer potatoes an example of access to high-value markets

Who doesn't know how to cook potatoes?
--
Juleigh

Fiskars Momentum™ Reel Mower -- Product Review

2011-04-04T10:17:00.004-04:00

Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower

DD1 is itching to get her hands on this mower to try it out. It is far too wet at the moment but if it was dry she would have this out of the box!

I think it is because it is a cool looking mower.

Review to follow!

Fiskars SmartPower™ Propane 4-cycle Trimmer -- Product Review

2011-04-01T21:26:00.012-04:00

Update: July 29, 2011
There is a recall on the Fiskars SmartPower Propane 4-cycle Trimmer.

Fiskars Canada, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls SmartPower Propane Trimmers

Fiskars SmartPower Propane 4-cycle Trimmer
Bruce has the Fiskars SmartPower Propane 4-cycle Trimmer still in the box in the garage. He is NOT opening it yet as he will be wanting to use it. He is getting itchy fingers but it is definitely TOO early to start trimming anything!
Review to follow when the weather is better!

Update: April 11, 2011

The Fiskars smart power line trimmer has a 25cc 4 cycle can deliver 40% more power than an electric trimmer and 6 times more power than battery trimmers.
On one of the short stubby propane tanks will last 85 % on one tank of gasoline engine models and two times longer than battery trimmers. There is no priming, no chocking, and no flooding. The Fiskars Smart Power trimmer has a sealed fuel systems so there is no evaporative emissions of hydrocarbon pollutants.
The Fiskars Smart Power Line trimmer has a trim line that is twisted for added strength, durability and a quieter cut. Its cut width is 17 inches wide. The head can be turned to trim a vertical edge. The trimmer head also has bump and go technology to feed the line.

The trimmer must be stored in the horizontal position once the SAE 10W30 oil is added to the engine. You need to read the manual.
I have just assembled the Fiskars Smart Power Weed Trimmer / Line Trimmer you should follow the instructions even though you will only need a Philips screwdriver for the five bolts, two nuts and two screws. The hardest part I found was the two screws to secure the handle. This was only because a second person holding it would be helpful. I can hardly wait to pull that cord. Buurrrrrrrrrrrrrrroom!

Cavendish Plant Guides Perennials

2011-01-29T19:26:00.009-05:00

A Must for our Library.

Cavendish Plant Guides Perennials
ISBN: 0-929050-47-9
Dorling Kindersley Ltd., London, UK
Published in Canada by Cavendish Books Inc, Vancouver, B.C

Excellent Perennial book.
Bruce gives this book a 5 Star rating!

A photographic guide to more than 1, 000 plants by type, size, season of interest and colour.

Update: February 10, 2011
I am extremely satisfied with this book. It cost me $ 33.94 US dollars with free shipping to an American address, or in our case to our US post office box. They charge an extra $ 3.00 for shipment to Canada. Web address is www.thriftbooks.com. This organization claims to have the largest used book inventory in the world!! . Thanks again. MR.
--
Juleigh
ust Adition to our Library

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

Have a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous 2011!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T17:11:00.003-05:00

★Merry★ 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas††★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_。˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */__/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田｜門｜ ˚And a Happy New Year!!!

Potential Hemlock Hybrids Tolerant to Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

2010-11-20T08:01:00.002-05:00

Potential Hemlock Hybrids tolerant to invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.

Ash Tree Leaf

2010-11-13T08:19:00.003-05:00

Ash Tree leaf that the Emerald Ash Borer loves.

Autumn Rouge™ (Rhododendron Hybrid)

2010-11-06T08:52:00.005-04:00

Encore Azalea has introduced Cold Hardy Azaleas. In Zone 6b there are 9 varieties that consistently exhibit solid cold hardiness.

With its beautiful dark green foliage, upright growth and deep red-pink blooms, Autumn Rouge is well suited for backgrounds or hedges.

Bloom Color: Deep red-pink

Height: 4 feet

Spread: 4.5 feet

Bloom Span: 2" across

Bloom Form: Semi-double

Uses:

Border

Mass Planting

Container

Evergreen

Specimen

Exposure:

Light Shade to Full Sun

Soil Moisture:

Average

Growth Rate in the Garden:

Medium

Nature Attraction:

Butterflies

October Gardening

2010-10-22T10:59:00.014-04:00

Left: Golden Honey Bunch tomatoes
Right: Rudbeckia "Goldstrum"

Left: Coleus Redhead
Right: Coleus Redhead, closeup

Left: Ornamental Grasses
Right: Echinacea 'Summer Sun'

Left: Yuccas
Right: Sedum

Blue Princess Holly

Left: Hardy Orange Tree
Right: Fulford Gala Apples

Left: Hostas & Colchica Ivy
Right: Honeysuckle

Left: Panicum Heavy Metal, Miscanthus Morning Light
Right: Lavender Lady Miniature Rose

Left: Potentilla Spring Beauty
Right: English Ivy & Hardy Cyclamen

--
Juleigh

The Toronto Gardener's Journal & Source Book

2010-10-21T10:42:00.002-04:00

This journal is one of the best gifts for the home gardener. It is called "The Toronto Gardener's Journal & Source Book 2011" Although it says Toronto in the title it is actually ideal for gardeners in the Golden Horseshoe.

There are weekly tips on what to do when in the garden & plenty of space to write what happened in your garden so a specific day.

It is divided up into sections: Journal, Garden Plan & Records, Photos, Delights & Disappointments & Source Book.

It would be a great resource to see what was good & not so good in your garden over the past year. We NEVER remember everything!!

The Toronto Gardener's Journal is available to order on-line at torontogardenbook.com
--
Juleigh

Fence Armor -- Product Review

2010-09-17T09:04:00.015-04:00

Wow, just found a great product. We were at the Landscape Ontario Golden Horseshoe Chapter Chicken Roast last night & there are always door prizes as well as raffle ticket prizes. On the door prize table were boxes of Fence Armor. The girls were told if there number was called for a door prize they were to pick up a box of Fence Armor. Well guess what? DD#2's door prize number was called, & yes she did pick up a box of Fence Armor. I don't think the Sales Rep had seen anyone more excited about this product Fence Armor!

What is Fence Armor, you ask? Well the wording on the box says it all - Protect your fence posts from damage caused by powered edgers. This is especially good when you back onto a city park. When the city workers weed whip around the perimeter of the park, guess what gets damaged, our wooden fence posts. Yes, we have been told by the Horticultural Technician of the Parks & Recreation department that the city workers are not to weed whip the fence posts but here is the damage done to a block of wood protecting some of the fence post. We have just finished replacing the fence post this block of wood was protecting, it rotted out & the weed whipping of the post did not help. This product is definitely going to help!

The Fence Armor is very easy to install. Installation instructions are here. Fencing nails are not included in the Fence Armor kit. For best results stain or water proof untreated posts before installing Fence Armor. Fence Armor is also a Canadian company.

Update:
Fence Armor is available at many Canadian Tire, Home Hardware outlets and also at www.rittenhouse.ca. A listing of where to buy Fence Armor is here.
--

Juleigh

Guelph Trial Garden 2010 - Bruce's Picks

2010-08-30T09:06:00.008-04:00

These are Bruce's picks from the Guelph 2010 Trial Garden.

Ageratum Artist Rose

Angelonia

Caryopteris Snow Fairy

Eryngium Sunny Jackpot

Petunia Black Velvet

Petunia Hurrah Blue Veined

Petunia Sanguna Blue 11

Petunia Sanguna Lipstick

Zinnia Magellan Ivory

Zinnia Magellan Yellow

Guelph Trial Garden 2010 - Juleigh's Picks

2010-08-29T21:44:00.010-04:00

These are Juleigh's picks from the Guelph 2010 Trial Garden.

Echinacea PowWow
Left - White: Right - Wild Berry

Verbena Aztec 'Blue Velvet'

Echinacea 'Magnus'
Still a great looking & performing plant.

Amaranthus Mira
This plant will never make it into our garden, Bruce calls it 'old fashioned' but I think it is cool looking!!

Hibiscus Luna Rose

Rudbeckia Goldsturm
Still a great performing plant!!

Echinacea Summer Sorbet

Kniphofia Peachy Cheaks

Verbena Empress Red

Echinacea Warm Color Shades

Brassica Lucir White
Another plant that will not make it into our yard but is rather cool looking!

Cyperus King Tut
We have this in our 'Instant Water Garden' (a water garden in a container)

Calibrachoa Caberet Deep Blue

Echinacea Razzmatazz
Still the ugliest plant on earth!!
You can tell I do not like Razzmatazz. Doesn't the plant look ratty??

Magnolia Scale

2010-08-07T23:32:00.003-04:00

Magnolia Scale is the bane of the Ontario Pesticide ban. There is now nothing to control Magnolia Scale except for power washing (you know the cost of water) & insecticidal soap. (more water)

This is what our driveway looked like after the Magnolia was power washed. Notice the white specks, those are Magnolia Scale & yes they are still alive & moving!!

The black on the leaves is Sooty mould. This is a fungus that is the result of Magnolia Scale.

Poor Gardening Practices

2010-08-07T23:11:00.004-04:00

These are examples of poor gardening practices.

You should not allow any vine to climb up a tree. The aerial roots penetrate the bark.

Another poor gardening practice. You should NEVER & I mean NEVER leave stubs when pruning any plant. This can cause rot, disease & death of the plant.

Vegetable Garden Damage

2010-07-31T08:47:00.003-04:00

This is the damage to our vegetable garden. We have not found the culprit, but believe it is a Bushy Tailed rat aka a squirrel. These red tomatoes are Plum Crimson. It is a substitute for Health Kick as we cannot get Health Kick transplants. These Plum Crimson are in a container so we do not think it is a rabbit. We have to have the kids outside more or invest in a dog. Not sure which is better!!

Plum Crimson

Carolina Gold

Vegetable Garden 2010

2010-07-31T08:32:00.003-04:00

These are some of the varieties of tomatoes in our garden.

Ultra Sweet

This is a nice red tomato. Sweet.

Carolina Gold

Carolina Gold is delicious. Really sweet. Our substitute for Husky Gold as we cannot find these transplants. I prefer transplants.

Sarah Black Tomatoes

These Sarah Black tomatoes are a Heirloom Tomato. They have that wonderful old-fashioned taste. They are absolutely wonderful. Ours do have green shoulders but we just cut it off. We bought the Sarah Black transplants from Tree & Twig

Kapelo Pepper

These peppers are delicious. Bruce eats these pepper raw and he is not eat raw peppers. If he does eat peppers raw, he has to drown it in dip. These ones he didn't. They are that sweet. Also Daughter #1 loves these peppers as well & she doesn't like peppers as well. That's a good testimony for this pepper.
--
Juleigh

Niagara Falls Horticultual Society Garden Walk

2010-07-21T23:04:00.023-04:00

The Niagara Falls Horticultural Society's Garden Walk in on Saturday, July 24, 2010.

Here are some pictures of the gardens. The pictures are in the order we did the gardens.

Crawford Street

Pettit Avenue

Latina Crescent
Figs are definitely on the menu!

Other side of the driveway.

Oleander

Vertical Garden & windmill made from CD's

Bellevue Street

Jepson Street

Division Street
(Garden 7)

Division Street
(Garden 8)

Whitman Avenue

Buckingham Drive

St. Catharines Horticultural Society Garden Walk

2010-07-11T15:13:00.027-04:00

The St. Catharines Horticultural Society Garden Walk was Sunday, July 11, 2010. It was rather hot outside today. We did 4 gardens.

These are the gardens we went to, and in the order seen.

First Garden

Spring Garden Blvd
Bougainvillea
(comes in for the Winter)

Second Garden
Oriole Drive
Upright dry bed fountain

Tradescantia
(comes in for the winter)

Delphinum Millenium series

Daylily

Third Garden
South Drive
Red Hot Poker

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Weeping Sequoia

Utility space hidden behind fence

Fourth Garden

Highland Ave

Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Garden pond with Hardy Water Lily

Back area of the Water Pond

Parrot hiding in the tree

Niagara on the Lake Horticultural Society Garden Walk

2010-07-10T17:36:00.020-04:00

Niagara on the Lake Horticultural Society Garden Walk was on Saturday, July 10, 2010. The weather co-operated & was absolutely gorgeous.

These are the gardens we went to, & in the order we did them.

First Garden
Busy Bee Gardens

Lavender planted in ground beds

Lavender potted on bench

Lavender field planted

Second Garden
Green Street

Third Garden
Niagara Street

Variegated Green Japanese Maple

Garden Art

Opium Poppy's are not illegal to grow in Ontario

Unique stepping stone, next door.

Fourth Garden
Shakespeare Ave

Moss Garden

Wildlife in the Garden

2010-07-10T07:59:00.011-04:00

Wildlife that visited yesterday when it was raining.

Mama duck with 10 ducklings.

Tomato Garden 2010

2010-07-07T20:53:00.009-04:00

These tomatoes will explode in our garden in a few weeks.

Our first "Primo Red" tomato of the season! It was yummy.

Container Garden 2010

2010-07-07T20:42:00.010-04:00

Sunflowers Music Box & Container Junior

Coleus Redhead & Coleus Versa "Crimson Gold"

Petunia Easy Wave "Neon Rose"

Impatiens New Guinea Divine "Hot Mixture"

Coleus Redhead & Euphorbia Breathless "Blush"

Coleus Redhead & Petunia Sun Spun Yellow

First Tomatoes of 2010

2010-07-05T21:45:00.006-04:00

First tomatoes of the season.
"Candy Red" & "Cherry Patio tomato"

First "Ultra Sweet" tomato.
Wow it was yummy, much better than what you can get in the grocery store.

Plant ID

2010-06-28T23:01:00.002-04:00

Can you tell me what this plant is?
I found it in a container in Halifax Public Garden.

Rhodochiton Purple Rain

Potting up the Container Garden 2010

2010-06-24T20:59:00.000-04:00

The containers I got at a garage sale for 50c each.

The hired help potting up the containers for our Container garden.

Keukenhof, Holland, 2010

2010-05-22T20:28:00.006-04:00

Bruce spent the afternoon of May 2, 2010 in Keukenhof. It was pouring rain!! Did that dampen the spirits, NO!!

Here are some of the pics Bruce took running, and I mean running around Keukenhof.

What is Holland without the windmill??

Sightseeing, Holland Trip, 2010

2010-05-22T20:06:00.004-04:00

Houseboat on the canal.
How would you like to garden here?

Neat transportation!

Great architecture

Holland Trip 2010

2010-05-22T19:28:00.012-04:00

Arrival in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

To the barracks in Harskamp, Holland
Everyone congregated in the men's barracks

The Lincoln & Welland Regimental Band on parade.

Doesn't this say it all!

Sissinghurst A Castle's Unfinished History - Book Review

2010-05-22T19:26:00.007-04:00

Sissinghurst is world famous as a place of calm and beauty, a garden slipped into the ruins of a rose-pink Elizabethan palace. But is it entirely what its creators intended? Has its success over the last thirty years come at a price? Is Sissinghurst everything it could be? The story of this piece of land, as estate in the Weald of Kent, is told here for the first time from the very beginning. Adam Nicolsom, who now lives there, has uncovered remarkable new findings about its history as a medieval manor and great sixteenth-century house, from the days of its decline as an eighteenth-century prison to a flourishing Victorian farm and on to the creation, by his grandparents Vita Sackville-West & Harold Nicolson, of a garden in a weed-strewn wreck.

Alongside his recovery of the past, Adam Nicolson wanted something else: for the land at Sissinghurst to live again, to become the landscape of orchards, cattle, fruit, and sheep he remembered from his childhood.

More than just a personal biography of a place, this book is the story of taking an inheritance and steering it in a new direction, just as an entrepreneur might take hold of a company, or just as all of just might want to take our dreams and make them real.

When this book arrived in the mail, DD#1 took off the dustcover and started to read it. It must have looked interesting and must have been good to hold her interest.
--
Julie

Vegetable Garden 2010

2010-05-17T15:35:00.006-04:00

These are all tomatoes & were transplanted on May 7, 2010. I know it is too early to plant in Ontario but as you can see these are planted with protection -- their own individual plastic greenhouse kits. We love them. Never had a bad season with tomatoes only good & GREAT!!

The varieties we planted this year are:
Golden Honey Bunch - yellow cherry
Red Candy - red cherry
Primo Red
Plum Crimson - substitute for Health Kick
Carolina Gold - yellow
Ultra Sweet
Patio Hybrid - these are in their own container

These 2 plants are Heirloom varieties and came from Tree & Twig. We bought them on Saturday, May 15 & transplanted them on May 16, 2010 also with protection.
Sara Black - black tomato
Snow White - white cherry

When we bought the Heirloom varieties from Tree & Twig we had to do some rearranging in the garden. I dug out the "Plum Crimson" as this is a determinate tomato so can go into a container. Both of the Heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate.

Here is what our garden looks like now. Notice the black pot in the back with the stake in it, this is the 'Plum Crimson'. All of the tomatoes in the garden this year are indeterminate. The making of a wild garden!!

My container garden is looking good as well. I have planted Swiss Chard varieties, Italian Silver Rib & Pot of Gold. The sunflowers are all dwarf, the varieties are Van Gogh, Junior & Music Box.

Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band

2010-04-13T14:50:00.003-04:00

Full dress rehearsal for the Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band. They are going to Holland at the end of the month for the Holland Liberation Tour 2010 & playing in 3 tattoos.

Sarritor(R) Biological Lawn Weed Killer Now Available for Home Use

2010-03-29T19:05:00.008-04:00

Sarritor(R) Biological Lawn Weed Killer - the first biological, 100% natural (non-chemical), selective lawn weed killer to control dandelions, clover and plantain in turf without harming the lawn is NOW available at leading garden centres and retail stores for home owner application. Sarritor is compliant with all municipal by-laws & is also compliant with the Ontario Pesticide Law.

How does it work? The active ingredient of Sarritor is a naturally occurring fungus. The fungus is coated on a dry granular carrier that can be applied directly on a broadleaf weed. The fungus is activated by moisture and works best when temperature is between 18 and 24 degrees C. It grows naturally in the week and absorbs the plant issues until the weed is completely gone. Once the weed is gone, the fungus dies and no residuals are left.

Now there is an environmentally safe alternative to selective chemical herbicides that have been banned. Sarritor is a natural & organic product based on the Sclerotinia Minor technology that was developed by Dr. Alan Watson of McGill University. Sarritor can control dandelions and other broad leaf weeds in turf without harming surrounding grass by using a fungus that is a natural enemy of weeds. The 100% natural & organic product is non-toxic, does not produce spores, is neutral in the environment and is indigenous to Canada. One applied, the product kills the weed and disappears.

Sarritor comes in a handy shaker dispenser bottle. The bottle is designed to dispense the correct dose with each application. One dose per dandelion is all it takes! The bottle contains enough Sarritor to treat 750 dandelions.

Apply in the spring or fall when daytime highs are less than 24 degrees C.

Needs rain or irrigation within 12 hours of application to activate.

Use within 1 week of purchase. Refrigeration not required.

UPDATE:
Sarritor is available at Home Depot

Cooking With Arvinda's

2010-03-26T10:58:00.008-04:00

While at the Niagara College 41st Annual "In Your Backyard" Open House, I visited the other vendors in the Marketplace. I always have to visit my favourite vendor Arvinda's. We have loved Arvinda's since I found them about 2 years ago at the 'In Your Backyard' Open House.

The year we found them, we sampled the 'Chai Tea' & the 'Carrot & Red Lentil Soup (Dal)'. Both were excellent, prompting me to buy the spices so that I could make them at home. They had recipe postcards so at least I knew what I was doing!!

Onto the next year, Arvinda's was back again. I had to replenish the Chai Masala & the Madras Masala. Next we tried the Tandoori Chicken. I took the recipe postcard & purchased the Tandoori Masala. When trying a new recipe I go strictly by the recipe, after that it is fair game. We absolutely loved the Tandoori Chicken but it turned out to be a tad hot for our liking. What I have done since when cooking the Tandoori Chicken is to double the amount of yogurt or halve the Tandoori Masala. It has come out perfect every time!

This year I decided to be a bit more adventurous, I purchased Arvinda's new cookbook 'Arvinda's Healthy Gourmet Indian Cooking' I also have all the spice blends, cooking masalas & cooking ingredients so there is no excuse to not use this cookbook. I love this cookbook, it is so easy now I have all the spice blends, masalas & cooking ingredients. I really like easy especially when it comes to a different type of cooking. I have not done much Indian Cooking as I am not one to buy a gazillion spices I may not use again. This is perfect as they are all mixed and ready to go - my kind of cooking!!

The girls decided since we had all the spice blends, masalas & cooking ingredients we needed to crack the book open & make something. I decided on a dessert "Chai Vanilla Yogurt with Seasonal Fruit & Walnuts" (pg 51). We had the Chai Vanilla Yogurt with strawberries & blackberries. Didn't have any walnuts but that didn't matter. It was to die for!! Wow!! This is going to be a summer staple especially with all the local fresh fruit.

Decisions were made & I have been commissioned to make something from 'Arvinda's Healthy Gourmet Indian Cooking' cookbook every week. Our life is extremely busy so we decided on Monday nights as this is the night we are mostly home - Bruce has to be home for his soap opera '24'. I hate to eat & run. I want to enjoy Indian cooking!! The girls are already eyeing some of the recipes they want to try.
--
Julie

41st Annual Niagara College 'In Your Backyard' Open House

2010-03-25T08:25:00.001-04:00

We were at the 41st Annual Niagara College 'In Your Backyard' Open House the weekend of March 20-21. It was an absolute HUGE success. Listeners now know Bruce is on 105.1 The River!! We also had a great time. We were in the Plant A Row booth in the Marketplace that was situated in the cafeteria.

There were many vendors including Discovery Toys, St. Catharines Green Committee, Deb's Designs, Trails End, Ontario Horticultural Association, Pelham Horticultural Society, St. Catharines Horticultural Society, Niagara Falls Horticultural Society, Lincoln Garden Club & Horticultural Society, Grimsby Horticultural Society, Welland Horticultural Society, Bonsai Society, The Pampered Chef, Smart Gardening, Eli's Body Care, The Natural Way Plant Products, Handcrafted Woodturnings, Utopia Woodturning, Mary Kay, Jelly Boys, to name a few as well as my absolute favourite Arvindas.

The Niagara College Culinary Institute was open as well & the students made bread. Absolutely delicious - Sourdough, Multigrain & Vienna. We definitely took a few home with us.

The Horticultural students had their displays along the walkway heading towards the Culinary Institute. It is always interesting to see their displays & what the subject is.

Looking forward to the 42nd Annual Niagara College 'In Your Backyard' Open House in 2011.
--
Julie

Weather in the Niagara Region

2010-03-19T21:55:00.002-04:00

With the high temperatures we have been experiencing in the last 2 weeks, many deciduous plants have buds that are swelling or opening. This means you have to check each plant in your garden before using dormant spray. eg. currants, lilacs, hydrangeas

There is also a chance for frost damage if there is a cold snap. Rain is a good thing!
--
Bruce

That's Not Bad for a First Attempt!

2010-03-18T09:48:00.001-04:00

How is this for a first attempt? Not too shabby!
Giant Pumpkin
--
Julie

Fiesta - New Organic Selective Herbicide

2010-01-28T21:36:00.004-05:00

Fiesta is an organic selective herbicide for broadleaf weeds in your lawn. Fiesta is based on iron chelate. It can be tank mixed but requires no tank agitation to keep it mixed. It can be applied mixed with a water soluble fertilizer but at this point this is still not tested.

Fiesta is abrasive to metals so do not use metal spray tanks. Your nozzles should be brass or stainless steel. After prolonged or extended use check your equipment for wear. 1 litre of mix does 1345 square feet, 1 gal of concentrate will cover 5,068 square feet.

You can apply Fiesta to your lawn as soon as temperatures reach 10-15 degrees C and even at these temperatures it can kill in one day. You can continue to apply Fiesta at temperatures up to 30 degrees C. Above 30 degrees C Fiesta will burn your grass. Fiesta will turn your lawn thatch black especially at temperatures above 30 degrees C. Storage is above freezing and below 30 degrees C.

Fiesta will be available in Canada in March 2010 but no distribution is set yet. In the USA I have heard that Scott's MiracleGro owns the rights for 2010.

UPDATE: March 19, 2010
Because of the red tape paperwork, Fiesta will not be available until May 2010. There is plenty of stock, no pricing is available. They believe that Fiesta will be available for both commercial & homeowner use.
--
Bruce

The Hostapedia - Book Review

2010-01-18T18:55:00.005-05:00

In The Hostapedia, Mark Zilis describes every hosta that he has encountered over the past thirty years. This includes forms he studied in gardens and nurseries throughout the United States and those he observed in native habitats and collections in Japan. It encompasses all cultivars registered with the American Hosta Society and others listed in a wide variety of publications and websites. The 1900 photos in The Hostapedia highlight the most important hostas, as well as many unusual collector's plants and hosta oddities.

Over 7400 hosta descriptions listed A-Z
1897 color photos
Complete index of hosta names
Factual and entertaining
Most definitive work on hostas in print and a must for every collector, nurseryman, and gardener

The Hostapedia by Mark R. Zilis, © 2009,
9" by 12", 1128 pages, 1897 color photos, hardcover
ISBN # 978-0-9679440-1-2

Bruce has been waiting for this book for 3 years, ever since it was first mentioned. He has been told it weighs 11 lbs. Definitely NOT a light book!

This book is only available from Q&Z Nursery in Rochelle, IL so if you order this book you will have to pay duty to get it across the border into Canada.

To order the website is
http://www.qandznursery.com/hostapedia.html
--
Bruce

It Itches - Book Review

2009-11-20T21:15:00.003-05:00

"It Itches" is a hilarious book of cartoons and essays on the mysterious ways of a knitter and their stash. When reading it I laughed a lot seeing in each page a reflection of myself or someone I know. Franklin's essays and cartoons hit the mark, his obvious knowledge of our strange ways from living among the herd of wild knitters who are skittish by nature.
Favourite parts: The Man vs Skein essay & the mid-Victorian ideas about gender cartoon.

This book would make a wonderful gift for the knitter in your life.
--
Daughter #1

50 High-Impact Low-Care Garden Plants -- Book Review

2009-10-16T20:40:00.002-04:00

Looking for tough love, then this is the book for you. Tracy Disabato-Aust's "50 High-Impact Low-Care Garden Plants" book will make you fall in love with these tough and reliable plants. This is just not another book about perennial combinations, as a fine example of this is Tracy's choice of the Paperbark Maple. This is an easy to care for maple that looks nothing like a maple. It has cinnamon coloured exfoliating bark and red autumn colour. She states it's ultimate height and width light requirements,hardiness and best of all what plants look good with your Paperbark Maple.
This is not to say that Tracy Disabato-Aust's book "50 High-Impact Low-Care Garden Plants" does not include perennials and grasses because it does. The colour pictures are colour accurate, large and inspiring. Each plant comes with a check list of it's atttibutes. For example long-lived, tolerates heat and humditiy, minimal or no pruning, drought tolerant and many more.
"50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants" is published by Timber Press is a good read and will become a well loved addition to your personal library.
--
Bruce

Green Flowers Unexpected Beauty for the Garden, Container or Vase -- Book Review

2009-10-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Do you need a respite from the garish colour of your garden then transform an out of the way part of your garden into a restful green and white garden. Alison Hoblyn's book "Green Flowers" will help you pick the right green flowering plants to add unexpected beauty and flower colour to your garden. Add green and white foliage to create filler shape and texture to your peaceful and meditative garden. Then with the addition of green flowering plants you will add an element of surprise to your garden experience. Alison suggests Euphorbia, Daylilies, Rudeckia's and more green flowers in her book green flowers. The photographic work is excellent. You can also use these green plants to create a transistion between different flower colours in your flower border. A four start book from Timber Press. A keeper for my personal library.
--
Bruce

The Family Kitchen Garden -- Book Review

2009-09-05T22:38:00.003-04:00

The Family Kitchen Garden by Karen Kiebreich, Jutta Wagner, and Annette Wendland is the book that you will need to guide you and your family though the entire year in gardening. The basics are well covered so that even a novice gardener can be successful in the month by month segment. You are told what to do; what to harvest; what to sow; what to plant and most importantly what to eat when. We all must be rewarded for our efforts, in June we eat fruit ice pops or a fruit granitas with or with out vodka or creme de cassis. There is also a recipe for making fruit leathers. Tell me what child or person young at heart can resist fruit leathers. The rest of the Family Kitchen Garden is about vegetables, herbs, but also about some flowers, the charts in the back of the Family Kitchen Garden book will help you to know the spacing of your plants and your expected harvest and so much more. A very important note for North America, your times will need to be shifted to 1-2 months later. A must practical gardenng guide.
--
Bruce

President's Choice Gigantico "Stokes Best" Vegetable Tasting

2009-08-14T19:55:00.015-04:00

Great day at the President's Choice Gigantico "Stokes Best" vegetable tasting. Had a beautiful day, even if it was a little hot in the trial gardens. At least it was not raining. Now this was the way to spend the day!!

This is what Julie thought of the tastings.

Tomatoes:
Big Beef
Big Beef is a meaty red beefsteak tomato weighing 10-12 oz/280-340 g. The flavour is outstanding with a good sugar to acid ratio. Disease tolerant plants will flower, set fruit and ripen continuously during the growing season. Staking is required.
My thoughts: Beefsteak tomatoes are not my favourite. To me they are too watery and lack in flavour - OK

Carolina Gold:
Beautiful, unique, tangerine/gold tomatoes have a nice, mild acidic flavour and add colour to salads, sandwiches, etc. This beef tomatoe is very adaptable, and its strong, determinate plant produces 8-10 oz/227-280 g fruit thoughout the season. To maximize yield potential, staking is recommended.
My thoughts: Large, meaty, less acid. LOVE IT!!! Rivals Husky Gold - Great

Ultra Sweet:
An early medium sized (10oz/280 g) red beefsteak type. Firm, crack resistant fuit have an outstanding balance of sugar/acids that results in excellent flavour. For best results, stake plants.
This tomato is from Japan. The male parent is a pink tomato. It has less acid and has the 'nipple gene' (the bottom of the tomato has a point) This reduces but does not eliminate bottom end rot.
My thoughts: Love this tomato!! We have Ultra Sweet tomato in our garden & it is performing extremely well even in this wet summer!! - Great

Brandywine
This heritage variety is considered by many as one of the best tasting tomatoes ever. Fruit are huge (10-16oz/280-454 g) and pinkish red with some striping. Easy to grow, Brandywine tomatoes are a boon to any garden and are sure to give you a bounty of big, juicy tomatoes blessed with old fashioned taste. Semi-determinate potato leaf plant should be staked.
My thoughts: Brandywine is in our garden. Have been harvesting it for the last 2 weeks as we transplanted our tomatoes on May 9, 2009. Some catface, typical of heritage tomatoes. Watery. Bruce says it tastes like Brandywine. - Do not particularly like Brandywine.

Window Box Roma
Window Box Roma has been specially bred to produce yield after yield of wonderful, pear-shaped, 2-2 1/2 oz/56-70 g fruit with excellent flavour and extra-long shelf life. Dark green foliage on an upright, dwarf plants looks as pretty as a picture in containers, planters & patio pots.
My thoughts: This tomato is in our garden. Doing really well. Meaty, roma tomato. Great for dehydrating!! - Great

Patio Hybrid
Compact and upright, determinate plants require only 2 in/5 cm stakes and produce their fruits from the bottom of the plant. Bushy, 25 in /63 cm tall, dwarf plants are compact and grow well in containers. Vigourous and productive with 4 oz/102 g deep oblate, medium-sized fruit. Very easy to grow.
My thoughts: OK

Health Kick
Heavy yields of brilliant dark red paste tomatoes that average 4 oz/112 g. High in lycopene. An excellent meaty tomato for salads, paste, sauce or to sun dry. Determinate plants - may need staking.
My thoughts: LOVE, LOVE this tomato!! This tomato has been a staple in our garden for quite a few years. Meaty, excellent for dehydrating!!

Plum Crimson
Health Kick will not be available in 2010 - substitute for Health Kick is 'Plum Crimson'
My thoughts: I do not think that Plum Crimson is a good as Health Kick. - Must find Health Kick!!

Golden Honey Bunch
Vigourous plant produces vines with clusters of 10 to 20 fruits. The oval shaped fruit averages 1/4 oz/9 g and are very sweet. First golden grape tomato - Kids will gobble these up!
My thoughts: LOVE LOVE this tomato!! This tomato is in our garden & we absolutely love it. Definitely sweet like candy!!! It does crack with this wet summer!!

Cupid
Cupid is an indeteminate fresh market grape tomato. It has a vigorous platn that sets clusters of 16 small 3/8 oz/10 g grape tomatoes with a high sugar content. The oval-shaped fruit have an excellent red colour and a sweet flavour.
My thoughts: This tomato is in our garden. Not performing very well. It could be the wet summer. Could be discontinued for 2010 & substituted for "Red Candy" or "Peppolino"

Peppolino
Brand new, cherry red tomato.
My thoughts: Great meaty. Daughter loves this tomato!!

Red Candy
Brand new, cherry red tomato.
My thoughts: Meaty

Basket Vee
Open pollinated, heritage tomato. More disease resistant.
My thoughts: Meaty, OK

Tumbler
Hanging basket or container plant
My thoughts: OK

Primo Red
Brand new, beefsteak type tomato. Has nipple gene.
My thoughts: Did not get to taste this one as it was still too green. Looked meaty.

Peppers
Kapelo
Kapia type. NOT a bell pepper, more like a Shepherd. Sweet, excellent for containers.
My thoughts: Love this pepper. Daughter likes this pepper and she does not like peppers!!

Bell Boy
This All America Selections Winner has very thick smooth walls. Large 4 1/2x 3 1/2 in/11x9 cm fruit ripens dark green to red. An excellent pepper fresh or stuffed.

Orange Grande
Good yields of green, turning to a beautiful orange jumbo 5 1/2 /14 cm peppers. Fruit have nice thick walls and remain firm at maturity. Either colour tastes great!
My thoughts: Very nice pepper.

RedStart
Great tasting early bell pepper. Redstart has fantastic yields of dark green 3 3/4 in/9 cm thick walled fruit. Ripens to a dark red by September.

El Jeffe Jalapeno
Very high quality jalapeno fruit has thick walls, a small cavity and is more cylindrical in shape than most. Matures dark green to red and has good disease tolerances.

Cucumbers:
Fanfare
This All America Selections Winner is an excellent slicing cucumber with notable yield, dwarf plant habit and improved disease tolerances. These high quality flavourable cucumbers grow to a length of 8-9 in / 20-23 cm. A great variety for container gardening as it is easily trained to a trellis.
My thoughts: Compact plant. Great for containers. Crisp, love this cucumber.

Tasty Bright
An extra early burpless non bitter type that can be grown outdoors. Tasty Bright has crisp, dark green fruit with a mild flavour. Lenght averages 9 in/23 cm, with 1 1/2 in/3.8 cm width. Similar to the long narrow English-type cucumbers that come shrink-wrapped in the grocery store. The plants will grow much better, with longer and straighter cucumbers if trellised.
My thoughts: OK

Zucchini
Radiant
Radiant is a medium-green zucchini hybrid with smooth, cylindrical fruit. It has a small plant that sets well for high yield potential. Very smooth skin is medium dark green with attractive flecks. Straight, slightly tapered fruit average 7-8 in/18-20 cm in size.
Less prickly hairs for when picking!

Eggplant
Classy Chassis
One of the best tear drop type eggplants. Deep purple, glossy black fruit average 8 1/4 in /22 cm deep, 4 in/10 cm wide with green calyx. Plants are 36 in /90 cm.
My thoughts: Great looking upright plants. Great for containers. Nice looking tear drop fruit

Strawberries
Milan
Milan is a perennial ever-bearing strawberry with excellent yields. The plants are attractive with dark green glossy leaves, prettywhite flowers and medium sized very sweet berries. Attractive planted in pots or containers, but they need to be transplanted into the ground to over-winter.
--
Juleigh

Peach Drambuie Jam

2009-08-14T19:37:00.000-04:00

Peach Drambuie Jam

4 cups finely chopped peaches, about 5-6 medium
2 tbsp lemon juice
6 cups granulated sugar
2 tbsp Drambuie
1 pouch (85 ml) liquid fruit pectin

Combine Drambuie, peaches, lemon juice and sugar in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
Bring to a full boil over high heat and boil hard for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in pectin.
Ladle into sterilized jars and process in a water bath for 5 minutes.

Makes 6 cups (1.5 L)

The Beginner's Guide to Preserving Food at Home - Book Review

2009-08-14T18:18:00.000-04:00

Absolutely Excellent book!!

This is one of the best books on Preserving Food at Home. I love the way that it has recipes at the back of the book so you can use what you have canned. Great idea.

Excellent chapters on choosing equipment, root cellar storage, sun drying fruit leathers, canning as well as freezing & many others.

Tried the boiled Chicken recipe and it turned out absolutely wonderful. Now must try the Meatloaf and Meatball recipes.

--
Julie

The North American Guide to Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms - Book Review

2009-07-31T19:41:00.003-04:00

The scariest book I have ever read. It is scarier than the works of R.L Stein or Stephen King. This is a book by Nancy J. Turner and Patrick von Aderkas. If you lack common sense or are even only slightly paranoid - DO NOT read this book. It will scare the manure out of you. That being said, this is a book every parent should own.

The North American Guide of Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms by Nancy J. Turner and Patrick von Aderkas With a forward by Brian Saunders, M. D. covers poisonous native plants, houseplants, garden plants and mushrooms. Each have a colour picture, descriptions & say if there are related plants poisonous or non-poisonous.

The North American Guide of Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms explain the parts of the plants that are poisonous and the effects that the poison has on animals and humans. While the focus of this book is not on carcinogenic and multigenic plants, if they are also poisonous they are stated to be so.

This book is being added to my personal library.

The North American Guide of Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms by Nancy J. Turner and Patrick von Aderkas With a forward by Brian Saunders, M.D. is NOT a bedtime reading book unless you want to have nightmares.
--
Bruce

Ontario Pesticide Green Sign

2009-07-11T21:20:00.004-04:00

Ontario has a new pesticide law as of April 22, 2009. Only Class 11 pesticides may be applied.

This is the new Green Sign.
This sign must be posted when a Professional Applicator applies a Class 11 pesticide in a public place. (Eco Clear is Horticultural Vinegar)

Lets Dance Hydrangea

2009-07-11T21:14:00.003-04:00

Lets Dance Moonlight hydrangea is doing very well!!

Canadian Vegetable Gardening - Book Review

2009-06-19T23:03:00.005-04:00

Douglas Green's Guide to Canadian Vegetable Gardening is succinct and lacking the usual verbal diarrhea. It is obvious that Doug knows that the manure belongs in the garden not on the printed page.

His writing style is an easy gentle and informative read. The centre section of this book focuses on intensive vegetable production. Here Doug covers crop rotation, interplanting and even those vegetables to grow in less than full sun.

His alphabetical list of vegetables and herbs are each distilled ot the necessary information. For me the fun part of the book was the additional information Doug provides on each plant.

Douglas Green's Guide to Canadian Vegetable Gardening is a fine addition to my personal horticultural library.

Bruce

Progress on our Tomatoes as of Today

2009-06-19T22:51:00.005-04:00

Progress on our Tomatoes as of June 19. These monsters are outgrowing their cages.

These are the first tomatoes on our tomato plants. The varieties are "Golden Honey Bunch" & "Windowbox Roma"

Now we need hot weather to get these to ripen!!

The Backyard Homestead - Book Review

2009-06-17T21:58:00.004-04:00

I really like the book "The Backyard Homestead". It gives you all the possibilities, then lets you decide what you can do and have room for. I also liked how it showed you what you can do with what you produce & how best to keep the produce fresh. It really peeks the imagination. I felt motivated.
Now I want chickens, rabbits, ducks & bees. Unfortunately no one else in my family agrees with me.

Daughter #1

Progress on our Tomatoes

2009-05-31T22:10:00.011-04:00

These tomatoes were transplanted on May 9, 2009. Yes I know it is too early for tomatoes to be planted but they were planted with protection - in their own plastic greenhouse kit.

These are the tomatoes that were growing so well that they pushed off the tops of their greenhouses.

Today, we put the tomato cages on the tomatoes. They are actually concrete reinforcing that have been made into cylinders. They work great for the tomatoes that are indeterminate!

Stokes Seeds Meet & Greet!

2009-05-02T19:26:00.001-04:00

Stokes Seeds
296 Collier Road
Thorold, ON
Saturday, May 9, 2009
12 noon - 2 pm

Bring all your gardening questions
Plant, bug & disease samples

The Official Blog of the Open-Line Garden Show

2009-04-09T15:43:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the Official blog of the Open-Line Garden Show.

The Open-Line Garden Show is heard exclusively on 105.1 fm The River www.river.fm
Streaming live at http://www.river.fm/cflz.asx

Open-Line Garden Show

Happy New Year!

A Christmas Break for the Open-Line Garden Show

Glider Flying_Take Off to Landing_Part 1

Glider Flying_Take Off to Landing_Part 2

The Edible Front Yard -- Book Review

Sugarsnaps and Strawberries -- Book Review

Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic.,

Tune Your Head to Ed. 105.1 ED-FM Takes Over Niagara Radio!

Fiskars SmartPower™ Propane 4-cycle Trimmer Recall

Picasso Petunias in Hanging Baskets

50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants - Book Review

Containers - June 2011

Vegetable Garden - June 2011

Small Green Roofs Low-Tech Options for Greener Living -- Book Review

National Home Show and Canada Blooms Sign Agreement To Co-Locate

Dream Gardens Across America - Book Review

Container Gardening

May in the Garden 2011

Tree and Twig Tomato Days, May 21 & May 22, 2011

Miracle-Gro Complete Guide to Orchids

Taste of Niagara Lavender Festival

Malcolmson Eco Park Plant Sale, May 14 & 28, 2011

Fiskars Momentum™ Reel Mower -- Product Review

Fresh Flower Arranging -- Book Review

Garden Sitters Wanted for Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticultural Society Garden Tour

Craftsman Riding Lawn Mowers, Walk Behind Lawn Mowers - Sears Media Day

Backyard Harvest -- Book Review

Grow Plants in Pots -- Book Review

Take Apart Garden Shears -- Product Review

What is Missing in my Vegetable Garden?

What is Blooming in our Garden, Easter Weekend.

The Kitchen Garden Cookbook -- Book Review

Japanese Barberry: Canadian Grower Industry Declines to Pursue Addition of New Cultivars.

Gardening With Color - Book Review

Beginning Gardening In Canada -- Book Review

Nessie Topiary Green Piece Wire Art -- Product Review

Canada Blooms May Co-Locate with the National Home Show!

Super Garden Hose -- Product Review

The Complete Book of Potatoes: What Every Grower and Gardener Needs to Know -- Book Review

Ontario Horticultural Association Convention 2012 Rose

City of Welland Rose

Designer Potatoes

Fiskars Momentum™ Reel Mower -- Product Review

Fiskars SmartPower™ Propane 4-cycle Trimmer -- Product Review

Cavendish Plant Guides Perennials

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

*★Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★Christmas††★ 。* 。 ° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚ ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚And a Happy New Year!!!

Potential Hemlock Hybrids Tolerant to Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Ash Tree Leaf

Autumn Rouge™ (Rhododendron Hybrid)

October Gardening

The Toronto Gardener's Journal & Source Book

Fence Armor -- Product Review

Guelph Trial Garden 2010 - Bruce's Picks

Guelph Trial Garden 2010 - Juleigh's Picks

Magnolia Scale

Poor Gardening Practices

Vegetable Garden Damage

Vegetable Garden 2010

Niagara Falls Horticultual Society Garden Walk

St. Catharines Horticultural Society Garden Walk

Niagara on the Lake Horticultural Society Garden Walk

Wildlife in the Garden

Tomato Garden 2010

Container Garden 2010

First Tomatoes of 2010

Plant ID

Potting up the Container Garden 2010

Keukenhof, Holland, 2010

Sightseeing, Holland Trip, 2010

Holland Trip 2010

Sissinghurst A Castle's Unfinished History - Book Review

Vegetable Garden 2010

Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band

Sarritor(R) Biological Lawn Weed Killer Now Available for Home Use

Cooking With Arvinda's

41st Annual Niagara College 'In Your Backyard' Open House

Weather in the Niagara Region

★Merry★ 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas††★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_。˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */__/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田｜門｜ ˚And a Happy New Year!!!