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

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

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.
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Bruce

Grow Plants in Pots -- Book Review

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.
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Bruce

Take Apart Garden Shears -- Product Review

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
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Bruce

What is Missing in my Vegetable Garden?

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.

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

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.
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Daughter #1