There is progress here, and upward evolution. For the land and for me. Continue reading
Category Archives: Gardening
Lawn Rx
This question came through the blog this week, and as it is a perpetual concern, I decided to share my answer with everyone. Q: We’d like to know how to get rid of weeds in the lawn – weeds and these vine things. My husband can’t bend down to physically dig out each bunch and … Continue reading
Things I don’t know
Sometime in the last several years, someone decided I was a fount of knowledge. I’m not entirely sure how this happened, as I am usually pretty upfront about my lack of credentials (if the ‘umm’s don’t give me away first). I’m a self taught gardener, the only formal writing teachers I’ve had were in my public … Continue reading
No break this spring–and I love it
Many friends and co-workers have disappeared to tropical locales this week. The kids have been sleeping in and complaining about ‘everyone else’ getting to go to Hawaii (not to mention the work I’ve had them catch up on). Our week off probably does seem a little boring on the surface, and my husband and I agree that … Continue reading
The parable of the mistaken oak
Last fall I sat on a lawn under an oak tree, surrounded by music and children. I brought home some acorns, researched, prepared, and planted one. It lived in the back of my fridge, in simulated winter, annoying family members just trying to put away the yogurt. Last month, I decided it was time to … Continue reading
Tree time
Now that the frost has taken the tenders and the potatoes are 80% dug, my energy is turning from the veggie plot to the landscape. The overgrown state of the flower beds is a little depressing, so I’m focusing on trees. The apples we tried to root from cuttings mostly died; the sole survivor (a … Continue reading
My latest experiment
I limit myself to trying to grow no more than one new vegetable per year. This guideline is in everyone’s best interests, especially the plants’. I have a hard enough time staying on top of the regular stuff, and catering to the unfamiliar needs of multiple new additions is sure to lead to casualties. This … Continue reading
Seed starting notes
Here’s some of the notes and links from the class I taught Thursday night, straight out of Keynote so very point form! Feel free to contact me with any more questions and thanks for a fun discussion. Terms you might see: F1 hybrid: a cross of two strains of the same species; reliable cultivars bred … Continue reading
All the kids in all the gardens
After a (I thought) very successful talk at the Calgary Horticultural Society Garden Show last weekend, two of my girls and I enjoyed the booths at the show, and wouldn’t you know it, found more books. (See below.) Then, after returning home and catching up on my digital correspondence, I found all kinds of pictures … Continue reading
Kid’s books for gardeners
In honour of my talk tomorrow at the Calgary Horticultural Society Garden Show (How to Make Gardening a Family Affair, 11 am at Spruce Meadows!), I thought I’d post some of my favourite garden-themed picture books. They’re perfect for sharing, especially on a sunny day in the hammock. The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown I … Continue reading
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