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Repotting Peace Lily House Plant
Once upon a time, this peace lily was glorious. (2014)It was repotted in 2016, as the plant outgrew the old pot.Yeesh....then all of a sudden, two weeks ago - what's going on?!Here you can see the...
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Using Snow To Deter Squirrels Digging Up Bulbs
Nothing gets me more frustrated than seeing tulips dug up by squirrels.Grrr....Tender yellow shoots emerging from the ground must be a thrill for the squirrel after a long harsh winter. Although, once...
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Indoor Asparagus Fern Plant - Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri"
This drooping form of Asparagus fern (Emerald Feather), needs a haircut each spring. It's beginning to thin at the top and get rather bushy at the base. This is a great plant for a hanging basket or in...
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Overwintering Kale
Kale.....yummmm....kale. We bought this variety last summer called: Russian Red.The great aspect of harvesting kale as it grows, it gets taller and taller, which helps deter it from too much slug...
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Rose Mildew - Podosphaera pannosa (on Rosa glauca)
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is concerned about Southern Ontario winters and spring thaws. We never seem to get a slow warm up in spring anymore. Instead, there's constant fluctuations; +10˚C one...
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Heidi, What's Wrong with my Hinoki Cypress? It's going brown!
Growing Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa nana) in Southern Ontario can be a challenge at times, considering we get whopper winters occasionally. So when I was asked this question - I was hesitant...
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Toronto's High Park - Native Plant Sale: May 7th, 2017
If you live in the Toronto area and would like to know more about and to buy native plants - please visit High Park's Native Plant Sale. Sunday May 7th, 2017Here's their info and website:High Park...
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Pet Peeve - Mulched Trees (aka the Coned Volcano)
So many new trees are going to be planted in the next few weeks. I wonder how many will be mulched like this disaster:This may be a harsh opinion, but it's warranted. Not only has the tree been...
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Bugs - Every Where! Look Closely!
With this past mild winter, our wet early spring and now the heat and humidity; bugs are reproducing rapidly.So far, I've seen aphid clusters by the thousands: Mealy Bugs:Viburnum Beetles: Hydrangea...
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Helpful hint: Dahlias
Dahlias are at their peak now. I can't stress it enough - you MUST deadhead them to help keep them blooming. Keeping them from going to seed is quintessential but even more importantly......deadheading...
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DIY - Making Your Own Potting Soil for Herb Containers
If you want herbs to grow well in containers, then I can't stress it enough - making your own potting soil can't compare with store-bought bags.The old adage: you are what you eat. It bears a lot of...
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Plant Profile: Calycanthus floridus / Carolina Allspice
There's nothing more enjoyable than spotting a beautiful, not so common shrub among the familiar.Having visited the Toronto Botanical Gardens today, I had the privilege to take some photos of the...
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Apiosporina morbosa - AKA Sh*t on a Stick
Please excuse the crudeness of Sh*t on a Stick, but that was the first coined term I was taught 25+ years ago. It stuck and I will never forget it. lolIt certainly depicts poop on a stick, doesn't it?...
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Mutant Rudbeckia
I like to introduce you to a two headed Black Eyed Susan.Rudbeckias (Black Eyed Susan) are part of the Asteraceae family, typically the daisy group of plants. They are known to have these anomalies now...
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Jewelweed: A Natural Treatment For Insect Bites
This time of year, there isn't a day where I don't get stung or bit by some insect. Whether it be from accidentally disturbing an ant colony hill while weeding a bed, or pruning shrubs that harbour...
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500,000 Views!
Feeling blessed!There's been many times I nearly quit - so here's hoping the garden continues to teach me things that I can pass along to you!Thanks for visiting and making comments!
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Why I Remove All Hemerocallis Leaves In Early August
I get frustrated when folks complain about how their Daylilies look once the heat of the summer roles in. There's a way to avoid all that.This year, the summer heat may have come later than normal, but...
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Why I Collect Slugs In Autumn
I always try to find alternative methods of insect control. This wet spring and early summer made for a wonderful breeding ground for slugs. But alas, we still have way too many slug holes.I've been...
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Foraging: Shaggy Mane Mushrooms
I have fond memories of my Aunt (Tante) teaching me how to make hunter sauce with mushrooms (Jager Pilzsoße). She used fresh Chanterelles, but what I gleaned at the time, was the beauty behind foraging...
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Nippon Daisy - Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Usually our Nippon Daisy has glorious large flowers which last forever. The warm autumn we are experiencing in Southern Ontario has made our Nippon Daisies a huge attraction to bees, butterflies and...
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