During the dog days of summer, gardeners are mostly trying to keep on top of routine tasks: deadheading annuals and perennials; weeding; watering containers and vulnerable plants; and maintaining the compost pile. But if you grow bearded irises, add “divide iris rhizomes” to your to-do list. For the why, when and how of this annual task, read “Dividing irises” from … [Read more...] about Dividing bearded iris
Vegetables taking centre stage
It’s mid-August and vegetable growers in most of the country are busy harvesting their bounty while figuring out ways to extend the season. I admire their dedication and skill. I mainly grow ornamentals, dabbling in tomatoes, herbs, lettuce and garlic. Perhaps I’d grow more edibles if I didn’t live in an area where driving to the highway means passing at least half a dozen … [Read more...] about Vegetables taking centre stage
Perfection is overrated
Let’s be honest. The gardens we most admire in books and magazines and on Instagram and Facebook do not look like our own gardens. Their level of perfection is awe inspiring and daunting. However, I’ve been to enough photo shoots for magazines and books to know how a carefully framed view or closeup can make a garden’s best features shine while the mildewed peonies, weeds, … [Read more...] about Perfection is overrated
Inspiring future gardeners
What prompts a person to love gardening? Is it when they move into a house and want to beautify their property? Is it when they realize the most local foods they can eat are the fruits and vegetables they grow themselves? Or are they inspired to garden because they knew an avid gardener when they were growing up? No doubt all these circumstances can be an influence, but I … [Read more...] about Inspiring future gardeners
Do-it-yourself-clematis supports
There’s plenty of choice in the clematis family, and if you choose varieties from each of the three main groups, you can have blooms from early spring to early fall. If you want the vertical interest of their flowers, you’ll need to provide some sort of support for them to climb. It’s difficult for their wiry leaf stems to twine around anything bulky, so thin bamboo stakes, or … [Read more...] about Do-it-yourself-clematis supports
