Shorehouse chic.: Hope springs eternal. In the form of crocus.
For some reason, I insisted on ordering crocus bulbs this past fall. maybe I had a inkling of what a LONG (emhasis on LONG) winter it would be, and how welcome their colorful little buds would be when the ground finally thawed. I was so excited to wake up to the first of the crop [...]
Hyacinths need leaves in spring
“Today a neighbour gave me hyacinth bulbs. It looks as though they had leaves on them when dug up, but she cut those off. “I know they won’t bloom for me this year, but is there a way I can preserve them for next season?” Flora Bovis, Vancouver Your hyacinth bulbs should be planted right [...]
Coulters, Crocus and Kodiaks convene at Java Jam
Coach Barb Coulter points out, quite accurately, that there seems to be a trend with the teams the Crocus Plainsmen face on a regular basis. Three years ago it was the Sisler Spartans over and over again until the two teams met in the provincial 4A varsity girls basketball final. Two years ago the Vincent [...]
Decoding the language of flowers – Roseville Press-Tribune
A little bloom says a lot. With Valentine’s Day just hours away, the pressure’s on to convey your affections with all sorts of gifts. And for many romantics, nothing says “I love/like/have the hots for you” like flowers. “Roses are definitely the first choice — red roses,” said Lana Shevchenko, owner of Bryan’s Florist in [...]
Langley locals pick up their trowels to help spring blossom
LANGLEY — Spring is around the corner and heading up the street, and several organizations in Langley have joined together to nudge it along. The Langley Gardens Primrose Project kicks off next week with the city’s first clean-up campaign of the year. “It’s an all-out community effort to get everybody involved to get the town [...]
Wife, Mother, Gardener: Favorite Garden Combinations of 2010 (Part 1)
After four-and-twenty hours at a balmy 38 degrees (oh how relative temperature is!) I am starting to feel like spring again! Of course, I know that it will be fleeting (this weekend should be back to 16), but it is a good excuse to garden-dream all the same. My excellent husband suggests that I take a closer [...]
Fatsia’s winter-white flowers burst like sparklers
n Container-grown plants any time before heat sets in. n Roses from late January through February; with graft union at or slightly above surface of soil. n Spring-flowering bulbs including daffodils, Dutch iris, paperwhite narcissus, pre-cooled tulips and Dutch and grape hyacinths, through mid-January; also amaryllis, agapanthus, allium, crinum, hyacinth, montbretia and daylilies through February [...]
A roll call of plants that can be hazardous to health
When grandchildren visit, or you adopt a puppy or cat, it’s smart — and a moral obligation — to know what can poison them. The world is a lot different when you spend time one foot off the floor, especially if you explore by mouth. Babies taste-test some awful things, and you don’t want to [...]
Organic garden and landscape calendar for January
Organic calendar for JanuaryWeek 1Jan. 2-8, 2011Recycle your holiday poinsettias. Leave poinsettia in a full, indirect sun location. Water when soil is dry to the touch.Perform a soil test. using a sharp shovel, slice a 12-inch square 6 inches deep. Count the earthworms. if you see at least six healthy earthworms, you’ve got great soil. [...]
IN THE GARDEN: A new gardening year
It’s a new year. And with it comes an opportunity to approachyour garden with a fresh eye. Here’s what to expect during thegardening year. January January kicks off bare-root season. Roses, deciduous fruit treesand even a few perennial vegetables, including asparagus andartichokes, can be planted this month and next. Bare root plantsare dormant: all you’ll [...]