Category Archives: gardening

Spring planting

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

I planted the garden today. This is the earliest I have ever planted tomatoes. It is a risk because chilly weather is expected early next week and then we are going away for five days. However, the alternative was to … Continue reading →

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Time to plant potatoes

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

This year’s seed potatoes arrived in the mail this morning! I have to pick up some bales of straw and then planting can begin. Last year’s garden gave an underwhelming performance. Drought delayed the tomatoes, cucumber beetles attacked the squash, … Continue reading →

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Last year’s herb and vegetable seeds

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

I have started itching to get my hands in the soil. It starts this way every year about the same time, just as the days start to grow noticeably longer. For many years when I lived in apartments, this tingling … Continue reading →

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Amaryllis: but what is it, really?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

The amaryllis is a popular indoor bulb providing exotic colour for the winter household. My mother always had amaryllis blooming at Christmas time, so in December my partner and I picked up a kit from the supermarket for nostalgia’s sake. … Continue reading →

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Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, December 2012

Posted on December 15, 2012 by

Over a year ago during one of my last visits to my childhood home, I took three cuttings from a Christmas cactus that belonged to my mother for many years. Before that, it lived at my great grandmother’s house for … Continue reading →

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Survival in the winter garden (Photovember 15)

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard mentioned finding an etiolated leaf in winter. She commented that while we like to separate everything into seasons, summer designated for growing and winter for dormancy, nature does not really work so neatly. … Continue reading →

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Harvest time!

Posted on October 6, 2012 by

I have been holding off on harvest, hoping against hope that some Black Prince and Bonnie Best tomatoes would ripen on the vine. Unfortunately it can be delayed no longer. We are going to the cottage for Thanksgiving weekend and … Continue reading →

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Standing in the rain

Posted on August 11, 2012 by

Thursday was a special day. When I stepped outside for my habitual morning tour of the garden, a fine rain had begun to fall. It had a promising feel to it. The vegetables would not need watering, but I continued … Continue reading →

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Coping with drought, wishing for spring water

Posted on July 26, 2012 by

Ontario is experiencing its worst drought since 1965. We are not alone. The North American Drought Monitor map currently shows extreme drought throughout much of the US and severe conditions in southern Ontario. However, the map was last updated on … Continue reading →

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Our top secret groundhog repellent

Posted on July 17, 2012 by

I have finally found an effective groundhog repellent. It is readily available, costs nothing and doubles as an effective organic fertilizer. It even pushes forward our mandate to reduce and reuse. Just do not tell the neighbours. My daughter, Marian, … Continue reading →

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