6
We are having my daughters and a few friends over for dinner Saturday. Danny and I are marking our 10th anniversary (the actual day we met was July 4). With summer’s abundance upon us, we will celebrate with food. These … Continue reading
Category Archives: gardening
We thought the giant Philodendron pinnatifidum was getting ready to open another huge leaf, but one day this week as I paused on my way out the back door I glanced down and this is what I saw. It gave … Continue reading
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
I did not plant any of the flowers that bloom in my garden this month. I planted tomatoes, potatoes, onions, squash and melons, but they have yet to produce blossoms. All our blooms are growing voluntarily in the uncut lawn. … Continue reading
These “Midnight Lightning” zucchini seedlings had germinated in my garden by June 1 from seeds planted 10 days earlier. With reliable watering, fertile soil and minimal care they should begin producing abundant summer squash by the end of July. A … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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