Final Thoughts: “Birds and Blossoms” by Mala Gunadasa-Rohling Stepping out onto the patio a week ago, I was surprised by a very sweet scent filling the air…since this is our first February in this place, I had no idea what this was, or where it was coming from. It didn’t take long to find the [Continue]
Air layering is an easy technique to bring those too-tall houseplants back into a manageable size. This method basically causes the plant to produce roots high up on the stem, then the top part can be severed and replanted as a shorter, compact plant. Here’s how to do it: 1. Choose the right candidate: This [Continue]
Horticulture News from Around the World: “Robots slug it out in the killing fields” by Adrian Lee. From The Times, Jan 08, 2000. The slug, bane of gardener and farmer alike, should be afraid. Very afraid. Scientists have developed a robot that not only seeks and destroys the pests but is powered by fuel [Continue]
by Judith Brand and Cyril Hume. November 18, 1999 will be a date to remember for Canadian garden enthusiasts. On that day the Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) negotiated an option to purchase the Abkhazi Garden in Victoria, Canada’s “City of Gardens.” Only a few months earlier neighbours had learned of a developer’s plans [Continue]
There are already many signs of the approaching spring season – make sure you take the time to notice them now, while you are out in the garden – early spring bulbs such as aconites, snowdrops, crocus, iris reticulata will already be peeking through, the lovely scented winter jasmine and witch hazel, and later this [Continue]
by Sharon Hanna Everyone’s favourite “BI” – the ladybird For years, well-meaning gardeners routinely maimed, swatted, sprayed and squished every bug they could get their hands on. However careful observation of nature and the move to organic practices have shown that encouraging “good” bugs, or beneficial insects (the politically correct name) is one way to [Continue]
“Don’t be in a Hurry with your Seeds!” by David Tarrant February is often the month when we get carried away and start to sow annual seeds too early for the season ahead. The key factor to think about when sowing seeds is to count how many weeks it will be before it is safe [Continue]