Things to do in Spring...

Okay, I am the ever optimist, and I do believe Spring will come soon, so what can we start thinking about doing in our yards and gardens?

• If your lawn is hard and compacted, consider having it aerated. Aeration helps to break up excess thatch, it allows fertilizers access to the root system and it loosens up tight, compacted soil. Wait until your lawn is free of snow, and is mostly dry before aerating or power raking. After that, go to the garden centre and get a quality spring lawn fertilizer


• Amend your soil - your plants will thank you for it. Every soil needs an amendment now and then - I like to add compost or a Woodlands Mix every year to keep the nutrient levels up and provide a healthy growing medium


• If you haven't done it already (and why would you have!) you can plant your Sweet Pea seeds in a warm, sunny spot in the garden for vertical color against a fence or house


• Check out the fabulous outdoor furniture that's available! Great selections out there right now


• Word of advice - I hear this question all the time - I can't get anything to grow in this spot, I have tried 10 different plants and they have all died...Answer: Stop it... ha! Why not consider a piece of statuary or a nice concrete birdbath or fountain in that area instead - if you're fighting nature, you usually lose. It's kinda like knowing what's right, but being afraid of change...

I've only had one comment in the 45 posts I have made, but I'll throw it out there anyway...If anyone has any tips they want to pass along, sign up as a blogger and post a comment!! I dare ya...
P.S. I'm glad I called a plumber...

New Website Link...

We have just launched a new website in conjunction with QR77 radio and it is going to be very helpful with hints that are given during the Let's Talk Gardening show on Sunday mornings from 9-11am. We are just starting, but check back on it frequently for coupon offers and special deals for QR77 listeners. This has been a great relationship for us and we are excited to take it further into the techie world! The website is http://www.qr77chqr.com/ Check for 'Let's Talk Gardening' under "SHOWS" and it will direct you to the site.
After meeting with QR77, I went and picked out a new garburator as all my current one seems to be doing right now is hum - I'm assuming that's bad. A very kind man helped me choose one and I excitedly brought it home, cleaned out the area under my sink, searched for a flashlight, got into some grubby clothes, went and grabbed the box of screwdrivers, unpacked the new garburator and... called a plumber - he arrives at 8am tomorrow morning! I got off on a bit of a tangent there because my point was going to be that I noticed that Home depot had all of their Cedar shrubs out in their parking lot. It is always a shame to see these poor plants that are marginally hardy for our zone in the best of circumstances, but you throw cold weather and a lack of protection into the equation, and it is almost always a recipe for disaster. The staff were also frantically bringing in dozens of carts filled with annuals in from the snow. Wonder how they will look in a couple of weeks?!?!?
At Spruce today, the guys were working hard building beautiful display areas for all of our new fountains, pots and other concrete products. It is looking very, very nice - some wonderful pieces that Pat has brought into the store. Things are shaping up - now all we need is some decent weather...

Are We Human, or are We Gardeners???

The Killers put on a fabulous show at the 'dome last night starting off with their smash hit 'Are we human or are we dancer', so I had to pose the question to Calgarians - Are We Human, or are We Gardeners? I do know that if you are a Calgary gardener, you may not be human, but you certainly need to be patient! Came back from Mexico to the blissful snowfall of late april in Calgary last night. Had trouble putting on the UGG boots this morning and instead, put on my flip flops. Bad decision, considering I had to brush the snow off my truck and the snow was quite cold as it landed on my open toes! It begs the question - WILL IT EVER BE SUMMER?!?!?
Im heading into Spruce this morning to meet Kath Smyth who will be doing a great vegetables in containers class this upcoming Thursday. This will be a great way to at least start thinking about the possibility of summer.
Will let you know what other exciting stuff is happening at the garden centre after I go and check things out. As I flew through Seattle last night, I saw green grass and the last blooms of the Rhodos, which gives me hope that Spring is making its way west. Here's hoping we can think about planting by the long weekend in May! Have a great day...

What's Bugging You...

Absolutely nothing... There is something freakishly wonderful here, and that's the fact that I have not seen an insect, gecko, or any kind of wildlife (except those people at Cabo Wabo last night) in one week. They must have a heck of a spraying program in Mexico - which is somewhat frightening when you think about it... There has to be a two inch gap in the bottom of my condo door and I haven't closed the patio door all week, and still...nothing!!
Anyways, there is probably no bugs in Calgary either! Just when you think its safe to go outside, you get thrown a curve ball - this is why we don't clean our gardens out until May! Tim has just finished up outside Spruce with all the new displays - like I said, I am looking forward to seeing all the work he has done! For those who need a little blast of true spring, Spruce will receive the first truckload of shrubs on Tuesday and some of our annuals.perennials will arrive next week - how exciting! Long term forecast is for lovely weather for the first of May - only in Mexico, tho! ha! Leaving paradise to come home and see the freshly fallen snow - will blog on Monday! Have a fabulously warm weekend - go check out Spruce for a touch of Spring!!!

Waves are Amazing...

Woke up this morning (in Cabo) to the crashing sound of enormous waves. I am going to post a short video of one of the thousands that have crashed in since 4am this morning. Got up at sunrise again to take some pics and found myself just smiling at how humbling the ocean can be. Check out the video below (hope it works), it shows why swimming is not recommended outside our condo!

Spruce has had staff orientation this week to get all the new employees up to speed as we head into the season. We have also had our designer Tim in again to 'Spruce Up' the store! ha! I can hardly wait to see what he has done - he was working on the outside of the store, so I'm anxious to see what has evolved while I have been away.

Barry Erskine will be in the store this Saturday talking about Tree Pruning. We were getting so many calls, we decided that a second one was in order - call the store if you are interested. (201-7525). Have a wonderful day - I see by the forecast that gardening season is being held off for a bit. Isn't it supposed to be 'April Showers Bring May Flowers'? There is no mention of snow at all in there!!

Just Another Day in Paradise...

It's Siesta time for the Mom's here in Cabo, so thought I would try out the wireless connection and it works just fine - yay! It is a lovely 92 degrees today and spent most of the day on the beach - ran this morning, but quickly realized that it is very very difficult to run in 6" of powdery sand, so walked most of my 5km. Tomorrow will stick to the sidewalk and run into the little town that's a couple of kilometers from here. This is the view I am looking at as I am writing this - surrounded by palm trees and Bougenvilla (spelling?). Usually only see it for planter pots, but here, it is used as hedging. I want to be a gardener is at least a zone 8 before I die...

We are headed to Todos Santos on Thursday for the day - have hired a driver. It is an artsy town just north of here where the Eagles' infamous Hotel California is rumored to reside. None of us have been there, but heard fabulous things about it, so should get a really good chance to see some local artisans.

I was in Seattle on Friday and they have also had a very harsh winter. Their snow stuck around much longer than it ever has, so we weren't the only ones! Right now, the trees are out in bloom - the flowering Plums, apple trees, and the Rhodos are all out. The Tulip festival is on just North of Seattle in Skagit Valley, so we hope to go and see it on Sunday when we are back from Mexico - we drove out there on Friday, but just the daffodils were out, so hopefully a few nice days of sun will bring everything to life!

Well I better finish my Corona and Almonds and head back down to the pool for one last bit of sunshine! Cheers....

Was it all a Hoax?

Did you read about the man in Russia coughing up blood and complaining of chest pain? Doctors thought it may be a tumour, but when they went inside to do a biopsy, they found a 5cm Fir sapling growing in his lungs instead! Here's where the plan may fall apart... If it is growing in the dark, how can it be so green? If a seed was ingested, how did it receive light to germinate? Is the body an ideal growing condition for a cold-adapted tree species? According to the internet this morning, it was verified that the story ran on what would be considered April Fool's Day according to the Russian Julian calendar, so who knows...I hate being a skeptic!

Spruce is looking for a full-time horticulturist this season. If you are interested, log onto our website at www.spruceitupgardencentre.com and download an application form. Take it in to Brenda for an interview. We are almost fully locked and loaded with the seasonal staff, so I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting the new ones.

Well, I better get on with my workout, its going to be a busy day, and I gotta be on the Red Mile by 3pm, or I'll never get a spot for the game! ...GO FLAMES GO!!!

Wastin' Away Again...

Well, two more sleeps and I am off to Cabo San Lucas with my Mom and my Aunt. Hope I can keep these two out of Cabo Wabo, so I can get some rest! This is our second trip with just the girls and I am stocked up on chick flick DVD's, so that should keep us out of trouble in the evenings.
I will be blogging from Mexico, so stay tuned for a play-by-play of our adventures down there. Hope to take some pictures of plants, landscapes, the swim-up bar (oops, maybe not...) Upon my return, we will be heading into the first week of May. Spruce should have all of our new fountains and statuary displayed in the front lot. I have already picked out the new Japanese style concrete bench that I am going to showcase in my yard. I am creating a nice focal point in the back and even though the rest of my yard is sort of a random, relaxed style, I hope to showcase a little bit of Feng Shui in this small part of my garden. Speaking of Feng Shui, we have a lady starting at Spruce that specializes in Feng Shui for the garden and I hope to have her do a short seminar on how to achieve that feel in your garden! Will keep you posted...
Have an amazing day!

Yiddish Proverb...

I was watching the World Curling Championships final game last night, and this proverb came up on the screen...
The wagon rests in winter, the sleigh in summer, the horse never...
I love that - my trainer would also love that! We are his horses...
I am busy setting up vendors to showcase their products at Spruce on the May long weekend. There is so much knowledge that the reps have, so we thought we would bring in a few to share that knowledge with our customers. Everything from soil amendments to appropriate chemical application, to tools of the trade will be showcased from May 15-18th. It should be a great weekend!
Well, the prediction of the European weather channel was incorrect (so far!) about us getting a heavy snowfall today, but the cold wind and nasty looking clouds could prove to be an interesting day in Calgary. The lovely weather over the weekend has lessened my snow piles in my north facing backyard. It makes me wonder why a gardener like myself ever agreed to buy a house with that kind of backyard exposure! Next time I will be more selective. I did notice sooo many plants peeking out from the soil in my front yard, though, so I'm definitely getting the itch to get out there. Word of advice... Don't get too anxious to pull the leaves and debris off your gardens yet. These piles are nice little havens for future ladybugs that will be instrumental in controlling the aphid infestations in summertime. I always wait until May to clean things up.
One more quote - bumper sticker I saw today. What's happening in the world today?? Sadly thought it was funny tho... Honk if you've never seen an Uzi fired from a car window...
I'll sign off with that today...

Happy Easter!

What a glorious day! I have been sitting at my kitchen table reading the newspaper, listening to Let's Talk Gardening, and enjoying the many birds that are chirping and flying past my window. I have had a Blue Jay hanging out for the past couple of hours and there's another bird that bobs up and down when he chirps - tried looking him up in my bird book, but couldn't find a name. He was kind of non-descript in color (grayish). Anyways, it has been a lovely morning to just sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy. The Easter Bunny arrived sometime in the night, but the eggs are yet to be hunted, as my daughter is still fast asleep! aaah teenagers....

As promised, here is a pic of one of the containers of veges that I planted at Spruce. This one will be a nice decorative display of multi-color lettuce. These are just plastic containers from the garden centre, filled with potting soil and seeded on April 2nd. That means they were up in one week! How easy is that! I also have beans, corn, beets and carrots. Since my last seeding attempt ended in untimely death, I am cautiously optimistic about this venture - but its actually very exciting! I can realistically see many people having these type of vegetable containers outside their back door this summer, growing their own veges and herbs on a sunny patio.

It is time to hunt for eggs - Grace has awoken...

Hey...just looked out my window and guess who was there...

The History of Twister...

The game Twister was released by Milton Bradley the year I was born - which is a very long time ago. Last night, I went downstairs to check on what the roaring laughter was about, only to discover my 15yr old daughter and her friends entangled (literally) in a game of Twister! As I was looking up the origins of the game, I notice some significant variations - naked twister, strip twister and then I saw pregnant twister and quickly had to walk away from the computer. Gotta draw the line somewhere...

I was thinking, and maybe this is a stretch, but I was thinking that gardening is like Twister because it is a fun thing to do, that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Both gardening and Twister break the barriers between cultures and demographics and they both take some physical skill. Gosh, I truly think you can link anything if you really try!

I was in the store today, and it was sooo busy. I think everyone is getting spring fever and just want to dream about sunnier and warmer days. There was quite a 'buzz' in there! I noticed that my vegetable seeds were up - I guess that's what happens when I leave them in someone elses care! Took some pictures that I will post tomorrow, but for today, it was imperitive that I talk about Twister...

Plant Smiles and Grow Giggles - that's what Twister and gardening are all about....

When Does Spring Start Again?

It's a beautiful day in Calgary today! I have, however heard that there may be some much needed (ha!) snow for Monday. According to some European weather forecasts, they are saying we will have heavy snowfall. Why are they forecasting our weather?!?! And what is their meaning of 'heavy snow'? I guess we will find out on Monday!
I got a little optimistic today and bought a new weed eater and fertilizer spreader, so hopefully I get to use those before June!
For now, we can all just dream of warmer days and drier soil. If you want to have something to look forward to, check out our website at www.spruceitupgardencentre.com and sign up for an upcoming course. There are a couple coming up on easy vegetable gardening, and then just before Mother's Day, there will be a 'build your own container' class that will make a great gift for your wife, mother, or evern just for yourself.
Hope your long weekend gives you a chance to go out and see what's happening in your garden - before the snow covers it all up again!

20 Years has Flown By...

Today is my son Mike's 20th birthday. He is celebrating at UBC today, and it is also his last day of classes - wonder if he'll be enjoying some cocktails today?!?!? I couldn't be more proud of him and all he has accomplished in his 20 years and I can hardly wait until he is home again in a couple of weeks. Happy Birthday, Mike - love you lots!!!
Let's see...what else is happening? Meryl and I spoke at the Calgary Zoo last night to a great group of homeowners and do-it-yourself landscapers. It is always gratifying to share construction knowledge with others. I find Calgary gardeners so eager to share their experiences. It is one of those passions, that most are very willing to give and receive advice on how to construct patios and decks or grow trees and shrubs successfully. Let's face it, we have a relatively short growing season, so we want to do it right the first time! But hey, if at first you don't succeed, there is always next year!
Hint of the Day: Always make your deck/patio bigger than you think it should be. You will never miss that extra bit of grass, but you will have regrets when that beautiful patio set you just bought doesn't allow you ample access to manoeuver around the table and chairs, and suddenly Aunt Hilda has fallen off the side!! Also consider constructing nice, wide stairs. It is always nice to have a grand entrance into your garden. Before you start construction, call 3-1-1 for permit information and always Call Before You Dig...
As we head into gardening and landscaping season, if you have any questions, become a blogger and ask me! I will do my best to answer your questions, or I will find someone who can!
Cheers!

Garden Show...

The Calgary Horticultural Society's Garden Show was on this past weekend - at Spruce Meadow's for the first time. What a great show for gardeners! It was a beautiful weekend, and I think everyone was just glad to participate in something that means 'Spring'. It looked like they had record numbers of people come through the door, so congrats to the Hort Society - it was an excellent show that I'm sure will only continue to grow.
Can you feel it?? The approach of Spring?? It is always a time a great anticipation at Garden Centres. You can hardly wait for it to be upon us, but you're not sure you are ready for it physically or mentally! This week will see the snow melt and uncover all of the sins of our winter. For me personally, I'm sure I will discover that I didn't quite clean up after the dog as well as I should have! And at Spruce, they will be excitedly setting things up outside for the upcoming season. It has been very busy getting ready indoors (new giftware, new flooring, interviewing, etc) and everyone has been working very hard. One more month and Spruce should have a great selection of Trees, Shrubs and Perennials - can't believe it is here again!
Happy Monday, I'm off to Yoga, aaaaahhhhh....

Bat Out of Hell...

I worked out this morning to the old Meatloaf album - Bat Out of Hell. Aaah, good times...Really gets ya moving in the morning. Good thing the family was already out, as I was screaming a damn good rendition of Bat Out of Hell during my double under sequence!!

I am off to the store this morning to meet Sheldon Gesell from Greenstar - he is doing the talk on Organic Gardening Products. He's there from 11-1pm today, so drop by - its a fabulous talk! It's a great weekend for a garden show and Meryl and I will be meeting up with Barry and Wade for the QR77 Let's Talk Gardening show tomorrow from 9-11am. It will be nice to walk around the show and see people I haven't seen all winter. If you go to the show, it is at Spruce Meadows, and you can head to Spruce It Up afterwards and get 15% off all regular priced items today and tomorrow. I have to go in for the talk and check whether Rocky has made his way into my vege pots again!!

I was googling "ways to sign off, or say goodbye"... I will sign off today with my favorite...

May your mouth never be conquered by a band of marauding Vikings

If at First You Don't Suc-seed...

Seed, seed again! Well my little grow kit has had some success and some failure. I seemed to do okay with the Nasturtiums, but my herbs crashed and burned. For those who know me, it really isn't a big surprise considering I'm not all that nurturing! I will try it again when it warms up, and seed them right into a pot outdoors.
So, that being said, I am attempting to grow some veges in the greenhouse at Spruce. This is in preparation for a course that Kath Smyth will be doing on April 30th at the store. I have planted lettuce, beets, corn, radishes and beans. I have planted them in nice big pots and I'm sure they will be under the gentle care of Kathie, Michelle and Bev, so they have a much better chance of survival! I hope they will all be up a little bit in time for the Thursday class with Kath at the end of the month, so that she can have a nice display. Hopefully Rocky stays out of the pots, as I saw he had already used one of them as a litter box yesterday. We love him anyway...
Question of the Day...
How do I ensure the greatest success for seed planting?

• number one - do not ask Joanne to do it for you
• number two - use a light sterilized soil that is not too heavy
• number three - water the sterilized soil well before placing the seeds
• number four - keep in a warm spot, and use good natural light and/or a grow light
• number five - keep soil moist - which is probably my downfall!

Now is the time to really get those seeds going. Check out the book "Gardening Under the Arch" for great advice!

Cheers!

Back to Basics...

As fun as the Pinocchio thing has been, it is probably time to get back to gardening! I am still open to further discussion, however, if anyone finds out more about the type of wood Pinocchio is really made of!

Frequently asked Questions:

When is the best time to transplant houseplants?

• April is a great time to do that chore. The daylight hours are longer and plants are starting to come into their prime. Choose a new pot with drainage and ensure you have a tray underneath so you can water a plant right through to flush the salts out when you water. Always water until it comes out the bottom. Ensure that the plant is not root-bound by creating air holes in the soil with a knitting needle

Can I prune my trees right now?

• Yes, most trees, with the exception of Maple and Birch (best done in June/July) can be pruned right now before the leaves emerge. Remember to take out the crossing branches first to give good airflow. When in doubt, call an experienced Arborist to get good advice. I have a great contact if anyone is looking for an arborist in Calgary.

I have some trunk injury at the base of my trees, what could be causing this?

• With all of the snow cover this year, the injury could have been caused by mice, rabbits or voles. Tree bark becomes a source of food for these rodents, and many people will see tree injury this year more than ever, since we have had a lot of snow cover. You will also be seeing many cases of snow mold on your grass.

What types of shrubs can we use in Calgary for hedging?

• The most common choice is Cotoneaster. It is fast growing, easily pruned and it gives nice fall color. Other choices could be Miss Kim Lilac, Dogwood (good for shadier spots) and Globe Caragana. I have also seen some nice Hydrangea hedges (PeeGee or Annabelle)

Can I plant shrubs/small trees/perennials in containers during the growing season?

• Yes, and I encourage it! I believe that containers can show off your creative side. Remember to ensure good drainage, and choose a larger pot for best success. In the fall, if you would like to overwinter your plants, the container and/or the plants must be dug into the ground

More Q&A tomorrow. If there are specific questions you would like answered, send a comment to this blog. Have a terrific day!