Nature is Perfection...

Last night I talked about passion and this morning I speak of perfection. As you drive out this morning to do your daily routine, enjoy the beauty of spring. The Flowering Crabapples (the picture is from my backyard), the Mayday trees, the Lilacs. The stunning array of color out there right now is breathtaking...
In the planter below my Crabapple tree, I have planted some annual Fuschias (its a shady spot). There must be 100 buds on it right now just about to burst open. Today or tomorrow will be another show of perfection - the Fuschia is a flower like no other.
When you are taking the plunge and heading to the garden centre, think about the beauty of spring and choose a few plants that will make you smile in May.
Come out to Spruce and see what's blooming!

Passion and Success...

When you are pursuing your very own passion, nothing has the power to stop you. When you are doing what you are meant to do, it is effortless and there is no struggle. It's like Susan Boyle - the phenom that is taking 'Britains Got Talent' by storm. She just sings... It doesn't matter what she has to do to survive every day, she just sings because it is her passion. And now, with over 200 million hits on her youTube video, she has passed her passion on to the world. What gratification she must have to know that she has impacted so many people. Every time I watch the video of her first audition, I cry - literally. And you know why? Because I believe she is living her passion, and there is no greater feeling.
That's all my thoughts for Saturday night... Enjoy your evening and I will update you on Spruce tomorrow (it's a happenin' place these days!)
Peace out...

The Busy Season...

Well, things are hoppin' at Spruce. The weekend was fabulous - we got awesome comments on how nice everything looked. Our designer, Tim, is back today to 'Spruce things up', so it will be even prettier by the weekend! As you can see by the picture, the tree lot is full and leafing out/blooming nicely. The busy season is upon us! Biggest seller over the weekend, other than the plants - a bobble head dog bench - one of our finds in Atlanta. We even had some spirited bidding over the last one! We have ordered 8 more! Another Atlanta find - Campania fountains...They are concrete fountains that are absolutely top notch quality - many of them sold over the weekend - these are easy water features that look fabulous on a patio or in the garden. Really nice!!

There is some serious business I have to talk about - you all know what I'm talking about...Must see TV last night - The Bachelorette. Jillian had two group dates and one date with Jake (pilot). The Calgary Stampede got a mention during Jake's date, as they were dancing to a live concert given by Martina McBride. The front runners still seem to be Wes (Country singer guy), Jake, David (scary swearing guy who is going to beat the crap out of Juan before the show is over), Kiptyn (8-pack, oh my!) and Jesse (the winemaker). It was absolutely gripping last night - everything from anger management issues to complete nudity (something for everyone really). Well, that's my guilty pleasure update for this week. When you are at the garden centre, hunt me down if you want to discuss anything from gardening to The Bachelorette!

Happy Tuesday...

Life and Times at the Garden Centre...

It feels like this should have been the long weekend. The parking lot is full at Spruce, the carts are overflowing with plants and everyone seems happy! I have had a great couple of days learning from Pat all the ins and outs of buying the green goods at the store. She is a wealth of information, and I am happy to be working with her.
We got a huge shipment of flowering Crabapple trees and Ivory Silk Lilacs - they are in full bloom, so the tree lot smells beautiful! It looks like it will be great planting weather this week, so enjoy picking out your plants to beautify your yard and remember that it is best to plant early in the morning or later in the evening, rather than in the heat of the day...
Cheers!

Starting a New Position...

When do you know its time to increase your workload, change jobs, or stay where you are? I ask this because yesterday I agreed to take on further work at Spruce. I happily took on the task of assisting the buying of the green goods for the store - trouble is, I've never really paid much attention to where plants come from, I've just expected to be able to find what I was looking for when I was shopping for a landscape client. I saw the trucks rolling in, but never looked at the supplier name on the side. Now I have 15 pages of notes on where we buy, what we buy, and who has the best product. I'm brushing up on my latin and discovering I know more perennials than I thought! I have gone from Landscape Coordinator, to Landscape Designer, to Public Relations, to buying. I'm guessing it's good to learn many aspects of an industry you love, but can I feasably make it all work? Time will tell...For now, all I know is there is no other place I'd rather be working and I love the staff, so it should be an exciting ride!
The forecast is good for the next little while, so I am cautiously believing that I can finally plant my annuals - hope I have time to! With all of this new product rolling in, I will have a tough time choosing what plants to put in my 25 containers. I find containers to be the best way to express some creativity. Go for plants with different textures, foliage colors and no more than 3 bloom colors. Number one container failure problem? Improper drainage...Make sure that you leave an escape route for the water and flush your plants right through, every time. You should be able to see the water run out from the container. I like to use the slow-release fertilizer pellets, but I also supplement with further fertilizing throughout the season. Annuals are heavy feeders, particularly if you have lots of plants in one pot. Use larger pots and mix in some moisture retainer like CocoEarth. Pots look nice when displayed in groupings of three (if possible), and they don't all have to be the same style. For instance, choose a tall and short square pot and a medium sized round pot and group them in a corner on your deck. Always, always use a Planter Box soil for best results, as regular top soil is too heavy and less porous, leaving little breathing room for the plants. Select plants for sun or shade depending on where the container will be placed, and don't be afraid to mix some perennials in with the annuals for texture and foliage contrast. I will post some pictures when I have mine ready! Happy Potting!

Summer's Guilty Pleasure...

You may think that my guilty summer pleasure would be planting a Japanese Maple tree in a planter and treating it like a $150 annual, but no, that was so last year.... my guilty pleasure this year is The Bachelorette. Embarassing, I know, but there we were, Grace and I, last night having some mother/daughter bonding time with a pad of paper making our bets on who was going to win. We had a little spreadsheet going with 3 headings - TOP 10, BUBBLE PLAYERS, and NEVER. We didn't do too badly, choosing 12 of the 20 guys in our TOP 10 and Bubble categories. Our top picks, as displayed and described on our spreadsheet are as follows: Kiptyn (8-pack, oh my!), Wes (country singer guy), Jake (sensitive pilot), Jesse (winemaker) and Mark (pizza guy). We moved Bubble player David up after he redeemed himself from losing his mind when he stepped out of the limo and stood in complete silence for 17 seconds. It was one of those "I think I have to change the channel, cause I can't stand this" moments. He then composed himself inside the house and now we call him David (sensitive crying guy). Dark horse, although too creepy for me is Juan (squirrelly contractor guy). He was initially on the TOP 10, but moved to Bubble after some creepy moments in the house. I'm sure this will provide for riveting conversation over the next several weeks, but now I'm in too deep to stop watching - I have a spreadsheet going and a side bet with my daughter, so will keep you posted!
Another rainy day in Calgary, but supposed to clear this afternoon. Head out to Spruce with the kids and check out our new play structure - it was a hit over the weekend!

Let's Talk Gardening...

Well, we had a great radio show today on QR77. It was broadcast live from Spruce and we had a fun-filled morning of answering gardening questions. Kudos go out to Betty Jo Kaiser for filling in for Barry today - she always does a great job! She says she knows nothing about gardening, but the beauty is, she keeps on trying! There were some great questions today, and I thought I would give a brief synposis because it may be of interest to other people trying to garden.

• When should Irises be divided? They should be divided after they flower in early or mid-July. You will know that they need dividing when the flower production deteriorates
• What are some good companion plants to go with Rose bushes? Baby's breath looks good and so do Daylilies - choose perennials that do well in full-sun, cause that's where roses do best
• Bulb and Soil Dust - what does it do? It is a fungicide that help with worms on Monkshood and Delphiniums. apply it to the soil with your perennials
• What are some examples of trees I can plant in an exposed, windy spot? It was suggested that a Hawthorn, Pear and Maple tree would do well

That's just a few of the questions that were answered - we really pounded through the questions today, so hopefully helped a lot of people out with their gardening! If you want to hear the full show, go to the AM770chqr website and listen in the audio vault for the full show.

Back at home, I got my small water feature going - I love my little abstract fountain because it gives a nice sound off in the far corner of my yard. It is slightly concealed, so you can hear the lovely water sound, but you can't really see it unless you venture into the yard - its wonderful! It seems to be evaporating water, tho, and I discovered it was because my dog, Bailey, is using it as a water dish - c'est la vie, he's old, so I'm not really losing any sleep over it, and he seems to be quite happy with himself - its the small victories...

After the show, Spruce was hopping - even tho the threat of snow was in the air. Just like buying a computer, you have to jump into the market at some point! I fell victim to the excitement and bought most of my annuals as well. Will probably see if the snow flies tomorrow before I plant, but at least I have them in close proximity for quick planting as soon as the forecast is favorable.

Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend, and when you are out at Spruce, come and say Hi! Enjoy the weekend!

Words from Penelope...

I absolutely love Penelope Trunk's Blog. Not to say I don't like mine too, but there is a reason she has 35,000 followers, and I have 4 (one of the four is a four-legged feline, so I'm not sure he counts!) One day I hope to have thousands of followers that are eager to log in every morning and see what's happening, and hopefully every follower walks on two legs!
On Monday, we had a great day at Spruce filming a commercial for Global TV. Josh and Mike were the happy customers and I was the Spruce expert - what a riot! Check the commercials out on Global during the news in the morning, 6pm and 11pm. We had a great time putting them together with the crew from Global!
We all know the May Long Weekend is upon us and I thought I might share some gardening myths with you to help you navigate through your yard:
Myth: To amend a clay soil, add sand
In actuality, sand can turn a clay soil into a rock-hard growing medium, or if too much is added, you will have sandy soil, which for most plants is just as detrimental. Choose compost instead to amend your clay soil - it will lighten up the growing medium and adds nutrients
Myth: Young trees should be staked
In most situations (excluding extremely windy locations) letting a tree fend for itself will encourage a stronger root system. I have seen first hand a tree that was staked 25 years ago and unfortunately the stake was never removed. The tree trunk has now grown around the stake and has caused the trunk to split. This is an extreme case, but if you have a typical city lot, your new trees require no staking
Myth: Organic pesticides are 100% safe, so extra protection is unnecessary
This is a dangerous misconception. No matter what product you are applying to your plants, gloves and protective clothing must be worn. Even products derived from natural sources can be toxic and may cause irritation if handled improperly
Those are my words of wisdom for today. In my never ending thirst for blog ideas, I often get inspired by reading other blogs. Came across one today from Tim Sanders. He was talking about How to Avoid Getting Laid Off in this Economy. He had some great tips that I will quickly share:

• don't be emotionally unattractive - when you whine, wring your hands and commiserate about how bad things are, you are raising your hand as if to say, 'pick me for the next big layoff!'
• you must be likeable - it is the ability to consistently create positive emotional experiences
• if you don't like your job, then quit! If you like it, pick a good attitude!
• don't be Chicken Little!

I will leave you with that - have a consistently positive day!!

Ready, Set, Plant!!!

The weekend was a busy one. For Mother's Day, the gift I received from my kids, Mike and Grace, was time in the garden. Yay! Mike re-edged my whole front garden. If there is one thing you want to do for your gardens, and you don't have a lot of money, edging your garden spaces is number one. A nice sharp, straight edge defines the gardens and cleans up the area for planting. We then amended the soil with some Woodlands Mix from Spruce, and I then chose a few new perennials to plant. I am trying the Silver Brocade Artemesia for the first time. If you like the different colored foliage of the ever popular Silver Mound, this is another great choice. It is a low growing, spreading mat of silvery-white scalloped leaves that grows well in full sun to part shade - hardy to zone 3, so perfect for Calgary. I also added two varieties of Daylilies - Happy Returns (yellow) and Rosy Returns (pink). I love the grassy foliage of the Daylilies and these varieties should offer blooms all summer long. They will look nice next to my Rose bushes. I just need one more focal point plant - maybe a shrub - to fill in the middle spot. Then I will wait and see how things fill out and add more if I need to.

I also had our carpenter, Brad, build a privacy screen that I have envisioned in the space between my neighbor and I. He used chunky cedar posts and beams and added 1'x1' glass blocks in a checkerboard pattern. I can hardly wait to dress up this area with some annuals and a few taller shrubs in pots! Will forward a pic when its done...

At Spruce, the trucks keep rolling in with annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, so the long weekend will see us fully stocked, and the forecast looks nice. Everything is hopping at the store, and the forecast looks good, so should prove to be an incredible long weekend for everyone! Have a great Monday!

A Plethora of Things to Say...

I've always wanted to use that word! Well, I wanted to start of with a story about Pablo Picasso... A woman spotted Picasso in the market and pulled out a piece of paper. "Mr. Picasso, would you please do a little drawing for me?" she said excitedly. Picasso agreed, and quickly etched out a piece of art for her on the paper she provided. When he handed it back to her, he said,"That will be one million dollars" to which she replied,"But it only took you thirty seconds to draw it". Picasso calmly explained,"My good woman, it took me thirty years to be able to draw that masterpiece in thirty seconds".
That is quite often how I feel when I'm doing a landscape drawing. It seems to evolve so quickly because I have been doing it for 7 years, and sometimes I undervalue what I do, but I have to realize that it is more than a piece of paper, each drawing will eventually become someone's private, backyard oasis. I love my job!
While I'm on the topic of feel good stuff, you should take a look at Penelope Trunk's Blog entry today http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/ It talks about 5 ways to be great and I thought it was an excellent entry. She is a fantastic blog writer with over 35,000 followers, so like to check her out when I need a good laugh or some inspiration...
Back at Spruce... Will from Babbling Brooks was in today. Will is the go-to pond and water feature guy in Calgary. I was going to say 'in the world', but he hasn't sucked up to me enough to warrant that! Anyways, he is going to be building a showpiece water feature on the lot. I can hardly wait - he is truly creative and a master at his craft. Hopefully it will be done for the long weekend.
The tree and shrub lots are filling up and the trucks keep rolling in with new product, so it is an exciting time at the garden centre. My favorite shrub this year - the Coppertina Ninebark - check it out, you won't be disappointed... Much love...

Fertilizer Facts...

I just wrote an article on fertilizing your plants for our qr77 webpage and a community newsletter. I was supposed to write it in 300 words or less - I wasn't even close - had to cut it off at about 600. I didn't realize how much could be said about the what, where, how and when of fertilizing. Exciting stuff, hey!?!? The article should be up on Monday May 11th on the Let's Talk Gardening site, so check it out.

To get you excited, here's a few snip-its:

• all trees, new and old will benefit from a fertilizer program


• the time to fertilize trees, shrubs and perennials is right now. I do a second application in mid-June and a third in mid-July. Then I stop to allow the plants to harden off before winter


• the formulas of the fertilizer change all of the time, and bigger numbers don't always mean better. When looking at the three nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), think 'Up, down, and all around'. This means that the first number promotes leaves, the second number promotes root development, flowers and fruit, and the third number promotes overall health. Decide what you need most in the plant you want to fertilize


• there are many eco-friendly options that I will be talking about in a future blog, but come to the garden centre and ask about them

New products I am excited about:

CocoEarth - alternative to peat moss - holds moisture in your pots and containers - allows you to water your containers on Friday and leave town until Sunday without getting a plant-sitter!

Earth Renew - concentrated organic matter fertilizers - remarkable results for your garden soil containing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and several micronutrients

The Big Spring Clean Up...

Alright, I succumbed to pressure this past weekend and I did my spring clean up on my yard. All the neighbors were doing it, and I thought that since I'm a garden designer, I better have my yard looking like it! I usually wait a little longer before clearing the debris, and now I remember why. As I was loading up all the debris into bags I noticed the dozens of ladybugs that were going into the bags. These little guys help us in the summer by eating the aphids that invade our plants. So there I was, carefully pulling all of the lady bugs out of the bag and placing them back in my garden!

Then the power raking team showed up, just as I was finishing. This team was amazing and was in and out of my place in under half an hour. Everything looks soooo good. It's amazing to see the transformation from winter drab to spring rebirth. I am trying this new product called Myke Lawn - it is a growth supplement that also contains zeolite (a natural clay buster!). I am hoping this gives my lawn a jump start, so will let you know. This is the first year Spruce has carried it as it is a new product, but I am excited about the formulation.

So, I was excited about everything looking so good, and I went to Spruce for some accessories...uh oh... I ended up with three new planters, two pieces of art for the fence, some CocoEarth to put in my containers (a great moisture retention product made from coconut fibre), a new birdfeeder and some bird seed. Good thing I have a truck! I am excited about getting things planted up, but I know there are a few frosty nights ahead of us and I don't want to get too anxious. There have been way too many nights in my past that have seen me running outside in my jammies at 1am, covering up my pots with sheets to save them from impending frost!

Well, happy gardening everyone, the time has arrived...

Things are a-buzz at Spruce...

What a difference a week makes! Last week snow, this week we have had shipments of beautiful new trees, shrubs and flowers! May 1st hit us yesterday and the store saw 57 new employees hit the ground running. Bright new orange shirts, black caps, gloves and name tags for everyone! It is incredible to see the transformation. Bob was busy digging new holes for our caliper trees - it is fabulous to see all the big trees come in and fill up the back forty. All of the landscape supplies are in and customers are getting a jump on the season. If there is an economic downturn, we certainly aren't seeing it in the garden centre business. Geoff (operation manager) is truly grace under pressure as he tries to get 57 new people trained and working to get the entire lot in shape for the season. It's like ready, set, uh-oh, stop cause the snow is coming...and then its ready, set, stop again cause more snow is coming...and now finally...GO and GO HARD! I said it before, once it hits, its 24/7 for the next 8 weeks, and then maybe one day off! Its what we do...thrive in extreme chaos.

Currently, we are also running classes all day today on Tubby Tomatoes and Potato Towers with Barry Erskine. Not sure we needed the added pressure, but we are all living with it and using Meryl's office as the lunchroom this weekend - good times!