A Little Spruce Spirit...

Yesterday I put up a request in the lunchroom at Spruce. A simple request - one of time and a bit of labor. There is a family in the city that needs some help 'sprucing' up their yard after a recent loss, and asked if Spruce could lend a hand, so I put up a small note asking if anyone was interested in helping out. Checking back this morning, I found 7 people enthusiastically signed up. It's not that I wasn't expecting it, it just confirmed what a great place Spruce is - in all aspects. So next Wednesday, we are all headed up north to give someone a hand - feels good to be surrounded by good people. Thanks guys....

Work To Live, or Live to Work...

This is the age old question...would you describe yourself as someone who works to live or lives to work? Some of us are designed to feel the pressure to conquer the world, and that if you don't put all those hours in, you have a sense of guilt. I was reading something by Anna Quindlen the other day and she talked about getting a life - a real life, not one that pushes you to pursue the bigger paycheck, the bigger job, the big house, but one that allows you to stop and enjoy something as simple as the look on a baby's face when he is trying really hard to pick up a cheerio between his finger and thumb - I miss those looks. I was pondering the idea that if the work you do makes you feel alive, does that make it acceptable to work long hours - I decided it did, and that if you don't feel that way in your job, then you shouldn't make it your life.
What was that about?? You know that it all leads into my Bachelorette update of the Final Rose Ep. Last night Kiptyn said that he works to live and we all know that Ed lives to work since he left Jillian (albeit for a short time) to return to his job. In the end, after Reid returned and was sent home broken hearted for the second time, Jillian let 8-pack go and accepted a proposal from Ed. I think its going to last... Tonight is After the Rose - stay tuned for the riveting season finale.
What's up at Spruce? Things are rolling along nicely with the large perennials flying off the shelves (truly!). I was a bit reluctant to bring in these larger beauties, but decided to take a chance and it has been a huge hit. You know what I like about them? the fact that they look like they are a three year old plant instantly. Landscapers are snatching them up like crazy, as they try to give their clients that 'holy s***' factor' I use that term because it makes me laugh. A couple years back, Meryl and I went to a new clients house that wanted her landscaping done. We were not 10 seconds out of the truck when she announced that she didn't care what we did, or how much it cost, she just wanted the 'holy s*** factor'. We assured her that the HS factor was our specialty... lol - good times...
Happy tuesday...

My Soil is Dry...

Yesterday I was up very early - Monday is my ordering day at Spruce. Met one of my suppliers at 8am which meant that there was no workout time which is always a disappointment for me. Spent a busy day at the office and was late coming home only to find 24 very dry containers in my yard, full of flowers. The Horticulturist in me says that I should not be watering at night, but I couldn't help myself, as I felt my flowers would most certainly be dead by morning, so I watered, and you know what - Everything survived! It has been said that plants need to breathe at night, and I totally agree, but how can you possibly let your babies sleep overnight without being well watered? I gave in... Not unlike what I do for Bailey, my 12 year old Bichon Shih-Tzu. He is scared of his food dish, so I place his food on the floor, which he happily devours every day. My family scolds me every time I pamper him, but I figure he's 12 years old, and it's not like I need to teach him how to be a productive, upstanding member of society. He's not going to take over the world or anything, so why can't I take the food out and make life easier on him. I hope when I'm 84 someone takes the food out of my dish if I so desire.
The Bachelorette was weak last night, with a reunion tour of all the bachelors being showcased. I felt myself being slightly embarassed for them all. The 'man-code' was discussed in great extent and I would totally be ashamed of myself if I was part of it. That being said, I look forward to the finale next Monday where Jillian decides between Kiptyn and Ed - or, as we have decided to call it, the decision between 8-pack and Greg Brady (for those who know what that means). Taking a vote, I am in the minority as I believe that Ed is the chosen one (although, I would choose Kiptyn in a New York minute), while Grace believes that Kiptyn will come out on top. But wait... Reid is back in the picture with a ring in his hand...hmmmm. Riveting, as always. We will tune in next week and find out who Jillian ultimately chooses. Grace and I are now on to watching Big Brother, but I won't update you on that because it is truly a guilty pleasure that I probably should not share with anyone.
Remember to water your plants in the morning.... Happy Tuesday

Calgary Garden Tours...

One of my favorite weekends of the year is coming up on July 25th and 26th. It is the open viewing of gardens around Calgary, sponsored by the Calgary Horticultural Society. It is a great opportunity to view some of the best gardens in the city and be inspired. Spruce is the proud sponsor of The Newly Landscaped by Homeowner category and we send out congratulations to all of the winners - we are looking forward to seeing all of you at the Awards Banquet and in your garden on the weekend.
I will be sure to take plenty of pictures and share them with you...

Aphids, Aphids, Everywhere...

The little critters are out in full force. Some are green, some are white and some are black, and they are plentiful. I noticed some on my Diablo Ninebark yesterday, so have to get out there and spray them down with the hose. All shrubs and trees can really use a good bath everytime you water - be careful not to shred the leaves as you are spraying, but try to get as many of the aphids off as possible. If they continue to multiply, apply an insecticidal soap on the tops and undersides of the leaves. Leave soap on for up to an hour, then spray the plant down again with water. This process will have to be repeated every one to two weeks to get the infestation under control.
What else is happening out there? We discussed Birch Leaf Miner a few days ago - have you seen the brown leaves on many of the Birches out there? This is definitely a bad miner year.
As we head into the warm temperatures of summer (finally!), ensure you are keeping up with watering your containers - they may need watering in the morning as well as a small drink at night. Ensure you are watering all of your trees, shrubs and perennials in the early morning. Watering in the afternoon proves almost fruitless as most of the moisture evaporates. We still have plenty of summer days left, so check out what's blooming at the garden centre and fill in those empty spots. Here are some of my recommendations:
Perennials:

• Coneflower (Echinacea)
• Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)
• Tickseed (Coreopsis)
• Astilbe (Astilbe)
• Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
• Asiatic Lilies (Lilium)
• Gayfeather (Liatris)

Shrubs:

• Spirea
• Mockorange
• Hydrangea (some varieties)
• Smokebush - 'Young Lady' is starting to look fabulous

See you at Spruce!

Dealing with Pressure...

Is it Tuesday already? That means it's time for the recap of Bachelorette...
Jillian and the three remaining men went to Maui this week. Did I mention that Maui is my favorite vacation spot ever? If you like to body surf, that is the place to go. Speaking of bodies, Kiptyn was the first to meet up with Jillian. They kissed all through a High Ropes challenge, ending with a leap of faith onto a trapeze. As the day progressed, Jill ended up in the fantasy suite with Kiptyn. This is a moment that I'm sure she has waited for, but the audience was left to stand behind closed doors as the candles romantically lit the bedroom. Aaaah....
Next day, Jillian's right back at it with Reid, flying high over the island. Her concern with Reid has always been his reluctance to tell her how he really feels and this date was no different. Wasn't it a little childish when he said, with outstretched arms, I like you thiiiisss much. Hmmm... She did, however, end up at the fantasy suite with Reid as well.
Final date went to Ed, who was the only one to tell her he loved her. Ed had his parents meet them in the afternoon since he missed introducing Jillian to them when he left the show to go back to his job (weak). A good time was had by all, and off to the fantasy suite they went. One of the steamiest scenes I've seen on Bachelor showed Jillian and Ed massaging oil over each others bodies on the rose petal laden bed. But alas, the pressure got to Ed and it affected his performance - not sure what that means, but I have my own conclusions. I have to make special mention of Ed's green and white 'man-kini'. What the he** was that?
Off to the rose ceremony, where Jillian told them all that she could see a life with all three of them, which I'm sure made them all feel warm and fuzzy inside. In the end, thank goodness, Reid was booted off the island. And then there were two. Called Kiptyn as the winner from day one, but I think if Ed can get a handle on his performance issues, he may be the one (despite the man-kini and the unfortunate baby blue blazer he wore at the rose ceremony).
As Reid is driving away, he is kicking himself for not opening up. NO KIDDING, REID, like where have you been over the past 800 episodes???
Well, that's my recap, and my only advice to future bachelors is: c'mon, give it up, what have you got to lose?!?!? No sense saying what you should have said and done as you are driving away in the limo. hmmmm. maybe I'm making it more simple than it is...

Life is Like that Sometimes...

Another barn-burner last night on Bachelorette with Jillian taking the boys to Spain. Is it just me, or is Reid the most boring man alive? Unfortunately, she will probably end up with him. Nice dates with Kiptyn, Reid and Ed all travelling to different cities in Spain. Jillian, although given the opportunity to share a fantasy suite with each guy, chose to forego spending the night together with all of them. The last day was spent with Wes, and Jillian finally saw his true colors for herself and sent him packing at the rose ceremony. Most villainous send off in Bach history as he vowed that every woman in Spain was going to know his name by the end of the evening. Hope no one ever buys his CD's... Next week the group is off to Maui - one of my favorite spots in the whole world. Jillian was seen in Calgary yesterday at the rodeo and a couple restaurants around town. Apparently she was overheard saying 'I Love You' to someone on the phone. hmmmm...
Back at Spruce things are really rolling alone. Have had lots of calls about the browning of Birch Tree leaves. The Birch Leaf Miner has hit us hard this season. I usually get a soil drench done to mine each spring, and my tree is incredibly healthy right now, but I have seen some nasty looking specimens out there this week. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do right now to correct the problem. Treatment has to be done in early spring, just when the leaves are emerging. Pick up some Tanglefoot Paste at the garden centre and apply it to the trunk of the tree. The miners overwinter in the soil and make their way up the trunk to the leaves, but get caught in the paste along the way. We used to be able to use Cygon, but it has been taken off the market due to effects to the nervous system. Tanglefoot is our best defense right now. The little miners wil not kill the tree, just make it unsightly - do not however, let the problem persist year after year. And FYI, a foliar spray will not help, as the miners exist between the tissues of the leaf, and are well protected from any spray. Life is like that sometimes...
Happy Tuesday...

Big Pot Bonanza...

As we head further into the summer season, I'm finding that customers are looking for that instant gratification when it comes to plants. For instance, I brought in these fabulous 10 gallon Quick Fire Hydrangeas - they are massive and absolutely gorgeous. Brought 6 in two weeks ago and they sold within two days, so brought in 6 more this week and they are all gone too. The Quick Fire is from the PeeGee family and hardy for our zone, and although it is a PeeGee, it blooms much sooner than the rest. The blooms emerge white and apparently turn pink - I bought one this year, so I'm waiting to see the transformation for myself. Soooo, I've decided to order lots of big shrubs and perennials this week and do a Big Pot Bonanza starting on Thursday. Many people don't want to wait for a plant to grow, they just want to see it in its full glory right away - so we'll see how it all goes at Spruce later this week!

It's Stampede Week in Calgary, and although we may some cooler temperatures and some rain (what else is new!), the week of the 13th is shaping up to be hot and dry. This is the perfect week to fertilize your shrubs and trees. They are well watered from the rain we have been having, so they are better able to soak up the fertilizer. I use a root feeder on my plants so the food becomes readily available right at the roots. Ensure that you fertilize all around the dripline where the newer roots are situated. This is also the month that your trees should receive the most water - you do not want them to dry out at all. As August rolls around, the amount of water should diminish so that you are not pushing new growth while the tree should be hardening up for winter (yeh, I know its weird to talk about winter in August!). Decrease the water given to trees and shrubs in August and September, and then when the leaves start turning and falling, ensure you water the tree well before freeze up. We are seeing many cases of winter die back in trees this year, so following the above watering practices will help ensure healthy trees for years to come.
Happy Stampeding!