It’s not easy being a plantsman at this time of the year. Instead of enjoying the colour of early-blooming bulbs, seeing the first buds unfurl on deciduous trees and shrubs or watching the daily progress of emerging perennials what do I see? I focus on the bad pruning inflicted upon innocent trees. I wouldn’t be […]
If you haven’t started tomato seeds indoors yet, it’s time to do so if you want them ready to set out into the garden before the end of May. I find the sheer variety of tomato varieties a delight, and for me leafing through the pages of a well-stocked seed catalogue while enjoying a cup […]
Gardening is an activity that has more than its share of techniques that fall in the “It’s always been done this way, so that’s how I’m going to do it” category. It’s not surprising; we are governed by nature to a large extent and our gardening chores have an obvious seasonal flavour to them. Now […]
It’s time, finally, to begin the spring clean-up in my garden. The long wait is over and the “dishevelment” of winter needs to be dealt with. There are shrubs to prune, stems to cut down, leaves to rake and matted patches of brown turf to vigorously rake. Section by section the daunting task will be […]
Due to the fickle nature of our weather here in this valley, late February and early March can be a particularly harsh time for the gardener. This is especially true after a winter like the one we have just endured. I have often heard that if we have made it past Valentine’s Day in good […]
