largefeature
Sunshine adds power to flowers
"Geraniums in two planters on my south-facing balcony have wintered well and still have blooms. Is it too late to cut them back? If it's not too late, how should it be done."
Warmer weather signals time to cut back geraniums
Q: Geraniums in two planters on my south-facing balcony have wintered well and still have blooms. Is it too late to cut them back? If it's not too late, how should it be done."
Photo of the day
Brothers Riley, 10, and Tyler, 8, pick leaves off cilantro to make tacos during a Cinco de Mayo festival at Terry Fox Library.
Only weeds are truly maintenance-free
A few weeks ago, a harassed gardener asked me whether there are any maintenance-free plants. Apparently "weeds" was not the answer she was seeking.
Roses and Rotten Tomatoes
Very rotten tomatoes to the person who stole my four azaleas (red, pink, magenta, pale yellow) while we were away at my mother's funeral.
Ground-covers nurtured to cut workload
A few weeks ago a harassed gardener asked me if there are any maintenance-free plants. Apparently "weeds" was not the answer she was seeking.
Is there such a thing as maintenance-free plants?
A few weeks ago a harassed gardener asked me if there are any maintenance-free plants.
Revelling in rhodos
The City of Burnaby and the Burnaby Rhododendron and Gardens Society held the annual Rhododendron Festival on Sunday, May 5 at Deer Lake Park. The festival included roving entertainers, workshops, nature and horticulture tours, kids' activities, a silent auction and pottery and plants for sale. The festival started as a contest in 1989 to choose a hybrid rhododendron for Burnaby's 1992 centennial and has since grown into an annual all-day affair. The festival promotes the city's rhododendron emblem by encouraging the planting and cultivating of the trumpet-shaped flower.
Anne answers your garden questions
"Last year only 20 per cent of my carrot seeds grew. How can I increase the germination rate?"
Repot orchids every two years
Q: The flowers on our Phalenopsis orchid are mostly gone and we are left with five flowers and very long stems and roots. Should this be repotted and cut back with new soil? Can it be taken out to a sheltered patio with partial sun and much light?
Orchids and moss both thrive in shade
"The flowers on our phalenopsis orchid are mostly gone, and we are left with five flowers and very long stems and roots. Should it be re-potted and cut back with new soil? Can it be taken out to a sheltered patio with partial sun and much light?"
Re-pot orchids every two years
Q: Each spring get an increasing amount of moss. I de-thatched three years ago and overseeded last year. I aerate and apply dolomite lime, moss killer and fertilizer every spring and overseeded last year. Should I get my soil tested?
Gift bouquets can boast more than just roses
According to some surveys, Mother's Day is the most popular day to give flowers.
Rekindle your springtime love affair with the garden
Right now I am in love with our garden. After an initial rush of activity to tidy it up and remove some of the dead debris that winter left behind, it is in a perfect state.
What's What
Ceilidh/Celtic Night: The Tartan Pride Highland dance team hosts the event at the Cloverdale Parish Hall, 17475 59th Ave. on May 4 starting at 7 p.m. The evening features dance by Tartan Pride and the Joan Murray Dancers as well as the music of Blackthorn and the Vancouver Police Pipe Band.
From Wales to West Van
As a child in Wales, she watched her mom and her aunt arrange flowers for their church. When she was about five years old, her mother asked her how she liked a particular arrangement and she answered, "I don't."
Fancy a bit of highbrow fun with Verdi?
The Burnaby Lyric Opera is continuing its Sunday Afternoon Concert Series on April 21 with highlights from Giuseppe Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc).
Aphids a problem? Try using row covers
"Last year I put seeds of Russian red kale in the shady backyard. It grew well but was full of aphids and I ended up throwing it all out in disgust. What can I do to prevent it from happening again? Is there any nutriment I should add to the soil?"
Seasons hard on fuchsias, aphids hard on everything
"I have a large Gartenmeister fuchsia which I winter over in the garage. Each year it blooms later and later in the season. Last year it didn't bloom until September. I put it out after danger of frost has passed. Sometimes I prune it in October, sometimes in April. None of that makes a difference in its blooming time. The leaves tell me it's quite healthy. How can I get it to bloom earlier? Or should I get rid of it and get a new one?"
