A basket arrangement is easy to make and will not cost much if you use a few of my “frugal tips.” During the winter months, having a growing arrangement of plants on the dining room table brings a bit of life to the interior of our homes. One easy way to accomplish this is to
Basket Gardens Create A Breath Of Spring
Exotic But Easy Clivia
This winter my wife and I took a holiday in the southwest part of the U. S. and I was constantly taking photos of exotic subtropical plants. When we arrived home in late February I walked into the sunroom and there was the most beautiful – and exotic – bloom waiting to greet me! My
Asparagus ferns — not just outdoor plants
The common asparagus fern grows from fleshy rhizomes which will often be visible on the soil surface. There are hundreds of varieties of ferns and luckily for us gardeners many of them are easy to grow in an ordinary indoor environment. One group of ferns that are dependable and beautiful houseplants are the ferns in
Grow a gloxinia this winter
Gloxinia bulbs usually become available in garden centres in late winter, so that they can be planted to produce bloom from late May until well into the summer. These tubers can be kept over from year to year, and in fact there are reports of 50-year-old tubers still being in the possession of their owners
Anthurium — perfect for the indoors
Individual flowers will last for a couple of months, providing a great dramatic effect in the interior landscape. During the dark days of winter, gardeners search for plants which will add beauty to the indoor landscape and which will tolerate the low light levels offered by many of our indoor environments. One plant that will
The livery barn — not just for horses
Today, in every town and city, parking space is vital to the success of local businesses. Customers have to have a place to park their cars while they shop and run errands. When I was a boy, we travelled by horse-drawn vehicles, but even so, we needed a place to “park.” That parking place in
Not just for Christmas
Garden centres and other retail shops often offer Norfolk Island pines during the Christmas season. They are potted live plants and they often have been decorated with a few holiday decorations or put in an appropriate holiday container. However, this particular plant is meant to be used as an attractive indoor foliage plant year round.
Search for different plants this winter
Experienced gardeners happen upon unfamiliar plants from time to time. One reason to visit garden centres during the winter, other than to enjoy the wonderful ambience, is to scout out the potted plant section in search of the unfamiliar. One such plant that I came upon was the calathea. Calatheas are rated as “challenging” houseplants
Creating a cactus dish garden
Give each plant adequate space as they will grow larger as time passes. For those people who still want to do a bit of gardening, you might consider creating an indoor cactus garden. Many garden centres have a great selection of small cacti plants in two-or three-inch pots that only cost a couple of dollars
Farming in years past
Harvest time on the farm was always an exciting time when I was a boy because it meant new jobs to learn, the opportunity to work with neighbours, hearty meals – some delivered right to the field, and a sense of well-being as the season’s grain was stored safely away. The task that ushered in
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
