Prairie winters can seem interminable, particularly to gardeners who long for spring to arrive so that outdoor gardening can commence once more. Some folks have become snowbirds and do experience balmy outdoor weather during the winter months — many able to stroll through desert landscapes designed in the popular “southwest” style. Even if you do
Peace Garden Conservatory
Reduce, recycle, reuse
My wife acts as the recycling police in our household; I dare not throw even the smallest piece of paper into the garbage without fear of reprimand and she constantly surprises me with her ingenuity when it comes to her efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse. One day I noticed a curious-looking bar of soap
Storage checkup
During the winter it’s easy to get caught up with the many activities that prevail in our Prairie communities. Couple that with work and family responsibilities, and it is sometimes difficult to remember to check all the garden produce that we have stored away for the winter. Vegetables as well as flower bulbs and corms
Winter gardening project
You will need a container — a rectangular one works best if you are planning to locate the dish garden on a windowsill. In fact, it is a good idea to decide where you want to display the garden — choose a location that gets some direct sun — and then choose an appropriate container.
Got the winter blahs?
During the long winter I often purchase an inexpensive plant to place on the dining room table to be enjoyed during this rather dreary part of the year. Recently, friends visited and brought my wife and I a most beautiful plant, which has graced our table ever since — a miniature orchid. Over the last
Post-bloom care of Christmas cactus
During the pre-Christmas season, it was hard to resist purchasing one of the many small Christmas cactus plants. There were specimens with red-orange blooms, others with white blossoms with just a hint of pink in the centre, and bright-red ones, as well as plants with the traditional cerise-coloured flowers. Whether you bought one for yourself
Growing a bromeliad
Over the last few years I have noticed bromeliads offered for sale more and more in garden centres as blooming pot plants. These unusual plants are familiar to those folks who take winter holidays in warm locations where they are used extensively in outdoor landscapes. They are popular in these locales because they are easy-care
Planning a winter getaway?
Some people who have extensive indoor plant collections like to take holidays in the sun during our long, cold winters. Leaving houseplants unattended for any length of time can be risky; I have sometimes returned from a winter holiday to find a few dead plants and others a little worse for wear after a lengthy
Weeping amaryllis?
In late October, I enjoyed the unique beauty of a weeping amaryllis. As the accompanying photo attests, the blooms appeared to hang on pendulous stems that hung down from the pot. It was quite unusual, but very attractive; I called it my weeping amaryllis. Of course, there really is no such thing as a cascading
Jade plant — beautiful and versatile
I was strolling through a garden centre some time ago, and came upon a stunning sight — a large potted jade plant in full bloom. While most of us do not have the space for such a plant, particularly where it will receive enough light to produce such abundant bloom, seeing the plant reminded me
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
