Garden Fun

I always find it very fun to see what whimsical figures people like to have in their gardens. Whether it be something as meaningful to the garden owner as an angel or saint or something as fun as a garden nome, everyone has their own special reason for adding these points of interest.

There is nothing like gazing out over your garden and seeing these bits of whimsy that bring back fond memories and make you smile.

Here are some of my recent favourites from clients gardens.

A Home for Buddha

A client contacted me to discuss creating a garden bed for her beautiful 3.5 foot Bali lava stone buddha. The client wanted a variety of flowers and tall grasses to fill the area in and create a peaceful, softly moving environment full of summer colour.

Grasses, flax, shasta daisy's, echinacea, kangaroo paws, lupine, russian sage and a butterfly bush were planted around the buddha and a black lace aka smoke tree and jasmine planted behind the buddha along the fence. Hen and chicks, fescue and ground cover was then planted along the front of the bed and the grassy along the bed re-seeded.

This lucky buddha will be surrounded by beautiful colour and soft flowing grasses for many years to come and I can't wait to see how the garden bed looks as the plants mature!

Nothing like a Dash of Colour

Faded dead plats and flowers once fought for space with the weeds in these planters and it was such a simple fix to bring them all back to life with beautiful colour.

The brilliant red of the geraniums, the purple from the lavender and trailing lobelia, pretty pink armeria, lovely green hostas in the centre row, delicate ornamental grasses along the back and beautiful hydrangea made this container garden something to be proud of and show off.

And while a project like this may seem quite daunting, with a little coaching you can accomplish a look like this on your own. Of course we are always here to assist and are happy to complete any project in it's entirety so you can stay relaxed and simply enjoy the natural beauty after a long day in the office.

Before and After; A Front Yard in Desperate Need of Help

As much as we all like instant gratification, in the garden we often have to wait for mother nature to do her part and provide sun and rain to our new plants so that after a season or two they mature into their full, wonderful selves. Case in point below...

When the new owners moved into this home the front yard was a weedy, muddy mess with just a few plants struggling to survive under the window and the monster english ivy on the front fence 6' high and 3' wide.

The first task on hand was to clear out all of the weeds and cut back the over grown ivy. The decision was made to clear the ivy back to show off the incredible old vine growing through the fence and just leave growth along the top of the fence. The homeowners say the old vine woven through the fence has since become a neighbourhood conversation piece and people often stop and ask if they did that; um no, that would be mother nature's handiwork! Cutting back the ivy then allowed the sun to fill this once dark, weed laden no plant's land and give plants in this area a chance to thrive and grow.

Hostas, ferns, grasses, desdemona and helebore were added to the bed under the window and grasses, russian sage, pansies, black bamboo, spirea and a beautiful rosebud forest pansy planted in the newly created bed along the side fence. Ground cover was installed along the edges of both beds and sod was installed in the centre area to complete the interior yard design. Lavender was then planted along the front of the newly revealed fence and two ornamental flowering plum 'street' trees planted in front of the house.  Through this process the soil was amended and each plant installed with a dash of bone meal to help them along.

By the second summer the plants were coming into themselves and the home owners (and I) were all very happy with the beautiful end result. This makeover is absolutely among my favourites and I love seeing the plants fill in and this area becoming even more beautiful!

Bone Meal for Healthy Plants

Bone meal fertilizer is often used by organic gardeners to add phosphorus to garden soil. Bone meal fertilizer is essentially what it says it is, a meal or powder made from ground up animal bones


The three most important nutrients for plants are nitrogen, for green leaves; phosphorous, for healthy flowers and roots; and potash, for overall vigor and disease resistance and bone meal is an excellent source of phosphorous and it is easy for gardeners to use. 


The effects phosphorous has on plants that can be easily observed by gardeners are in vitality, the time of blossoming and maturity. Flowers will produce more colorful blooms. 


Phosphorous is critical as a stimulus to root development and roots branch out and root hairs form profusely in the vicinity of a source of phosphorous. Because of its effect on roots, phosphorous is a major factor in determining early growth of a plant and its vigor throughout the season. Throw a handful of bone meal in the hole when planting trees, shrubs and rose bushes and to help them establish a healthy root system faster.


Be sure to consistently water so the phosphorous in the bone meal can be released slowly and taken up by the plant's roots. 

Wheelbarrow Flat Tire!

Many of you many find that if you have not used your wheelbarrow all winter or it's been cold where you live.....the tire may be flat.


Most wheelbarrow tires are tubeless and it takes a bit of effort to get it re-inflated but it can be done by following some simple steps.


1. Once the tire is ready for inflating, clean the tire bead, (the area that will be in contact with the metal rim) and remove all dirt. In order to inflate the tire you must line up the tire bead and press it tightly against the rim. Use tire bead sealer or dish soap to assist in the bonding process.


2. Tie a rope around the center of the tire tread and start to cinch up until the bead presses up against the rim. If tire just won't seal, gently rotate and and press the tire down from the center to stick the bead to the rim using the grease or jelly. Listen to remove all leaks and try inflating again.


3. Inflate the tire using a compressor (found at a gas station), or a small compressor that plugs into your cigarette lighter. A hand pump may not have the PSI required but a foot pump should.


If you are having problems getting the tire inflated or just don't want to deal with the process, take the tire to your local tire store and have them inflated the tire for you!

Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are a wonderful way to have a burst of gorgeous flowers especially if you don't have the time or the space for a flower garden. You can but pre-made hanging baskets or have the pleasure of making your own beautiful creation.

Choose Your Basket
Typical hanging baskets are made of wire or plastic and come in
diameters of 8 to 24 inches. Wire basket liners include sphagnum moss,
coco fiber, plastic, and pressed paperboard. Sphagnum moss and coco
fiber are porous, so they will dry out more quickly than pressed
paperboard or plastic.

Add Soil
Fill the basket with a lightweight potting mix. You can buy a packaged
mix or make your own with equal parts peat moss, perlite, and
vermiculite.  Fill the soil to within an inch or two of the rim for ease in watering.

Plant the Basket
Baskets packed with a single kind of flower have loads of impact.
Combinations can be handsome, too, if there's space for the multitude.
When using multiple species, include tall, midrange, and trailing
forms for variety. Place taller plants near the center and trailing
plants along the edges. Try to include varying bloom sizes. For
example, vinca, miniature rose, and petunia offer large flowers, while
hyssop, lobelia, and calibrachoa have dainty blooms.

Water Well
Water the soil mix thoroughly after planting. Thereafter, you may have
to water daily in hot weather. Break open the crust and rewet the soil ball thoroughly.
Pinch the tops of plants if they begin to look leggy.