At the end of July, I joined about 70 garden bloggers from North America and the UK in Seattle, Washington, for the annual garden blogging extravaganza called the Fling. Over four days, we saw many, many wonderful gardens, which I’ll try to share with you over the next while. The day before it began, local […]
Reeves nursery on Danforth [Updated after closure of nursery]
[UPDATE, June 25, 2011 and Nov. 29, 2011: Sadly Reeves has gone, both from the Danforth and from the original Reeves Woodbridge home, due to financial difficulties. It’s too bad, because the east end could use another convenient garden centre that stocks unusual trees and shrubs. We would have wished them better parking, and we’ll […]
Fair Trade in the garden: Ten Thousand Villages
On my way home from having my hair pruned the other day, I popped into Ten Thousand Villages on Danforth and noticed they were all kitted up for garden season. If you’re shopping for garden pots or decor this spring, browse around their fair trade goods and shop with a healthy conscience. That lovely brown-on-brown […]
Fuel up for the big dig
A quick but timely post specially for us east-enders: Celena’s Bakery has opened on Danforth near Woodbine. I can write about this in a garden blog with good conscience for two reasons: One: See what’s on top? Rosemary! A fresh sprig tops Celena’s surprising and delicious Rosemary Raisin Bread. We have been back for seconds. […]
Small tools for small gardens
Small gardens like mine offer scant room for tool storage. That’s why constantly look for tools that are compact, easy to store and hard-working in the garden. Here are two I’ve had good results with – both time-tested as well as bankrolled by yours truly. The first – and the rust says it’s been around […]
Not a typo: Mason Hogue is now Mason House Gardens
Yes, Mason Hogue Gardens is now Mason House Gardens. Had they asked me (it’s one of the things I do for a living), I’d have suggested a different re-naming strategy. Too many similar letters; people are going to be confused – as anyone who has tried to change their email address has experienced. However, the […]
Mark your calendars: Marion Jarvie’s Open Gardens 2010
Starting last night, me, my battered notebook and a classroom of other garden keeners join Toronto horticulture-guru Marion Jarvie for three sessions at the Toronto Botanical Garden‘s George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture. She’ll be talking small, shady, city gardens. That’s how I got the scoop on some dates you’ll want to add to […]
The taste of a fresh beet: Unbeetable
How can one describe the taste of a fresh, fresh beet? Sweet, with something of the earth about it. Beets from a store can’t approach this flavour. Typically, the time from field to market gives them the leisure to transform their sugars into starch. If you don’t grow your own beets, the city has an […]