Soil Ph and Why its Important

Autumn Leaves

It's the most colourful time of the year when the chlorophyll breaks down and the green recedes in the leaves.  The colours that remain dazzle the eye.  The air is cool and filled with the scent of fall.  Leaves crunch underfoot, the sunflower that sought the sun now feeds the birds, the mums and rudbeckia compliment the season.  

It's so pretty, isn't it?  Yet it's a tender goodbye to summer.

Burke's Backyard in Japan (Japanese gardens)

Moss Lawn in a Shade Garden

Living Works of Art: Bonsai

Miniature Japanese Inspired Garden

While browsing my saved channels on Youtube, I came across this tutorial for a miniature Japanese inspired garden.  Since fairy gardens are all the rage right now for both indoors and out (my miniature hobbit garden is growing well where it sits on my front porch in the eastern sun), this video will definitely appeal to those crafty readers out there who are eager to take on a new challenge.  Isn't that a cute lantern? The waterfall and bamboo water features are very clever.  I got some really good ideas from this.   Give this one a try!

Aerial Tour of the Oregon Garden, Silverton

The Oregon Garden is an 80 acre botanic garden in Silverton.  

Attracting Pollinators to the Garden

Should I Add a Water Feature?

There are times when I really miss our old house, especially the back garden that we put so much into.  I've been thinking of our pond and waterfall that our son M installed and since I don't know how long we'll be staying in our current house, I am considering options to create the effect without digging up the yard. Perhaps a temporary feature on the deck by the back door or a tabletop fountain?

Recently I watched a video by Laura of Garden Answer (Proven Winners) wherein she made a small waterfall in a pot.  It was really cute and it would be very easy to do.  It wouldn't require a big investment of time nor money either.

But perhaps I want to go bigger?  I'd love more sound and maybe some lights with the option of adding a couple fish.  I'm undecided on the latter though because we'd have to have someone come take care of them should we find the time to get away during the summer.  (I work in a greenhouse so it's not always possible).  Aquascape released this video on YouTube that impressed me.  

What I like about this feature is the plants are water plants, less chance of evaporation to the point of no return, underwater lighting options, possibility of adding fish, a water lily(!). The sound of running water would help me create a peaceful place to relax at the end of the day, a highly desirable thing living in the city!  I'm thinking out loud here.

I'm still looking for options and if I do decide to create a water feature, you'll find out here which option I went with.  Which is your preference?

Keukenhof, The World's Biggest Flower Garden

Photos free of copyright, provided by Keukenof Gardens

Keukenof Gardens is considered the largest flower garden in the world with over 80 acres of flowers.  There are 2000 varieties of tulips and 7,000,000 bulbs! Keukenof Gardens are open to the public only eight weeks out of the year.  That's a short period of time for the millions of visitors who come by the bus load to see and smell the promise of spring.  

Keukenhof's mission, now and in the future, is to be the international and independent showcase for the Dutch floricultural sector, with a special emphasis on flowering bulbs.

There are eight inspirational gardens comprising Keukenof Gardens.  In addition to these gardens, there are greenhouses and pavillions. The gardens are totally redesigned every year to keep the gardens fresh and innovative. The bulbs are harvested at the end of the season and planting the new design takes place in the fall.  It takes forty gardeners to plant the 7,000,000 bulbs in the newly designed plan.

The above footage was videoed with a drone.  There are some amazing drone shot videos allowing us to see the world as never before. 

And here's one last video of Keukenhof Gardens filmed this spring.



I hope you enjoy these short films and if you like what you see I encourage you to search for more on YouTube.  Perhaps a trip to the Netherlands to see Keukenof Gardens should be added to your bucket list.  I know it's going on mine!  Cheers!

What's New in Perennials With Proven Winners 2016

Zones 4-9 with the exceptions of Leading Lady Lilac Monarda, Opening Act White Phlox,  Opening Act Blush Phlox, and Magic Show White Wands Veronica, all of which are zones 4-8.  

For details on size and colour please see:

https://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/catalogs_pdfs/cast_preview_2016_singlepgs_w.pdf

Dutch Flower Fields

While spring flowers are slow to bloom here in central Alberta, we can enjoy and admire those of others.  I've been admiring a magnitude of floral beauty from Vancouver thanks to my son who sends me photos regularly.  I really appreciate that in the middle of winter.  Cherry trees began blooming in February this year, early for them but what a sight in a beautiful city.  Then in the Okanagan valley the apricot trees have been flowering (early April) and that was a thrill to see thanks to another son and his wife who shared photos.  

If you're like me, even in the slightest, you can never get enough garden exposure and sometimes you just have to seek it out when your own is just awakening.  Today I came across this drone footage of Dutch flower fields and they are too stunning not to share.  Enjoy!

The Sound of Silence

So often in this hectic world of traffic, work, schedules and the noise; I crave this.... the sound of silence.  My husband and I saw Edgar Muenala perform at Granville Island in Vancouver last month. How I wish I had purchased a CD there! I will absolutely have to get one that has The Sound of Silence on it for the car. There's something about a pan flute in the hands of a most talented musician that calms the heart.  Here it is.  Enjoy.

Inviting Bees to Your Garden

A Pond on Your Deck is Easy

Propagating Hydrangeas

I Prune Everything aka Strawberries - just for fun

This is one of the most popular videos right now.  It's based on a conversation heard between two women, a mom and her sister, and lip synced by two guys. Funny!

Tour a Beautiful Koi Pond

#koi #pond

Celebrating the Summer Solstice

I love Fridays because that is the last day of the work week, typically.  Yesterday was particularly wonderful because at 5 am it was atmospherically foggy.  It makes me want to write some mystery/thriller scene set on a foggy morning or evening. Oooh.  Urban legends, anyone?

Today is the summer solstice, YAY, and though it is scheduled to be 22 - 23 degrees Celsius, it is very windy and slightly overcast here.  Still nice, though. Over the last few days I've taken the odd snapshot of what's blooming in my yard and my son sent me a couple as well that I've included.

Bachelor Button photo courtesy my son T.

Poppy photo courtesy my son, T.

I came across this You Tube video on the blog Smitten by Britain (which I am, though I've never been!) and wanted to share it with you.  It's very short with a quaint little ditty by Jimmie Rogers in 1962.  Bucket List Item that will always be at the top of the list:  visit the British Isles!!!  In the meantime, I really enjoyed seeing these snapshots of English country gardens.  Enjoy and Happy Summer everyone!!!



Jimmie Rogers:  English Country Garden

Charming and Easy Coffee Filter Wreath with Martha Stewart