Now is the time to reap the rewards for the back breaking work we did in the pouring rain last year to plant our spring flowering bulbs. I very nearly missed the boat altogether, only planting my bulbs in January before they all succumbed to the developing mold and rot. Call it an experiment in getting away with procrastinating. I think I am getting away with it as they are all sprouting fine - just a bit behind the bulbs that have already been in the ground a couple of years.

Yeah - I know it is still winter but it sure feels like spring. The birds are singing the grass is growing and the sun is shining. O.K., the sun is only coming out briefly between periods of cloud and rain but when it does shine it is just the drug I need right now.

Well it is still a while until we can call the season Spring but the title "late winter" never seems to apply to February in Vancouver. January has been an unusually mild one and I have hardly had a chance to use my new snow tires that were so essential last winter. I can't say that I mind this mild winter at all as I look forward to the advancing gardening year.

Well the last of the summer veggies have all been picked. Some thick skinned cucumbers, a few red tomatoes and lots of green tomatoes. So what to do with the green tomatoes? I've tried the fried thing before and wasn't really delighted so I searched online for a more appetizing solution.

My digital search soon uncovered a recipe for Green Tomato Chutney. I had hoped to make Green Tomato Chutney before but that was the year I left the decision of what to do with my green bounty so long that they had all rotted. Compost to compost.

Now is the time to start the planning of Spring color in your garden.  We have bulb packages available for planting this Fall to insure a colorful Spring.  Packages are available for those of you with container gardens as well as landscape.  Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, Allium, and Iris are all available in a variety of colors and sizes.  Contact us today for your spring flowering Bulb planting.

 

Another IDS Show is over for the year.  There was a great turn out and the show was filled with inspiration.  Whether it involved the recycled phonebooths - Dialosaurus boothus by Lorraine Kwan & Kathryn Macdonald, to the perspectives of "Designing inside the Box" by the Interior Design Institute of BC.  It was a show full of unique and inspiring designs and included a lot of recycled or reused material in many of the products.

This 9 acre perennial garden is in Kaledon, just a 15 minute drive from Penticton BC. For nearly one hundred years the Hayter family maintained an orchard on the land where the garden now grows. Needing a change the Hayters let their gardening hobby take over the family farm and officially opened the Linden Gardens in the spring of 2006. Now you can enjoy this beautiful garden and nourish all of your senses with the fresh food at the Frog City Cafe.

You may not want to be reminded but Fall is just around the corner and the garden centres are soon to have their fall bulbs available.  Are you recalling this Spring and your garden empty and in desperate need of some color.  We provide fall bulb planting packages in the color themes that you desire.  Contact us to book a consultation or to talk about our bulb pricing for this fall. 

Canwest is Vancouver's Horticultural Trade Show running on September 23rd and 24th at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  It is a great business opportunity for buyer and sellers within the Horticulture trade.  There are professional talks and seminars occurring within these tow days.  Tours are also available on many topics like Green Roofs, Gold Medal Gardens, and Nursery Tours.

I look forward to learning and networking at the trade show to enhance my company and service to my clients.  For more information please go the website www.canwesthortshow.com 

Vancouver will soon be having it's 2009 Interior Design Show on September 19-20th.  Outside Contemporary Garden Design will have a booth set up with container gardens on display and looking forward to meeting and discussing customers outdoor garden needs and possibilities.