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All Outdoor Plants SPRING SUMMER

YEAR OF THE GLADIOLUS

Gladiolus flowers

The gladiolus, also known as “glads”, is a beautiful symbol of summer’s arrival. These impressive flowers look stunning in the garden or as an elegant arrangement in a vase.

 

Easy to grow, gladiolus are ideal for novice gardeners. The corms are planted in the spring and within a few weeks, their orchid-like blooms will quickly fill your garden with colour.

 

The gladiolus originated in Africa and Eurasia, finding its way to North America in the mid-1900s. Their impressive size prompted experts to deem them the Latin term Gladius or “sword”, leading to their appropriate nickname, the sword lily.

 

Standing on stems that can reach upwards of five feet, gladiolus come in a variety of striking colours, with each flower adorned with smaller blooms. These blooms reach a width of about 3 to five inches across.

 

Here are some helpful hints on how you can grow delightful gladiolus in your garden.

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All Indoor Plants HOUSEPLANTS PLANT MAINTENANCE

Houseplants SOS

5 Common Houseplant Mistakes

Do you have trouble keeping your houseplants healthy and alive? We all may be a little guilty of losing a plant or two, but while you may believe you are destined to have a black thumb, perhaps you just need a little more information and understanding of what NOT to do with your plants.

 

If you have one houseplant or one hundred around your home, you will have made at least one of these mistakes.

 

Here are 10 common mistakes houseplant parents make and how to avoid them.

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All Indoor Plants HOUSEPLANTS

2022 IS THE YEAR OF THE PEPEROMIA

2022 IS THE YEAR OF THE PEPEROMIA

As 2022 welcomes the year of the Peperomia, it is an excellent opportunity to add this easy-to-manage tropical plant to your home.

Native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, the Peperomia is a member of the pepper family that allows you to incorporate lush tropical vibes into your decor.

Not only do plant lovers choose the Peperomia for its hardiness, but also for the stunning foliage that sets it apart from other houseplants.

Leaves come in a variety of colours, including red, grey, green, and purple, beautifully blended to create a marbled effect. This plant makes a statement with heart-shaped leaves that come in assorted sizes, so you can easily find a colour and size that fits your taste. Blooms are long, narrow stalks in green or brown. They don’t actually resemble flowers, and often people pinch them off as they can take away from the overall aesthetic of the plant. In a home setting, blooming can be a rare occurrence.

The Peperomia is known by several other names, including:

  • Baby rubber plant
  • Pepper elder
  • Radiator plant
  • Shining bush plant
  • Emerald ripper pepper
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All Outdoor Plants FALL WINTER GARDEN CARE

Winter Lawn And Garden Prep

Winter Lawn And Garden Prep

As the cool weather approaches, it is time to make the final preparations for winter to protect your future blooms. Taking the time to properly protect your efforts of the past season can go a long way to ensure another tremendous growing season next year.

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All FALL Lifestyle

Carving The Perfect Pumpkin

Carving The Perfect Pumpkin

One of the best parts of Halloween is walking through the neighbourhood and seeing all the fun and creative jack-o-lantern designs. From classic triangle eyes and noses to more intricate ghoulish faces, there is no symbol more iconic to Halloween than a glowing pumpkin.

Pumpkins are part of the winter squash family which includes butternut, acorn, delicata, Hubbard, and spaghetti squash. Pumpkins come in various colours, including traditional orange, red, blue, and even white.

The firm skin or rind has made pumpkins a popular choice for carving since the 19th century. Before this, peasants would use turnips to carve spooky faces as they tried to ward off spirits.

Today pumpkin carving enthusiasts use a variety of techniques to achieve their desired look:

  • Carving
  • Scaping
  • Painting
  • No-Carve

Each of these pumpkin carving styles results in a unique look that will have parents and kids alike smiling as they walk up your path for Halloween treats.

So how do you carve the perfect pumpkin for Halloween? It can be a little tricky, so we have pulled together some helpful hints to ensure your pumpkin looks great.

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All Outdoor Plants SPRING FALL

Fall Bulbs For Spring Blooms

Bucket of bulbs for Fall
Bucket of bulbs for Fall

Now that temperatures are cooler, it is time to plant your spring bulbs. These little packets of flower power are an excellent choice for adding bold, beautiful colour to your spring garden. With minimal effort, bulbs will reward you year after year with a continuous parade of colour from early spring to the beginning of summer.

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Indoor Plants PLANTING

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All Outdoor Plants FALL GARDEN CARE Fall

Fall Gardening Clean-Up

Fall Gardening Tips

 

The season is changing, bringing cooler temperatures. It’s time to think about preparing your garden for fall and winter. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

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Recipes All Edible Garden Lifestyle

How to Make Pickles at Home

how to make pickles

Making pickles is as easy as growing, or buying, pickling cucumbers, making a brine, adding herbs, and letting them sit before enjoying.

 

Are you thinking about starting a new fall project? Learn how to make pickles at home!

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All Outdoor Plants SPRING SUMMER PLANT MAINTENANCE

Hydrangea Pruning Tips

Hydrangea Pruning Tips

We made it easy to learn hydrangea pruning tips. Proper pruning of hydrangeas will impact the showy display of blooms. Some types don’t need pruning and others benefit from it.

Have you ever pruned hydrangeas in spring and noticed you had a lack of flowers in summer? Chances are, you did not prune your hydrangea at the right time.

Once you identify the type of hydrangea in your garden, you all know if they bloom or new wood. Depending on when how they bloom, will help decide when to prune correctly.

We put together some quick points to help you take care of hydrangeas.