

The soothing sound of gentle wind chimes
A garden is about sight, texture, fragrance, and sound. Sound in the garden can be provided by leaves that rustle. For example the leaves of a poplar tree, but beware that the poplar tree is a quick growing and therefore short-lived tree. Ornamental grasses are popular for this reason because their long, thin leaves, as well as their seed heads in late summer, provide movement and soft rustling in the slightest breeze. In today’s densely packed subdivisions, you don’t want


6 Benefits of coffee grounds in your garden
California-based Sunset Magazine sent a sample to the lab to find out what is in spent coffee grounds. Here is the breakdown: nitrogen, 2.28%; phosphorus, 0.06% and potassium, 0.6%. Spent coffee grounds have a pH of 6.2, so slightly acidic. Here is the full report. Where to get large quantities of spent coffee grounds? Starbucks has had the “Grounds for Your Garden” program in place since 1995, especially in the suburbs. If you tell your local barista that you’re a gardene


Oakville Hort Society Plant Sale: May 16, 2015, Munn's United Church
The annual plant sale of the Oakville Horticultural Society will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Munn’s United Church, 8:30am to 11:30am. This is the plant sale anticipated by all gardeners of Oakville and the surrounding area. These plants are locally grown and propagated by the Horts Society members, so you know they are proven performers in Oakville’s notorious clay soil. These plants will do well in your garden, too. Don’t know what will do well in your garden?


Give mom live plants this Mother’s Day
On Mother’s Day, what gift will you give her this year? We recommend a tree, a shrub, or a perennial for her garden. First, many moms in suburbia enjoy gardening—so make them happy. Second, moms always love the things that their children give them. So, every time she’ll look at that tree, shrub, or perennial, she will think of you. Pictured here is a Butterfly Bush--they really do attract hungry butterflies. Third, the vast majority of trees, shrubs and perennials are grown i


To the dump, dump, dump—to get your free compost
The dates for the Spring 2015 free compost giveaway in Halton Region (including Oakville, Burlington, and Milton, Ontario), are Monday, May 4 to 9, 2015, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the Halton Region Waste Management Site (a.k.a. the Dump), located at 5400 Halton Regional Road 25 (Bronte Road). A map is here. Halton residents are permitted to take 7 bags of compost and considering that one bag of compost costs about $6, you can save yourself $42. Bring your own bags or reusable co


DesignMyGarden.ca launches on May 1st - May Day
May 1st—May Day—is an old pagan holiday that is now largely forgotten. Festivals, dances, and rituals related to agriculture and fertility were practiced by many Germanic and European countries. That's why we've chosen today to launch our new website about garden design for homeowners. May Day is the halfway point between the first day of spring (March 21) and the Summer Solstice [also called Midsummer] (June 21). During Floralia, held on April 27, the Romans celebrated Flora