2018
Spring
Inspiration Guide Your Year Round Home and Garden Specialists
LET’S GET GROWING Naturally, Proven Winners plants are pretty, but it’s the remarkable way they flourish from spring through fall that makes all the difference. So, when it’s time to dress up your front entrance to boost your home’s curb appeal or improve the view out your kitchen window, Proven Winners is at your service. We are honored that you’ve trusted us for over 20 years to enhance your garden with exquisite flowers and plants. Cheers to another amazing season!
Find Proven Winners at your local retailers. For a listing of retailers visit provenwinners.com
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12
CONTENTS
20
7
New Varieties for 2018
11
The Dirt On Dirt
12
Nature’s Nurture
14
Recipes
18
Gardening With The Kids
20
Queen of Vines
22
The Colour Purple - Garden Style
24
Look Good, Feel Great
This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Arber Greenhouses Ltd. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the publication, however, the publisher will not be held accountable for omissions or errors. Note that products may vary between retailers and regions, and supplies may be limited. Pricing is subject to change and is not valid with any other offer. Home & Garden Showplace is a registered trademark for use by its members, of which the Garden Centre Group Co-Op is an alliance member. A selection of photos in this magazine provided by Proven WinnersÂŽ.
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FROM THE
Owner W
elcome to the 2018 spring issue of Arber’s Inspiration Guide! It is the middle of January as I’m writing this, and it is an opportunity to reflect on what a great industry & community we are in! A lot of planning and ordering has taken place over the last several months and now Spring is on the horizon. As we speak, Begonia seedlings are popping up; and the first round of Geranium cuttings are rooting!
and my husband Jeff. We work with an energetic and fun team of people to help you decorate and create beautiful living spaces inside and out.
By April the greenhouse is bursting with all the new “babies” that we have grown and they will be ready for you to plant in your garden or pots by May long weekend - we just hope for warm weather at that time!
Since 1981, Arber Greenhouses has been a destination for many in Central Alberta. Our product offerings have changed dramatically in 37 years but our focus on customer service and quality hasn’t.
The store is full of seeds & supplies. Exciting new garden decor items are on display and we have something for all tastes. The ladies clothing corner is refreshed and full of beautiful spring colour. Everything is fresh and full of promise!
We are proud to be “Your Year Round Home & Garden Specialist”, and a second generation Alberta Business. Our family and the Arber team look forward to serving you in 2018!
People often comment that I must have the best job, and I do! I get to work alongside my Mom (Arber’s founder, Berta Briggs)
Hours of
Andrea Cleland
Berta Briggs
Andrea Cleland
Co-owner, Arber Greenhouses Ltd.
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LEDUC
Inspiration Inspiration
2A MILLET
Spring Hours (May 1st - Mid June)
10 km north of Wetaskiwin on Hwy 2A
Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm Saturday & Sunday 9am - 5pm
13 WETASKIWIN
Open all year! Please check ArberGreenhouses.com for current hours.
Our greenhouse and gift store is located at 471066 Highway 2A between Millet and Wetaskiwin. Just look for the Arber sign located at the entrance to the property.
OUR GIFT $10 OFF
TO YOU!
CAMROSE
Any purchase of $50 or more.
Spend $50 or more on regular priced merchandise before taxes and get $10 off your total purchase. One coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer. Coupon expires June 15, 2018.
Postal Code: _______________________________
SPRING 2018 • 5
Experience Arber Greenhouses! Whether you want to add privacy, shade or beauty to your yard, Arber has a great selection of trees & shrubs to choose from all for our Zone 3 Alberta climate. We love growing Perennials and it shows in our healthy, vigorous plants. Your perennial garden success starts at Arber!
Browse Wetaskiwin Regions largest selection of amazing colourful bedding and container plants. Grown in our own greenhouses, we’re chocked full of great options!
Annuals, Foliage & Flowers
Trees, Shrubs & Perennials Check out ArberGreenhouses.com or find us on Facebook for our Calendar of Events! We have something for everyone, informative or creative throughout the year. Annual events include Ladybug Release Party, Tea & Trends Fashion Show & Fundraiser, and Christmas Craft Sale.
Experience the joys of growing your own food. We offer a full range of flavourful herbs as well as fresh garden vegetable plants for your garden. You could win competitions with our large Tomatoes!
Vegetables & Herbs
Workshops & Events
Choose from thousands of beautiful containers with endless colour combinations for any location, all grown in the greenhouses at Arber. Looking for something specific or one of a kind? We offer custom planting services - ask us for details.
Patio Containers & Baskets
For an outstanding selection of indoor plants for your home or office, you must check out Arber. We love our plants, and would be pleased to help you find the perfect one!
Tropical Plants, Succulents & Cacti
Looking for a unique gift or that one of a kind pieces to spruce up our home decor? Our selection is great and is always changing but if you still cannot decide we have gift cards too!
Gift & Home Decor 6 • ARBER GREENHOUSES -780-352-7520 - WWW.ARBERGREENHOUSES.COM
Arber offers a great selection of Ladies Fashion. Whether you are looking for something for Casual Friday or a special evening out, we will have something for you.
Ladies Fashion
New Varieties
for Arber Greenhouses in 2018
Mini Mint Ornamental Mint Easy, highly fragrant groundcover or small pot plant. Great for miniature gardens. Leaves are non-toxic but do not have a palatable flavour. Shade or part-shade plant.
Sunrita® Red Yellow Tip Gaillardia “Tough as nails colour from spring to fall. Big and brightly coloured blooms ensure the ultimate show of colour. Heat loving and drought tolerant make Sunrita® a great choice for durable season long colour.” - www.syngentaflowers-us.com
Can-Can Bumble Bee Pink Calibrachoa "Star, eye, picotee and tri-colour - this calibrachoa has it all! Bumble Bee Pink is the first eye-type calibrachoa with a star pattern! Wider star adds wow to the throat of the bloom. Perfect for large baskets and combos." - www.ballfloralplant.com
Zany Rose Picotee Zinnia This Zinnia blooms steadily from June to Fall and produces blossoms with deeply saturated purple-pink petals that are tipped in white. Plant in full sun, mature size 10-16 inches.
Bee & Pollinator Collection Available from Van Noort Bulbs, choose a bag of mixed bulbs in Purple/Blue tones or Yellow/White. The planted bulbs will attract and feed pollinators. Can be grown in containers or mixed borders.
Echinacea Green Twister Coneflower ‘Green Twister’s’ eye-popping lime green blooms with magenta purple centres are a true garden stand out. ‘Green Twister’s’ petals curve gently forward, giving them a decidedly different look that adds to its allure. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this easy to grow, Zone 3 perennial.
Pink-A-Licious Tomato “The perfect go-to, all purpose tomato, that has a wonderful balance of sugar to acid that creates a sweet yet slightly tangy juicy flavour.” - www.syngentaflowers-us.com
Mainstreet Ruby Road Coleus Vibrant foliage colour making it ideal as a centrepiece in mixed containers. Excellent branching. Perfect for shade. Mature height 18-24 inches.
Kirigami Oregano, Ornamental “The perfect patio plant, this eye-catching, non culinary oregano features large purplegreen bracts, rose flowers and clear, light green foliage, with a delicious fragrance to attract pollinators.” - www.panamseed.com
Nicoletta Swedish Ivy A foliage plant for shady locations. Suited to mass planting in beds or as interest in mixed containers. Nicoletta matures at 10” height, and 24” spread.
‘Albino Berry’ White Strawberry White Strawberry that tastes like a Pineapple! Plant with Sonata for cross-pollination. Tender perennial, Zone 4.
Little Lady Lilac “This new lilac combines the large flower panicles of ‘Miss Kim’ with the compact habit of ‘Dwarf Korean’. Dark pink buds open to fragrant, lilac-pink flowers.” - www.jeffriesnurseries.com Zone 2. Mature size 3-4’ height/width.
SPRING 2018 • 7
A R B E R S 10 FAVO U R I T E H E R B S There are too many wonderful herbs to mention them all, but below are some of our favourites. Easy to grow with many uses, you just can’t go wrong!
BASIL
Particularly nice in pots and easy to grow. Great for sauces, and fresh appetizers.
LAVENDER
Wonderful colour and scent. Flowers may be used in baking, or great dried for the house.
PARSLEY
A quick grower, both flat and curled leaf. Great in salads and for garnishes.
DILL
CHIVES
Wonderfully textured foliage. A must for any pickling garden, also great with Salmon.
Perfect upright grower, with tiny pink flowers. Great chopped in salads and with goat cheese.
OREGANO
MINT
Many different types to choose from. A classic for Italian and Greek cooking.
A fast grower, be sure to keep in pots. Great in drinks and with fresh watermelon.
ROSEMARY
SAGE
Wonderfully aromatic and upright growth. Wonderful for potatoes and roast meat.
Beautiful mounding herb with many varieties available. Great for soups and poultry.
Andrea’s Favourite Watermelon Salad THYME
Many types and flavours available, often used to flavour soups, stews and stocks.
3 cups cubed watermelon
Drizzle Balsamic Vinegar reduction
1/2 cup crumbled feta
Black pepper to taste
small handful fresh mint or baby basil
Mix together & serve.
Berta’s Walnut Parsley Pesto 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 cups parsley 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 3 garlic cloves 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup olive oil
Combine walnuts, parsley, cheese, garlic & salt in food processor and pulse a couple of times. Drizzle olive oil while the machine is running to incorporate oil. Great on pasta or even toast!
8 • ARBER GREENHOUSES -780-352-7520 - WWW.ARBERGREENHOUSES.COM
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THE DIRT ON
DIRT By John DeGroot, DeGroot’s Nurseries, Sarnia, Ontario
W
hat can we add to soil to rejuvenate it? Let’s look at the most common soil amendments to get the scoop on healthy soil.
PEAT MOSS: Hands down, peat moss has always been every green thumber’s favourite soil amendment. Peat moss helps sandy soil hold moisture and loosens clay soil to improve drainage. Peat moss improves all important soil texture but does little to improve soil fertility. Use liberal amounts and mix thoroughly with your existing soil.
BONE MEAL: Use bone meal to build soil fertility. Bone meal contains lots of phosphorous for bigger bolder blooms and stronger roots. Bone meal improves all soils, and especially benefits roses, bulbs and blooming plants. Bone meal releases slowly and steadily, keeping your plants healthy over time.
BLOOD MEAL: High in nitrogen and fast acting, blood meal is a perfect complement to bone meal, which is why they are often mixed together in the same package. Use blood meal to give anemic plants an organic shot in the arm. Blood meal has the added benefit of repelling mice and other unwanted rodents.
MANURE: Like compost, manure improves the structure of soil while increasing its organic nutrient value. Mix manure up to 50/50 with your existing soil. And no, there is little difference between sheep, cow, horse and your neighbour’s manure. If you are a city slicker with a pickup truck you might be able to bum manure from a country farmer friend. If not, bagged manure is odour-free and more highly concentrated.
GREEN MANURE: Follow the advice of an old farmer and grow a green manure cover crop for a year. In the fall plough the crop into the soil and your garden will be grateful. Use alfalfa, sorghum, legumes, clover or any annual crop that will produce lots of vegetation. Green manure serves as a source of food and energy, stimulating valuable microbial activity in soil. Other benefits are a reduction of weeds in your garden patch and improvement in soil aeration.
GYPSUM:
To break up the heaviest clay soil, spread gypsum on the surface. Be generous and put down about 20 kilograms of gypsum for every 100 square metres of surface area. Repeat for three consecutive years. Gypsum contains calcium and sulfur, but will not boost general fertility.
LIME: My high school chemistry teacher taught that if soil is too acidic, plants are unable to use nutrients that probably already exist in the soil. The solution is to add lime in order to raise the pH and sweeten or neutralize the soil. Apply 10kg dolomitic lime per 100 square metres of surface area. The application of lime may also serve to reduce moss and mushroom formation. While lime is not a moss killer, it will neutralize highly acidic soil where moss often thrives.
“GARDENERS
COMPOST: Let’s define compost as anything organic that has sufficiently broken down to look like rich dark soil. Compost can include everything from egg shells to leaves, to grass clippings, to banana peels. Compost trumps most other soil amendments because it improves soil texture and is chock full of nutrients. Mix generous amounts of compost with your existing soil.
ALL
KNOW THE DIRT.” ...Tips and tricks to optimize your dirt.
MULCH: Good gardeners know that mulch is the ticket to healthy soil and strong plant growth. Mulch keeps weeds down, retains soil moisture, reduces temperature fluctuations and insulates soil to minimize winter injury. Like the forest floor, organic mulches break down over time, contributing to soil health. Top up once a year to refresh appearance and maintain a depth of 2 to 3 inches. SPRING 2018 • 11
Nature’s NURTURE! By Tanya Olsen Royal City Nursery, Guelph, Ontario
• Sunlight: Soaking up the sun provides an influx of vitamin D and the fresh air is good for your body and your soul! • Getting in touch with nature: While we may not have the time for a walk in the woods, gardening for even 20 minutes will help create the primal connection to nature lost with the pressures of daily life. • You create a space that is beautiful and restful. Our garden centre’s mission is to assist in the creation of your outdoor living space, to suit your lifestyle, as an extension of the indoor space.
W
ith an increasing awareness of the value of gardening as a means to reduce daily stress and anxiety, the therapeutic benefits of nature and cultivated horticulture have been sought after for generations. The Japanese have a medical practice called forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) which is literally a short leisurely trip to a forest. The theory is that “visiting a forest for relaxation and recreational purposes provides the opportunity to breathe in wood based essential oils like α-Pinene (a bronchodilator that increases air flow to the lungs) and limonene (antimicrobial volatile organic compounds) emitted from trees to protect them from rotting and insects.” http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/ forest-bathing In Canada, the profession and study of horticulture therapy is growing rapidly. Many hospitals, nursing homes and mental health facilities have established horticulture therapy programs as part of their mainstream practices. Study after study shows that if we take the therapeutic concepts that benefit patient, staff and visitor, and apply them on a smaller scale, we can bring the anti-stress benefits home.
• Reaping the rewards of the garden through wildlife and bird observation and a harvest of vegetables, fruits or cut flowers for your kitchen table.
When you start your healing garden experience, the active benefits include physical activity, cognitive stimulation and a sense of accomplishment. The more passive benefits include:
• The calming effects of being in the moment as you view your green space through the window. Simply put, we decrease our illness recovery time if we enjoy the view!
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In order to realize the benefits, we need to engage and connect with the landscape. Keep in mind that it is not so much gardening itself that is the key to stress reduction, so much as the way it is approached. Healing gardens can be gardens created for a single purpose or existing gardens renovated to include new ideas. Before you head to the garden centre to start creating a healing garden at your own home or office, here are a few recommendations:
1. Understand the available space you have. A healing garden does not need to be large. A collection of pots on the balcony can bring as much value as a fully landscaped backyard, if that is the space you have. Know how much sun or shade the space will receive so the plants can thrive properly.
2. Think about your overall maintenance requirements and be realistic about how much time and energy you will need. Your independent garden centre can help you plan for both available space and required efforts. Your landscape must suit your lifestyle. If the garden is at its best when you are not home, it is not functional. To reap the benefits of the experience you have to be in the space. When you come home after a long day, what better way to unwind than to sit on your patio and see the lights turn on one by one and reflect off the white edges of your favorite variegated plant, or watch the dusk blooming pond lilies and perennials come to life.
To make your garden effective:
1. Select plants that tickle all
Spring
five senses. How the garden sounds, Summer Photo courtesy of Proven Winners smells or feels - www.provenwinners.com. will transport you to another time. To harvest is to taste the garden. Winter When engaging your sense Fall of sight, don’t forget the views out your window during winter, as landscapes should be functional 365 days a year, both up close and from a distance.
2. Choose plants to signal the change of seasons and place them where you can see them from your window or as you enter the house. The blooms of a forsythia mean spring, the changing colours of a maple triggers memories of playing in
piles of leaves on a crisp fall day, while the dark green of a white spruce tree provides shelter in the winter. Sage, be it ornamental or edible, reminds everyone it is time to get into the summer BBQ season.
3. Bring the outdoors in with the use of a small greenhouse. If you don’t have room for a greenhouse structure, use a row cover on your vegetables to extend the season, or start seeds indoors with a mini greenhouse tray, available in the seed section of your independent garden centre.
Specific plants known to reduce stress… OUTDOORS Lavender – A fragrant Mediterranean perennial herb to reduce irritability and prompt relaxation. The essential oil can be consumed as tea or in a dried form. Chamomile – The dried flowers make a tasty tea, whose compounds assist in feeling calm. Lemon Balm – Used to reduce anxiety and help with sleep. It is also a magnet for pollinating insects. St John’s Wort – A small easy to grow shrub, hardy to Zone 5. Tablets can be found in health food stores to help treat depression and insomnia.
INDOORS Studies have reported many benefits to keeping plants indoors – not just for their psychological effects, but because many of our simple houseplants will help clean the air we breathe of chemicals and toxins. Use these sustainable solutions for improved air quality in both your home, your office or your dorm room or in a living wall! Spider Plant – One of the best for air exchange, as the daughter plants (plants produced by aerial roots) develop thick fleshy roots outside of the soil. These fleshy roots exchange gases and airborne nutrients quickly and easily. Peace Lily and English Ivy – Both have large volumes of leaves with porous openings on their undersides called stomata. These stomata release moisture into the air through transpiration, oozing humidity. Use these to help fight the dreaded winter cold and boost the overall humidity of a room by as much as 5%. Janet Craig Dracaena – With a high transpiration (gas exchange) rate, this plant will filter the local toxins and volatile organic compounds in the air. Whether you are just starting out with a raised vegetable garden, a pot overflowing with your grandmother’s favourite flowers or you are creating your first dynamic garden at your home, it is important to recognize that it is YOUR space. Go on, get your hands dirty! The benefits of your healing garden and your staycation are only a few short steps away! Happy planting! SPRING 2018 • 13
PERFECT FOR THE WEEKEND, EASY ENOUGH FOR A WEEKDAY.
Beer and Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 20 mins
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Cut chicken in small pieces, about 1 ½ inch cubes. 2. In a medium bowl whisk all the ingredients together. Add chicken. There should be enough marinade to cover the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge. Let it marinate for at least 2 hours to 24 hours.
Incredibly delicious Beer and Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers – Perfect for a weekend or even a busy week night. Just prepare the night before, let marinate overnight and grill when ready.
3. Fire up grill.
Servings: 6 Calories: 197 kcal per serving
5. Place chicken on grill and turn every couple minutes or so, at the same time brushing some of the leftover marinade over the chicken. Grill until chicken is cooked through.
INGREDIENTS 3 cloves minced garlic ¾ cup beer 1/3 cup honey 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp Dijon mustard ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 4 chicken breasts cut into small cubes cilantro for garnish 14
4. Thread chicken on skewers, about 5 pieces per skewer. Do not throw away leftover marinade.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve. RECIPE NOTES Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Healthy Kale Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette Prep Time: 10 mins This Kale Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette is fresh and delicious, loaded with good for you ingredients like kale, blueberries and apples then drizzled with a yummy blueberry vinaigrette! Servings: 6 Calories: 278 kcal
INGREDIENTS 8 cups curly kale leaves stems removed and finely chopped 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1 apple, cored and sliced 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tbsp sunflower seeds FOR BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE ½ cup fresh blueberries 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp honey 1 tsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp water salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large bowl add the kale, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss really well making sure that all the kale is covered in oil and lime juice. 2. Add the chopped apples, blueberries, avocado, feta cheese and sunflower seeds. 3. In a blender add all the vinaigrette ingredients and blend until smooth. 4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve. JO COOKS, JOANNA CISMARU Jo knows her readers so well they might as well be neighbours. She has a sixth sense for what they want to make on any given day, from warming comfort foods like chicken noodle soup to morning indulgences like iced cinnamon rolls. She also knows what’s in their cupboards (never calling for something that’s hard to find) and how much time they’ve got to cook. Add to that her spunky attitude, her endearing writing style and her love of food, and it’s clear why she’s so loved. www.jocooks.com
Available at select Garden Centres.
GREAT FOR SUMM ENTERTAINER ING!
1/2 package of mix Cup of mayo / cup of sour cream Great for veggies, potatoe chips, pretzals or bread sticks
Baked Parmesan Artichoke Dip ½ cup (4oz) cream cheese ½ cup (4oz) real mayonnaise 3 tbsp Dip Mix ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 can (13.75 oz) artichoke hearts (drained and chopped) 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional) Squeeze out excess liquid from artichokes. In a small bowl, combine dip blend, mayonnaise, cream cheese & grated Parmesan. Stir in artichoke hearts. Transfer to a heat-proof dish. Top with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake in a 180° C (350°F) oven until hot, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with crusty sourdough French bread, breadsticks, pita chips or crackers.
SPRING 2018 • 15
CROCS
GARDENING WITH THE
Kids
HOW TO SHARE
YOUR LOVE FOR NATURE By Bernie Whetter The Green Spot Home & Garden, Brandon, Manitoba
G
ardening is one of the most rewarding experiences we can share with our children. It is a chance to spend time together learning about the natural world, enjoying the outdoors, growing and harvesting food, and appreciating being in the moment. There is no greater way to pass on a respect for nature and a love for living things than teaching our children about gardening. Here are some ideas to help get your kids involved. During the winter months, do some research with your children to choose plants for the garden and help them learn the benefits of each, to allow them to think about questions such as: why are carrots good for your eyes? Do sunflowers make good wild bird food? How do marigolds keep pests away? What makes a zinnia attract a monarch butterfly? How can beans make nitrogen available to the soil? Does catnip really attract cats and repel aphids? If we plant basil beside a tomato, will the tomato taste better?
Once you have put together a list of candidates, have your child make the final selection and let the excitement for spring begin. Seeds are available at your local garden centre early in the new year, and frequent visits keep the kids interested in growing plants. It’s also a good time to collect child friendly garden tools with short handles and ergonomic grips. Tools that are brightly colored will add an element of fun.
"Grandpa, will you come to the garden with me?"
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It is important that the garden is a fun place to be, so create activities around the work. Kids love to play, they love to make things, and they are all about motion so make an “activity centre” right in the garden. Build a play structure or shelter to provide protection from the sun, rain, and wind, and that can house a small table, a couple of chairs and a small storage container
for paper, crayons, paints etc. Drafting a garden map is a good starter project making areas for vegetables, flowers, butterfly gardens and the activity centre. Incorporating an entrance gate and walking paths will make the space more interesting. Garden projects relating to nature will allow for learning opportunities. Pressed leaves and flowers provide a great lesson in botany and can be used to make cards. Have a picnic or a tea party and enjoy fresh produce from the garden for snacks. Draw and colour pictures of things you see in the garden like flowers, bugs, and birds. Children can make signs for each variety of plant in the garden on waterproof paper stapled to a short stake. With some soil, pots, and bedding plants, make a hanging basket or a planter that can be displayed in the garden or used on the patio. Ant farm kits can be purchased and once populated will capture the attention of children as the ants busily go about their daily chores in full view. Other additions to the garden will complement the experience. If a building is nearby, set up a rain barrel under a downspout. Not only will the kids have a source of water for the garden, but they will also learn about
conserving natural resources. Start a compost pile in the back corner. A rain gauge and a windsock or a wind spinner will make the kids aware of the earth’s elements. A bird house, lady bug house, and a mason bee house will provide living quarters to beneficial friends in the garden and provide interesting viewing. Add a bench for relaxation after the day’s hard work and a garden gnome for good luck. The biggest challenge is to create incentive to maintain the garden. Weeding can feel like a chore, even for adults, but if done frequently for short time periods, added to the compost pile and rewarded with a game or snack, it can become fun. By giving your child their own watering can, you can help them take ownership over keeping the plants well hydrated. On a hot day, get the hose and sprinkler out and combine watering the garden with water play. Even though harvest is some of the hardest work, digging potatoes and carrots, the fruits of their labour, just might be enough gratification to retain their interest. One of the most rewarding activities I had with my children was planting a tree. About the same time as my oldest began school, we planted a small tree. Every year, on the first day of school, we took a picture of her and later on, her brother. These became treasures as we watched both the children and the tree grow and flourish. Above all, let the children make the decisions (or at least feel like they are making the decisions). Keep it fun and always be willing to respond with a resounding YES! when asked “Grandpa, will you come to the garden with me?”
SPRING 2018 • 19
Queen of Vines By Brian Minter, Minter Country Garden, Chilliwack, British Columbia
C
lematis truly are the ‘queen of vines’ in terms of hardiness, resilience and massive colour over a significant part of the spring, summer and into the fall. Many new varieties debut every year, each bringing something unique to the vine table. One clematis family, however, is often overlooked, according to Rob Wein of Clearview Horticultural Products, one of the largest clematis growers in our country.
“When folks go into garden stores, the tendency is to buy the newest varieties and those in bloom,” says Wein. “There are so many beautiful early-bloomers out there, they are hard to resist. The ones not in bloom, however, tend to be passed over, and it’s a huge miss for our summer gardens.”
"The 'C group' is for charming. Beautiful Clematis to be enjoyed all summer every summer!"
According to Wein, what’s being overlooked are the summer-bloomers, otherwise know as ‘group C’ clematis. Their blossoms are not as large as some of the early-blooming stalwarts, but they produce in great profusion and over a long period of time (8-12 weeks) during the summer when you will enjoy them the most. Among the hardiest (zone 3) of the clematis family, they are also some of the most disease and pest resistant.
Wein says ‘group C’ varieties will grow almost anywhere in our country if they get some sunlight. In areas that have very hot summers, it may be best to plant them in a morning sun location with some protection or shade from the day’s most intense heat. Wein recommends planting a smaller shrub in front of the clematis to shade its roots in extreme heat situations. Some of Wein’s favourite group C varieties are: • “Jackmanii” and “Jackmanii Superba” are among the most well-known in this group, often blooming from June through September with 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) flowers. • “Ville de Lyon”, a striking red with a silver sheen, is another great one. Again, with 4 to 6-inch blooms (10-15cm).
20
Jackmanii
Ville de Lyon
Huldine
Honora
Comtesse de Bouchard
• For a white, “Huldine” is one of the best performers. Its massive display of 3 to 4-inch (8-10cm) blooms is outstanding.
• “Polish Spirit” is a very strong flowering Polish introduction with small 3 to 4-inch (8-10 cm) deep purple flowers produced June through September.
• “Honora” has attractive velvety red-violet purple blooms and is a great performer.
• “Venosa Violacea” has streaked purple veins on a white background with six petaled 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) flowers.
• “Comtesse de Bouchard” is one of the better pinks, producing lots of 4 to 6-inch (10-15 cm) blooms. • “Perle d’Azur”, a distinctive purple, also features 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) blooms that fade to an attractive blue. • “Pink Fantasy”, one of the few bi-colours in this category, sports shell-pink blooms with rosy pink bars. • “Madame Julia Correvon” has 3 to 4-inch (8-10cm) deep wine-red flowers with twisted sepals. • “Rouge Cardinal” is a rich burgundy-crimson with attractive brown stamens that blooms from June till September with 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) blossoms.
When planting clematis, make sure you prepare a planting hole about 18 inches deep. Then carefully set in the root ball and bury the stems about four inches below the top of the soil. Clematis are ‘stem rooting’ and if the top is broken, this will ensure a fast recovery from the root system. Be careful not to bend the stems when setting in the clematis roots. Water the clematis well to help get it established, but once growing, be sure not to overwater. Another nice thing about summer-blooming clematis is the ease of pruning. When they are beginning to decline at the end of summer, they can simply be pruned down to about 12 inches. Over time, as the stems become thicker, prune them back in stages, down to around 3 feet one year and down to 12 to 18 inches the next – this will lessen the shock to older plants. Any time the leaves look unsightly or get burnt in the sun, a simple haircut will clean them up, and they will soon grow back fresh leaves and blooms. Today, the emphasis is all about the new clematis varieties while the proven success stories are often passed over. So, when adding these wonderful vines to your garden, please consider these amazing summer-bloomers.
SPRING 2018 • 21
The Colour Purple GARDEN STYLE By Carla Hrycyna, St Marys Nursery and Garden Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
T
he colour purple. Some may think of the movie or a familiar song, but it is so much more than that! Purple is a secondary colour that ranges from the warm tones of red-violet magentas to the cooler side of violet blues and lavenders, and harmonizes well with yellow. The 2018 inspired Pantone “Ultra Violet” colour was described as a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.” Historical accounts show that for the Phoenicians the colour was valuable and rare due to the painstakingly difficult process of extracting the dye from sea snails. This shade was worn mostly by royalty and often associated with magic and religion. In Eastern cultures, and in Feng Shui, purple is associated with nobility, dignity and 22
abundance. The colour purple is viewed as peaceful, soothing and having spiritual qualities while also having a correlated reference to creativity and independence. Most recently, purple has taken on associations with contentment and passion and has come to symbolize success. In flowers, fruit and vegetables the pigment anthocyanin creates purples, reds and blues. The deep tones of these purple pigments protect the plant against harm from the sun while also acting as an attraction to pollinating insects. Purple fruits and vegetables also posssess medicinal qualities. Studies have shown that antioxidants produced by purple edibles can be effective in preventing diseases. Purple power foods can: • Reduce the risk of high blood pressure and lower cholesterol • Help prevent obesity and diabetes • Assist in lowering the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological diseases • Reduce inflammation and therefore chronic disease • Aid cognitive functions • Have properties which help prevent urinary tract infections, fight ulcers, and reduce liver damage and diseases which affect cell development
In a garden design, plants with intense dark purple foliage and blooms add a vibrant colour element. These standout plants punctuate the landscape, providing depth and contrast. They can bring focus to a design as either an opposing tone or as a strong complement to yellows and greens.
BLOOMERANG LILACS – This fragrant lilac blooms in spring, and again mid-summer. Its small form will fit nicely into most gardens. Can be used to obtain cut flowers.
Whether choosing annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, fruits or vegetables, opt for purple to celebrate health and happiness for 2018.
SUPERTUNIA BORDEAUX PETUNIA – A vigorous petunia with a slightly mounded habit that functions as both filler and spiller in containers. The medium to large sized flowers are excellent landscape plants.
Top Pick Purples PERENNIALS
FOREVER PURPLE HEUCHERA – A coral bell variety with dramatically fluted, glossy deep purple leaves dressed with short purple-pink flowers. This perennial performs well in part shade to full shade. HIDCOTE AND MUNSTEAD LAVENDER – Lavender is coveted for its oils and beautiful fragrance, which are used as stress relievers. It is a tough plant, and drought-resistant once established. Plant in a sunny location, in an area protected from harsh winter winds.
ANNUALS
FRAGRANT BLUE HELIOTROPE – Fragrant, long lasting flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. An easy care annual that is great for containers or in the garden. PERSIAN SHIELD – This easy to care for plant is heat tolerant and boasts beautiful iridescent leaves of purple, green and silver. HONOURABLE MENTIONS – Morning Glory, Viola, Annual Sage, Salvia, Alyssum, Sweet Pea.
EGGPLANT
ALLIUM
LILACS
HELIOTROPE
MILLENIUM ORNAMENTAL ALLIUM – This “Perennial of the Year” has bright, purple rounded flower clusters above a clump of glossy, green leaves. It is fragrant, late blooming and drought tolerant. HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Clematis, Bellflower, Dwarf Iris, Salvia, Verbena, Phlox, Veronica and Sage.
VEGGIES AND FRUIT FAIRY TALE EGGPLANT – A plant that produces mini 4” eggplants that are super tasty. Perfect for small gardens and patio pots. PURPLE BEAUTY PEPPER – The pepper this plant produces has a blocky full body with thick walls and a mild, sweet flavor. PURPLE RUFFLES BASIL – This plant has large and ruffled leaves, with a strong fragrance and flavour. It adds fantastic colour and flavour to herb vinegars. HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Blackberries, Blueberries, Purple Asparagus, Purple Cabbage, Purple Carrots, Purple Potatoes and Currants.
TREES AND SHRUBS ROYAL PURPLE SMOKEBUSH (COTINUS) – Its dramatic oval, deep purple leaves form masses with clouds of pink blooms. This compact, drought tolerant variety is a fantastic accent plant. Resists deer and rabbits. SPILLED WINE WEIGELA – A beautiful three foot purple foliage plant that produces bright pink blooms for the sunny garden. Easy to care for, grows wider than tall. Proven Winners Landscape plant of the year. Resists deer.
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com.
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies SPRING 2018 • 23
Look Good, FEEL GREAT By Donna Moss, Meadow Acres Garden Centre, Petersburg, ON
S
pring 2018 is all about comfort, femininity and natural fibres with an upscale flair that won’t stress your wallet.
Your must have this summer is a pair of embroidered denim jeans. Featured here is a pair of distressed butterfly jeans topped with a beautiful feminine silk blend top with a flared sleeve and tie detail. Combine bold floral cotton blend shirts for a punch of colour with your basic jeans to make a statement and show off your personal style. Bamboo, linen, silk and cotton blends are staples that should be in every woman’s closet. Cotton and linen have always been favourite summer fabrics with our customers and are now making a strong showing in fashion boutiques. Look for pieces that will continue to grace your closet for several years. Mixing and matching with new pieces of jewellery will freshen up your look and will keep everyone wondering, “Is that a new outfit?”
Bamboo, linen, silk and cotton blends are staples that should be in every woman’s closet.
If you haven’t tried bamboo, you must! Bamboo keeps you cool and dry on the warmest of days and will carry you into the evening with comfort. A wide range of bamboo fashion will become staples in your closet. From tanks to bras, underwear, leggings and tops you will be singing bamboo’s praises to all of your girlfriends. A girl can never have enough shoes, sandals or boots. Whether it is a sandal, flats or bootie, footwear is as important as the clothes above the ankles. Your choice of footwear can make or break an overall look. Take your time and choose wisely. However if you like more than one look, why not purchase them all! The same is true for your handbags. Choose the one that says “Yes this is ME”.
Courtesy of Orange Fashion Village
Style should reflect your personality and taste. Check your image in the mirror before leaving your home. There is nothing worse than a dropped hem, a stain or a frayed seam. Step out of your home and wear those clothes with confidence and grace and you will receive compliments that will make you smile and confirm your choices. Remember when you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you look GREAT!!
24
Courtesy of Papa Fashions
we Love
GARDEN GIFTS 1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
1. Gazing Ball 2. Lanterns 3. Swans
4. Container 5. Welcome Mat
SPRING 2018 • 25
Communities in Bloom Article by Berta Briggs
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with a focus on green spaces in communities.
I
have had the privilege of judging for Communities in Bloom since 2000 and I am consistently inspired with the energy, passion and growth of participating communities. There are a number of communities in this area that have excelled in the Communities in Bloom competition. The criteria under evaluation are Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry,
Landscape and Floral Displays with an overriding criteria of Community Involvement. Judges learn about what each segment of the community does – the Municipality, the businesses and institutions, and residential as well as the active interaction between each. The word “Bloom” in the name can mislead people to think of it as a garden or floral competition. However, “Bloom” is a metaphor for a healthy, beautiful, progressive, and sustainable community. So, Communities in Bloom is about recognizing and supporting strong, livable communities. There are many countries that have similar programs and each year a number of them accept Canada’s invitation to compete with outstanding Canadian towns and cities in the International Edition of Communities in Bloom. In our area; Millet, Beaumont, Leduc and Edmonton have all competed at this level. Communities aren’t judged against each other, they are evaluated
26 • ARBER GREENHOUSES -780-352-7520 - WWW.ARBERGREENHOUSES.COM
against their own potential. Judges learn as much as they can about the community, including the climate, demographics, and the economy to get a vision of how perfect each community could be. Then with the information learned during the evaluation tour, points are determined; so, indeed the community is judged against their own potential. This makes it a very fair competition given the great disparity of this amazing country.
One of the most refreshing things I consistently witness is people enjoying each other as they work so hard together for the benefit of the entire community. There is an energy when people from all walks of life come together and the results speak for themselves.
with Arber Greenhouses
At Arber's we’ve got everything you need to create amazing terrariums! From the glassware, rocks, soil, plants and accessories, we’ve got it all.
Fun to make, and so easy to take care of they’re a great project!
Check out www.ArberGreenhouses.com for classes on terrarium making.
SPRING 2018 • 27
RAIN GARDEN
W
gardens
with jobs Article by BertaArticle Briggsby Berta Briggs
e are learning that gardens are more than just a source of beauty, they function in many ways to improve both soil and air quality. With water being a valuable, yet unpredictable commodity, gardens can be designed to maximize rain water by selecting appropriate plants as well as planning to retain water on site. There are 3 gardens that we are starting to hear a lot about. Following is a description of each to help you understand when you hear the terms xeriscape, rain garden or bio-swale.
What does it all mean? Xeriscape is an approach to landscape that considers soil types, yard slope, plant selection, and mulch to create a garden that is functional, attractive, drought tolerant and easy to maintain. With thoughtful planning and careful installation a xeriscape garden should require little in the way of watering and with a good thick layer of organic mulch the very few weeds that pop up are easy to remove. Now, don’t confuse xeriscape with zeroscape which I describe as a few lonely plants surrounded by gravel which inhibits both the water and air cycles. These sites are often higher maintenance with compacted soil and weeds between the rocks and they make no contribution to the environment. An excellent book called “Xeriscape for the Prairies” by Sara Williams from Saskatchewan will both inspire and educate any gardener.
XERISCAPE
BIO-SWALE
A Rain Garden functions to hold rain water in place in the garden so it is placed in the lowest part of the yard. Plants must be able to tolerate both drought and wet situations. The goal is to have an attractive garden that helps to retain runoff until it can dissipate to the rest of the yard. A Bio-Swale is what we used to call a drainage ditch; but, it is carefully planted to slow drainage down, so much of the water is retained on the property, plus it serves to filter out any pollutants and reduce erosion.
The common denominator in all these gardens is that they are attractive and they are eco-friendly and sustainable. Plant selection is key to success; native and/or hardy plants are the best choice. Having a wide variety of plants improves the bio-diversity of the garden to create a little ecosystem of its own. Such a setting is ideal for bees, ladybugs, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. No matter how the garden is labelled, there is a huge trend toward natural looking gardens that require fewer inputs and are low maintenance. They are multi-functional to not only protect the environment but to promote better water and air quality. Yes, we can have it all! 28 • ARBER GREENHOUSES -780-352-7520 - WWW.ARBERGREENHOUSES.COM
9 PLANTS
MOSQUITOES AVOID Looking for natural ways to help keep mosquitoes away? Here are 9 common outdoor plants that mosquitoes avoid. Try placing these plants in pots near doorways and windows to lower the number of insects coming indoors, or place around your outdoor living spaces to help create a barrier. Though these plants may not be 100% effective, they are multi-purpose plants that work well in pots or the ground. Try a combination of a few in a planter to create interest in your yard!
LAVENDER
1
Most of us find the fragrance from Lavender to be soothing, however mosquitoes find it quite offensive. In Alberta, Munstead Lavender is considered a tender perennial when planted in the ground. Other varieties are available to grow beautifully in pots. Create sachets of dried Lavender to freshen your home & linens or the flowers can be used in baking.
LEMON BALM
4
A member of the mint family with a uniquely citrus scent that wards off mosquitoes while attracting pollinators such as bees, to your yard. It is said that a crushed leaf will soothe an insect bite.
BASIL
7
Basil is a favourite in the kitchen but also an effective bug deterrent. Keep a potted plant close by for cooking and to help keep the pests away at the same time! Basil likes hot weather (best when cool nights have passed) and well drained soil.
CATNIP
2
Catnip contains a natural chemical known as Nepetalactone which is effective at repelling insects, and for attracting cats. Keep this in mind when planting Catnip as your cat will be happy but so may the neighbour's cats.
MINT
3
Mint is a wonderful perennial herb that can grow invasively. It is suggested to grow in pots or a contained area. There are many different varieties including Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, Mojito Mint, etc.
ROSEMARY
5
An aromatic culinary herb, the essential oils within the Rosemary plant repel mosquitoes as well as flies. Rosemary grows well in pots and is a nice addition to a herb garden.
LEMON GRASS
6
Lemon Grass is a slow growing annual grass (best purchased as a started plant). Citronella oil used in many commercial mosquito repellent products is derived from the Lemon Grass plant.
CITRONELLA GERANIUM
8
Citronella Geraniums make a large statement. The flowers are small and delicate while the plant is very robust. We will often tell children that it is the “Scratch & Sniff” plant. Rubbing the leaves will activate the oils and create a strong lemony fragrance.
MARIGOLDS
9
All Marigolds are known to repel and deter pests in a garden. The varieties Lemon Gem and Lulu may be more specific to mosquitoes. Beautiful and bright Marigolds grow well in pots or flower beds and are available in a range of colours and mature heights.
SPRING 2018 • 29
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Fire Light® Hydrangea: DRAMATIC COLOR, HARDY, STRONG STEMS, LONG BLOOMING AND LOW MAINTENANCE
2018
Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, quantity of blooms, cold tolerance, foliage and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.
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