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What to Do With an Easter Cactus in April for Huge Blooms That Come Back Every Spring
Make sure your Easter cactus is full of beautiful blooms this spring! Do these five tasks in April for happy houseplants that will thrive for years to come.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Brian Minter: Add these B.C. gardening sales and events to your spring calendar
Here in B.C., we are fortunate to have so many garden clubs and specialty plant associations to inspire our gardening communities.
In addition to contributing to the greening of our towns and cities, many raise funds for specific community projects, and some even provide scholarships and bursaries to students pursuing careers in horticulture at our local universities and colleges.
To generate income for these projects, most of the garden associations hold community plant sales, co-ordinate private garden tours and/or hold special events which are both educational and entertaining. You will often find specialty plants that are very hard to source and add something unique to your own garden, and you will certainly find other like-minded gardeners from your community to connect with.
The following is a list of just some of the many garden events planned this spring. Many are cash only, so please come prepared, and tours or shows may require advance ticket purchases. For full details on everything that is happening at your local event (some have raffles, bake sales and entertainment, too), please visit each club’s website or Facebook page. Thank you for supporting our amazing horticultural associations.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival When: March 27 to April 17
Where: Venues throughout Vancouver
More info: vcbf.ca
When: April 18, 2-4p.m., Demo 12:30 p.m. (tickets required)
Where: St. Mark’s Church, 12953 20th Ave., Surrey
More info: cwafac.weebly.com/events
When: April 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Qualicum Beach Curling Club, 644 Memorial Avenue, Qualicum Beach
More info: marsrhodos.ca
When: April 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Country Club Centre, 3200 North Island Highway, Nanaimo
More info: nanaimogladiolusanddahliasociety.ca
When: April 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Yarrow Community Centre, 4670 Community St., Yarrow
More info: Facebook: Yarrow Volunteer Society
When: April 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Si’em Lelum Gym Parking Lot, 5574 River Road, Duncan
More info: cowichanvalleygardenclub.com
When: April 25, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: 3806 37th Avenue, at Highbury Street, Vancouver
More info: jemccomb@gmail.com
When: April 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Gibsons Royal Canadian Legion, 747 Gibsons Way, Gibsons
More info: gibsonsgardenclub.ca
When: April 25, 9 a.m.-noon
Where: Trinity United Church, 2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam
More info: Facebook: PoCo Garden Club
When: May 2, 9:30am to 2pm
Where: Cooke’s Presbyterian Church, 45825 Wellington Ave., Chilliwack
More info: chilliwackgardenclub.com
When: May 2 and May 30 11am to 3pm
Where: Darts Hill Garden Park 1633 170th Street, Surrey
More info: dartshill.ca
When: May 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam
More info: dogwoodgardenclub.weebly.com
When: May 2, 9 a.m.
Where: Guisachan Heritage Park, 1060 Cameron Ave., Kelowna
More info: kelownagardenclub.ca
When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, 22270 128 Ave., Maple Ridge
More info: mrgardenclub@wix.com
When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Nanaimo North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Rd., Nanaimo
More info: nanaimohort.org
When: May 2, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Grace Community Church, 14618 110 Avenue, Surrey
More info: Facebook: North Surrey Horticultural Society
When: May 2, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Paulik Park, 7620 Heather St., Richmond
More info: richmondgardenclub.ca
When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 7405 Royal Oak Ave., Burnaby
More info: southburnabygardenclub.ca
When: May 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby
More info: burnaby.ca
When: May 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: K’ómoks First Nation Hall, 3310 Comox Road, Comox
More info: nirsrhodos.ca
When: May 9, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: IPE Fairgrounds, 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd. (where the Saturday Market is held), Armstrong
More info: armstronggardenclub.com
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Bowen Island Legion, 1265 Scarborough Rd., Bowen Island
More info: bowenislandgardenclub.ca
When: May 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out!)
Where: Campbell River Community Centre, 401- 11th Ave., Campbell River
More info: campbellrivergardenclub.com
When: May 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Heritage House, 100 Lorne Street (In Riverside Park), Kamloops
More info: kamloopsgardenclub.com
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Clements Church Parking Lot 3400 Institute Rd., North Vancouver
More Info: lynnvalleygardenclub.org
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Ave., Burnaby
More info: newwesthortsociety.org
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Pitt Meadows Community Church Hall, 12119 Harris Rd. (at Ford), Pitt Meadows
More info: pittmeadowsgardenclub.ca
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Centre, 6660 Sooke Rd., Sooke
More info: sookegardenclub.ca
When: May 9, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 12953 20th Ave., Surrey
More info: southsurreygardenclub.ca
When: May 9, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Home Hardware Building Centre, 4601 27th St., Vernon
More info: vernongardenclub.ca
When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Gleneagles Community Center, 6262 Marine Dr., West Vancouver
More info: westvangardenclub.com
When: May 17 and May 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: UNBC Parking Lot A and DDBGS Compound, Prince George
More info: ddbotgarden.bc.ca
When: May 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577 128 St., Surrey
More info: white-rock-garden-club.ca
When: June 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 46181 Hope River Rd. (at Williams Rd.), Chilliwack
More info: gwynnevaughanpark.ca
When: June 6 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Brentwood Bay Nursery, 1395 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria
More info: vcss.info
When: June 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Floral Hall VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 37th and Oak St., Vancouver
More info: desertplantsocietyofvancouver.com
When: June 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Sunken Gardens, 100 Market Place, Prince Rupert
More info: princerupertgardenclub@gmail.com
Categories: Organic Gardening
Designer Jonathan Adler brings colourful home decor, DIYs to Canada
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Jonathan Adler’s latest collaboration is, in a word, “bashert.”
The American designer and author points to the Yiddish term for ‘meant to be’ as the perfect descriptor for his new collaboration with the craft store Michaels .
“I started out my career as a potter. I am a craft person. That is what I do. Crafts are in my blood. I make things,” Adler explains. “And Michaels, of course, is the mecca of making.”
Speaking from sunny Palm Beach, Fla. — “don’t hate me,” Adler joked of his warm-weather destination in contrast to the current cold of Canada — Adler said it has been his longtime dream to collaborate with the crafting giant.
“If I didn’t know me, and I was just like a young me and I saw this, I would run, not walk, to my nearest Michaels,” he said. “And it would exceed expectations, because there’s just so much great stuff. From already-made decor such as pillows and games and outdoor stuff, and then also just incredible craft kits that you can do yourself.
“It kind of runs the gamut.”
The goods range from grab-and-go colourful decor to do-it-yourself projects such as paintable pots, “groovy” needlepoint kits and diamond art to games — the latter of which Adler points to as being among his favourite from the collection.
“There’s a really cool piece of art that says love, that is really nifty,” he said of the launch, which goes online and in stores March 17. “And there are some games that I kind of desperately need, and a poker set in acrylic that I like desperately, desperately need.”
While Adler’s main collection pieces can be found at specialty retailers across Canada including Holt Renfrew and Atkinson’s of Vancouver, opening up an avenue of affordability for more shoppers was also a draw to the partnership.
“I really want to be able to make my stuff accessible and to bring my esthetic to a more accessible price point,” he says. “Younger people, I hope, will freak out and be able to afford all my stuff, because it’s really cool.”
Wearing a striped T-shirt set against Adler’s surroundings of teal walls, palm fronds and more than a few colourful art pieces hanging on the wall within view, the assemblage of colour and print was perfectly in keeping with a designer whose brand has become known for a mastery of, and playfulness with, both colour and print.
“I call it modern American glamour,” he said of his design esthetic. “Modern because it’s new and fresh. And, I hope American, because my esthetic was sort of rooted in the optimism of America. And glamour, I think, is the most important and most difficult to define element of what I do, because glamour, to me, is about being memorable, being confident and having swagger.”
Colour can be intimidating to introduce into a living space. Anyone who has tried to do so can probably attest to that fact. But it doesn’t have to be the case, according to Adler.
‘I have a little bit of a philosophy about colour, which is, I usually just use white on the walls. I usually just have white walls, neutral colours, and I use colour in small doses — accent cushions, decorative accessories,” he advises. “You don’t need to overdose, but judiciously applied colour can be a fantastic antidepressant.”
Adler points to the colour blue as his favourite hue to work with.
“Blue is just sort of a miracle colour,” Adler says. “As much as I love all colours, there’s something about blue that is most extraordinary. Perhaps it’s because it’s the colour of the sky, perhaps because it’s the colour of the sea, but blue, in all its hues, works perfectly and often goes well with everything.”
On the topic of sea and sky, the conversation briefly turned to Vancouver, a city Adler says he’s visited before — and loved.
“I went probably 10 years ago, and it was a complete revelation,” Adler says of the Canadian city. “It’s so beautiful and spectacular.
“I was blown away,” he added, noting that he’ll next be visiting Montreal for a design event hosted by the Jewish Federation of Montreal.
As the conversation drifted between style and design, crafts and collaboration, Adler acknowledged that, amid a challenging global climate, it can be helpful for people to lean into crafting and other creative outlets as a form of release. The designer harbours a “missionary zeal to spread the word of the power of making things,” he says.
“There’s a lot to be concerned about in the world right now, but there always is, there always has been,” Adler said. “But there’s nothing quite like the power of just sort of tuning out and making something.
“I truly believe it’s what humans are put on earth to do, and is the best antidote to doomscrolling.”
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Categories: Organic Gardening
Did You Know You Have a Birth Month Weed? Here’s the Surprising Trait It Reveals About You
From dandelions to clover, these common weeds are tougher than they look – and your birth month match might just reveal why you are too.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Sow These 10 Vegetable Seeds Outdoors in April for a Hassle-Free Harvest That Lasts Through Summer and Beyond
April is the very best month to start these frost-tolerant veggies from seed, sowing directly where they are to grow for easy, abundant crops.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Baby Bird Alert! This Surprising Kitchen Ingredient Will Encourage More Birds to Nest in Your Backyard
Want to make your backyard the ultimate nesting destination for birds? This modest kitchen scrap holds the secret to a yard full of healthy, singing bird families this spring
Categories: Organic Gardening
These 9 Flowering Plants Look Like Divas – But They’re Actually Super Low-Maintenance
If you want a garden that looks impressive without demanding constant attention, look this way...
Categories: Organic Gardening
Why Are You Still Growing a Green Desert? – This Sustainable Rewilding Trend Is Low-Maintenance and Bursting With Blooms
More gardeners are ditching perfectly manicured lawns in favor of rewilded yards. Learn how to transform your lawn into a thriving wildlife habitat.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Don’t Plant Tomatoes Outdoors Until You See This Flowering Tree in Full Bloom
There's an easy way to tell when to plant tomatoes outside. Just watch for this one common flowering tree to bloom.
Categories: Organic Gardening
There’s Still Time to Prune These 8 Plants in April for Stronger Growth and Better Blooms
Pruning plants in April prepares them for the big summer show. Flowering shrubs, perennials, and even grapevines will get a boost when pruned in spring.
Categories: Organic Gardening
6 Simple Steps to Get the Best Lawn in Town – These April Lawn Care Tasks Bring Lush Year-Long Results, Even if You’re Not a Gardener
A beautiful lawn starts in spring – get these easy jobs done this weekend and enjoy the payoff of plush, weed-free grass (and plenty of neighbor envy!) for the rest of the year.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Zone 8 Planting Schedule – What to Plant Each Month for the Garden of Your Dreams
Planting a Zone 8 garden means lots of time for growing and harvests! Learn what to plant each month in Zone 8.
Categories: Organic Gardening
She Doesn't Go to the Grocery Store. She Goes to Her Garden.
From sugar snap peas to homegrown eggs, this woman's garden replaces her grocery run. Here's the exact plant list and how to build the same setup.
Categories: Organic Gardening
It's So Easy to Turn Your Backyard Into a Hummingbird Hangout — You Just Need to Provide the Right Nesting Materials
This simple, low-effort garden upgrade gives hummers exactly what they need to build their spring nests right in your own backyard.
Categories: Organic Gardening
This Low-Maintenance Potted Plant Delivers Bold Blooms for Months – No Deadheading Required
Heat tolerant, colorful, and easy as anything to grow? All hail this new container garden star!
Categories: Organic Gardening
Growing Sage: Best Planting and Care for Flourishing Herbs With Striking Foliage
Sage is more than just a kitchen herb – it’s a rugged, drought-tolerant ornamental that brings intriguing texture and pollinators to your yard. Dive into our expert guide to cultivating this impeccably aromatic, silver-leafed beauty
Categories: Organic Gardening
Why Does Your Lawn Look Like It’s Spitting? What to Do if You See Bubbles in the Backyard
What are those pops of foam on the grass, and what causes them? Meet the lawn resident that lives in a bubble bath, and find out what to do if you spot foamy eruptions
Categories: Organic Gardening
Step-by-Step to Growing Strawberries in a Hanging Basket: Enjoy Juicy Backyard Berries All Summer
Grow strawberries in a hanging planter for lots of fruit in a small space: plant one this spring for sweet, slug-free berries all summer long.
Categories: Organic Gardening
Martha Stewart Swears by This Flower Seed-Starting Method – Here’s What Gardening Pros Have to Say About It
Planting your seeds well makes all the difference between a sparse bed of blooms and one that's lush. I asked gardening experts what they think about Martha Stewart's tried-and-trusted method.
Categories: Organic Gardening
13 Flower Seeds to Sow in April for Nonstop Color All Summer Long
If you plant these flower seeds in April, you can look forward to a backyard that blooms with gusto. There’s no better time to get started, quite frankly!
Categories: Organic Gardening
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