Door Prizes include:

• Tickets to California Musical Theatre: Frost/Nixon
• Gift Certificate to Cabo’s Mexican Restaurant
• Two  Tickets to Fleetwood Mac Concert & Dinner for Two
• Two  Tickets to Fight Night at the Red Lion
• Gift Certificate to Café Ettore
• Gift Certificate to Brew It Up

Plus, lots of great vendors. For more information, click here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Whether you live where it rains or where it pours, there’s a great, easy way you can conserve water for garden use.

Where I live (Calif.) that’s a very big deal, as we Californians head into a third consecutive drought year.

Rain “harvesting” isn’t a new concept, but let’s just say this oldie is a goodie.

It’s as simple as setting up a simple capture system to redirect rainwater off the roof to a barrel.

Collecting Water - photo by Prem Anand

Whether you use a wine barrel to collect rainfall from your rooftop or recycle waste water from household sinks, bathtubs, showers and washing machines, you’re doing your water bill and the planet good.

If all this sounds like too much work, there’s always a very easy way to save–turn off the sprinklers during the winter, sunless it’s really dry and windy, in which case run them every so often. Get to know your sprinkler system and learn how to turn it off.

According to local experts in my hometown, Sacramento residents devote 60 percent of residential water use to their outdoor irrigation, and of that, 40 to 60 percent is wasted, as most homeowners over water by 200 to 300 percent.”

You can buy rain barrels here. Or buy a whole rain water collection system here. Or, take a baby step and turn off your sprinklers in the winter time.

Related posts:

1. How to conquer problems in your organic garden Gardening is becoming more popular than ever, thanks to a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The next time you’re at the nursery, or browsing for seeds online, be sure to check out where you are on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, which divides North America into 11 separate zones.

Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone.

When you see a “hardiness zone” in a catalog or plant description, it’s most likely referring to this USDA map.

To find your USDA Hardiness Zone, enter your zip code here. You’ll also find a regional report, public gardens in your zip code, plants in your zone, and local events of interest.

I’m in Zone 8A. What’s your zone?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Although I love snow and winter, I find that it can be a bit disheartening at times when I think of all the gardening that I am missing out on.  I can’t get out and plant, I can’t enjoy big blooms full of color.  I am stuck in a world covered in white and like the creatures of Narnia, I wait for the Ice Queen to be vanquished from the world so Spring can greet me.

Now that I have waxed poetic about how I miss Spring, I should mention that there are some wonderful elements that you can add to a winter and all it takes is a little bit of water and a touch of light.

What I am talking about, actually, are lighted pathways made with ice candle holders.  These candle holders can be placed on patios, stairways leading up to a front door or even lining a pathway through your garden. It can add an enchanted feel to a winter’s garden and is something that I love to do with candles and ice.  And I’m going to share with you, exactly how to make an ice candle holder.

What you will need:

• Water
• A large bucket
• A medium sized bucket
• large rocks
• duct tape
• candle

Directions:

1. Clean out the buckets so that you will be left with nice clear ice when you are finished.  You can actually use a variety of containers but the only thing you should keep in mind is that one should fit in the middle of the larger container so there is a space for your candle to rest.
2. Once the large container is cleaned, fill it with cold water until it is about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full.
3. If you want to provide some decorations to the ice, you can place plants and flowers in the water or you can leave them free of any decoration for a clean, almost glass like finish.
4. After the water and decorations are in the water, carefully insert the smaller container into the water and press down until it is flush with the top.  The key is to have a space between the bottom and sides of the larger container and the bottom and sides of the smaller container.
5. Place the rocks into the bottom of the smaller container until the container no longer pops up in the water.
6. Tape the edges of the smaller container to the top of the larger container so that it stays in the middle of the water.
7. At this point, you should be able to freeze the water.  It is important that there is no water in the smaller container and only the larger container has water.  Freeze the container in the freezer or if your climate allows, place it outside overnight.
8. Depending on the size of the container, it can take one night or several nights for the water to freeze completely.  Once it does, set the large container in a bucket of hot water (or garbage can of hot water if it is too large) for a few minutes.
9. Carefully tip the ice candle holder from the large container.
10. Pour hot water into the smaller container and allow it to sit for a few moments before you slide the smaller container from out of the ice candle holder.

At this point, you should have an ice sculpture/candle holder that has a space for a candle, size depends on the size of a container that you used.  Insert a candle into the space once inhabited by the smaller container, set outside along your pathway and light in the evening for a beautiful winter garden.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Take the time now to protect your yard and you will be rewarded with a lush, beautiful and weed resistant lawn and garden in the spring.

As the cooler temperatures roll in it’s time to get your lawn and garden ready for the winter months ahead. Take the time now to protect your yard and you will be rewarded with a lush, beautiful and weed resistant lawn and garden in the spring.

Start by removing any debris and leaves off your lawn before your final cut. Your lawn should be put to bed at the same height it is maintained during the summer – around 2.5 inches long. Keeping your grass clippings on the lawn will also help return at least 25 per cent of the turf’s nitrogen back into the soil. Aerating your lawn will help create passageways for essential nutrients and worms that contribute valuable microorganisms to your soil.

“You can help your lawn grow thick and strong in the spring by overseeding in the fall.” explains Scotts lawn care expert Scott MacDonald, “Cool nights, more rainfall and heavier dew in the fall provide the ideal conditions to repair damage caused by the hot, dry summer.”

Bare spots are best repaired by using an all-in-one product, such as Scotts Patch Master lawn repair, which combines grass seed, starter fertilizer and mulch all in a bag for ease of application.

One of the most essential things to do in the fall is to fertilize. Many people do not realize that fall fertilizing is the most important application because it gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Winter care fertilizers energize turf, producing a strong and healthy root system and ensure they emerge greener than ever in the spring. After your last cut of the year, a fall feeding provides the nutrients your lawn needs to withstand the harshest weather. Winter care fall lawn fertilizer provides the best ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (N-P-K).

The fall is also a great time to prepare your garden for the winter ahead. Remove any debris, diseased foliage and weeds, plant flower bulbs now that will provide welcome blooms at the first hint of spring. Plant bulbs with bone meal using something like Miracle-Gro Organic Choice bone meal to promote healthy plants and bigger spring blooms. Most perennials, shrubs and trees benefit from fall planting, giving them time to anchor and establish new roots. Be sure to add a two to three inch layer of mulch to new plants and rake leaves onto flowerbeds and around shrubs and bushes to create a warm blanket to protect plants against severe cold. Finally, don’t forget to thoroughly clean your gardening tools and sharpen your mower so you’re ready as soon as spring arrives.

To speak with a Scotts expert on lawn care call 1-866-436-7645. For a Scotts Garden expert call 1-866-436-8477 or visit www.Scotts.ca.

- News Canada

Related posts:

1. Growing roses is easy with these simple tips No other flower can evoke romance in the garden like...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Garden beds:

• Apply a three to four inch layer of mulch around your perennial plants, careful to leave a hollow at the base. Use fallen leaves as a handy mulch.

• Divide and move plants to thin them out.

• Remove old or diseased plants.

• Leave seed heads for winter interest and to feed the birds.

Lawns:

• Raise your mower height to three inches. Longer grass shades weed seeds and keeps them from sprouting and provides protection for the turf during the winter. Leave the clippings on the grass for extra nitrogen.

• Fertilize with compost or organic fertilizers.

• Aerate soil and leave the plugs on the lawn.

• Overseed your lawn — a blend of grasses will make it hardier.

Trees and Shrubs

• Remove old or diseased branches or broken limbs.

• Add mulch (fallen leaves work well) around the drip line but not up against the trunk.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, if there is no snow or rain.

- News Canada

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Get your garden and lawn ready for winter

Shorter days and chilly weather may have caused your garden and lawn to shed its green hue, but that doesn’t mean you can’t think “green” when it comes to preparing for the winter months ahead. Consider the following fall garden and lawn clean-up tips from The Home Depot Canada:

Fall lawn care – Caring for your lawn in the fall as you would in the summer months will yield maximum results the following growing season. As the kids head back to school, get back to basics by applying a 100 per cent natural fertilizer to your lawn. The fertilizer allows your lawn to withstand the stress of winter and then green-up fast in the spring.

Mind your mower – Before rolling away your lawn mower make sure to “winterize” it to ensure a smooth cut next spring. Tighten all nuts and bolts and repair all scratches and chips to fight off rust. Hose off any mud, dirt, grass and leaves stuck to the mower and remove any debris caught in the blade with a stick – never with your hands. Opt for a push or electric-powered mower next season. They help reduce toxic air emissions produced by old two- and four-stroke gas mowers.

Get organized – In a hurry to make room for the snow blower, shovel and salt buckets? Don’t forget to store your garden and lawn tools in a safe place. Clean all of your equipment and store it in a dry place to avoid rusting. Use a lawn and garden cart or organizer to keep all your tools together and to minimize the amount of space it takes up in your garage or shed.

More environmentally friendly fall garden clean-up information can be found online at www.homedepot.ca or at a store in your community.

- News Canada

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.