By Valerie Barr We are heading into winter, with frosty nights in the last week and snow in the forecast. We bid goodbye to that warm time of year when we live outdoors. We now look forward to a quieter … Continued
By Valerie Barr Loving Summer It is mid Summer and we are beginning to feel the seasonal changes with shorter days and cooling temperatures. After 32C for a few days in early August, 24C now feels cool and I have … Continued
By Valerie Barr Creatures of the Air Swallowtail Butterflies, Ladybugs, Dragonflies, and even Hover (or Syrphid) Flies seem to represent a fantasy world for humans – we love watching them. Just the motion of their flight entertains us and they … Continued
By Valerie Barr Creatures of the Soil I always think of Denman Island author Des Kennedy’s book Living Things We Love to Hate when I am dealing with the bugs and slugs that damage our garden crops. I also think of the … Continued
By Valerie Barr There is the difference between cool and warm season vegetables. All plants have an environment which they are adapted to or are suitable for. This is why we need to understand our local climate zone (zone 8) … Continued
By Valerie Barr Water in the Garden Water is essential for life everywhere, even in a desert. Aware of our communal changing sensitivity to a drier climate, I do notice that water usage is very much a cultural habit. Someone … Continued
By Valerie Barr Feeding the Plants The history of fertilizers is interesting. Pre-WW1 most growing was done traditionally using barnyard materials and basic elements/minerals like sulfur, copper and bordeaux mix. Post-WW2 the chemical age came into its’ peak with synthesized … Continued
By Valerie Barr The weather is an important factor in gardening: too cold, too wet, too hot, too dry, and then rain again at the end of the season. Outdoor work was my occupation for decades – I watched the … Continued
By Valerie Barr Vegetable gardens are built in many different styles. There are container gardens, fruit and vegetables grown in hanging baskets, raised beds, raised mounds on the surface of the ground, and in-ground areas with deep soil. On Quadra … Continued
By Valerie Barr Dormant Spraying in a home garden The fruit trees in our orchard have been pruned, and before a rain I managed to spray them, along with the roses and raspberries. It is tricky waiting for weather suitable … Continued