How to Weed

About techniques, tools and timing The heat finally broke in Grimsby after Tuesday’s downpour. It also cleared the smoke from the northern Ontario wildfires that had been hanging over the area. Today seemed like a good day to weed. The temperatures were cooler, the soil was still moist from the rain, and the garden was […]

What is a Weed?

About names, plant strategies and the benefits of rain. It’s the third day of wildfire smoke from the northern Ontario fires. The air quality isn’t good, and it’s currently not recommended to spend much time outdoors. I still found myself thinking about weeding. Not necessarily today. If we’re lucky, perhaps it’ll rain over the weekend. […]

How to Trim a Hedge

About different tools for different outcomes, heat waves, and how to add some silence into your gardening. This past weekend in Grimsby, the catalpas have been in bloom. In the long series of spring flowers, trees may be the most majestic, and at the end of the spring season, after the lilacs, the horse chestnuts, […]

When to Prune

About the timing of pruning, seasonal rhythms and long term thinking   It’s been a fragrant past couple of weeks in Grimsby. A succession of fragrant shrubs have been in bloom, from Korean spice viburnum to lilac to the lovely dwarf Korean lilac. These early blooming shrubs are now approaching the last of their blooms. […]

Plant Resurrection

About seasonal planters, re-potting and life after death. Hot temperatures have rolled into Grimsby, along with the frequent downpours we’ve been getting. Even though the solstice is still a few days away, summer is firmly here. It’s a great time to switch over, if you haven’t already, your spring planters for summer ones. These warm […]

When to Remove a Shrub

About decision processes, empty spaces and seeing what’s underground. Last week’s post was about shrub transplanting. This week, I found myself thinking about the opposite movement. Earlier this week, or rather last week, there was a large scale lavender removal. The lavenders had been left to overgrow and the inner portions of the shrubs had […]

How to Transplant a Shrub

About relocation, preparation, and sensing what’s really happening underground.   Last weekend, Grimsby got a thorough soak. Saturday, it rained incessantly, and even though we’re now getting temperatures in the 20’s, the nights are still relatively cool. This all means it’s a pretty good time to transplant shrubs. Timing shrub transplanting with rain events and […]

On Standing Still

About underlying structure, stability and body sustainability At this point in May, around the May long weekend, a lot of the heavier garden work begins. Moving planters, shifting pots, lifting and carrying things that have sat all winter. Earlier this week, I was preparing some of the larger planters around the garden for the season […]

Under the Blooming Spring Canopy

About spring flowering trees, energy and canons   It has been a spectacular week in Grimsby gardens. After a few weeks of bulbs emerging and shrubs blossoming, the trees are now in bloom. Cherries, pears, serviceberries, magnolias, the air pink and white and fragrant. Underneath that canopy, I’ve been tending to some more garden tidying. […]