For those of you who brought in begonias, dahlias or other tuburs in the fall, by now you should have put them into a pot with some potting soil, given them a drink of water and some sunlight and are waiting for them to show some sign of life. You can also go out and buy some begonia tuburs and get started with this right now. It’s as much fun as growing plants from seed but with less chance of failure. I tried growing annuals, etc, from seed years ago but without much success. I don’t have enough natural light...
Birds and Bulbs
March 13, 2013June 5, 2023By Vivian Lee
I’m starting to get really excited about spring now. I know we could still get several major snowstorms before it’s over but it really looks promising for the moment. There has been lots of rain here in Montreal so the snow is gradually shrinking and more grass is showing. Today the sun is shining so it makes the disgusting state of the sidewalks and lawns a little easier to take. (Side note: Dog-owners, pick up your dogs’ poop! Even in the winter!) I bought some premium bird feed a couple of weeks ago because I was really hoping to attract...
Happy IWD!
March 9, 2013June 5, 2023By Vivian Lee
My husband sent me a text with that message (Happy International Women’s Day!)first thing this morning. I had just woken up and didn’t realize he’d left the house so early. Also, I wasn’t aware that it was a special day, so it was a nice surprise. It made me mull over why IWD exists. Why must we celebrate women in this way? There is no “International Men’s Day”! When I mentioned that at work a colleague said, “That’s the other 364 days of the year!” and perhaps he’s right. On the whole, women get the raw end of the deal...
Spring is in the air!
March 6, 2013June 5, 2023By Vivian Lee
I know it’s only March 6th and I say this too early every year, but the air does seem different recently. There is a thaw going on and that can’t help but make us imagine we feel spring in the air. Spring is absolutely my favourite season. I know people complain about the garbage that turns up after the whole winter during which nobody picked up their dogs poop or their own gum wrappers, apparently imagining that snow would magically decompose these things during the melting process; to say nothing of the slush, the mud and the ubiquitous pot holes....
New Year and New Incarnation
February 2, 2013June 5, 2023By Vivian Lee
It’s the beginning of February and I’m looking out onto the Tranquil Garden as I write. Right now there is only maybe 8 inches of snow on the ground, since last week’s sudden, short thaw. That means I can see various parts of plants sticking up as well as some garden fixtures I left out over the winter. Some I left out on purpose to add interest over the winter, and some I was too lazy to bring in. I left a bird house out there that I hope will entice a spring chickadee to set up housekeeping. I see...