This is Elke, hello everybody!

 It’s that time of year - the time that makes all the hard work and thoughts we put into our garden in the fall worth the effort.

 As I am walking along my flower beds I am so glad I took the time and planted a few Allium ‘Purple Sensation’,  ‘Globemaster’, moly luteum, bulgaricum and sphaerocephalon last fall.

Sometimes it feels like that the word beauty or beautiful is hardly strong enough to describe these gorgeous flowers . Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ and moly luteum are in full bloom right now and smile at me as we speak and its again living proof why we all love gardening. How can you not love these great balls of fire?

 We have fourteen different kinds of Alliums in our catalogue this year and I will definitely make sure I plant more of them. All of them have their own way of shining. What I really like a lot is the fact that they bloom from early spring to early summer. Right now I am enjoying  ‘Globemaster’ and moly luteum, but I can already see the buds of bulgaricum appearing which are just amazingly beautiful. I am also looking forward to the sphaerocephalon (s.p.h. or drumsticks as we call them)  as it is  one of my favourite because it will bloom  later in the season to end my Allium season with a drum roll!  Alliums are very easy to  grow and are not prone to many problems. Good drainage is important but that’s the main rule for successfuly growing of any kind of bulb. Too wet conditions can lead to rot. The deer don’t like them and the height  range they come in  makes it easy to find one perfect for your desired spot. Alliums grow in ground cover heights (Allium moly luteum, ostrowskianum and neapolitanum) through the mid size of  Alliums such as ‘Ivory Queen’ and schubertii to larger and taller varieties like Allium atropurpureum, azureum, bulgaricum, christophii, giganteum, ‘Globemaster’, ‘Hair’, ‘Mount Everest’,’ Purple Sensation’ and Allium sphaerocephalon.  They do well as cut flowers and the seed heads of the big ball-shaped varieties make a winter garden very attractive. It’s a plant that has it all … easy to grow, attractive, colourful, aesthetic, fun, long lasting as a cut flower, perfect for containers  and great as winter decoration.   

What else could you be looking for?

  Hello everybody Elke here!

As I am working away in my garden I have 1001 thoughts going through my mind. This sounds probably crazy to you, but it’s a very relaxing way for me to sort out my thoughts and ideas.

Looking at all the flowers and green shoots coming up and breaking through its more than amazing and fascinating to me. Nature has such power and an unbelievable beauty.

Taking care of such beauty is more important than ever and doing so in a ‘green’ way is even more crucial.

I thought that sharing our tried and true home solutions for a natural garden would be a great way of helping each other out. So please feel free to leave your tips and tricks in the comment section of this blog.  I’ve been thinking about all the things I’ve learned from my parents and grandparents and things I’ve read about over the years. In doing so I’ve also realized that a lot of people have no idea how much home solutions are actually in their house right now. Lets just go through the counter and cupboards under your sink, the pantry and the shelves in your laundry room to see what we can find!

How about …

Dish soap

Mix 3 tablespoons of mild soap with about 4 liters of water and put it in a spray bottle ….

dish soap is an insecticide that helps against aphids.

Baking soda

2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with 2 liter of water and a drop of mild detergent makes an excellent fungicide against black spots.

Coffee grinds

A healthy plant is a stronger plant…there’s no doubt about that and coffee grinds are a great source of nitrogen. The (N) in your fertilizer that promotes green growth in plants.  Throw your grinds in your garden instead of into your garbage!

Borax and sugar

Mix of ½ part Borax with ½ parts sugar and place it close to where the ants are coming from. If possible near the ant hill itself. The ants will collect the mixture bringing it back to the mound.  Keep away from pets.

Beer

I know, it sounds like such a waste using beer in your garden but it does help. Fill a margarine container 1/3 with beer and sink it into the ground about ground level. Slugs will be attracted, fall in and die. Clean out your container often.

Wood ashes from your fire place

Talk about healthy plants …. it is said that ashes can be used as light mulch around your lilies to make them healthier and stronger.

Vinegar

Spay full strength vinegar on the weeds in your driveway and make sure it’s hot and sunny when you do it. Weeds will eventually burn and disappear from your driveway.

Only spray on weeds you want to get rid off. Vinegar will burn what ever you spay it on.

..and than there’s good old boiling water…

Boiling water will break the weeds cell walls and kill it.

That’s just a few tips …. so please ,as mentioned above feel free to tell us about your own tricks and home solutions.

We gardener’s have to stick together!

  Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Wendy here…

My garden is bursting with colour and everywhere I look something new is happening, some is welcome and some not so. There is the sea of blue flowers from ‘Forget Me Not’ seeds planted over 10 years ago. They have found their way into every corner of my garden and I welcome them.

There are the Periwinkle clumps dotted with beautiful blue flowers that have spread and threaten to take over their various corners, not so welcome… I seem to learn more from my “mistakes” than from anything else, because they take longer and require more muscle to correct. Oh well, it’s all a mystery until you do it once!

I saw the greatest setup in a garden last year and thought I would share it with you.

This resourceful gardener had started tender seedlings and small roots under the cover of plastic pop bottle cloches. These cloches not only protect from slugs and bugs but they also create a little mini greenhouse effect inside while protecting the plants from deluges of rain. The small opening at the top allows the heat to escape by itself and the water to trickle down the sides. This inventive cloche allows us to reuse the 2 litre plastic bottles that most of us have in our homes, giving them a more productive life before they get recycled.

-Start this project by removing all the labels from your 2 litre plastic bottles and washing them thoroughly because the more light the plants can receive, the better.

-To achieve the best results, you can cut the bottle as close to the rounded bottom as possible.

-Slip this bottle over your new planting with the spout side up.

-Now push the bottle into the soil until it is steady and solid. This will give you a wall above and below the soil level.

-When the plant is close to outgrowing this cloche, you can remove it completely or cut the top half off so that you have a 4 or 5 inch sleeve still remaining. This remaining section can still prevent some of the damage done from underground pests and will offer some protection from above as well.

-At every stage of this project you need to recycle all the pieces of plastic properly.

I love it when we gardeners think of ways to reduce, reuse and recycle what we already have because it’s usually smart, functional and beautiful too.

Well, I’ve got to get back to my favorite pastime… gardening! So I’ll say goodbye for now and I wish you all a great day in your garden!

  Happy Earth Day Everybody from all of us at Botanus!

Elke here:

April 22nd is officially Earth Day but really EVERY day is Earth Day!

Having been born in Europe I grew up with recycling paper, plastic, aluminum foil, cans and recycling glass - even separating it into its different colours. I can’t remember the last time my parents used a hose watering their garden. For years and years now they have collected rainwater in big bins and water their garden with watering cans.

No sprinkler, no hose!

It’s just too expensive and also kind of a waste.

We learned from a very young age not to let the water run while brushing our teeth, turn off the lights after we left the room, separate the garbage ……  and just be more aware of wasting energy.

When I moved to Canada about 11 years ago it was hard for me to understand that there was only one garbage can and the only restriction in watering your garden with a sprinkler was only during a very hot summer and even then we could still use the sprinkler just not everyday.

At Canada Blooms in Toronto this past March I could see a lot of examples of how to save energy and water and was very happy that so many businesses took the initiative to make people aware of how easy some of the things can be. It’s great to see that so many people save and recycle and look for new ideas on how to do so.

I thought since it’s Earth Day and we all have different ways of saving and recycling it would be a great idea if you would let us know how YOU do it .

Let us know your tips and tricks how you compost and collect water, how you deal with conserving energy in your home and garden.

Cant wait to hear your comments!

Help us make a difference!!

Here’s a few ideas to get us started:

Choose soaker hoses or drip irrigation that use 50% less water than sprinklers

(did you know that sprinklers can use as much as 1,000 liter of water per hour?)

Water in the early morning or evening, rather than during the heat of the day when it is not good for your plants and as much as 50% of the water is lost to evaporation.

Use mulch to reduce evaporation and the quick drying of your soil. This also discourages weeds and moderates your soil temperature.

 Giving your plant roots a good soaking once or twice a week is much better than a light watering every day.

Invest in a rain barrel. Your roof collects tens of thousands of liters of rain every year which runs strait into the sewer . It’s free water for you to use for watering your garden, your houseplants or washing your car.

Now please let us know your ideas and again to all of you

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!

Hi everyone Wendy here ………. 

Many people may think that the order they place in the mail is fairly straight forward with nothing to be learned except the order details themselves. For the most part this is true but there are certain things I learn from some of the mail orders that land on my desk. Now please don’t be nervous after that statement, no secrets will be revealed in this article that could embarrass anyone. Over the years I have come to know some of you through the, not so obvious, details of your orders and this is my little thank you for that.

For example, I absolutely loved the order with the little dirt stained fingerprints that meant you had taken the time to go into the garden with that little special someone as your helper. I imagined them trailing behind you choosing items and then even helping you to plant them once they had arrived. A new generation of avid gardeners in the making, one can only hope!

Another order arrived with coffee stained edges and that spoke to me of a stroll through a dew filled garden, with a hot cup of coffee, on a warm spring morning. The order form that had been soaked and carefully dried, the pages distorted and thick from the experience, made me smile. I imagined you running out of the house after you had turned on the sprinkler and then remembered that your order form was still on the potting bench, next to t he sprinkler!

The tell tale signs of bugs, dirt and stains from the blue jeans on the order form as it had been in and out of your pants pocket all day long. These interesting marks have all been observed and enjoyed by me as I process these ‘simple orders’ … very telling indeed.

Much of my imaginings also include little pictures of you that you create in my mind by using coloured pens to write the orders or the perfumed scented paper and envelopes that they arrive with.

I especially love the rolled edges of the order from the gardener excited to get the order in on time and nervously rolling the pages as they wandered through the garden making choices. Then the piece de resistance, the amazing floral stamps and return address labels! Everything from Lady Slippers to roses to butterflies and spades and they all tell me a little something about you. You are great, you love gardening and you love to receive luscious plants from people who care as much about gardening as you do.

Thanks for telling me all this without even knowing you did  and I say keep up the good work!

I love getting to know you better… 

Hi Elke here again!

Friday at Canada Blooms was Design Day and I couldn’t wait to walk through the show again with my focus on details and design. It’s all in the design, isn’t it? Little things make a big difference in almost everything.

There is just something special if the napkins on your table match the tablecloth colour or blend in with the pattern of your dishes. It just looks better when the towels in your bathroom match the mat on the floor or have a colour theme with the walls in your bathroom.

And so is it with your garden. Little details make the big “wow” effect and it really is just a question of design not money. Ok, ok, it could be big bucks but it doesn’t have to.

Details can be created with many different things  in your garden:

Paving details

Scuptures

Furniture

Containers

Water features

and of course Plants

Paving details, for example, are an easy way to create an intersting look…don’t just plaster down concrete and be done with it. Create details with river rocks, bricks, create mosaiks. Mix up different textures and materials. Keep spaces between the flagstones and plant moss plants in between or mix in some crushed rocks. Bricks can be layed in the form of a star or circle and make it look interesting. Scrap pieces of old dishes can be used to create a mosaik. Things like that create an interesting look.

Sculptures are always a great focal point and just need a little bit of extra attention. A nice solid or calm background will not compete with your sculpture and make it a focal point. Create a stage, like a platform out of wood or stone, to place your sculpture on.

Furniture is a big part of garden design these days. Especially after all these new designs of winter hardy furniture and fabrics. There was a great variety to be seen at Canada Blooms and lots of expert advise about them. Furniture doesn’t just come in wicker or wood …. the possibilities are endless. Wrought iron, plastic wicker look, wood or even concrete are only a few different ideas that help to create details with your furniture  in your garden or on your patio.

Containers …… ahhhhhh yes containers…….!

A big tree in the middle of a pot can create drama and a statement. Structures like a wire pyramide that is used to support your plants and lets them grow up the structure also create a different look. Even just a few branches of a corkscrew willow pushed into the middle of your container makes a big impact.

The colour of your container can set off the wall behind it and help make it all look very stylish. Think indoors ….. just like you have a nice tablecloth on your dining room table or you put all the work into finding the right fabric for your drapes, you can do the same outdoors with the colour of your fence and pots and plants.

Water features can create a BIG impact. Again …. they don’t have to be the big crashing water fall with a humungeous pond that takes up all your space. A small bubble rock that calms you down placed on a small space of river rocks running into the ground can make all the difference.

Plants are, of course, are the most important elements in our gardens and with a little bit of planing we can create beautiful effects and statements. One big plant placed thoughtfully can be as impressive as a field of hundreds of plants. Look at the beauty of each plant, their different colours, sizes, blooming habits or foliage and place them in a spot that’s just perfect for them.

Design your garden and patio with little details and you create a wow effect without much work. Design is in the detail and there are soooooo many ways to create details. Just go for it! Be yourself and show off what you like.

The show is over now and we’re headed for home. Thanks again to all of you who stopped by to say hello. And to all of those who weren’t able to come I hope you’ve gotten a little taste of what Flower Power is all about! Thank goodness spring is on its way so that we can put into practice some of the things we’ve seen!

Hello gardening friends … Elke again reporting to you from Canada Blooms!

We are at the half way point of Canada Blooms and are enjoying every minute of it. It’s so much fun talking to customers that make the extra effort to find our booth and have a chat with us. We really appreciate this. Our customers are great and a show like Canada Blooms gives us the chance to meet and chat and discuss and tell stories and laugh together. A big ‘Thank You’ to everybody that has come by to see us.

This year’s show kicked off the season with the theme ‘Flower Power’ encompassing the idealism and optimism of the 60’s and the inspirational power of gardens and flowers as well as the power that lies within us as responsible gardeners to do our part in an eco way of living. 

 I noticed a great deal of examples in different displays of how to be part of the changing way we are living and gardening. There are wonderful ideas such as how to collect rain water, create designer birdhouses built out of recycled household materials and green roofs that not only look great but also help to get the green space back into the city. Air improvement and relaxing spaces are created all at once. The eco word is being spread!

  Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto, as the host of Canada Blooms, uses the ‘convenient truth’ that Canada Blooms just happens to run during Ontario’s spring break and is offering a children’s program called ‘Can You Dig It’ especially for kids.  It’s an absolutely superb design of a children’s playground and is being used to inspire kids and get them back into a healthy way of playing, learning and living.

As I walked into the playground display, my heart was smiling as I saw how much fun the kids had playing in there. There was an oversized wooden xylophone hanging from a tree, drums out of pipes and recycled metal barrels sunken into the ground, cute little wooden stumps for sitting around a tree table and workshops on how to plant seeds and grow your own sunflowers. Wow, how wonderful! The happy laughing, the sounds of the instruments and the smiling faces of the kids showed quite clearly that there is hope for a great future as long as we decide to take part in changing the way we live and teach and being more mindful. Interactive playing for kids doesn’t have to include an electrical plug or an internet connection!

There is soooooo much to see here and soooo much to learn. I am not sure if I will get through everything that I want to see even though I am here for almost a full week. It’s not just the show gardens but also the market place which is filled with countless ideas and gadgets and garden deco. There are also the great talks that are everywhere and about everything, floral demonstrations and displays that interest me - especially as I am a trained florist for over 25 years.

The personal contact and talking to these brilliant creative gardeners and landscapers and the fact that we all love to be in our booth meeting new people and talking to already existing customers makes being at this show more than just worthwhile!

I am not sure if I can get you excited enough to come and see and enjoy, but what I know for sure is that I love it all!  I love that we at Botanus have the chance to share the power of the flowers with our customers on a daily basis, that we work with great plants and excellent quality products, that with every package we send out we are part of creating a better world and happier people.

Today is Design Day…….can’t wait!

  Hi everyone - Elke here - we have arrived!

For last few days we’ve been kind of keeping an eye on the weather forecast for Toronto so that we’d be a little bit prepared for what would be awaiting us. What it turned out to be were snowstorms worse than they’ve been in 70 years and one snow system after the other moving through the Toronto area…yikes!

Well I wasn’t too much concerned about us getting to the show but more for the people who would really like to come and see this fantastic venue and can’t make it because of the bad weather and road conditions. Now that we’ve actually arrived I’m happy to say that all is ok!

We arrived this afternoon and found a beautiful blue sky, clean roads and sunshine greeting us. The huge snow banks still show signs of the chaos but that’s all there is left of the storms. The temperature is still coolish between -2 and 2+ but it’s a perfect time to get ready for the upcoming spring and come to Canada Blooms. I highly recommend it and I have to say, that I can’t wait  to see all the great displays, listen to all the speakers and just fill my head with new ideas. It’s so much fun to look at the new products, learn, relax, plan and buy a few things……..ohhhh I am getting really excited!

Today is our setup day and Gala evening and the show runs from Wednesday through Sunday. Stay tuned for more on Canada Blooms 2008 in Toronto!

 …. looks yummy enough to eat!

Hello everyone…Pam here!

We’re getting pretty excited about our upcoming trip to Toronto be a part of Canada’s largest indoor gardening show - Canada Blooms! There is a seemingly never-ending list of things to do and to bring and it got me thinking about how exciting it is to go to garden shows. But, like the Botanus Gals who are checking their lists, packing their suitcases and getting organized for the event, you too should do a bit of planning beforehand to ensure that you get the most out of any gardening show event.

When going to a garden show, like Canada Blooms, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming as to how to spend your time and see and do everything that you want to. This can be especially difficult when the size of the show is humongous and the visual offerings spectacular. Being a ‘seasoned’ garden show visitor and exhibitor I’d like to pass on to you a few helpful hints on how to get the most out of your visit:

1. Start early or come much later in the day. The earlier you can arrive at a show the better because you can usually avoid the midday crowds but if this isn’t possible try coming in the late afternoon or evening when most people are heading for home.

2. Get a show guide. These are usually available free of charge or for a small fee and will provide you with a detailed map of the show layout, a listing of exhibitors as well as a calendar of events and speakers. Canada Blooms, for example, even offers a terrific web site where most of this information is available on-line like scheduled speakers and an e-newsletter.

3. Find a comfortable spot to sit and plan your visit. Most garden shows have a nice area where you can take a load off, have a cup of coffee or tea and sit for a while.

4. First choose the events or speakers you would like to see. Based on these choices you can then figure out when you will have to time to do your walk-about.

5. Most garden shows are divided into display garden areas and marketplace areas. I would suggest going through the display gardens first, not only to feast your eyes on all the beauty but also to get inspired with new ideas for your own garden. Be sure to make notes about the plants that interest you. This will come in handy during your visit to the marketplace later on in the day.

6. Take a break! Find a nice spot to rest your feet and have a bite to eat and something to drink. Going through gardening shows can be exhausting so take the time to sit back and let it all sink in. Once you’ve had a break you’ll be raring to go on!

7. Hit the marketplace and see if some of those new ideas can’t be fulfilled through one of the many exhibitors offering their wares. Don’t be afraid to ask questions either. Most vendors are more than happy to share their love of gardening with you and if they’re anything like the Botanus Gals they’ll be thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with you!

8. End your visit with one more, leisurley stroll through the garden displays. It will leave you feeling inspired, enriched and ready to get your hands in the dirt!

~ Things to bring with you ~

1. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Shows can be deceivingly large and you’ll be doing a lot of walking around so be prepared and comfortable.

2. Bring a camera. You never know when the next best garden idea will come along or perhaps there’s a particular plant that takes your fancy and you absolutely have to have.

3. Tuck a notebook in your bag. Trying to remember all those plant names and tips you get from speakers may seem easy but with the hustle and bustle and excitement of the show you may just forget…so write it down!

4. Carry a few pre-printed address labels (if you have them). Save yourself the time of filling out catalogue request forms or contest entry forms. Simply stick your address sticker on the form and away you go!

5.  Bring along a few snacks and some water. It’s going to be a long day and we all need sustenance, so be sure to pack a few goodies to keep you going.

6. Carry a large tote bag. Some vendors do provide bags for their products and handouts but why not be environmentally friendly and bring your own bag along with you?

    7.   Bring some extra cash. In these days of electronic funds and credit cards, some vendors still offer ‘cash-only’  deals so have a little extra cash on hand because running off to the ATM in the middle of your visit can be bit of a pain. 

Most of all, remember to ask lots of questions and have fun! Shows are meant to inspire and create excitement about this lovely hobby we share called gardening so get the most out of your visit and have a great time doing it!

See You There!

Hi everybody Elke here …

Yesterday I went outside checking on everything and anything that is willing to get its head through the soil. I can’t wait anymore!!! It’s just tooooo exciting. I checked on the labels I put in at planting time and was delighted to see that most of them are still there. For years I’ve tried and tested different ways of marking my plants.

One year I thought I was being especially creative and  I cut small pieces of wood about 5-7″ long and 1″wide, sanded them and wrote the name of the plant with a black marker on them. To make them even better looking (I like aesthetics) and longer  lasting, I sprayed them with an outdoor Varathane thinking this was a great way to save money and make them look good … at least I thought. After all I needed about 300 of them.

The following spring came and I couldn’t wait to go out and see what was coming up. You can well imagine how disappointed I was when I saw that almost all the markers were blank! Yes blank….not missing but all the careful writing I had done was gone! Every year I lose some of the markers to wind, storm and kids walking by but that’s just the way it is. But this time they were blank like somebody had gone out there with a big gigantic eraser and made sure that there was nothing left.

All that work for nothing made me research even deeper into what would be the best way to mark your plants and after testing and trying I have concluded that your best bet is to use plastic tags and grease pen. I now use old plastic mini blinds and cut the slats in 5-7″ long strips and write the name with a grease pen on it. Up to now this has worked the best for me. For extra protection, I push the marker into the ground as far as it can go and let it stick out just enough to find it again.

Of course, I am happy to hear your way of marking your plants and your experience with it. Please feel free to comment and let us know what you are doing! We love new ideas that we can share!