Low-key Catmint the way to go

Short and shrubby nepeta stands tall as a no-fail garden option

Not every plant steals the spotlight with its stunningly gorgeous blooms or lustrous foliage. Some plants remain on the sidelines like wallflowers, not making a big noise, but quietly doing what they know how to do best. Catmint, or nepeta, . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

Getting rid of ants with kitchen favourites

Question: How do I get ants to leave my yard? They seem to take over a different area each summer, and they bite. — Roberta Answer: There are many solutions for tackling ants. What works for one will not necessarily work . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

The Luxe offers practicality, personality

Unique home stands out, offers best of both worlds

With its stone-clad garage and dual-angled rooflines, 44 Bow Water Dr. — a.k.a. the Luxe — stands out from all the homes surrounding it. That’s no accident, says Jeff McArthur of Maximum Realty, Signature Homes’ sales representative for the Bonavista show . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

Cutting corners to save on renos can cost down the line

Residential renovations are big business in Manitoba. In 2017, Manitobans invested more than $2.5 billion into renovation projects to improve their homes. This created more than 26, 500 direct jobs and in excess of $1.5 billion in wages for workers in . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

'Hidden gem' a one-of-a-kind find

For reasons unknown, certain neighbourhoods tend to remain rather anonymous despite being a spectacular place to call home. One such neighbourhood is south St. Vital’s River Pointe. Tucked away in a well-treed tract of land off River Road, just south of Bishop . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

Summer is officially here.

Gardeners delight in the season.

The past few weeks our seeds have sprouted; seedlings have matured, and we now witness the color and texture from the plants we have growing amongst the backdrop of our landscapes. Annuals and perennials work unaccompanied or in . . .

Posted: 2018-07-03

All about hydrangeas

With a flurry of new introductions, choosing a variety not as simple as it used to be

Gardeners are purchasing hydrangeas like never before, yet it’s a diverse species that can also raise some questions. John Leperre, outdoor sales manager at Shelmerdine Garden Center, says that his customers want to know how to prune their hydrangeas. Carla Hrycyna, . . .

Posted: 2018-06-30

'Tis the season to be cautious of construction

Construction season is well underway in Manitoba. While we usually equate construction season with road construction, the summer months are also the busiest time for residential construction as well. Residential construction season doesn’t just involve new homes being built in new . . .

Posted: 2018-06-30

Spruce up your space this long weekend

Renovations don't always have to entail big expense and huge undertakings

Blowing out a wall to expand the kitchen, sacrificing a closet to make room for a big jacuzzi tub in your bathroom — these ideas sound expensive, and they usually are! But they don’t have to be. With the long weekend upon . . .

Posted: 2018-06-30

Porcelain tile rejuvenation not difficult

Question: A few years ago, I put in a dark, slate-coloured porcelain-tile floor in the bathroom. It was tricky time-wise, as to putting in the grout and letting it set enough to wipe off the excess grout without shifting the position . . .

Posted: 2018-06-30