Savour the hushed magic of Japanese gardens

PORTLAND, Ore. — In a year when big changes have taken root at the highly acclaimed Portland Japanese Garden, I found myself standing stock still a few steps inside the garden’s Nezu Gate, looking and listening, silent and unmoving. Everything here . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Manitobans write the book on ideal Prairie trees

New book by Jeffries Nurseries outlines a variety of species that suit our Prairie climate

Columnar poplars have been a favourite for many years for narrow-space locations along fence rows and in small gardens. The older varieties are not suitable for our urban yards because of their limited lifespan and propensity for disease. I recently met . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Location, livability & loving care

Immaculate home offers contemporary design

In 2001, a sprawling bungalow was built on a huge, park-like lot in picturesque Normand Park. Sixteen years later, the 1, 953-square-foot home is up for sale, its empty-nester owners looking to downsize to a smaller, more manageable abode. RE/MAX Professionals’ . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Don't crowd your choices for a new tree

Clients and readers often ask me what type of trees they should purchase. My typical response to this question is, "How much space do you have in your yard?" There is an observation that I am constantly encountering: people typically . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Fall for your garden

These tips will help your plants make the most of autumn

Most fall gardening tasks can be divided into two categories — mandatory and optional (with some being more optional than others). Should you cut back your perennials in fall? Will flax straw protect your borderline hardy perennials? How can you prevent . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

My procrastination cost me -- again

I'll be with my Aunt Madge's outhouse, down in the dumps

I Have just been diagnosed with PTOD: Post Traumatic Outhouse Disorder. My condition stems from my failure to save my Aunt Madge’s outhouse from her yard in Margaret, Man. I procrastinated and the local folk did a town-wide clean up of . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Chocolate makes the outdoors even greater

Question: I am going on a camping trip with my grandchildren this winter and they can’t stand being outside. I want a treat that would be fun to make outside; maybe this will get them excited about the good ol’ . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Finding a fix for frosty foundations

QUESTION: I moved into my new house in July 2016. The house was built in 2013 and the basement is unfinished, just insulation and vapour barrier. Last winter, during a warm spell, I noticed small pools of water forming at . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Let the experts handle it

Simple requests -- like adding a piece to the bathroom -- can be tricky

The simplest requests can often be the most complicated to complete. Converting a two-piece bathroom into a three-piece is difficult, and introducing the required plumbing can be quite challenging. Now, add to this the repositioning of the three pieces within the . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Big-time designer attracted to Delaware garden

The Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf is known the world over for his ability to weave dazzling tapestries of perennials and grasses. In the United States, he has created plant combinations enjoyed by millions: at Battery Park and the High . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23