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I love this weather

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The weather’s been so nice hear in Toronto lately that it’s almost felt like spring!

My husband and I just got back in from taking our Labrador Retriever puppy out for a walk around the neighborhood. Now it’s only 1 Celsius out, just about freezing – but there’s no wind at all and it felt much warmer to me than it really was. We had quite and enjoyable walk!

Earlier today my husband went outside and raked up all the leaves that have blown into our back garden and front yard. The garden beds now have an extra inch or so of leaves covering them to give them a bit of winter protection when it turns cold again. Surely it will be cold again soon! I think we’re expecting snow tomorrow in fact. Although the weather is supposed to be around freezing or just above all week so more than likely any snow that falls will melt rather quickly.

And here I thought we were going to have a brutal winter! Perhaps I shouldn’t speak too soon.

How is winter in your area? Is your garden buried under snow or are you having spring like conditions?






Use a rain water tank to conserve water

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I think just about everyone these days does at least a little to conserve resources. Some do it to help save the planet while others might do it to save money or for other benefit.

Now I know that many of you who read this blog are gardeners. Some of you live in areas with little water for part of the year or you might have water restrictions during the growing season. Perhaps using rainwater tanks to collect the runoff from your house when it rains might help you keep your garden and lawn looking beautiful during times of water restriction.

By using rain water tanks you’d be helping to conserve the water in your area. I think you’ll also find that your plants enjoy a good dousing with rain water. The water in my part of the world is hard water – full of minerals, but I believe that rain water is usually soft water.

You can purchase rain water tanks at waterharvest.com.au for both residential and commercial use. They also carry grey water systems. If you’re not familiar with grey systems they take water from your shower, wash basins, washing machines and other sources in your home, treat it and store it for reuse in your garden, toilets, washing machines or even for washing your car.

You can visit the site to learn more about their above and below ground rain water tanks and grey water systems. They have several different tanks in various sizes to choose from. Just think, if you purchase a rain water tank you could save quite a bit of money on your water bill and do your part to conserve.

A lovely antique rose

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Wordless Wednesday

Compte de Chambord is perhaps my favorite rose.

It’s an antique rose that has the most lovely rose perfume scent. The rose is quite hardy as well! It’s branches have very little winter damage in the spring and green up quickly as the weather warms.

The first flush of flowers at the end of May or in early June just cover the rose bush and the scent from the flowers wafts through the air.

Some of my close neighbors tell me that they can smell my roses – especially in the morning – and I know most of the scent that they are smelling comes from Compte de Chambord and perhaps my Baron prevost and Jacques Cartier roses as they are my smelliest roses.

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