Yesterday, Victoria Day Monday, was another one of those “unusual” May days of the Canadian spring weather. It started cool but sunny, so I had a chance to transplant some of my seedlings to the garden beds, or to bigger pots outside. I was comparing the ones I grew in the basement under grow lights, and some I had upstairs by a South facing window... click on image for more
The Japanese cherry tree Sakura is widely appreciated as an ornamental, and some cultivated varieties outside Asia do not grow fruit at all. My cherry tree is a Stella, a great variety for the small backyard: it does not grow too fast, it is self-fertile (only one tree needed for pollination), and the beautiful blooms give way to sweet dark fruit... click on image for more
The earliest spring blooms in my backyard are the daffodils and grape hyacinths. Tulip buds are forming, and the forsythia is in full bloom, so “it’s time to sow the carrots”, says an old farmer’s advice ... click on image for more
57% of Canadian households reported growing some sort of edible (vegetables, fruits or herbs) in their backyards, balconies or even indoors. The amount of urban gardening in Mexico is not well documented, but I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that in the last decade, several projects have been developed to encourage Mexico City residents to start rooftop veggie gardens, community plots, and school greening projects ... click on image for more
Yes, those are Celsius temperatures rising (30s to 50s in °F), and the rapid change may be appreciated in the photo above, where the section of lawn in direct sun has thawed, whereas the section in the shade still shows a layer of frost on top. Indoors, I have set all my supplies to start sowing seed ... click on image for more
