Huron Expositor, 2009-05-27, Page 11The Huron Expositor • May 27, 2009
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A backyard oasis
Serious flower gardeners know all
about bad backs, bug bites, battered
knees and cracked hands. And the
payback for their literal sweat equi-
ty? A fleetingly pretty patch of yard.
Creating and tending to a large
flower garden is quite simply an act
of love. But if only that garden could
show a little more love in return.
It can, actually. Plan your plant
beds right, and nature's blooming
beauty will start kissing your senses
like never before!
First, select plants that provide the
most interest to you.
Spring -flowering bulbs, summer
bulbs and flowering perennials can
provide exquisite fragrance or bulb
collections can attract humming-
birdsor butterflies (this season's hy-
brid butterfly bushes are bountiful
color explosions).
Next, choose a roughly 16 -by -5 -foot
stretch of relatively 'flat ground with-
in your preferred garden bed: Leave
an unplanted path to, it from outside;
paving stones provide a pleasant ac-
cent.
You ultimately won't plant any-
thing in your chosen spot but your-
•
equity of gardening
powder -coated
steel or durable
wood (cypress,
for instance).
Your hammock
itself should be
equally weath-
er -tough, woven
from high-per-
formance syn-
thetics.
Set up • your
hammock im-
medjately, al-
lowing to winged
garden visitors
time to grow
used to it, and
your handiwork to start filling in
around it. As the weather warms
and flowers start to pop, fill in any
gaps in your planting.
Then, on your first free pretty
morning, climb in and stretch out.
Let your body slacken and your
senses surrender to sight, smell and
sound. And wait to be happily sur-
prised.
ur-prise .
"I've had birds
perch on the rope
right beside my feet; • and butterflies
land on my chest," notes avid gar-
dener Frank Rabey. "That's about as
close to nature as you can get with-
out ever leaving your yard."
•
Bert & Carol Reinink & Family
Professional.l andscape Designer
self. But you' 1 want Tto put in .p enty
of flowering favorites all around it.
Fitting the unplanted space with a
bench or set of outdoor chairs misses
the mark; neither option offers maxi-
mum garden immersion.
Instead, go with a hammock, and a
hammock stand. Don't settle for less
than quality brands, not just for the
sake of your own personal co nfort,
but also to add a superb visual
com-
plement to your garden.
Choose a hammock stand of either
Take a drive and see
what's growing at
our greenhouse!
Native plants can control pests naturally
Even though . Ontario's cos- that favour one type of plant
metic pesticides ban is now in because it provides a p enti-
lace; gardeners should take ful food source in one location
heart that they can still have and allows pests to thrive.
a beautiful garden- and one A more diverse garden can
that can help control pests help. make it difficult for pests,
naturally. to take control.
One of the best ways to fight Diversity is not only beau -
pests in your garden is to fill it tiful and healthy, it helps at -
with many .different kinds of tracts bees and butterflies
plants, shrubs and trees that that make your garden an en -
are native to your area.' 4-1loyable place.
Ask your nursery or garden Encourage • other natural
centre for suggestions. Native predators like bats, toads, and
plants are better suited to sur- birds by building bird feeders,
viving in local growing condi- bat -houses and installing 'bird
tions and will have developed baths. Nature has a way of
a natural resis-
tance to many
local pests.
Even better,
your garden
*will be more in-
teresting and
easier to main-
tain since differ-
ent plants will
be b of ) r fling at
different times
and will provide
cover through-
out the growing
season.
Having all the
same plant, va-
working in our favour when
we give it a chance.
Experiment with native
plants and worry -free land-
scapes such as mulched pe-
rennial beds or rock and al-
pine gardens.
Once they get started, they
are drought resistant and re-
quire less work and less wa-
ter.
For more tips on gardening
naturally and information on
the cosmetic pesticides ban,
visit the Ministry of the En-
vironment's website at www.
additupontario.ca.
GREENHOUS
DEN C
AT SELECTION
of ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS
• FLOWERS ` „y • CONTAINERS 1
• HANGING BASKETS • SHRUBS • TREES
• CUSTOM POTTED • SOIL PRODUCTS
• VEGETABLE PLANTS
Bring your pots in for custom planting'
great quality, variety and prices
(Located Beside the Freeze King, Hwy #8)
Owned and operated by Tanis VanderMolen
'cqI 51§-57-1160*:`
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firth 519-527-0780 www.toteiimageii,com
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