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Brilliant Opportunity! 6000 SF beautiful outbuilding (farmer's market ?) acreage with Mt. Baker views. 2 greenhouses available. Any agri-business idea considered, as the owners want...
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Tips and ideas for your garden
Choice Herbs To Keep in Your GardenHerbs are so easy to grow that I wonder why we continue to pay a fortune for a tiny container of herbs that have lost their colour and at least 50% of their flavour after sitting for a year in a grocery store shelf. More...For the most part herbs are perrenial and very easy to grow. So here's some info on the most popular and useful of the herbs that enhance fragrance and the joyful experience of haute cuisine!
Winter Savory.
There is ho-hum bean soup - and then there is Bean Soup Man! A bean soup that dazzles the taste buds and satisfies the soul! The secret is Winter Savory. A fragrance made in heaven, just for bean soup. Also great in gravies, stews, dressings, vinegar and other soups. Also a salt substitute. Stronger flavour than Summer Savory. Grow 3 plants, for fresh, (lots) more for drying. Slow from seed, best from divisions. Clip at the start of flowering season for drying. Start early indoors, or outdoors after pobbility of frost.
Tarragon
Best from divisions; plants grown from seed are not the true culinary Tarragon. Creeping habit; slow growing; dies to ground in winter. Attractive container plant. 3 plants for fresh and dry use. Divide every three years. For subtle flavour enhancement in salads, eggs and cheese dishes, fish and poultry.
Thyme 
Slow but good from seed, best by division in spring or fall. Divide and and replant every three years. 3 plants for fresh use. As it is a year-round evergreen drying is not needed. Clip after blooming to keep bushy. Indispensable in meats, poultry, stews, sauces, soups and dressings.
Sweet Basil 
Quick and easy from seed; start early indoors, or outdoors after danger of frost. Pinch out all flower spikes, otherwise plant will die after producing seed. 3 plants, more for drying. Lends a pleasant sweet, mild flavour to tomatoes, tomato sauces, pesto, cheese, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry, salads.
Siam Queen Basil Quick and simple from seed. "West Coast Seeds" has seed, if you can't find seedlings at your favourite garden centre. More tender and more intensely flavored than Sweet Basil. 3 plants for fresh use, more for drying. Otherwise as above. Great in Thai and Italian recipes, shellfish, pesto, curries.
Summer Savory 
Best from seed after last frost where it will be grown, or start early indoors. 3 plants, more for drying. Excellent container plant. Great in beans and mild flavouring for meats, gravies, soups, stews, eggs, fish, soups, vegetables, dressings, butter and vinegars.
The Front Lawn or Ground CoverTaking care of a home's front lawn. More...The Front Yard Lawn or Groundcover?
The summer heralds in lots of sun and fun, and as outdoor activities abound at this time, lawn care can be easily overlooked. Lawn maintenance can be a laborious undertaking in the summer months, making you inclined to slacken on the task. However, the following tips will keep your lawn looking healthy and lovely throughout the summer and are well worth the effort. Keep reading thought if you'd like to replace it with something easier to care for and just as beautiful.
Mowing
Avoid mowing your lawn frequently during the summer. Mow once in two weeks. Also, keep the grass a little longer than you usually do in the spring and fall. This will provide valuable shade for the soil and reduce the possibility of your lawn burning. If you slightly raise the mowing height, it will have a favourable impact on your lawn as scalping becomes less of a necessity. Do not cut off more than one-third of the lawn height at once. When more of the grass blades are showing, it has the effect of making the lawn appear greener. Grass roots are also enabled to penetrate deeper into the ground for moisture and nutrients, which is helpful during the hot and dry summer months.
Sick of Lawncare? Here are a few alternatives.
Bugleflower
Bugleflower (Ajuga reptans) is a low-growing plant that spreads quickly and makes a soft, thick mat. If left to grow, it can reach heights of 2" to 6" (depending on the variety), and will produce beautiful white, purple or blue flowers. There are several leaf colors available, including purple, pink and variegated varieties. So, if you're in the mood for something really funky, why not plant a purple lawn? Bugleflower will grow in sunny or shady areas and can be mowed just like grass, although you will need to do so less often.
White Clover*
The most cost-effective choice is white clover, sometimes known as Dutch clover, which creates a thick green carpet-like ground cover. Many people spend a lot of time and resources trying to eradicate clover from their lawns, but it really is a useful plant. It belongs to the legume family and these plants are natural hosts to a kind of bacteria that fixes nitrogen out of the air. Therefore, by over seeding your grass lawn with clover, you get a cost-effective source of fertilizer.
Since clover has a longer root than lawn grass, it's more drought tolerant. In fact, you shouldn't have to water it at all. In times of extreme drought, clover will simply go partially dormant and cease to grow, whereas lawn grass will usually turn brown and crispy.
Clover doesn't need to be mowed as often as grass and if you let it reach its full height, usually around 4" to 6", it will produce attractive and fragrant flowers. It also grows much better than grass does in compacted soil, so you can say goodbye to that aerator rental you've been thinking about. One word of caution though, clover can be quite slippery when damp or wet.
Creeping Thyme
This is a lovely alternative to grass. It's a low-growing perennial that comes in many varieties and thrives in dry, rocky soil. Aside from a little supplemental water to get it started, this plant will not need further watering, mowing or fertilizing. It spreads into a thick carpet of tiny delicate leaves that hug the ground and give off a wonderful savory aroma when stepped on. Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) produces tiny, delicate flowers, and, depending on your location, at certain times in the summer it will transform into a field of pink or purple.
You shouldn't have to worry about foot traffic causing any harm to the plant. However, it doesn't do as well in shady areas and can become a bit patchy.
Periwinkle
For a shady alternative, periwinkle (Vinca minor) can produce a lush green lawn if you have the patience to let it fill in. It may take a couple of years to become thick and full, but it doesn't require fertilization or mowing. It also produces pretty flowers. This plant will grow in the sun, but it doesn't provide as much cover there and tends toward a more yellowish hue. Periwinkle is not as nice to walk on as white clover or bugleflower, but it might be just what you're looking for to fill in that empty spot under your maple or spruce tree.
Lily of the Valley*
Another shady option is Lily of the Valley. This plant is a lovely, lush green color and grows to about 6" (15cm). It fills in so tightly that you'll never have to worry about weeds. Lily of the Valley doesn't need fertilizing, watering, or mowing, and in the spring, you will have a profusion of delicate, fragrant, white bell-shaped flowers.
Be careful where you put these tough little plants because they do spread voraciously and they are very difficult to eradicate once they're out of control. They can, however, create a wonderful, thick green carpet and they need absolutely no maintenance whatsoever. One of the most exciting things about all of the these plants is that they are resistant to those nasty white grubs and other lawn pests that so many homeowners struggle with every year. Be cautious with this one if you have pets - in large quantities, it can be poisonous to them.
There you go! Some tips for your front lawn or some alternatives to a front lawn that still look fabulous! Enjoy the choices.
Water Saving Tips for the GardenWater Saving Tips for the Garden More...Water Saving Tips for Your Lawn and Garden
 One way of minimizing water use on your lawn or garden is to collect rainwater from your roof and down spouts in a rain barrel or other container, and keep it covered with an insect screen.
For many Canadians, summer means watering lawns, washing cars and filling swimming pools. As a result, during the hot summer months, water use in most Canadian cities can double - placing stress on municipal water systems, increasing the chances of municipal restrictions on water usage and increasing the cost for both taxpayers and water users.
This summer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a variety of tips you can use to minimize the amount of water used on your lawn and garden:
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Before watering, always take into account the amount of rainfall the week before. Leave a measuring container in the yard to help monitor rainfall (making sure to empty it once a week) and keep in mind any watering restrictions that may apply in your city.
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Lawns do not normally need more than about 2.5 cm of water once a week. If you've received this amount or more in rainfall for the week, you can skip a week of watering. To measure the right amount, for example, place an empty tuna can on your lawn while watering evenly. Then time how long it takes to fill the can so you'll know how long to run your sprinkler for. If you set your timer for this amount of time, the water will shut off automatically.
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Apply a layer of mulch around garden plants, shrubs and trees to retain moisture, moderate soil temperature, control erosion and suppress weeds.
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Select plant species that are well suited to the soil, sunlight and moisture conditions on your property. For dry, sunny spots, select drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants. Drought-tolerant lawn species include fescues and white clover.
- Finally, choose an efficient irrigation system. Place a soaker hose on the ground at the base of trees, shrubs, perennials, flower beds and vegetable gardens, or use a drip or trickle irrigation system. They apply water directly to the soil rather than to the leaves, while significantly reducing evaporation. Also, use a timer to automatically set the required watering time, which will help you avoid overwatering.
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