Last week, while cruising up and down the aisles at Landscape Ontario’s Expo, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a vision of loveliness…

Written on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 in Books & Products

Be the first to comment! | Read 137 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

I immediately liked and enjoyed Anne Wareham’s provocative book, The Bad Tempered Gardener. I had a running internal dialogue for days (which is good…plenty of thinking/discussing/cursing the material in this book). But I found it hard to write a thoughtful in-depth review. Something about the book didn’t feel right to. So, I re-read it again, slowly.

Written on Thursday, September 1, 2011 in Books & Products

Be the first to comment! | Read 210 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

A week ago I hurried to finish my last assignment for the Planting Design course by Hilary Thomas. Going through the 4-week course on My Garden School website felt like going to a regular classroom except I completed the course in the comfort of my own home.

Written on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in Books & Products

2 comments | Read 575 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Every once in a while I come across a gardening reference book that reads like a delicious novel, filled with fabulous conversational writing, sage advice, and enlivened wit leafy villains, thugs and heroes. What delightful book is this?

It is Jodi DeLong’s recently released book, Plants for Atlantic Gardens, released by Nimbus Publishing! A fabulous collection of plant profiles….

Written on Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Books & Products

Be the first to comment! | Read 569 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Snow, love or hate it, it’s a reality for gardens zone 6 and lower. I’m in zone 5, and gardeners are almost guaranteed snow every winter. And it is a good thing (to quote Martha Stewart). Here’s my take on it…

Written on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 in Garden Care

Be the first to comment! | Read 534 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Debra Lee Baldwin’s book, Succulent Container Gardens, was named one of Amazon’s best ten books of 2010 in the Home and Garden category. After avidly reading the book, I understood why.

Written on Friday, January 7, 2011 in Books & Products

2 comments | Read 591 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Sue Reed’s book, Energy-wise Landscape Design, fills a much-needed gap in gardening: everything you ever wanted to know about building a sustainable/energy saving garden.

Written on Thursday, December 9, 2010 in Books & Products

Be the first to comment! | Read 429 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

It’s that time again…planting indoor amaryllis. Or should I be botanically hip and say Hippeastrum? Hippeastrums are nature’s own instant package, containing all the elements to grow and flower— you just need to add water.

Written on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 in Plant Guide

Be the first to comment! | Read 823 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Do you remember the fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Do you recall Goldilocks fussiness about the temperature of her porridge? Well, if tomatoes could talk, they would say the same thing. Tomatoes need just the right temperatures to set fruit.

Written on Friday, July 16, 2010 in Plant Guide

Be the first to comment! | Read 731 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva

Plants that bloom from summer into the fall continue feeding bees to the end of the season. (n) indicates plants native to Ontario.

Written on Friday, June 25, 2010 in Plant Guide

Be the first to comment! | Read 615 times | Read more...

Written by Cristina da Silva