Editor’s Note: This column last appeared on 13 May 2020.   What to do this week This is the time for tending to bushes and shrubs, or perhaps dividing them, so let’s talk about that. If you have lilac, or elderberry, currants of course, rose bushes very often (especially theRead More

Editor’s Note: The Spectator is reaching into Michelle Smith’s gardening column archive for some weekly advice that is as relevant now as when it was first written in May 2017.   What to do this week Okay, up off the couch! It’s time to plant trees. What’s that? It’s cold and rainyRead More

I promised to deal with the volunteer awards that were presented during last week’s CBRM council meeting and, on the one hand, I can do that rather easily by telling you that the following awards were presented to the following people/groups: Gary MacDonald Memorial Award: Sukhmani Sahib Society, Sydney AnneRead More

Editor’s Note: The Spectator is reaching into Michelle Smith’s gardening column archive for some weekly advice that is as relevant now as when it was first written. This column last appeared on 22 April 2020.   What to do this week This is a great time of year to talk about soilRead...

Editor’s Note: This column last appeared on 3 April 2019.   What to do this week It’s about time to start tomato seedlings inside to have them ready for transplanting at the beginning of June. Each year I agonize over the wide variety of colors, textures and sizes available. IRead More

Editor’s Note: This column first appeared on 28 March 2018.   What to do this week If you have a greenhouse, that perfect place that will be housing some of those seedlings from the crowded windowsills very soon, this week is a great time to get it cleaned up andRead More

Editor’s Note: This column first appeared on 21 March 2018.   What to do this week This week is a good time to talk about a couple of things you might want to get to around the garden soon. One of those things is any plants you might have broughtRead More

Editor’s Note: This column last appeared on 14 March 2018.   What to do this week This week, we have a success report from Madeline about her globe artichoke overwintering experiment, and some encouragement to think about the early spring pruning of your trees and bushes. Let’s start with pruning.Read More

Editor’s Note: Today’s column first appeared on 7 March 2018.   What to do this week I’m back after a short break. Thank you all for your patience. I hope your onion seedlings are started! If they are not, you can do them in soil blocks. If you have themRead More

Editor’s Note: This column last appeared on 3 March 2021   What to do this week I really think people shouldn’t have lawns. Lawns are for grazing sheep. So that is my rule of thumb: your lawn should be either big enough to graze sheep, or small enough to cutRead More