General growing and maintenance guidelines. Your plants and how to care for them…
I grow several allium species and cultivars in my garden and I find that many of them serve as a hub for a surprising range of pollinators. This is nodding onion (Allium cernuum), an easy to grow, multi-use plant that is native to Carolinian habitats (parts of Canada and the US, including right here in …
A post shared by Davin Risk (@langueverte) on Nov 18, 2017 at 11:34am PST Davin shot this ethereal, slow motion video in the garden last weekend. I believe these were the same midges that danced around me one afternoon a few weeks ago as I was constructing a cold frame over this bed in anticipation …
I chose TASTE as my prompt for the first day. My original plan was to choose a handful of different basil varieties and make comparisons between the flavours of the different flowers as a way to get to know them better. However, once I was out in the garden I found myself tempted by several …
Lately, I’ve begun using the video function on Instagram to shoot some quick, informal videos in my garden. I’ve stayed away from video in the past because of the work involved in shooting, editing, etc. But the other day as I was in my garden cleaning up a bed, it suddenly occurred to me that …
I spent about an hour yesterday afternoon perched on a stool in front of a patch of borage (Borago officinalis) with my camera poised to take photos of pollinators as they went about their business collecting pollen. I observed at least 6 different types of bees on this particular plant, many of which were small …
Borage (Borago officials) flowers shot against a backdrop of Golden Jubilee Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum ‘Golden Jubilee’) leaves.
Growing herbs as cuttings is one quick and cost effective way that I multiply some of my herb crops — particularly basil — midway into the growing season. This way I don’t have to grow as much from seed, and should I purchase a particular variety, I only need purchase one transplant. Not all cuttings …
Over the weekend we made a day trip to Richters Herbs, so I could partake in my yearly bacchanalian overdose on herbs. This was our first time driving alone (rather than hitching a ride with friends) and I was pleased to find out that they are a dog-friendly business, allowing us to bring Molly inside …
It used to be that I would wake up every morning and charge ahead into the garden first thing. I can no longer do that since I still have a lot of strength and endurance to recover after last year’s health issues. This garden season, I’ve been starting each day with a slow and gentle …
Earlier today I was doing some writing on the book I hope to publish in the near future. One of the sections I was working on was about particularly aromatic plants and I got the sudden urge to invite readers via social media to share their favourite plant smell, whether from foliage, flower, or otherwise. …
Use old herbs to make a springtime tonic for houseplants, outdoor potted plants, young seedlings, and to help newly planted transplants get established outdoors.
The little patch of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) that I’ve got at the back of my garden is starting to emerge from its winter dormancy. Years ago, when I was first “bit” by this plant, I never could have imagined that one day I would grow it in my garden, or that I would be …