My Home Remodeling

One of the best parts of the holidays are the seasonal scents—mulling spices, evergreens, gingerbread, peppermint… Why not add the extra dimension of fragrance to gift giving with this aromatic botanical gift topper? A pinecone combined with cinnamon sticks and a cedar sprig makes this easy-to-assemble decoration not only look beautiful, but also smell like Christmas.

Materials
For each gift topper, you will need the following:

• 1 pinecone
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 sprig cedar or other evergreen such as fir or boxwood
• Ribbon 
• Glitter
• Gloss medium, available at art supply stores (or Mod Podge)
• Hot glue

Putting it all together
1. Mix glitter with gloss medium, then paint it over the pine cone’s seed scales. Use Read more…

Several months ago I asked a few of my gardening friends to respond to a questionnaire. They generously agreed.

The subject:

Our Moms.

It’s about the stories they’ve told us and how they’ve lived their lives.

It’s about the impact they’ve had on us, both in and out of the garden.

It’s about how they helped us get from there to here.

During this holiday season, I can think of no better gift for our Moms than taking the time to appreciate them.

Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll be able to read the experiences of gardeners from different parts of the country….in their own words.

I hope you enjoy.

Rebecca Sweet is well known in the gardening world as a best selling author, prolific writer,  blogger, and a fine garden designer.

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After summer holidays are over and the heat and humidity subsides, it’s a good time to start home renovation and preparation projects before the cold weather sets in. Flower beds can be cut down, lawns fertilized for the last time and windows washed. Here are five projects that are perfect for cool fall days.

Winterize the Deck

Decks get a lot of use during long summer days. By the time fall comes around, they can look worn out and old. Once the deck is cleaned off and all summer chairs and tables are stored away, power-wash the deck with a high-velocity pressure washer. This will dislodge any dirt that is stuck in the wood grain and will take away the gray color that decks fade to over time. F

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We asked 
Jim McMillen, president of Landscapes in Bloom, 
to create lush planters that will last until spring. Here are his elegant creations.

Refined
Evergreens are a staple in winter pots, but here, their bushy habit is blended with tall branches and earthy tones. Jim started with a ring of cedar and pine around the edge of the container, then pushed the birch logs into the centre to create a focal point. Magnolia, seeded eucalyptus, mentola balls and Italian cotoneaster fill in any gaps. “It’s like flower arranging, painting and art all mixed together,” he says. Jim recom Read more…