Arts Nursery Cool Plant BlogA gardening blog packed to the rim with interesting and informative gardening, landscaping and outdoor living tips for homeowners, landscapers and plant lovers in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.uuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=9Copyright (c) 2013. Arts Nursery Ltd.2024-03-19T12:36:42Zuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=10Tips And Tricks: Growing Vegetables And Herbs At Home<h1><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jqOHaJHE6QU?rel=0" width="700"></iframe><br />
Tips And Tricks: Growing Vegetables And Herbs At Home</h1>
<p>Are you interested in growing your own herbs and vegetables but unsure of where to start? Gardening can be an incredibly rewarding and satisfying activity, especially when it comes to growing your own fresh produce. Here are some tips to help you get started on your journey to becoming a successful gardener.</p>
<p>One of the most versatile and popular herbs to grow is basil. With its fragrant aroma and a variety of uses in cooking, it's no wonder why so many gardeners choose to grow it. To start, divide your basil plants to encourage new growth and keep them warm and hydrated. Once they reach a certain size, be sure to pinch back the leaves regularly to encourage bushier growth.</p>
<p>Another great herb to grow is rosemary. This hardy perennial thrives in a warm, sunny, and sheltered spot and can be mulched with hay in the wintertime to protect it from the cold. Pinching back new growth throughout the season will encourage a fuller and bushier plant.</p>
<p>If you're looking to add some spice to your garden, peppers are a great option. They prefer a warm and sheltered environment and can continue producing well into October. Be sure to keep them hydrated and fertilized throughout the growing season for optimal results.</p>
<p>Tomatoes are another garden favorite and can be grown in pots or directly in the ground. They require a warm, sunny, and sheltered spot and should be watered in the morning to prevent disease. When planting, bury the stem deep into the soil and remove lower leaves to encourage new roots to form along the stem.</p>
<p>For leafy greens like lettuce and kale, it's important to plant them in a location with afternoon shade to prevent them from bolting in hot weather. Even watering is key to preventing bitterness in the leaves and ensuring a healthy crop. When harvesting, be sure to take leaves from the outside of the plant to encourage continued growth.</p>
<p>By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to growing a thriving herb and vegetable garden. Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and produce your own fresh and healthy food. Happy growing!</p>
2023-05-11T00:00:00-06:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=11How To: Pruning Blueberry Bushes<div class="ratio ratio-16x9 mt-2 mb-2"><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RbwTte7InbA?rel=0" title="YouTube video"></iframe></div>
<h1>Blueberry Bush Pruning 101</h1>
<p>Are you looking to add a touch of sweetness to your garden? Look no further than the blueberry shrub! These lovely, easy-to-care-for fruiting shrubs are the perfect addition to any garden.</p>
<p>To keep your blueberry shrubs thriving, make sure they get at least six hours of sun per day and are planted in well-drained, acidic soil with plenty of moisture. Add a nice layer of mulch at their feet to keep them happy and healthy.</p>
<p>Blueberry shrubs are a long-lived, slow-growing plant. We recommend practicing first aid pruning for the first three years, which means removing only broken branches. After that, give your blueberry shrubs a basic winter invigoration pruning by removing a few of the older branches right at the base. This will make room for new branch shoots to grow up from the base. It's easy to tell old from new canes, as the older canes develop a woody brownish-grey bark, while new shoots are usually red or bright green.</p>
<p>Remember the 1/3 rule when pruning - never remove more than 1/3 of the plant at any one time. Sometimes, all it takes is just one cut!</p>
<p>It's as simple as that. So get ready to enjoy sweet, delicious blueberries straight from your garden. Happy planting and pruning!</p>
2023-02-24T00:00:00-07:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=12Magnificent Magnolia Trees<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UytBY6AWVc0?rel=0" width="700"></iframe>
<h1>Magnificent Magnolia Trees</h1>
<p>As we step into the spring season, it's time to explore the world of Magnificent Magnolias.</p>
<p>Magnolias belong to one of the oldest tree families around. Their flowers developed long before there were bees around and they don't even have true petals. They're meant to attract beetles to bump around inside and collect the pollen.</p>
<p>Magnolia flowers carry the meanings of nobility, perseverance, and dignity. In addition, did you know that magnolia flowers are edible and they taste a little bit like ginger? Yes, they do! They actually make cookies, cordials, and pickles out of the flowers. Check out: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisnikole">https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisnikole</a> for more fun recipes!!</p>
<p>Magnolias come in all sizes and some beautiful colours. We have dwarf varieties as well as tall ones. Did you know the biggest magnolia is in Smith County, and it's a hundred and twenty-two feet tall with a six-foot diameter trunk? Amazing!</p>
<p>We are excited to announce that magnolias have arrived at our Nursery. We have a wide variety of magnolias including smaller growing varieties like Royal Star and Susan. You can choose from different sizes and colours to suit your garden's aesthetics.</p>
<p>If you're looking to add a touch of elegance and grace to your garden, magnolias are the perfect choice. Visit our nursery today and explore the beauty of magnolias for yourself.</p>
2023-02-24T00:00:00-07:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=13Winter Fountain Care <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Even though winters in the Pacific Northwest tend to be mild it only takes a day or two of freezing weather to crack a fountain or a pump casing. The first thing to do is check the manufacturer’s instructions for any winterizing tips specific to your fountain but keep in mind that some of those winter precautions are for climates more severe than ours. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Many materials used to produce fountains, and water, can expand and contract in different temperatures/humidity levels. If the temperature falls below 0ºC or humidity levels change drastically, follow the steps below to protect your fountain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><u><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Winter Care Instructions:</span></span></span></span></u></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Bring inside:</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> If possible, bring your outdoor fountain inside for the winter. This is important for smaller table-top fountains, light weight ceramic fountains, and fountains without drain holes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Store in dry location:</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> If unable to bring inside, and your fountain is reasonably portable. Store your fountain in a dry and covered location.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Ensure components are not submerged:</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> Make sure that all internal components (stoppers, tubing, lights, pump, etc.) are not sitting in water. If possible, bring some or all of them inside. A pump can stay in a fountain for the winter, but if you choose to leave it in, it must not be in any standing water. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Completely drain:</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> It is important to prevent water from accumulating, freezing and thawing of water can cause pump damage and cracks to form in your fountain. Remove the drain plugs, if the fountain doesn’t have a drain hole and is too heavy to tip over you can use the fountain’s pump and redirect the tubing into a bucket or onto the ground. We have a spare pump just for draining fountains that we also use to do water changes in the summer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Clean it: </span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Make sure to remove any leaf debris, algae, etc. from your fountain. The tannic acids in organic materials can stain over the winter.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> </span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">6.</span></span></span></span><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777">Cover Fountain:</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Lato",sans-serif"><span style="color:#777777"> Once again this isn’t necessary in our climate unless the fountain doesn’t drain, but it will help your finish last longer. Make sure to use a breathable material when covering. DO NOT COVER YOUR FOUNTAIN IN PLASTIC! Make sure the fountain cover is taut so that no snow or water can pool in the cover. Tie the opening at the bottom of the cover around the fountain. We offer some covers but a BBQ cover works just as well. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>2022-11-03T00:00:00-06:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZJohn Cowiejcowie@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=14Hardy Palm Tree Winter Care<br />
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<h1>Hardy Palm Tree Winter Care</h1>
<p>For most of our winters here on the BC Coast, our hardy palms (Windmill Palms, thus far), will sail through with the winters with minimal effort to ‘winterize’ them. I believe the extent of my Palm tree winter care was to whack the snow or ice off the crown of the windmill palm with a broom. The last winter with its heavy heavy rain and then sudden early cold snap followed my freeze-thaws, wind and an extended wet cold spring proved more than may of our neighbourhood palms could handle and we took heavier losses than normal.</p>
<p>Palms can take 3 or more years to root in depending on the size of the palm. Newly planted palm trees are particularly vulnerable. Different seed strains and hybrids have different hardiness traits. Palms grown from seed strains here are hardier than those grown in warmer climes. And interestingly, even though we don’t yet know the why, palms that have withstood a harsh weather event (like last winter) are more likely to withstand future harsh weather.</p>
<h4>Here are some tips for helping your hardy palm tree through our ever-changing winters here in BC.</h4>
<p>Drainage! Whether you are growing your palm in a pot or in the ground, ensure there is plenty of drainage and that your Palm tree is not growing in standing water, though I have seen seed strains that are growing in swampy, saturated soil on Salt Spring Island, for the majority though, soil drainage is an absolute must!!</p>
<p>Mulch the roots. Palms will produce roots right at the surface of the soil so a free draining mulch will help to insulate during cold snaps without snow cover.</p>
<p>Don’t wrap your crown unless you need to. During milder, wetter, winter weather wrapping your crown can actually kill your palm if water and fungi get in. If you have to wrap the crown of the palm, you can recycle some of your old yoga mats or use bubble wrap or foam water pipe insulation covered lightly with a tarp. Insure it is water tight and make sure to remove when the danger of hard freeze has passed. In established Palm trees from the Coast of BC to about Langley, windmills need wrapping protection only when temps are expected to go lower than minus 15 degrees Celsius.</p>
<p>Incandescent lights to the rescue. Incandescent (non-LED) exterior lights are a great way to protect the crown when you need to and festive as well! Wrap your trunk with incandescent lights up to the crown and turn on at night when the temps are expected to dip. The bulbs will warm up and heat rises, keeping the crown from freezing. You can add extra insulation for those very cold nights but I use this as my go-to solution. For smaller palms you can build them a temporary roof and/or use a light bulb during emergencies. Heating cables and thermostats are also awesome if you are really serious.</p>
<p>For Palms in pots bring up against the house, under an overhang and insulate the pot as well as the crown. Plants in pots often loose a hardiness zone or two so act accordingly.</p>
<p>For more fantastic resources on both hardy and not so hardy palm varieties you can check out the Pacific Northwest Palm Society!</p>
2022-10-27T00:00:00-06:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=15Stink Bugs In B.C. <p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZjiNIjpLKvE?rel=0" width="700"></iframe></p>
<h1>The Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs In B.C.</h1>
<p>Let's talk about stink bugs. Like me, stink bugs prefer to get in out of the cold. Stink bugs will try to find nooks and crannies to tuck into in the fall and may even try to find a way into your house (unlike me). This year we have a healthy crop of them and especially the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug which is an introduced species.<br />
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Stink bugs are plant feeders. In the spring they tend to enjoy weeds and grasses. As the summer progresses and they become adults, they like to snack on a variety of fruits and veggies as well as some ornamental plants.<br />
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The Brown Marmorated Stink bug has done quite well for itself this year and has nibbled a few items in my garden. You can tell this stink but apart from the others by the white bands on its antennae among other identifiers. We have a number of other native Stink Bug species in BC.<br />
The Brown Marmorated Stink bug does not bite or sting. If you squish it or scare this critter you are in for an unpleasant surprise. They will emit a smell from multiple pores that is reminiscent of skunk…super fun. Not.<br />
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During the winter months they do not feed, mate or lay eggs in your house. If you would rather not share you house and garden with these tiny walking shields then toss them outside or dispose of them in an otherwise not squishy or stressful (for them) way.<br />
In the garden, spiders, ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps feed on the eggs of stink bugs.</p>
2022-10-12T00:00:00-06:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.comuuid:d7e9dc46-0b99-4f03-84be-189664932d67;id=16Earth Day Craft: Seed Cards<h1>Earth Day Craft: Seed Cards</h1>
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<p> </p>
<h2>Basic Paper Making</h2>
Step 1:<br />
Shred or tear up your paper. You can use a mix of papers including the brown paper grocery bags or you can use just one colour. You can use anything from your grocery list, school notes, gift tissue, envelopes, you get the idea. I would just stay away from glossy flyers or other highly dyed papers.<br data-text="true" />
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Step 2:<br />
Add water to your shredded paper until it is all covered, hot water works even faster. Leave to sit for a minimum of 2 hours. Overnight is even better.<br data-text="true" />
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Step 3:<br />
In small batches blend up your paper slurry until there are no visible chunks of paper. Add extra water so it blends easily (about a cup or so). Start and low speed and gradually increase the speed until blended. If you don’t have a blender you can let the slurry sit overnight and shred with 2 forks and your hands until all blended. I would suggest getting an older blender from the thrift store or a garage sale and keep it exclusively for crafts.<br data-text="true" />
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Step 4:<br />
Add to a larger plastic bin or even a lasagna pan and add more water to the slurry. You want a really watery mixture, soupier in consistency and not oatmeal. At this point, you can add colouring to your mixture if you want to make coloured paper. Tip, you want to go overboard on the colour and have it sit for a bit in order for the colour to make it into the fibers of the paper. If you are going to colour it and you don’t want rainbow coloured hands, use gloves.<br />
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Step 5:<br />
Using your mold and deckle (you can make them with 2 dollar store wooden picture frames and mesh from an old screen, or fine mesh from a fabric store or you can even free form the paper using a mesh strainer), scoop up some of the paper slurry. While it is draining, sprinkle on some of your seeds. Small seeds work best, if they are too large they will fall off or be lumpy. Add a little extra paper slurry with your hands or a spoon, and let drain. Remove the deckle, lay a piece of rag/fabric/felt over the paper, flip onto some towels and use a sponge, or towel to remove the excess water. Carefully peel back the mold and you will have your freshly made paper sticking onto the piece of fabric. Use 2 clothes pegs or clips and hang to dry or if we ever get a sunny day, you can simply lay out in the sun to dry.<br />
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Once dry, I like to leave mine overnight if I can, carefully peel off your new paper. Once you have a stack of paper you can flatten them out further if you like using a heavy book…I use a couple of my old botany books 😊.<br data-text="true" />
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Step 6:<br />
Write, draw or paint on them and give to someone special. When planting just find a bare patch of soil, I like to flip the card seed side down, water (Mother Nature can do this step) and watch them compost and grow!!<br />
<h2>Making Your Own Paper Making Equipment</h2>
One of the best tools to help you with paper making is having a Mould and a Deckle. Basically, a mould is a rectangular frame with a mesh bottom and a deckle is just a rectangular frame that matches the size of the mould.<br />
It is so easy to make your own. I made a smaller mould out of a dollar store wooden picture frame that I removed the glass and backing from.<br />
I had an old window screen and I cut off the screen material and fastened it to the wooden picture frame with a staple gun. There are a lot of great how to videos out there if you google mould and deckle. I wrapped the edges of my mould with duct tape to prevent all the little paper bits getting caught up in the edges. If you don’t have an old window screen you can also buy the fine mesh bags from the dollar store, the ones that you use to wash your delicate materials in. Basically you want a fine mesh that you can use to strain out your paper mash. You can also use a fine mesh strainer.<br />
For the deckle, you use a matching dollar store picture frame, glass and backing removed. In the video mine is slightly different, I lost the matching frame and used one I had on hand that was a close enough fit. Paper making is quite forgiving that way. A deckle just helps as an edge to scoop the mash material and keep it from pouring off when you scoop up the paper from the water mixture. You lift it off once the water drains, add your fabric on top of the paper, flip over, blot with more towels or a sponge and hang the paper and fabric together until dry. Peeling off the dry paper is actually quite satisfying!! Have fun and experiment!2022-04-22T00:00:00-06:002024-03-19T12:36:42ZLaurelle Olfdord-Downloldfordown@artsnursery.com