Keep Wasps Away Tricks – DIY Wasp repellents and Traps Summer gives us warm temperatures and plenty of chances to enjoy picnics, BBQ’s and outdoor gatherings. Unfortunately summer also brings some unwelcome guests. Mosquitos and wasps (or yellow jackets) can quickly take the enjoyment of eating outdoors and become a nuisance you’d want to get rid […] Continue reading → 
How to get started – Raising Monarch Butterflies! It’s summer and Monarch butterflies have finally started to arrive in Ontario. During the winter months Monarchs hibernate in Mexico and migrate to Canada in June and July to breed. For me, that’s a beautiful reminder that summer is here, and our family has enjoyed raising Monarch […] Continue reading → 
Scabiosa or Pincushion Plants for Butterfly Gardens Scabiosa, also called pincushion plants are excellent perennial flowers for Butterfly Gardens. Which butterflies love Scabiosas? Many small butterflies like Cabbage Whites, Skippers and Sulphur are attracted to this plant. I have also seen the occasional Swallowtail and even a Monarch stopping by for a quick “meal”. Varieties What I […] Continue reading → 
Bringing Tropical Plants in for the winter Here are some tips on how to move your patio plants inside: Ontario Garden centres have such a great summer selection of exotic container plants. You may have a lemon tree, banana plant, palm tree, Mandeville, Hibiscus standards or cacti on your patio. Now that fall has arrived you […] Continue reading → 
Good Containers For Raising Monarch Butterflies Raising Monarch Butterflies is easy when using the right containers and following some simple steps. In my first article Raising Monarch Butterflies, I have included some tips on how to get started with rearing Monarch butterflies and where to find larvae. Some Butterfly Conservatories, Provincial Park stores and online […] Continue reading → 
An Ontario Gray Treefrog lives in Our Garden & How we raised thousands of Tree Frog babies! Mom, there is a strange bird in the garden! The sun had set, and my daughter was pointing at our backyard window while we all listened to this loud and different sounding “bird call,” which resembled a laughing sound. “It’s a […] Continue reading → 
Ontario Chipmunk living in my backyard – Loves Peanuts June 2015 Update: He’s back from his winter sleep and living in under my rock garden and waterfall! This little guy showed up in early November on my patio porch looking for food to fill up his burrow We have had chipmunks in our backyard for […] Continue reading → Overwintering Canna lilies – How to Store Canna Lilly Flower Bulbs photo: Veseys.com/ca Canna lilies belong to my favourite exotic garden plants They do come in a variety of colours now, from dark red to pinks, yellow and orange. They look stunning in mass plantings, but also as a backdrop in your perennial garden. I prefer the […] Continue reading →