|
You must be exhausted. I know that I am. Not 'fall-down-on-your-face' exhausted but 'I am so tired that I am sleeping like a baby and I feel good' exhausted.
There are so many tasks in the garden this time of year and the days start so early and end so late that, well, the old motor just doesn't have the stamina that it used to. This morning Mary got out of bed at 5:15 and got right back in. "I thought that it was 6" she whispered. So she lay there awake for an hour before getting up. You don't want your wick to burn out before the end of the day, right? We all have our strategies.
I no sooner get the weeds knocked down in the front yard, the paths mulched and it is time to do it in the back yard (again). This is what we love about the gardening experience, isn't it! The fact that 'finishing' the job is a moving target: further away from you each day. This time of year, anyway.
|
|
|
I had a friend, the late Peter Bender, who once said to me that everyone who smokes starts for the same reason: a deficient self image. Why smokers continue to smoke is not so easy to determine as everyone does it for their own personal reasons, he would say.
I think that gardening is much the same as smoking, from this point of view. We start for the same reason: fun. We continue on this journey as it grows into a more personal one with each plant planted, every seed sown for our own personal reasons. I will not try to guess what your reasons are. I have enough trouble trying to figure out why I started a 10 acre garden 7 years ago. On some days 'temporary insanity' seems like the most logical reason of all.
But here we are, in the last period of the first game of the season. In hockey language planting time only has about 20 minutes of play left. Then we are on to the next: the game of flowering. This is when Mother Nature goes crazy with insects moving pollen and nectar at unconscionable rates all around the neighbourhood. They do not care about property lines or who owns what, every garden on the street is their oyster and they are determined to use them all for one purpose: to reproduce. And to feed, now that I think about it.
Gardeners have their reasons for doing what they do; insects and song birds have theirs.
Before you hear from me again in July the second game will be well under way. I urge you to take the time to drink in the action, the colour, the sights and the sounds of a June garden. There is a reason why so many weddings occur this month. I just won't go on about it here.
|
|
|
|
|
Where is Mark this Month?
Join me in June at Windsor Nova Scotia, Barrington Passage Nova Scotia, Weymouth Nova Scotia, Three Hills Alberta and Lloydminster Alberta for other special events. Always informative. Always fun. Always a great sale! Only at Home Hardware.
* Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centre Event
Iroquois Falls Home Hardware
Friday 5pm dinner at the Legion with my presentation beginning at 6pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm at Iroquois Falls Home Hardware
For tickets and info contact Alana (705)232-4029
* Thursday, June 7
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centre Event
Lloydminster Home Hardware Building Centre
The store is hosting an all-day Scratch & Save sale. I will be there from 6pm -9pm.
For more info visit http://www.homehardwarelloydminster.com/
* Saturday, June 9
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centre Event
Three Hills Home Hardware
* Friday, June 22
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centre Event
10am to 2pm
Wilson's Home Hardware, Barrington Passage, NS
For more info visit http://www.wilsonsshoppingcentre.com/
* Saturday, June 23
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centre Event
Sissiboo Home Hardware, Weymouth, NS
For more info visit http://www.sissiboohomehardware.com/
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centres
This spring I am delighted to announce that we are adding 5 new members to the 'Mark Cullen Approved' family of quality Home Hardware retailers.
These dealers have met the stringent standards for product selection, their staff have passed the exclusive Home Hardware 'Lawn and Garden' seasonal training program (delivered by my good friend Denis Flanagan!) and they maintain all of the plant inventory at exceptional quality levels.
I am proud of them all. In addition to Napanee, Ontario and Gravenhurst, Ontario, (which we opened in May) we have a total of 15 excellent Lawn and Garden retailers that are Mark Cullen Approved.
The 5 new Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centres can be found at:<br>
Sissiboo Home Hardware Building Centre, Weymouth, Nova Scotia
Gravenhurst Home Hardware, Gravenhurst, Ontario
Napanee Home Hardware Building Centre, Napanee, Ontario
Three Hills Home Hardware Building Centre, Three Hills, Alberta
Iroquois Falls Home Hardware Building Centre, Iroquois Falls, Ontario
Congratulations to our new members who join this list of Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centres:<br>
Handyman Home Hardware, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland
Lloydminster Home Hardware Building Center, Lloydminster, Alberta
Perth Home Hardware Building Centre, Perth, Ontario
Windsor Home Hardware, Windsor, Nova Scotia
Sussex Home Hardware Building Centre, Sussex, New Brunswick
Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre, Invermere, British Columbia
Brockville Home Hardware Building Centre, Brockville, Ontario
Wilson's Home Hardware Building Centre, Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia
Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre, Orillia, Ontario
Stratford Home Hardware Building Centre, Stratford, Prince Edward Island
|
|
|
|
|
More Fantastic Learning Opportunities
Beekeeping
Wednesday, June 20
9 am - 12 pm
Location: Everdale Organic Farm, Hillsburgh, ON
Cost: $45
Info and registration: http://workshops.everdale.org/at-the-farm/beekeeping/
Discover the fascinating world of bees and apiculture. Take a tour of Everdale's hives and see the colonies firsthand. Learn the roles and responsibilities of the queen, drones, house bees and foragers. We'll also discuss the parts of the hive and the environmental issues that we are facing as a society today.
Organic Magic with Worms
Wednesday, June 20
7:30 pm
Location: Mississauga Seniors Centre, 1389 Cawthra Rd., Mississauga
A fun and entertaining evening featuring Cathy of Cathy's Crawly Composters. Learn all about worms and vermicomposting - a viable solution to your organic waste.
Organic Magic with Worms
Thursday, June 21
7 - 9 pm
Location: The Big Carrot, 348 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Room 212
A fun and entertaining evening featuring Cathy of Cathy's Crawly Composters. Learn all about worms and vermicomposting - a viable solution to your organic waste.
For more info
|
|
|
|
|
More Garden Tours in the GTA
Niagara-on-the-Lake Shaw Garden Tour
Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012
10am to 4pm
Cost: $20
More info: call the Shaw Festival Box Office 1-800-511-7429
Hort Societies of Parkdale & Toronto Garden Tour
Date: Sunday, June 10
10am to 4pm
Cost: $18
More info: www.parkdaletorontohort.com
Credit Valley Horticultural Society Garden Tour
Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012
10am to 4pm
Cost: $12 in advance, $15 on June 16
More info: www.creditvalleyhort.ca
Magical Gardens of Leaside Tour
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2012
11am to 4pm
Cost: $10
More info: www.leasidegardensociety.org
Cloverleaf Garden Tour
Date: Sunday, June 24, 2012
10am to 4pm
Cost: $15
More info: www.cloverleafgardenclub.org
Bowmanville Hort Society & Community Care Durham-Clarington Summer Glory Garden Tour
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012
9am to 4pm
Cost: $20
More info: call 905-623-2261
|
|
|
|