Well, hi there. How are you all? Starting with weather, as always, it has been a chilly week. We only get a wee bit of this polar stream that is hitting the eastern provinces and a good part of the States, thankfully. I sure hope everyone is okay in those hard hit areas.
I’m still tackling kitchen clean up, reorganizing and cleaning out drawers. How does one accumulate so many bits and bobs in just 2 years? I then need to move onto my closet and finally accept that I will never fit into some of those clothes again ; )
I’m still working on my seed orders. Mostly because I am trying to figure out my colour scheme and figure out what flowers I need for the yard. I have most all of my veggies already, so it’s just down to the flowers now.
Why Biodiverse Hedgerows are Transforming American Gardens – I was looking for a Viburnum to put in my hedgerow but it seems they were not popular last year as there were none to be found. Birds love these native shrubs.
WHY MANY AMERICAN GARDENS ARE FULL OF MULCH? – I am not sure why that is all caps. I am not yelling at you, I swear, hahaha. This article is superb though. Really, really good. You need to read it.
You may wonder why I think so if you have seen our new front yard landscape and all that mulch… but it is temporary. It’s just till the plants grow and fill in, and I find more perennials that are wildlife friendly but not deer fodder. Till then, the mulch helps to keep weeds at bay and keep the perennials thriving (as I hardly ever water the front).
- The 2 Colors Every Pro Gardener Loves to Plant With (And Why) – love this.
- How To Sow Icelandic Poppy Seeds – winter sowing or direct sowing, depending on where you live. Looking for poppy seeds? Check out some of my favourite Canadian seed sources.
- How to Start an Herb Garden: Easy Steps for Growing Fresh Herbs at Home – includes when to start info.
- Seeds to Start Indoors 8–10 Weeks Before Your Last Frost – that is mid-February on the prairies and now for my west coast readers : ) See the seed sowing calculator here.
- Introducing the FLOWER Magazine 2026 Flower of the Year – Ooh, I concur. Such a lovely floral addition to any garden.
- Your Birth Month Matches a Perennial – Here’s the One For You – I always knew mine is roses, but
From Martha – This Is What Martha Is Growing in Her Greenhouse This Winter
Check out Martha’s fabulous greenhouse. Wow. Cannot do this in my garden zone, unless I win the lottery, but it is lovely to dream.
Homey Bits of Inspo
Check out this super cute rag wreath that I made at the library (for free) last week. Isn’t it the cutest? I had always wanted to make one but thought I had to cut the strips myself. Hahaha. How old am I, eh? So, here are my tips if you want to make one…
- This is a small wreath form, 10 inches across the outer edges and is very skinny. Thin? Narrow? The fact that the wreath itself is not substantial in heft does not matter, as you are tying strips of cloth all around it.
- You also need a jelly roll of quilting fabric. This jelly roll has strips of spring florals, but I really love this jelly roll with all the colours of the rainbow. Make one for every season….
- You want to cut the strips into shorter strips that you are will tie on to your wreath. For this wreath, I cut 24 cm (almost 10 inches) long strips that I double tied. As in, I made a double knot. To do it again. I would make them 26 cm long, I think. You do not want them to be too long or they will flop, will not stand up straight.
- Tie the strips really close together with a tight double knot. You want to stagger the knot so that your sticky uppy ends are all over the front of the wreath.
The ladies and I were saying that it would be a cute wreath for a laundry room (I agree, but my laundry room is a hallway from the garage, so I hung this on the French door in my dining room instead). This took me just 1.5 hours to make. It was easy and fun to do. I think I will make a larger one, 14 inches would look great. This would be a fun activity to do with friends.
*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase any items from one of my links, I earn a wee small commission to support my blog. Rest assured, it does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item on your own.
‘Cheap’ filler ingredients in bird feed are harming birds – this is a British article, but I am sure the very same thing applies here in North America.
- 9 Tacky Antiques That Are Trending Again, Experts Say
- Two Dreamy Airbnb Cottages on the Swedish island of Gotland – I would love to stay at either one of these bnb’s. I love to get ideas from these photos… for the airbnb that I do not have, lol ; ) Hopefully, someday.
Recipes
From Half Baked Harvest – Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Pitas. – Half Baked Harvest
- How to organise your fridge: three expert-approved methods to follow at home
- 10 Best Anti-Inflammatory Foods, According to Registered Dietitians
Keto Bread {2 grams carbs} – with hubby’s diabetes numbers being so wonky lately, I made this bread the other day. It is more dense than regular bread and some say it tastes a bit eggy. All I know is that hubby likes it and can make a sandwich again, so this recipe is a win.
Energy Balls | 12 Easy No Bake Energy Bites Recipes
Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff Recipe – I use flour instead of arrowroot. This is one of my favourite ‘meaty’ vegetarian meals.
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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