Alas, if such is true, then the majority of Canada, to say nothing of a goodly proportion of the United States remains civilized, this despite the opinions of other occupiers of the globe.
Diversion No. 1
Sir Peter Viggers, Tory MP for Gosport, England, latest expense claims have been revealed by The News of Portsmouth. Last year, taxpayers were outraged when it was learned he had claimed over £1,645 for a floating ornamental duck house for the garden pond of his Titchfield home. The former RAF jet pilot, solicitor and banker now includes claims for a £6,648 bill gardening bill, £1,410 for grass cutting along with £220 for garden irrigation. Previously, in the four years up to 2007, he had claimed £30,000 for gardening.
Can various prognosticating rodents be relied upon? Or do you put your faith in assorted Environment Canada meteorologists and climatologists? How about that most venerable of annual publications, The Old Farmer’s Almanac? According to the latter, the first two weeks of February will see Ontario temperatures two degrees C below normal, on average. And then expect snow from mid- to the end of the month.
Environment Canada’s senior climatologist Dave Phillips predicted that, “It will be an interesting winter.” This is an El Niño year, which will make weather patterns unpredictable in much of the country, say the boffins. However, later last month Phillips was predicting a mild winter, thanks to El Niño. And groundhogs such as our own Wiarton Willie, or Punxsutawney Phil down in Pennsylvania and Shubenacadie Sam of Nova Scotia, have they seen their shadow, confirming winter will last another six weeks? Alas, press time precludes us to announce the vital observation. Given the accuracy of the competition, however, groundhog pronouncements are probably as accurate as anything else.
Diversion No. 2
The Green Party of Prince Edward Island asked the province to shelve its ban on cosmetic pesticides even before the legislation takes effect, reported CBC News. The Greenies said the ban will not include many toxic chemicals while it does include some products made of natural ingredients.
If your one of the “seedy” fraternity ‘tis time to start a few flower and vegetables this month. Impatiens and begonias can be rewardingly raised from seed – cheaply too, for all of us who are emerging from The Great Recession.
In the vegetable line, this month is the time start hot pepper seed: Cayenne, Habanero, Jalapeño, Scotch Bonnet, Tabasco and others. Unlike Sweet Bell and Banana peppers, these sky-scorchers can be grown in Canada but require a longer growing season. Don’t consider starting sweet pepper seeds, along with tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, squash and herbs until April.
Another candidate for early seeding is the so-called yard-long bean. This is amazingly prolific and long-bearing if it is started good and early. Like eggplant seedlings, resist temptation to plant out until early June when nights as well as days are warm.
Diversion No. 3
Brussels sprouts ice-cream, anyone, enquires the Daily Mail. Two English mums have set out to restore the “hated” veg’s image with a new recipe book. Rachel Pack and Deborah Kershaw authored Once a Sprout, Always a Sprout . . . Or Maybe Not (£5 from
forest schools blog link)
So there is nothing for it, but, having also taken care of the houseplants, to peruse the online offerings of mail order gardening firms. Stephen Laecy, British member of the honourable brotherhood of garden communicators, has labeled it garden and plant cruising online. You can find anything on the web, it is said. Indubitably weird and wonderful are some horticultural novelty items along with standard tools, equipment and supplies hard or even impossible to find in local retail stores. Assuming of course you really, really wanted to in the first place.
The two best-known on-line suppliers offering vast selections of top quality tools and equipment in Canada are
Lee Valley Tools and
Rittenhouse. Let the latter take precedence since they have been in business for almost one hundred years in the Niagara Peninsular.
What would you say of any company that actually exports to China?
M. K. Rittenhouse commenced business supplying spray equipment to Niagara orchardists in 1914. Now they are supplying container loads of high-height tree sprayers and root-feeding components to the Middle Kingdom. In fact for the home hobbyist, equipment is the principle name of the game at Rittenhouse although by no means exclusively and certainly not fending off bugs or applying nutrients
Over at Lee Valley Tools, the reverse is to be found. Their range is vast and of reliable quality. And for those gardeners still suspicious of ordering online – or looking to save on delivery charges –
Lee Valley boasts numerous retail stores across the country.
Grimo Nut Nursery has long been known for its enthusiastic promotion for all that is hardy here producing nuts – and a few others. But having gone nuts, how to gather and crack ‘em?
Visit to find booth nut harvesting machines plus powerful crackers. No more spreading black walnut in the driveway and driving over them, which works but leaves behind appalling stains.
McFayden is a fine representative of Canadian mail-order seeds catalogues. But, like many another all too often now defunct such prairie businesses they offer items not usually seen elsewhere. Extendable handle tools for one, or how about a sharpening tool that fits in the pocket? Also that essential for all growers-from-seed, an electric warming mat from the Jiffy people.
Infuriatingly, our wonderful southern neighbours often approve of new, even natural pest controls long before the bungleaucrats of Bytown have extracted the proverbial digit. Such a substance is neem oil from a tree native to India – but it can be sold here so long as we don’t tell you what it can do. Only an inmate of Ottawa can make sense of that ruling. But Richter’s doesn’t try – they offer Bug-A-Bug™ Neem Oil. For more,
go here.
Enough already! Browsing just these few will pass away the gloom-filled few remaining weeks – six if that wretched rodent is right – of winter.
Diversion No. 4
One affluent City of London type moaned to Matthew Appleby of The Daily Telegraph the other day that if the Government taxes his bonus too much he will not be able to afford to have his garden redesigned in spring. Suggests Appleby: This is what the Government should bear in mind when imposing these draconian taxes. Should bankers be taxed? Or do their garden improvements drive the financial recovery of the state?
