First of all: Belated Happy New Year from all of us at Dig This.

Secondly, now that January’s behind us, we know it’s not long until spring. That means we can get out into our gardens, think about new plantings, and start on the plans we’ve been dreaming up through the winter months.

Just because you didn’t hear from us in January doesn’t mean we weren’t busy. Virginia, Christiane and I traveled to Toronto and Atlanta to find delightful new items for your gardens - like the "Fern Garden" collection shown to the right - and more is arriving in our stores every day. So if you want a jump start on spring, come and visit us soon.

Elizabeth, Franchise President

If it's February, it must be time for our semi-annual Greenhouse Sale!

Until the end of February, save 15% on a Supreme 86 Halls Greenhouse. You can get your greenhouse up in time to start spring plants for only $1099 – the regular price is $1300. Plus, every greenhouse purchased in February will come with a free auto vent opener.

We have many different models and sizes to choose from, and Halls Greenhouses are simple to install. Drop by our stores to get more information. To see a greenhouse, visit our Nanaimo or Oak Bay stores.

If you want more information on greenhouses, have a look at our February 2007 Newsletter, by visiting our website at www.digthis.com  and going to the Newsletter Archive on the right hand side.

Seeds from all your favourite suppliers, like West Coast, Suttons, Mr. Fothergill, Thompson & Morgan, Richters, Seeds of Change and our own local The Garden Path, are arriving in our stores every day.

You know Dig This carries the most extensive selection of seeds anywhere on the Island, and our selection this year won’t disappoint you. Whether it’s the latest award-winning flower or vegetable varieties tested for our climate, we have it! And if we don’t, we’ll try to find it for you.

Later this spring, watch for our classes on Starting Plants from Seeds.

Dig This Broadmead is moving to a new location within the mall. The new store is right by the 4-way stop when you enter the main entrance to the mall - right where the old fish & chip shop used to be.

Virginia doesn't want to lug everything from her existing location over to the new store, so there are some great deals to be had. Many items are on sale at 30% or more. Drop by to see what's available and make some great savings!

The winter months are one of the best time to feed local birds: natural food supplies are low, and it's such a delight to watch them feed because in January they are just about the most colourful and lively things in the garden.

To keep birds coming back to your feeders in any season provide them with the following three essential elements:

• A variety of quality seed.
• Fresh water for drinking and bathing.
• Ample cover, preferably provided by native plants. Native plants also provide potential nesting sites and a source of natural food.

Different birds are attracted by different kinds of seed, so try offering a variety of foods in different feeders. Different types of seeds require different types of feeders, so here are some tips on what seed attracts the different birds and which feeders to use:

Black-oil sunflower seed is preferred by many small birds, but hulled sunflower seed is consumed by the largest variety of birds, including jays, woodpeckers, finches, chickadees, titmice, siskins purple and house finches, and nuthatches.

Millet is the favourite food of most small-beaked ground-feeding birds such as juncos, sparrows, and towhees.

Peanuts, whole or crushed, attract woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, titmice, bushtits, nuthatches, wrens and many others.

Thistle (Nyjer) is the favourite food of goldfinches and house finches.

Suet attracts woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice.

Cracked corn is also popular with ground-feeding birds, but it is susceptible to rot. Milo, wheat and oats are found in low-priced birdseed blends, but most birds discard these fillers and they simply end up on the ground attracting rodents. So look for seed that has a lower percentage of these ingredients.

As for the feeders, there are several basic styles to choose from:

• Sunflower-seed or mixed seed tube feeders. The Audobon Society says "if you are going to put out just one feeder, this is your best choice. Be sure to select a model with metal ports around the seed dispensers to protect the feeder from nibbling squirrels and house sparrows."

• Hopper feeders. These feeders keep several pounds of mixed seed dry and ready for hungry birds. Hopper feeders attract all the birds that tube feeders attract along with larger birds like jays. Dig This carries beautifully designed and locally-made hopper feeders.

• Thistle (nyger) feeders. Especially designed to dispense thistle (nyjer) seed, these feeders have tiny holes that make the seed available only to small-beaked finches such as goldfinches, redpolls and pine siskins.

• Suet feeders are separate cages that you can hang in trees, or some hopper feeders come with suet cages on the sides.

• Ground feeders are a simple screen-bottomed tray that sits several inches off the ground. These are not recommended if cats are frequent visiters to your garden.

All our stores carry a great selection of feeders and birdseed designed to attract local birds.

For more information, go to http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/bird_feeding/index.html

Not close to the Broadmead Dig This?  Don't worry, all of our stores have terrific deals on this month as we make room for the new spring merchandise.

Selected outdoor pottery is on at 30% off and there are many other items on sale at savings of 30% to 50% or better.

Added to the greenhouse sale, all this makes it a good time to visit one of our stores.

• If soil is not too wet or frozen, start weeding and digging over borders and any new areas ready for planting.

• Dead head winter pansies to prolong their display. Check pots and tubs for moisture, water in the morning but not if frost is forecast, the water may freeze and cause damage to the plant's roots.

• Winter stored dahlia tubers can be potted up singly now and will soon produce shoots for cuttings.

• Wait until the forsythia blooms before pruning roses. Prune summer-flowering shrubs like Buddleja davidii, Spiraea japonica, and hardy Fuchsia. They benefit from cutting down hard in mid-late February. If your garden is prone to late frosts, then wait until later in the month.

• DON'T PRUNE spring flowering shrubs and climbers now. They flower on stems produced after last spring's flowering, which have ripened over the summer. Once flowering is over, then prune as required - cutting back hard or re-shaping if necessary. Typical examples include Forsythia, Clematis montana, Spiraea x arguta and Buddleja globosa, Viburnum tinus and Ceanothus burkwoodii.  If in doubt, check a good reference book before you start – Pruning Basics or Pruning Made Easy are good choices.

• Stay off or try to minimise activity on your lawn if it is wet or frosty, it will turn to mud very quickly in the wet and will be damaged in the frost.

• A light rake to remove any moss that has grown in the lawn over the winter will be beneficial.

• If you haven't done so yet, remove your pump and clean the filter. Towards the end of the month clear out any leaves and debris that have fallen in over the winter, leave this material at the side of the pond to allow any creatures time to climb back in. After a couple of days put this material on your compost heap, where it will rot down quickly.

• If your garden looks a little bare and you would like some flower for this time next year, try some of these lovely late winter and early spring plants to add masses of colour this time of year. Helleborus, Pulmonaria and Primula are good choices, and nothing says “spring” like a pot of mini-daffodils or crocuses.

• Most hardy perennials can be lifted and divided now. Cut the tops back to 25mm-50mm and lift the whole plant out with a fork. Look for a natural line across the plant and cut it with a sharp knife right through, continue this until you have divided the plant up to suit your needs. Replant the pieces or pot up immediately, water well.

• Watch for 'damping off' disease in seedlings in the greenhouse or indoors. This fungus causes the stems to collapse and the seedlings to fall over. Ensure that seedlings get enough light to prevent them becoming 'leggy' and turn seed trays daily to ensure even growth. Overcrowding and damp also contribute to 'damping off', so don't sow seeds too thickly and keep watering to a minimum.

We have an immediate opening at our Oak Bay store.  If you are energetic, love working with people and enjoy gardening, you might like to work with us!

If you are interested, please drop a resume off at the Oak Bay Avenue store.

Health & Wellness Fair:
Nanaimo, Country Club Centre,  February 8th & 9th 9:30am - 5:00pm

Country Club Centre is pleased to support you in your efforts towards Health & Wellness by hosting a 2 day event which features: information, exhibits, demonstrations, services, and samples in both traditional and non-traditional health care. Pick up your "Passport to Prizes" at the Nanaimo's Health Shop and enter to win 1 of 4 terrific Gift Baskets.

Dig This Nanaimo will there with a booth in front of our Country Club Mall store. We will be featuring organic seeds, potatoes and sprouts. At 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, we will be giving out samples and demonstrating how to grow sprouts as well as sharing recipes for great snacks and meals you can make with them.

Seedy Saturday:
Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas Street, Victoria
Saturday, February 16th, 2008 10am - 4pm.

Don't miss Victoria's 15th Annual Seed and Garden Show.  Find organic, heritage and unique seeds for sale by small growers.  The Keynote Speaker is Briony Penn who will speak on “Seedy Characters through the Ages”.  Dig This will be there, of course, with organic seed potatoes, seeds and sprouting seeds, plus a great selection of tools and seeding starting equipment.

For information on other lectures and events, see http://www.jamesbaymarket.com/getgrowing/seedy_saturday.htm  Admission is $5, under 12 are free. Underground parking, wheelchair accessible.

Seedy Sunday:
Nanaimo, Bowen Park Auditorium, Downtown Nanaimo
March 2nd 10 am to 3 pm

Dig This will be at Nanaimo's annual seed exchange with organic seed potatoes, seeds and sprouts, plus a great selection of tools and seeding starting equipment. For more information, go to http://www.seedsavers.bc.ca/

Central Vancouver Island Botanical Garden Society:
Celebration of Island , Downtown Nanaimo
March 7, 8, and 9    10 am to 3 pm

CVIBGS's 13th annual garden show will be in Nanaimo next month and Dig This Nanaimo will be showing off what is new for spring. Christiane will be doing a workshop on Sprouts and providing samples of sprouts and meals that you can make at home with them. This garden show has a lot to offer with over 40 commercial and community exhibits, garden workshops and free children's programs. The speakers this year are Des Kennedy, Steve Whysall, Carolyn Herriot, Ruth Olde and Heide Hermary. This backed up with door prizes, music, art and many workshops, has the makings of a great weekend.

Check out their website for more information. http://cvibgs.org/newsletters/2008SpringNews.pdf