When you have a week of hot, beautiful weather like we've had this first week in July, it's easy to forget our cool, wet spring.  Summer is here at last, the flowers are blooming and you can almost see the veggies growing before your very eyes.  

The best thing about July in the garden is that the planting is done for the most part, and now all you have to do is keep up the watering and weeding, and RELAX in a comfy chair ... cool drink close to hand of course!

Gardeners, like artists, are creators at heart. Many of us use our gardens as a way of expressing our ideals of beauty and peace. Plants – their colours, shapes and textures – and the way we group them form the backbone of our palette. But it’s through the addition of “garden art” that most of us express our personalities in our gardens.

Garden art is anything that adds interest and surprise to your garden, whether it is the more traditional garden statue, a Victorian gazing ball, or something totally whimsical, like a hand-painted wire chair you rescued from the junk pile.

Decorating a garden room isn’t much different from decorating a room inside your house. The same design principles apply.

If your garden is large, you can divide it into different “rooms” for different purposes – an area to sit in the sun or gather with friends; a dining area; a vegetable or cut flower garden; and so on. But even in a small garden, where you may have only one “garden room”, you will still want to think about the functions of your garden – what you want to do there – and plan the space to accommodate these functions. It’s like laying out the floor plan of a house – or a small apartment in some cases!

Just like in a house, every garden room needs a focal point to draw the eye or lead you down a path to the next garden room. Many people think that if you have a small space you can only have small features or focal points. On the contrary, you need some large focal points that really capture the eye to break up all the little things – like a fountain or sundial on a pedestal.

The actual item in the focal point need not be large – you can group several items together to make a statement – a collection of containers is a good example. The primary object – say a handsome, tall urn – draws the eye toward the scene. The secondary ornaments – two other smaller pots of different heights in complementary colours – create additional interest. Plants complete the scene by tying it all together.

One striking garden I viewed recently had a collection of pots like this in soft earth tones, surrounded by a “red” planting. A striking Japanese maple anchored a collection of other plants which were mostly in shades of burgundy.

I like to add light and sparkle to the garden. This can be done with solar accent lights, water (which reflects light) or other objects with a shiny finish. One idea I’ve noted lately is the use of mirrors in the garden. A mirror can be used to brighten a dark space or create the illusion of depth in a small garden.

They say “art is in the eye of the beholder”. This is true in a garden. Let your personality come out in the garden. Let your garden be beautiful and reflect who you are. If you love an item, put it where you will see it every day. I have a happy Buddha that I can view from my kitchen window. Every time I look out, it makes me smile. Equally enjoyable for me is watching family and friends enjoy the little statues and collection of objects I’ve used as art in my garden. A garden is not just a place of beauty, it’s a place where you can create a place for enjoyment for yourself and others.

Elizabeth Cull
Franchise President

Speaking of comfy chairs, now is a great time to buy one!  Save 20% off the original price of our great line of hardwood garden furniture made from Balau and Wittex.

Balau is a hardwood, like teak, only stronger. It is sustainably grown in Indonesia and requires no preservatives or treatment of any kind to shield it from the elements. If left outside without oil, the balau will gradually turn light silvery grey over time … or you can oil it to maintain the honey-coloured finish.

Wittex is a man-made fibre that looks like wicker but can stay outdoors in our climate without peeling, fading or cracking.

We have several styles of tables, chairs and benches … come in and see what might fit in your garden. Sale starts July 15th.

Want to Eat More Vegetables? Try Sprouts!

According to Canada’s Food Guide, we need to eat 4 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, depending on our age. Tell my kids that!

Last winter I had a look at my diet and had to admit I didn’t come close to those guidelines. During the summer, when vegetables are plentiful straight from the garden or locally grown, I hit the guidelines without a problem. But when local produce is scarce, I find it really hard to eat or serve that much

That’s when I discovered sprouts. Sprouts are full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes, all necessary for the body to function optimally. In addition to providing the greatest amount of these nutrients of any food per calorie, sprouts deliver them in a form that is easily digested and assimilated. In fact, they improve the efficiency of digestion. Sprouts are also deliciously fresh and colourful! And did I mention how easy they are to grow? Wow! I knew I was on to something good.

When I started to learn about the nutritional benefits of sprouts, I was hooked. In fact, I have found so much information on sprouts and sprouting that I could keep you reading for days. For example, eating broccoli sprouts during pregnancy may provide your kids with life-long protection against cardiovascular disease, according to a research team led by Dr. Bernhard Juurlink at the University of Saskatchewan, and may also be helpful for stomach ulcers and stomach cancer. This is just some of the information I learned from browsing Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds’ website.

Sprouting at home takes only a few seconds a day and can produce a good part of your daily requirements of the nutrients you need from fruits and vegetables. To get started you will need a jar, some mesh, water and your sprouts. Or use a specially designed seed sprouter that allows you to grow several kinds of seeds at once in one simple container. I started with Mumm’s alfalfa starter kit. I soaked my seeds over night and proceeded to rinse them out a few times a day. Within a few days my seeds were ready, I sealed them in a Tupperware container and put them into the fridge. It is probably the easiest lifestyle change I have ever.

Sprouts are now a big hit in our family. I love to add sprouts to my salads, sandwiches and stir-fries. I don’t have to say, “Eat your vegetables”! Because the sprouts are organic, I don’t have to worry about what chemicals or other things I’m eating with some of the vegetables from the grocer. Plus I feel like I’m contributing to the environment because I’m eating something grown locally. I wish that I had started growing my own sprouts years ago when I lived in an apartment and could not have my fresh vegetable garden. Now I grow my vegetables in my kitchen and in my garden, they come together to create healthy and tasty meals my whole family enjoys. The hassles are minor, the costs are low, and the freshness is wonderful.

You can purchase certified organic Mumms Organize Sprouting Seeds and seed sprouters at all of our stores. For more information, check out
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index_e.html   and http://sprouting.com/index.htm  

Christiane Kamerman
Owner, Dig This Nanaimo

Outdoor water use accounts for almost half of the water used around the average home in the summer. Here’s how you save water and time, and contribute to a more sustainable environment for all of us:

Always use watering tools with a shut-off value, so you can turn the water off if you need to do something else. You can buy shut-off attachments to go between the end of your hose and your spray gun or wand.

Lawns need only 25 millimetres (1 inch) of water per week, including rain. Use a rain gauge to tell how much you or Mother Nature is watering your lawn. Make sure your sprinkler waters the lawn and not the sidewalk or driveway. There are many great designs of sprinklers on the market that can handle odd shaped lawns and flower beds.

Aerating the lawn promotes grass roots to absorb all the natural moisture that is available, plus it lets air flow into the soil and so provides the grass roots with oxygen. You can aerate simply by puncturing the lawn with a gardening fork, using aerator sandals or a long-handled aerating tool or, for larger lawns, renting a powered aerator.

De-thatch your lawn. Thatch is the layer of organic matter that forms between the blades of grass and the soil. A thin layer of thatch can be beneficial, preventing evaporation of water from the topsoil. Too much thatch can be harmful and can rob the roots of the oxygen and water needed for healthy growth. Remove the thatch from your lawn at least once a year, using a rake, a thatching attachment on your mower or a thatching machine.

In the vegetable and flower garden, water deeply and less often as opposed to around the light, frequent waterings, which are harmful because they encourages shallow root growth and enhance germination of weed seeds.
Water plants early in the morning to avoid evaporation from the sun and wind.

Grow more drought-tolerant native plants. A drought-tolerant plant can survive with very little, if any, artificial watering or irrigation once it is established. Plants with grey, fuzzy, waxy or finely divided leaves are also considered drought-tolerant. Perennials like daylilies, flax, pinks, bellflowers and peonies thrive under dry conditions. Annuals like cosmos, sage, mallow and California poppies are also drought-tolerant and provide season-long colour in your garden.

When watering trees and large shrubs, water around the drip-line of the tree (area below the branches where water drips from the leaves) - not at the trunk. A great way to water trees is to use milk or water jugs. Fill with water and poke small holes about 8 in the bottom of each. Place these around the drip line of each tree. The water seeps out slowly into soil near the roots, where the tree needs water the most.

Weed regularly. Weeds compete with your plantings for moisture.
Use nonporous containers like glazed pots, as they are more efficient at retaining water. Also, use larger containers (pots 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter and larger) as the larger the volume of soil, the slower it dries.

For more information see: http://www.crd.bc.ca/water/conservation/outdoorwateruse/outdoorsavingtips.htm

Every winter, I enjoy calling my brother in Ontario to tell him, casually of course, that I have just finished harvesting the makings of a dinner salad from my garden. Winter veggies are one of the benefits of being a west-coast gardener, and it’s not too late to plant yours now.

During July, you can plant arugula, carrots, cilantro, lettuce, green onions, oriental greens, peas and spinach for eating later this fall and winter. And if you hurry, there’s still time to start broccoli, cabbages and other brassicas for eating late in the year. Check out the West Coast Seeds catalogue for a complete listing of what to plant this month (and every other month of the year) or come into Dig This, where one of our enthusiastic staff will help you.

Elizabeth Cull
Franchise President

· After the first flush of flowers, fertilize roses. Doing this will help your roses produce a good second flush in late summer. Remember to keep removing faded flowers.

· Cut back and fertilize delphinium and phlox to encourage a second flowering.

· Lift and divide bearded iris using the vigorous ends of the rhizomes. Discard the old center portion. Cut the leaves back to about six inches. Check out the BBC Gardener Iris fact sheet for more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growflowers_liftiris1.shtml

· Tall flowers should be staked to prevent damage by wind. Use stakes which are large enough to support the plant but are not too conspicuous. Use soft twine or twist ties to secure. Better yet, come into Dig This and have a look at the Pin-ups Plant Support System. This modular system can adapt to meet all your plant support needs throughout the year.

· Pinch out the growing tips of basket and container plants to encourage them to produce bushy even growth and lots of flowers.

· Continue sowing lettuce and other salad greens, beans, beets, cilantro, kale, oriental vegetables, peas, rutabagas, spinach, swiss chard and turnips.

· Check the soil moisture of container grown vegetables and flowers daily. As the temperature rises, some plants may need water twice a day.

· Harvest beets and other crops while they are still young and tender. Early potatoes will be ready to harvest soon. Check one plant first to assess the crop size. Leave them to develop further if the potatoes are too small, and water the rows every week.   Harvest garlic when 1/3 of the leaves are brown.

· Never let onions go short of water or their yield will be severely reduced. Water plants thoroughly once or twice a week if conditions are dry, and keep down weed competition by hand or using a hoe.

· Attractinsect eating birds to the garden area by providing them with a fresh water source.

· Control mosquitoes by eliminating all sources of stagnant water.

· Keep up the battle against problem weeds, removing any flowering stems before they have a chance to set seed.

If you are, please contact one of our stores and ask to have your name put on the list for our next Bonsai workshop.  We regularly hold hands-on Bonsai workshops, where you select a plant and learn how to pot and trim it to get the correct Bonsai style.  Tips on maintenance are also part of the workshop.  After a couple of hours, you leave with lots of knowledge, plus a gorgeous Bonsai to nurture and train in the years to come.

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Organic Islands Festival - Canada's largest outdoor green event.
July 7 & 8, 10 am to 5 pm at Glendale Gardens, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria
For more information, click on http://www.organicislands.ca

Dig This will have a booth at the Festival and we're having a raffle for our popular ergonomic hand tools.  Dig This is located right next to the Thrifty's booth.  Thrifty's will be bringing in some of the ranchers from Alberta and Saskachewan that grow the Organic Beef they sell.  Of course they are barbecuing yummy samples for all of us!

We couldn't help but smile when we saw this photo passed on by Peter Kamerman, Owner of Dig This Nanaimo. 

In August, watch for news on our semi-annual Clearance Sale, and for articles (and recipes!) for harvesting your garden produce, tool reviews, and more.

Happy Gardening! 

The Dig This Team