BC Living
Local Flavours – Exploring BC Food Trucks and Boutique Restaurants
Farm to Table: BC’s Best Boutique Grocery Stores and Markets
Great Finds at BC Winery Shops
Nature’s Pharmacy: BC’s Best Herbal Boutiques
4 Tips on Balancing a Nutritious Diet with a Side of Indulgence
Choosing Connection: A BC Family Day Pledge to Prioritize Presence Over Plans
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Wellness: BC’s Boutique Health Retreats
Boutique Escapes: BC’s Hidden Gems for Travelers
BC’s Boutique Hotels
BC’s Boutique Art Galleries
Family Fun for the Victoria Day Long Weekend
What to Wear to BC Theatre
Adventure Awaits: Outdoor Gear from BC’s Boutique Outfitters
Mindful Shopping: BC’s Boutique Wellness Stores
Fashion Forward: B.C.’s Boutique Clothing Brands
Tips for topplers: dhalias, gladioli, lilies, hollyhocks and delphiniums.
Gravity can be a foe for tall pants, which often flop over, soiling their delicate blossoms in the dirt. Garden favourites with a tendency to topple include dahlias, gladioli, lilies, hollyhocks and delphiniums.
Store-bought plant supports are one solution, but the Dutch offer a tip with a bit more zip for keeping top-heavy plants upright: make homemade plant supports out of colourful fruit and vegetable cans. Sally Ferguson of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Center in New York suggests, “Look for canned goods with pretty labels. Best are painted ones. My favourites are Chinese lychee nuts and Italian olives and tomatoes.” Use a can opener to remove the top and bottom, leaving smooth edges, she says. Then poke a hole on one side of the can and slip a plastic-covered plant tie through. Secure the tie to a thick stick or bamboo plant stake in such a way that you can slide the can up or down the stake as needed. In use, you’ll stick the stake into the ground next to a young plant candidate, guiding the shoot through the can.
As the stem grows taller, slide the can upward to provide continuing support. For more tips on bulbs, go to the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center at www.bulb.com