Plant picks beyond pumpkins for Halloween

Nothing screams Halloween like a carved jack-o-lantern on your porch.

Toronto Star file photo

Even though I am a proponent of bringing nature into your decor (especially if you can keep it alive!), I'd never really considered all the other plant decorating possibilities, barring making my own spooky twiggy branch arrangements.

But, a recent release that landed in my inbox from Landscape Ontario has me reconsidering my basic approach to Halloween plants. 

“Your summer annuals that have been bitten by frost can be composted and replaced with several different fall plants that will accompany your décor and Halloween props,” says Landscape Ontario's Denis Flanagan in a release. 

He suggests spicing up your decor with some of these spooky plants:

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO PHOTO

Fall asters, above, which are available in pink, purple, blue and white. I, of course, love the purple ones.

Ornamental grasses with dramatic seed heads. Flanagan says these will add interest, texture and drama to your holiday displays.

Flowering kale, below, and ornamental peppers. The two-toned or multicoloured leaves on the kale usually intensify after a fall frost, says the release, while ornamental peppers are a nice twist on the traditional mini-gourd.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO PHOTO

Bales of hay and corn stalks will, says the release, help complete the vignette with a "warm fall feeling."

And, if these aren't spooky enough, Flanagan suggests checking out some Halloween-inspired plants like the Venus Fly Trap, the black Bat orchid, black mondo grass - which, the release says, in a cluster mimics a group of long-legged spiders, ghostly grey Spanish moss or spider plants for a creepy-crawly feel.

Be sure to check out more of our Halloween decorating tips around the site, like 5 steps to simple spooky decor and budget-friendly ways to haunt your backyard.

Hanging on to summer with these outdoor living trends ...

While I've been happily eying all of the velvets, studs and chunky knits that are making their way to store shelves in time for fall, I'm also stubbornly holding on to visions of patio season. And it's not too late to spruce up and enjoy your outdoor space!

So in the spirit of hanging on to that summer feeling, here are the top outdoor living trends for 2010 from Andrew Bockner of Andrew Richard Designs:

Boutique chic: “If it’s not possible to come home and instantly create that environment, choose your favorite aspect of the luxurious boutique hotel and use it as an inspiration or starting point to build from season to season," says Bockner in a release. "Though these days we like to be instantly gratified, there is still something to be said for adding to your perfect outdoor oasis to personalize it and make it right!”

Casual dining: Skip the traditional table and chairs and opt instead for relaxed groups of sofas, love seats, soft cushions and comfortable chairs gathered around a coffee table.

Fabrics that last: “Chenille, silk- and velvet-like fabrics are all big for 2010,” says Bockner, citing new advances in outdoor fabrics that allow these interior finishes to stand up to the elements. 

Understated colours: Subtler tones, like whites, slates, greys and blacks, are taking over from bolder hues, though Bockner recommends adding in a few bright accessories for a little summery pop.

Accessorize: Try outdoor rugs, stainless steel lanterns or pool torches, Moroccan lanterns and battery operated candles to give the outside the same polish as your interiors. “A little goes a long way,” explains Bockner. “A few well-placed accessories make any outdoor living space homier.”

Create separate spaces: Create areas for sitting, eating and entertaining to help break up your space into functional chunks.  “I often use small pavilions, outdoor rugs and strategically placed furniture to define the spaces from one another. It gives each area its own feel and purpose” says Bockner.

Read more about getting a glam outdoor space.

Shop like a pro: Perfect planters

Shop like a pro's Angela Koszuta (shoplikeapro@hotmail.com) rounds up the perfect planters to add structure, charm and sophistication to container flowers on your front deck or in your back garden.

Galvanized metal Huson planter, $26.99, available at Ikea.

Madison planter in six sizes and various colours, $55 and up. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Freda urn, $215. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Fleur de Lis planter box in two sizes, $35 (17") and $50 (24"). Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Eye planter in blackberry, $275. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Etruscan urn, $140. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.
 

Estate square planter, $380. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Ellis weathered terra cotta box, $340. Available at Barracuda Home & Garden, 527 Parliament St., 416-923-7789.

Stratford Planter in polyresin with mounting brackets, $49.50, from Lee Valley Tools, 1-800-267-8767.

Bronze tapered planters, shown in two sizes, $59.95 and $79.95. Available at Crate & Barrel.

Barbecue season has arrived!

My barbecue has already made the trek from my garage back to my deck for the summer season. And, while I knew there were loads of hardcore Canadian grillers, I had no idea just how many were willing to brave the snow, rain and cold for the perfect burger! According to a recent Harris-Decima poll (released by Home Depot), nearly half of Canadians - 46 per cent - barbecue all year round in any weather.

The survey also found there's no gender divide in all season grilling, with 47 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women grilling year round.

While Albertans ranked as the bravest grillers - with 61 per cent cooking year round and 55 per cent braving extreme weather conditions to do so - Ontarians were up there with 47 per cent saying they're all season cooks and 55 per cent braving extreme weather. 

If you're in the market for a new grill this summer, Home Depot suggests starting by asking yourself these three questions to help narrow down your choices:

            1. How often will you use the barbecue?

            2. On average, how many people will you be cooking for?

            3. What's your budget?

If you're just sprucing up your space for summer, consider what furniture you're missing for your most common functions - do you need a dining set for family meals? More chairs for entertaining friends over cocktails? Also consider adding a splash of colour with potted plants and herbs (which you can then also use in your cooking), some fun outdoor cushions and even outdoor area rugs for some added pattern and comfort. 

To help prolong your parties, consider taking the chill off those cool spring and fall evenings with a patio heater and check out solar lights (there are loads of amazing options at big box stores this summer) to help create a mood and light your path without eating up any electricity.

Get more tips for maxing out your outdoor space.

(Toronto Star file photo)

Signs of spring

The lovely weather this weekend had me spending a lot of time on my back deck, with some cool beverages, and inspecting the new growth in my garden.

Of course, I wasn't alone in my excitement to get back out in the yard - my pet bunny Allistair was also
pretty thrilled to have grass to munch on again!

Our lilac tree is budding, and our forsythia bush burst into bloom this morning. There are even some day lilies starting to poke up from the soil!

While the holiday was a stretch of self-imposed relaxation, I can't wait to whip the yard into shape this coming weekend - and see what other plants survived my slightly neglectful gardening style.

For tips on getting your own garden ready for spring, check out our Outdoor Living guide.

Shop like a pro: Let it grow

Shop like a Pro's Angela Koszuta (shoplikeapro@hotmail.com) has handpicked a great crop of gardening supplies. 

Set of six colourful hand tools from Lee Valley, $7.95.

Soil scoop, $6. Available at Loblaws, Zehrs, Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstores and No Frills. Pricing may vary, www.pc.ca.

Ryobi P2603 18V Lithium cordless hedge trimmer, $139. At Home Depot, www.homedepot.ca.

Herb scissors set from Indigo and Chapters, $16.99. 

PC tall Helix Planter, $30. Available at Loblaws, Zehrs, Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstores and No Frills. Pricing may vary, www.pc.ca.

Folding kneeler/tool holder, $59. At Lee Valley, www.leevalley.com.

Ergonomic hand tools, $12.50 each at Lee Valley, www.leevalley.com.

HS Garden Tool Set from Home Studio, $29.99. At Home Outfitters.

Evertidy Garden Tool Organizer, $69.99. Other configurations can cost more. Available at Sears, Zellers and Real Canadian Superstores, www.evertidy.com.

Poll results: Fall is in the air

As the evening temperatures have started to dip, I've been reluctantly making the switch from refreshing ice teas and cocktails to steaming mugs of cider and hot chocolate.

And, with that (albeit delicious) change, it's also time to start thinking about getting the house ready for fall - pulling out the heavier blankets and sweaters and tackling those unpleasant, but necessary, maintenance tasks. (Check out our outdoor tips for fall, and stay tuned for our fall maintenance guide on Monday).

With these things on my mind, and a growing concern that I'm falling behind, last week's poll asked whether Yourhomers had started preparing their gardens for fall.

It's still a pretty even split, with 45 per cent having begun their gardening tasks and 55 per cent waiting it out just a little bit longer. Which means I've still got time!

Fall also means a new TV season (read our full guide), so, in lieu of to-do lists, this week's poll is looking at this far more entertaining side of things and simply asking whether you watch home improvement and design TV. Do you unplug your phone on Sunday nights to keep things quiet during Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Rely on Colour Confidential to keep those creative juices flowing? Or just can't get enough of Mike Holmes? Let me know in the front page poll.

And, while waiting for those new seasons to start (get the dates and times here), be sure to check out the incredible wallpaper in Colin and Justin's 'cave' transformation, learn the latest in flooring, get the skinny on the Shipyards development, and, of course, snoop into the latest real estate transactions in the GTA.

Channeling my weekend warrior

When Mr. Speedy and I were renters, the rare quiet weekend was dedicated to doing a wee spot of housework paired with a large quantity of brunching, TV-watching and strolling through the shops. It was peaceful and relaxing, if not always particularly productive.

But now that we're new homeowners, things are happening at a slightly less relaxed pace. There's still so much unpacking to do (how on earth did we ever accumulate that much stuff?), along with loads of regular housework and maintenance-type things. It seems the list is ever-growing and never-ending, while my enthusiasm for tackling the items (especially the unpacking) has been steadily waning.

And that's not good. So this weekend, with some (OK, a lot) of help from my in-laws, we're going to get a motivation boost and start tackling that super long list of home tasks that I blogged about last week.

As for prioritizing, thanks for some advice from my Twitter friend @erinmillsliving we decided to rearrange our to-dos to move anything that could get worse (like the garage roof) and inexpensive fixes that could improve our enjoyment of our home, like replacing the faulty light fixture in the basement, to the top of our list.

And, if the weather ever holds, I also hope to start ripping out some of the unattractive, overgrown and undesirable plants from our yard (it may or may not be revenge for that first gardening attempt.)

Seeing as Mr. Speedy and I don't fit into the description of diehard DIYers (or, for that matter, even the "handy" label), it's going to be a stressful and challenging experience, as we pick up our hammers and screwdrivers and try to whip the place into shape.

But I'm going to try to channel the lessons Toolgirl taught me, and hopefully, I'll have stunning success stories to share with you next week, instead of tales of injuries and woe. Wish us luck!

Adventures of a would-be gardener

So, last Friday I left work totally eager to dig into my gardens. I was ready to take the leap and weed with confidence to create a well-tended backyard oasis, all I needed was the sunshine.

And, sure enough, Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. So I pulled on my cute little purple gardening gloves and went to work. A few hours later, there was a giant heap of weeds ready to be put into lawn bags and I'd learned a few key reasons why I'd avoided gardening for all these years:

1. There are bugs. A lot of bugs. Creepy, crawly, slimy bugs. I don't do well with insects, as recently evidenced by my shriek (which was enough to rouse Mr. Speedy from the basement) when an antzilla (that is, an unusually large ant) crawled onto my shoulder while I was brushing my teeth. I was not impressed.

2. It's dirty. Gardening gloves are helpful, but you'll still get dirt under your fingernails, and some prickly plant bits might still make their way through. Some people find digging in the dirt relaxing. I am not one of those people.

3. It's hard work. Some of these weeds had a month or more to take root, and pulling them out was tough. Not to mention all the squatting and bending in the hot sun.

4. And, last but not least, all my hard work resulted in a very itchy, blotchy rash up both of my arms. I don't know what caused the reaction, but it was certainly less than fun. Thankfully, the rash has subsided, and I can now at least see some humour in the situation! Plus, if anyone talks trash about my gardens, I can now pull out the sympathy card with "I'm trying, but I'm allergic."

So, out of 10, I'd rank my gardening successes at about a 5 — not a total wash, because the gardens do look better, bu definitely not a perfect 10, thanks to the rash and all.

And the experience has helped me determine my philosophy for the garden — aside from some cosmetic weeding, I think I'm going to let the plants in my garden be judged by a "sink or swim" approach — if they don't survive this summer, good riddance. A little bit of sod tamped down in their place, and no one will ever know the difference!

Learning to garden

Last night, while Mr. Speedy was manning the barbecue, I finally mustered up the courage to pull a giant weed — which towered above my 5'7" frame, and was considerably wider than me — from my garden.

The green, spiky plant reached its gigantic proportions due to my ignorance of all things green and growing (and stories like this don't help me feel any more confident! I don't want to go wrestling with those killer plants...)

When we first moved in, we had an enormous list of things to do inside and out. And because the garden was in pretty good shape, and because I didn't know what I was doing, I let it slide down my list of priorities.

The next time I took a good look at it, all the plants were roughly the same size, so I wasn't sure which were weeds and which were intentionally planted. I didn't want to go hauling stuff out of the garden all willy nilly and accidentally rip out something we'd enjoy.

So, instead of doing the responsible homeowner thing and asking for help, I decided to wait it out.

And now, a few weeks too long later, here we are. The giant green beast — which in fact, I'd left for so long that I had to enlist Mr. Speedy to help wrestle the darn thing out of the ground — was the final straw.

So, starting now, I'm going to try to channel my inner green thumb.

Looking at my garden, I can now pretty much guess what plants are weeds because they're either way larger than everything else (like the monster we ripped out last night) or have just grown ridiculously fast, sprouting out of nowhere and encroaching on the pretty daylilies currently in bloom. A little bit of internet research, and a bit of courage born out of exasperation, should help fill in any remaining gaps.

I've got the gloves. I've got a pair of heavy duty pruning shears. Now all I need is a sunny day to start whipping the space back into shape!