You’ve not likely heard this account from the ’30s of a penniless, forlorn guy with a beard, whose romance was “on the rocks” and who was heard to say words similar to these: “I’m the guy all the women forgot, my words are smooth but my chin is not, a scratchy beard and holes in my socks have put all romance on the rocks and now a Valentine bleeding heart I’ve got.”

Hey there, good people. Lots more to write about, starting with an email from Alberta right after my tip o’ the hat and an ongoing great big welcome to all, wherever your blooms are planted.

Sharing words from a Grainews reader

Ted, Re: Prairie — I was just reading your column in the Dec. 5, 2023 Grainews and thought I’d respond. Maybe don’t use my name in an upcoming column, but you can share this info. There is lots of native prairie left within the Special Areas in southeastern Alberta. Although some is private land, most is now lease land, owned by the municipal or provincial governments, with the leases owned by ranchers. There is now a park just north of the town of Hanna on native prairie. See their page for more about it. For information and facilities search the web for Antelope Hill Provincial Park. I’ve been catching up on past papers and also read the one you wrote about Bird of paradise plants and how they can be grown as houseplants. I’d love to try that and may order some seeds soon. I really enjoyed seeing them in bloom in South Africa last summer. Would anyone in Western Canada have rhizomes of one that they would be willing to split off? If not, I’ll order some seeds and try that way. We love reading your column and enjoy the tidbits of info you share. Thanks, R.L., Youngstown, Alta.

Ted’s reply: Thanks to R.L. from Alberta for writing and sharing. My Bird of paradise seeds (Strelitzia reginae) came from Chiltern Seeds in England. Their address is Chiltern Seeds Limited, Crowmarsh Battle Barns, 114 Preston Crowmarsh, Wallingford, OX10 6SL, England. Their phone is 44 01491 824675; click here for their email.

A Canadian source for Bird of paradise and other flower and vegetable seeds, available for purchase by catalogue only, is W.H. Perrin, 2914 Curė-Labelle Blvd., Laval. QC H7P 5R9, phone 1-800-723-9071. Click here for their email.

For me, Ted, the seeds (eight in a packet) were slow to germinate, so patience is required. This plant is native to South Africa and takes five to seven years to reach full maturity to realize those imposing bird-like flowers. Bottom heat, using growing mats, may help speed germination.

Here’s an interesting fact. This variety is the commonest of the Bird of paradise flowers. Some varieties are reputed to grow eight metres (26 feet) tall, but mine is only two metres (six feet). Here’s another unique feature: those spectacular flowers are the only ones known in the banana family that are pollinated by birds’ feet.

Purple potatoes

Don’t shy away from planting and eating some potatoes with purple, bluish or dark-coloured skin and flesh. The push is on to encourage more gardeners and marketers to grow these as well and spread the word. A lot of folks tell me they eat a banana for potassium. Well, dark-skinned potatoes are laden with plenty of antioxidants and minerals; plus, they contain a whole lot more potassium than bananas.

Giving some attention to purple potatoes when planting your white and yellow potatoes is a good move, especially for anyone with diabetes or who watches their blood sugar level, or has high blood pressure. While the starch in purple potatoes increases blood sugar, it does so to a lesser degree than starch found in yellow or white varieties.

Are you sentimental?

If you’re a sentimental crooner, as am I, let me ask: have you ever thought of writing, singing, reciting or speaking your own words in public or privately? At this point in life, I’ve become more sentimental. Now, love songs really speak to my heart. During my pre-teen years, song lyrics probably didn’t pluck all that much at my heart strings, but now really do. As I ponder and think back to lyrics I learned decades ago, to the song “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine” by Jimmie Davis, I really like the lines “sweet as the flowers in springtime…pure as the dew on the rose.” That’s another way I think of love.

The post Odes to purple potatoes and to horticultural hearts appeared first on Grainews.

Can I tell you about a true experience? I’m assuming you’ve said ‘yes.’ A few years back I had an appointment with the urologist for my annual checkup that included PSA blood test results and a DRE. All the guys out there among my reading audience who have ever seen a urologist or family doctor will know what I’m talking about. To make a long story short, it was a bit of a surprise to me what happened following my examination. I ended up singing the ‘Prostate Song’ a cappella for the attending doctor and a colleague resident urologist who was also present. I shan’t describe their enthusiasm and favourable reaction and comments at conclusion of my singing. Safe to say my prostate story in song and spoken-word form needs to be heard over and over again by men everywhere over the age of 40 (and their wives).

From the prostate let me jump next to another part of our human anatomy. It appears from research that eating more black beans and dark-coloured beans may help with gut issues and colorectal cancer prevention. Most of us have heard an old expression with variables from school days that goes something like this: “Baked beans are a musical fruit, the more we eat the more we toot. The more we toot the better we feel. Home-baked beans for every meal.” The focus now is not just eating fresh home garden-grown beans, but encouraging more use of dry beans in home-based cooking, so get out your old cookbooks for recipes such as Three-Bean Baked Casserole and Cowboy Crockpot Barbecue Beans.

Well, that’s it in capsule form, ladies and gentlemen, in terms of what to expect. Have you finished your seed list yet? I’ve ordered some and checked out seed display stands at local garden centres and stores. There’s always something new or different to plant each year, although I’m working at cutting back. Gardening is the best kind of an addiction to have. Ask any gardener.

As soon as spring settles in I’ll be replacing old flags with new ones. Our national Canadian flag is one of the best known and easily recognized throughout the entire world. Bright red and white-as-snow colours complement each other so well. While watching a golden-oldie movie I noticed a lot of the men tipping their hats to the ladies. Can that old tradition ever be revived? Anyhow, here I am tipping my hat to all readers with thanks for coming by, so stay a while. Today I’m sipping on green tea with reishi ganoderma mushroom blend.

Use wood ashes to grow great tomatoes — peppers too

These plants like neutral pH to slightly acidic soil. The pH scale of measurement runs from 1 (very acid) to 14 (very alkaline) with 7 as neutral. Slightly acidic soil has a pH range of 6 to 6.5. Ashes can be an excellent resource for gardeners by helping recharge soil with minerals and numerous trace nutrients. At the top of the list is calcium, which is absolutely essential as an easily absorbed form that tomato and pepper plants require. There’s a good chance you’ll never have blossom end rot on tomatoes again after a dressing of wood ashes is worked into soil — some added into the planting hole and more ashes also spread on the soil surface and watered in around transplants. Besides large amounts of calcium, wood ashes also contain potash, both of which are absolutely essential for plants to develop healthy cells and strong stem and branch structure that lead to plenty of blossoms and healthy fruit. Remember: without enough calcium, tomato plants — and even peppers — are highly prone to blossom end rot. First fruits may look OK on top but a ghastly appearance on the bottom side confirms decay. Tomatoes are up to 90 per cent water and it just so happens potash (a.k.a. potassium) is used by tomatoes to help them absorb water, resulting in larger, more juicy fruits. Wood ashes also increase soil’s ability to retain moisture. When it rains or after you water plants, they remain hydrated longer.

There are cautions against using too much of anything. Overuse of fertilizer can burn plants and too much nitrogen provides an overabundance of leafy growth, with less fruit or slow-to-ripen fruit. So what’s the caution with using wood ashes? If too little wood ash is applied in the garden, tomato plants may not receive enough of the critical nutrients they need. If extra-heavy doses of wood ash are applied year after year, it can affect the pH of soil and, over time, negatively affect or change soil from slightly acid or neutral pH to somewhere on the sweet or alkaline side. In most cases that’s not likely to happen. Home soil test kits to help determine your soil pH are available at many garden centres.

A reminder to menfolk again: when it comes to prostate health, the key wellness-promoting nutrient in tomatoes is an antioxidant called lycopene. A saladette plum-shaped mid-season bright red variety called Health Kick tomato is promoted as containing an extra-high concentration of lycopene. Ask for Health Kick tomato seeds at garden centres or send an email to Lindenberg Seeds.

Health benefit of black beans confirmed by studies

Good or not-so-good food choices can affect gut bacteria. Black beans and dark red beans are rich in dietary fibre and excellent sources of plant-based protein, plus anti-inflammatory micronutrients and antioxidants. Researchers in a study found participants who consumed dark beans each day had positive changes in their gut microbiome: more beneficial bacteria and fewer opportunistic bacteria and bowel issues. A surgical oncologist and director of a gastrointestinal program stressed that “We each have good bacteria and potentially bad bacteria. And so if we can stimulate the good bacteria to impact the immune system to prevent cancer or cancer recurrence or cardiovascular disease through diet, that would be extremely important.” He also said “it is essential for physicians to talk to their patients about gut health and how diet can influence the bacteria.” A person has between two and three trillion bacteria within the body, he said, and evidence shows they play important parts in preventing disease and guiding treatment.

Here are some dry baking and casserole bean varieties that have a mild adaptable taste:

• Calypso dry bean, also known as Orca drying bean, an organic Mexican heirloom, unusual black and white colour (see photo), has a creamy texture, looks great on the plate, compact bushy plants easy to grow and harvest. Online or phone toll free 1-888-804-8820.
• Jacob’s Cattle, an old-fashioned favourite heirloom with slender kidney-shaped beans with red markings on a white shell; superb for baking.
• Red kidney, a must-have high yielder of large red beans and a favourite for all-veggie chili.
• Soldier, an heirloom with excellent flavour and early maturity, abundant yield, extra-long pods and a soldier symbol on the eye. Online or phone 1-800-363-7333
• Black turtle bean, a solid-black variety loaded with protein, fibre, zinc, copper and antioxidant activity, plus a detoxifier. Online or (not toll-free) phone 204-895-9962.

The post Tomatoes rise stronger from ashes appeared first on Grainews.

Emails are part of the territory when you’re a writer. One that came my way in early December 2023 really takes the cake. It’s a whopper with well over 1,000 words. I’ll share some of what the writer says further along.

There’s a tomato called Park’s Whopper. Reminds me how much Grainews readers love their homegrown slicing tomatoes, especially the whoppers. If words could sing, you’d hear me singing something like this:

O I’m lovin’ my tomatoes in the good ol’ summer time,

In the garden, in the row, my tomatoes there they grow.

I like carrots and potatoes, but how I love my tomatoes,

By the basil, by the parsley, my tomatoes what a show!

Many gardeners truly choose to seed some annuals such as peppers early on. They can be notoriously slow to germinate, so give ’em a soak for a few hours first in eight ounces — that is, one cup — of room temperature water with one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide stirred in, then drain off liquid and sow with bottom heat. I call it good timing when done in conjunction with the moon. Some best upcoming seeding dates for peppers, including tomatoes and annual flowers are as follows: January 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25; February 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28; March 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 2024.

The red maple leaf with its white and red side bars is still flying high and handsome. My hat is ready to tip a breezy winter welcome so come aboard, good people ’cause my load of words and a welcome are headed your way.

Subject: Re: fruit trees/shrubs/vines

(Email edited to accommodate space.) Dec. 3, 2023 — Good day Ted — My full name is Jeannine Forseille from Humboldt, Sask. — the Muenster/Watson area. I was looking over a couple of your columns and kept most of them for several years already. We grew some Mortgage Lifter tomatoes last year — the bedding plants were hard to find. My husband kept seeds and plans to start them in early spring. We had a lovely flower garden just at the back of the house. I’d like to plant one or two purple sage there. We have hops in one area — very nice foliage, but we’d like to get grapes in there as we enjoy them fresh. My daughter has a fruit steamer and has made juice/jelly over the years (grapes from our old location). I was intrigued with your column regarding Bluebell grapes and we’d like to try them — I presume they’d be hardy in our area. Checked at Dutch Growers, Saskatoon and they don’t carry that variety. Do you have any idea about a good source to buy them from? Would you suggest a larger plant if available to speed up fruit production? And what type of fertilizer — the ground here is very hard. We can certainly add leaves, grass clippings, et cetera and would do so to help with moisture retention. We have only one gooseberry bush with some fruit on — not great — maybe some birds helped themselves — but we want to expand the production by planting some on the edge of the garden — to catch south and west sun — we don’t know what variety of gooseberry. They are a whitish fruit, turning rosy colour as they ripen — grandkids loved them. We want to plant five to six bushes either all one variety or two different types. Preferably something that gives a fair yield and is OK for size and not too tart. As I have looked at various types, they all have their good points and downside but thought we’d ask your advice on that as well and where to obtain. Haskaps are good, despite the mesh needing replacement — cedar waxwings got their fill as well. We never could figure out where their entry point was. We also need to do some pruning. We plan to replace the wire mesh in spring then we won’t need to share as many berries with the birds. The haskaps make a delicious jam which the grandkids loved. We have found that the sour cherries make delicious tarts and pies and when fully ripe are very good for fresh eating. Nanking cherries can go. We did attempt to transplant some suckers from our previous location but not sure of the success until spring. We need to purchase more trees regardless and want the largest, sweetest possible. I’m thinking something from the Romance series — or are there newer varieties that would be worthwhile trying? We need ideas on fertilizer for all of the above as well as for the garden. The rhubarb plant is alive, but not growing or producing as it should. While I’m bombarding you with questions, what is a good deterrent for birds who love the fruit of saskatoons, cherries, haskaps, raspberries and strawberries? Would old CDs on strings hung up throughout the bushes/trees/berry plants help?

Ted’s reply

Thank you, Jeannine, for writing. Plants mentioned in your email are available for purchase online from the following garden centres/nurseries:

• T&T Seeds, Headingley, Man.
• Veseys Seeds, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
• Corn Hill Nursery, Corn Hill, N.B.

Questions asked will be answered as I’m able via this column or by email.

Something new

The Viking (Aronia melanocarpa) chokeberry shrub is similar to a chokecherry tree but not the same. Both taste very astringent, but they are quite different. Chokecherries are species of a prunus, the genus for cherries, plums and peaches. Chokeberries are species of aronia.

Chokecherry flowers form on a spike, called a raceme. Aronia flowers are on a corymb, a cluster that grows into a bowl-like form. If you squash a berry of each separately, chokecherry has a single stone. By contrast, several seeds on the inside indicate it’s aronia.

Research confirms aronia berries as a superfood rated extremely high in antioxidants. The ornamental shrubs are disease-resistant and very easy to grow in almost any soil condition, and are available for purchase from Veseys as Viking aronia berry bush. It originated from Finland and is hardy in zone 3. Expect attractive white blossoms in springtime and reddish-orange leaves in autumn. Viking is self-fertile (needs no kissing cousin) and said to be favoured by commercial growers for its yield of large (1/2-inch) berries on eight-foot shrubs. The berries are uniform in size, flavourful and juicy when ripe.

From childhood days I recall picking wild chokecherries from trees growing here and there in the countryside. Fortunately, I still have a narrow strip of wild chokecherry trees growing along the northern edge of my garden, having experienced much-appreciated harvests over the years.

Salt and water

A saline (salt or salts) solution has been shown to reduce the duration of the common cold by two days and reduces transmission of germs within the entire household by one-third or more, when begun within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. Gargling and flushing nasal passages with saline solution can ease respiratory symptoms and reduce risk of further complications.

“It’s a very simple intervention that is universally available, cheap and easy to use,” one research doctor involved in an unrelated study was recently quoted as saying of the practice. “I think it can make a difference, especially when it comes to comfort.”

If making saline solution at home, start with a mild combo using a half teaspoon of natural unprocessed salt (or less) dissolved in eight ounces of warm water. A half teaspoon of baking soda may be added if desired. Gargle for one full minute, then spit it out. Do this three or four times a day for up to two weeks, easing off once symptoms start to diminish. Provide additional daily support by flushing of sinuses via nostrils using a neti pot filled with solution and also inhaling warm salt water vapours for 15 minutes under a towel with an opening for air.

Using saline solution as indicated clears out germs and pathogens, preventing them from gaining a strong foothold into lungs, lowering the viral load, easing breathing and speeding recovery while bringing relief to a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cold. You can buy a ready-made sterile saline solution if desired and a neti pot that provides a comfortable method using natural gravity. Other devices are also available for purchase. Check at pharmacies and health food stores.

The post How chokecherries vary from chokeberries appeared first on Grainews.

Just as Rudolph is the most famous reindeer of all, according to a seasonal song, echinacea is famous for its contribution to helping humans stay well. No wonder I’ve lately been singing “The Flu Bug Song” and “The Prostate Song,” two tunes I wrote and recorded more than 20 years ago.

Besides its constant beauty in a flower garden, echinacea is a useful remedy when colds, flu, runny noses, sniffles and tickles in the throat are rampant. Lots more on said subject is coming up.

Dare I ask how your Christmas baking coming along? Even if some of you aren’t into making cookies, cake, mincemeat or other Christmas treats anymore, the smell of fresh-baked goodies for the holiday season emanating from the kitchen will stir up warm memories of past days.

One thing I vividly recall is sampling a homemade Christmas cake basted with a touch of rum or rum flavouring to help it cure well in advance of December 25.

Let’s get the show underway. The gesture of any gentleman tipping his hat is not out of style.

Echinacea

Echinacea plants begin to pump out their magnificent purple-mauve flowers from late spring and early summer right through into early fall and beyond. They have elongated hollow stems that grow up to a metre high, and hairy leaves that are long and narrow.

Dragonflies and butterflies love to use echinacea flowers as landing pads. Various birds will also pay visits to feast on seeds once the seed cone matures.

Echinacea’s name is rooted in the Greek word echinos, meaning hedgehog, in reference to the spiky appearance and feel of the flower heads. It is also known as purple cone flower, which comes from the characteristic cone at the centre of each flower head.

Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy, coming in various forms and potencies, and it has long been used around the word for its various health benefits. For instance, there are historical records of some indigenous tribes in North America using echinacea as a pain reliever and to treat sore throats, colds and headaches.

Today, echinacea is accepted by herbalists for its solid reputation as a bacteria fighter, immune booster and a remedy to help fight some long-standing health issues.

For many, this medicinal herb is the undisputed champion among immune system boosters for helping protect against common upper respiratory afflictions and reducing the severity and duration of symptoms.

What else might echinacea do? Recent studies highlight it as a potential mild, natural antidepressant, indicating it may help lift mood and soothe anxiety. It seems echinacea also has tissue regenerative properties, which could help with eczema, psoriasis, skin ulcers, acne, wounds and burns.

Today, echinacea can be purchased from health and natural food stores and some pharmacies. It is available in capsules, tablets, teas, tinctures, emulsions and creams.

Echinacea products vary widely in composition and may contain different species such as E. angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida. Recommended amounts will vary widely depending on the condition being addressed.

One of the most extensive studies on the safety of echinacea products concluded that overall “adverse events are rare, mild and reversible.” Allergies are rare, but if you do react to an echinacea remedy, discontinue further use and ask your health care provider for guidance on whether there’s a different form you can use.

Consult with a holistic doctor or herbalist before using echinacea for the first time to determine the formula and dosage that’s right for you.

Immunity

Is immunity inherited, acquired or both?

Natural immunity is the kind you inherit from your parents. If Dad and Mom rarely miss a day’s work and for the most part are both pictures of health, then chances are you will have a strong immune system too.

But regardless of how good your genes are, if you don’t have a nutritious diet and you don’t exercise regularly, walk much, have a garden or find other ways to relieve stress, you could be short-changing yourself. That’s because stress can compromise your immune system.

The answer to the question is therefore: Immunity is both inherited and acquired.

From my inbox

I’m a bit of a diverse writer at times. A reader from out Vancouver way picked up on that about my writing. Here’s some of what a lady named Marg writes in her email from October 13:

“Hello from the West Coast. I like reading farm magazines (I grew up on a small farm out here) and I like the positive, practical newsy tone of your articles. My Albertan husband and friends were just on the beautiful VIA train from Toronto heading west through Winnipeg, Portage, Melville, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, etc. … I wonder, are there any natural original prairies left and where are they? Or have they all been cultivated for our food and other use? The Prairies are beautiful. We’re lucky to have some meadowlark birds too in open ranch lands (in the) Okanagan in B.C. Thank you from Greater Vancouver, Marg (last name withheld).”

My response: “Thanks Marg for writing. I too love the trills of meadowlarks that have often visited open fields near my garden space during summers past. I have audio recordings of a local man who had a special gift for duplicating several different yet accurate meadowlark musical notes with his voice. He told me each one had a different meaning and described the meadowlarks’ musical notes as “a mastering of vibration and movement of the tongue.”

Somewhat similar to yodeling I, Ted, would say.

OK, I’m turning next to gardeners, farmers and birders: This is your opportunity to answer Marg’s question:  Are there any natural original prairies left and where are they? Send what you know and care to share with Grainews readers by email.

Rum frosting

I’ve got a quick recipe to share for real rum or rum-flavoured frosting. I think you’ll like it even though it’s quite sweet.

In a mixer bowl beat together three tablespoons softened butter, 1/2 teaspoon rum flavouring or real rum and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat in 1/2 cup sifted icing sugar.

Gradually add about two more cups or less of sifted icing sugar and two or three tablespoons of evaporated milk or cream or regular milk.

Keep beating until the frosting is smooth and spreads easily. Tint with food colouring if desired. Drizzle over mincemeat pudding, pie, tarts, Christmas cake, gingerbread cookies or other treats.

What life’s about

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about caring and loving our family, relatives and friends while we can touch and see them and they are still among us. May we always walk in sunshine even during the shortest, darkest days of the year.

The post The benefits of echinacea appeared first on Grainews.

In my last Grainews instalment, I wrote about a tropical plant commonly called Bird of Paradise. Today, another kind of bird story takes centre stage, which you can read about further along.

There’s a song that starts out: “Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, long, long ago, long time ago.” Well, once upon a time I raised canaries. Their melodious strains and trills would continue almost endlessly at times.

Canaries remind me of a whistler and my friend Audrey W., who did such a splendid job of canary whistling on a couple of my songs named “Schmirler the Curler” and “Canadian Weather Song.”

Here are a few words from a Bible passage that caught my eye: “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.”

It makes me think of a poem with these words: “When I’m an old man and live with my kids.” I hope to share that one day and yes, I do dream dreams.

This is probably one of the shortest intros I’ve ever given before the meat and potatoes of this column. That means the main course of my words.

Faithful feathered companion

What’s it like living with a parrot? If you thought something like “never a dull moment,” you wouldn’t be far wrong.

While watching live entertainment on the main stage at the Whoop and Hollar Folk Festival in Portage la Prairie, Man., this past August, I noticed a man nearby taking pictures of something perched in an ornamental tree.

I approached him shortly afterwards, and after we introduced ourselves, conversation began to flow. Almost immediately I asked about the parrot on his shoulder.

That’s how I, Ted the Singing Gardener, met Doug Kretchmer, a Winnipeg photographer, and his parrot companion named Billy the Kid at a country music folk festival.

I learned that Doug purchased Billy, his blue-fronted Amazon parrot, when the bird was two years old. He got the bird from Petland, at the former Eaton Place in Winnipeg, for the bargain price of $788 instead of $1,500. That historical event occurred 34 years ago on September 17, 1989, when Doug brought his parrot home.

Much to his surprise and perhaps delight, Doug learned in 2002, following an appointment with a veterinarian, that Billy the Kid was not a boy at all, but a girl parrot.

As a result, he changed the spelling from Billy to Billie (my notes from back then say Billy Bob became Billie Jean). The vet’s advice was to periodically trim the parrot’s wing feathers so she wouldn’t fly away, as the wild instinct will always show.

I asked Doug for some of Billie’s dietary likes, habits, peculiarities and travels. Here’s what he told me.

“Billie eats a lot of seeds, mostly sunflower and pumpkin as a main staple and husks them herself. Also, pistachios are one of her favourites. She daily gets fresh fruit such as apple, orange and banana, and likes to eat grapes as a refresher on hot weather days.”

A lot of folks think parrots can talk so I asked Doug about Billie.

“She says hello. That’s a main one, and ‘wow’ when really excited. She can be quite demanding too until her need is met,” he said.

When Doug removes the covering to her cage, Billie then goes to the top, saying “‘up, up’.” She’ll then fly from his shoulder up to the bookshelf.

Doug tells me his travels with Billie include two trips across Canada. He says he considers Billie his best buddy, having played a major part in providing comfort and healing to Doug following an accident.

Today, Doug and Billie continue to make short haul and longer visits and stops together.

Happy days

Knock, Knock! Who’s there?

Such knocks are from my memory bank, and no! It’s not Ted the Singing Gardener.

After a half dozen knocks, Bert Pearl, emcee for The Happy Gang variety show, would say: “Who’s there?” In unison, the musical group would answer: “It’s the Happy Gang.” After a short pause, Bert would respond: “Well come on in.”

Those were happy days when I listened to The Happy Gang’s daily program on CBC Radio.

They were also stress-free days, when people left their doors unlocked while tending a large garden or doing other outside duties, or walking to the corner store for a pecan cinnamon loaf and fresh-baked homestyle bread for six cents a loaf. Most everyone in the neighbourhood knew where the homeowner left a key.

There was also door-to-door delivery of fresh cream and milk in glass pints and quarts, and blocks of ice tight to the box.

Our day to remember

Taking time to recall and honour those individuals who fought for our freedom and those who continue to do so isn’t asking too much. May we never lose sight of the reason and importance for setting aside November 11 as Remembrance Day.

Here are a few words from Terry Kelly’s Remembrance Day song, “A Pittance of Time”:

Take two minutes, would you mind
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget
Why they died.
It’s a pittance of time

Remembrance Day is commemorated in a song written by Shirley Johnson of Saskatchewan, which is in her 1994 songbook Teach Me Well. Here are some very moving works from “Let’s All Remember”:

I haven’t shot a gun, dropped bombs from off a plane,
I haven’t heard the cries or felt the cruel pain,
I haven’t sailed the seas or marched upon the land,
But as I pause awhile, I think I understand.
Brave men and women left the comforts of their home,
And went to fight a war in lands they’d never known,
They did not want to kill or hurt their fellow man,
But they obeyed the call and carried out the plan.
So let’s remember and let’s reflect
And then let’s take the time to show respect,
For those who gave their lives unselfishly
Let’s all remember the price of living free.

The post A bird story appeared first on Grainews.

When someone says to me, “Have a good day,” I often respond with, “Those are the only kind of days I like.” When I said that while talking with a woman from the States recently, she said, “Oh, I like that response. Can I borrow your expression?”

A greeting I’ve used at daybreak and in the early morning is “top of the morning to you.” I mostly get a faltering or unsure response. If someone said it to me, I’d answer with “and the rest of the best kind of day to you.”

On Aug. 26, entertainment was emanating from the main stage at the ninth annual Whoop and Hollar Folk Festival in my hometown of Portage la Prairie, Man. I was in a beautiful sheltered, shady spot, when I noticed a man taking pictures of something moving in the crotch of a tree.

It all happened quickly in the twinkling of an eye. Not long afterwards, we met. Would you like to know more? Well, you shall, but not today. I’m comfortable assuming my Singing Gardener readers are willing wait for the next issue of Grainews to read the full story.

There’s so much to tell about my bird of paradise plant, which I started years ago with seeds obtained from Chiltern Seeds in England. They still have bird of paradise seeds available for purchase at https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/.

I’m proud to frequently see our national Canadian maple leaf flag flying high, wide and handsome outside a lot of homes, residences and businesses. Keep it up.

My Singing Gardener word show is underway on this Grainews page, with a tip of my hat and a ginormous welcome to all. Made from a combination of the adjectives gigantic and enormous, ginormous is something really, really big.

Bird of paradise

Bird of paradise plants are unique as they’re the only ones in the banana family with flowers known to be pollinated by birds’ feet.

The plants produce ornamental broadleaf foliage and startling, beautiful flowers that resemble a bird on the wing. The most common bird of paradise species, Strelitzia reginae, cast a combination of striking purple, blue, red, orange and yellow colours on each individual bloom. Every multi-coloured flower is supported by large banana-like leaves growing on a sturdy plant spike.

Bird of paradise plants are native to tropical and subtropical areas of southeastern Africa, where they can grow up to 20 feet or six metres tall. As a houseplant in a Canadian home with a moderate level of maintenance, a bird of paradise can easily reach six feet or two metres tall.

Strelitzia nicolai is another superb bird of paradise species. The plants resemble a palm tree and will bear bold white flowers that are distinctively shaped and unusually soft. Both S. reginae and S. nicolai are easily grown as houseplants.

A moderate level of maintenance is required to keep these plants healthy. With filtered sunlight and weekly watering, bird of paradise makes a bold statement, adding a tropical touch indoors.

Indoor temperatures when growing bird of paradise plants should drop no lower than 10 C or 50 F. If you choose to place them outdoors for a few months during the summer, select a well-shaded site with a microclimate that catches heat and has good air circulation. Avoid sites with direct sunlight and strong winds, because they can lead to damaged or stunted plant growth as well as burned leaves.

It’s worth noting all bird of paradise plants are considered toxic to dogs, cats, horses, deer and humans, so exercise caution if you have pets and small children.

You need not often fertilizer for a bird of paradise unless the plant’s appearance tells you otherwise. Something like a 5-5-5 or a 10-10-10 blend applied according to label directions is adequate.

When needed, some pruning will encourage new growth. Remove dead leaves and cut off old flower stalks at the base of the plant.

If your bird of paradise becomes too large and needs a bigger pot, replace old soil with a cactus potting mix. Avoid replanting the bird of paradise too deep in a new pot or it may be slow to flower.

To keep your plant from getting too big, remove outer leaves to reduce the overall size. It’s best to do this in the early spring before new growth begins.

Like its close relatives, bananas and ginger, a new bird of paradise plant can be propagated by cutting a chunk from its thick underground rhizome root stem. Place the rhizome cutting in its own pot of moist cactus potting mix and it will begin growing roots and leaves.

To start bird of paradise plants from seed, patience is needed. It takes two to three months for the seeds to germinate, followed by five or six years of growth before the plant starts blooming. Each seed has an orange-coloured fuzz at one end.

A good year for grapes

The grape clusters are hanging lush and plentiful with berries full of juice. It’s a good year for making grape juice, with all the bonus nutrients from grape seeds included. Even grape leaves are in demand, used to wrap around stuffings with vegetable, rice and ground meat combos.

Fresh grape leaves are often available to buy in season at gourmet and ethnic food shops and at stores with specialty food sections. Grape seeds are processed as food supplements and are sold at health food stores.

Grape juice, especially unfiltered homemade grape juice with little or no sugar, is a drink for the heart with healing power. It is an excellent health-promoting beverage loaded with flavonoids, potassium and other natural trace nutrients.

Scientists are still uncovering mysteries of how grape juice can lower high blood pressure and protect against heart disease and strokes. It’s known to be one of the best protectors against potential cancer-causing chemicals from cigarette smoke, according to doctors, dieticians and herbalists with a focus on food and plant remedies.

Unfiltered homemade grape juice is not the same as what you buy in stores. If your homemade grape juice is too concentrated, you can dilute it with 50 per cent pure filtered or distilled water. Ease into drinking it or you could experience a laxative effect. It takes time for the body to adjust to something new or different.

We’ve all heard of rhubarb slush. You may wish to try grape juice slush for sipping on really hot days. Grape juice slush is made similarly but without adding ginger ale, other soft drinks or store-bought sweetened juices.

Here’s a recipe for grape juice slush that will provide three or four small servings:

3 cups dark grape juice

1 tablespoon sugar, or less to suit

1 tablespoon vanilla (optional)

If you’re not a grape grower yet, it’s never too late to start. Stick with dark blue- and purple-skinned grape varieties that are hardy in Zone 3 or colder Zone 2. Should I write about growing grapes in 2024?

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For some gardeners and farmers, the harvest season is done. For others, there’s very little or no harvest left to be done. How have things been where you are? Let me know, should you care to share.

I often sing about weather and climate change in my Canadian Weather Song. In my area of south-central Manitoba, vivid memories still linger from travelling this summer along endless kilometres and viewing spectacular farm fields ablaze with golden yellow canola.

I remember a time a dozen years ago when a section of the dike on the Whoop and Holler Bend along Highway 331 near Portage la Prairie, Man., was cut to avoid anticipated flooding of the Assiniboine River. As a photo with this column shows, it was later filled in and restored.

Cordials

What’s the difference between a cordial person and a sip of cordial? Someone who is warm and sincere with a giving heart is said to be cordial. A cordial is also a sipping tonic, although you don’t often hear of it these days.

Across the world generations ago, cordials were made with a variety of unfermented natural ingredients, such as pure grape juice, cherry juice or herbal teas.

Cordials were taken in small doses for medicinal purposes, to warm and invigorate the body and boost immunity at the first sign of a cold, flu or sore throat. The idea was to go to bed right afterward and sweat out whatever was trying to invade the body.

Some cordials consisted of a few swallows of sherry or a half ounce of hospital brandy liqueur, with or without lemon juice and honey, mixed with warm water. It was often referred to as a hot toddy.

The name of the game with cordials like this is to maintain robust health during winter. Consuming large quantities of alcohol is toxic and addictive, so it’s important to ensure the right amount or avoid alcohol completely.

Manitoba Marathon

On June 18-23, Chris the Accordion Guy and yours truly, Ted the Singing Gardener, provided live entertainment at St. Vital Road and River Road in Winnipeg during the 45th running of the Manitoba Marathon.

The annual Father’s Day tradition returned to form this year with around 8,000 runners. It was quite a departure from June 19, 2022, when the 44th Manitoba Marathon was cut short and then officially cancelled by organizers shortly after it got underway due to extreme heat and other circumstances.

At this point let me say thanks to my cordial Grainews family of readers and welcome to all those tuning in for the first time.

It’s time to turn up the volume on my flow of words with a tip o’ the same Tilley hat that I’ve had for more than 30 years. Now that’s quality. Next is some good information about garden sage and ornamental sage.

Sage as medicine

Do you still have sage in your herb garden?

Common garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is the most common culinary variety, popular for poultry stuffing and flavouring other cooked meats. Well, here’s another suggestion. Save those sage leaves for a helpful flu and cold remedy.

Sage contains terpenoids, known as aromatic metabolites in plants. They help improve the adaptability of plants to the environment, and some specialized terpenoids have immense value to humans because of their applications in medicine, industry and agriculture.

Sage has been cited as an effective health remedy since at least the Black Death of the 14th century, and it has likely been used as folk medicine for much longer than that.

Steaming with sage is no more difficult than making a cup of tea. Brew some sage leaves in hot water in a sturdy pot with a lid and let it simmer for a few minutes, then remove from heat and let it cool a bit.

Carefully remove the lid from the pot and breathe in the benefits of the warm sage steam for 10 to 15 minutes. You can place a dry towel over your head to catch more vapours, if you wish.

Breathing in warm sage steam (not too hot now) is one of my tried and approved herbal remedies to prevent and/or treat the early onset of a cold, flu, head stuffiness, the chills or sore throat symptoms.

It can help break up mucous, making it easier for the body to clear respiratory passages. I find steaming with sage to be a simple and reliable technique for clearing congestion from the sinuses, ears and chest. It can also help those who suffer with spring and summer allergies.

There are other herbs you can combine with sage to make a steaming brew, including hyssop, chamomile and calendula. Each can also be used separately.

It’s best to try an herbal steam at the very first sign of congestion or irritation in your upper or lower respiratory system.

Purple sage

Another type of sage is purple sage (Salvia dorrii), also known as Dorr’s sage, fleshy sage, mint sage or tobacco sage. This is an attractive wild woody perennial shrub that many gardeners may not be familiar with.

This shrub reminds me a bit of Russian sage (Salvia yangii). It is easy to grow, and light watering in summer will help keep greyish leaves looking greener.

Purple sage is an aromatic plant found along dry, open coastal hillsides in coastal southern California and Baja, Mexico. It is tough and amazingly drought tolerant, and it is often used in xeriscaping to reduce soil erosion.

Purple sage grows 20 to 70 centimetres (eight to 28 inches) in height, with large floral spikes up to 10 cm (four inches) long.

Its flowers come in a variety of colours that include blue, purple, rose, pink and white. They are also highly scented and attract a variety of birds and insects.

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One time I asked Grandma to make a saskatoon pie. She said, “not today,” as she smiled down at me. “I think it’s time we had a raspberry cobbler.”

As a result, I acquired a liking for her favourite dessert served warm from the oven, topped with vanilla ice cream.

What is a cobbler? My dictionary says a cobbler is a mender of boots and shoes, a cooling beverage of fruit juices or a mean person (not my grandma). There’s also a cobbler fish found in the Atlantic.

I found no reference to cobbler as an edible dessert, so I consulted Grandma’s recipe book, where cobbler is described as a deep-dish, single-crust, fruit dessert. Grandma has now gone to her reward, but I can still thank her for teaching me how to make raspberry cobbler.

Well, as I live and breathe, August days have arrived and they continue to get shorter. I’m told as human beings begin to age, we also become shorter. Do you agree?

I’m never short on something to write about, so let me thank you many times over for your emails, phone calls and gardening questions. I do appreciate hearing from you. I have a wagon loaded with welcome to everyone along the words trail with a tip o’ the hat.

Powder stems bleeding

A patented starchy powder made from potatoes appears to clot blood very quickly. “It works like a sponge for water molecules in blood, allowing platelets to clot almost instantly,” says Mark H. Ereth, an associate professor of anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The powder is said to sidestep problems associated with other clotting agents during surgical procedures and is less expensive as well. Made from purified potato starch, it consists of tiny absorbent particles that can help surgeons sometimes avoid blood transfusions by preventing excessive bleeding.

“It’s particularly useful for combat doctors and paramedics who need to stabilize massive wounds to prevent shock and other complications from a major loss of blood,” Ereth says. Just think — all of that from a lowly potato.

Go fishing with a raw potato

A friend and I planned a fishing trip. He once asked me if I had any raw potato, and of course I did. I knew he wouldn’t want it for fishing bait, so curiosity directed me to ask its purpose. He said he “had a sour stomach” (from too much of what, I never inquired further).

Anyway, I wasn’t surprised when he took a piece of raw peeled potato, chewed it up and gave a swallow. A few minutes later he reported relief from his acidic stomach and indigestion.

I’ve known for years that diced raw potato applied directly over sunburn brings quick relief too.

Tips for successful fishing

Fishing is a pure joy of relaxing in the outdoors. As humans, we develop patterns of behaviour, and seldom do our patterns coincide with those of fish. Success in fishing means being versatile, so here are a variety of approaches you can try.

Fish are captive to their environment and are closely attuned to weather and water, the season, time of day and other factors. All this has a bearing on whether you catch fish at a particular time.

From sunset to one hour after the sun goes down during summer months, fishing can be great. During the cooler months, fishing is best from noon to three in the afternoon.

Generally, July is the worst month for fishing.

One of the best days to fish is on a cloudy day following a bright moonlit night the evening before, so look to the sky.

According to moon lore, the best days for fishing include the day before and the day after a quarter moon change as well as the day before and the day after each full moon.

Winds can affect fishing too, with the most favourable winds being from the south, southwest and west. East winds are unfavourable.

According to folklore, fish can sense weather changes, and on the day of the actual change, they mostly will not bite. Fish are said to be particularly active three days before a storm.

A wise old fisherman said to watch for a storm if insects are flying low and fish are jumping from the water to catch them. He also said to take note of the type of insect and try to catch some to use for bait.

Fish have no eyelids, but they have remarkable sight and can see up to 50 feet and more away. On cloudy days there is no bright light to distress fish, so they will feed near the surface. However, on bright sunny days any sudden light thrown on fish will cause them to quickly leave the area.

Fish also have a keen sense of smell and don’t like strong odours. A closely guarded secret, though, is that bait rubbed or mixed with anise oil or garden-grown lovage leaf juice is to their liking.

It’s also worth noting that some fish will feed on only one kind of insect or bait for lengthy periods. When that happens, it’s almost impossible to lure fish with any other bait.

After filleting your catch from a successful day of fishing, remember to bury fish guts deep into garden soil.

There’s so much more to say about fishing, but I’ll leave this section with the following, called the Fisher’s Poem:

When the wind is in the north,
The skillful fisher goes not forth,
When the wind is in the south,
It blows the bait in the fish’s mouth,
When the wind is in the east,
’Tis neither good for man nor beast,
When the wind is in the west,
Then fishing’s at its very best.

Something to remember about melons

I planted melons this year, and it’s a good thing because I really enjoy ripe, juicy cantaloupe. Early ones can ripen by mid-August and others will follow in hot pursuit.

Some people don’t like cantaloupe, not even the smell. The words, “eat melon alone, or leave it alone, because if you don’t, your stomach may moan,” apply to some folks who experience digestive problems when eating melons with other foods.

If melon does agree with you, it is best eaten with an empty stomach. Resist the urge to combine cantaloupe with yogurt or ice cream, unless you know such a combo agrees with your system. This info does not apply to eating watermelon.

Wood ash and soil pH

What does too much wood ash do? Wood ash has the ability to raise the pH of soil, that is, to sweeten it. Because of this, wood ash isn’t a good choice to put around acid-loving plants such as pine trees and other evergreens, azaleas, hibiscus, hydrangeas and blueberry plants.

The pH scale runs from 1 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline), with 7.2 designated as neutral. Much of the time in nature, soil pH values range from 4.0 to 8.3.

When testing for pH, take samples from various areas of the garden or field. If the results are too acidic or too alkaline, your crops may disappoint you.

The post The best times to go fishing appeared first on Grainews.

Another great challenge is the health of our planet, Mother Earth. What would happen if thousands more Canadians really reconnected to nature?

Let’s try taking regular walks with a companion, family members or even a dog along secure pathways. Communing with what we may have overlooked could be just what the nature doctor ordered.

Have you seen any hummingbirds lately? I haven’t seen any yet as I write this in the first week of June. Nor have I seen or heard any of those vocal Jenny wrens and meadowlarks that used to be quite prevalent where I live.

Have they moved further north this year or are they in short supply? I recently heard news that some Canada geese may be going further north to nest.

I have been meaning to look back into my archives of pictures, letters and emails. Doing so has led me to focus on hummingbirds, so that’s what to expect coming up.

This reminds me of the following words from a song I wrote over 20 years ago.

Gardeners love to party, farmers love to party,
And when we’re not working hard,
We eat hale, strong and hearty,
Gardeners love to party, farmers love to party,
To sing and swing and tap our toes,
And stay out late ’til cows come home,
And for dessert eat Smarties.

Besides my Singing Gardener cap, which is similar in appearance to the once-common rail engineer’s cap, I also have several Tilley hats. I’m sure glad I’m able to wear the one with the widest brim during hot and humid summer days.

Here’s a welcome tip of my hat wherever you are across this great land. Keep reading, as you won’t want to miss what follows about hummingbirds and how to make their favourite liquid sugar water to provide them with additional nutrition.

Tiny dynamos

Let me ask — is there anything more entertaining at low cost than watching the aerobatic antics of hummingbirds?

Whether they’re visiting for a sip of sugar syrup at the bird feeder or zooming through the flower garden, you’ll often hear their whirring wings before you ever see them.

Yes, hummingbirds provide hours of enjoyment. It’s a chance to watch your own nature show outside the kitchen window or in the backyard. They are the only birds that can fly forward, backward and sideways, hover in mid-air and even turn upside down.

Many birdwatchers have a special love for hummingbirds. There’s just so much power and personality packed into these tiny dynamos of colourful feathers.

From my archives

I first heard from Leanne Mortlock on Vancouver Island about two years ago when she sent me pictures of her hummingbirds and shared experiences. She wrote:

“Hi Ted. The male Rufous hummingbird migrates north in March/April. This one (pictured on this page) doesn’t come around as much as I would like him to. The female is one of my regulars.

“Rufous males have a high pitch to their chirping, so I always know when one does come around. I find them to be a lot more timid than the Anna’s hummingbirds (pictured on this page), perhaps because the Anna’s are here all year round.

“Photographing hummingbirds in flight or perched somewhere on Vancouver Island, B.C., became my pandemic hobby and I was quickly hooked. Thank you for considering them. It’s nice to be able to use (these pictures) in some capacity rather than taking up space on my computer. I ordered and planted the hummingbird seed mix from West Coast Seeds.”

Leanne also writes, “I do make my own syrup for my feeders: four parts water to one part white sugar. I boil the water in the kettle then dissolve the sugar in it and boil on the stove for 10 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature, then fill my feeders. I wash and refill the feeders weekly to avoid any bacteria from growing.”

I also heard from another reader who agreed with Leanne’s 1:4 hummingbird sugar-water ratio and stated the following:

“It is based on similarity to nectar in flowers. Any mix made significantly sweeter can interfere with a hummingbird’s digestion. To be responsible for the health of these tiny much-loved creatures, we need to keep the syrup as close to a natural nectar as possible. When it comes to sweeteners other than white sugar, cane sugar has been used but it’s more expensive, so stick with white sugar.”

Do not, however, use honey, jelly powders, corn syrup, turbinado, molasses, brown sugar or especially artificial sweeteners in your sugar syrup. Hummingbirds burn prodigious amounts of energy for their size and need real sugar.

Do not add any red food colouring either as it is unnecessary and can harm these wee beings, even in low concentrations.

To recap — sugar syrup prepared for hummingbirds should have only two ingredients, white sugar and water, and the most favourable ratio is one cup of sugar to four cups of water.

Another thing I’ve noticed is recommended cooking times for sugar syrup appear to vary. Some say bring the mixture to a boil and continue boiling for one minute, then remove from heat to cool. Others say to boil it longer for different numbers of minutes.

Keep in mind that overheating sugar syrup can also cause more evaporation and increase the sugar concentration in it. If you wish to weigh in with your opinion and experience in this connection or anything about hummingbirds, please do so.

The post Marvelling at hummingbirds appeared first on Grainews.

I see a lot of folks walking with their dog, and sometimes with more than one. Dog owners tell me, “there’s nothing like having a loyal companion. It’s a big responsibility, but the benefits are worth the work. Dogs give you companionship, unconditional love, exercise and better health.”

That’s not to take anything away from gardeners. Once you’re hooked, gardening becomes an enjoyable lifelong companion. Working in and walking throughout the garden also promotes better health, provides plenty of exercise and puts fresh, homegrown food on the table.

Having a garden and owning a dog may be a balancing act at times, but people with both do have a way of making it work. If you’re a seasoned gardener, an older adult or a senior looking to get a four-legged furry friend, it’s important to choose the right dog for your lifestyle.

I heard from a pet owner called Ron, who is also a gardener. He writes: “Lots of pet owners deal with the yellow spots on grass for sure and big dogs like my German shepherd can really tear a yard up by springtime with their power and weight.

“Two years ago, I put a lot of effort into my previous yard and now I’m set up in Winnipeg and I get to do it all over again at a new location. I have a couple of planter boxes that I plan to use this year. Ted, I think the information you’ve already provided me would make a great column.”

I’ll share my tips on how to repair lawn areas damaged by dogs, but first let me remind readers that Canada Day will have come and gone before we meet again on the next Singing Gardener page. No Canada Day celebration is complete without plenty of Canadian flags, and there are endless ways to express our pride in red and white as Canadians.

You can whip up Canadian delicacies too. Celebrate Canada Day with traditional poutine that includes fries, cottage cheese curds and gravy. Baklava is a layered filo pastry dessert filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with maple syrup or honey.

Then there’s chocolatey Nanaimo bars. Beaver tails are deep-fried bread dough dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. Yukon is home to authentic sourdough originals such as flapjacks and fry bread.

Here’s a tip o’ the hat to my fellow Canadians as we look back to 1867 with a few lyrics from one of my songs.

Happy first, July first,
Let’s shout it out with joy and mirth,
Happy first, July first,
It’s Canada’s day of birth.

Reclaiming a damaged lawn

Let’s talk now about Ron’s yard dilemma. After picking up dog waste, here’s how you can repair yellow spots in the lawn caused by canine urine, which contains high amounts of nitrogen and salts that burn grass.

Try this first, as it may work wonders. Lightly sprinkle powdered gypsum over and around each spot. Gypsum is known to quickly dissolve accumulated urine salts. Next, prepare a lawn saver scrub and apply it on the affected lawn/yard area using a watering can.

To make the lawn saver scrub, stir one cup of baby shampoo or one cup of pure liquid soap (not dishwashing detergent) into 20 gallons of water. Some folks use a four-litre plastic jug for measuring, as it is close to a gallon size. When done, you’ll have enough solution to cover a large area.

After applying the lawn saver scrub, let it sit for a week. After that, prepare a lawn saver tonic and apply it with a watering can over the same area.

To make the lawn saver tonic, combine 1/2 can of regular-sized cola soft drink (with sugar, not artificially sweetened), 1/2 can of regular strength beer and 1/2 cup of household laundry ammonia and stir into 20 gallons of water.

After applying the lawn saver scrub, wait a week and then reseed the affected lawn/yard area.

I suggested that Ron consider buying a reclamation grass seed mix from Early’s Farm and Garden Centre in Saskatoon. According to Early’s, this is an improved mixture formulated to perform well under less-than-ideal conditions. You can find it in Early’s Grass Seed Guide at https://www.earlysgarden.com/.

Source of gypsum

The community of Gypsumville, Man., was named after a post office with the same name that opened in 1905 after the discovery of gypsum deposits in the area. Records indicate many local farmers worked at the gypsum quarry during the day and farmed in the evening.

Gypsum is a water-soluble mineral that has other uses besides helping to dissolve yellow spots from dog urine in lawns. Will it do the same for cat’s urine? Who’s to know until you try it.

Gypsum is used primarily to produce drywall board, but it is also an additive in cement, plaster and blackboard chalk. It is an ingredient in soil conditioners and fertilizers for agriculture and is used in the brewing industry as well.

If you know a carpenter or someone who installs drywall and they have leftover pieces, you can usually get them for free, just for the asking. Of course, you’ll need to get the gypsum into a powder before using it as a lawn remedy.

Meet Kevin Bloski

Kevin Bloski is a grass seed specialist at Early’s, with 28 years of experience dealing with turf grass seed mixtures ranging from professional turf and special purpose grasses to cool season turf grasses for Western Canada. He has lots of experience related to reseeding yards and lawns due to dog-related damage, whether the area is all grass, partly grassed or has no grass at all.

Bloski says climate changes mean we can no longer go by the calendar regarding when to seed. Spring is late this year in many parts of the Prairies, so don’t be in a rush to scatter grass seed. Ideal temperatures for seeding grasses are in the 6 to 10 C range at night and close to 18 C during the day.

Depending on the situation, especially where pets are involved, be prepared to reseed each year. Applying up to 50 per cent more grass seed than the recommended rate is OK over heavy traffic and trouble spots, but avoid applying double or triple amounts of seed because there will be too many tiny seedlings to compete well for nutrients. Germination will take place within three or four weeks.

My special thanks to Bloski, grass seed expert extraordinaire. He loves his job at Early’s, and it shows. He can be reached at 306-931-1982 or 1-800-667-1159 if you want to discuss your turf grass needs.

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