Smart Tips

Composting helps the environment and your garden by reducing waste and providing nutrient-rich soil for your plants. If you've considered starting a compost pile but don't know where to begin, here are a some "don'ts" to help you get going.

If you’ve wandered the streets of Mount Pleasant or Strathcona in the past year, you’ll have likely noticed several bright, bold, beautiful murals adorning the buildings, storefronts and alleyways of both neighbourhoods. This is thanks to last year’s

Marinades and spice blends enhance the fragrance, texture and flavour of your food. Here are four ideas for delicious recipes to add an exotic feel to your barbecues.

Using less water is a great way for your family to focus on green living. To help you conserve water at home, here are five easy ways to help you get started on being more frugal with your daily water consumption.

The kids are grumbling there's nothing to do, but your budget can't handle a pricey trip to the local theme park. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives. Why not consider one of these four fun and affordable family activities?

Homemade desserts don't come faster or easier than these. If you're struggling to get your servings of fruits a day, give these sweet treats a try.

Eating at restaurants can be stressful for anyone concerned with their health. In reality, it's easy to eat healthier when you dine away from home. Want to know how you can follow your diet and still enjoy your restaurant experience? Here are four he

Coreopsis is one of the most dependable summer-flowering perennials that you can grow in the garden or a container: colourful, cold-hardy and virtually trouble-free, it's sure to become the centre of attention wherever you put it. Here are some helpf

Luckily for gardeners, lavender looks as good as it smells. But did you know that along with being versatile, it's also easy to grow in your garden for a flash of vibrant purple that's sure to draw attention. Here are seven things you should know abo

Sold in a wide array of colours, shapes and sizes, roses are a classic in the garden. And although choice is good, the many different rose types can make it tough to pick which one you should plant. Here's some info about the most common rose types t

Roses are a classic look in the garden due to their many colours and varied shapes. In fact, there's likely a different type of rose bush for every occasion and location you can think of! From planting to pruning, here's the know-how you need to cult

Viburnums have it all: attractive foliage that changes colour in the fall, graceful flowers in white and pink, and prolific berries that feed birds in the cold months. There are a lot of options, but we'll help you choose the right plant for your lan

With 40,000 to 50,000 attendees every year and a volunteer army of 1,800 strong making it possible, the Calgary Folk Music Festival turns Prince’s Island Park into a musical family gathering every summer. Here’s how to make the best of the fest July

With scarlet runner bean, you can have your ornamental vine and eat it, too! Producing colourful flowers followed by edible green snap beans, the more beans you pick from the vine, the more flowers it will grow. Here are some hints for properly plant

Adaptable and long-lived, hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs smothered under their immense heads of papery florets from summer until fall. The handsome flower clusters, excellent for cutting and drying, appear on the tips of upright stems clothed in dee

Do you love good wine and seeing the country? You can stay close to home or travel across the country when you tour the wine regions of Canada. From Nova Scotia to British Columbia, every province invites you to savour its wines. Let’s explore four t

Pretty but pushy, wisteria can be an awesome vine provided you’re willing to train it properly. Here are four proven techniques to help you grow and keep your wisteria tame, but still stunning.

Astilbes are truly majestic when topped by a profusion of white, pink, salmon, lilac or red feathery blossoms that linger for weeks in summer. However, don't be fooled by their delicate-looking flowers or fern-like foliage. These splendid perennials

Producing long-lasting flower-like bracts above handsome foliage, euphorbias are virtually trouble-free plants for any sunny garden. Here are some helpful hints for selecting, planting and growing this low-maintenance plant.

Boasting some of the most beautiful flowers of any vine, clematis produces abundant blossoms in a range of colours that include blue, purple, red, pink, yellow and white. Having trouble deciding which type to plant? Here's some help so that you can c