Getting dirty for Spring Gardening
“The role of the gardener is to observe what’s happening in the garden and look at what needs attention.”
Veggies Seeds to start in March
- Cool weather veggies go in now including:-arugula, broad beans, collards, corn salad, kale, Oriental greens, peas, radishes and spinach. Our robust veggie starts are generally in stock by early March.
Veggies Seeds to start in April
- In addition to the above March list you can also plant:- beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots (unless we are having a colder/wetter spring) fennel, green onions, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsnips, swiss chard and turnips
Borders & Flower Gardens
- March is the month to feed your garden. Trees, shrubs, hedges, roses, perennials, vines, and small fruits can all be fertilized now. We stock a large selection of organic fertilizers which we know you will love! Our bulk ‘Organic Mix ‘ Fertilizer makes it easy and it is great for just about everything and is available in a large sack or in small amounts by the pound. Not sure what to use or how? Ask us and we will show you:)
- Rhododendrons, azaleas, heather, camellias, hedges and other acid loving plants can be fertilized with Plant Prod ‘Ever Acid’ liquid fertilizer for lovely deep green foliage and for the acidifying that they need
- Plant new trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, pansies, small fruits and hardy herbs. Include bonemeal, peat moss and manure or your own compost when planting and don’t forget to water new transplants frequently
- Hold off trimming down bulbs such as tulips and daffodils until the foliage is yellowing as this process is feeding the bulb for next Spring
- Prune summer blooming clematis back to about 3′. Leave Spring blooming varieties of clematis to prune, if necessary, after they flower as you would cut off the buds if you pruned these now
- Prune roses when the daffodils begin to bloom (usually early to mid March) and apply ¼ cup dry Epson salts around the base and scratch it in
- Prune Spring blooming shrubs such as Forsythia, magnolia and lilac after flowering
- Weed gardens before the weeds have a chance to flower and go to seed
- Compost or manure can be added to flower beds now
- Purchase summer flowering bulbs, roots, and tubers such as dahlias, lilies, hostas, glads and plant as packages recommend. Generally the winter hardy types like lilies and hostas are planted after March 1st and non-winter hardy types like dahlias and glads are planted after April 1st. Begonias are started indoors from February on but do not get transplanted outdoors until after Mother’s Day (same as most annuals)
- This is the time of year that the large shipments of new plants arrive and there is just about always something new at the Garden Centre! Drop in and we will show you!
Pond Care
- Clean out pond
- Repot and/or divide pond plants
- New water plants will be available at the Garden Centre in May
Lawn Care
- Control Moss in lawns if necessary (You will need two days of dry weather after it has been applied)
- Thatch lawn to remove thatch in older lawns and dead moss in lawns recently treated with moss control. (10 days after moss control)
- Lime lawns in preparation for fertilizing about two weeks later
- Feed lawn with a good quality Spring fertilizer. We like BC made Garden Pro 32-4-8 as it is made for our specific growing conditions
- Pull dandelions and other weeds from lawn before they flower and make need seeds
You can buy bags of topsoil at Home Depot for about $3 each or you can go to GardenWorks in Burnaby
and fill a big black garbage bag for about $4. Most suppliers of topsoil want you to order more than a yard. Delivery can cost $100, so you can end up paying $125 for a yard,
Grass is just like any other plant — it needs the right conditions to flourish.
If You have the wrong conditions. Moist, acidic soil and low light levels are perfect for moss.
Change the conditions and reseed with a mix that has a high perennial rye content.
forsythia?
It should be pruned for size and shape immediately after flowering. Take the shrub down by at least a third and remove any dead or old productive stems. Some gardeners use forsythia as a hedge and like it closely clipped; others like to shear it into a mound or leave it to grow loose and open. It obeys all its masters.
.✻ღ ♥*✿*• A-Plus-Gardening-Landscaping
#gardener #garden #gardening #flowers #nature #plants #gardendesign #gardenlife #gardens #gardenlove #green #mygarden #greenthumb #landscape #growyourown #flower #urbangarden #organic #homegrown #plant #growyourownfood #vegetablegarden #homegarden #love #gardeners #gardeninspiration #vegetables
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping 29 years In North Vancouver And West Vancouver…
Focused thoughts for you, to Focus the Energy
Energy flows where attention goes. Focused your thoughts to focus the energy, and energy moves energy.
Thoughts don’t make things happen. Focused thoughts are what make things happen.
To put it very simply, thoughts generate mental waves that influence emotional waves that influence physical waves that result in physical experience.
In terms of health, thoughts cause emotions that cause physical reactions that may result in health or illness, depending on the degree of focus of the thoughts and the strength and duration of the emotions. The physical reactions may be resistance causing stress that inhibits the natural healing process, or relaxation and action that stimulates the healing process.
In terms of relationships, thoughts about other people may cause emotions of fear and anger or love and compassion that may cause physical reactions of avoidance or violence or connection and and cooperation.
You could examine any other area of human endeavor and see the same thing happening. People don’t take physical action until they are moved to do so by emotions that are generated by thoughts.
http://www.huna.org/html/powerfulpower.html
Happiness can be, essentially, a state of mind, or a particular outlook on life. But often times we can observe how our mind is affected by what goes on around us, sometimes by things which do not matter that much. Nonetheless, we get sucked into thinking that it matters a lot. Thus, our thoughts and consciousness become absorbed in negativity, which can greatly affect our disposition, or the way we relate to people, and pave the way for a less than happy future
Think of plans that can assist the whole of humanity. Raise your level of consciousness. To understand that you are a co-creator is to be in harmony with the universe, acting as a servant of and co-worker with the Divine. If you fail to appreciate this reality, you can become destructive and are responsible for causing even more chaos in society or disharmony in your life.
We all have that special place to Go (❥ˆ◡ˆ)ღ¨ •○๑۩
I like to place Post-It notes with positive quotes on my computer, fridge door, and mirror as reminders to stay positive. Also, I’d like to share with you a quote by an unknown author that was shared in a meditation class that I attended:
Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Happy positive thinking!
10 Tips to Overcome Negative Thoughts: Positive Thinking Made Easy
(❥ˆ◡ˆ)ღ¨ from the Garden •○๑۩
Oregano and Herbs for food
Oregano oil is an effective food for thought and help
Oregano – an herb with an estimated 4 times the concentration of antioxidants as blueberries, 12 times that of oranges, 30 times that of potatoes and 42 times that of apples. It is well known as the most powerful antibiotic, which provides lots of healing properties.
The super oil of oregano has been used as a natural remedy in many ways, and it should be diluted before using:
1. Headache:
Rub the 50/50 mixture of oregano oil and olive oil on the forehead and temples, do not get any of it in your eyes.
2. Sore Throat:
The next time when you get a sore throat, simply add 1-2 drops of oregano oil to a glass of warm water and drink it, the symptoms will be relieved.
3. Toothaches:
Mix a drop of oregano oil with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and use it as a mouthwash, swish it around your tooth or gums for 2 minutes and spit it out.
4. Earache:
Also rub a 50/50 mixture of oregano oil and olive oil on the outside of the ear to cure the infection. For kids, use 25% oregano oil and 75% olive oil mixture.
5. Digestion:
Oregano oil is also effectively to relieve digestive problems, just take oregano oil internally 3 times a day and it will help to stimulate the flow of bile, thus aiding in digestion.
6. Insect Bites and Burns:
Prepare a 50/50 mixture of organic oregano oil and olive oil, then apply to the affected area to relieve the pain of any insect bites and burns.
7. Make An Natural Hand Sanitizer:
Mix 10 drops of oregano oil with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, use it as a natural hand sanitizer.
8. Fatigue:
Oregano oil helps to relieve sore muscles. Simply dilute a few drops of oregano oil in carrier oil and then massage on the sore muscles gently. Do this 3 times a day and you will feel relaxed.
9. Cleaning:
Oregano is an active ingredient for many DIY cleaning supplies. It can be added to water and sprayed around the kitchen and bathroom to remove bacteria and viruses.
10. Dandruff:
Oregano oil also controls dandruff. Add some drops to your shampoo and you will see results after some days.
11. Skin Problems:
Oregano oil is an effective treatment for some skin problems, including acne and eczema. Add a few drops of oregano oil in a glass of water and dab on the acne area using a cotton ball. Allow it dry up naturally, use it twice a day to cure the acne. Blend oregano oil with carrier oil and applying topically to control eczema.
http://www.canadiangardening.com/gardens/herb-gardening/growing-oregano/a/42225
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
has been Working on the North Shore 25 years
In North Vancouver And West Vancouver and the GVRD
A-Plus Lawn and Garden does it professionally with all the Good tools and experience that is needed.
From -Lawn care to Tree topping, Pruning trees and Shrubs & Trimming hedges. also paving stones Pathways and retaining walls.
Drainage and Ponds, Sprinkler systems & Rubbish Removal
and for more garden stuff Contact me aplusgardener@gmail.com
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
North And West Vancouver BC For 25 Years
Back from holidays
Vancouver on the way to Mexico, Akumal It was a long way there…
Vancouver Airport and the Fraser River
Quintana roo Mexico Cancun, Mexico Hotel Zone
But once there life changes :]
Mexico Akumal Condo
Mexico With Akumal Swimmers
Mexico has lots of Akumal snorkelers
Akumal sunrise
the 
east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, south-eastern Mexico
Mexico Akumal sunrise everyday
Mexico Akumal sunrise everyday
Up early Every Day to enjoy the beach Beauty
Many places to go and see
Mexico Playa arch towards Cozumel
Mexico Tulum ruins Beach
Mexico Tulum beach
Tulum, Ruins in Quintana Roo, México
A nice adventure With a group of good people was a lot of fun
Barcelo Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Been working on this thought lots since it may be a trip worth repeating after a year of Working ….
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
has been Working on the North Shore 25 years
In North Vancouver And West Vancouver and the GVRD
A-Plus Lawn and Garden does it professionally with all the Good tools and experience that is needed.
From -Lawn care to Tree topping, Pruning trees and Shrubs & Trimming hedges. also paving stones Pathways and retaining walls.
Drainage and Ponds, Sprinkler systems & Rubbish Removal
and for more garden stuff Contact me aplusgardener@gmail.com
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
North And West Vancouver BC For 25 Years
Bees for our gardens and Crops
Maple Buds
“Our quality of life – and our future – depends on the many services that nature provides for free. Pollination is one of these services, so it is very worrying to learn that some of our top pollinators [bees] are at risk!” said Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
“In terms of global agricultural production volumes, 35 percent comes from crops that depend on pollinators, mainly insects. Out of the 124 main crops grown for global human consumption, 87 (70 percent) require insect pollination for seed production.”
http://rt.com/news/242889-europe-bees-disappear-extinction/
If all honey bees disappeared, it would be catastrophic for agriculture, as we know it, and we would certainly suffer grievously, but we would survive. Nevertheless, over time, other pollinators could, and would, take over all the tasks that the Jack-of-all-trades performs today. This would require profound changes in agriculture to meet these pollinators’ needs such as nesting habitat, diversity of crops, protection from pesticides and more. Fortunately, several groups of pollination experts are already exploring this issue and coming with alternatives.
http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/will-we-all-die-if-honey-bees-disappear/
If all honey bees disappeared, it would be catastrophic for agriculture, as we know it, and we would certainly suffer grievously, but we would survive. Nevertheless, over time, other pollinators could, and would, take over all the tasks that the Jack-of-all-trades performs today. This would require profound changes in agriculture to meet these pollinators’ needs such as nesting habitat, diversity of crops, protection from pesticides and more. Fortunately, several groups of pollination experts are already exploring this issue and coming with alternatives.
☀ In the morning as we see the light,☿ It gives us more strength till Night ☽
The bees work for Us Lets work for them
how to see the bug problem escalate
http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2015/03/24/lobbyist-claims-pesticide-safe-drink-refuses-try/
Monsanto insists that “all labeled uses of glyphosate are safe for human health
We don’t need Monsanto or any GMO’s or toxic chemicals. Organic, sustainable farming is what we really need is help to stop it!
Glyphosate, which was invented by Monsanto back in 1974, is a bro ad-spectrum herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses known to compete with commercial crops.
In the US the herbicide is considered safe since 2013, when Monsanto received approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for increased tolerance levels for glyphosate. In its original assessment the US watchdog said glyphosate can “be used without unreasonable risks to people or the environment.”The EPA said it would consider IARC’s evaluation.
In a recent report by the Center for Food Safety, the heavy proliferation of Roundup was linked to a drastic 90-percent drop in the population of monarch butterflies in the US. Roundup has become a leading killer of Glyphosate-sensitive milkweed plants – the only spots where monarchs lay eggs, as the plant is the only food source for monarch larvae.
more here
The group’s review also said glyphosate and glyphosate formulations have induced “DNA and chromosomal damage” in mammals as well as in human and animal cells in vitro, and cited a study reporting increases in blood markers of “chromosomal damage” in residents of several communities after spraying of glyphosate formulations
The group’s review also said glyphosate and glyphosate formulations have induced “DNA and chromosomal damage” in mammals as well as in human and animal cells in vitro, and cited a study reporting increases in blood markers of “chromosomal damage” in residents of several communities after spraying of glyphosate formulations
Source here ;
http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/daily/monsanto-rips-cancer-agencys-roundup-takedown
A Green Thing about White Flour
The standard American diet is a diet of chronic disease and death. Our food supply has been killing us slowly. White flour has been killing you!
Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar–Your Brain’s Silent Killers
5 Secrets About White Flour That will Shock You
1. Bleached Flour has no nutrients.
The manufacturers of white flour first remove the wheat seed’s bran, it’s 6 outer layers, and the germ which contains 76% of the vitamins and minerals. 97% of the dietary fiber is also lost.” It removes all Vitamin E, 50% of calcium, 70% phosphorus, iron, magnesium and B vitamins.
2. Added Potassium Bromate
3. White flour is a natural insecticide
Did you know that if an insect gets into the bag of white flour and starts eating it, that insect will die from consuming it? White flour is a natural insecticide because it kills any insect that attempts to live off of it.
4. Contains L-cysteine
This non essential amino acid is added to most conventional baked goods to speed industrial processing. L-cysteine is found in the majority of pizza doughs, cookies, pastas, pastries and fast food buns.
5. White flour contains diabetes-causing contaminant alloxan
White flour contains alloxan. It is what makes your bread look fresh and clean. Studies show that alloxan destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. Alloxan’s harmful effects on the pancreas are so severe that the Textbook of Natural Medicine calls the chemical “a potent beta-cell toxin.” Unfortunately, knowing that alloxan is so toxic for your body, the FDA still allows companies to use it when processing foods we ingest. Fortunately, studies have found that the effects of alloxan can be reversed with vitamin E. According to Dr. Gary Null’s Clinicians Handbook of Natural Healing, vitamin E effectively protected lab rats from the harmful effects of administered alloxan.
♫ Happy New Year Vancouver ♫
It was great weather For the start of the new year so I had to post it with pictures and Music
Some good shots in the sunshine too, all in a video below with a relaxing music background of David Issac and Joe Cocker
Happy New Year Vancouver
and for more garden stuff Contact me aplusgardener@gmail.com
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
North And West Vancouver BC For 25 Years
Nothing like good thoughts to make your garden Grow.
Albert Einstein was more than just a scientist. Here are 25 amazing life lessons coming from the man himself!
1. Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
2. Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.
3. Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.
4. If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
5. A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.
6. Love is a better teacher than duty.
7. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.
8. No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.
9. Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
10. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
11. It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
12. Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.
13. Force always attracts men of low morality.
14. Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.
15. A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
16. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.
17. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
18. It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
19. Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.
20. Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
21. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
Chill 22. Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
23. Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.
24. Information is not knowledge.
25. Never lose a holy curiosity.
– See more at: http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/25-life-lessons-from-albert-einstein/#sthash.jbrLrAgn.AUMW4Tnm.dpuf
Or for more Garden Help
A-Plus Gardening and Landscaping
North And West Vancouver BC For 25 Years
If you don’t like it, Change It.
There are 6 reasons for the current mass extinction event, and climate and climate heating reasons this is why “green” energy won’t save us.
► 10,000 years ago humans and our livestock made up 0.01% of all animal biomass.
► Now humans and our livestock make up 97% of all animal biomass.
► Humans and livestock consume 40% of earth’s annual green land biomass.
► 1 million people born every 4½ days. People live longer.
► 50% of All Vertebrate Species have gone extinct since 1960.
► 50% of All Vertebrate Species that are left will be gone by 2040.
► 90% of Big Ocean Fish gone since 1950.
► 50% of Great Barrier Reef gone since 1985.
► 50% of Fresh Water Fish gone since 1987.
► 30% of Marine Birds gone since 1995.
► 28% of Land Animals gone since 1970.
► 28% of All Marine Animals gone since 1970.
► 50% of Human Sperm Counts gone since 1950.
► 90% of Lions gone since 1993.
► 90% of Monarch Butterflies gone since 1995.
► 93 Elephants killed every single day.
► 2-3 Rhinos killed every single day.
► Bees die from malnutrition lacking bio-diverse pollen sources.
► Extinctions are 1000 times faster than normal.
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/7350/Call-of-Life–Facing-the-Mass-Extinctiony.
What’s going to happen to us?
► Ocean acidification doubles by 2050.
► Ocean acidification triples by 2100.
► We are on track in just 13 years to lock in a near term 6°C earth temp rise.
► Mass Extinction will become unstoppable and irreversible in 40 years.
► Permian mass extinction of 95% of life took 60,000 years 250 million years ago.
► Dinosaurs mass extinction took 33,000 years after asteroid impact.
► Anthropogenic mass extinction will take 300 years max.
► This mass extinction is 100x faster than anything before us.
► Antarctic meltdown now irreversible and unstoppable.
► Arctic methane burst is irreversible and unstoppable within current system.
► It takes 10 times as much rated “green” energy to displace 1 unit of fossil energy.
► Efficiency and conservation only causes more growth within our current system.
► World Bank says we have 5-10 years before we all fight for food and water.
WHY “GREEN” ENERGY WON’T SAVE US.
World energy demand is to increase 50% by mid-century exactly when we should decrease fossil fuels use close to 80% to mitigate climate heating. To increase green energy up to 40% of total energy use by 2050, we would need 200% more copper with future ore concentrations lower than the current 0.4%. We would need 150% more aluminum and 90% more iron at the same time it starts to cost too much money to send the trucks that far down into the pits.
http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/10/making-lots-of-renewable-energy-equipment-doesnt-boost-pollution/
Dr. Ugo Bardi explains why mining ore grades below energy break even costs leads to economic collapse.
We can’t have hi-tech green energy without producing thorium as a costly radioactive waste byproduct usually discharged into tailings (lake sized) ponds. China is planning to get carbon free energy from thorium to pay for the minerals we need to produce our information green energy dreams.
https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=china%20thorium%20plans
China has produced a bit over 6 gigatons of cement in the last 3 years.
U.S. has produced a bit over 4 gigatons of cement in the last 100 years.
China’s banks have produced $15 trillion of debt in the last 5 years.
U.S. commercial banks have produced $15 trillion of debt in the last 100 years.
China plans to build 500 nuclear plants in 35 years.
China and India are in a crash course program to produce thorium energy forever to sell us computers, solar panels and wind turbines which wear out in 25 years.
aplusgardener 
