Organic Gardening News

Mother's Day is just around the corner, so my mom and I teamed up to create the ultimate Mother's Day gift guide for you and the mother-figures in your life!

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Flowers, stunning outdoor containers and hanging baskets, richly perfumed flowering shrubs and fragrant herb gardens all make wonderful gifts for Mother’s Day, not only because of their beauty, but also by their connection to nature.

One of the most satisfying pastimes in our gardens and patios is watching pollinators like bees and butterflies coming to our plants for nectar and pollen, so selecting baskets and containers that attract pollinators creates added value and enjoyment.

Lavender has become so popular for those two reasons; both their beautiful perfume and the fact that they attract a wide range of pollinators. The hardy angustifolia lavenders are the best for our garden beds. But in containers on the deck or patio, the newer Spanish varieties, like Anouk, although not as winter hardy, will bloom all summer long and are a constant attractor. It’s nice to see them grown as a standard or small tree form that is very attractive, especially when underplanted with complementary annuals like lantanas, petunias, Angelonia, heliotrope and zinnias or perennials like nepeta, or beautiful, long-blooming Agastache or hyssop. All of these broaden the scope of pollinator attraction and add greater texture to your plantings.

They are not in bloom just yet, but the many new varieties of non-invasive and highly perfumed buddleias are very attractive patio plants and draw so many pollinators, including our local butterfly species. It’s a pleasure to enjoy their constant perfume and fascinating to see the beneficial insects buddleias sustain. Some of the best new varieties are Proven Winner’s Pugster, Miss, and Lo & Behold series, and the great new Darwin Chrysalis series which has a wide range of colours. All are very compact, ideal in containers and beautifully perfumed.

Attracting hummingbirds to our gardens and patios has become a huge event. There are many plants that help attract them: The narrow-tubed fuchsias, and perennial and annual blue salvias are good, but the best attractor is the hardy annual cuphea. This so-called cigar plant, with its long, narrow, orange tubes of nectar is the No. 1 hummingbird magnet, with Proven Winner’s variety called c. Vermillionaire being the most effective. I like to use them in hanging baskets, as well as in containers on the deck, for a constant attraction and food source.

Shallow bird baths are a great gift for year-round enjoyment. They provide an important water source for both birds and pollinators. It’s nice to watch these garden visitors, but it’s important to keep the water shallow, and a little muddy for the safety of small species.

If Mom has a primarily sunny deck or patio, one of the most welcome gifts is a reasonably good-sized container with a small tree that will live year-round. They not only help cool patios and decks in the summer heat but can also provide much needed screening and privacy.

Japanese maples, contorted willows, especially the red or yellow-barked varieties, styrax or Japanese snowballs, and sourwood or oxydendrums, make ideal patio trees. If you’re underplanting with pollinator plants, you’ll be surprised at what you attract to your garden. Hummingbirds love blue salvias and the Rockin’ series of blue, purple and fuchsia salvias from Proven Winners are some of the best for them. In the mixed planters in front of our office it’s great to see hummingbirds drinking nectar from the salvia, while others sit and wait in the curly willow trees.

Beautifully scented lilacs, which bloom around Mother’s Day, make a wonderful gift, but it’s both Proven Winner’s Bloomerang varieties and the new Flowerfesta series that bloom a second time in August for a much-anticipated return of perfume. They come in both tree and shrub forms so they can adapt to different locations.

With our ongoing food security issues, patio food gardens, which require minimal care, have become far more appreciated. Tumbler and Tumbling Tom basket tomatoes are still the very best for a constant supply of cherry tomatoes all summer long. Peppers are some of the easiest to grow in containers, and if you put some sweet Bell types in at least a twelve-inch container, you can enjoy red, yellow, orange, green and purple peppers throughout the summer.

Cucumbers have come a long way in their patio versatility. I love the new Mini-Me miniature Burpless varieties because they produce so many four-inch long miniature cukes in a matter of 45 days after setting out. Use a sturdy trellis for the vines to grow on, and the bigger the trellis, the more fruit you will harvest.

Hanging basket strawberries have also become increasingly popular because the newer everbearing varieties like Berries Hill Montana are huge, succulent, and will produce well into September.

Containerized herb gardens are a wonderful source of texture, fragrance and culinary variety to have handy on the patio. Be sure to use the most popular herbs like rosemary, chives, sage, thyme, dill and fun mints like Mojito. The strong citrus essence of lemon verbena is perfect when added to summer drinks and smaller bay trees provide a constant source of fresh leaves to enhance so many soup and stew recipes. Wait until we get quite warm weather before setting basil outside: it’s the heat lover of all herbs.

Although not super-hardy for winter, miniature roses, especially pretty when grouped with several colours planted together in larger pots, will bloom all summer and well into fall.

For sun-drenched summer patios, today’s hot new plants are the mandevillas. Coming in a range of colour from pinks, reds, whites and now yellows, they are one of the few plants that thrive in summer heat, and bloom until October. They are available now in shrub forms as well as trailing hanging basket types which can double as fast spreading vines. All of them flower heavily and add wonderful tropical accents to our patios and gardens.

The added value of attracting nature to our decks, gardens and patios is something Moms really appreciate and it’s the perfect connection to Mother Nature, too.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

947 22nd St., West Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,395 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $3,572,000

Listed for: $3,698,000

Sold for: $3,474,900

Sold on: Jan. 19

Days on market in this listing: 85

Listing agent: John Jennings at Royal LePage Sussex – John Jennings

Buyers agent: Holly Calderwood PREC at Royal LePage Sussex

The big sell: This West Vancouver home charms not just on the inside but on the outside too where thoughtfully landscaped gardens provide a lush and extremely private oasis with paved walkways, vegetable and herb gardens, and patios for relaxing or entertaining. The property was built in 1998 in Dundarave, incorporating many natural elements such as a stone-clad exterior and wood accents throughout the interior including exposed beams, hardwood floors, and wood-trim windows. Overheight ceilings and clerestory windows flood the home with natural light complemented by a neutral colour palette that enhances the feeling of space. The layout is divided between two levels with vaulted ceilings supporting chandelier lighting, polished concrete floors, a roll top bathtub, three fireplaces, and an outdoor stone-surround terrace reminiscent of an Italian villa.

5411 McColl Cres., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 2,251 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,345,000

Listed for: $1,299,900

Sold for: $1,287,000

Sold on: Feb. 4

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC and Winnie Chen at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: A.J. Schianni at Sutton Group Seafair Realty

The big sell: One of the advantages of this four-bedroom family home in Richmond’s Hamilton district is that it backs onto greenbelt as well as having a sizeable deck and garden to the rear from which to relax and enjoy it. The house itself was built in the early 1990s with more than 2,200 square feet of living space divided between two levels. The majority of the layout is on the main floor where there are three bedrooms on one side of the house including a primary bedroom equipped with an ensuite and walk-in closet, and an open plan living and dining room, a family room, and an updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances on the other side. The upper level has a 24-foot-long recreation room that doubles as a fourth bedroom. Laminate flooring has been installed, as well as heat pumps, an upgraded roof and hot water tank, and a new EV outlet for added convenience.

32 – 2325 Ranger Ln., Port Coquitlam

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,450 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $952,000

Listed for: $929,900

Sold for: $905,000

Sold on: Feb. 11

Days on market in this listing: 10

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Sasha Hahn PREC at eXp Realty

The big sell: Mosaic built their riverfront master-planned Fremont community near the Traboulay PoCo Trail, Dominion Park, Fremont Village, and transit routes, as well as providing residents with the River Club, a resort-style facility with amenities that include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, lounge, and children’s play area. This particular unit resides in Fremont Blue (the other buildings that make up the development are also named after colours) and enjoys an end-unit position. The three-level interior has nine-foot-high ceilings, a modern kitchen with quartz counters, and generous cabinet and preparation space, two bedrooms upstairs served by two bathrooms, a lower level with a third bedroom and full bathroom, and a fully-fenced yard mainly laid to grass. It comes with a single garage plus an open parking space, and a monthly maintenance fee of $415.80.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors – send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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Traditional Japanese spa culture is a time-honoured ritual of long, soothing soaks in mineral-rich hot springs, known as onsen, often taken in the great outdoors. Much more than a quick lather and rinse, the practice is designed to be purifying, relaxing, tranquil and restorative. In fact, the Japanese term totonou, meaning “sauna high”, aims to achieve a state of deep physical and mental relaxation and harmony.

But since most of us can’t easily jet off to the Japanese countryside to steep in a deep geothermal bath surrounded by snow-dusted mountains and verdant forest, we can incorporate just a bit of totonou into our bathing routine, whether it’s via a full-on renovation or simple decorative touches to bring a spa-inspired feel to an ordinary bathroom.

Renovate to rejuvenate

Yumi Murayama, founder and creative director of Vancouver’s Yu+Me Design Studio , says, “I’m Japanese- born and raised, and have been to many onsens in Japan growing up. Every time I visit, I make sure to go to one to relax and enjoy being in nature.”

She says others who travel to Japan and experience the onsen want to recreate it in their own bathroom. “If they have the space for it, I can design it.”

Well, not necessarily a whole mineral-bath-in-the- forest-beneath-Mount-Fuji recreation, but certainly something approaching a spa atmosphere.

Murayama says having a separate tub and shower in the same room is ideal so you can take a shower to cleanse then sink into the tub to soak, in the onsen tradition. To achieve that, she usually installs a steam shower, preferably with a built-in bench, to “sit, relax, and take a shower while breathing in the steam.” Then she’ll add a separate, free-standing deep tub to allow for that long, restorative soak.

She says having a toilet in the same room as a tub and shower is “strange” to Japanese people, who prefer to keep it in its own space. But since it’s near impossible to remove a toilet already ensconced in a bathroom, Murayama says she works around it when renovating for what she calls “a wet room that feels like a spa.”

She says you can also integrate waterproof LED lights to the shower to add warmth and ambience. And, although she hasn’t done it herself, she says more people are adding waterproof Bluetooth speakers — like Kohler’s Moxie removable, magnetically attached model — to infuse music or soothing nature sounds into the shower.

As for fixtures, she prefers Kallista for the combination of luxury, high-end designs and materials like solid brass, nickel and silver, and unique finishes. Also, they don’t splash. The custom-engineered aerator creates a splash-free stream and reduces water consumption.

The faucets and rain shower heads work on air-induction technology, which pulls in air and mixes with the water which, while still powerful, creates droplets that are lighter and softer on the skin.

When choosing a colour palette, Murayama prefers hues found in nature: oak or walnut browns, greens that evoke the forest, blues inspired by the ocean, off-white to reflect clouds. “The shapes of leaves, ocean waves, volcanic stones, and white sand, as well as the textures of seashells, also inspire me,” she says.

As for cabinetry, she says it depends on space, lighting, and storage needs. “If space is limited, like in a condo, we consider how to utilize the height rather than the width. Tall storage will go all the way to the ceiling to maximize space. We can also incorporate soft or motion-sensor lighting under the cabinet.”

Murayama loves to use marble to create a spa-style atmosphere, but most clients are hesitant because of its susceptibility to stain. Instead, she chooses quartz countertops which are easier to maintain.

She also recommends radiant floor heating to avoid the shock of cold tile on warm feet. “I like to add different textures to create depth and have the flooring different from the wall tile. I’ll use a different colour but keep the undertone the same to complement.”

For a recent project, her clients wanted a dramatic, stone-like look so she used terrazzo tile, a mix of materials like marble, granite, and quartz. “It’s not for everybody but it worked here.”

Lastly, ventilation is important when your new spa-inspired bathroom is generating a lot of steam. Murayama has replaced older systems with new ones like Panasonic’s WhisperChoice DC , which is super quiet.

Ultimately, she says, when creating a spa-like bathroom, you should first consider your personal lifestyle rather than copying someone else’s design. “Everyone interprets the idea of ‘spa-like’ differently. By understanding what it means to you, you can discover the perfect setting that allows you to truly enjoy the experience. There’s no right or wrong answer to the design; if you love it and want it, that’s the answer.”

Decorate to reinvigorate

If you’d rather not knock down a wall or tear out your tub in pursuit of a Zen-like bathing experience, there’s a simpler, more affordable way. Kelly Grimes, interior decorator and founder of Go To Your Room Interior Decorating and Design, says when creating a calming atmosphere, she recommends starting by decluttering. That means clearing out overcrowded counters, drawers and cabinets, and tossing expired products and half-used hotel toiletries. “A clutter-free surface instantly creates mental calm and allows a few intentional decorative pieces to shine.”

On a recent project, she incorporated custom shelving above the toilet that doubled as a space for must-have items while reflecting a more personalized decor.

“We also incorporated two pieces of art in the space: a vintage ocean print on wood panel, to connect with the soft feeling of the space; and a punchy-coloured piece to tie in with the calm greens that draw your eye all the way to the back of the room to visually enlarge the space. My client still tells me that every time she walks into her bathroom she feels like she is staying at a luxury hotel.”

For the toiletries you do keep, Grimes suggests decanting and presenting them in simple, matching pump bottles or onto trays to create visual cohesion. “A tidy, intentional display feels far more luxurious than a mix of branded packaging. Clear glass containers, small stone trays or even a single sculptural object made from marble or alabaster can add quiet elegance without cluttering the space.”

She also recommends updating mirrors and decorative hardware. “A new mirror can dramatically shift the style of a bathroom and is often more budget-friendly than replacing plumbing fixtures. Swapping dated cabinet pulls for something more refined can also elevate the overall look without construction.”

For colour, Grimes says the traditional all-white room doesn’t automatically convey serenity, as it can feel cold and clinical. “Pastels work beautifully in a spa-like environment as colour psychology plays an important role in how a space makes us feel. Warmer tones, such as soft peach, muted pink, or gentle terracotta can add a healthy glow, while pale blues and sage greens can feel refreshing and soothing.”

Grimes says she often recommends adding soft textures like plush towels, robes, and bath mats to soften the hard surfaces of tile, fixtures, hardware and counters to create a balance of materials. “Linens are one of the most effective and affordable ways to create a spa feel. Oversized, plush towels in cohesive colours, a soft bath mat underfoot and neatly displayed rolled towels can instantly elevate the experience.”

Also, selecting linens and accessories can complement tile undertones. “Soft, matte finishes and natural textures, such as woven baskets or wood accents, can help temper glossy or cooler tile and make the space feel warmer and more spa-like.”

She says rather than remove discoloured tile, a simple recaulking can refresh it. Also, a high-end customized shower curtain can hide older tile and bump up the luxe factor.

Grimes says switching your vanity light for a dimmable light is a relatively affordable upgrade that dramatically improves ambience. “I recommend warm lighting — around 2700K — which gives a soft, flattering glow. Cooler light temperatures can feel energizing, but for a spa-like environment, warmth is key.”

Candles, diffusers and bath salts are simple but powerful additions, says Grimes, because rejuvenation often comes through scent. “Popular spa scents include eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood, camomile and light citrus blends. The key is subtlety; the scent should gently enhance the atmosphere rather than overwhelm it.”

Ultimately, a spa-like bathroom should reflect your own version of calm, whether that’s incorporating the Far East tradition of totonou or a simple West Coast refresh. “There isn’t one universal formula,” says Grimes. “It’s about creating a sensory experience through colour, texture, clarity, cleanliness, sound and scent that feels intentional and personal, no matter your decorating budget.”

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