Organic Gardening News

Don't miss the best garden buys for 2026 with round-ups and expert reviews of everything from tools and lawn care to raised beds and bird camera feeders.

The groundwork for a spectacular dahlia display is laid long before peak flowering – these timely tasks ensure abundant blooms that last throughout the season.

With stunning red and orange blooms, this pretty vine offers months of nectar for hummingbirds... and all without any of the usual trouble, too!

Get these seeds in the ground now and you'll have armfuls of colorful flowers for vases and posies by September.

Your feeders are ready, your nectar is sugary, but is your yard ready for hummers? Here’s what you need to check in June to make sure your favorite little hovering jewel pollinators visit you every day

Lavender plants are blooming in June and filling gardens with wonderful scent. Keep plants happy and blooming with a few easy tasks.

Don't let the hot, dry summer take a toll on your porch pots. Planting a nearly drought-proof container garden will keep your home looking great all summer long.

There’s such a thing as too much togetherness. So when architects Tillie Kwan and Bettina Balcaen designed a family retreat on Savary Island, they made room for everyone to gather — and spaces to slip away, too.

The property sits on the north side of Savary, a 7.5-km-long crescent of forest and white sand beaches off the coast of Powell River. The owners had been coming to the island for a decade but had outgrown their longtime family cabin.

“Now that the kids are adults, they wanted those kids to come back, maybe with potential partners, maybe with grandkids, to continue that tradition of providing a vacation place, but one that’s bigger and can be more multi-generational,” says Balcaen.

Rather than one large dwelling, Kwan and Balcaen — partners in Vancouver’s Balcaen Kwan Architecture and Design — created a series of three separate cabins, connected by a wraparound deck.

The central cabin houses a primary suite and the main social spaces, including a dining room and kitchen, while a “family cabin” harbours four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette with an eating nook and a living area. A third cabin adds a guest bedroom with its own bathroom, plus a wood-fired sauna and a flex space that can be used as a den, gym or remote office.

“[The layout] had to be flexible enough that it could accommodate a smaller or larger gathering. It also had to have enough separation that people could get away and do their own thing, and not be in each other’s space all the time,” says Balcaen.

The remote location also informed design. Accessible only by boat, the property relies on solar power, a septic system and propane-fired stove. Rainwater harvested from the rooflines irrigates a vegetable garden.

“We had to design [each] building so that it was architecturally interesting, but at the same time not too challenging to build,” says Kwan.

They started with a densely forested site, orienting the structures to capture ocean views to the north — looking out over the Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound and Hernando Island. But this came with an indoor trade-off: limited natural light. So, Kwan and Balcaen added backward-facing dormers. “In addition to the big areas of glazing, we have these aperture-like clerestory windows that bring in light from above,” says Kwan.

The forest found its way into the buildings, too. After a previous contractor cut down more trees on the site than the design team intended, they worked with Upward Construction — the eventual builder — to create an on-site mill, producing exterior siding from downed cedars. (They’ve since planted new trees to fill in lost canopy, along with native plant species such as salal, deer fern and kinnikinnick.)

Knowing the site-milled boards would have more natural irregularities than traditionally manufactured ones, they decided on a deep charcoal stain for the exteriors. But it felt right, too: “We really wanted the cabins to be almost like shadows in the forest, so that they look like they just slipped in and very lightly settled there,” says Kwan.

From here, the design opens outward. The deck ties the exterior spaces together, with zones for cooking, dining and lounging. A sunken wood-fired hot tub sits alongside a patch of garden, next to an outdoor shower. “We made some subtle moves to make [the deck] not just this one big object,” says Kwan.

At one end, an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and pizza oven extends the living space into the landscape. Opposite the outdoor dining area, two walls of glass meet at a corner and slide completely away, dissolving the separation between the dining room and deck.

Inside, whitewashed hemlock wraps walls and vaulted ceilings. The feel is recognizably cabin-like without leaning rustic — especially balanced by durable concrete flooring and porcelain tile wall accents. Kwan and Balcaen worked with interior designer Tina Wei to make the indoor spaces feel inseparable from the architecture.

“For us, it’s not a clear delineation between the architecture and the interiors, in that we always start by really trying to understand how people will use the space,” says Kwan.

In the main cabin, a two-sided wood-burning fireplace on a concrete plinth divides the living room from the dining area without blocking visual flow. A 12-foot-long quartzite-topped kitchen island does double duty as prep space and gathering spot, with seating for five, while a custom round dining table by Vancouver furniture maker Lock & Mortise pairs with upholstered chairs and curved loungers (both by Minotti). And because groceries are scarce this far off-grid, a deep pantry next to the kitchen keeps the bulk of hauled-in provisions tucked out of sight.

Bathrooms remix the material palette of concrete, wood and porcelain tile. The powder room centres on a custom cast-concrete sink, designed by Kwan and Balcaen and produced by Vancouver Island-based fabricator Nimble Systems. “We had this idea of something that was very robust, but still very sculptural,” says Kwan.

Like the outdoor living area, the cabins carve out private zones away from communal spaces — like window-seat reading nooks in the family and main cabins. “You can retreat from, let’s say, the living room, and read a book, or just hang out and have a cup of tea, with a view to the ocean or the forest where you feel sort of suspended,” says Balcaen.

This was always the goal: space enough to gather — to cook together, play cards, trade stories in the hot tub. But also to disappear for a while.

Architecture:Studio Balcaen Kwan Architecture and Design

Interior Design: Studio Balcaen Kwan Architecture and Design in collaboration with Tina Wei Design

Structural Design: Nadalini Engineering

Construction:Upward Construction

Landscape Design: Landscape Landscape

Related

• Yaletown condo transformed into a Vegas-inspired retreat that radiates character
• Overhaul for the long haul: West Van home transformed into light-filled modern space

It's not to late to plant these heat-tolerant perennials in your garden. They add sizzling summer color that doesn't fade – even in the hottest weather.

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

4259 West River Rd., Ladner

Type: Five-bedroom, five-bathroom detached

Size: 4,956 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,043,000

Listed for: $3,248,000

Sold for: $2,980,000

Sold on: March 6

Days on market in this listing: 14

Listing agent: Aileen Noguer PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Jackie Lauder at Sutton Group Seafair Realty

The big sell: This waterfront Ladner property not only shines on the inside with sophisticated living but revels in year-round sunrise-to-sunset views with panoramic water vistas. The two-year-old house features three levels punctuated by high-end finishing with air conditioning, an elevator, HighQ windows, waterfall countertops, contemporary pendant lighting, a spice kitchen, premium Miele appliances, a floating staircase with glass balustrades, and multiple decks from which to enjoy the waterscapes. There are two bedrooms on the main floor and three upstairs (all five bedrooms are ensuited) including the primary bedroom that counts an oversized linear fireplace, an 11-foot walk-in closet, and an opulent private bathroom as some of its highlights. Additional cherries on the cake include a rooftop deck and a private dock with a 60-foot boat capacity.

123 — 12040 Plaza St., Maple Ridge

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,444 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $724,000

Listed for: $699,000

Sold for: $680,000

Sold on: April 13

Days on market in this listing: 39

Listing agent: Shannon Drummond PREC at Royal LePage Elite West

Buyers agent: John Kenney PREC at Royal LePage Elite West

The big sell: ERA represents a master-planned community of recently-built homes that spans several city blocks with shops, dining, and transit options on hand including the West Coast Express. Amenities include a party room, communal kitchen, play area, gym, rooftop garden and a social lounge. This particular home is a three-storey end-unit townhouse that displays premium finishes throughout with porcelain tiles, black plumbing fixtures, and soaker tubs in the bathrooms, high-end appliances including a gas stove in the kitchen, hardwood floors and oversized windows. There are two bedrooms served by a family bathroom upstairs, while the top floor is reserved for the primary bedroom that boasts its own private deck. Two side-by-side underground parking stalls complete with an electric vehicle charger, a storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $569.49 come with the property.

3161 West 6th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Eight-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,205 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,444,000

Listed for: $1,998,000

Sold for: $2,025,000

Sold on: April 9

Days on market in this listing: 20

Listing agent: Bob Bracken at ReMax Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Mark Landrigan PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: According to listing agent Bob Bracken, multiple offers were received for this eight-bedroom revenue-generating property that comes with long-term tenants already in place, pushing the final sale price to over the $2-million dollar mark. The home in question is a three-level house located in the heart of Kitsilano. It was built in 1912 and currently comprises a mix of suites including a two-bedroom self-contained suite on the top floor, a three-bedroom self-contained suite on the main level, and three sleeping rooms on the ground floor alongside a bathroom, eating area, fridge, microwave, sink, common area, storage, and a separate entrance. To the rear of the property is a fenced yard for residents’ use. The shops along West 4th Avenue and West Broadway are nearby, as well as McBride Park with its playground and tennis courts.

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

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

Related

• Sold (Bought): Whistler home a blend of understated luxury and rustic charm
• Sold (Bought): Port Coquitlam home showcases move-in ready appeal

I’ve been growing tomatoes for over a decade and, as a gardening editor, I’ve tried out a heap of expert tips and tricks. These five actually work.

Dreaming of stunning floral displays? These elegant trellises will instantly upgrade your garden.

June will bring more young birds to your yard, but most fledglings need far more than seed to survive. Grow these flowers and plants to create a backyard menu of natural treats and protein rich essentials they love to forage

The Felco No. 6 One-Hand Pruning Shears are among the best pruners you can buy – perfect for deadheading plants, or cutting stems and thin branches.

Need to control ant numbers and eliminate ant hills in your garden? This chemical-free trap uses pantry staples to kill ants without putting your garden, and everyone who uses it, at risk.

These easy perennial flowers fill in garden beds fast! Just put them in the ground, then they'll spread and bloom for years to come.

Downy mildew on basil can quickly kill the whole plant. Consistent monitoring and quick action will help keep your plant healthy.

Self-seeding plants are a fabulous way to fill out your garden year after year with little effort.

The Sun Joe 24V-ST14 Cordless String Trimmer can edge to make lawns look finished and cut through brush to eliminate unsightly weeds.

When a property can accommodate covered parking for 10 vehicles — and uncovered for twice that — you know it’s big. The grounds of this two-storey wood frame Sardis house are certainly sprawling: the 1.5 acreage, surrounded by stretches of neighbouring green farmland, includes an in-ground pool with detached pool house/bar with sink and fridge, outdoor shower, in-ground hot tub, putting green, and expansive upper and lower heated decks with mountain views. Perfect for parties.

A detached out-building with eight roll-up doors that currently houses a leased business includes a self-contained two-bedroom suite up top and a separate caretaker’s suite below — ideal for revenue-generating opportunities, or a variety of other options.

Listing agent for the property Gregory Newberry of Pathway Executives Realty Inc., says if a buyer opted not to continue the business lease, the spacious outbuilding could be used as a workshop, storage, gym, studio, hobbies, or for tinkering on cars.

A natural gas fire pit with bench seating and surrounding grassy area sits between the shops and the back of the house. At the side is space to park an RV with hook-ups.

If golf doesn’t interest, the putting green can be remade into a dog run or child’s play area.

The home’s two patios feature natural gas fireplaces as well as phantom screens that raise and lower at the touch of a button. “They enclose the patios, keep the heat in, the bugs out, and create a nice warm space” for year-round use, says Newberry.

A huge generator runs the entire property, and part of the outbuilding is fitted with solar panels for energy efficiency.

“The interest I’ve been getting is for generational living,” says Newberry of potential buyers. “Two and three, in one case four, families who want to amalgamate into one property. It’s usually the mom and dad, their two married kids with maybe their own kids. So you have three families who have sold their respective homes and now want to occupy this property together.”

What’s inside

Inside the six-bedroom, six-bathroom, 4,988-square-foot home, slat walls cover the entranceway, laundry and living room, as well as some of the ceilings. In the great room and primary bedrooms, coffered ceilings add texture and depth, while engineered hardwood flooring extends throughout the entire home.

The open concept main living area, with doors leading to the pool deck, features a kitchen with large island and quartz countertops, pendant lighting above and under-cabinet lighting below. There’s also a small prep kitchen and wet bar with wine storage. A large butler’s pantry sits to the right of the kitchen and, for extra storage, behind the kitchen and down a hallway there’s a big barn door that opens into a huge additional pantry.

All the bathroom floors are heated, and all showers are large walk-in type with oversized tiles. Each bedroom (most are en suite) features large walk-in closets, and the two primary bedroom en suites feature a soaker tub. One primary bedroom has a deck with a gas fireplace and overhead heaters, a cozy space to take in the mountain views year-round.

In addition to the two on the patios, there are six natural gas fireplaces throughout the home, including in the two primary bedrooms, to keep the house toasty in winter, and air-conditioning to keep it cool in summer.

Upstairs is a “golf room” (which could convert to a games or rec room) with vaulted ceilings, a putting green carpet, wet bar and fireplace. There’s also a separate dedicated gym/work-out space.

In the neighbourhood

The home is smack dab in the middle of fertile farmland but a mere five-minute drive to the freeway, about 10 minutes to the shops, services and restaurants of Sardis, 20 minutes to downtown Chilliwack, and 15 minutes to Abbotsford. The closest school is Greendale Elementary, 600 metres away, while a school bus takes students to many other schools a bit farther away.

Several nearby golf courses include the 18-hole executive Cultus Lake Golf Club, a 20-minute drive away. Cultus Lake is also popular with families for its amusement park and “B.C.’s biggest waterpark”.

Closer still is the Chilliwack River, which lures anglers during salmon and steelhead seasons, and its miles of walking and running trails that run alongside it.

Three minutes away is the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, which manages 325 acres of forests and wetlands and the large breeding colony of Pacific Great Blue Herons that nest here from March to July. The reserve is also surrounded by scenic trails with boardwalks, bridges and a lookout tower for spotting herons and other birdlife.

Although the home currently isn’t using outdoor space for dedicated flower or vegetable gardens, new owners could certainly opt to plant them. If not, Sardis is famous for its farms, both industrial and boutique, with fresh fruit and vegetables readily available throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Location:6257 Sumas Prairie Road, Sardis

Listed for: $4,350,000

Year built: 2020

Type: Six bedrooms, six bathrooms

Size: 4,988 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Gregory Newberry, Pathway Executives Realty Inc.

Related

• Property Watch: A tricky to categorize ‘bare land strata’ home overlooks Marine Drive Golf Club
• Property Watch: Sunset Ridge Estate comes with a private dock and, naturally, awesome sunsets