Fall migration has already begun for some bird species. As birds leave their northern breeding grounds to head south for the winter, the numbers of birds and species of birds that will pass through or arrive in this part of Ontario will increase quite a bit over the next month or two. If you haven’t […]
Author: Brenda
Garden Gate: Episode 146-Artists J.P. Schoss and Brenda Tucker from Dog Bite Steel
On this episode I highlight the fun and quirky work of J.P. Schoss and Brenda Tucker, owners of and creators at Dog Bite Steel. JP and Brenda met blowing glass at The Ontario College of art 30 yrs ago. Brenda was a professional porcelain artist and already had a successful business. JP integrated into that […]
Garden Gate: Episode 145 – Choosing quality products
At The Avant-Garden Shop we carry as much Canadian made product as possible. We know it’s important to support local! We also look for quality products that are going to last! On this episode I talk about quality concrete, plastic and UV protection. If you’re going to invest in a product, it’s worth investing a […]
Garden Gate: Episode 144-Birdbaths
Providing birds with water is an important part of any garden. Both for drinking and for bathing. Birds are especially attracted to moving water, so if you can add a dripper, spraying hose or water wiggler, you`ll attract birds more quickly to the bath. In addition moving water prevents mosquitoes from laying their larvae in […]
Garden Gate: Episode 143 – Wear your hat! It’s hot out there! (July 6, 2018)
We carry a wide variety of hats. All made in Canada! UVA/UVB protection, fun, colourful and hey-you’ll look good! Mad Cap Hats, Tilley hats, Puffin gear, Lorainne Wake (BC), Sanibel (QC) and Flapjack hats for kids! Keep your head, ears and neck covered to protect from sunburn! Hat designs change regularly so we don’t normally […]
Garden Gate: Episode 142 – Artist William Boyd Fraser
William boyd fraser (bill) is a sculptor from Bethany, Ontario. Bill has received Ontario arts council grants for his making and teaching. and has completed university education to the point of a master of arts in contemporary art history. We’ve had a few different items in the shop from Bill with these beautiful birds being […]
Garden Gate: Episode 140 – Intricate Greeting cards with guest Heather Nisbett
On this episode of The Garden Gate Brenda chat’s with Heather Nisbett from “Intricate greetings” about this beautiful and fascinating item now available in the shop! A couple years ago, Heather and her husband embarked on a holiday to Vietnam, excited to experience the culture, scenery, history and food, and they were not disappointed! They […]
Garden Gate: Episode 139 – Tips and Tricks to attract hummingbirds (May 11th, 2018)
On this episode of The Garden Gate I offer a few tips about hummingbirds and some tricks to help you attract them! A hummingbird flaps its wings up to 70 times per second; its heart rate can reach 1,260 beats per minute. Hummingbirds can extend their long, skinny tongues twice as far as the bill, which helps them reach nectar deep inside […]
Garden Gate: Episode 138 – Soap stone carving kits for children (April 27th, 2018)
How it all started! Co-founder Oliver Harwood was asked to teach an elementary school class how to carve soapstone. The first class was a hit and grew to 33 classes in the first year. In the last two years they have grown to teach more than 10,000 students in more than 300 schools. They have […]
Garden Gate: Episode 137 – Woodstock Windchimes (April 13th, 2018)
There are a wide variety of wind chimes available on the market. We feel that the Woodstock wind chimes are the best. These chimes are high quality and most importantly sound NICE! We often hear that people don’t like the sound of chimes. The sound grates on their ears. Woodstock wind chimes aren’t like that. […]
