The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

The Birds and the Beans

Bird Friendly Coffee If you’re wondering what coffee would taste like if it were Smithsonian approved, we can help you find out. We carry 340g bags of beans and ground coffee from Birds and Beans, all of which bear the gold seal stamp of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the highest environmental … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 296 – New & Beautiful Metal Art (July 5, 2024)

New art from Asheville North Carolina just came in! These hand painted copper pieces are very unique! They’re crafted by artisans in a 5000 square foot studio that is right near the Blue Ridge Mountains. We received some that are on stakes for the garden and some pieces that hang on the wall. There are … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 295 – The Original Solair Chairs! (June 21, 2024)

Check out these groovy Solair Chairs! You may know them as basket chairs or motel chairs, as these are the same chairs made in the 1970s! We love that these are Canadian made by the same original company from Quebec. These chairs are very comfortable, hold up to 300lbs, and are easy to lift. They … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 294 – Father’s Day Ideas (June 7, 2024)

Fathers Day is this Sunday, June 16th. We’ve got many unique items for Dad in the shop including locally made bat houses! Bats consume a tremendous number of mosquitoes nightly and are a great option for pest control. Ask us for more fun facts about bats in the store, or grab a book on bats … Read more

Oh, Canada!

  We asked our newsletter readers to guess how many provinces and territories are represented by artists whose work we have carried over the years in our Avant-Garden shop. Take a guess and read about some of our unique artists (or scroll down to the bottom if you’re impatient) to see the answer.   Leading … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 293 – Fun stuff for kids! (May 24, 2024)

Recently we brought in some neat toys and tools for the kids. Many of these items can help kids get interested in the outdoors! Help them build and paint their own birdhouse or feeder, or get them helping in the garden with their own set of gloves and tools! There are many nature themed items, … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 292 – Feeders For Baltimore Orioles (May 10, 2024)

With spring comes the migration of the Baltimore orioles! These brightly coloured birds visit our area during their breeding season. They don’t stay very long, usually raising one brood then taking off some time in August. However short and sweet, they’re a treat to see and hear in our backyards. We have many different feeders … Read more

Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles

  Sweets for the Sweet In May, we begin to see the arrival of hummingbirds, orioles and warblers. The beautiful but elusive warblers are generally happy within the safe cover of trees to provide a healthy diet of insects, but hummingbirds and orioles will come to gardens and feeders if we provide what they love … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 291 – Gift ideas for Mother’s Day ! (April 26, 2024)

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 12th this year! This means there’s not much time left to go find that perfectly unique gift for the Moms in your life! Luckily the shop is loaded with beautiful options. We have locally made jewelry, hummingbird feeders, puzzles, pottery, metal art, and handblown glass hearts! If Mom’s a gardener … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 290 – Keeping out the squirrels! (April 12, 2024)

In the last episode Brenda talked about keeping grackles and starlings away from feeders. This week is about keeping the squirrels off. The Brome Squirrel Buster feeders are really the best option. These are triggered to close with the weight of a squirrel. Another great option is to put a baffle on your pole. These … Read more

The Avant-Garden Shop