Some people refer to hummingbirds (“hummers” to birdwatchers) as “winged jewels,’ which is no surprise, given their small size, the males’ brilliant iridescent colours, and the way they flit about. There are 5 hummingbird species in Canada, but only one, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, in Ontario. Males have bright red throats, iridescent green backs, wings, and […]
Garden Tips: Going to Bat for Bats
Bats are remarkable creatures. They’re the only flying mammals in the world, and they use echolocation to catch flying insects on the wing in the dark. Imagine looking for your food with your ears… There are 8 bat species in Ontario, 4 of which are listed as Endangered on Ontario’s Species At Risk (SARO) List. […]
Garden Gate: Episode 163-Mother’s day gift ideas (April 26th, 2019)
Mother’s Day is Sunday May 12th and we have some beautiful items in the shop that will make her happy. You can go pretty or practical! Pretty hats, fragrant soaps, handmade necklaces, wind chimes, Kawartha candles, garden art….or you can go with more practical items like garden tools, gloves, trugs or tea cups! We can […]
Garden Tips: Jewels of the Air
Some people refer to hummingbirds (“hummers” to birdwatchers) as “winged jewels,’ which is no surprise, given their small size, the males’ brilliant iridescent colours, and the way they flit about. There are 5 hummingbird species in Canada, but only one, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, in Ontario. Males have bright red throats, iridescent green backs, wings, and […]
Garden Gate: Episode 162 – Grackles and Starlings
Next to Squirrels, Grackles and Starlings are the most bothersome to backyard bird feeders. They eat so much, come in large flocks and scare away the prettier birds like cardinals. During this episode of The Garden Gate I focus on types of seed and feeders that help to eliminate them from your garden and leave […]
Garden Gate: Episode 161 – Madoc Rocks and Quarry Cut designs
Father daughter team of Nick and Samantha Butts create both coasters and necklaces from the same locally sourced rock. Madoc Rocks is a family run business established in 2002. Their coasters are hand crafted with rock from the Madoc area, in Eastern Ontario. The unique patterns and colours in each coaster are an indication of […]
Garden Tips: Cheer up, cheerily! Bird Song vs. Call & Tips to Learn a Few in Your Yard
The air will be increasingly filled with bird song this month as more species return from the south. Learning to identify birds by the sounds they make takes time and effort, but it can deepen your connection to your garden as you become increasingly aware of what’s going on around you. The words “singing” and […]
Garden Gate: Episode 160 – New metal art
Spring is the time for the shop to get refilled after a busy holiday season. And it’s the time for us to add to our collection of Canadian made items. On this episode I share with you just a little of the many pieces of Canadian made metal work. Made by a number of […]
Garden Gate: Episode 159 – A visit to the Toronto gift fair
At the end of January each year we visit the gift shows in Toronto to seek out new and interesting products for the shop with an eye always towards Canadian made. This year we saw a fair number of Peterborough artists at this national show. Annie Scherz from reVerra glass, Blake Richardson with […]
Garden Tips: The Woodpeckers, Chickadees, & Nuthatches come Marching in
You may have noticed a loud, sweetly-whistled “Spring’s here!” in recent weeks. This is the song of the Black-capped Chickadee (as is the three-parted “Cheese-bur-ger!”). Many of our year-round bird residents are cavity nesters. Chickadees, nuthatches, and some woodpeckers stay here through the winter, and they’ll start their courtship activities in March. Chickadees Black-capped Chickadees […]