Joining me today is Brigitte Gall of TheOccurrence Puzzles! These puzzles are a great new addition to the Avant-Garden Shop! TheOccurrence is a 100% owned, operated, and “unreasonably proudly” Canadian jigsaw puzzle manufacturing company located in the Haliburton Highlands in Ontario Canada. They design, print, cut, and box in Haliburton. All their Images are true […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 264 – Artist Crystal Driedger (Apr 14, 2023)
The artwork by Crystal Driedger has been super popular in the shop since it arrived in 2022. Her pins are bright and colourful, her cards and magnets show her painting talent. From her website “My art celebrates the diversity and richness of the natural world, reminding us of the value and importance of the plants […]
Garden Tips: Avian Influenza (a.k.a. Bird Flu or H5N1)
Well, Avian Influenza is back in the news. Here, I try to provide some insight that might help answer the question… “Should I keep feeding birds or shut down my feeder?” The quick takeaway? It seems to be ok to keep your feeders running as long as you: aren’t on or near a farm with […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 263 – Rain Chains! (March 31, 2023)
Rain Chains are like jewelry for your house! They can add unique character to a home or garden. These are hung where your downspout usually goes so the rain trickles through them. This is neat to watch but it also makes a relaxing sound. They can be left in place year round as ice accumulation […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 262 – Handmade Easter items by Stitch By Stitch (March 24, 2023)
Easter is coming up very soon! Have a look at some of the unique items you can find in the shop! These beautifully handmade products are a Fairtrade item from overseas and have been produced in a safe and democratic workplace. The producers are paid a fair wage and most importantly the workers have the […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 261 – Canadian art for your homes and gardens! (March 10, 2023)
The right piece of art can really enhance the overall feeling of a space. Whether it’s for your home, garden or outdoor spaces you’ll be able to find it at the Avant-Garden shop! We support several Canadian artists: Rugged Coast is a group of Indigenous artists from British Columbia. Murals in Metal are a family-owned […]
Garden Tips: Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters
Our year-round resident cavity nesters are getting busy with courtship and breeding behaviours, well ahead of the migrants, most of whom start returning from their southern breeding grounds in late-April. Behaviours to watch and listen for include calling/singing (nuthatches & chickadees), drumming (woodpeckers), ritualized displays (keep an eye open for dance-like movements between birds), and […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 260 – Choosing the best birdhouse and when to put them out (Feb 24, 2023)
Getting your bird houses up early, preferably in March, gives time for the houses to slightly weather and be ready for the birds’ return. If you get them up too late they may have already found a suitable nesting place. We carry lots of bird houses, some more decorative than practical. Some birds prefer a […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 254 – Attracting Finches & Grosbeaks (Nov 18, 2022)
A Spruce Budworm outbreak in northern areas meant a lot of food for Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches this year. That, coupled with a smaller mast (seed and nut) crop, means there are more individuals of these species than there is food to support them, so many will move father south than usual this winter […]
GARDEN GATE: Episode 259 – Different types of suet feeders (Feb 10, 2023)
In a recent episode I went over the benefits of feeding our high-quality suet to your feathered friends, especially in colder months. In this episode I show you some of the suet feeders we carry in the shop. Some are wreaths that hold suet balls, cages with tail props, and squirrel proof suet feeders. There […]
