The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

GARDEN GATE: Episode 268 – Father’s Day Gift Ideas (June 9, 2023)

Father’s Day is right around the corner! We have lots of unique gift ideas for all the different Father figures in your life. Only the best – Tilley Hats! We have a few different styles and colors, and you can accessorize with a Dragonfly Wingman! These clip on to your hat, backpack or chair to … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 267 – Protecting Birds From Hitting Your Windows (May 26, 2023)

Millions of birds are killed each year flying into windows. This time of year, the birds are migrating and generally much busier. They are seeing reflections of trees in glass which makes them think they can fly through. We have options to protect them! There are the basic black bird stickers. With these, the more … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 266 – Mother’s Day gift ideas (May 12, 2023)

Lots of great gift ideas for any of the Mothers in your life! Michel Design has many different scents of foaming and bar soaps, matching napkins, tea towels and aprons! We have many nice sets of hand tea towels or match your own! Canadian made Kitras Art Glass gazing balls make a great gift as … Read more

GARDEN GATE: Episode 265 – TheOccurrence Puzzles with Brigitte Gall (Apr 28, 2023)

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

The Avant-Garden Shop