CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: www.blackdahliadesign.ca

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

DIY Eavestrough Vegetable Garden!


Be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom to allow optimal soil health and to avoid root rot.  Check out the comments on the link for ideas on modifications and display options.

http://greenupgrader.com/7556/diy-vertical-garden-with-reclaimed-gutters/

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Eat sustainable seafood - Be informed of the best choices this holiday season

go to the Sea Choice website for Canada's first seafood database, categorized by domestic availablility.
http://www.seachoice.org/

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Emerald Ash Borer

If you haven't yet heard the news, approximately 860,000 Ash trees exist in the Toronto area alone.  All are expected to be dead in the next 3 to 5 years.  They could be right in your backyard or lining a city street in front of your property.  Ash trees provide a large portion of canopy shade to our homes and recreation areas.  They were actually one of the most planted city trees only a few decades ago. 

The current budget cuts to our city services are inclusive of arbory services.  You can expect private companies and basically anyone with a ladder and chainsaw to be ramping up marketing in the next couple of years.  If you have ash trees on your property, you may want to consider getting a head start on replacing them with another more viable species.

Here's some updated information on the Emerald Ash Borer pandemic currently sweeping across North America.  Below is an updated map of the geographical effects, followed by links to the Toronto website, supported by Urban Forestry Services as well as general background info provided by Wikipedia. 


Toronto: Urban Foresty 

Wiki

Saturday, October 15, 2011

NOW Magazine // News // Leafy letdown

Some interesting stats on Toronto public service cuts and its effect on our urban landscape.  

NOW Magazine // News // Leafy letdown

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

TAKE THE SURVEY! WIN FREE TIKS TO TIFF 2011!

I'm unveiling my market research survey today as part of my business plan.  I hope that everyone will take the 3 minutes out of their day to complete it.  So far the incentive is a set of tickets to a screening at the 2011 TIFF going on from September 8th-18th.

Thanks in advance for the support!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2GL25VS


Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Floral Werx


One of the best names in the Toronto floral industry, Katherine at Floral Werx produces modern and stunning arrangements.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Cool garden focal point.

The New Face of Gardening


The cover of an Alberta based gardening magazine.  Is it just an example of mediocre photo styling? or a message that the Y generation are the new advocates for gardening?

Monday, August 22, 2011

Unprecedented first day!

'A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.' - Lao Tzu

Today marks one of the most precipitously bifurcative days of the rest of my life.

In case you weren't made aware of the good news in recent weeks, I was invited to take part in an Ontario government business start-up development program.  Today was the first official meeting of that program's intake group. 

The Ontario Self-Employment Benefit Program is a competitive platform, administered by the Ministry of Training for Colleges and Universities that provides prospective Ontarian entrepreneurs with business proposal coaching and grant funding.  It's an amazing opportunity provided by the province for a lucky selected few that exhibit a passion worth exploring, a little bit of charisma worth marketing, and a business idea worth investing in.

Presently, I feel truly blessed and thankful for the events that have led me to this point.  As well, I'm especially thankful for the people that have helped me get to this point.  (you know who you are ;) 

The game is now officially in play, i'm a contender to be reckoned with and plans are in place to finish with dazzling results!

Stay tuned for some major updates... :)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Xeriscaping, not Zeroscaping


After two exceptionally dry years and record low water tables, the word "xeriscape" is becoming a new buzzword. Many assume that it means growing only cactus and yuccas and covering the soil with gravel. Nothing could be further from the truth. Lauren Springer, in her book The Undaunted Garden refers to her xeriscape as a "lush, dry garden." One needs only to learn which plants can be classed as xerophytic — they require less water or have better methods of obtaining water, (i.e. a long taproot system) or retaining it (i.e. waxy leaves that retard transpiration). Neither does xeriscaping mean never again being able to grow water guzzlers such as astilbe or ligularias. It is simply a matter or organization — grouping plants together according to the water requirements.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

8 more reasons to consider Landscaping your home!


1          Lower noise levels

2          Blocks unpleasant views
3          Reduces crime
4          Lowers heating and cooling
5          Improves home appearance
6          Optimizes the use of land and outdoor space
7          Reduces the amount of weeds on your property*
8          Allows for the imaginative use of styles, features, plants and 
            ornaments

Thursday, June 23, 2011


Four Interesting
Landscape
Statistics
1
In 2001 homeowners spent $37.7 billion caring for their property, up from 22.5 billion five years previously, according to the National Gardening Association.
2
Consumers value a landscaped home up to 11.3 percent higher than its base price, according to a Clemson University and University of Michigan study.
3
A Society of Real Estate Appraisers Survey revealed that 95 percent of the appraisers responding to the survey believed that landscaping adds to the dollar value of residential real estate, while 99 percent of them said it enhanced the sales appeal of residential real estate.
4
A variety of studies reveal that landscaping can increase the value of residential and commercial property from five to as much as 20%.
Chepesiuk, Ron.    

Milky Spore- Organic Grub Control

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

What's to become of the lawns?

With the Ontario pesticide ban finally one full season into full implementation, the dandelions are spreading like wildfire. Here's a picture of Woodbine park a couple days ago. My guess is that mowing is the only form of weed control used at this specific park. Oh boy.... can't wait til next year...






Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Resurgence of Outdoor Living

We should all aspire to create beautiful, liveable outdoor spaces. A greater appreciation for nature starts with functional design. Things used to be more simple.



Saturday, May 7, 2011

Hosta nubs in the Spring

Quite possibly one of the prettiest subtle splashes of colour this early in the season.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Spring Planter

Planters at a home in Rosedale.

Boxwood, Tulips, Daffodils, Blue Grape Hyacinth, White Grape Hyacinth, Violas, Ivy, painted Curly Willow




Monday, April 25, 2011

A glimpse of beauty in ravaged Japan



Cherry blossoms are in full bloom above the wreckage of the tracks and debris left by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami at Tona Station in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 24. Japan launched a massive new search with 25,000 troops scouring its tsunami-ravaged northeast coast for thousands of bodies still missing more than six weeks after the disaster struck.

<http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photos/14-340-people-were-killed-9-0-magnitude-photo-065427445.html>>

Thursday, April 14, 2011

WWW.WEEDINFO.CA



Field Bindweed.  One of the more common invasives.  betcha 10 bucks it's in your garden.  Find it and kill it. Educate yourself and do your part.  Replant with native species.


Everything you need to ID that mystery plant that's taking over your garden.

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND DO YOUR PART!!!










Japanese Knotweed.  cut it down!

Download the attached PDF and get yourself familiar with some of the more common weeds in Ontario.  Do your part to control their spread and replant native species!!!

http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/files/LandownerGuideInvasives_web.pdf

Wisteria Seed Pods

Love.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Oak Canopy

i discovered today that i have the pleasure of watching these beautiful oak trees behind my new place gracefully mature.