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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1998 THE NEW TANNER Farmer's Almanac aids all gardeners In an effort to keep gar- dening as a hobby enjoyable, peaceful and rewarding, The 1998 Old Farmer's Almanac Gardener's Companion (Yankee) - which stems from The Old Farmer's Almanac, America's oldest and trusted authority on all good things that grow - offers a bumper crop of sage advice on sim- plifying your garden plans, growing tried-and-true gar- den favorites, and even wa- tering your garden. (Would you believe that the best time to water may be during a rainstorm?) Following the old adage, "Admire a large garden, but tend a small one," this book offers complete plans for four easy. flower gardens. All the designs rely on readily avail- able perennials and annuals, feature five varieties of plants, and are no larger than 10 feet by 5 feet. There are three plans for sun (includ- ing a butterfly-loving Eng- lish-style cottage garden) and one for shade, plus advice on preparing the ground before you plant, and tips for achiev- ing the best results. One of the highlights of the 1998 edition is a feature called "Growing America's Favorite Vegetables," which provides secrets from experts on growing the top 10 most popular garden vegetables, with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers topping the list. Tips include planting your tomatoes in a different part of the garden every year to lessen the threat of soilborne diseases, using cone-shaped wire tomato cages to support pepper plants, and keeping cucumbers picked to prevent a slowdown in production. In addition to useful, eve- ryday advice, The 1998 Gar- dener's Companion offers a sprinkling of quirky hints that longtime readers have come to expect from The Old Farmer's Almanac. For ex- ample, give your freshly picked strawberries a hot bath to help prevent gray mold; and use coyote urine to keep deer out of the gar- den. DRUM ROLL, PLEASE: Acton's Devon Lambert, 15, drummed her way to a first place finish in the Grade 4 Solo Drum "March" competition held recently in Toronto. The Toronto Branch of the Piper's and Pipe Band Society of Ontario sponsored the event. Devon, a Grade 9 student at Acton High, will also com- pete in the Georgetown and Fergus Highland Games this summer. -- Frances Niblock photo FLOOR & WALL TILE Large In-stock Selection of Ficor G Wall Tile Visit our showroom display Hundreds of new tiles from around the world Hwy #7 to Guelph Hwy. #7 To Rockwood = FF" Watson Rd. 3 Watson Road South, Guelph | Phone: 519-836-7060 Fax: 519-836-7076 Quality and craftsmanship are a family tradition. |