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weunesuay may z j, zuui lttfc, U A K V I L L t , b b A V t,K Homes & Gardens Garden holds surprises for spring The tulips and daffodils have taken over the gar den and then some. Two hundred showed up that I did not expect. We decided last year to reduce the size of the front garden by filling the first flower bed. Last fall we gradually removed the peonies, daylilies roses, ornamental onions and other perenni als. We then became busy with other garden work until late in the season when we saw a landscape crew in the neighbourhood. We remembered that we wanted the bed dug, fin ished and sodded and asked them to do it. It was fin ished but not rolled as the first big snow hit. Spring arrived and the sod actually took hold except for a hundred or so bumps. These emerged and are now 200 tulips, a few daffodils in full bloom plus a peony or two we missed. It is quite a sight, slowing down passers-by to have a look. My next door neighbours have a hydro pole at the edge of their driveway and a wild ivy has climbed the pole. Over the years the ivy has crept along the hydro line towards the road. About 10 ft. out it has formed a pouch. They found young squirrels in the nest. The mother took the little blind squirrels one after the other, along the wires, going from tree to tree and put them in our birdhouse where the In Your Garden crows could not get to them. ------------------------Since then all has been quiet and the mother has been feeding on old lilac seeds at the edge of the drive. JOHN SIMK1NS In the front garden the domed shaped yellow euphoria or spurge forms a contrast with the pink bleeding heart. Gardeners on sandy soil appreciate plants like this that do not wilt after a few dry days. 'Polychrome' spurge forms a perfect 12 inch to 15 inch dome of chrome yellow flowers during May and June. This is the standard variety of euphorbia easily grown from seed or readily available at plant sales. For something more exotic, Thompson and Morgan list wulfenii, which grows 2 ft. tall with col umn like heads of lime green flowers. They also list a new variety, euphorbia langifolia 'Amjellassa' which is a spectacular species. Six months after sowing the yellow flower heads appear with red stems that make it stand out. It will return year after year. Stokes Seed carry a variegated annual spurge called 'Snow on the Mountain'. It has bi-coloured green centre leaves with white picotee edges and insignificant white flowers. It grows anywhere even in poor soils, in heat and drought. Stokes also list seeds of perennials, polychroma and a trailing variety with bluish-grey leaves called myrsinites that has large yellow flowers in June-July. It is good in rock gardens or as a heat tolerant ground cover. Hardy varieties include euphorbia, dullcis, 'Chameleon' with burgundy purple low mounded foliage. The flower clusters are greenish-yellow with a purple flush. The leaves turn maroon in the fall. They grow well in semi-shade. The magnolias and forsynthia have finished flow ering and may be cut back. The forsythia may need an old stem or two taken out at ground level if five or six are left. The front porch is enveloped in a pleasant aro matic fragrance from the Oregon Grape Holly, (mahonia). People looking for link to natural elements (C o n tin u e d fro m p a g e B 6) returned to Ontario in 1996 to open her first Outdoor Habitat store in Windsor. The store proved to be an immediate hit, both for its large-sized, sink-in furniture and its eco-friendly emphasis on plantation-grown teak and home accessories made from natural mate rials such as hemp, cork, jute and seagrass. Regier feels that people are looking for com·fort and a connection with natural elements as an antidote to the technology that has made lives so much more hectic. "Your home should be a sanctuary," she says. "You should be able to come home and sink into your sofa, touch fabrics that are cozy and soothing, and be surrounded by smells that help you relax." Regier believes that all the senses should come into play in creating a pleasing home environment. The upholstered furniture she car ries is 90 percent down, providing an open invi tation to sink in and kick back. Slipcovers are also a popular option for creating an instant new look in any room. Her first rule of thumb, however, is to get a professional consultation before making any big purchases for the home. Habitat offers com plimentary in-home consultations whether it's for interior or exterior furnishings. Regier says she is a firm believer in invest ing in quality pieces that can evolve with a fam ily's lifestyle over time. A young couple, for instance, might start off with a parsons table that can serve as part of a small bistro set in the kitchen for now and later move outside to serve a different purpose. The key as always, she says, is to buy quality and get professional advice. Regier relates a- recent case in point where a customer came in wanting to purchase several large planters for the front of his home. She suggested that she take a look at his property before putting through the order. As it turned out, the planters he had chosen, while beautiful, were not a good fit for the feel and design of the home. Regier was able to suggest an alternative that showed both elements off to their best advantage. Outdoor Habitat is located at 80 Navy Street in Oakville, in the form er location o f Cruikshank' s garden centre. Hours are 10 to 6 daily. Consultations by appointment. Call For A Free Esiimate (905) 849-7800 SH OW R OO M 402 VWnston Churchill Blvd. (300 yards north of tateshom Rtf.) w w w .su p rem ew in d o w s.com Free at Hom e Depot The Home Depot is once again running free, and very helpful, How-to seminars for local D o - i t Yourselfers. On weekends in May, the Oakville Home Depot located at 2555 Bristol Circle, will be home to a variety of 'classes' for interested visi tors. R u n n i n g ^ a u n o n ia /C hcwh 6-f th e fhefe tj-e (c e d e d c*>cfhR c fe -L ib e c / th e blcom-f C t*. *. cc(ourC. « bU to**J C° ^ ludd- fhe rotv fa e r f £*\ (h & d e . J W f f 10" baski w eekly on S aturdays until M ay 26, m o rn ing c la sse s include 'How to Plan and Install Underground Sprinklers' from 10 to 11 a.m. There's also a 'How to Landscape and Build Retaining Walls' seminar from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. A class on 'How to Plan and Build a Deck' will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. R u n n i n g Look for m ore Great Specials in our Flyer in today's new spaper. A Public Health Project. Photo used wfth permission from North Bay and District Health Unit F I Keeping You Informed ... PLANNED M IN O R M AINTENANCE SH U T D O W N MA Y2 5 - T U N E 14, 2001 PETROCANADA weekly on Sundays is a class on 'How to Plan and Build a Fence' will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., visi tors will be taught 'How to Install Ceramic Tile,' and from 1 to 2 p.m., 'How to Install Drywall.' For further information about the sem i nars, please con tact the Oakville Home Depot at 905-829-5900. Petro-Canada's Oakville Refinery will be undertaking a planned minor maintenance shutdown o f some o f its operating units between approximately May 25 - June 14, 2001. M aintenance shutdowns are part o f a refinery's normal operations and are conducted on a periodic basis to enable continued safe, efficient and environmentally sound operation o f the facility. D uring this planned maintenance activity, the tall flare stack may need to be operated. A flare may be visible during this period, along with some associated noise. This is a normal part o f the process and is done in a controlled, planned manner. We have a team o f skilled and trained people to perform the maintenance shutdown in a safe and efficient manner. Oakville Refinery's relationship with the com m unity is a high priority. Petro-Canada continues to work with the Com m unity Advisory Comm ittee in an effort to minimize any impact o f this maintenance work on the community. Residents are encouraged to forward questions or concerns by calling the E N V IR O N M E N T A L L IN E 1-800-667-3876 Information also available at www.region.halton.on.ca/refinery/ Thank-You! Now you have the pow er to choose your electricity from a num ber of companies. CALL 1-888-668-4636 a n d r e c e i v e a f r e e , 1 2 -p a g e b r o c h u r e . For m ore info rm atio n on electricity com petition in Ontario, please visit o u r website a t www.est.gov.on.ca o r Email: fyi@est.gov.on.ca Ontario