Brian Minter

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With Anna’s hummingbirds staying around during the winter, a hummingbird feeder is a practical and attractive gift, says Brian Minter.

Gift ideas for the garden

Brian Minter offers some last minute gift ideas for the gardeners on your list.

With Anna’s hummingbirds staying around during the winter, a hummingbird feeder is a practical and attractive gift, says Brian Minter.
Simple tips to get your garden ready for winter.

Get your garden ready to weather the winter

Experiencing numerous cold winters in our gardens has taught us many good lessons. First and foremost, never let your guard down.

Simple tips to get your garden ready for winter.
There’s no such thing as an ordinary yellow daffodil, says Brian Minter. Today, there are lots of choices.

Daffodils hold the promise of spring

Nothing in this world personifies spring like daffodils. Their vibrant yellows are the antidote to long wet winters.

There’s no such thing as an ordinary yellow daffodil, says Brian Minter. Today, there are lots of choices.
For home décor, especially for fall displays, it’s hard to beat pumpkins combined with corn stalks and hay bales.

Beyond pies: Carving into the versatile pumpkin

It is nice to think that the Jack O’Lantern we carve on Halloween to keep the evil spirits away has a great history and a brighter future.

For home décor, especially for fall displays, it’s hard to beat pumpkins combined with corn stalks and hay bales.
Lawns are ground covers that not only add to the appearance and value of our homes, but they are also environmentally important, sequestering carbon, providing oxygen and helping control pollution, says Brian Minter.

A little TLC goes a long way toward helping your lawn

When lawns look bad, our entire landscape looks bad, so here are a few tips for fall.

Lawns are ground covers that not only add to the appearance and value of our homes, but they are also environmentally important, sequestering carbon, providing oxygen and helping control pollution, says Brian Minter.
When the weather cools down and all the tomatoes, peas, beans and peppers are gone, you can look forward to your own fresh taste of fall.

Keep the flavour going

In southwestern B.C., our vegetable gardens can be producing twelve months a year, says Brian Minter

When the weather cools down and all the tomatoes, peas, beans and peppers are gone, you can look forward to your own fresh taste of fall.
Rudbeckias, like the well-known variety, R. ‘Goldsturm’, is the standard-bearer that will bloom until late September.

Perennials that can take the heat

Here is Brian Minter's top ten list of the best performing perennials that we can plant right now and enjoy year after year.

Rudbeckias, like the well-known variety, R. ‘Goldsturm’, is the standard-bearer that will bloom until late September.
Food gardens have become smaller but more productive, Brian Minter points out.

Sequential planting keeps it growing

Another trend in home vegetable gardens is towards adopting a more continual and sequential planting scheme, says Brian Minter

Food gardens have become smaller but more productive, Brian Minter points out.
Use a soaker hose and leave it run until the water penetrates down to the roots, suggests Brian Minter.

Reviving your drought-stressed garden

Here are 10 tips that will help revive your plants after Chilliwack's hot, dry weather.

Use a soaker hose and leave it run until the water penetrates down to the roots, suggests Brian Minter.
Over-watering can be as bad as under-watering, Brian Minter says.

Watering at a critical time

At this critical stage, with continuing record-breaking drought since February, how do we deal with this situation?

Over-watering can be as bad as under-watering, Brian Minter says.
Shade trees can help keep your house cool.

Cut the heat with shade trees

Considering the many attributes of tall, stately trees, we’re really missing a welcome addition to our homes, especially now in this heat.

Shade trees can help keep your house cool.
Portulacas (or the ‘moss rose’ as they are sometimes called) offer a great show in dry conditions, says Brian Minter.

Better drought tolerance in your garden

Fortunately there’s still time to plant heat-loving and drought-tolerant colour to keep our gardens looking good until fall.

Portulacas (or the ‘moss rose’ as they are sometimes called) offer a great show in dry conditions, says Brian Minter.
Soaker hoses and drip systems are the most effective way to save you time and to use less water, says Brian Minter.

Watering during dry spells

Watering is an art, and when done well, will help plants thrive and at the same time will preserve this precious resource, says Brian Minter

Soaker hoses and drip systems are the most effective way to save you time and to use less water, says Brian Minter.
Today there are newer varieties of tomatoes with far more disease tolerance, earlier ripening times, huge easy-to-slice oval shapes and still great flavour.

Tops in tomatoes this year

I know lots of tomatoes have already been planted but there’s still plenty of time if you want to try a few more, says Brian Minter

Today there are newer varieties of tomatoes with far more disease tolerance, earlier ripening times, huge easy-to-slice oval shapes and still great flavour.
Brian Minter on the care and feeding of your hanging basket.

Keep your hanging baskets looking good all sumer long

Those beautiful flowers in that little bit of soil, swinging in the wind, needs a lot of help to stay beautiful.

Brian Minter on the care and feeding of your hanging basket.
The Boomer generation, who grew up on fast food, now wants to have healthier lifestyles as they age, writes Brian Minter.

Time to get that garden growing

Growing a food garden provides a significant saving, especially if some of the produce is frozen or preserved, says Brian Minter.

The Boomer generation, who grew up on fast food, now wants to have healthier lifestyles as they age, writes Brian Minter.

A garden under glass

This whole new trend of introducing beautiful plants in glass containers is catching on, writes Brian Minter.

Holiday gift ideas for the garden lover

When it comes to gardening gifts, says Brian Minter, passionate gardeners are very particular, so here are some suggestions.

The blossoms of Christmas

If it is the real Christmas cactus you are after, they can be hard to find.

Christmas cactus

COLUMN: Christmas cactus – true or not?

Have you ever wondered why your Christmas cactus always blooms too early or too late for the Christmas season?

Christmas cactus