Anne’s Garden

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.

Archive for To Do List

Washing Windows made simple

May 30, 2009 at 5:29 pm · Filed under Ramblings, To Do List

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I was just reviewing my ‘To-Do List’ and realized that I have completed most of the items (alas the list never really ends).   Washing the windows couldn’t have been easier simple using this technique / recipe my husband learned from a friend so I thought I’d share it:

  • In a bucket mix 1 containter of auto windshield washer fluid, 1 equal part hot water, 1 small bottle of Jet Dry (I used the no-name brand).
  • Wipe on using a squeegee and simply rinse with cold water from the hose (no need to dry!)

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Getting Organized

April 4, 2009 at 11:05 am · Filed under To Do List

I’m crawling out from hibernation, slightly overwhelmed at the task at hand.  Thought I’d better start off by collecting my thoughts and making  a short term to-do list for this weekend:

  1. Clean and oil tools
  2. Prune and spray fruit trees (hiring someone, hah!)
  3. Wash exterior windows
  4. Rake lawn
  5. Cut back ornamental grasses
  6. Sweep for landmines (dog shit)
  7. Make hubby do a dump run
  8. Prep veggie garden beds
  9. Dig out the few plants that didn’t survive the winter
  10. Burn baby burn

Gah, I don’t know how much of this I can accomplish this weekend while at the same time amusing a two and a four year old, but here goes!

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Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society

July 12, 2008 at 10:10 pm · Filed under Ramblings, Resources, To Do List

I’ve just added the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society website to my resources list. It’s full of great local resources including an ‘In The Garden This Month’ section which I know I will be referring to on a regular basis.

Here’s what they say needs to be done this month:

  • Slow down and give you and your plants a rest from the heat
  • Give plants a mid-season feeding or side dressing, to get them through to the fall
  • Keep tabs on rainfall and water as needed
  • Stay ahead of weeds
  • Replace mulch as needed
  • Check garden centers for mark downs on remaining plants
  • Keep lawns at about 3″, to protect from summer heat
  • Keep up on deadheading
  • Shear back spent annuals by 1/3
  • Focus on heat and rain resistant flowers like: coleus, hibiscus, melampodium, pentas, plumbago, portulaca and zinnias
  • Do a final pinching by mid-July, of fall blooming flowers like mums and asters
  • Harvest vegetables daily
  • Find a Plant a Row for the Hungry program to donate to the Food Bank
  • Reseed beans and lettuce
  • Start fall crops of peas and cole crops
  • Time to dig the garlic, onions and potatoes
  • Treat yourself to some new potatoes. Carefully loosen the soil under your plants to find a few small potatoes to harvest
  • Plant a cover crop in bare spots in the vegetable garden
  • Check berries regularly to harvest before the birds get them!
  • Clean up fallen fruits under trees
  • Check fruit trees for water sprouts (branches growing straight up from limbs) and remove
  • Prune summer flowering shrubs as soon as the blossoms fade
  • Hold off on planting until the fall. If you must transplant, keep well watered.

    • Yikes, looks like I’m going to be busy!

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    Sandbox complete!

    July 12, 2008 at 9:58 pm · Filed under Ramblings, To Do List and tagged:

    Crosspost from my private blog:

    Our driftwood sandbox is finally complete!  I hate it when a project takes weeks longer than planned.  We still need to scrounge up some more free gorgeous white sand from Thormanby Island to completely fill the sandbox but other than that it’s done:

    Here’s how we made it:

    1. Scrounge driftwood ($0 and a workout for Bart)
    2. Remove turf and dig down six inches, stack turf for compost (workout for Anne)
    3. Lay newspapers and landscape fabric
    4. Lay driftwood
    5. Secure driftwood ($12 hardware)
    6. Sand driftwood
    7. Fill with sand ($0 thanks to Duane and his boat)
    8. Use an old lattice frame as a cover ($0)

    So there you have it.  A gorgeous sandbox that fits in perfectly to our garden and when the kids grow too old we can fill it with soil for a raised garden bed.

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    Worm Farm

    April 6, 2008 at 6:06 pm · Filed under Green Thumb Sunday, Ramblings, Resources, To Do List and tagged:

    I slept most of the day as I’ve been working nights all weekends, but we had time late this afternoon to make the worm farm. Ever since our parent / tot drop-in brought worms in, Cailey (and I) have had a fascination with them. I figured since we only just started our composting this fall, it could use some help to get going.

    Under the guidance of one of the parent / tot facilitators as well as this online resource, we went ahead made this:

    My friend and Dominik’s Compare (godfather) Donato generously donated about 70 worms he plucked from his East End Vancouver award winning vegetable garden. I just hope the tough worms from the ‘hood get along with the native, tree hugging, vegan, crunchy, organic, dope smoking Sunshine Coast worms.

    Cailey upclose and personal with our new neighbours:

    Here is another informative resource I found online better suited towards children.

    What’s blooming in your garden this week?

    Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

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    New Playhouse

    April 6, 2008 at 5:48 pm · Filed under Ramblings, To Do List

    New playhouse for the kids (yet to be assembled):

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    To Do (as of April 2008)

    April 2, 2008 at 6:20 am · Filed under To Do List

    New garden, new list:

    • Fix fence that bear knocked down
    • Attach rain barrel to downspouts April 8, 2008
    • Make an worm farm for compost April 7, 2008
    • Knock down wasps nests outside bathroom window
    • Build fire pit
    • Plant veggies
    • Prune fruit trees March 2008
    • Continue clean-up
    • Get lawnmower serviced April 17, 2008
    • Continue building paths along front garden where previous owners left off
    • Swipe funky driftwood and rocks from the beach
    • Build railings along both backyard decks
    • Build potting bench (mom, fancy a little project?)
    • Prepare second bed for potatoes and more beans
    • Build sandbox for the kids

    Comments (3)