| Having a beautiful garden is one of the surest | | | | The first thing you need to know about the |
| ways to surround your home with a fundamental | | | | prairies is that they're flat. For gardeners, this |
| element of luxury. But if you want to have a | | | | means that unless you intervene, there will always |
| gorgeous garden and you're faced with a short | | | | be days when there's nothing to stop the wind |
| growing season like we have in Calgary, you have | | | | from whipping itself into a frenzy and making |
| to work a bit smarter than you do in say, | | | | your garden shiver with wind chill. Nothing that is, |
| California. With this in mind, here a few tips to help | | | | unless you create a windbreak, which you |
| bring out the best in your yard. | | | | definitely should do. Windbreaks stop the wind |
| The Quicker the Better | | | | from lowering the temperature on the property |
| The growing season in Calgary is relatively short, | | | | which is good for the garden, good for your |
| amounting to about 170 frost free days a year. | | | | house and good for you. Fences are the quickest |
| So whatever you plant, make sure it gets to the | | | | way to enjoy the benefits of a windbreak and |
| point quickly. Fast growing plants are the way to | | | | open fences (picket style) will always do better |
| go if you want to be surrounded by greenery and | | | | than solid fences which just seem to make the |
| flowers this summer. | | | | wind angrier. |
| As Beautiful as the Day is Long | | | | Satisfy Thy Soul in Drought |
| Fortunately, Calgary gardens have a distinct | | | | Though you can stand outside everyday watering |
| advantage when it comes to the growing season. | | | | your lawn to make it green, hopefully you have |
| Though there may not be many days for | | | | better things to do with your time. Besides, it's |
| growing, those days are long. In the summer, the | | | | always wise to accept things for what they are |
| sun shines from 5 am to 10 pm with dusk | | | | and Calgary's climate is dry. Choose drought |
| stretching as far as midnight. In fact, at the height | | | | tolerant grasses and ground cover. Save money |
| of summer, it never really gets dark for long. | | | | on your water bill. Be at peace. |
| While we're on the topic, Calgary is actually one of | | | | A Snowball's Chance |
| the sunniest places in the county with an annual | | | | Your garden, your yard and your view don't only |
| average of 2400 hours of brilliant sunshine. | | | | exist from frost to frost. Give your garden and |
| Everything's Coming up Roses | | | | your family the full benefit of the seasons by |
| It's easy to have a rose garden if you stick to | | | | making this space a fun and beautiful place all year |
| wild roses. Hardy and abundant, the prairie rose | | | | round. Plant trees and bushes that will not only |
| makes a great border that blooms early and | | | | survive the winter but will add colour and interest. |
| provides colour all season with very little help | | | | There's nothing nicer than red berries contrasted |
| from you. | | | | with white snow in February. Evergreens and |
| Rock On | | | | conifers are another classic choice. Pay attention |
| Rock gardens are a go in Calgary. Use local rocks | | | | to shapes and silhouettes when you are planning |
| for the best effect - they look better and cost | | | | your winter garden. There's also nothing more |
| you nothing. Did I also mention they look better? | | | | deliciously defiant than hanging out in the hot tub |
| Fortunately, most of the plants that grow in a | | | | when the thermometer has dipped well below |
| traditional alpine rock garden will also do nicely in | | | | zero. Saunas, out door fireplaces and heated spas |
| Calgary. Visit the Reader Rock Garden for a | | | | all make the cold months a bit warmer and open |
| supreme example of how beautiful this type of | | | | up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to |
| garden can be. | | | | winter parties. If you have children (or even if |
| Turn Your Face to the Sun | | | | you don't) you might also want to consider |
| Before you plant a thing in the ground, turn your | | | | allowing space for a backyard rink. Forget the |
| attention to the sky. Figuring out where the sun is | | | | tarps and the flooding if you want to go this |
| going to hit your little patch of paradise and from | | | | route. There are some great portable skating |
| which direction, should be the first thing you | | | | rinks on the market right now that just need to |
| consider when planning your garden. A north | | | | be unrolled and filled up for a season of ice |
| facing yard will call for shade tolerant plants, while | | | | skating fun times. |
| a south or southwest facing yard will soak up the | | | | And finally, if you're really serious about turning |
| rays. If you want vegetables, plant them in the | | | | the yard around your Calgary home into an |
| sunny spot. You'll also want to look for elevations | | | | abundant wonderland, there are some great |
| and slopes when you are making your site | | | | books that deal specifically with gardens in our |
| selection while avoiding depressions and low areas | | | | climate zone and plants that do well here. The |
| that allow water to pool. | | | | Calgary Horticultural Society is also a fantastic |
| Everyone Knows it's Windy | | | | resource for local green thumbs. |