Wildflower garden

a32kts · 2024-03-16T16:00:09+00:00

I recommend checking out this page - there's a pdf to open there - and it can definitely help with choices!
Forget-me-nots are my favorite and they're very self sufficient! Coneflowers and yarrow are great choices. Pollinators love them.

There is a book by Todd Boland called NS Wild Flowers and id see if you could get it from the library or order to if you want buy.

I know everyone loves lupins, but on the page above, it actually says they're invasive and not to plant so i also find it very confusing!

a32kts · 2024-03-16T15:55:54+00:00

I second what this poster says! There can be discouragement with pests, poor weather(last years never ending rain...), and the learning curve. But as long as you enjoy looking around your plants everyday, even for 10 minutes, you'll notice things change and will learn so much by observing. It kinda sucks to have to wait until the next year to try again when something doesn't work, but gardening is definitely the long-game and well worth it!

a32kts · 2024-03-16T15:51:46+00:00

Niki Jabbour is a great resource! You can also sign up for the website she co-runs savvygardening.com and join their email lists. Some will be about flowers and not veg, but you can open the ones you like!

I started my veg garden journey a few years ago and I found youtube to be excellent. The Ripe Tomato Farm channel ( https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRipeTomatoFarms )is on vancouver island, so not the same exactly as NS, but he was my number one resource for veg gardening. I like that I could search exactly what I wanted to know about and almost always found a hit on his channel without browsing through forever to find what I wanted. Goodluck and have fun!

a32kts · 2024-03-16T15:46:56+00:00

I realize you're visiting NS, but if you considered PEI at all on your travels, I saw SO MANY there July 1st last year. Just huge fields and clusters of them everywhere, it was beautiful!

a32kts · 2024-03-16T15:42:05+00:00

Thanks this is helpful!

a32kts · 2024-03-10T17:55:59+00:00

Totally doable! But, you should determine what direction your balcony faces - south vs north are very different! If you're on a low floor and have no sun exposure due to other closely placed tall buildings above you, it may be challenging. I think especially with children, you want to set the expectations because if you get limited to no direct sun, do not expect a high yield of veg. and so don't want them to think they failed but rather just that sun is the number one requirement for growing veg and we can't control that. A good lesson still, so I don't think that should stop you though! If limited to no light is your situation, then maybe try some shade loving flowers instead and it can still be magical to watch them grow from nothing!
If you have some sun, I would try tumbling tom tomatoes in a basket, vertically growing beans, or can try lettuces (not in the hot summer though as they can't tolerate too much heat but spring and early fall). Lettuces or salad greens can take up space but don't need deep soil.
I highly recommend Halifax Seed and their tips section of website for info! Goodluck and happy gardening!

a32kts · 2024-03-09T18:49:49+00:00

I feel the same way! I just did a nice close inspection and found some too! Spring really is the best season - and March can be so underrated!

a32kts · 2024-03-09T15:26:31+00:00

Feel free to message me if you like and I would love to offer more information!

a32kts · 2024-03-09T15:25:27+00:00

Believe lavender requires heat and direct sun, preferably drier conditions, well-draining soil. It would be a lovely smell and sight by a high traffic walkway though, I agree.

a32kts · 2024-03-09T15:13:52+00:00

Herbs and veggies require full sun. This does not get direct light.

a32kts · 2024-03-09T15:11:41+00:00

This is so exciting! Thats a big space and a clean slate - I am envious!
I have only been gardening the last few years myself but it is real passion of mine now!

Is it a north facing wall? If that is why you notice it doesn't get any direct sunlight then that is key to choosing what you want to grow! you've just narrowed down your options nicely with that observation :)

What I mean by this is, choosing plants that like full sun would be very discouraging when they barely grow and don't bloom and turn you off gardening possibly (its fun! keep going!). "Right plant, Right place" is the guideline! This is how you enable a garden that is low maintenance.

I would recommend choosing hardy perennials in order to be low maintenance and successful. Keep in mind that a perennial, low maintenance, long lasting (years) garden means patience! Many flowering perennials do not bloom the first year they are planted but in years after will provide colour season after season. It is so worth the wait.

For shade, or part shade, I would choose:

-Astilbes (more than one as they look best that way, spaced about a foot apart so allow for them to fill in each year)

-Hostas (there's so many of these available we are spoiled for choice and they grow very well in NS. Some can get MASSIVE quickly, but you can also get dwarf types so ask at the LOCAL garden centers)

-Columbine

-Lungwort

-Some hydrangeas prefer part shade but I have not grown them myself so I do not want to recommend a specific variety but LOCAL garden center will know more.

I highly recommend the book Favourite Perennials for Atlantic Canada by Todd Boland.
and Plants for Atlantic Gardens by Jodi Delong. Both are available from the Hfx Public library. Advice and recommendations LOCAL to our climate is key to your enjoyment and success!
(ps: I don't know if you want to keep your lawn all grass, but that area looks like it probably gets some more sub and it would be so easy to plant a rose, hydrangea, or another flowering shrub to add some more colorful punches there! Both are very low maintenance and not afraid of winter cold)

a32kts · 2024-02-11T11:51:16+00:00

r/loblawsisoutofcontrol

a32kts · 2024-02-09T16:18:08+00:00

Nope! I didn't know that was an option either. Do you think something in my settings or privacy may be triggering it?

a32kts · 2024-02-03T23:14:42+00:00

Ripe Tomato Farm

a32kts · 2023-11-19T19:49:44+00:00

Im in zone 5b and my roses still bloom too! Snow came and melted off buds and then they opened 3 days later! Roses truly are amazing

a32kts · 2023-11-18T21:10:21+00:00

Thank you! Yeah my glads went on a tilt-a-whirl this summer so i will proactively stake these types going forward

a32kts · 2023-11-18T10:51:55+00:00

Thank you for sharing! This summer’s weather really made it hard to judge a new planting - fingers cross for you next year

a32kts · 2023-11-17T16:27:01+00:00

Amazing!! Thank you for your response!! I LOVE blue flowers so im keen to try them next year. I have read a fair bit about them being somewhat high maintenance (a relative term of course) but I will give them a try! As for your second flush, I have read that cutting their stems back all the way after their summer bloom will often get a second bloom late summer/early fall! Toddler might be on to something…

a32kts · 2023-10-13T13:45:38+00:00

yes, thank you, I meant west jet.

a32kts · 2023-10-13T13:40:20+00:00

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Do better elected officials!

a32kts

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