Frankie Flowers

CityNews Gardening Specialist Frank Ferragine has all the tips and tricks to make your garden a blooming success.

Subscribe

RSS
Use your favourite RSS reader to subscribe to this blog and have updates delivered to you.

Orchids

posted on January 26th, 2010 - Filed in Uncategorized - 2 comments »

I always find this time of year a little dreary. I guess I suffer from the mid January – February blahs. One way to wash the blahs away is to add some colour to your home. Colour can be brought into our homes via potted flowering spring bulbs and cut flowers. I find both inspiring but they don’t last all that long.

Orchids last a little longer and the cost is really reasonable these days. I found orchids for as little as $9.99 and I’ve seen them everywhere from the big box stores, garden centres to the smallest convenience stores.

This morning on BT (see above) I outlined some basic info on Orchids. The top 5 things you should know about Orchids.

1. Do not over water and insure water is left off the foliage and especially is kept away from the crown and flowers. Orchids left in standing water will not be happy. The best water is one that is left at room temperature and doesn’t have an excessive amount of salts.

2. Light. There are over 30,000 different types of orchids and each has a different need and wants however most enjoy bright indirect or diffuse light. An east room with a window is ideal.

3. Temperature. Daytime temps of 20-24c with evening temps of 15c-18c. Orchids enjoy a drop in evening temps in the range of 5c.

4. After flowering remove flower spikes back to just above the base of the plant.

5. Humidity. Moth Orchids the most popular are found in tropical climates. Humidity lacks from almost all our homes in the winter. A humidifier will really help the performance of Orchids as they enjoy 70% humidity.

Orchids date back to prehistoric ages, collectors have died looking for them, thousands have been spent on unique varieties and for as little as $10 you can be enjoying them in your home…and for those that don’t know Orchids translated means testicle…I’m not lying.

I’m heading out with my two boys and my partner in Crime Laurie this week for a quick family vacation. Once again on my return I will be blogging about traveling with 2 children under 3. While on vacation I will be tweeting on Twitter (frankferragine) so be sure to follow.

Frankie

 

Lots of changes and developments in the world of Frankie Flowers

posted on January 22nd, 2010 - Filed in Uncategorized - 2 comments »

First I need to congratulate my friend Randy Feltis who last night open Barrie’s First Wood Fired Pizza Place “Pie”. The restaurant is located in Barrie Ontario but a very easy find as it’s right off the 400 @ Mapleview Drive. For more info go to his websitewww.eatmypie.ca or see attached video.frankieflower@citytv.com, weekly on Breakfast Television and through the pages of Canadian Living Magazine monthly. If you have gardening challenges, gripes, tips or tricks I will always be here to share you troubles and success and guide you through the world of gardening.

Next some not so good news:

This week CityTV went through some cuts. One of those cuts was my weekly Frankie Flowers garden call in show on CityOnline. While I will no longer be answering questions on the phone I still will be answering questions online @frankieflower@citytv.com, weekly on Breakfast Television and through the pages of Canadian Living Magazine monthly. If you have gardening challenges, gripes, tips or tricks I will always be here to share you troubles and success and guide you through the world of gardening.

Some great news:

I’m writing a book.50,000 words of great gardening advice along with countless pages of info will be available for your reading pleasure in the spring of 2011 followed by my second book in 2012. The book is in the infant stages but during the summer I will share with you some of our photo shoots and what writing a book is like.

Some certain news:

Breakfast Television will continue to be a fun environment to work and watch. Our team is here to put some of the best television on air and I’m here to help you bloom where you are planted and hopefully get the weather right!!

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

posted on January 21st, 2010 - Filed in Uncategorized - 1 comment »

Last week I was given the honour to co-host Landscape Ontario’s Award of Excellence along side fellow Garden Broadcaster Mark Cullen.  The LO awards celebrate the exceptional creativity and hard work of Landscape professionals right across Ontario. Their work is world class and I have to admit some of the Landscapes are a little out of reach for many of our budgets but the pictures can inspire our own garden. The key to creating a great space is to have a great plan / design followed by the selection of fantastic plant material that will work in your space and finally and most important surrounding yourself with knowledgeable people who have the ability and background to install the job, on time, on budget and with your best interest in mind.  For more info on Landscape Ontario go to:  www.landscapeontario.com  .

1)     Winner of the Don Salivan Award for Excellence in Grounds Management – The Cultivated Garden (2 photos)

2)     Winner of the Casey Van Maris Award (unique and innovative construction) – Oriole Landscaping (2 photos)

3)     Winner of the Dunington-Grubb Award for highest overall score in the construction category – Tumber & Associates (2 photos)

4)     One of the 11 winners in the “Residential Construction – $250,000 to $500,000” category – The Beach Gardener (2 photos)

5)     One of the 10 winners in the “Special Interest Construction” category – Let’s Landscape (Together) – for “The Tiki Hut” (2 photos) 

cultivated garden 1 1 )     Winner of the Don Salivan Award for Excellence in Grounds Management – The Cultivated Garden (2 photos)Main focal point of back garden large hill in center.
Hill planted with large assortment of herbaceous perennials
Particular attention paid to perennials suitable for cutting as client likes to bring flowers indoors
Particular emphasis is on perennials that flower in spring and fall as clients are away frequently in mid summer
Selection of Tulip bulbs planted each spring and treated as annuals for maximum spring display
Main focal point in front of house is large containers planted with seasonal displays.

 oriole 1

  2)     Winner of the Casey Van Maris Award (unique and innovative construction) – Oriole Landscaping (2 photos)

A site with several very large existing trees and their associated by laws, a request for a pool and hot tub, an entertaining, and a cooking and dining space that allowed for both family enjoyment as well as the ability to transform to allow for small corporate functions to be hosted within the confines of this averages sized yard located on a corner lot. The challenges of this site allowed for a creative solution to this yard that was harmonized with the clients wants and needs.

 

3)     Winner of the Dunington-Grubb Award for highest overall score in the construction category – Tumber & Associates (2 photos)

Designed By: Randy Tumber – Tumber & AssociatesA formal reflecting pool just off the home houses the first bronze statue with recirculating water feature in water lilies. For a touch of formality, the pool cabaña, statue, and outdoor terrace were all in the line of sight from the patio doors.
tumber 2A cedar gazebo obscures the source of an extensive water feature that begins on the far side of the design and works its way to the foreground through four separate ponds and to separate water courses that merge. The rivers dance around a sunken hot tub, finished with timbers and natural stone, that the clients must step over a bridge to access.
An imported, Italian wood fired pizza oven was installed in an underground grotto. Another waterfall cascades over the edge of the grotto allowing the chef a wonderful view through the waterfalls back to the landscape. A second seated bronze figure is mounted in the stream with “her” feet dangling in the water.
A final Pizza Café area sits atop a massive, one piece cantilevered stone deck over the largest lower pond that required special transport from the Bruce Peninsula.
Access to the pizza grotto comes by crossing one of two bridges that span the two separate rivers and Koi ponds. These were constructed of rough cut timbers to match the supporting antique barn beam posts of the cave to enhance the idea of being in an old abandoned mining shaft.
Water that originates on top of the pizza grotto splits into two sets of waterfalls, flowing down to meet each other in a reflecting pool that flows inside the cave and is accessible by a knee wall that wraps inside the grotto and terminates at the “Weeping Wall”. This was installed inside the grotto to allow for a pleasant trickling noise.
The entire system including pool, stereo, lighting and waterfeature are monitored and controlled by one home automation system through a touchpad in the kitchen, handheld devices or via the Internet. New technologies were pioneered to allow for the installation of multiple, variable frequency drive pumps that were programmed on timers to allow for maximum show at key times while facilitating high energy efficiency.

4)     One of the 11 winners in the “Residential Construction – $250,000 to $500,000” category – The Beach Gardener (2 photos)beach gardener 1

 Designed By: Mark Bradley – The Beach Gardener IncThe Lake

• Our second project for these avid art collectors who hire us as “artists” rather than landscapers to commission a piece of architectural art for them.
• Environmentally protected property required years of planning, engineering, and an extensive permit application process.
• Extensive erosion control issues needed to be considered in the design, the clients noted they wanted the grade to be accommodated in a natural and environmentally responsible approach, and we allowed the grades to flow as naturally as possible despite the 35’ elevation drop on the property.
• The planting was designed to blend with natural surroundings of the chalet; the home and garden are tucked into a 1/3 of an acre on a 70 acre property with a private 10 acre lake.
• Each pre-cast concrete slab was hand made, craned into position using large slab handling suction tools, the slabs weighed up to 1300lbs.
• The landscape was designed using the most sustainable building materials available – steel, concrete, and natural stone, fallen log timbers gathered from the site make up all of the hardscape materials, the garden was designed to be environmentally sensitive, a rain water collection system for natural irrigation of the gardens, solar landscape lighting, and a low maintenance plant selections prove that environmentally responsible can look and function exceptionally well when designed properly.
• The entry courtyard needed to set the mood while walking up to the main entry, immediately upon arriving to the top of the 1/2km driveway it becomes evident you are visiting an architectural masterpiece – the courtyard garden needed to compliment the clean lines of the chalet. Steel panels were used to create a tiered garden filled with Thyme, Lavender, Moss, and Ornamental Grasses.
• The vanishing edge pool was designed with an attached spa with custom benches that overlook the lake and an automatic pool cover for child safety.
• Irregular concrete walls set into the steep slope allowed us to create some table land for a play space for the children, we wanted the land to move naturally and the form needed to be powerful when being viewed from above or below since the walls are the main architectural feature of the large sloped garden between the home and the lake, a sculpture with an lets landscape 2irregular concrete base was used to create a vertical interest without planting trees that would eventually crowd the picturesque lake view.
• A sod sofa was incorporated into the plan next to the fire pit located lakeside for evening relaxation in a more natural setting.

5)     One of the 10 winners in the “Special Interest Construction” category – Let’s Landscape (Together) – for “The Tiki Hut” (2 photos)

                      Special Interests
                      -Sunken kitchen/bar area with swim up bar complete with custom bar stools
                      -Tiki Hut has a waterfall into the pool from the roof creating a rain fall effect when sitting at the bar
                      -Oversized flagstone counter tops shaped and installed by hand
                      -Tiki Hut was constructed using oversized beams and rafters made of Douglas fir and the roof material is artificial thatch.

Pet Friendly Plants

posted on January 13th, 2010 - Filed in Uncategorized - 2 comments »

Pet Friendly Plants:

I’ve been getting several emails inquiring which plants are non-toxic to plants. The truth: many indoor plants can be harmful if ingested by pets or children.  If you have a pet or child that frequently decides to eat your plants my recommendation is to remove them…it’s not healthy for the plants either.  Now for some recommendations, first the plants you should stay away from.

 

PLANTS YOU DON’T WANT AROUND KIDS OR PETS:

SAGO PALM              – all parts are toxic

ARAILA          – aralia family. A. spinosa is toxic internally and may cause dermatitis, with blisters and inflammation.

Amaryllis          -Bulbs contain alkaloids and can cause gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhea and shivering.

Asparagus Ferns           -The foliage may cause dermatitis with pets

Philodendrons   -consuming them  may intense burning in throat.

Dumbcane        -same as above.

Fishtail palm     -Keep away from pets.

Caladium plants            -Same as above.

Link for more http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-catplants.htm

 

FRANKIE FAVORITE FRIENDLY PLANTS FOR PETS AND CHILDREN:

Spider Plant

Boston Fern

Bamboo Palm

Hoya

Swedish Ivy

Corn Plant

Rubber Plant

Link for more http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/nontoxic-plants.html?page=2

Frank’s Fav indoor plants

posted on January 8th, 2010 - Filed in Uncategorized - No comments »

Frank’s Favorite Foolproof Indoor Plants:

ZZ Plant  (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) – Low light to bright light.  My all time favorite.  Exotic look. Keep out of reach of children and pets considered toxic.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) – Low light to medium light.  Air purifier, large leaves, white blooms.  Sap of peace lily is poisonous.

Mother inlaws Tongue (Sansaveria) – Tough, tough, tough, if you neglect plants this one will survive.  Keep out of reach of pets.

Spider Plants (Chlorophytum) – The best selection for those moving out on their own for the first time. 

Philodendrons – The range of types of philodendrons is incredible by favorite is swiss cheese or fiddle leaf.   Keep away from children and pets.

Pothos Plant (Epipremnum aureum) – Vine like plant, easy to grow and easy to propogate via cuttings.   Keep away from children and pets.

Thinking about cleaning your indoor air??  Do it with plants!!

Number of plants

The recommendation generated by NASA studies is to use 15 to 18 good sized houseplants in 6 inch (15 cm) to 8 inch (20 cm) containers to improve the air quality in an average 1,800 square-foot house. The more vigorously they grow, the better job they’ll do.

A personal breathing zone is an area of 0.17 to 0.23 cubic metres (6-8 cubic feet) surrounding a person. These are usually areas where an individual remains for several hours working, watching TV or asleep. Plants placed within this zone can add humidity, remove bioeffluents and chemical toxins and suppress airborne microbes. Plant-filled rooms contained 50 to 60% fewer airborne moulds and bacteria than plant-less rooms.

Have a gardening question?? 

Email me frankieflowers@citytv.com

2010 Top Five Garden Trends

posted on December 31st, 2009 - Filed in Uncategorized - 2 comments »

2010 Top Five Garden Trends

 

Number 10: Bright and Bolds: 

2010 is the year to express happiness in the garden via bright and bold colours.  Watch out for orange, purple and punchy pinks to ring in the new garden season.

 

Number 9:  Container Gardening and Patio Pot Water Gardens:

Condo’s and smaller residential properties makes Container gardening still a popular trend for 2010.  A growing potted pleasure: portable water gardens in pots.  Just pop in the plants, fill with water and pop in a gold fish for mosquito larvae control and presto your own little aquatic heaven.

 

Number 8:  Chemical Free

Earth Day 2009 a complete ban of cosmetic pesticide use in Ontario and it currently looks like other provinces will follow suit.  Chemical free gardens the only choice and the right one.

 

Number 7:  Outdoor Entertaining:

Outdoor Kitchens, pizza ovens, tv’s and couches the outdoor living room will grow into many landscapes this year.

 

 

Number 6:  Water-wise Gardening:

Canada is the second largest user of water per capita.  We have no choice but to use our water wisely!!

 

Number 5 GREEN is still Growing:

Plant the pot vegetables, bio-degradable plant tags, green roofs and VOC outdoor paints green is groovy in 2010.  According to National Marketing Institute, four out of five people say they’re still buying green products and services today–which sometimes cost more–even in the midst of a US recession. More than two thirds say they will select green over traditional– “if it works”.

 

Number 4 Proven plants that work:

Perennials with long bloom periods all season garden interest and disease and insect resistance.

 

Number 3 Slow Gardening – Enjoying nature

Seed starting and enjoying the process of plants and their harvest.

According to LOHAS –Lifestyle of Health and Sustain ability seed

sales are up 30-50% and canning saw a whopping 45% increase.

 

Number 2 Community Gardens:

Produce sharing with community-supported agricultural farms and produce exchanges are

springing up throughout urban and suburban and rural communities. The take-home message is: urban farming is cool; urban wastelands are not.

 

 

Number 1 Vegetable Gardening

From Tomatoes to acorn squash, potage gardens to square foot gardening.  Vegetable gardens are growing at a rapid rate.  A recent survey by the National Gardening Association shows a 19 percent burst of new hobby country farms and urban edible gardens over last year.

 

(SOURCES: www.gardenmediagroup.com/pressroom/trends10.pdf)


posted on December 21st, 2009 - Filed in Uncategorized - 2 comments »

posted on December 18th, 2009 - Filed in Uncategorized - No comments »

Frankie’s List of Unusual Gifts for the Gardener

posted on December 17th, 2009 - Filed in Uncategorized - 6 comments »

Are you looking for a gift for that Gardener who has  everything??  Here’s Frankie Flowers list of unusal gifts for Gardeners!!

All from www.rittenhous.ca

Turntable for indoor plants

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=1188

Self-Watering Probes

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=1016

Giant Pick Up Sticks

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=1742

Heated Hose

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2392

Heated Mat

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2244

Pot Caddie

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=1184

Grass Stitcher

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2329

Hand Grubber

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2379

Digital Thermometer

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=1640

Fiskars Micro Snip

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2048

Children’s Tools

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=655

Bird B Gone Sonic Bird Scarer

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2375

posted on December 17th, 2009 - Filed in Uncategorized - No comments »