I’ve been chopping wood for over 40 years. When I had a chance to try Fiskers’ new splitting axe, I was skeptical about it being anything special. I’m pretty handy with a regular axe and figured that technological improvements could only do so much. Boy was I wrong!

I’ve been working away all winter, splitting a pile of birch logs that I picked up in the fall. These are eighteen-inch diameter logs, and it takes everything I’ve got to get them started. I was good for between four and six logs at a time; any more and I was wrecked the next day!

The first thing I learned about Fiskers’ new axe is that it takes a lot less power to achieve a lot more. The blade widens out quickly. As soon as the cutting edge bites into the wood, the log splits. Period. Half the energy, and twice the splitting action. Even knots break apart with minimal effort – the axe is so easy to use, nothing stands in its way!

I soon got used to swinging with a lot less power, and the remaining logs practically split themselves. Two hours later, the job was done and I was still fresh and ready for more. Why didn’t I get this axe last fall?

Medinilla...gorgeous!

Last weekend I was in Fort Lauderdale for the Tropical Plant Industry Expo (TPIE). This is where the latest in tropicals (aka houseplants in most of Canada) are shown off. I was pleased to note that the star of the show happens to be grown here in Ontario (in greenhouses of course) by Northend Gardens in Jordan Station, near Niagara. It’s going to be all the rage after it is introduced at Canada Blooms.

There are approximately 400 species of Medinilla, of which until now only the Magnifica is supplied as a houseplant. The family name of the Medinilla is Melastomataceae. Medinilla Magnifica finds its origin in the mountains of the Philippines.  Late king Boudewijn of Belgium was a big devotee of Medinilla. He grew them in the royal conservatories and they flaunted on the bank note of 10,000 Belgian francs. The growing of Medinilla’s in greenhouses has been a great success so now everyone can enjoy this plant.  Rob Herwig the recognized plant book writer called the Medinilla Magnifica, “the Rolls Royce of the houseplants”. I think he’s right and predict you are going to see these beauties everywhere.

For more info check http://www.medinilla.ca .

Never Looked Better

My “office” for this past week has been a hammock on the porch of a bungalow at the Borinquen Mountain Resort at the base of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano in northeast Liberia, Costa Rica. The idea is to relax. It’s been easy. The landscaped grounds are stunning with ornamental and native plants blending into the surrounding tropical dry forest. Anywhere in Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise…birds, plants and sublime weather.  But what makes Borinquen special are the hot springs and boiling mud pits created by the active volcano. Thanks to the steaming fumaroles on the property, guests of the resort can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the hot volcanic waters and mud treatments that are supposed to remove toxins, sooth the skin and leave it softer and healthier. Twenty minutes in the natural steam room, a mud hut built over the steaming waters, is recommended before plastering yourself all over with hot volcanic mud. The idea is to let the mud work on your skin until it dries. Then, you rinse off in one of the outdoor showers. A soak in each of the thermal pools is next, starting with the hottest one (about 36 degrees C). After 15 minutes you move to the lukewarm pool and finally to the cold pool where a dip in the frigid water is intended to close your now fully open pores.  There’s a little bit of a yuck factor in all this mud smearing, and the steam from the thermal springs is rich in sulphur, so there’s a slight rotten egg smell permeating the air.  But all in all it’s a pleasurable and relaxing experience. I’m told by the locals that after doing this every day for a month and your skin becomes like a baby’s bottom…that is perfecto. I wish.

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One of Toronto’s hidden gems is the Centennial Park Conservatory, a 12,000 square foot glass house managed by the Toronto Parks Department. This  little known indoor oasis in Etobicoke is guaranteed to lift your spirits. As soon as you step inside, a whiff of the tropics transports you away from winter’s reality.

The main glass house features many rainforest plants including fully grown banana and palm trees, bird of paradise…even ginger, fig and guavas grow here.  On a recent visit, oranges, lemons and kumquats were fruiting. In the pond, resident turtles loll about on a floating log and seem to be striking a pose for photographers …and the kids thinking about catching them.

Foggy clouds of mist swirl around a display of orchids and bromeliads. This tapestry of colours makes a fitting back drop for the pastel-hued budgies who chatter incessantly in a nearby cage. One of the birds loves to put on a performance for those who pass by. The cage is open and he frequently takes to the air, landing on the shoulders and hands of unsuspecting, but delighted visitors. Across the path, a cheeky white cockatoo emits furious squawks; it’s as if he is saying “Hey, what about me?”   As attention turns to the cockatoo, the budgie heads back to his perch. He knows it won’t be long before a fresh batch of visitors will be by and the show can start all over again.

Adjacent to the main green house are two more wings, each showcase dramatically different environments. The bright, south wing is hot and dry. It is dedicated to desert flora with dozens of varieties of cacti, yuccas and succulents in bloom.  Aloe vera, best known for the jelly-like substance inside the leaf that sooths cuts and burns, are blooming with abandon, their eye-catching, pumpkin coloured spires putting on a spectacular show.

In all three wings, no matter what time of year you visit, you’ll find seasonally appropriate flowers planted among the permanent collections.  The most elaborate floral show is in the North Wing where the garden designers’ talents really shine. Displays are created to reflect holidays such as Christmas and Easter and to highlight the four seasons. The show changes eight times a year.  During the Christmas holidays you can see gorgeous displays of unique varieties of poinsettias

After the holidays the poinsettias are replaced with cyclamen and kalanchoe, followed by the spring bulbs…daffodils, hyacinths and tulips and then Easter lilies.  Martha Washington geraniums precede the summer show of annuals and bedding plants. As autumn approaches, chrysanthemums take centre stage.

Whether you are a plant fancier hoping to get a glimpse of something unusual or just want a little respite from our too long, cold Canadian winter, a visit to this botanical heaven is perfect little “holiday” not far from home.
Centennial Park Conservatory, 151 Elmcrest Rd., Etobicoke, ON, 416-394-8543, Free admission and parking, Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Like all baroque gardens, the Ludwigsburg garden was symmetrically laid out (and still is).   After periods of neglect, the gardens were re-opened in 1953. And, what a magnificent garden it is.  The gardens are a tapestry of different styles from billowing borders to formal beds that look like intricate embroideries. It truly is a fairy tale garden with a children’s area that features characters from stories such as Hansel and Gretel. There is a gallery with amazing sculptures (some of them pretty racey!) that are so special they have been brought inside to protect them from the elements so future generations can enjoy them. Here is a photo review of my favourite areas:

My favourite garden centre is John’s Garden Centre  www.johnsgarden.goldbook.ca in Uxbridge, Ontario. Owned by John Statham and his wife, the garden centre is  set in the middle of a pine forest (they live on the property), with shade plants under the pines and the sun plants in what used to be the paddocks.  The old horse barn is used to house pots and bulbs and other garden must have items. And, they have lots of unusual plants to tempt you.

But, it’s the peonies that grabbed my attention the first time I visited. For a long time I have wanted Bartzilla, a yellow Itoh peony that has been priced way out of my range (about $150.00 when I first started coveting it). John sells itohs in the $50 to $60 range and I couldn’t resist. He told me that the plants are created from tissue culture which means that they can be propagated more efficiently and in greater numbers than by root divisions. I bought my Bartzilla last August and put it in the front garden in full sun and hoped for the best. This spring I was amazed that the stem had so many buds on it (even 10 inches up the stem). Perhaps I should not have been so surprised since Itoh peonies are a cross between a bush peony and a tree peony, but still it seemed far more vigorous and ahead of the others I have grown.

I’ve been away for nearly a month and a couple of days ago came home to find “Bart” loaded with gorgeous butter yellow blooms. This plant looks like it has been established for years and not just in its second year. I’ll be heading to John’s this weekend to see if he has more of these beauties left. Though $60.00 for a plant may seem like a lot, I’m convinced it’s one of the best gardening buys I’ve made in a long time.

Check out John’s blog at http://johnsgarden.wordpress.com/.