Is your home your sanctuary?
It's winter. The mornings are dark, evening starts early. I actually like these long, dark days. I find them as exciting, even if not as...
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Slow Botanicals
- Jan 13
- 7 min
What do We Even Want?!
My family is away right now. They're in Quebec, visiting family, playing in the snow, tubing down snowy hills, cross country skiing and...
Slow Botanicals
- Dec 27, 2022
- 4 min
Simple Special Seasonal
Happy Holidays! Happy Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Now that we are getting to the latter part of this special holiday time,...
Slow Botanicals
- Nov 16, 2022
- 2 min
Holidays are on the Way
The last couple of weeks have flown by. I know that much has happened. Our first frost and snow, a huge wind storm, power outages,...
Slow Botanicals
- Oct 29, 2022
- 6 min
Flowers to Mark our Love and Thanks
Recently, my daughter’s school’s PTO gave out certificates of appreciation and accompanying gifts to treasured members of the community...
Slow Botanicals
- Oct 6, 2022
- 5 min
An Autumn Like No Other
Our autumn so far feels more like summer than what fall is meant to be. My daily life is ruled by the rhythms of the seasons, and so this...
Slow Botanicals
- Sep 9, 2022
- 3 min
Autumn is Stirring
A transition of seasons is upon us. It has become darker outdoors and I have turned on the light in my greenhouse and set the timer....
Slow Botanicals
- Aug 25, 2022
- 3 min
Markets and More
August has continued to be full. Harvesting of veggies, fruit and flowers has continued. In my studio, I can see less and less of my...
Slow Botanicals
- Aug 11, 2022
- 1 min
August is Harvest Time
August is here and that means I am in my most labour intensive month of the entire year. Vegetable, flower and fruit all ripen at a...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 28, 2022
- 5 min
What Happens in July
I really missed writing last week! The last two weeks have been very full. In my family life, the garden, and other going-ons with my...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 15, 2022
- 5 min
What's in the Weeds?
Months of long rainy weather means that more than the usual amount of weeds have popped up all over the garden this year. I use a lot of...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 7, 2022
- 5 min
Behind the Scenes in the Summer
This week was much like my last. Lots of harvesting and lots of time devoted to giving my kids happy summer holidays. I squeezed in some...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 30, 2022
- 2 min
Please Enjoy the Photos
Dreamy Poppies are Blooming Everywhere in the Garden I knew exactly what I wanted to write about this week. I have been reflecting on...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 23, 2022
- 7 min
Summer Starts
Summer is officially here. We have had the longest day of light. I think summer might in actuality be here, as well. I have been...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 16, 2022
- 6 min
An Accidental Soap Maker
Over the past week I have been outdoors harvesting lots of flowers and herbs of the healing sort. I have also been at work indoors,...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 9, 2022
- 4 min
Rosie Lessons
I love this time of year when the wild roses are blooming. The bloom time is short, so I make sure to visit them often to take in their...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 2, 2022
- 4 min
I Won't Be Waiting
For the past several days, I have kept having the uncomfortable sensation that I am waiting for something. This is unusual for me. Most...
Slow Botanicals
- May 27, 2022
- 6 min
The Creative Family Life
Over the past week, I have quite enjoyed myself while blending, mixing and pouring a fair bit of botanical skin balm and soap. Recently,...
Slow Botanicals
- May 20, 2022
- 6 min
The Parallels of Parenting and Gardening
While laying out mulch in my vegetable garden this week, I had to make decisions about which volunteers to leave and which to pull....
Slow Botanicals
- May 12, 2022
- 6 min
Life Lived in Seasons
Throughout my adult days, there have been the same threads always running through and determining how I spend my daily life. Caregiving,...
Slow Botanicals
- Jan 25
- 7 min
Is your home your sanctuary?
It's winter. The mornings are dark, evening starts early. I actually like these long, dark days. I find them as exciting, even if not as...
Slow Botanicals
- Jan 13
- 7 min
What do We Even Want?!
My family is away right now. They're in Quebec, visiting family, playing in the snow, tubing down snowy hills, cross country skiing and...
Slow Botanicals
- Dec 27, 2022
- 4 min
Simple Special Seasonal
Happy Holidays! Happy Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Now that we are getting to the latter part of this special holiday time,...
Slow Botanicals
- Nov 16, 2022
- 2 min
Holidays are on the Way
The last couple of weeks have flown by. I know that much has happened. Our first frost and snow, a huge wind storm, power outages,...
Slow Botanicals
- Oct 29, 2022
- 6 min
Flowers to Mark our Love and Thanks
Recently, my daughter’s school’s PTO gave out certificates of appreciation and accompanying gifts to treasured members of the community...
Slow Botanicals
- Oct 6, 2022
- 5 min
An Autumn Like No Other
Our autumn so far feels more like summer than what fall is meant to be. My daily life is ruled by the rhythms of the seasons, and so this...
Slow Botanicals
- Sep 9, 2022
- 3 min
Autumn is Stirring
A transition of seasons is upon us. It has become darker outdoors and I have turned on the light in my greenhouse and set the timer....
Slow Botanicals
- Aug 25, 2022
- 3 min
Markets and More
August has continued to be full. Harvesting of veggies, fruit and flowers has continued. In my studio, I can see less and less of my...
Slow Botanicals
- Aug 11, 2022
- 1 min
August is Harvest Time
August is here and that means I am in my most labour intensive month of the entire year. Vegetable, flower and fruit all ripen at a...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 28, 2022
- 5 min
What Happens in July
I really missed writing last week! The last two weeks have been very full. In my family life, the garden, and other going-ons with my...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 15, 2022
- 5 min
What's in the Weeds?
Months of long rainy weather means that more than the usual amount of weeds have popped up all over the garden this year. I use a lot of...
Slow Botanicals
- Jul 7, 2022
- 5 min
Behind the Scenes in the Summer
This week was much like my last. Lots of harvesting and lots of time devoted to giving my kids happy summer holidays. I squeezed in some...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 30, 2022
- 2 min
Please Enjoy the Photos
Dreamy Poppies are Blooming Everywhere in the Garden I knew exactly what I wanted to write about this week. I have been reflecting on...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 23, 2022
- 7 min
Summer Starts
Summer is officially here. We have had the longest day of light. I think summer might in actuality be here, as well. I have been...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 16, 2022
- 6 min
An Accidental Soap Maker
Over the past week I have been outdoors harvesting lots of flowers and herbs of the healing sort. I have also been at work indoors,...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 9, 2022
- 4 min
Rosie Lessons
I love this time of year when the wild roses are blooming. The bloom time is short, so I make sure to visit them often to take in their...
Slow Botanicals
- Jun 2, 2022
- 4 min
I Won't Be Waiting
For the past several days, I have kept having the uncomfortable sensation that I am waiting for something. This is unusual for me. Most...
Slow Botanicals
- May 27, 2022
- 6 min
The Creative Family Life
Over the past week, I have quite enjoyed myself while blending, mixing and pouring a fair bit of botanical skin balm and soap. Recently,...
Slow Botanicals
- May 20, 2022
- 6 min
The Parallels of Parenting and Gardening
While laying out mulch in my vegetable garden this week, I had to make decisions about which volunteers to leave and which to pull....
Slow Botanicals
- May 12, 2022
- 6 min
Life Lived in Seasons
Throughout my adult days, there have been the same threads always running through and determining how I spend my daily life. Caregiving,...
Slow Botanicals
- May 5, 2022
- 7 min
A Garden Story
When my husband and I first arrived in Los Angeles, direct from Montreal, with only two suitcases, I was excited to begin a new chapter...
Slow Botanicals
- May 5, 2022
- 1 min
Yay for Mason Bees!
Our mason bees are chewing their ways out of their cocoons! The mason bees - native bees to North America- transform from eggs to adult...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 28, 2022
- 5 min
My Kids have Slowed Me Down
In the darkest days of winter, I undertook the planning for my upcoming garden. Then, plan in hand, I went into the greenhouse and began...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 26, 2022
- 4 min
Which Skin Balm for Your Skin?
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to interact with lots of my customers in person, and to receive personal messages of thanks from...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 21, 2022
- 4 min
Thoughts on Comfort
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about comfort. Because I have been craving comfort. And perhaps for the first time, I have been making...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 15, 2022
- 2 min
Tips for Growing Tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest
Growing tomatoes successfully in the PNW begins with choosing the best tomato variety for your garden. The best varieties will always be...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 14, 2022
- 7 min
Vision Boards, Tips for Tomatoes, Tried-and-True Seeds
At the beginning of January, my daughter and I spent our first ever night apart. Considering she was already seven, this was a big deal...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 12, 2022
- 5 min
My Favourite Veggie Seed Varieties
I have been growing veggies for some time now. When I first started gardening, I didn't read the seed packets or catalogues all that...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 8, 2022
- 5 min
Goal Setting, Dried Flowers, Calendula, My Favourite Lettuce Seeds
I think it is safe to say, on behalf of us all, that we have undergone many changes since the spring of 2020. This certainly speaks for...
Slow Botanicals
- Apr 1, 2022
- 4 min
Dahlias from Tubers, Kitchen Garden Leeks, Watering the Garden
This weather! Wow! My kids are running around without coats on. I have unplugged the ceramic heat bulbs in the greenhouse. A multitude of...
Slow Botanicals
- Mar 24, 2022
- 4 min
Community is Like an Earthworm
Last week was the official start, personally, of the 2022 season. It was a great start. Your Local Small Market, our local artisan...
Slow Botanicals
- Mar 18, 2022
- 4 min
Another Birthday, No-Dig, and Aid for Ukraine
We had another birthday in the family this week. This time my daughter turned eight. I was thinking about where I was when I was pregnant...
Slow Botanicals
- Mar 11, 2022
- 4 min
Up in the Apple Trees
I finally got to my apple trees this week. I was sidetracked by dealing with our taxes, so they aren't quite done yet... but I know that...
Slow Botanicals
- Mar 10, 2022
- 2 min
Dormant Spray Recipe for Natural Apple Trees
Every spring I mix up my own dormant spray for my apple trees. It is totally natural which means I can feel safe spraying this in the...
Slow Botanicals
- Mar 3, 2022
- 3 min
Early Spring Planting
Gardeners tend to have a good memory of how our local weather patterns work. The recent cold snap has come to an end and so I am...
Slow Botanicals
- Feb 25, 2022
- 3 min
Local is Personal
The weather is freezing outdoors and I have spent a great deal of time warm indoors. One task I have been focusing on is making up the...
