Spring is in full-swing and though it’s common to see colourful tulips, primulas and daffodils this time of year another less known spring bloomer is the Pasque Flower.  It blooms  around Easter thus the name pasque  since pasque refers to Easter (Passover).  Pasque flowers or Pulsatilla vulgaris are a low growing plant that blooms in…

I am by no means a tea expert, I consider myself to be more of a Tea Tourist, someone who likes to travel around trying new tea experiences then sharing them with others.  So when my friend and fellow tea tourist Wendy came up to Vancouver from California with her husband Steve I felt it…

Happy belated New Year from our new house and garden called the Adelaide, after weeks of packing we moved into our beautiful new home just before Christmas!  We went for a drive at the end of October and came upon this show home in the Garrison Crossing development and decided on the spot that is…

  Organic Lavender Earl Grey Tea Leaves I have to admit I have never liked Earl Grey tea.  The smell alone made me feel sick and then to taste it …yuck!  So when it came time for the Earl Grey tastings at  tea school I was not looking forward to it, I really was worried…

The Maple Ridge Garden Club was founded in 1948 so on July 17th the club gathered for a big birthday celebration at the garden of our president Gayle and her husband Wayne.  As the members arrived they were encouraged to stroll through the lovely garden acreage to look at the perennial beds and vegetable garden….

On Sunday June 9th, while on vacation in Las Vegas, I took the opportunity to attend  the WORLD TEA EXPO that was going on at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  This was a chance to sample teas from around the world, and even though I was registered as a  student everyone was very willing to…

Burma (Myanmar) tea is primarily produced for the country’s domestic market with a small amount being exported to the Yunnan Province in China.  When a friend was travelling back to his homeland of Burma I asked for him if he could bring me back some tea as I knew it was not available in Canada….

Early this morning I went out in the garden with a nice cup of tea to enjoy the peace and quiet of the new day.  I love to sit in the garden sip my tea and watch all the natural activity going on around me.  The birds began chirping at dawn so when I went out…

Spring is such a nice time in the garden, everything is fresh and new and the smells are wonderful.  I have a wisteria and two lilacs in bloom this time of year, these plants make the garden smell magnificent especially at dusk!

On Sunday, April 28th FEARING FARM, a species Rhododendron and Azalea grower, had an open garden so I took the opportunity to go and see fabulous rhododendrons and azaleas in their natural setting.  It was really something else!  There were so many big and small plants most in full bloom it was really spectacular!  It…