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Wednesday May 30, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B5 Homes & Gardens Peonies thriving this year the horse chestnut tree, under the head This is a good spring for peonies. The variable weather ing "Three Unusual Aesculus". In his started them early and the cool weather has improved the inten opening sentence he states that if he had sity of the colours and lengthened the flowering period. A a large enough parcel of vacant land he strain of pale yellow peonies grown originally from seed of would plant all the varieties he could `Pehrson's Best Yellow', are the brightest yellow to date. The lay his hands upon. That aroused my other group we grow are the lobatas from seeds of the coral interest as I have a large common horse type peonies. The seedlings this year are very brilliant pinks chestnut in the front garden grown from and reds with the odd pale coral. The seeds and seedlings from seed sown thirty years ago. While dri these strains are sold in plant sales at the R.B.G. and C.P.S. auc ving in Burlington last week I noticed tions. A large plant that I must have had for several years sud some red, yellow and white chestnut denly showed flowers of a pale orange tinge with light pink trees used as street trees and several as stripes. A pleasing combination. They stand out in the back lawn trees. As these are native to North garden readily visible from the side path entrance. Yet I have America I wondered why there were never noticed them in previous years. How much of the colour In Your Garden not more. Steve Whysall in ` 100 Best is due to the genes and how much from the cool weather Plants for the Ontario Garden,' gives enhancement? I have a photo, it is tagged. We will see what them not a mention. Trevor Cole, in the recently published, colours appear next spring. The lawn is growing well but so are the white grubs and the `The New Ontario Gardener', gives four stars to a ruby red skunks and crows that are after them. So it is a little patchy. I variety, `Birotii'. It is a 35 ft. slow growing tree with red flow have been filling the holes with top soil, sowing seed, pressing ers, few fruit and is resistant to leaf scorch. Three stars go to it in, and adding a dusting of soil and one of fertilizer. Watering `Ohio Buckeye', a 25 ft. tree with yellow flowers borne in 8 ins has not been necessary. The rain and sun have made the weeds clusters on the end of the stems. The chestnuts have a few bad habits that may be avoided. grow tall and softened the soil so they pull out easily. The lilacs The common variety is large and does produce many chestnuts are fading as the mountain ash turns white. Last week I visited the Royal Botanical Gardens to pick which attract squirrels who bury them throughout the garden some peonies for the American Peony Society show on June and forget where they are. This give a little forest of chestnut 9th. These early blooms were cut as loose knobs, most of the seedlings to weed out in the spring. `Ruby Red' horse chestnuts leaves removed and the stems placed in buckets of water and seldom bear fruit and `Baumanni', a double flowered white, has stored in the coolers at about 40F. As the fate of the show nears, no fruit. Humber Nurseries have six varieties while include the temperature of the cooler will be adjusted to try to have the white, yellow, red flowered and fruitless types and four with edible nuts. Hortico have three varieties. The sizes range from peonies flower a day or so before the show. 12 ft. to 50 ft. The distinctive shape of the flower spikes stand At the same time I took of my seedling peonies for sale by the Auxilary in the shop nursery. This space is just outside the ing upright make the tree readily noticeable when in bloom. shop in the HQ building. In the centre of the nursery is a large, The laige leaves turn yellow-orange in the fall and give it a fall tall tree. Attached to the trunk is a birdhouse. I was surprised season presence along the street. For your next tree selection, to note the entrance hole had been chewed around the edge to consider the chestnuts. Humber Nurseries: (416)-798-8733. enlarge it. I am sure it has become a squirrel house like mine. Hortico: 232 Robson Rd., Waterdown, (905)-689-6984. Art Drysdale, on his return from the Chelsea Rower Show, I wonder how many bird houses in the area have been co-opted noted during his gardening program last Saturday morning, on by squirrels? The family in my birdhouse which is about 8 ft. from the CHWO 740, the new controversial minimal gardening style ground and 3 ft. from the path became more active last week, shown in some outdoor exhibits. These gardens used a mini peeking out the hole. The mother intensified her efforts to dis mum of plants and a large amount of stone, brick, wood or tract visitors from the little ones by chattering and running up other solid material. They won few prizes but are becoming and down trees. At dusk one day they took turns looking out at popular. This brought to mind some newer gardens in East me and I succumbed and fed them some peanuts. A day or so Oakville featuring stone. later they were all out running up and down trees with mother joining in. They have certainly livened up the garden canopy. In the May issue of "The Garden", the journal of the royal Horticultural Society in England, Roy Lancaster, in his feature "Plants that should be better known" extolls three varieties of JOHN SIMKINS This kitchen is full of warmth thanks to yellow colour palette Yellows proving hot (N C)-The Benjamin Moore Colour Preview Collection creates a whole new way of looking at colour, and it brings new brilliance and vibrancy to the special paint tech niques that are so popular these days. One of the first to use the new colours in a new house design project was Jane Lockhart, professional interior designer and spokesperson on colour and design at Benjamin Moore. "This very interesting project was for a brand new suburban -home," says Jane. "The homeowner really enjoys bright, warm, colours, and with the new Colour Preview Collection I was able to suggest just what they wanted. At the same time I also used some tried-and-true colours to create textural interest and found the brilliance of these luminous colours made them look really spe cial." A kitchen full of warmth The current trend towards yellows is proving very popular, and this kitchen is an example of the differ ence they make. Creamy, buttery and cinnamon-like, 2165-30 "Golden Retriever" creates friendly warmth. Yellow is a new neutral, a warm anti dote to cool gray beiges, which are still popular. Every day is a good day when it begins at this breakfast island. The back splash beneath the wall cupboards adds a designer touch; it looks like rustic tiles, and it feels like them too, but only you will know how easy it was to create the effect yourself. This look of tumbled marble is a hot look in kitchens and bath rooms today. These aged-looking tiles are smooth and matte with raised edges reminding us of days gone by. Free June Home Depot seminars The Home Depot is once again running free How-to sem inars for local Do-it-Yourselfers. On weekends in June, the Oakville Home Depot located at 2555 Bristol Circle, will be home to a variety of `classes' for interested visitors. Running weekly on Saturdays from June 2-30, morning classes include `How to Plan and Build a Deck' from 10 to 11 a.m., and `How to Install Underground Sprinklers' from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. A class on `How to Drywall' will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Running wekly on Sundays from June 2-24, a class on `How to Plan and install patio stones and retaining walls' will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., visitors will be taught `How to Install Ceramic Tile,' and from 1 to 2 p.m., `How to Build a wood fence.' 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