6 Friday, November 17, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com I don't think Mother Nature likes me. I'm writing this a week before you read it. Two days ago (Wednesday) it was 100 C. With the assistance of Brian who's trying out for neighbour of the year, I managed to complete my garden renovation by laying about 93 sq. m. (1000 sq. ft.) of sod. When I want to water it this morning(Friday), the green had been replaced by white and it was -90! When laying sod, regular deep waterings are the key to success. Those little grass plants are trying to survive with the air, water and nutrients available in the thin layer of soil they're rolled with. The watering has to be deep enough to thoroughly moisten the underlying soil in order to entice the grass to send down roots in search of water. When the snow disappears and the soil is less frozen, it'll be time to rescue some of the things we want to overwinter. Dahlia and begonia tubers need to be dug up and dried, then tucked into a dry cool spot to sleep until March. Shreddings from my office paper shredder are perfect to use in the tubers' storage box. Planting bulbs With winter tucking in completed, it's time to look at winter gardening. My first step is to plant bulbs, and not just any bulbs. Miniature narcissus will be planted in pots so I can force them to bloom during the winter as their little yellow blooms will brighten a dull February day. These potted bulbs will need about eight weeks of cool temperatures to simulate a winter's rest. They should not freeze. My house has a cold cellar that suits beautifully. Be creative about finding such a space. The next indoor job will be to pot the geranium cuttings from late September. They're now well rooted and ready to spend the winter under my lights. A few may spend time upstairs when they decide to bloom. At some point in mid-winter, they'll be big enough to produce another crop of cuttings. This doubles my supply for spring and makes the original plants bushier and more compact. The stores are filling up with Christmas stuff, which includes a variety of holiday season plants. including the venerable poinsettia. With extensive breeding in the past few years, we now have a wider choice of colours and flower forms. Despite its familiarity, I still like to have one in the house. Did you know the bright coloured bracts are not its flowers? The true flower is a small yellow cyathia in the centre of those bracts. Fresh poinsettias Why do we care? The presence of those cyathia, especially if they're just opening, indicates the poinsettia's freshness. If there are just little stumps where they used to be, then leave the plant on the shelf and look for a fresher one. Cyclamen are another flowering plant seen at this time of year. We often have only moderate success when we bring one home. They're grown when greenhouses are kept cool and that's the secret to success at home. In our homes, at 200-220 C, these plants will quickly develop yellow leaves and drop their flowers. They're delightful plants, so find a cool spot like a bay window to keep them comfortable and they'll reward your efforts with a long happy life. Suddenly, Winter! Blooming in Brooklin By Ken Brown Durham Region is Amazon's right choice for a bright future. That's the message that resonates throughout a new collaborative website, highlighting the benefits of investing in Durham. The Durham Region, Canada - Amazon HQ2 Proposal website at durham.ca/amazon outlines why our region is the best choice: access to a large, talented workforce; outstanding quality of life; and the fact that affordable real estate, low-cost commercial and industrial land and competitive development charges make this region an attractive choice for businesses and families. 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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology allows the Region to provide better information to the public, via Open Data and interactive maps. While the original concept was designed specifically to showcase Durham Region within the Amazon bid, it will also be a valuable tool for other companies looking for serviced greenfield sites in the Toronto region. Visit investdurham.ca to review the full Toronto Global Amazon HQ2 bid book. Can Durham Region Be Canada's Amazon Bid?