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House Beautiful: Old-world charm in Fernwood

House Beautiful: Old-world charm in Fernwood

Like a fine wine, some homes just get better with age … helped along with a few home-improvement projects over the years. That’s the case with the 1913 Fernwood home, brimming with character and old-world charm, owned by Michelle and Jeff Tucker.
Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Not all oxalis species are invasive

Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Not all oxalis species are invasive

Dear Helen: I was surprised to read in one of your recent columns that you were planning to add more oxalis plants to your garden. You described one in particular and the column included a photo.
Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Frozen fruit puree makes superbly refreshing sorbet

Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Frozen fruit puree makes superbly refreshing sorbet

It was something so simple, so easy. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? I was putting together my favourite breakfast — a boiled egg and a piece of toast — when I realized I had no jam for the toast in the fridge.
Condo Smarts: Confusion between rental and short-term accommodations bylaws

Condo Smarts: Confusion between rental and short-term accommodations bylaws

Dear Tony: Our strata owners and council are in a battle over the application of our rental bylaws and our short-term rental enforcement.
Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Parsley, miner’s lettuce among treasured volunteers

Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Parsley, miner’s lettuce among treasured volunteers

At this time in the gardening season, when most plants are up and growing, it can be useful to look around and think about what you’d like more of in the garden, whether it’s time to remove awkward or over-demanding plants, and what plants you want t
House Beautiful: Sooke garden is all about family

House Beautiful: Sooke garden is all about family

A tapestry of colour, floral texture and design — set against a backdrop of deep ocean blues and snow-crowned Olympic Mountains — awaits those who plan to enjoy the Sooke Secret Garden Tour , which starts next Saturday and stays live online for six m
Condo Smarts: Amend bylaws to prevent conflicts over council elections

Condo Smarts: Amend bylaws to prevent conflicts over council elections

Dear Tony: Our Victoria strata corporation has struggled with the decision process around how council is elected at the annual general meeting. We use the standard bylaws of the strata property act.
Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Dry season a chance to remove invasive iris from pond

Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Dry season a chance to remove invasive iris from pond

Dear Helen: A natural pond on my property has no water in it now, because of the dry spring.
Condo Smarts: Hold on to pet-bylaw papers at time of purchase for future reference

Condo Smarts: Hold on to pet-bylaw papers at time of purchase for future reference

Dear Tony: How can we determine if a condo development permits dogs and cats or not? We have been looking at condos with our agent for the past six weeks and have encountered pets in many buildings but have discovered it is confusing to confirm wheth
Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Oh, the satisfaction of a freshly weeded veggie plot

Helen Chesnut’s Garden Notes: Oh, the satisfaction of a freshly weeded veggie plot

As I set up a three-metre length of sturdy fencing for the tomatoes earlier in the month, I could not avoid the adjacent planting of carrots and beets. The young seedlings were developing nicely. So were an abundance of small weeds.