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Dear Helen: Last summer, a mystery squash type plant appeared in my garden. It grew to around six metres long and produced small, delicious fruits that we enjoyed stir-fried with onion and garlic.

De-cluttering guru Marie Kondo counsels people to reduce their possessions to the bare minimum by keeping only what gives them joy.

Absorbing much of my time throughout January is a diligent search through the new seed catalogues as I seek out the unique, the new, and possible varieties for comparison with current longtime favourites among the vegetable, flower and herb listings.

There is no doubt that a fireplace creates a central focal point to any room that it is in. Fire is like a magnet and has an irresistible pull. However, when the weather turns warm, the unlit fireplace shouldn’t look bleak or naked.

Dear Tony: In August, we held a third special general meeting to approve a special levy to replace the piping in our 30-year-old building. Once again, an owner showed up with enough proxies (28) to defeat the special levy.

Dear Helen: My family has decided to extend our food garden this year to include a few more of our favourite vegetables. One of them is celery, but we’ve heard it can be difficult to grow well. Have you any thoughts on this? L.C.

I wish you all a new year filled with growing pleasures. May your gardens shine with an abundance of vibrant foliage, flowers, and food. May you be refreshed and invigorated with the health-giving exercise involved in planting and tending a garden.

Stepping into a new decade is exciting. There is a vibe of hope and adventure as we prepare to conquer new challenges on the world stage. This can also be intimidating.

Dear Helen: Can sweet peas be seeded outdoors here in the fall? If not, what are the best times for seeding? What are your favourite sweet peas and what seed source do you favour? F.L.

Like all printed matter, coffee table books are taking a hit in this digital age. The competition is fierce as inspiration for travel, food and interior decor is now just a click away, and free for internet users.