Garden Sanctuary

Garden Sanctuary

Our City of Toronto corner lot is somewhat cradled within the curve of a nurturing streetscape. The extended visual space gave extra opportunity to hedge in, multiple levels of outdoor rooms, gardening stories and artistic interpretations of clever hardscaping & delightful plant combinations.

It’s a well studied, yet intuitive pairing of upcycled components, garden statuary and plant life that serve as privacy barriers, organic urban gardening and a joyful fusion of colour and fragrance.

And I did it all by myself.

I coupled my visual merchandising skills with that of being a green sustainability advocate.

I am a community Earth Hour leader and RoncyWorks member                                                  (volunteers who support our BIA’s public outreach)                                                                                            I try to live a green awakened lifestyle. 

I have always had a long time passion for gardening and use the opportunity to study energy philosophy because the open spaces and  stone structures in my garden are actually enhancers of our home’s interior feng shui patterns.  I am a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and Scholar. 

But most of all, our garden represents a seasonal escape from our inside world that has become a place of refuge and healing.  It’s our sanctuary.

A city lot is a place to invest in society’s future by increasing the tree canopy which in turn, reduces carbon emissions, emits life sustaining oxygen and beautifies the world.  Its also a magical place to escape from the world and enjoy the splendor of nature.

Watch a slide show of the Garden     (click for link)

Garden Sanctuary

 

nu Chi Please

New walkway created to welcome better chi

 

I believe in Feng Shui, and considered certain key guidelines, when we redesigned our interior.  Our rebuild changed our entire home, both in design and in spirit.  The new design is efficient, comfortable and more than just pleasant – its gorgeous!

Knowing that energy patterns have become different- since we rebuilt the house,  we are now altering the outdoor landscape to support or diminish certain kinds of energy patterns.

So, in order to bring the best possible kind of energy/chi/qi/prana into our home, we decided to change the path of our front walkway. We choose flagstone because it allows water to drain beneath it, which will help nourish the beautiful Linden Tree we have in our front yard.

block aggressive chi

 

An aggressive kind of chi had an opportunity to reach us, partially,  from the original walkway. (not the exact facing of the home ) so I stopped it with a large metal planter and other obstacles – then re directed the new pathway to curve gently to the front door.

A new planter blocks & becomes hi light of new hardscape

We plan to plant additional shrubs and are looking forward to seeing the perennials, that are already planted – start to appear.  The goal is to obscure the original pathway and open up the new walkway.  It already feels like a more welcoming design.

 

By early June….. plants starting to grow

 

 

#pinkshirtday

Our neighbours are bullies.

We live next to a three unit apartment house, with a family that has a long, unflattering history.

The first incident of issue was when one of the members of that family claimed his family adversed possessed a section of our land.  He also paved over this section of our property without our permission and without a City permit.  The title insurance claim we started, clarified  that this section of land was a ROW over private land, that grew out of a huge historical battle that left another neighbour landlocked, decades ago.   A right of way means others have the right to pass over but they do not own title and it is illegal for anyone to park on it.  The lawyer provided for our title insurance claim expressed that under no circumstance could anyone park on it and that no cutting or trimming of trees, or any other alteration to our property can be made without our permission.

They ignored those legal requests. They asserted to other neighbours that it was a mutual driveway, they didn’t know what we were talking about and they carried on.   They still park where they want and cut our trees, trim our vines and have been caught on our property when not invited.

And they lie. I have heard from other neighbours all sorts of stories. Slanderous stories about us that are not true.  Excited by news crews and given an opportunity to sabotage our reputation – a member of this family – made certain claims that led to her receiving an award.  She specifically said, to whomever would listen, that we had no smoke alarms and other unsavoury comments about our home and parenting. Very hurtful and defaming comments. Eventually, saddened by the incident, I contacted Captain Ratushniak from Toronto Fire Services to set the record straight. He said “she alone would have to live with that action”.  None of the four teens at our house, during the fire, heard this woman knock or acknowledged she assisted them – in anyway to safety.  In fact, one of them swore at her because she was screaming at them to shut our door so the fire wouldn’t be fed and possibly spread to her mother’s home. She was very unkind.

But we let that go, we never confronted her. That was our choice, after all she was one of several people who called 911.

Thinking we could mend our issues while we were out of our home during the rebuild,  I initiated a mediation through St Stephen’s House. But things escalated and we withdrew. We didn’t want to cause a problem as they were harassing our work crew.  They kept going through our locked barrier to put their demolition debris in our construction bin and got angry when they were asked to stop.

In an attempt to be kind, we allowed the bullying.  Around Christmas of this year, a plaque I had drilled to our fence was violently smashed and thrown to the ground,  it read: “Do good and good will come to you”.  I put it there after the previous one I had there – that said “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”, was unscrewed and thrown into our yard. We didn’t say anything but I grumbled to all my friends.

Violently smashed

 

One day, while getting our yard ready for the season, I noted the smell of bleach in one of the planters that flanks the ROW.  I also looked up and saw several severed branches from our tree that canopies the ROW overhead. I don’t know when the cutting happened.  The cuts were at least 15 feet above, it must have been difficult for them to reach, but cut them they did.  They were asked not to do so, both by the Title Claim Lawyer and the Mediation lawyer. But they did it anyway.

I often reflect that they had planted a row of trees within a few feet of our shared property line, many are quite mature and their canopy touches our home.  They were planted aggressively and intentionally and that act concerns me. Who doesn’t know that trees widen?

One of the retired aged daughters that lives in this home,  planted a row of Japanese Knotweed – as an aggressive act, even though she knew the dangers of such an action. Thank goodness the City of Toronto advised her of her action and requested she remove it.

Bullying is wrong and I have absolutely every right to call them out on it. Their history is none of my business and you’ll note, I am not writing about the issues they are known to have had.  I am writing about the bullying we have experienced.

I’m wearing pink right now and I’m proud to participate in #dayofpink2016.   There are many forms of bullying and bullying from neighbours is unacceptable.

 

 

 

Woodchip gardening: combating climate change

Its mid March in Ontario and I, like a kajillion gardeners, am dying to get started on my yard.
But it’s too early. So I decided to request a truck load of wood chips from a local arborist. I assumed it would come in the spring. Of course, it came the next day.

Free wood chip mulch from a local arborist

Now I have a steaming, towering hill of aromatic wood chips on our driveway. It’s too early to spread around as mulch because the frost is still in the ground and I can’t quite remember where each perennial planting is.

So, I can only dedicate my time to planning and day dreaming what to do.

When we first moved to this property in 2004, I had spied a tree removal company across the street and asked for their wood chips because the lot here had a sharp decline and needed a berm to anchor it visually. More than a ton was mounded, to which, I experienced some ridicule at my choice. It didn’t faze me because I had known of some obscure wood chip gardening techniques. I also knew, that the mass would eventually compost down into beautiful, humus rich soil. The plan was easy, I thought. I couldn’t quite afford new foundation plantings for a while and the mounds of wood chips would merely be an in-between stage, it looked better than nothing at all. By 2009 there were no traces of wood chips and the newly planted areas were quite robust and beautiful.

I’m a kinda a “make do” gardener. I have used and promote, leaf collection mulching. I sprinkle our fire place ashes over garden beds in the fall and hand pick insects only if they bug me. I feed birds, grow moss and believe a natural garden is all about using native species and doing away with lawns.

One of the tasks I’d like to do is establish a new berm and fence line that prevents my neighbour’s japanese knotweed from spreading into our yard and create more privacy. I would have liked to have educated them that planting trees – that will expand and have huge canopies, within a foot of the property line is not the same as the shrubs or cedars I have planted – because hedges have thin profiles and can be pruned and their row of trees – do not have thin profiles and cannot be pruned.  We now co own a literal forest of their planted trees.

But back to the wood chips. I have other plans for it too. Have you seen the video about “Back to Eden Gardening”? Admittedly very religious in context, it does present valuable information regarding wood chip gardening. The jest of it is; use wood chips around soil planted plants and you won’t have to fertilize, weed or water. So that’s what I’m going to do.

Personally I think wood chip gardening is a pro active solution to combating climate change. Global warming is a thing. We’re going to have to safe guard our soil, reduce water consumption and grow more trees to compensate for carbon gas emissions.

What seems like unorthodox gardening to those who have “too tidy” lawn obsessed yards today, will be acceptable practices for green enlightened gardeners ~ tomorrow.

 

CAUTION:  wear some kind of facial filter mask.  Wood chips have a naturally occurring mould that, if inhaled, can bring on flu like symptoms.

HVAC review

Third Floor is a hot haven for plants

UPDATE: EDIT:   After 5 years of suffering and feeling guilty that energy was being wasted and contributing to carbon emissions – we consulted an expert.  Turns out there is a tissue test,  that identifies if a system is working or not.  To our surprise, none of our cold air returns had any draw, which indicated, that the system installed by Quantium Air Solutions was either poorly installed or had major leaks which affected the system. 

 

My plants are parched and my skin is dry.  It’s -23 celsius degrees in Toronto today but my bedroom is hoovering somewhere around 27 degrees celsius and I have two windows open.

We don’t know how to change our living room thermostat from fahrenheit to celsius, but we do know that although it’s set to 70 degrees F, it usually reads 68.  It’s chilly on our lower and main floor and boiling upstairs. 

Now I know that heat rises and our house is now “state of the art insulated” but by gosh – our heating system must be out of whack! Last summer when we got to use the cooling system – it was the same.  Our third floor master bedroom was hotter than a desert day.

We have a Goodman GMSS920803BNAA 1501290553 S234893 – or to us…. John Goodman.

John Goodman is a top of the line system that has been properly installed by an expert professional, but John Goodman is a little hot headed. And funny, or so I’m told.

I’m thinking the makers of John Goodman ought to look into the cold air return draw back, He’s just not pulling the upper floor’s heat down effectively.  Future buyers consider insisting  that individual dampers be installed at each vent.  We have tinfoil wrapped around most floor vents in an attempt to push the heat down.  It aint’ pretty.

We’re looking for a new ceiling fan to install over the third floor stair case so that we can push some of that excess heat down. 

We’re wearing extra sweaters on our main floor to ward off the chills.

John Goodman needs a Doctor.

Christmas Kitchen

Drawers large enough for all Tableware

Most of our day time gathering occurs around a very large kitchen island. It’s huge.  It has cabinets on both sides and drawers big enough to house an entire tableware collection.

Island has plenty of drawers & work space

This is the epitome of a Christmas Kitchen, a large enough space to gather friends and family for holiday cheer.  We’ll be able to easily navigate the entire space for an upcoming Seasonal Celebration, I’ve invited up to thirty people, knowing many will come and go.  One of our walls heralds a massive party scene painting that I’m certain, will echo the joy of the social gathering. I just can’t wait.

We found a wonderful dinning room set to enhance our deeply grained hardwood flooring that also has crisp white leather chairs with metallic studs that mimic the white & chrome of the kitchen’s workspace section.

Having a separate counter for the stove, sink and dishwasher is a luxury and being able to see sunsets from the kitchen window is a magical experience. 

Window captures Sunsets

Plenty of storage above and below is the key to this kitchen’s successful design. The entire kitchen was a custom design by Bax Canada, I’m pleased with the outcome.

Successful Kitchen Design

Our newly designed floor plan offered additional space to add a powder room, house in our large capacity, state of the art fridge, allow access to the back patio and create a niche to feature a butler’s pantry which is perfect to store small appliances and additional glassware in.

Butler’s Pantry highlights access to powder room & patio doors

This kitchen is the heart of the home, I love it because it is traditional with modern highlights such as the new classic quartz counters and the newly adapted, open sight lines up the central staircase and into the living area.  Now we can see the fireplace and Toronto’s Indian Valley through a newly installed north facing window. We’ll actually be able to see neighbourhood children toboggan down the hill.

View into Living Space from Kitchen

This is what memories are made of.  Holidays in your own Home.

Thanks be to SPA

hOM SPA

Aromatic bathing is my religion.  The ritualistic healing qualities are my go to whenever I require comforting or pleasure. When designing our master ensuite we had several factors that we needed to consider; trending interior design, the Feng Shui of the building and the varying angles of the third floor’s Tudor Influenced roofline.

The free standing soaker tub, for example – was placed under a dormer recessed skylight that has magnificent aerial vistas in the daytime and unobscured star gazing potential at night.  A spectacular overhead chandelier can be dimmed for softened relaxation or be lit in a cascade of brilliance. Sometimes it’s like bathing in a magical snow globe!

skylite & overhead chandelier

skylite for tree top viewing

floating glass shelves

To provide a place for tub-side soaps and body delights, two frosted glass, floating shelves were installed within the dormer niche. Their bluish glass hue picks up the overall feel of the shower & vanity area’s glass, chrome and rustic contradiction.  By that I mean, with all the coolness of the white porcelain, shower tiling, glass, floating beveled mirrors and all chrome fixtures…rich towels, dark floor mats and more nature based textures were needed to balance it all out.

chrome, glass & natural wood grain & stone

wood grained vanity with glass & chrome

Almost sinfully, the walk in shower stands blatantly in front of a west facing frosted window. At certain times of the day, radiant light fills the room and no doubt, casts a reverent glow of sunlight on whomever wishes to use the facilities.  There is a heavenly feel to the glass enclosed chamber that boasts a vertical, multi spray shower tower and a very cave like feel, with the pebbled tiling below. A more earthy grounding was needed to counter the coolness of the shower’s marble surround, so darkly grouted river stone was selected.

shower in front of frosted window

river/pebble stoned shower floor

wood grained faux wood tiling

This is the kind of room that never needs daytime lighting, it’s like living outside but with complete privacy.

floating beveled mirrors, wood grained dual sink vanity

For the room’s flooring;  a medium grey, faux wood patterned rectangular tile was chosen because it makes the classic crisp white items really pop.  The squared, lever style taps define both the elegant dropped dish, double sink vanity and the deep, oval bathtub . The addition of thick chocolate bath towels and plush floor mats add an opulent comfort to the room. Another organic influence is the vanity’s casement which echoes the faux wood patterned flooring yet serves as a darker, more browned accent in the colour scheme.

The only other decorative features are pair of vintage Asian Prints and a large leafy plant which playfully hint at the adjoining Master Bedroom’s overall aesthetic.

All the necessary creature comforts of a HomeSpa are packed into this refuge, not only is it a place for nurturing one’s body it is also a place for a person to soothe their soul.

Thanks be to SPA. This is hOM.

Design by Home Owner (Karyn Klaire Koski)

in cooperation with;

DTM Construction & Claudio Santon Architect

Products:  The Tile Store, TUBS, Performance Windows, Union LIghting and Furnishings

Thanks Giving

Enjoying Thanksgiving Again in our newly, reconstructed Home

Giving Thanks for:

• + Smoke alarms that alerted
• + Toronto Fire Services that responded
• + Intact Insurance that valued our claim without obstacles
• + DTM Construction that competently demolished & reconstructed our home within seven months
• + The restoration companies that repaired art & sentimental heirlooms
• + The Spirit of our home that was reborn
• + That Dam hidden junction box that changed our lives forever

I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving.  This year we’re going to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal in our newly, redesigned home,      at our newly purchased dining room set, on our new dishes… and we’ll give thanks.

Here’s a wee article I have written previously ~ about our own special ~ Canadian Thanksgiving. http://ritualsculturesbeliefs.blogspot.ca/2013/10/my-own-canadian-thanksgiving.html

Eavestroughs

Colour Matching Eaves Troughs

The primary function of any home’s eaves are to keep rain water off the walls and to safeguard against water penetration at the junction – where the roof and wall meets.  Additionally, metal troughs are added to the eaves’s roofline to provide an exit for any rainwater, these troughs assure water will be directed away from the house’s foundation. Ideally they’re lined up to release into garden beds or pervious walkways, so the water recycles into the earth. That’s an eco conscience choice I’m proud of. It is now mandatory to disconnect downspouts from the City’s sewage system.

A secondary function of eaves, is to act as a passive solar blind and protection for the roof’s ventilation system. Our house has this type of overhang, it nods to the decorative feature often found in early North American Craftsman tradition.  It’s one of the details that attracted us to this house.

Eaves Overhang

We had scheduled to install new troughs along our eaves because they were damaged in our house fire.  As only our windows and framing are all that is new to the house’s original facade, we choose to colour match the eaves to the windows, which we felt will create a cohesive look.

Our contractor lined up The Tin Man Creative Aluminum and the crew came and custom crafted our troughs onsite.  The “commercial brown” colour compliments our stonework and stucco and the whole look is, as defining,  as well groomed eyebrows on a handsome face.  It’s a well put together look and sure to add valuable curb appeal.

We’re pleased with the professional and non obtrusive nature of the crew and so very grateful the old troughs were taken away.  One less thing for us to worry about.

Eavestroughs are a necessary component to a decent house rebuild and good care maintenance plan. Our homes take care of us, we really ought to provide them with good upkeep.

The Finished Look.

Japanese Knotweed BAD

Japanese Knotweed is an invasive, destructive plant that is banned in Britain.  It’s presence through out England, decreases property values and it has now become illegal to deal with on your own.  Government intervention is actually required.  It is also a problem in Canada. It has been for years.

Here in Toronto, it has been reported about for a few decades.  The City of Toronto & Provincial Government provide information about how to identify and deal with outbreaks of this tenacious plant. Every Gardener knows about it, but every once and awhile a novice gardener will come across it and be charmed by it’s attractiveness.

While we were out of our home during it’s rebuild, a patch started growing along our property boundary.  I knew it was there, but as our elderly neighbour is dead set against allowing us to build a fence, I thought the visual buffer would make a better barrier than nothing at all.   We need privacy and some kind of blockade to prevent the home owner’s adult children from entering our yard.

One morning, from my side only, I removed all stalks of this monster and covered the base of growth – with thick plastic. I’m determined to educate others too.

Later, I heard a rather loud and animated tantrum about the destruction of an entire Bamboo Grove, spewing from the other side of the yard.  Clearly they knew nothing of this plant – hence this posting to inform others.

Japanese Knotweed is not a valuable plant.  It is a recognized invading species that clearly needs more attention,  Unfortunately, it is not a replacement for a honking ten foot fence, but alas a homeowner can dream!   <grin

UPDATE:  In May 2016 more Japanese knotweed seedlings were added to our neighbour’s property, even after information about it’s potential – was provided.

Because it was an act of aggression and also because I was concerned that the growth would become out of control – I contacted the City of Toronto and they visited, explained the dangers of this plant and insisted all Japanese Knotweed to be removed. 

This may very well be, one of the first City of Toronto- Enforced removals of Japanese Knotweed.