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Green thumbs get growing

Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 15/05) - For green thumbs there's no busier time than planting season.

With the warm weather here to stay that's got gardeners - and the greenhouse businesses supplying them - digging in for a hectic June.



Krista Haigh, a worker at Arctic Farmer, searches rows of trays for a rare white geranium. Despite her best efforts, the search was not successful.


Yellowknife has an excellent selection of gardening supplies.

From Kam Lake's Arctic Farmer and the adjacent Garden of Eden, to Canadian Tire's garden centre and Dunvegan Gardens across from the Co-op - gardeners of every level should be able to find what they need.

If you spend enough time inside the humid warmth of the Arctic Farmer greenhouse, you could begin to sweat. But it's also a great environment in which to grow perennials.

"Given the right weather, you can grow perennials outdoors once the weather warms up," says manager Angelo Fercano, adding it is best to start the plants indoors.

As for this year's hot sellers, Fercano says with Yellowknife's tough weather, hearty plants like pansies, petunias and geraniums are sure to be popular.

Across the road from Arctic Farmer, Garden of Eden co-owner Verna Pakay is excited about the line of water fountains she has brought in this year.

"It was a big investment to give it a go, but I think we're going to do OK with them," says Pakay of the fountains. Priced at an average of $2,000, she says everything is selling well.

With 15 years of gardening experience, Pakay has taken a break from her home gardening to concentrate on running the business she just purchased with her husband Albert.

"This year, it's all here," she says with a laugh.