The flip-flop of an Ontario spring is behind us. So I believe as I pen this in April. Swings from a sunny plus-20 day followed by a minus-10 snowstorm the next are behind us, surely? The frequent April showers have fed the May flowers, with tulips and daffodils popping up perkily and swaying in a gentle breeze. The bulbs survived a tough winter, but May is also planting season. The nurseries are full to bursting with seeds and seedlings, pots and baskets with buds and a promise of blooms aplenty and bountiful harvests.
May is such a rewarding and hopeful time, and Kathy Rumleski has consulted local gardening experts so that our readers can get digging with a bounce in their step. Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned gardener, I’m sure you’ll find some useful tips. And our Marketplace pages will inspire you further with some suggestions for enhancing your outdoor spaces.
Speaking of gardens and their gifts, Sue Sutherland-Wood celebrates the strawberry in her back-page story as only she can. I regard Sue as a virtuoso at describing the delightful bittersweetness of life, and perhaps nothing epitomizes that as succinctly as a strawberry. Maybe we’ll be lucky and get local berries in May, but I know I’ll be eating my fill through June. I’ll forever treasure a video of my grandson (Beau Christopher, thanks for asking) mouthing his very first strawberry, with an occasional pursing of his lips, but complete determination to eat some of that fruit without the benefit of a full set of teeth, juice pouring down his chin. He loved it! And made me appreciate strawberries even more.
Our annual Spring Home Resource Guide is once again chockful of local sources to help you realize your dreams. We touch on so many aspects of “lifestyle” in this magazine, but home is central to living our best life. I find it very hopeful when it seems that people have become so polarized that many of the current trends in home design are accommodating personal preferences and making homes that fulfill our individual needs rather than trying to meet others’ expectations. That’s not to say that “anything goes” or professional assistance isn’t invaluable. Seek advice, look at portfolios and possibilities and hire people you trust.
Here at Lifestyle, I appreciate how our graphic designer Wendy Reid handles our pages, making hundreds of decisions in every issue. Yes, it takes a village, and everyone on our masthead makes critical contributions. But we depend upon Wendy to compile those efforts and create a magazine that is a pleasure to read and look at — while fostering effective connections between our advertisers and readers. Bringing a project in on time, on budget, and surpassing expectations depends upon professional expertise.
Cheers,
Chris McDonnell
