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Dear Helen: This year my wife and I decided to try growing artichokes. So far, they are doing well except that some of the leaves are curled around a mass of foam. Inside the foam is a tiny, pale creature.

As I was revelling in gratitude at a long-awaited haircut, I asked the hairdresser about what she did while the salon was closed. Did she get a rest? Her reply: “I never worked so hard in my life.

Dear Helen: A plant that I think is a herb has turned up in my garden. It tastes great. From the photo I’ve sent can you tell me what it is? K.I. Your herb is wild arugula, called Sylvetta.

Wall trims and panels have decorated rooms for centuries. They add dimension and interest to plain walls and highlight the architectural style of the home. Chair rails and picture rails serve a purpose as their names suggest.

Early this spring, an intriguing garden mystery arrived in the form of an envelope containing packets of gift seeds from a major Canadian seed company.

Jim English has always loved gardens and plants — something he inherited from his grandparents, mother and sisters, who all had green thumbs and gumboots.

Dear Tony: What happens when an owner attempts to attend a general meeting that was issued as a proxy-only meeting for our AGM? Because our strata cannot safely social distance in our common room, the council determined we would conduct a proxy-only

Dear Helen: What is your opinion on using wood chips in garden beds? — P.N. I would not use them inside beds, though they are a good pathway covering.

The neighbourhood has become a hotbed of gardening fervour. Three households, all a few steps from my home, have been bustling with planting zeal. Next door, Jan’s greenhouse is jammed with transplants.

Dear Helen: As I’ve been slowly putting together a vegetable garden, I’ve looked for guidance on the best way to lay out rows for seeding. Do you use string wrapped around two sticks and unfurled to mark rows? P.T.