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Condominiums in Greater Victoria haven鈥檛 yet seen massive increases in insurance rates, but it might only be a temporary reprieve, according to experts.

Dear Helen: A friend who has been allocated a plot in a community garden wants to grow mainly food there, with some herbs and a few pollinator-friendly flowers. I鈥檇 like to present her with a simple, straightforward guide to help get her started.

Dear Tony: Our family has been shopping for a two-bedroom condo for the past three months and finally found a location and price range that fits our needs.

Red is a fascinating colour. Its moods are as diverse as its many shades and tones. Scarlet is bold and sexy, heightened if applied with a glossy finish.

With the mid-January freeze-up and relentless rains that followed, it wasn鈥檛 until Jan. 24 that I managed my first significant gardening session. I surveyed the root and leafy vegetables for possible damage from the cold. All was fine.

Dear Tony: We are first-time buyers looking at an older condo in Surrey that is affordable and large enough for our family. The building just posted a notice, without any explanations, that they could no longer purchase insurance as of Jan. 31.

Dear Helen: I have a special interest, along with many others I鈥檓 sure, in heirloom flowers and vegetables. Is there a list of seed sources for them, and have you personally used any of them? F.O.

If you鈥檝e been to Tofino, you鈥檝e likely seen this remarkable cabin on a rock promontory that juts into the sea, backed by old-growth forest.

Dear Debbie: We have just ripped up a ratty old runner that covered our stairs and would like to do something interesting, not carpet. We are a young family and all love colour.

In recent years Dan Jason, founder of Salt Spring Seeds, has produced an impressive string of books, beginning with The Power of Pulses: Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas and Lentils in 2016.