Rob Howard
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Articles by Rob Howard
Opinion | Making a natural garden: Carnegie Gallery tour focuses on gardens of native plants
There’s no rushing the gardening gods. The folks who organize the Carnegie Gallery’s annual Secret Gardens fundraising tour found that out when they decided to include gardens with native plants. Most native plants, they discovered, peak toward the end of summer and don’t look like much in the late spring, when the Secret Gardens tour has been held in the past.
Opinion | Seeding a community: Large garden deep in the North End is about more than growing food
There is really no unlikely spot for a garden: In front of homes, in driveways (in raised beds or containers), on balconies, on rooftops, in alleyways … well, you get the idea. But I was happily surprised to discover a lovely and generously sized community vegetable garden in Hamilton’s North End, tucked in near Hughson and Picton streets.
Opinion | Warning: This app may bug you
Insects, to gardeners, comprise both friend and enemy. We love and need pollinating insects and those that improve our soil, we rely on insects that are a major food source for the birds we welcome into our gardens — and what would a June evening in the garden be without fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, illuminating the magic of nature?
Tennessee Just Killed Local ADU Bans. Here’s What It Means For You
If you’ve ever looked at the empty side yard or the garage nobody parks in and thought “I could put a little house back there,” this is the year that thought got a lot more legal. Tennessee just took the zoning pen out of Knoxville’s hand when it comes to accessory dwelling units, the small second homes also known as ADUs, (Additional Dwelling Unit), granny flats, or carriage houses.
Farragut TN rehab.
I have a new property come across my desk - debating the best way to go with it. 2001 - 2-story 3,600 sf hoarder house with ARV around $800-850k. Asking $475k. The usual questions are pretty straightforward - no visible foundation issues, systems work, but everything is outdated. Any thoughts?
Dive into the mum show
Thousands of plants. Hundreds of varieties. Dozens of colours and shapes and forms. Blah, blah, blah. It’s not about the numbers — it’s about the flowers. The Hamilton Fall Garden and Mum Show, which opens Saturday for a nine-day run, is yet another showcase of imagination, creativity, ingenuity and, yes, Hamilton’s official flower, the chrysanthemum. It flows through the big greenhouse at the south side of Gage Park, next to the fabulous but underappreciated Tropical Greenhouse.
Got a leak? Grow a garden
The Rock on Locke had a leak. So it made a garden. Let me explain. St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church — which nowadays calls itself the Rock on Locke — has been a fixture of Locke Street South since 1891. Like all buildings its age — and a great many a lot younger — the building has a water problem. Its massive roof sheds a lot of rain, which was finding its way through the 130-year-old foundation into the church basement.
Got a leak? Grow a garden
The Rock on Locke had a leak. So it made a garden. Let me explain. St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church — which nowadays calls itself the Rock on Locke — has been a fixture of Locke Street South since 1891. Like all buildings its age — and a great many a lot younger — the building has a water problem. Its massive roof sheds a lot of rain, which was finding its way through the 130-year-old foundation into the church basement.
question about primary residence
Our primary residence is currently inhabitable due to hail damage. We are looking at a new place to buy but our intent is to go back to our original primary residence after repairs which we dont know how long it will take due to insurance process. My question is, can we purchase a new property as primary residence but then not live there for one year?
Celebrating 20 years of rentals.
Over the past two decades I’ve expanded and contracted the numbers of LTR and STR I’ve kept in my portfolio, but I recently looked at a house I need to renovate a bit and realized that I bought it this week in 2005. That house - in the North Hills neighborhood of Knoxville, had been the object of countless calls, texts, emails and letters from many trying to “help me offload it.” I bought the house as a HUD foreclosure - $50,500. Today the annual rent return is roughly 1/2 what I paid for it.
Getting ruthless in my garden
The thing I get to take home from my visits to other people’s gardens is the inspiration I get from their efforts. I have plants in my garden — an “Esk Sunset” sycamore maple, and a clump of gigantic (3.5 metres tall) cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum) — that I saw while visiting gardens and decided I had to have them too. Design ideas, the use of colours together, how beds are edged, the way plants and water and pathways and a simple bench work together … I have stolen from them all.
The Nelson garden - version 6.0
When Norm Nelson decides he’s not happy with his garden, he doesn’t just move some plants around or replace a few tired ones. He “revamps” — his word — the entire garden. He digs out all the plants, sets them aside on a large tarp on his driveway, splits the ones that have grown too large for his taste, decides what will go where in the “new” garden, and starts replanting. The result is a garden of individual plantings, without any plants crowding or overhanging their neighbours.
The Nelson garden - version 6.0
When Norm Nelson decides he’s not happy with his garden, he doesn’t just move some plants around or replace a few tired ones. He “revamps” — his word — the entire garden. He digs out all the plants, sets them aside on a large tarp on his driveway, splits the ones that have grown too large for his taste, decides what will go where in the “new” garden, and starts replanting. The result is a garden of individual plantings, without any plants crowding or overhanging their neighbours.
Planting memories around a restored cottage
Most gardeners like to set their gardens against some sort of backdrop: a scenic view if we’re lucky, a well-designed fence, an interesting hedge or a vine-covered wall. An old brick wall can be particularly attractive. Helen Kirkpatrick and husband Tom Baker have a 1874 shoemaker’s cottage — lovingly and beautifully brought back to its original board-and-batten appearance — as the setting for their lovely garden.
Hacking AI like a Pro
So much of happening in the AI space! My company just gave all if it's agents "Gemini Advanced" after I've been training up on on ChatGPT Pro. Regardless - everyone is rolling out their own individual AI with access to its own proprietary technology. The great thing about Gemini is that it can skim a lot of different virtual info spots. I have been playing with getting it to figure out ways around a lot of the barricades that everything tries to put up. What are y'alls thoughts?
Knoxville for Beginners?
Good morning Brendan! Congrats on focusing in on Knoxville, it's a good location and still has some instant cash flow, as crazy as that sounds in this market. Just to be realistic though, $250k wont buy you a multifamily here unless you are going farther out of town, or are talking about a distressed property from wholesaler. I personally have found long-term rentals to be my own personal happy place but I'm a little less risky.
Exploring AI in Real Estate
I’ve heard and seen (BP Forums) that there is an advancement in AI tools being used in real estate lately, and I’m curious; especially as we’ve been helping investors use chat agents for handling inquiries, scheduling, and other repetitive tasks. I could be wrong about this, but as I am not investor myself, I would love to hear from others! For investors managing multiple properties, what’s one process you think could be streamlined without losing that human touch or personal connection?
A garden with nine lives
If you’ve ever driven down Southcote Road, you’ve noticed Mary Roussel’s garden. Maybe only out of the corner of your eye, but you can’t not see such a dramatic interruption in the monotonous concrete-and-grass streetscape. Lawn, driveway, lawn, driveway, lawn, driveway … and then there’s a burst of colour. A cascade of yellow blooms spills out toward the road. Behind it, toward the house, flower beds and pots overflow with foliage and blooms.
More than just spuds: Discovering flower gardens in Prince Edward Island
As I write this, I am in Prince Edward Island, the last of the 10 provinces that I have, however briefly, visited. It is, honestly, magical. The people are lovely. The beaches are breathtaking. The soil is indeed red. Homes here are consistently well looked after — spic and span is how my parents would have described them — and the vast majority have lovely gardens around the front of the houses. On the trip, I got to talk to a trio of P.E.I. gardeners.
Thirty years of making connections
Open Garden Week was never really about gardens, it now occurs to me. It was about relationships. It was about people wanting to connect with like-minded people. It was about opening a private space to strangers and trusting they would be kind and gentle and generous. It was about entering strangers’ personal retreats and trusting they would be hospitable and affable and gracious. Open Garden Week was far more about gardeners and garden lovers than about plants, pots and ponds.
Thirty years of making connections
Open Garden Week was never really about gardens, it now occurs to me. It was about relationships. It was about people wanting to connect with like-minded people. It was about opening a private space to strangers and trusting they would be kind and gentle and generous. It was about entering strangers’ personal retreats and trusting they would be hospitable and affable and gracious. Open Garden Week was far more about gardeners and garden lovers than about plants, pots and ponds.
Thirty years of making connections
Open Garden Week was never really about gardens, it now occurs to me. It was about relationships. It was about people wanting to connect with like-minded people. It was about opening a private space to strangers and trusting they would be kind and gentle and generous. It was about entering strangers’ personal retreats and trusting they would be hospitable and affable and gracious. Open Garden Week was far more about gardeners and garden lovers than about plants, pots and ponds.
HelpGuides Launches Preview of AI-First Knowledge Management Platform
HelpGuides Launches Preview of AI-First Knowledge Management Platform New AI-native platform structures enterprise content for instant GPT compatibility, enhancing knowledge management and generative AI applications. We're witnessing a major shift toward interactive, conversational interactions using AI.
Gardening with purpose
During every year’s Open Garden Week, there are always one or two gardens that get mentioned over and over again in conversations. There were more than that this year, and I’ll be writing about some of them in the weeks ahead. But in my neighbourhood, where we were lucky enough to have at least six open gardens within walking distance of each other, it was Ilona Feldmann’s garden that was recommended to me and others most often.
Gardening with purpose
During every year’s Open Garden Week, there are always one or two gardens that get mentioned over and over again in conversations. There were more than that this year, and I’ll be writing about some of them in the weeks ahead. But in my neighbourhood, where we were lucky enough to have at least six open gardens within walking distance of each other, it was Ilona Feldmann’s garden that was recommended to me and others most often.
Gardening with purpose
During every year’s Open Garden Week, there are always one or two gardens that get mentioned over and over again in conversations. There were more than that this year, and I’ll be writing about some of them in the weeks ahead. But in my neighbourhood, where we were lucky enough to have at least six open gardens within walking distance of each other, it was Ilona Feldmann’s garden that was recommended to me and others most often.
Open Garden Week need to know
There is such a thing as garden tour etiquette, something that’s especially important when your host is letting you in to her or his private space out of the sheer goodness of his or her heart. Visitors: Do take notes and photographs (but ask permission for photos). Do wear a hat and/or sunscreen and/or bug repellent. Do ask questions. Do be kind. You are a guest and this isn’t costing you anything. Do say thank you and something nice about the garden as you leave. Don’t bring your dog.
Open Garden Week 2025: Here’s where and when you can visit Hamilton-area private gardens
Listings are organized geographically and by their first open date. Please check listings carefully and visit only during listed hours. If a garden is closed due to unforeseen circumstances, please respect owners’ signs or notices. Accessibility information is provided by the garden owners and is not verified.
80 gardens across Hamilton area welcome visitors for last Open Garden Week
I’ve written at least 30 of these introductions to Open Garden Week. You would think it would come easily by now. But no. I’m torn between thankfulness and awe and a bouquet of other sentiments. Eighty. That’s the total number of gardens listed here on these pages. The people who made these gardens — sometimes over decades — are sharing them with you on this final Hamilton Spectator Open Garden Week — which begins tomorrow and runs to July 1 — and its partly parallel Waterdown and Area Garden Walk.
The Grand Finale
This is it, folks. This is your last chance — ever — to share your garden in Hamilton Spectator Open Garden Week. Tomorrow (Sunday, June 15) is the deadline for you getting your information to me, to participate as a host in Open Garden Week 30, the grand finale of three decades of hospitable area people — our friends and neighbours — throwing open their garden gate to any and all visitors.
Stairway to (garden) heaven
You should see this garden — if you are able. This lovely, surprising property is a garden on two levels, one more than two metres above the other and connected by an unconventional and slightly perilous, salvaged circular staircase. The house is several steps up from the street and even going through the 160-plus-year-old house involves several steps up or down. There is a level entrance to the lower garden and a path from a neighbouring property to the upper garden.
A garden with a view … in
It’s hard to say whether the magnificent, mature Japanese maple in the garden or the storybook cottage look of the 1947 house entranced Cynthia Hastings-James more. But the combination of the two, she says, sealed the deal. Eight years ago, she became owner of the house and its expansive garden. It’s a very visible property, one of 10 on Parkview Row that face onto Dundas Driving Park.
Waiting on spring’s warmth
You can shake your fist at the weather gods (as I have repeatedly done over the past few weeks). You can wish misfortune on Mother Nature. You can sulk, pout or be miserable (all of which I have also done). But the fact is the warm weather is not particularly late (yes, it has been “below seasonal average,” as the weather experts like to say) but the traditional start-your-gardening-engines long weekend came early. Look up at the top of this newspaper page: TODAY is May 24.
All the dirt on planting well Original
We of the Green Thumb Brigade are about to begin what is arguably the most important garden job of the year. Not cleanup. Not pruning. Not even buying plants for our gardens. Planting. Putting our plants — from a garden centre, from a friend, from homegrown seedlings, or just from another location in the garden — into their new homes.
Spring has sprung … finally
Do you need to buy that plant? Yes! Where will you put it? I have no idea! Plant sales pop up this month even faster than dandelions show themselves in our lawns. It’s a good thing, too, because after this past, snowy winter and so-called spring, gardeners are craving the sight, smell and feel of getting plants into the ground and watching them grow.
Spring has sprung … finally
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Craftsman Collective Expands Residential Remodeling Services Across Central Austin
Craftsman Collective Expands Residential Remodeling Services Across Central Austin Craftsman Collective's logo Hyde Park's renowned craftsmanship now available citywide, enhancing Austin homes with timeless quality. AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, May 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- **Introduction:** Craftsman Collective, a distinguished name in residential remodeling, is set to extend its exceptional services beyond Hyde Park to the broader central Austin area.
5 AI Predictions for 2025 (AI hype dying; real opportunities rising)
The AI Economy will add $15 trillion to global GDP by 2030. That’s the big number from “Sizing the prize” – PwC’s Global AI Study. They’re not the only ones who see it either. The 1,300 analytical folks over at the International Data Corporation quote $19.9 trillion by 2030. Here’s the thing, if you dig into either report, you’ll see the trendline of growth going up and to the right.
Spring Tide bulb show at Gage Park relieves the winter blues
Gage Park, outside: Cold, raining, fog hangs over the old pines and the dog walkers are buried under slickers and raincoats. Gage Park greenhouses, inside: bright, warm, the scent of spring bulbs lingers in the air. Visitors to the tropical greenhouse are in tank tops and shirt sleeves. Ten of thousands of tulips and other flowering bulbs brighten the day. The annual Spring Tide bulb show is on now in the adjacent working greenhouse and bravo to the city for keeping this March break respite free.
Zumo XT Group Ride Unknown
I have a Zumo XT with Group ride radio I can start a ride and others see me to connect to the ride We sync and join BUT we can NOT see each other on the map - the others who join are labeled as "UnKnown" and myself if not moving - stopped The exact same occurs if others start a group ride where my location will be unknown We do have the settings set to allow to see each other etc...
AUD/USD - Eyes One-Week High After RBA's Hawkish Hold
By Rob Howard — Nov 05 - 03:30 AM AUD/USD rises to 0.6618 following RBA's relatively hawkish hold 0.6618 is half-a-pip shy of Monday's one-week peak (scaled on Iowa poll) AUD also benefits from iron ore's climb to two-week peak nL1N3MC07Y Iron ore is Australia's biggest export earner (China services PMI up to 52) AUD/USD might jump towards 0.68 if Harris wins US presidential election 0.68 was most recently threatened on Oct 14 (0.6793 was high that day) Source: Refinitiv IFR Research/Market...
GBP/USD - Holds Sub-1.30 On US Election Day
Cable has traded a 30 pip range thus far on US Election Day; 1.2950-1.2980 1.2935-1.2993 was Monday's NY range. 1.2999 was Monday's high, on Iowa poll Dollar is expected to fall if Harris wins, on "Trump Trade" unwinds 1.3043 (UK budget day high) and 1.3070 are resistance levels beyond 1.3000 UK Oct final services PMI due 0930 GMT; 51.8 forecast, as per flash estimate BoE and Fed are both expected to cut interest rates by 25 bps on Thursday GBPUSD Click here
GBP/USD - Dips To Lowest Level Since Oct 24 As Reeves Speaks
By Rob Howard — Oct 30 - 09:35 AM Cable dips to 1.2937 as UK finance minister Reeves unveils budget 1.2937 is lowest level since Oct 24 (1.2911 was low that day) 1.2951 was low shortly before UK budget, after big US ADP jobs data beat Reeves says she is raising UK taxes by 40 billion pounds a year nL8N3M61O8 New UK budget forecasts show 142 billion pounds of extra borrowing OBR raises 2025 UK CPI forecast to 2.6%, from 1.5% in March nL1N3M60P9 Source: Refinitiv IFR Research/Market Commentary...
AUD/USD - Lifts From 12-Week Low Before US ADP, GDP Data
AUD/USD reaches 0.6585 after pushing its recovery envelope from 0.6537 0.6537 was Asian base, lowest level since Aug 8 (0.6508 was low that day) Offers likely near 0.66 (big 0.6600 option expiry for the 10am ET NY cut) US ADP jobs report due 1215 GMT; 114k f/c. Q3 GDP data due 1230 GMT; 3% f/c NFP data due Friday; 115k f/c. US presidential election next week (Nov 5) Australia Q3 CPI 2.8% YY vs 2.9% forecast; core sticky at 3.5% nL4N3M52YO AUDUSD Click here
GBP/USD - Hugs 1.30 Before UK Budget Announcement
By Rob Howard — Oct 30 - 03:25 AM Cable has traded a 23 pip range thus far Wednesday; 1.2997-1.3020 1.3020 is highest level since Oct 21 (1.3058 was high that day) UK budget announcement 1230 GMT: Reeves lines up tax hikes and borrowing GBP/USD might rise towards 1.31 if the UK budget is well received 1.3015 was Tuesday's high, after USD fell on below forecast US job openings US ADP jobs data due at 1215 GMT; 114k f/c.
AUD/USD - Helped Off 11-Week Low By China Fiscal News
By Rob Howard — Oct 29 - 05:00 AM AUD/USD rises to 0.6581 as risk-sensitive AUD benefits from China news China considers $1.4 trillion in extra debt over next few years, say sources 0.6559 was new 11-and-a-half week low for AUD/USD, shortly before China news Offers likely 0.6600-10 (big 0.6600 option expiry Wednesday; A$1bln strike) US JOLTS data due 1400 GMT; 8M f/c.
GBP/USD - Within Strike Of 1.30 On Eve Of UK Budget
Large 1.3000 option expiry helps to anchor cable pre-UK budget Wednesday The size of the strike for the 10am ET cut (1400 GMT) is 1 billion pounds 1.3001 was Monday's high; 1.2960 = subsequent low (1.2942 was Monday's low) USD supported by "Trump Trade" ahead of Nov 5 election, and "Red Sweep" risk 1.2908 was nine-and-a-half week low for GBP/USD last week (Oct 23) 26 of 72 economists polled by Reuters see BoE rate cut in Dec as well as Nov GBPUSD Click here
GBP/USD - Remains Sub-1.30 As UK Budget Looms Large
Cable holds below 1.30 as countdown to UK budget on Wednesday continues There is a large 1.3000 option expiry on Tuesday. 1.2998 was Friday's high Support points include 1.2942 (Asia low) and 1.2908 (9-week low last week) CFTC data showed net GBP long fell 13% to 74,576 contracts in week to Oct 22 US jobs report due Friday (Nov 1); Oct NFP f/C 123k. US election next week Oil prices fall by more than 4% after Iran downplays Israeli strikes GBPUSD Click here
AUD/USD - Respects Wednesday's Nine-And-A-Half Week Low
By Rob Howard — Oct 25 - 04:05 AM AUD/USD elicits support pre-0.6614 after extending south from 0.6661 0.6614 was Wednesday's nine-and-a-half week low.
GBP/USD - Holds Sub-1.30 As Budget Dominates UK Conversation
By Rob Howard — Oct 25 - 02:35 AM Cable has traded a modest 14 pip range thus far Friday; 1.2960-1.2974 Loss consolidation is big-picture story: 1.2908 was nine-week low Wednesday 1.2985 was Thursday's high (1.2995 = Wednesday peak, before drop to 1.2908) Dollar supported by "Trump trade" (USD on track for fourth week of gains) UK's Reeves readies higher taxes and investment in debut budget next week BoE rate cut expected on Nov 7; will BoE cut again in December?
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