A to Z Challenge: Z is for Zantedechia

This is it. The end! In case you missed it, I took part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

Z is for Zantedechia

I know, I know, another “scientific name”—but come on, “Z” is hard. My research showed a couple of different options, but in celebration of the last day of the 2019 Bogging from A to Z Challenge, I decided to go with Zantedechia, which are actually calla lilies.

Calla lilies are known for their trumpet shaped flowers, and after getting through the A to Z of Things That Grow in Alberta, I deserve to “toot” my horn a little. Get it? <grin>

Of course, calla lilies aren’t native to the province, but I see a lot of them (in various colours) in gardens around my house. And my aunt even used them in her wedding bouquet. My mom thought it was a strange choice until she saw them—they were kind of pretty.

Well. That’s it. The End. Another successful year of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I had a lot of fun, but I’m glad it’s done so I can get back to writing other things—like reading, running, and writing more blogs and stories.

What are YOU writing next?

Gotta jet! See you Friday for my regular weekly post! And don't forget to comment on this post (or any of the posts from the Blogging to A to Z Challenge) or the social media links above to win a FULL set of the Superman Duffy graphic novels. 

~ Chase “Superman” Duffy

A to Z Challenge: Y is for Yarrow

The final week! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

Y is for Yarrow

Before starting this blogging challenge, I had no idea what yarrow was, so if the word doesn’t ring any bells for you either, I don’t blame you. It’s kind of a funny name—but it’s actually a really cool flowering plant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in my mom or grandma’s garden—though, maybe it should be!

Yarrow has been valued since ancient times for its ability to stop bleeding, one of the reasons it’s also called “nosebleed”— just hold a piece of the plant up against your wound and voila! (Okay, maybe it's not that easy.) These days, yarrow is more used to fight off colds and flus, and also as an ingredient in many herbal cosmetics. It’s also pretty popular in flower bouquets and even dried for potpourri (you know, that smelly stuff!)

Yarrow grows in many different colours—white, yellow, gold, pink, and red. It doesn’t need a lot of attention (even I should be able to grow it), but, like most of us, it prefers the sun.

When steeped in tea, yarrow promotes digestion, lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, and can even fend off a cold or the flu. Never mind the super foods I’ve been talking about all month—Yarrow should be a “power flower!” (Okay, maybe that was a bit cheesy…what can I say? I have a good imagination!)

Speaking of imagination…The author of the Superman Duffy graphic novels had her imagination super charged when she wrote TRANSPIRATION, the 9th book in the comic series about me. It has dinosaurs, mermaids, and sea monsters! Same rules as before—comment below or on my social media links above for a chance to WIN a copy of it—and the whole series of books.

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for the letter "Z"—and the END of the A to Z Challenge. Whew! What a month!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: X is for Xanthisma

Week 3 is on! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

X is for Xanthisma 

Okay, I admit, I’m going back to science (and Google) for my “X” word, but you have to admit, these last few letters for the A to Z Blogging Challenge are HARD. I’m kind of excited that this one works, though—the Xanthisma, or otherwise known as the sleepy daisy.

My mom LOVES daisies—she calls them the “happy flower” because every time she sees them, she smiles. And we even have a few of these Xanthisma plants growing in the rocky part of her flower garden, despite Dad’s insistence that they’re weeds.

I can see why he thinks that. The thicker “bushes” have almost thorny stems, and sometimes, fewer flowers. They grow annually, and, like weeds, tend to spread quickly. But there’s no way Dad would ever get rid of those sleepy daisies, because when Mom sees their pretty yellow petals, she’ll let us get away with anything—well, almost.

What are your favourite flowers? My Grandma loves royal blue roses—which you can read about in 5-7-5 Errand Boy, the seventh book in the Superman Duffy series of educational graphic novels. Order you copy from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, or you can WIN a copy of it (and the 15 other books in the series) by simply commenting below or on one of my social media links above.

Gotta jet! There are only two days left of the A to Z Challenge and they’re both TRICKY letters! See you Monday as we head towards the end. 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: W is for Wild Rose

Week 3 is on! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

W is for Wild Rose  

Did you know that the wild rose is Alberta’s provincial flower? It’s a flowering shrub with pink petals and it grows pretty much everywhere throughout the province, including on my grandparent’s farm.

Wild roses bloom in early summer, and like lilacs, they don’t last very long. Still, Grandma says they’re some of her favourite flowers because not only do they smell great, they also don’t require a lot of work—just a light trim in the fall. They'e certainly not like some of the other rose bushes she has in her garden.

I looked up more information about the wild rose for this blog post and learned this:

“Alberta adopted the wild rose (Rosa acicularis) as its official flower in 1930. The editor of an Edmonton newspaper suggested that a provincial floral emblem be selected. The Women’s Institutes took up the suggestion and passed it on to the Department of Education, and the province’s schoolchildren made the final choice.” — Alberta Government Website

Cool, right?

We’re down to the last four days of the A to Z Blogging Challenge, and it’s been fun, but I am looking forward to getting back to reading and writing and running. I haven’t had much time with all this blogging!

Speaking of writing, if you want to learn more about writing haikus—since it IS International Poetry Month, at least for the next couple of days—check out 5-7-5 Errand Boy, one of the Superman Duffy books in the series of graphic novels. You can WIN a signed copy  of it—and the other 16 books in the series—just by commenting below or on any of my social media links listed above.

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for a tricky letter X.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: V is for Vegetables

Week 3 is on! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

V is for Vegetables  

The weather has been kind of deceiving lately—hot, then cold, then warm, cold again. And windy! Yesterday, I thought the door on our shed was going to blow right off.

I’m used to the weather ups and downs, but my mom always has a hard time adjusting. The warm spell earlier this month gave her the “gardening itch.” Which means this weekend, I’m helping her plant some of her seeds—indoors, and mostly, her vegetables. (My sister is better at helping with the flowers.)

You can grow a lot of vegetable varieties in Alberta, but because of our short growing season, some vegetables do better than others, and a few, like corn, for example, are often better when they are started inside so that they’ll reach their full potential. (Even though corn grows better in southern Alberta, Mom tries it every year. It’s my dad’s favourite vegetable!)

We might start some tomatoes and peppers, as well. Mom doesn’t actually start planting in the soil outdoors until mid May—that’s when we can be almost certain the frost is gone for the year—but I love watching the seeds sprout. And of course, I love harvesting all of the vegetables in the fall.

Sometimes I wish we lived in a climate where we could grow vegetables ALL YEAR ROUND. Except…I’d probably miss snow at Christmas.

Speaking of climate change (kind of), that’s the topic of the 10th Superman Duffy comic, CLOUD 9. If you haven't read it, here's your chance! Comment below or on any of my social media links above to WIN a full set of the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels.

Gotta jet! But I'm back tomorrow with a great "W" word you won't want to miss!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: U is for Ulmus

Week 3 is on! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

U is for Ulmus 

Okay, I admit, I’m stretching a bit for my A to Z Challenge “U” post—but it fits! Ulmus is the scientific name for the elm tree—which makes up a good portion of Alberta’s forests! In fact, look at the picture above—I bet you see them all the time!

The Ulmus is a deciduous tree, which means it loses its leaves in winter, but it’s hardy, so it lives year round. It’s also the nesting place for moth and butterfly larvae (caterpillars!) And woodpeckers love them.

Sadly, Ulmus trees are in danger from Dutch Elm Disease, a fungus that grows on the trees, spreads quickly, and is deadly to the tree. Scientists are now looking at cultivating (developing) Ulmus trees that are resistant to the disease—kind of like how scientists through selective breeding have found canola seeds that are resistant to drought or certain pests. Isn’t it cool how science works? I hope they can save the Ulmus, because it’s one of the prettiest trees to grow in this province.

You can learn more about science and biotechnology (and how to write a haiku poem!) in 5-7-5 Errand Boy, the seventh book in the Chase Superman Duffy series. Order it from www.learncanola.com, or you can WIN a copy of it and the 15 other books in the series by commenting on my post below or on any of my social media links for the rest of the month.

Gotta jet! The A to Z Challenge continues tomorrow—with the letter V!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: T is for Tomato

Week 3 is on! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

T is for Tomato 

There isn’t much I can tell you about growing tomatoes than what you might already know—they’re the most common garden plant in the world. Every summer, my grandma and my mom have dozens of tomato plants around—in planters, in the soil, in hanging baskets—and even I’ve grown a plant or two, if only to ensure I have enough fresh tomatoes for my favourite sandwich, the BLT.

So I thought I’d share some fun facts I learned by doing research for my “T” word in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

There are more than 7,500 tomato varieties in the world, and while most are red, some of the fruit is orange, green, pink, black, brown or purple. That’s right, I said fruit. Even though the tomato was once thought to be a vegetable, botanically speaking, it can’t be because it has seeds and grows from a flowering plant. Cool, right?

Of course, tomatoes are an important ingredient for pasta and pizza sauce, but did you know that a long time ago, when people first started growing tomatoes,they were afraid to eat them—their tomato plants looked the same as those from the deadly nightshade family. Remember how I said they were related in a previous post for this challenge? Tomato plant leaves are actually toxic to humans.

During the 19th century, it was common practice to throw rotten tomatoes at bad actors during stage performances. Ew! And, the world’s largest tomato tree was grown in an experimental greenhouse at Walt Disney World resort. It produced 32,000 tomatoes in the first 16 months it was planted. That’s a lot of tomatoes!

Tomatoes are one of the most common—and easiest—plants to grow if you have the right growing conditions. I guess that's why astronauts are experimenting with taking tomato seeds into space. If we ever put a greenhouse on the moon, the astronauts would be able to grow some of their own food!

Tomato seeds aren’t the only seeds to go up into space, though. Years ago, Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk took 250,000 canola seeds into space to see the effects of anti-gravity on growing efficiency. 

You can learn more about it in It’s a Blast!, the third book in the Superman Duffy series of educational graphic novels. Comment below or on my social media links above for a chance to WIN a signed copy of it—and the other 15 books in the series.

Gotta jet! The A to Z Challenge is almost over—but the toughest letters are coming up! See “U” tomorrow! <grin>

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: S is for Saskatoon Berries

Week 3 starts now! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

S is for Saskatoon Berries 

I had a hard time choosing which “S” plant to choose today, because there are so many that grow in Alberta. Like sugar beets, which of course, produce sugar. The Rogers Sugar plant is even located in southern Alberta.

I could have also chosen strawberries—which is apparently the largest commercial fruit crop in the Canadian prairies. Yum. Strawberries. They’re delicious! (Even though, I can’t seem to keep more than a few plants growing in my planter…the bugs seem to find them tasty too!)

So…I decided to go with Saskatoon berries, which, despite their name, don’t ONLY grow in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They’re actually the second largest fruit crop across the prairies…including Alberta. 

Saskatoon berries look like blueberries in size and colour, but contain more protein, fibre, and vitamin C—they’re even considered one of those super foods I’ve been talking about throughout this Blogging from A to Z Challenge. 

The berries grow in clusters, and are generally harvested all at once, usually in mid to late July. Last year, Grandma and I went to one of those U -Pick places where we filled buckets of Saskatoon berries so she could make jam, lots of baked stufff, and—one of my favourites—pancakes topped with fresh Saskatoons. 

If you’ve never tasted a Saskatoon berry, you’re in for a treat. They’re so delicious that at the U -Pick, I had to resist eating them. Talk about temptation! It took all of my willpower to put them in my bucket instead of in my mouth.

I’m relieved Saskatoon berries are so nutritious though, because my very favourite way to eat them is straight out of the bucket—after they’ve been washed, of course. (Occasionally, I add ice cream…shhh…)

Speaking of nutrition, have you read CUT! TO THE CHASE…? It’s a re-telling of the famous Aesop Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, and the sixth book in the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels. You know the drill—comment below, or on any of my social media links above to WIN a copy of it—or, the whole set.

Gotta jet! Back tomorrow with the letter "T."

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: R is for Rhubarb

I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

R is for Rhubarb 

Rhubarb grows like a weed in my grandma’s garden. Seriously. No matter how much my grandpa “cuts it back” every year, Grandma is always harvesting it. Which, I suppose, isn’t so bad because she makes muffins, and pies, and cookies, and even a delicious rhubarb cake that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable (so it grows back every year)—though, like a tomato, it's also thought of as a fruit. And while the stalks are perfect for baking, the leaves, if ingested, are poisonous.

Grandma says rhubarb grows so well in Alberta because it thrives in cooler temperatures. Throughout the summer, it needs a lot of water (that’s one of my many chores when I’m at my grandparents’ place…) but really, it’s one of the most low maintenance crops on their farm. That cluster of plants has been around for so long, I doubt anything could kill it…even me forgetting to water it once or twice.

Any rhubarb growing in your garden? What does your family use it for? Baking? Juice? Barbecue sauce?

Speaking of cooking, comment below or on any of my social media links above for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels, including TASTING MY STORY—part cookbook, part mystery, it's one of my favourites!

Gotta Jet! The Blogging from A to Z Challenge breaks tomorrow because it's Sunday, but I'll be back Monday with the letter "S." Until then, hoppy Easter! 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: Q is for Quinoa

I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

Q is for Quinoa 

Happy Good Friday! 

Have you ever noticed that certain foods find their way into the “health” spotlight for a period of time? Like kale, for instance, which seems to be in everything from steamers to smoothies. It’s everywhere!

I’m starting to feel that way about quinoa. My mom adds it to her Greek salads, and sometimes we use it in place of rice. Even though I don’t mind it (it’s better cold than hot, in my opinion), I’m always a bit hesitant when a new food emerges as a “super” food.

I asked my grandpa whether he could grow quinoa and he said that while there are some farms in Alberta that have had some success growing it, our growing conditions aren’t quite right for it to become a main crop, like wheat or barley, or something.

Which is too bad, really, because an alternative cash crop for farmers would allow for more growing options. That’s the focus of the Superman Duffy graphic novel, Cloud 9—alternative crops to help adapt to our ever-changing climate.

Quinoa may not grow in Alberta very well, but other crops do—like canola of course. To find out the origins of this truly Canadian crop, and learn more about the Chase Superman Duffy series, comment below or on any of my social media links above for a chance to win a full set of the series.

Gotta jet! But I'll be back tomorrow with the letter "R." 

~ Chase Superman Duffy 

A to Z Challenge: P is for Perennials

I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

P is for Perennials

Perennials. Annuals.

One grows back year after year. The other, you plant annually.

I guess when you break it down like that, it makes sense which is which, but up until right now, I always got the two mixed up. I mean, can you blame me? It seems perfectly logical to think that annuals grow back…annually. <shrug>

Perennials—like the small flowering plants all throughout my grandma’s garden—grow and bloom over the spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their root stock. Daffodils—which I’ve talked about a lot in my A to Z of Things That grow—are a perfect example.

Perennials grow “structures”—like bulbs or tubes—to help them survive the winter, while annuals produce unprotected seeds that can’t survive the elements.

Although most food crops are annual, perennial crops do have their place in agriculture. Their deep, extensive root systems can hold soil to prevent erosion, capture nitrogen, and out-compete weeds.

For more about soil, comment below or on one of my many social media links above for a chance to win a copy of Beneath the SOIL, the scariest book in the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels.

Gotta Jet! I'm back tomorrow with a tricky letter "Q." 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: O is for Oilseeds

I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

O is for Oilseeds

Canola is an oilseed.

Sunflowers are oilseeds.

Sesame, flax and saffron are oilseeds.

What’s an oilseed, you ask? Great question! An oilseed is a grain crop—like canola—that is valuable for the oil content it produces.

And in Alberta, we grow a lot of oilseed crops. Not just canola (but most of those yellow fields you see in the summer are responsible for the canola oil in your pantry), but also flax, soybeans, and sunflowers. 
Did you know that the Spitz sunflower plant used to be in Southern Alberta?

Edible vegetable oils—like canola and sunflower—are mostly used for salads and cooking. When combined with solid fats like palm or palm kernel oil they are used to make margarines and shortenings. Cool, right?

Check your pantry or fridge. By reading the ingredient labels, how many oilseeds products can you find?

Speaking of cooking…did you know TASTING MY STORY, the fourth book in the Chase “Superman” Duffy series is a mystery and a cookbook? Comment below or on any of my social media links listed above, and you could WIN your own copy. (Trust me, you’re going to want the recipe for Monster Cookies!)

Gotta Jet! See you tomorrow for a "confusing" "P" word. <grin> 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: N is for Nightshade

I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

N is for Nightshade

If you’ve followed my blog for a bit—or know anything about me—you know I LOVE all things creepy. Beneath the SOIL, the eighth book in the Chase “Superman” Duffy series of graphic novels is actually a thriller—ay my request.

So, it shouldn’t surprise you that I’m fascinated by poisonous plants—like, today’s N-word, the deadly Nightshade.

Nightshade has a long history of being used as a poison, but here’s something really scary—the Nightshade family includes common plants like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers (plants my grandma has in her garden)!

All of these plants contain toxins, usually found in the foliage—maybe that’s why my resourceful grandma has never served potato or tomato greens, fried, steamed, or in a salad! Nightshade, on the other hand even has poisonous berries.

The other day, I talked about daffodils being a sign of spring, but did you know that if the bulbs are eaten—sometimes mistaken for onions—they can be toxic too? And how about Hemlock? It’s one of the most famous poisonous plants in history. It even killed Socrates! The whole plant contains a poison that can cause stomach pains, vomiting and paralysis. 

Don’t worry though, not much Hemlock grows in Alberta.

However…you do have to keep an eye out for Poison Ivy. If you accidentally touch that stuff, you’ll get a rash.  It’s not contagious and it will clear up in a few weeks—but they won’t be fun weeks.

Sufficiently scared? I didn’t think so. 

Comment here or on one of my social media links above for a chance to WIN the scariest book in the Chase “Superman” Duffy series—Beneath the SOIL.

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for the letter O.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: M is for Maple Tree

And I'm back! In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.

Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

M is for Maple Tree

Oh, Canada! There are few things more Canadian to me than the Maple tree—I mean, the Maple leaf is at the centre of our national flag.

Maybe I’m naïve, but until I started writing this blog post, I actually thought Maple trees only grew in Canada—and that there was only one kind. Boy, was I ever wrong. As it turns out, there are actually about 128 different species of Maple trees, most of which are native to Asia. That’s a LONG way from Canada!

Most Maple trees are tall (but a few varieties are shrubs, which I totally can’t picture) Except for a few Asian varieties, all are deciduous—which means they lose their leaves in the fall, unlike the evergreen, whose needles never disappear.

Maple trees are distinguished by their leaves, which have pointed tips, and look like they have veins running through them.

Do you have a Maple tree in your yard? We don't, but I wish we did...they look so pretty in the fall.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend—I helped with yard clean up, read some other blogs taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and caught up on Riverdale. A busy weekend!

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for the letter "N." Oh, and if you haven't entered for a chance to win a set of the Superman Duffy series of educational graphic novels, scroll to the top of this post for the instructions!

You'll especially want to get your hands on "O"—cartoon Chase learns all about Canadian inventions and symbols!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: L is for Lilac

In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

L is for Lilac

Living in Alberta sometimes means waiting a little longer than most parts of the country for true signs of spring. My mom's cousin sent her a picture of the tulip fields in Chilliwack, BC last night—they're in full bloom!

Meanwhile, in our garden, the daffodils and tulips are just starting to peek out from under the soil.

For me, spring only feels real when the lilacs start to bloom. On my street, almost every second house has a bush or two—mostly purple, with a few white here and there. I love the scent of them as I run by during Track and Field practice.

We only have one lilac tree in our yard—an arctic blue one Grandma got at the greenhouse for us—but the lady down the street has tons. Sometimes on the way back from a run, or after school, she lets me pick a bunch for Mom. Lilacs don’t last long in water, but for that short time, the dining room smells great!

I thought about asking my dad if we can plant another lilac bush but there are two problems with that—we don’t get enough sun in our yard and young lilac bushes take about three years to mature. Which means the one Grandma gave us probably won't even bloom this year.

Oh, speaking of flowers…my grandma’s favourites are featured in 5-7-5 ERRAND BOY, the 7th book in the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels. If you haven’t read it, you know the drill…scroll up to the top of this post to see how you can WIN a copy.

Gotta jet! The Blogging from A to Z Challenge breaks tomorrow (it's Sunday!) but I'll be back Monday with the letter "M."

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: K is for Kale

In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

K is for Kale

Kale probably wasn't what you thought I'd write about when I told you I had a fun "K" word, is it? I get it—vegetables are just...vegetables.

But I'm not a fan of cooked spinach, so Mom steamed up some garlic and kale the other night and you know what? It was delicious.

And apparently, it's good for me—and you. Kale is actually considered one of the "super" foods, filled with vitamins A, B6, C and K, not to mention a dose of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and a bunch of other healthy stuff.

But wait, there’s more!

Kale is also loaded with micronutrients, which are associated with the prevention of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Super, right? I couldn't agree more.

So this year I’m going to try growing kale. Grandma says the plant can tolerate cooler temperatures, and a touch of frost may even intensify the flavour. (Go figure!) As soon as the soil can be worked, I’m going to plant my seeds. Wish me luck!

One problem, though. Kale can attract a lot of bugs, and not always the good kind.

I think I’ll have to ask my sister to help me figure out which ones are bad.  Remember, Amelia? She’s the junior entomologist (aka: bug expert) in our family. You can read about her in the fifth Chase “Superman" Duffy book, AMELIA XERCES DUFFY—which you can WIN right now by commenting below, or on any of the social media links above.

What “super food” are you growing in YOUR garden this year?

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for the letter "L."

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: J is for Jasmine

In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

J is for Jasmine

Have you ever smelled jasmine flowers?  They have a really strong scent—not a bad scent, but overpowering, in a way.

My grandma has a small patch of them in one of her (many) flower beds, and sometimes when I stay there and keep the window open in the summer, the smell is...well, strong. I probably shouldn't complain because one time, I left the window open and a skunk sprayed something in the yard and that was a very strong, very bad scent.

But back to jasmine. No matter how hard she tries, my mom can't seem to grow it in our garden. Even though there are like 200 different varieties of jasmine plants (not all of them can be found in Alberta, of course), Grandma says we don’t have the right environment for them in our yard: not enough light in the back because of our giant evergreen tree, and the front flowerbeds don’t get quite enough sun.

Since she can’t grow any of her own, Mom buys a lot of jasmine tea—mostly for the smell, she says. <shrug> I guess to each their own.

Is there a flower, plant, or tree in your yard that smells really strong? What or who does it remind you of?

Gotta jet! Tomorrow we have fun with a "K" plant!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

A to Z Challenge: I is for Inedible Plants and Weeds

In case you missed it, I'm taking part in the 10th anniversary of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the annual event where hundreds of bloggers write 26 blogs—one for each letter of the alphabet—and post them each day of the month, except Sundays. I’m blogging about: THINGS THAT GROW IN ALBERTA. Leave a comment on my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter for a chance to WIN a set of the Superman Duffy books.


Missed a post? Click here start back at the letter "A."

I is for Inedible Plants and Weeds

Last week, I blogged about dandelions, which, as it turns out, aren’t quite the horrible weed my dad, the king of perfect lawns, led me to believe. You can even eat them, and the "young" leaves are considered by some to be quite a delicacy. (I haven’t made up my mind about that yet.)

And despite the popularity of stinging nettle in some of the new Alberta restaurants, most weeds are inedible. And some are even poisonous—not only to humans, but also to animals. Did you know that there are about 200 different plant species in Alberta that are toxic (aka: bad news) for livestock?

Most plants are only considered dangerous when too much is consumed or at certain times of the year.  But a few, such as the Western Water Hemlock are extremely poisonous even in SMALL amounts. Now that’s scary!

Check out the names of some of these other potentially deadly plants:

• Seaside Arrowgrass
• Death Camas
• Milk Vetch

They kind of sound like comic book villain names, don’t they? Wait! Maybe they SHOULD be! (* jots down idea for a short story *)

As always, be careful if you decide to become a plant scavenger—some of those plants can be real pests. Oh…and speaking of pests, scroll up to the top of this post to see how you can win a whole set of the Superman Duffy graphic novels—including AMELIA XERCES DUFFY, aka: my pesky sister.

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy