Dear subscriber,

This week, some important information on the importance of a power of attorney and personal directive when planning your estate. Also some tips for building the perfect container garden this summer.

Why Consider a Power of Attorney or a Personal Directive?

Many people plan their estate and wills and do not thinking about the possibility of a serious health situation leaving them incapacitated, unable to make the key decisions regarding their personal and financial well being. Naming a power of attorney and personal directive can provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your affairs will be handled in the manner of your choosing.

What is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document that gives one person of your choosing, the power to make financial decisions on your behalf.  Decisions regarding bank transactions, safety deposit boxes, settling claims, buying managing or selling real estate, and filing tax returns would all be handled by the person named in a power of attorney.

Benefits of a Power of Attorney:

Naming a trusted individual to become responsible for all your financial decisions could save your estate in the event of a serious medical situation and are unable to make the key decisions that need to be made.

What is a Personal Directive?

A personal directive is a legal document that allows a person of your choosing to make all non financial decisions on your behalf. This type of document allows you to put in writing, your wishes in advance regarding medical treatments, accommodations and other personal matters.

Benefits of a Personal Directive:

Creating a personal directive allows you to have peace of mind knowing that in your wishes relating your health and quality of life will be carried out as you specified.

Some More Information:

http://justice.alberta.ca/programs_services/public_trustee/represented_adults/Pages/enduring_powers_attorney.aspx

http://www.mlt.com/expertise/wills_trusts_estates/

Container Gardening Tips

Container gardening is growing in popularity as it is a great way to be creative and add colour in small spaces.

• Start small. If you are new to gardening in containers, start with just one or two pots and see where you would like to go from there.
• Pay attention to the light available to you in your space, and plant accordingly. Full sun is at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, Partial sun is between 3-6 hours, and full shade is less than 3 hours of sun.
• Choose pots that have the right depth for your plants’ roots to grow into. 
• Make sure there is good drainage in your pots. If there are no drainage holes in the bottom of your pot, you will need to place at least 1- 2 inches of gravel at the bottom before adding soil.
• Use a good potting soil mix for your containers, not garden soil. A mixture containing peat, perlite or vermiculite will help retain moisture and keep the soil nice and light, rather than compact and clumpy.
• Replenish soil nutrients with fertilizer regularly.
• Plants needing similar light, water, heat and food should be grouped together to ensure maximum prosperity.
• Containers tend to be drier environments for plants than the ground, so watering regularly is important. Choosing draught tolerant plants can be good options for containers where less maintenance is wanted.
• Vegetables are be great options for container gardening. Some vegetables that prosper in containers include: many lettuce varieties, herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, eggplant, beans, carrots, strawberries, squash.

​Some More Information:

http://www.canadiangardening.com/gardens/container-gardening

http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/home_and_garden/7_secrets_to_successful_container_gardening.php