Courtesy of Blair Patton

Sutton Group Preferred Realty Inc., Brokerage

2008-2019, 2025

2020-2024

BLAIR PATTON Sales Representative

Direct: 519.630.9883 | Office: 519.438.2222 blairpatton@rogers.com | www.BlairPatton.com

THE TERRACOTTA TREND

2026 | ISSUE 6

Terracotta has grown in popularity and use for decoration. Celebrated for its sun-baked warmth, rich texture and incredible versatility, this clay-based ceramic is the perfect way to infuse your home with vibrant, high-energy colour that bridges the gap between indoor comfort and outdoor living. While classic terracotta is famous for its earthy orange-red hues, today’s trend embraces a much bolder spectrum, from fiery sun-drenched shades to saturated pinks and deep rustic reds, with these eye-catching colours breathing new life into contemporary design. Ready to embrace this vibrant trend? You can incorporate bold terracotta into your space by selecting shades that harmonize with your existing colour scheme, incorporating terracotta details such as decorations, art, linens and curiosities to carry the colour throughout the room, and combining terracotta with natural materials like wood for a softer appeal. You can also use terracotta plant pots instead of plastic ones for better drainage, coordinate outdoor planters with warm-toned flowers like Mountain Agoseris, Butterflyweed, Scarlet Painted Cup and Red-eyed Susan. Install a terracotta backsplash for authentic traditional charm, construct rustic garden paths, fences and dividers using terracotta bricks, and apply terracotta-coloured wall paint and accents to add warmth and depth. Did you know the word comes directly from the Italian terra cotta? It literally translates to “baked earth” or “cooked earth.”

Soy-Ginger Glaze GRILLED VEGGIE KEBABS WITH

INGREDIENTS:

Glaze: • ¼ cup soy sauce • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup • 1 tbsp sesame oil • 1 tbsp grated ginger

Veggies*: • 1 red onion • 2 bell peppers • 2 zucchinis • 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 4 minced garlic cloves • ½ tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Chop up the vegetables into 1” chunks. 2. Whisk all glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. 3. Thread the vegetables onto skewers. 4. Brush skewers generously with glaze. Save a small amount for basting later. 5. Preheat the grill to medium (180°C). 6. Grill for 8–10 minutes, turning and basting occasionally until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred. *Make it yours: swap in mushrooms, pineapple chunks, eggplant or corn on the cob!

REJUVENATING SOCIETY AND GIVING US HOPE FOR THE FUTURE ARE BEST NURTURED BY THE GOOD DEEDS THAT WE DO FOR OTHERS.”

DR. ROBERTA BONDAR

The rise of porch pirates, individuals who illicitly seize delivered packages from residential doorsteps, has become a significant concern for modern homeowners. This crime of opportunity is often underreported, yet thieves’ tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Porch Pirate Prevention: • Secure deliveries by installing heavy-duty, bolted-down lockboxes. • Deter thieves using motion-activated LED lighting and visible security signs. • Use strategic landscaping (like planters or shrubs) to hide packages from the street. • Redirect packages to secure third-party pickup locations (lockers, retail points) or your workplace. • Require a signature upon delivery for high-value items. • Use carrier apps to reroute packages mid-transit if plans change. • Coordinate with neighbours to accept packages on your behalf. • Position security cameras to cover street-level approach paths, rather than just the porch itself. If theft occurs, documentation is essential for reimbursement. Keep all digital invoices, tracking histories, delivery confirmation photos and product serial numbers. Immediately file reports with the retailer, the carrier and your financial institution.

PARCEL SECURITY

RESILIENT PLANTS

Gardening across Canada can be a real challenge. High wind speeds, fluctuating temperatures, short summers and surprise frosts can kill plants overnight. That’s why leaning on Canadian native plants is such a gamechanger. These plants have spent thousands of years adapting to our local weather, so they don’t just survive — they thrive where other plants struggle, turning your yard into a hotspot for local birds and pollinators by providing the exact food and shelter they need. By choosing local plants, you’re choosing a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that’s already built to handle the Canadian outdoors. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a prairie native that is built for extremes. Beyond its toughness, it provides a stunning visual payoff, turning a deep reddish bronze in the autumn and providing seeds for wintering birds. Canada Columbine and Lanceleaf Coreopsis are known for their resilience, with smaller leaves that help reduce wind resistance. Silverweed (Argentina anserina) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) are dense, low-growing shrubs. Virgin’s Bower, also known as Clematis virginiana, is perfect for vertical interest. This plant’s vines are flexible enough to sway rather than snap.

Word Scramble

What does corn say when it feels embarrassed? Aw-shucks! What’s a dancer’s

Let’s make a sizzling kabob! Unscramble the words below to reveal the ingredients.. Hint: Some of them are from the vegetable kabob recipe, but not all of them.

favourite kind of vegetable? Spin-ach!

1. DRE NOONI 2. AAOPELJN 3. LLBE RSEPEPP 4. CCIHIUZN 5. CRNOA QUASSH 6. REHCYR STAMOTEO 7. MOSRHMOUS 8. AELPEPNIP 9. GLPTGEAN 10. ENWMERLOTA 11. RNCO 12. WTEES TEAPSOOT

What is a zucchini’s favourite game? Squash! How do you fix a broken tomato? Tomato paste! Which vegetable can’t you take on a boat? Leeks! Why did everyone dance to the vegetable band? It had a good beet!

Answer Key 1. Red onion, 2. Jalapeño, 3. Bell peppers, 4. Zucchini, 5. Acorn squash, 6. Cherry tomatoes, 7. Mushrooms, 8. Pineapple, 9. Eggplant, 10. Watermelon, 11. Corn, 12. Sweet potatoes

HOME SALES INCREASE IN MAY

42.8% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO 4.3 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

3,353 ACTIVE LISTINGS

$570,000 all residential BENCHMARK PRICES DOWN 13.9% year-to-year

776 SOLD LISTINGS 1,815 NEW LISTINGS

London, ON, June 2026 – Home sales grew steadily month over month with 776 homes changing hands via the Multiple Listing Service ® (MLS ® ) of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS ® (LSTAR). That was up 8.8%, compared to May 2025, and an increase of 138 more units sold over the previous month. “It’s an encouraging sign, as we head into the summer season,” said Robin Tiller, LSTAR’s 2026 Chair. “Since the start of the year, we’ve consistently seen month-over-month gains in sales. Activity is right on par with the last five years.” Average sales price took a healthy jump in May. It was $662,292, up from $618,665 in April. The London region saw noticeable month-over-month gains. In London South, the average sales price was $677,226, up from $626,840 the previous month, as well as London East, with an average price of $476,844, up from $450,793 in April. “The sales-to-new listings ratio was 42.8%, up from 36% recorded in April,” Tiller said. “According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), a ratio between 45% and 65% indicates conditions of a balanced market. We also saw inventory levels beginning to stabilize in May, with 4.3 months of inventory, down from 4.5 months of inventory compared to the same time in 2025. That’s down from the 5 months of inventory recorded in April.” The table below displays May’s average prices and MLS ® HPI Benchmark Prices in LSTAR’s main regions.

The HPI benchmark price reflects the value of a “typical home” as assigned by buyers in a certain area based on various housing attributes, while the average sales price is calculated by adding all the sale prices for homes sold and dividing that total by the number of homes sold. The HPI benchmark price is helpful to gauge trends over time since averages may fluctuate by changes in the mix of sales activity from one month to the next. Statistics reflect residential market activity in May 2026 | Source: London St. Thomas Association of REALTORS ® . Individual home market values vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

#7 in sales at Sutton for 2025

PLATINUM AWARD

The greatest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of family and friends! BLAIR PATTON Sales Representative Direct: 519.630.9883 | Office: 519.438.2222 blairpatton@rogers.com | www.BlairPatton.com

2025

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