While affordable and luxury may not be the most closely connected words when it comes to purchasing a new home, the news that Calgary once again ranked as one of the most affordable markets in the country still has plenty of positive ramifications for high-end homebuyers and sellers.

Evidenced by the near-record pace at which properties over $1 million were snapped up in January, the news that Calgary homes – luxury and otherwise – offer good value shouldn't come as a surprise.

Having spent the last eight years in a multitude of roles at Calgary's Spruce It Up Garden Centre, born and raised Calgarian Joanne Dafoe knows what it takes to get things growing in this city. Since graduating with a major in Horticulture and Landscape Design, Dafoe has served as landscape co-ordinator, green goods buyer and even store manager.

In addition to running her new consultation company, Dafoe also guest hosts on the Let's Talk Gardening Radio Show on QR77. CREB®Now caught up with Dafoe before her appearance at this year's Calgary Home + Garden Show to talk a bit about what makes gardening great.

A RealNet Canada Inc. report says Calgary's 2012 commercial market saw an 80 per cent increase in investment compared to 2011.

Throughout 2012, the city saw 445 transactions over $1 million for a total of $4.84 billion.

Founded in Vancouver in 2008 by Doug Burgoyne, FrogBox's Calgary franchise has been providing eco-friendly moving services for the last year.

"We've been open for the last year and every month we continue to grow," said Sylvia Cieslik FrogBox Calgary's sales and marketing manager.

As one of the showcase presenter's at this year's Calgary Home + Garden Show, Paul Lafrance provides a pretty good indicator of just how important the art of transforming your living space has become.

Host of HGTV's new television show Decked Out as well as the mini-series Deck Wars, and creator, owner and CEO of his own design company, Lafrance has spent the last 15 years generating state-of-the-art custom deck designs across North America.

Part of an ongoing community investment fund that will invest $252 million from 2012 to 2016, the second round of The City of Calgary's 2012 Capital Conservation Grants saw over $1.6 million allocated to 46 community associations and social recreation organizations to support more than 80 projects around the city.

"The Capital Conservation Grant assists community associations and social recreation organizations with badly needed repairs and renovations to well-loved and well-used community spaces," said Carolyn Tooth, Planning and Partnership management lead with the City of Calgary's Community and Neighbourhood Services.