By Marilyn Homewood, Master Gardener Each year, I marvel when the colour returns to the garden in the form of spring bulbs and each year I make a plan to add more!  The beds are full of narcissus so much so that I have started planting in spots in my front fields.  However, this fall I am aiming to do a Stinzenplanten (a Dutch term also known as a stinze lawn or stinze).  A stinzenplanten is a naturalized and wild bulb garden that lives underground and emerges in the earliest spring.  Why am I writing about a fall project now??  Some of the best fall bulb prices by ret ..read more

By Silvia Strobl, Master Gardener in Training At the 2024 Master Gardeners of Ontario Conference I had a chance to hear Dr. Michael McTavish, Ontario’s foremost expert on earthworms, speak about invasive jumping worms. First reported in southwestern Ontario in 2014, Ontario now has four species of these pheretemoid (litter dwelling) Asian worms. They’ve been observed as far north as Ottawa and their populations are growing at an alarming rate. In the USA, research on biocontrols is ongoing, but currently there are no registered pesticide options for either gardeners or land managers. Preventio ..read more

By Carol Anderson, Master Gardener in Training Even with a small space, container vegetable gardening can be successful resulting in the production of a wide selection of fresh vegetables and herbs for consumption available throughout the growing season. Careful planning, ensuring the proper environmental conditions are considered and adhering to the appropriate cultural conditions will all ensure success. The first step in planning is to consider what you are most likely to consume – growing vegetables with either a low yield or low interest by you and your family will not likely inspire you ..read more

by Cheryl Harrison, Master Gardener Today is Earth Day!  Earth day began in 1970 in the USA by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. Senator Nelson organized a countrywide demonstration to highlight environmental issues. In 1990, Earth Day was recognized worldwide including in Canada. On April 22nd each year, we honour the achievements of the environmental movement.  There are lots of ways to celebrate Earth Day! One of my favourites is to plant a tree.  The Oaks (Quercus sp.), Birches (Betula sp.) and Maples (Acer sp.) are amongst the native trees that encourage the ..read more

Laura Gardner, Master Gardener Ancient Seeds Back in the 1890s, the mouth of the Don River in Toronto was filled in to make way for industry—known as the Port Lands. This changed the landscape and the plants that used to grow there “disappeared.” In 2021 while the site was being ecologically restored as part of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project, workers discovered some unusual plants that had sprouted shortly after seven metres of soil had been excavated. They were thought to be different than the usual species seen at the site.[i] Researchers at the University of Toronto began working t ..read more

By Christine Freeburn, Master Gardener Flowering shrubs are the great “bones” of your garden. They give structure, are generally long lived, offer winter interest and protection for creatures. But most do need to be pruned as they age.  When you prune depends on when in the season the shrub blooms. Early bloomers like forsythia, deutzia, flowering almond, purple sandcherry or bridal wreath spireas should be pruned after flowering. Summer flowering shrubs such as hydrangea, dogwood, potentilla, summer flowering spireas, butterfly bush or rose of sharon can be pruned in late winter or early ..read more

By Mary-Jane Pilgrim, Master Gardener Have you ever wondered how some plants manage to survive freezing temperatures while others wither away at the slightest frost? It all comes down to a fascinating trait called hardiness. Hardiness in plants refers to their ability to endure cold weather conditions, especially freezing temperatures, without being damaged. Plants that are considered hardy have evolved various mechanisms to protect themselves from the harsh effects of cold. Most perennials sold in garden centres in our region are hardy if their tags refer to zone 5 or lower. Zone 6 perennials ..read more

by Emma Murphy, Master Gardener Wow. What a pleasure to finally see this book in print. Written by two very knowledgeable Ontario gardeners — Rick Gray and Shaun Booth — this is the native plant gardening resource I wish I had more than 5 years ago when I started incorporating native plants in my garden. Focused specifically on the Southern Great Lakes Region, it’s an all-in-one, easy to use resource for those interested in plants that not only look wonderful but fulfill a critical role in our gardens in supporting wildlife,  birds, and pollinators like butterflies, moths, bees, and inse ..read more

by Lois Scott, Master Gardener I don’t know about you but when I am listening to people talk about specialized topics it can seem like they are speaking a different language.  Gardeners and gardening can be like that!  So welcome to the first edition of Garden Jeopardy. Image by pch.vector on Freepik You can learn about or review a few terms and definitions and then “dazzle” your friends and family with your seed starting knowledge and vocabulary! The process by which a plant grows from a seed into a seedling.  What is germination? Optimal water, oxygen and proper temperature ..read more

By Marilyn Homewood, Master Gardener In 1696, a Sicilian monk discovered a vividly coloured flower with a bountiful fragrance in the hills surrounding the monastery.  He transplanted it into his garden to grow on and was soon sending seeds from these transplants to other countries.  He had discovered the sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus).  This variety is still readily available today and is known as Cupani’s original. Cupani’s original Over the subsequent years, plant breeders (especially in England) went onto develop numerous varieties and by 1910, the sweet pea was considered one ..read more