Author Profile

Julianne Labreche

Julianne Labreche has been a Master Gardener for over fifteen years. She is also a certified Master Naturalist and a Certified Pollinator Steward. In her own garden, she enjoys not just plants but wildlife too. Her own garden is certified with Monarch Watch and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She is also the current president of the Ottawa Horticultural Society. In 2023, Julianne was awarded the first ever Nature Champion Award by Ecology Ottawa for her volunteer work as a wildlife gardener, speaker and writer on this topic.

Articles by Julianne Labreche

  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Cedar Waxwings

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for Cedar Waxwings

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton One late winter day, just as the weather was turning mild, a large flock of cedar waxwings…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for American Robins

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for American Robins

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton The American robin, with its brick-red breast, yellow beak, and grey wings, is a much-loved harbinger of…

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  • Light Pollution and the Importance of Darkness For Wildlife

    Light Pollution and the Importance of Darkness For Wildlife

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton As days become shorter, winter solstice approaches. Long shadows fall over the garden while many migratory birds…

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  • Gardening for Birds and Planting for Owls

    Gardening for Birds and Planting for Owls

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton That winter’s night when a snowy owl perched in the boughs of my old crabapple tree will…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Woodpeckers

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for Woodpeckers

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton. Three species of woodpeckers visit my well-wooded, older suburb. Usually, they are most noticeable during mating season…

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  • Gardening for Birds – Planting for Mourning Doves

    Gardening for Birds – Planting for Mourning Doves

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton If my bedroom window is open, one of the best ways to wake up on a summer…

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  • Pollinator Tips for Summer Gardens

    Pollinator Tips for Summer Gardens

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton Hot, lazy July days bring busy pollinators to visit our orchards, flower, and vegetable gardens. These small…

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  • An Overview of Garden Plant Suggestions for Birds

    An Overview of Garden Plant Suggestions for Birds

    Julianne Labreche, Master Gardener, Ottawa-Carleton N= Native Plant Bird Friendly Shrubs and Small Trees Evergreen Trees for Birds Deciduous Trees for Birds Perennials for…

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  • Gardening for Nature: Ecoregion Five

    Gardening for Nature: Ecoregion Five

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission “In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be…

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  • Gardening for American Goldfinches

    Gardening for American Goldfinches

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission One pleasure every summer is watching American goldfinches forage for seeds among the flowers…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Twenty-three different kinds of hummingbirds have been identified in North America, but the rubythroated…

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  • Ten Common Gardening Mistakes

    Ten Common Gardening Mistakes

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission As any gardener knows, gardening mistakes are as common as dandelions. Heaven knows, I’ve…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Blue Jays

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for Blue Jays

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission The blue jay is notably recognizable by its shrieking, sharp calls and its beautiful…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for White-Breasted Nuthatches

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for White-Breasted Nuthatches

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission White-breasted nuthatches are sometimes called ‘upside down’ birds because of their unusual ability to…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Black-capped Chickadees

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for Black-capped Chickadees

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Frequent visitors to my backyard garden are the curious little black-capped chickadees. They are…

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  • Gardening for Birds: Planting for Sparrows

    Gardening for Birds: Planting for Sparrows

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Many different species of sparrows visit my backyard garden, no matter the season. Sparrow…

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  • A Winter Garden for Birds

    A Winter Garden for Birds

    Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission My bird feeders are a source of life in the stillness of winter. From…

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