An Overview of Garden Plant Suggestions for Birds
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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 Birds Bird-Friendly Annual Flowers Bird-Friendly Vines Grasses for Birds These are alternatives to Miscanthus, considered an invasive plant species. www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/grow-instead Groundcovers for Birds Useful Birding Apps Merlin Bird ID Website: merlin.allaboutbirds.org…

Edible Flowers You Can Grow
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Edible Flowers You Can Grow

Author: Claire McCaughey, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; Edible flowers have long been part of the cuisines of distinct cultures. Take, for example, squash blossoms (the flowers of Cucurbita pepo). The genus Cucurbita originated in the Americas and has been an integral part of Native American and Mexican cuisines. Squash blossoms were adopted into Italian…

How to Care for Peonies
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How to Care for Peonies

The several dozen species of peonies that are grown mostly by enthusiasts, specialists and researchers are often reproduced by seeds. Seeds are occasionally employed to establish the principal horticultural peonies, but of course seeds will rarely reproduce the beautiful flowers of cultivars that have been maintained as clones. Peony seeds may have complex dormancy requirements,…

Keystone Plants: Flowering Perennials in Ecoregion Five
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Keystone Plants: Flowering Perennials in Ecoregion Five

Author: Claire McCaughey, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission. “We can each make a measurable difference almost immediately by planting a native nearby. As gardeners and so empowered, and the stakes have never been so high.” Bringing Nature Home , Douglas Tallamy By now, having followed the first three parts of our series on…

Nasturtiums, An Incredible Edible
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Nasturtiums, An Incredible Edible

Author: Nancy McDonald, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are wonderful flowers for both our gardens and kitchens. This vibrant annual comes from South America, was brought to Europe in the 1550s and was found in Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Virginia, garden in the late 1700s. Some nasturtiums grow as climbers (3…

Plant of the Year
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Plant of the Year

The “Plant of the Year” is often designated by various gardening and horticultural societies or organizations, and sometimes by individual countries, so there can be multiple plants receiving this title in a given year. One of the more recognized programs is the “Perennial Plant of the Year,” designated by the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) in…

Inspired by different colours, shapes and sizes of my daylilies
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Inspired by different colours, shapes and sizes of my daylilies

I love the different colours and shapes and sizes.  My brilliant large yellow daylily looks like it should be dessert, while the peachy frilly daylily is called Rilly Frilly, which is super fun.  Greetings fellow gardeners,  I am in the midst of making lists and preparing what produce is available to me right now. Today…

Borage Self Seeds and Attracts Pollinators
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Borage Self Seeds and Attracts Pollinators

To me, borage is an herb that is one of the best plants to grow for pollinators. Bumblebees and butterflies are always enjoying it along with hover flies, beetles and moths.  Greetings fellow gardeners, Little bits and pieces of rain have been appearing here and there. My garden could use a good two days of…

On Pruning and Deadheading Daffodils, Tulips, Lilac and Viola
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On Pruning and Deadheading Daffodils, Tulips, Lilac and Viola

This year I am determined to do my best to deadhead my flowers. If you take off the dead flowers you will get more and more flowers. Greetings fellow gardeners, This has been a scary week. When I went outside on Tuesday morning it smelled like a campfire. It was dark and the sky looked…

Spring Care for Forsythia, Daphne and Rose Bushes
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Spring Care for Forsythia, Daphne and Rose Bushes

Greetings fellow gardeners  Life has been changing and moving along like a roller-coaster. My basement still hums with a dehumidifier-fan, and I am hoping the restoration will begin soon. Unfortunately, I found a tick burrowing into me and that was not pleasant. I was able to get antibiotics from the pharmacy, which is so much…

Choosing Flowers to Match One’s Personality: Tulips vs. Orchids
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Choosing Flowers to Match One’s Personality: Tulips vs. Orchids

Choosing a flower to suit one’s personality is a fun way to add meaning and beauty to an event or home decor. In this article, we’ll discuss two popular blooms — tulips and orchids — and how to determine which one suits you better. Flowers have been revered for their beauty and symbolism for millennia….

Peegee Hydrangea in Full Bloom
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Plant of the month: Peegee Hydrangea

You’ll be amazed at how much floral beauty these hardy shrubs will bring to your outdoor living space. Peegee’s (Hydrangea paniculata) have massive, elongated, cone-shaped flower clusters that emerge in August and flourish right through September. The fluffy blooms begin as a greenish-white in the bud stage, opening to white and then fading to soft pinkish-brown…

Stiff Goldenrod
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Stiff Goldenrod

Stiff Goldenrod is a good choice for prairie gardens, cottage gardens and pollinator gardens. It is a resilient, self seeds and you might need to control its growth. Compared to most goldenrods, stiff goldenrod has larger, flatter flower clusters. In the fall, the leaves change to lovely colors of red. Plant Stiff Goldenrod alongside other…

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