Author: Adair Heuchan, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleto.. “Oaks support more forms of life and more fascinating interactions than any other tree genus in North America. They produce enormous root systems over their lifetimes, and these help make them champions when it comes to soil stabilization, carbon sequestration, and watershed management.” Douglas Tallamy: The Nature of…
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…
Zinnias and Cosmos are one of the easiest and most prolific annual combinations for endless blooms from summer through fall. Bonus: This combination makes an instant cutting garden! One of the best things about wildflowers is how easy they are to grow and maintain, but designing a thoughtful wildflower garden can take time, research, and…
Author: Andrea Knight, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton My husband and I have owned our home in Ottawa for over twenty years, giving me lots of time to learn and practice gardening in small spaces. My backyard garden is an L-shaped area around our deck (west facing), and my front garden is a rectangle that I…
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…
Author: Penka Matanska, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission. “Restoring viable habitat within the humandominated landscapes that separate habitat fragments – with as much of this land as possible – is the single most effective thing we can do to stop the steady drain of species from our local ecosystems.” Douglas W. Tallamy For…
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,…
Author: Shazia Y. Hussain, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission I am an avid gardener and a lifelong learner. My garden is an ongoing experiment, as well as a source of awe and pure inspiration. Even before I put it to bed in the fall, I find myself planning and dreaming about the upcoming…
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…
Author: Dale Odorizzi, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; published with permission Few subjects in gardening are as confusing as the proper pruning of clematis. As Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by just watching”. The easiest way to determine the specific pruning needs of your clematis is to watch it grow through…
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…
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…
Author: Gail Labrosse, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Drying hydrangea flowers from your garden for a winter table arrangement is easy. The best time for picking the flowers is toward the end of the growing season, when they naturally start to dry out. Take a tall container of cool water with you when…
Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is distinguished by having a single female flower that lacks petals and frequently has sepals. Separate male flowers surround the sepals, which are all housed in a cup-shaped structure known as a cyathium. Modified leaves or bracts make up the plant’s brilliant red, pink, white, or bicolor section, commonly known as the…
Nasturtiums, with their vibrant flowers and lush foliage, are not only a visual delight but also an incredible edible. Both the leaves and the flowers of the Nasturtium plant are known for their culinary uses due to their distinctive peppery flavor, similar to watercress or arugula. Here’s why nasturtiums are considered an incredible edible: Culinary…
When it comes to urban landscaping, mountain maples prove their worth as hardworking, resilient, and beautiful additions. Standing at heights ranging from 15 to 25 feet (~10 m), mountain maples are one of the smallest maple species, perfectly suited for tight urban spaces. Best of all, their modest size doesn’t compromise their visual impact, especially…
Lavender, known for its fragrant purple flowers and silvery foliage, is a popular plant for gardens and landscapes. It’s relatively easy to care for and can be used in various applications, from landscaping to essential oil extraction. Here’s how to grow, care for, and propagate lavender: Growing Lavender Choosing the Right Location Sunlight: Lavender thrives…
In spring, this magnificent, brightly silver-spotted beauty will produce profuse clusters of large cobalt-blue flowers. A knockout! It is our best, true dark-blue, and grows into a magnificent landscape specimen, according to TerraNova Nurseries. Great for use in a shade garden, mixed beds, shrubs with high branching, or woodland. Plants wilt quickly if the soil…
This is a gorgeous and striking shade accent plant that was named the 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year. Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ is incredibly stunning in the garden from early spring to late October, with sky blue forget-me-not blooms in the spring and stricking silvering leaves through the fall. It is best suited to woods…
I love this time of year. Sometimes we get cooler temperatures, and sometimes I can pick up deals on fruits and berries at the roadside stands. Most importantly, my daylilies are blooming! Greetings fellow gardeners, I am in the midst of making lists and preparing what produce is available to me right now. Today I…
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…
I really want a fancy pond with my new bog plants planted carefully around it, the bullrushes trimmed, the thimbleberries cut back and not a buckthorn seedling in sight Greetings fellow gardeners, Sometimes we must compromise. I really wanted long, white lacey curtains in the bathroom. So pretty. The curtains have been pulled down twice…
The 2023 Ottawa Water Garden Tour featured 11 water gardens on a self-guided day-time tour around the Ottawa area. Also included was an evening “Thank you” event at one of the most spectacular water gardens in the Ottawa area. The tour offers several benefits for both participants and the community as a whole. Here are…
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…
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