-
10 Shrubs with Berries for Fall and Winter Bird Treats
Berries are an irresistible treat for birds, particularly in winter when food is scarce. The fruits produced by these shrubs provide calories and crucial…
-
Join a Horticultural Society
This week, Judith reveals the merits of joining a horticultural society, how to prepare fairy gardens for winter, and thoughts on recycling pots. On…
-
Plant of the month: Larch
If you love the effect of an evergreen tree and the brilliant fall color of a deciduous tree, you can have both with a…
-
On Harvesting and Drying Sage
Judith describes her simple process for drying sage. I stopped and drank in the view this morning on my way to open the chicken…
-
Five Scary Plants to Frighten Your Day
With Halloween around the corner, let’s have a bit of fun. Here are five scary plants that would do any fright night justice. Venus…
-
A Method for Saving Tomato Seeds
Judith discusses a slightly different method of saving tomato seeds, which involves fermenting the seeds to improve their quality. It is a dark morning…
-
Gardening in the Month of September
For Ottawa – Zone 5
-
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…
-
10 Fabulous Bulbs to Plant in the Fall
It’s time to set the stage for brilliant spring color by choosing bulbs to plant in the fall to enjoy in your beds, borders, and…
-
Plant of the month: Burning Bush
Gardeners who covet a crimson crush of color in October should look no further than a burning bush, Euonymous alatus. Almost any garden site…
-
On Trees around Eastern Ontario
By Owen Clarkin, Ottawa Field Naturalist Club. All photos courtesy of Owen. One particularly interesting story from this summer is a population of apparently…
-
Calendula Seeds In an Envelope
For calendula seeds, once it is dry, I shake the seedhead into an envelope and store the seeds in a cool, dark place. They…
-
Seed Collection and Saving
Seed collection is always done on a sunny day because wet seeds can go moldy very quickly. Ripe seeds should fall easily from the…
-
Going to Seed
Several flowers and vegetables are going to seed. I took the opportunity to carefully collect Sweet Cubanelle pepper seeds. The humidity is oppressive this…
-
Cubanelle pepper
Cubanelle pepper, beautiful, sweet, from the species Capsicum annuum, is almost ready to pick. It has gone through some tough times with chipmunks digging in…
-
Nasturtium Vinaigrette Recipe
Today I am straining my nasturtium vinegar and making my Nasturtium Vinaigrette. I like to use basil as my herb, but really the herb…
-
Zaatar Climbing Herb
Zaatar is an interesting herb and kind of acts like a climbing sage. The leaves are good to eat fresh, and they are quite…
-
Magnesium Deficiency In Plants
Magnesium deficiency in plants can be identified most commonly by yellowing leaves while the veins remain green. The lower leaves usually turn yellow first.…
-
Rain Barrel Tips
Location, location, location -place your rain barrel near where the water will be used; whether it’s for washing the car and gardening tools, or…
-
Judith’s Oregano Pesto
Oregano is a woody perennial, so I often harvest only the young plants. I have discovered that my oregano makes amazing pesto! It is…
-
Magnolia: Plant of the Month
The Saucer Magnolia is probably the best known and most widely planted variety in the Ottawa area, so named for its giant saucer-shaped flowers.…
-
Flowering Perennials for Four Seasons of Interest
Flowering perennials, carefully curated to combine varying heights, colours, and textures, make the most intriguing gardens. For a beautiful, low-maintenance addition to your garden,…
-
Lilac types- Plant of the Month
Lilacs are one the great Ottawa landscape plants! There are many reasons to love them with their sweet perfume and those beautiful amethyst –…
-
Putting Houseplants Outside
Many of your houseplants would love a little summer vacation outside. I recommend that you avoid direct sunlight however because too much full sun…
Ottawa
Articles authored by local Ottawa and area residents, or pertaining to the Ottawa garden Community
