Native to Eastern Canada | GardeningCalendar.ca

How To Grow Forget-Me-Not Flower

The Forget Me Not flower, by any other name would not be so sweet to gardeners, nor would the other numerous little blue forget me not flowers affectionately given the same name by their admirers.
True forget-me-not flowers have been prized by gardeners for generations.
Perhaps the little blue flowers of the forget-me-not are cherished because they are reminiscent of gardens of the long ago childhood gardens, or those of a beloved mother or grandmother.

Growing and Caring for Plants

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,…

Growing Vegetables at Home

Carrots and Their Kin

Author: Dale Odorizzi, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; published with permission One of my favourite vegetables is the carrot. They are easy to grow and store well in the fall and winter, and most importantly, they taste delicious, especially when pulled straight out of the ground, wiped off, and eaten. As I learned more and…

Growing Food

When is My Garlic Ready to harvest?

Author: Dale Odorizzi, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; published with permission Garlic is a wonderful crop. You plant it in October, mulching it well to help the soil stay warm enough for roots to form and to keep it cozy all winter. In the Spring In early spring, you pull the mulch back a bit…

Growing Food | Growing Fruit in Your Garden

Grow Your Own Blueberries

Author: Claire Leduc, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission There are not many treats better than fresh berries. Ripe blueberries are no exception. Growing your own blueberry plants is not too difficult once you understand their particular needs. Soil Preparation Fall is a great time to start preparing for spring planting. Blueberries grow best…

Growing Food

Nasturtiums, An Incredible Edible

Author: Nancy McDonald, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton 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 m), others as…

Indoor Care and Tips | Winter Gardening in Northern Climates

Drying Hydrangeas

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…

Enhancing Soil | Growing Food

Growing Ginger Root

Author: Penka Matanska, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Testing the boundaries of what can be grown in Ottawa, Canadian climate Zone 5a, brings a thrill of excitement – especially when the attempt is successful. I would like to share my experience with growing ginger plant (Zingiber officinale), while providing a few tips of…

Growing and Caring for Plants | Health and Wellness from Gardening

Lavender

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…

Veggie Bites

Blooming Daylilies in Beautiful Colours

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…

Fall Gardening Advice | Veggie Bites

On Planting Daffodil Bulbs in the Fall

If you are fairly new to bulb planting, I suggest that you start with daffodil bulbs. Very few creatures will bother these bulbs. They do well in almost any situation, and they increase their number each year. Tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, and other tasty bulbs are more difficult. Greetings fellow gardeners, Oh, my goodness, what a…

Growing and Caring for Plants

How to Grow and Care for a Lantana Plant

‍ Lantana plants are low-maintenance and easy to care for with the right materials. Lantanas can grow in any sunny location with well-draining soil. They’re usually planted in the spring once the last frost has passed and the cold has begun to subside. Why grow lantana? Lantana plants are commonly used as an indoor or…

Growing and Caring for Plants | Seasonal Gardening | Winter Gardening in Northern Climates

January Plant of the Month: Red Osier Dogwood

This hardy, ornamental shrub is my plant choice for January as it can be depended upon to deliver vibrant red colour to the winter landscape. At about 5-6’ tall and wide, this particular dogwood (also known as Red-twig) features a number of notable attributes including stunning fall leaf colour, attractive berries for the birds, vibrant…

Growing and Caring for Plants

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 larch tree. Larch (also known as Tamarack) is renowned as Ontario’s only native deciduous conifer! These needled conifers resemble evergreens in spring and summer, but in the fall the needles turn…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Fireweed

Fireweed, a member of the willow plant family, is distinguished by its gorgeous magenta flowers. Its common name comes from its sudden appearance after a wildfire. It may be a colourful addition to sunny, damp areas. It grows fast by rhizomes and requires little upkeep once established. It cannot, however, withstand competition; if other species…

Growing and Caring for Plants

How to Grow the Delicate Harebell

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, is delicate, attractive, and graceful. Each plant produces an abundance of purple bell-shaped flowers. Harebell is a tiny wildflower that only reaches a height of about one foot, and it is native to many of the dry grasslands and partially shaded forests of North America. Its bell-shaped, deep bluish-purple flowers bloom from…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Staghorn Sumac Is Dioecious

Staghorn Sumac puts on a startling display of color in the fall. It is a pleasing sight, especially in the fall, when the leaves turn extremely colourful. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Male and Female Flowers Female flowers produce showy pyramidal fruiting clusters (up to 8″ long), each containing…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Discover the White Turtlehead

White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra, has masses of beautiful white hooded flowers at the ends of the stems from late summer to mid-fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. They are attractive in gardens. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It is a good choice for shaded or woodland gardens, rain gardens, bog gardens,…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Cup Plant Care, Versatile and Stunning

The Cup Plant, Silphium perfoliatum, is a beautiful plant native to large areas in the central and eastern US and to Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Its large stature, (6 to 9 feet tall) and wide, tapered leaves are further complemented by an abundance of open yellow flowers. The flowers will re-bloom well into the…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Growth and Care for Prickly Pear Cactus

The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) is Canada’s only native cactus, and is a great conversation piece. The Prickly Pear Cactus is a unique addition to any garden, indoors or out. Plant it in dry, sandy soil and enjoy vibrant yellow flowers. It is also one of the most common cactus genera in the United…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Culver’s Root is a Hardy Perennial

Veronicastrum virginicum, also known as Culver’s Root, is a tall, hardy perennial with lovely whorled leaves. In the early and middle summer, the plants are topped with prickly racemes that are densely packed with small tubular white florets. The inflorescences have many branches that resemble a beautiful candelabra. Prairies, damp meadows, and open forests are…

Growing and Caring for Plants

How to Grow and Care for Wintergreen

The wintergreen shrub is accentuated with either gorgeous, white bell-shaped flowers or brilliant, pinkish-red berries, depending on the season. Beautiful, fragrant wintergreen has evergreen foliage. This plant does well indoors, though it is typically used as ground cover. It’s the ideal addition to make your house cheery in the winter. Wintergreen makes excellent ground cover…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Virginia Waterleaf Helps Stop Soil Erosion

Virginia waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum, is an excellent choice for shady areas and woodland gardens. It can spread quickly from rhizomes and fill open areas, where some gardeners use it as a groundcover. Where to find Virginia Waterleaf Virginia waterleaf is a perennial typically found in low woods, thickets, ravine bottoms, bluff bases, river flood plains…

Growing and Caring for Plants

Foamﬂower Shows Well in Groups

Foamflower can be a great addition to many gardens. It has an interesting, attractive leaf when not in flower. It also produces masses of lovely, lightly-scented white star-shaped flowers that rise above the foliage. Shell pink flower buds appear from mid-spring to mid-summer. It is most effective for visual effects when planted in groups. Green…

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Posts: Native to Eastern Canada

How To Grow Forget-Me-Not Flower

How to Care for Peonies

Carrots and Their Kin

When is My Garlic Ready to harvest?

Grow Your Own Blueberries

Nasturtiums, An Incredible Edible

Drying Hydrangeas

Growing Ginger Root

Lavender

Blooming Daylilies in Beautiful Colours

On Planting Daffodil Bulbs in the Fall

How to Grow and Care for a Lantana Plant

January Plant of the Month: Red Osier Dogwood

Plant of the month: Larch

Fireweed

How to Grow the Delicate Harebell

Staghorn Sumac Is Dioecious

Discover the White Turtlehead

Cup Plant Care, Versatile and Stunning

Growth and Care for Prickly Pear Cactus

Culver’s Root is a Hardy Perennial

How to Grow and Care for Wintergreen

Virginia Waterleaf Helps Stop Soil Erosion

Foamﬂower Shows Well in Groups

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