By Scott Mcintaggart, Master Gardener In-Training, SCMG Scientific Name: Cirsium arvensis Family: Asteraceae Common Names: Canada thistle, Creeping thistle, California thistle, Field thistle, Cursed thistle Canada Thistle is not Canadian! Originally from Northern Africa, Western…
By Cynthia B. Lauer, Master Gardener, SCMG Whether it’s periwinkle, English ivy, creeping bellflower, garlic mustard, dog-strangling vine, honeysuckle, or buckthorn among many others, chances are that you’ve done battle with an invasive plant. Digging,…
By Cynthia B. Lauer, Master Gardener, SCMG Lush, green lawns are a dominant landscaping feature. The standard blend of Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and perennial rye grass serves as an outdoor carpet whether in an urban…
By Pat Cook, Master Gardener, SCMG It’s getting to be that time of year when I long to start my vegetable garden. I’m sure my neighbours wonder why there is a bright glow coming from…
By Marianne Lepa, Master Gardener In Training, SCMG Those of us lucky enough to have room for fruit trees in our gardens know the delights of enjoying homegrown fruits right from the tree. From…
By Linda Peacock, Master Gardener, SCMG Why do these plants make such good houseplants? They thrive in indoor temperatures, light and humidity, they need little watering, and they come in various forms and colours! Many…
By Cynthia B. Lauer, Master Gardener, SCMG Evidence-based designers create therapeutic gardens for people struggling with a wide range of illnesses. But the healing properties of plants can be enjoyed by anyone seeking well-being and…
By Joan Neiman-Agapas, Master Gardener, SCMG. One wise garden pundit described a weed ‘as a plant whose merits have yet to be discovered’. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines a weed as ‘a wild plant growing…
By Gail Cocker, Master Gardener, SCMG I confess, I just love to grow my own tomatoes. There is nothing better than chomping down on a handful of just –picked cherry tomatoes grown in my own…
By Linda Peacock, Master Gardener, SCMG Over 1/3 of residential water is used outside in the summer. We all need to use water in our gardens. Regular watering is necessary for any new plants that…