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,…
Spotted Lantern Fly (Lycorma delicatula) By Joan Sundeen, Master Gardener in-Training, SCMG Why should we be concerned? This striking but destructive insect poses a threat to Canadian agriculture and your vigilance is needed. The Spotted…
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 Linda Peacock, Master Gardener, SCMG It is so sad to see our gardens lose their blooms for the season. Hydrangeas are one of the last blooms to hang on in the garden, and we…
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…