Perennials

Three favourite indigenous species – for the win! By Laura Johnston

Indigenous plantings often get a bad rap, but let me tell you, they are truly amazing! As someone who promotes their use in landscaping, I’ve heard all the doubts and concerns. “Wait, you plant weeds? Won’t they look messy?” Well, … Continue reading

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Goldenrod and the Gardener – by Carol Anderson

Goldenrod (Solidago) is a native wild flower that grows across most of Canada and the US. There are more than 25 goldenrods that are native to Ontario. The most common goldenrod is Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) which is the one … Continue reading

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How to Grow Peonies for Cut Flowers

I recently attended a Canadian Peony Society Zoom seminar “How to Grow Peonies for Cut Flowers”. The presenter was Piet Wiersta of the Oregon Perennial Company; a large scale grower of perennials. Most of their peonies are grown for the … Continue reading

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Planting In Dry Shade

Joy recently was asked by a homeowner what she could plant on north side of her house in dry shade. Joy’s reponse: Improve the soil by adding compost, chopped leaves, cattle manure. Don’t plant right next to the  foundation; leave … Continue reading

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A Question About Lavender

One of our readers sent us a question asking about the best lavender to grow in our climate. The most hardy lavender for Ontario gardens is Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender),  hardy to zone 5. Lavender Hidcote is one of the … Continue reading

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Types of Mulch

  We had a recent question about what type of mulch to use in perennial beds. We thought that others might be interested in the response:   First of all, good for you for deciding to mulch. It is a great … Continue reading

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