Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2024

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2024 is now available brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue contains articles on:

• Violets in Space!
• Ode to the Sawzall.
• Eastern White Pine.
• Prairie Smoke.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• Can I reuse soil in containers next year?
• Are some house plants better than other to improve indoor air quality?

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of Mama deer and fawn playing in front of a young 4 Acre White Pine Plantation by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15. 2022

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2022 is now available brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This issue introduces two new series:

• Plants in the Alcove Garden--Wild Ginger.
• Planting for the birds--Black-capped Chickadees.

We also have an article on Angel Wing Begonia, including propagation tips and a Book Review on "A Way to Garden" by Margaret Roach.

Ask a Master Gardener answers questions about forcing bulbs and caring for Clivia.

If you would like to receive the newsletter in your inbox, contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of Native Highbush Cranberry by Dale Odorizzi--provides birds with insects and caterpillars and fruit remains on the tree into the winter for our overwintering friends.

Winter Seed Sowing

 

Can't wait to plant seeds? Try Winter Seed Sowing!

Peterborough Master Gardener, Master Gardener Emma Murphy demonstrates the Kiss Principle of Winter Seed Sowing.

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2022

Trowel Talk Newsletter for January 15, 2022 is now available. In this issue we discuss:

• Seed Catalogues--The pleasure of reading them and the information gained.
• Amaryllis--How to grow your plant and regrow it the following year.
• Understanding Soil--What's going on beneath our feet? 
• Charming a Snake Plant.
• Gardener Beware: Reed Canary Grass.
• Ask a Master Gardener answer questions about:
• Snow Seeding
• Saving Overwatered Plants.

Happy New Year to all our readers. If you would like to receive a copy of our newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with a friend.

Photo by Lanark Master Gardener Dale Odorizzi--Wet field is full of Reed Canary Grass.

Trowel Talk Newsletter January 15, 2021

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter, January 15, 2021 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton. Happy New Year to all our readers. This month, we have something for everyone with articles about:

• Favourite Succulent, the long living Jade Plant.
• Invasive Plants--Where do they come from?
• Creating a beautiful gift for Valentine's Day.
• Microgreens--A delicious edible, especially for the winter months.
• Ask a Master Gardener answers two questions:
• Lack of light for houseplants.
• Storing my tools for the winter.

We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, contact me at lanarkmg@gmail.com. If you have gardening questions, use one of the contact helplines listed at the end of the newsletter.

Phragmites photo courtesy of the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2020

The Edible Garden Newsletter January 2020 is now available.  Happy New Year to everyone.  On this New Years Day as you are contemplating your New Year's Resolutions, we hope that you will make one to help your garden, more than any other resolution can.  That resolution will be to improve your soil.
In this issue of the Edible Garden Newsletter, we continue our series on soil.  We talk about Soil texture and also introduce you to some simple and fun ways to test your soil.  Your children will love to help out with these tests.  We also compare the properties of sand, silt and clay and how they contribute to the well being in your garden.
Our unusual vegetable series continues with a mouth watering look at Delicata Squash.
We hope that all our readers have a wonderful and productive 2020 and enjoy your upcoming gardening season.

Reflowering Amarylis

Christmas is over.  Your beautiful Amaryllis bulb is nothing but green leaves.  Can you make it reflower.  Yes! You can. Follow our easy steps and your Amaryllis will rebloom again and again.

Sugar Tyme

What is that beautiful little tree growing all along Wilson Street in Perth?  It is a spectacular crab apple, know as Sugar Tyme.

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2019

The Edible Garden Newsletter January 2019 is now available. Want to become a Modern Bee Keeper?  This issue will tell you about one self-taught apiarist.  Seed Catalogues are coming in fast and furious.  Now is the time to start dreaming about spring with their help.  It is dark in the morning when I get up.  It is dark when I make supper.  Spring seems so far away.  Still lots can be done to help our gardens and ourselves thrive in this dark season.  Finally, a Garden Procrastinator documents a year in the life.  Happy New Year and great gardening to everyone from the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton.

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2018

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2018 is now here.  This is the time of year when vegetable gardeners pour over the seed catalogues to determine what to plant.  How long are my tomato seeds viable?  Is there anyway I can check if they are still viable. How should I store my seeds if I once again, over order.  Find out here.  We all know that some vegetables like to be planted near each other while others do not want to be anywhere near each other.  This month we feature an article on companion planting with a handy chart that shows who likes each other and who does not.  Who knew that cabbage likes to be near Bush Beans but does not like being near Pole Beans.

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2017

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2017. The New Year is a time to make resolutions about improving our lives. Gardeners, too, want to improve our gardens. In this newsletter, the Master Gardeners from Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County share their New Years Resolutions. Maybe some of those resolutions will apply to your garden. We complete our series on herbs by demonstrating various methods for drying and storing herbs. Happy New Year to you.

Winter Seed Sowing

Winter sowing is a fun and easy way to start seeds outside during the winter. Seeds are sown in miniature greenhouses made from recycled plastic containers, and then put outside in the snow and freezing cold. The rest of the work is left to Mother Nature. Once the weather starts to warm in the spring, the seeds will germinate at their own pace, just as in nature. Sounds cool, right? It gets better…

Since the winter sown containers go outside, they don’t take up space in the house. With winter sowing, there’s no need to sterilize seedling flats and trays, you don’t need any special equipment (like lights or heat mats), there’s no risk of the seedlings damping off, and no need to harden them off. Plus, winter sown seedlings are hardier and more robust than seeds sown indoors, which means they have a much higher survival rate. Wow! Are you ready to try winter sowing? Get Busy Gardening has produced this wonderful Step-by-Step Guide. Read more.

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2016

Why should I start plants indoors?  How do I start plants indoors?  When I started my own tomatoes, they were tall and spindly and flopped around.  In this month's Newsletter, we cover the why's and how's of growing your own transplants.  Also, we have an article from a gardener who grows the best tomato plants that are always the first to sell out at our annual Plant Sale.  Read more

Amaryllis--Getting it to Rebloom

Christmas has passed and many of our special houseplants are looking sad.  Can you really make your Amaryllis rebloom?  Read more

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2015

The January 2015 Newsletter features articles on Crop Rotation and Growing Edibles and Ornamentals in the same bed, interesting Did you knows, recipes and book reviews.  Check it out and tell us what you think.  Read more

Gardeners New Years Resolutions

Two of the top New Year Resolutions are Lose Weight and Exercise More.  Spending more time in your garden (especially the vegetable garden) helps you accomplish these goals.  When making your New Years Resolutions this year, think of some ways you can make your garden even better.  How can you include your garden in your resolutions?  These resolutions give you different options for each topic.   Read more Happy New Year from Lanark County Master Gardeners!

Seed Catalogues Now Available!

Today, I received my first seed catalogue of the season.  This year it was Stokes who led the pack.  So many new varieties and plants to try.  Veseys Catalogues and all the rest cannot be too far behind.  If you are not on a seed catalogue mailing list order one or more for yourself.  Do you have a favorite seed company?

What do you do with your Poinsettia after Christmas?

Your Poinsettia added beauty to your home all Christmas season long.  What do you do with it now?  Read more

Edible Garden Newsletter January 2014

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Edible Garden. This Newsletter is presented to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton.
We will be publishing our newsletter on the first of each month. Hope you enjoy! January 2014