Trowel Talk July 15, 2022

 Trowel Talk Newsletter July 15, 2022 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton. This month's issues features articles on:

• Herbs in the Garden
• Wood Betony--Stachys officinalis
• The Gardeners Sense of Taste
• Common Chickweed
• Ox-eye Daisy

Our Ask a Master Gardener column answers the question about an ailing Burning Bush.

Photo by Judith Cox, Master Gardener of Ottawa Carleton. This pot has calendula, alysum, nasturtium and a black krim tomato.

If you would like to receive this newsletter each month in your email inbox, send us a message at lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Trowel Talk June 15, 2022

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2022 brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County is now available. This issue contains the following articles:

• Combining Edibles with Ornamentals
• Living with Rabbits in the Garden
• Please Touch the Plants
• Lambsquarters 
• Invasive Honeysuckles
• Ask a Master Gardener answers questions about tomatoes and rhubarb.

If you would like to receive this newsletter in your email inbox each month send us a message at lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Photo by Dale Odorizzi--Fritillary Butterfly enjoy a snack on chives in the Rose Garden.

Trowel Talk May 15, 2022

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2022, is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This month's issue contains:

• An Invitation to meet the Monarch.
• Book review of 100 Plants to Feed the Monarch.
• Carrots and Their Kin.
• Know your Weeds: Dandelion.
• Visual Sense in the Garden.
• Gardeners Beware: this Knotty Weed.
• Ask a Master Gardener:
• Growing Plants near a cedar hedge.
• Growing vegetable in containers.
• Where to find us--Clinics and Talks.

If you would like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each month contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo of Cow Parsnip by Patrick Ryan at his home in Balsam Creek, Ontario.

Trowel Talk April 15, 2022

 

Trowel Talk for April 15, 2022 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. In this issue, we discuss:

• Hardening off--Getting your seedlings safely from under the lights to growing in your garden.
• Edible flowers you can grow.
• Scent and sensibility: Sense of smell in the garden.
• Gardeners Beware--False Spirea.
• Know your Weeds--Garlic Mustard.
• Ask a Master Gardener.

If you would like to receive our Newsletter in your inbox, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi-Viceroy Butterfly also enjoys the old fashioned and sweet smelling heliotrope.

Trowel Talk March 15, 2022

Trowel Talk Newsletter for March 15, 2022 is now available. Spring is finally getting closer, and this issue has articles on:

• 2022- The Year of the Garden.
• Seed Starting: Equipment and Supplies.
• Jumping Worms--A peril to our Northern Forests.
• Shiso--An Ornamental Asian Herb to Discover.
• Annuals--Why we Love Them and Tips for Success.
• Autumn Olive--Our Gardener Beware series continues.
• Ask a Master Gardener answers the question on:
• Pagoda Dogwood--yellowish branches. 
• I forgot to plant my garlic last fall. Help!

If you would like to receive a copy of the newsletter in your email inbox, send your request to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Photo by Dale Odorizzi--Gomphrena, a favorite of bees, butterflies, and White Crowned Sparrows.

Trowel Talk February 15, 2022

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter for February 15, 2022 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This month's issue contains articles on:

• Connecting the Dots: The Wonders of the Common Polka Dot Plant.
• When do I Start Seeds?
• Shady Site Challenge: Can a Pollinator Garden Grow Here?
• Homemade Vinegars from the Garden.
• Gardeners' Beware: Creeping bellflower.
• Ask a Master Gardener column answers questions about Orchids and ground covers to grow along the road allowance.

Photo by Master Gardener Kelly Noel

Want to receive this newsletter in your inbox each month? Send your info to lanarkmg@gmailcom

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 December 15, 2021

 

Trowel Talk December 15, 2021 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This months newsletters features the following:

• Cape Primrose, a houseplant superhero.
• Ikebana, Flower arrangements for gardeners.
• Gardeners Beware--Winter Creeper.
• Book Review: The Little Gardener-Helping children connect with the natural world.
• Ask a Master Gardener answers the question "Which Holiday Plants are Safe to have around?"

Photo by Lanark County Master Gardener, Kathleen Lang, of her Ikebana entry to International Friends of Floral Arts and Design.

If you would like to receive our newsletter each month in your email inbox, send a request to lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2021

 Trowel Talk Newsletter November 15, 2021 is now available. In this month's issue, we cover:

• Propagating a Jade Plant.
• Creating a Holiday Arrangement, using Plants.
• A New Native Plant Garden.
• Miscanthus Grass, another thug in our Gardeners Beware Series.
• Book Review of Grandma Lisa's Humming, Buzzing, Chirping Garden.

Our Master Gardeners answer the helpline question "how do you know when and what to feed plants?"

Photo from the New Native Plant Garden, by Julianne Labreche

Trowel Talk Newsletter October 15, 2021

 

Trowel Talk Newsletter for October 15, 2021 is now available. This issue contains articles on:

• Do Not Disturb The Soil--Why "no-till gardening" is catching on.
• Growing Native Perennial Wildflowers from Seed and Division.
• The Big Chill--Freezing Seasonal Produce.
• Dogs in the Garden.
• Norway Maple another in our series of Invasive Plants.
• Ask a Master Gardener.

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

Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2021

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter September 15, 2021 is now available. Brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. In this months issue we discuss:

• The many varieties of poppies and the growing conditions that each variety thrives;
• Growing your own delicious blueberries;
• Light pollution and its impact on wildlife;
• Goutweed in our Gardeners beware series.

Ask a Master Gardener column answers the questions:

• Can I save vegetable seeds from my harvest?
• Why did my gladiolas only produce one flower?

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with a friend. If you would like the newsletter delivered to your email inbox each month send us a message at lanarkmg@gmail.co.

Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2021

The Trowel Talk Newsletter August 15, 2021 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton.

In this months issue we have articles about:

• Daylilies that add more colour to the garden.
• The Ontario Cosmetic Pesticide Ban, Twelve Years Later.
• Growing Ginger Root.
• Nasturtiums, An Incredible Edible.
• Gardeners Beware: Periwinkle (Vinca Minor).
• Ask a Master Gardener answers the question What can I do about the LDD Moth, formerly known as the Gypsy Moth.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, share it with a friend. If you would like to receive it each month in your in box, email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk July 15, 2021

 The Trowel Talk Newsletter July 15, 2021 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This month it contains articles on:

• Successive Planting, provides tips and tricks to keep your garden producing all season long.
• When is my garlic ready to harvest shows what to look for when determining if your garlic is ready to be harvested.
• Solving Garden Questions is a tongue in cheek look at life as a Master Gardener at an advice clinic.
• Pollinator Tips for the summer gardeners to encourage pollinators to visit your gardens all season
• Gardeners Beware continues our invasive plant series with a look at English Ivy and the damage it can do to your home.
• Ask a Master Gardener answers the questions:
• Why is my variegated euonymus turning green?
• How do I get rid of Creeping Bellflower?

We hope you enjoy this newsletter and hope you will share it with your friends. If you would like to have it delivered to your email inbox, send a request to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2021

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter June 15, 2021 is now available. This month's newsletters contains articles on:

• Rose pests--Roses are often called the Queen of the garden and two of the pests that can defoliate and damage them are the European rose sawfly and the rose budworms or leaf rollers. The author provides tips for catching these pests early.
• Be a water-wise gardener--With city water bills rising and our summers becoming drier, the author provides ways to prevent and capture rain water and some best practices for watering.
• Invasive Plants--Our invasive plant series continues with profiles on Common Buckthorn and the common Ditch Daylily.
• Book Review--Gardening your Front Yard by Tara Nolan
• Ask a Master Gardener answers the question about Ninebark Shrub and the dreaded Cucumber Beetle.

Hope you enjoy the newsletter. If you would like to have this newsletter delivered to your email inbox on a monthly basis, send a message to lanarkmg@gmail.com 

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2021

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2021 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Lanark County. This month we feature articles about:

• Invasive plants, Lily-of-the Valley and Yellow Archangel. Both are beautiful but impossible to control.
• Native Plants, Hepaticas and Wood Poppy. Both these beauties prefer woodland settings and are most visible very early in the spring, before the trees leaf out.
• Growing Vegetables in Containers.
• Spring is coming and so is Asparagus.
• Ask a Master Gardener offers options for planting a flowering vine along a fence.

If you would like to receive this newsletter in your inbox each month email us at lanarkmg@gmail.com.

Photo of a Porcelain Berry Vine by Dale Odorizzi

Trowel Talk Newsletter April 15, 2021

The Trowel Talk Newsletter for April 15, 2021 is now available. This month contains articles on:

• Earth Day 2021--This is the fiftieth anniversary of this international events and we include special ways you can honour this day.
• Rhubarb is a glorious spring vegetable.
• Clematis--We answer the common question of When do I prune my Clematis?
• My Favourite Spring Edimentals--some popular ornamentals you can actually eat.
• Creeping Jenny--Our series on invasive perennials continues.
• Ask a Master Gardener column answers the questions:
• When can I divide hostas?
• How do I prune and rejuvenate a large group of lilacs?

Talks and Events are happening in garden clubs and horticultural societies, primarily using virtual meeting software. We have included such events where our Master Gardeners are appearing. Also Check our the series of Trowel Talk Live.

If you enjoyed this issue of Trowel Talk, share with a friend. If you would like to receive your copy in your email box, contact me at lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Newsletter March 15, 2021

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter for March 15, 2021 is now available. Spring is almost here and there are signs of it everywhere. This month, we feature articles on:

• Sorrel--Culinary herb or a wild edible perennial?
• Weeds, the Universal Problem--where do they come from and some weed ending strategies.
• Will that be Sage or Savory? Join the great Canada stuffing debate.
• Bloodroot--Gladden your heart at this longed for sign of spring!
• Amur Maple--Gardeners beware! Another beautiful but invasive species from Asia.
• Ask a Master Gardener-Best time to prune trees and reviving last years geraniums.

Introducing a new Lunch and Learn program brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton. Click here to register.

The photo above is of a Serviceberry or Amelanchier canadensis, just as the flowers are turning into berries that the birds always beat me to eat. The Serviceberry is a wonderful native shrub that brings 3 season beauty to your yard.

Trowel Talk Newsletter February 15, 2021

The Trowel Talk Newsletter February 15, 2021, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton is now available. This month, we feature articles on the following topics:

• Hello Aloe--Describes the medicinal properties of the plant and provides tips on growing this succulent, year after year.
• My Kingdom for a Clivia--This is a breathtaking house plant that originates in South Africa. It is not widely available but does often pop up at Plant Sales or even in supermarkets.
• Gardener Beware: Bugleweed--Many of the plants we grow in our ornamental beds turn out to be very invasive. We are starting this new feature, Gardener Beware, to identify these plants and provide for suggestions for bringing Native plants into your garden as substitute.
• A Winter Garden for Birds--Nothing enlivens a winter gardenlike birds. This article discusses plants that will attract Birds, all winter long.
• Ask a Master Gardener--When should I start seeds indoors? and Are leftover seeds still good?
• Book Review--The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith.

After a year of no Master Gardener events, we are pleased to announce Master Gardener virtual appearances at local Horticultural Societies. Check with the host organization for registration details. 

You are welcome to share this newsletter with your friends. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, send an email to lanarkmg@gmail.com.

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

Trowel Talk Newsletter December 15, 2020

The Trowel Talk Newsletter for December 15, 2020 is now available.  This month our gardeners share information about:

• Norfolk Island Pine, sometimes used as a Christmas Tree;
• Christmas Cactus, a welcome sight at Christmas;
• Growing a Rex Begonia plant from a leaf cutting;
• Using leaf cuttings to provide a continuous supply of fresh  herbs;
• Plants for all seasons--Evergreen Native Ground Covers.

Our Ask a Master Gardener column provide tips to help keep your  houseplants alive if you are going away for a few weeks and also gives an approach to keep your upright cedar trees in good form.

The Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton wish you all the best over the Christmas season and health and happiness in 2021.

If you would like to receive this newsletter in your inbox, send me an email at lanarkmg@gmail.com.