Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2024

 

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

• Climate Change and the Home Gardener.
• Egyptian Walking Onions--A No Fuss Vegetable
• Native Tree Profile--Tamarack.
• Great Gardening Tools--The Tool Butler.
• In the Alcove Garden--Harebell.

Our Master Gardeners answer the questions:

• Why do my tulips only bloom for a few years and then just produce leaves?
• Are there edibles that can grow in limited sunlight?

Photo Trilliums poking through blanket of leaves. by Dale Odorizzi

If you would like to receive the newsletter in your inbox, send a message to lanarkmg@gmail.com

Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2023

 

The Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2023 is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton.

This issue contains articles on the following topics:

• My Passion for Dahlia 
• The Observant Gardener 
• Gardening for American Goldfinches 
• Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed).

Our Master Gardeners answer these questions:

• What shrubs can I plant in dry shade?
• What plants won't the deer eat?

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

Dahlia, happily growing on my 9th floor terrace. Photo by Dale Odorizzi, Lanark County Master Gardeners 

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 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 May, 2020

The Trowel Talk Newsletter May 15, 2020, is now available, brought to you by the Master Gardeners of Lanark County and Ottawa Carleton.

This month, given the downturn in the global economy, due to Covid-19 pandemic we suggest methods to Grow Food to share.  One popular early vegetable is the radish.  The author provides tips for growing radishes and suggests some varieties that you may not have tried.
In the ornamental side, we answer the question "Who put the Zinn in the Zinnias?".  Our Native Plant this month is Vernonia: Bold and Beautiful Ironweed.
This month's Ask a Master Gardener answers a question about the Annabelle Hydrangeas.  If you would like to see your question answered in this newsletter or simply have a question, click on the Helpline button on the last page.

Garden Centres are opening and our Garden season can get underway.  Plant Sales, Gardening events and Clinics have been cancelled but will hopefully return later this summer.

Please share this newsletter with your gardening friends.  If you received this newsletter from a friend, contact us on the Helpline.

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2019

The Edible Garden Newsletter May 2019 is now available.  In this issue, we discuss planting our favorite garden staple, Potatoes.  A current major environmental concern is the amount of plastic that is finding its way into the food chain.  We discuss steps we home gardeners can take to reduce the amount of plastic we bring into the garden.  Finally, our ongoing Bee Line series talks about World Honeybee Day August 17, 2019.  The attached photo is of my Dad, showing off one of his favorite vegetables, a potato. Photo credit Kim Allen.

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2018

The Edible Garden Newsletter for May 2018 is now available.  This month we have a special focus on Clay Soil,  Is it a gardener's worst nightmare or a gardener's best friend?  Learn how you can change this dreaded foe to a trusted ally.  Delicious, nutritious and bountiful--Aunt Molly's Ground Cherries.  Follow one gardeners adventure as she grows these delicious fruits.  Finally, read all about a Victory Garden for Bees.  Photo is thanks to Anna MacDonald Iowa Environmental Voice.

Plant Sales

Plant Sales are a primary source of funding for many hard working garden related volunteer organizations.  These groups help to make our local communities brighter and more beautiful and a better place to live.  Across Lanark County, May is the month that your local Horticultural Societies host their Plant Sale. Lanark County Master Gardeners will be at all the Horticultural Societies Plant Sale and we will be selling plants at the Perth Sale.  See Calendar on the right for sale dates and locations.

Why should I buy plants at a Plant Sale?

• Some of the best gardeners in the county are members of the horticultural societies.  They divide and donate plants from their own gardens.
• The plants have proven to grow successfully in our climate.  If they didn't the gardeners have none to donate.
• The Horticultural Societies develop and care for many of the beautiful gardens across the county and their tireless work makes our home towns a better place to live. Funds raised at Plant Sales support these efforts.
• The plants are offered at a price you will not find anywhere else.
• There is always a wide range of perennials, some you will not find at any garden centre.  Sometimes there are roses, trees and shrubs and lots of vegetable bedding plants.

In addition to the Horticultural Society Sales, we have included information about two Ottawa based plant sales:

• The Native Plant Sale sponsored by Fletcher Wildlife Garden.
• The Rare and Unusual Plant Sale sponsored by the Friends of the Farm (Central Experimental Farm.

Hope to see you at one of the sales.

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2017

The Edible Garden Newsletter May 2017 encourages gardeners to look at weeds, not as a dreaded chore but as a tasty and nutritious addition to your diet.  Most weeds are best picked and eaten when they are young and tender.  Now is a great time to start your pumpkins.  They are an amazing and tasty addition to your garden and come in many shapes, sizes and colours.  Finally, maybe it is time to give Salsify a try.

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2016

Beautiful and delicious--that's what Edible Ornamentals are all about.  Learn how to grow and use both Pansies and Bloody Sorrel.  This month, we are including a book review of "In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto" By Michael Pollan. Finally, we round out the issue with an article about the dreaded Leek Moth that is attacking our Garlic and Onions across Eastern Ontario.  Read more

May 21st, 2016 - Perth Plant Sale

Again this year, the Perth and District Horticultural Society and Lanark County Master Gardeners join forces for our annual Plant Sale on May 21, 2016 at the Stewart School on Sunset Boulevard.  The plants come from our members gardens and feature interesting and unusual plants not often found at Garden Centres.  There will be Perennials, Annuals,Edibles and even some shrubs.  All are proven to do well in our area.  Join us from 9:00-10:30.  Come early for best selection. Calendar Details

Cilantro and Coriander--Two herbs in one

Cilantro is a wonderful herb.  In its leafy form, it adds zip to your stir frys and other dishes.  The seed form is Coriander and it is used extensively in Mexican cooking.  It is quick and easy to grow and can be planted repeatedly throughout the season.  Read more

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2015

Learn all about the delicious Solanacea Family. Find out how to grow and cook Eggplant. Simple tricks for protecting your tender transplants.  Read more.

Edible Garden Newsletter May 2014

May 2014 issue of the Edible Garden features articles on growing Tomatoes and Pole Beans.  There are lots of excellent tips for getting your garden off to a wonderful start.

Growing Beautiful Dahlias

Dahlias are one of the stars in a late summer garden.  To learn how to add this beauty to your garden, Read more