Know something about gardeners? They may be the easiest people on your gift-giving list to find gifts for. For one thing, you do not need to leave home to acquire (notice I am avoiding the use of the word ‘buy’?) an appropriate and exciting gift.

If you are among the many that will wade on to ‘cut your own’ farms and retail lots this weekend, be sure to arm yourself with these facts.

December is a festive time and during the celebrations there is a good chance that you will visit with family, friends and neighbours.  When you are invited over to their place, protocol calls for a ‘hostess’ gift.  I recommend that you bring a gift amaryllis bulb to your host.  Why not?  It is portable, affordable,…

It was 3 years ago when I received a call from my friend David Love, the president of Bird Studies Canada, asking me if I would be interested in meeting some of their people and hosting a ‘bird-a-thon’ in Toronto.
The meeting was very impactful indeed and as a result I have learned so much about backyard birding that I almost feel like an expert. Well, not really. Fact is, I now know people like Jody Allair, a resident BSC biologist and science educator, who has forgotten more than I will ever learn about wild birds. And believe me, Jody does not forget much.
Here are some highlights of what I have learned.

Winter is the most severe test of a gardener’s metal. What pops up through the soil next spring to a large extent will be determined by what you do in the next week or two.

There is never a bad time to think through our habits and why we have them. Now is as good a time as any to consider ‘going organic’.

The newly hatched ‘Highway of Heroes Living Tribute’ campaign endeavours to be just that: an ambitious plan to plant over 117,000 trees on the Highway of Heroes, between CFB Trenton, along the 401 to the Keele Street interchange where the coroners office is located. This is the route that every repatriated body takes after it arrives here from abroad [most recently from Afghanistan].

What would you do if you were mayor?

Here is my list of 8 favourite flowering shrubs with my reasons why each is on the list.

This is one of my now famous ‘fridge magnet’ columns. Read it, stick it to the fridge, and follow up with some action as time and favourable weather allows.

The Maple Leaf Forever tree.

Whether you define yourself as a gardener or not I hope that you find my suggestions below helpful: these are my top four suggestions for making your yard, which is an integral part of the community around you, an environmentally better place for all.

It is with enthusiasm that I present my list of the top 10 features of Canada Blooms.

As good as previous editions of this wonderful Toronto event were, this one will be a stand-out. Here is why.

You may be thinking that the gardening season is a long way off. Or you are just not thinking (of gardening) at all. Well, for those of us keeners, here are some reminders:

An overview of the career opportunities in horticulture as I see them.

Before you jump into the ‘industry’ (my, how I hate that word) of horticulture as a career choice, I suggest that you consider the options in the world of formal education. You do not have to be a recent grad from high school to qualify as many colleges accept mature students. If you are a frustrated lawyer in mid-life, this may the answer to a fulfilling professional future.

Have you, or someone you know, thought about a career change? Is there a young person in your life who is lost in the quagmire of career choices, without a hint of where to go from here? Are you middle-aged (or know someone who is) and looking for a change in lifestyle as it relates to your paid work? Are you about to retire and looking for something to fill the gap between this period of able mind and bodyness and true ‘retirement’? This column is for you.

I have been saving up the most amazing information for you. As we approach the new gardening season it is important to fuel your mind with ideas and facts that will help you enjoy the best garden ever.

Welcome to the International Year of Soils. If this comes as a surprise to you, no worries, you are not alone. It seems that most of us are keenly unaware of the value of our dirt (the good stuff) and I am here to help change that.