Belated Happy St. Patrick’s Day! For those of you who celebrated by purchasing a shamrock plant (Oxalis regnelli), “Growing oxalis indoors and out” suggests how to keep it thriving, as well as describes several varieties to look for to grow outdoors, either as a pretty edging in the garden or as a container plant.
Webinar on pruning
Pruning shrubs need not be intimidating, but it often is. Making the wrong cut or pruning at the wrong time won’t necessarily kill a plant, although it might affect the shrub’s growth pattern or result in fewer or no flowers for a season. For those of us who are still hesitant to pick up our secatuers and take control of an overgrown spirea or ninebark, Lee Reich’s webinar called “Fearless Pruning” may instill confidence. Reich is author of The Pruning book and other gardening books. The webinar and workshop is March 29; registration fee is $35 (US).
Problem-solving annuals
Newly planted garden beds often look sparse the first year, and adding a few strategically placed annuals can help fill the gaps. Here are a few more ideas from Fine Gardening that make good use of these economical, fast-growing plants. Some of my favourite annuals that look quite at home in perennial plantings are Verbena bonariensis, tall nicotianas and cosmos. All three have a natural, billowy look that blends in well.
Plans under way for a Canadian botanical garden
Canadensis: The Garden of Canada is a new initiative to establish a botanical garden in Ottawa. The group’s aim is to have plants from all parts of Canada in one location for the purposes of education, research, conservation and public enjoyment—a living museum.
The not-for-profit group is working in cooperation with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Arboretum, the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the Central Experimental Farm. You can become a member or make a donation here.
Pre-ordering from garden centres in Manitoba
Colleen Zacharias of the Winnipeg Free Press writes about a few garden centres in Manitoba that are taking pre-orders for plants this spring. I wonder if other nurseries will be doing this? Last spring, several nurseries in my area offered online ordering for curbside pickup, but pre-ordering with the option of delivery at a later date may appeal to some gardeners. Pre-ordering could also alleviate the last-minute rush of everyone heading to their favourite garden centre on Victoria Day weekend. Crowded nursery aisles are never fun, but even less so during a pandemic.
