I've been gardening for almost 25 years here in Ottawa. Early on, as a beginner, I was a loyal listener of CBC Radio's Gardening Phone-in show on Ontario Today. On Mondays at noon Ed Lawrence, then head gardener at the Governor-General's residence, answered questions and offered gardening advice. It seemed that every week someone called … Continue reading Calling a truce: making peace with ants in my garden →

My husband jokes that I mention Red Osier Dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera) at least once a day. He's exaggerating, I'm sure, but I admit that I do talk about my favourite native shrub a lot. And why not? It's attractive all year 'round and has high wildlife value. I grow Red Osier Dogwoods in four locations … Continue reading Red Osier Dogwood: a perfect four season native shrub →

Feathered friends were the highlight of the garden in December, particularly the variety of woodpeckers visiting dead Ash tree trunks and our suet feeder. Insects overwintering in seed heads (October and November 2022) While cleaning seeds to give away, I've come across a surprising number of insects: tiny spiders, stink bugs, ladybugs, and other unidentified … Continue reading In the garden: December 2022 →

We have had such a warm October -- likely thanks to climate change -- that I continuing to spend time in the garden observing birds and insects, collecting native plant seeds to give away, and completing jobs that I normally never get around to doing. Looks like this crazy weather will continue into November here … Continue reading In the garden: October 15 to 31, 2022 →

Since we continued to have some warm, sunny days during the first weeks of October, I was able to observe insects and birds in the garden later in the season than usual. To my surprise, there were still a lot of pollinators out on aster and goldenrod flowers. I was also astonished to see so … Continue reading In the garden: October 1 to 14, 2022 →

Despite the cooler temperatures and more frequent rain, there's still a lot of insect activity in the garden on late-blooming asters and goldenrods. Also, some new birds have been visiting the stream. Facebook memory: Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating Jewelweed seeds (September 17, 2020) A couple of years ago I planted Jewelweed, an annual native that is … Continue reading In the garden: September 16 – 30, 2022 →

Today, I'm catching up sharing photos of the garden and stream. Facebook memory: Trogus pennator (September 5, 2020) This is why people raise butterfly caterpillars in enclosures. This is also why I should only collect butterfly eggs to raise, not caterpillars. Meet Trogus pennator, a parasitic wasp that specializes in attacking larvae of swallowtail butterflies. … Continue reading In the garden: September 5 – 15, 2022 →

Birds continue to be active in the backyard garden and at the stream. Least Flycatcher hunting (August 30, 2020) 2020: This flycatcher spent the afternoon in one of our 'Rosthern' Crabapple trees surveying the mini-meadow for snacks. It would swoop down, catch a flying insect, and then return to the crabapple, over and over again. … Continue reading In the garden: August 29 to September 4, 2022 →

At the end of August, there was non-stop pollinator and migratory bird activity in the backyard. Unfortunately, at the same time I learned a terrifying lesson about backing up photos -- or, more precisely, about the risk of not backing up photos. I lost a few pictures due to a corrupt external hard drive, but … Continue reading In the garden: August 22-28, 2022 →

Right now, the backyard mini-meadow is full of activity -- it's in peak bloom during August and September so there are lots of bees and other insects, and flowers that have gone to seed are attracting Goldfinches and Chickadees. The stream and hedgerow are drawing migratory birds to the yard. Bee hotel activity (August 10 … Continue reading In the garden: August 15-21, 2022 →