My road trip column for the summer issue took me to St. Albert and Edmonton, Alberta. I had the pleasure of visiting this region back at the end of May and gathered lots of gardening ideas for the website. For the magazine, I wrote about the highlights, which I also posted on the website. Read more »

Starting with Canadian Gardening magazine’s April issue this year, I’ve been writing the Road Trip column in Canadian Gardening magazine. Each road trip focuses on a garden or special event and then provides advice on where to stay, eat, shop and what to do while you’re there. Here are the destinations I’ve written about so far: Read more »

In January, I was asked to represent Canadian Gardening magazine at Canada Blooms. I appeared on the HGTV Celebrity Stage on two different days, speaking about 2012 gardening trends. It was a fantastic learning experience and I received some fabulous feedback from esteemed colleagues. Read more »

Watching container connoisseur Paul Zammit put together an arrangement is like observing an artist at work—plants in a range of green hues are his medium. A walk around the property that he shares with his partner and fellow gardener Uli Havermann in Toronto reveals a keen eye for combining texture, shape and a bold aesthetic. Pops of colour in the form of purple, bronze and chartreuse are interspersed among a lush, green canvas of perennials, along with terracotta pots that Paul enthusiastically collects. [read full article] Read more »

We thought it might be hard for landscape designer Robert Myers to encapsulate the gold-medal winning garden he designed for the 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in just one word. How do you describe something that is at once lively and peaceful, colourful and monochromatic, wild and orderly? When he answered “elegant” we were a bit surprised, but as we explored the elements of his design—one where even the shadows were planned—we had to agree. [read full article] Read more »

With a little special attention, a beautiful arrangement can hold its own through the cold season. We asked Jim McMillen, president of Landscapes in Bloom, to create lush planters that will last until spring. Read more »

Discover Slave Lake and Athabasca

Connect with nature by exploring these two regions in the heart of Canada’s boreal forest. From fishing and bird watching to kayaking and offroading, this is a place where you can leave the hubbub behind and chart your own outdoor adventure. [PDF of full article] Read more »

A wave of “fresh and local” enthusiasm has inspired us all to grow our own food. And some gardeners are using their traditional veggie plot to make a difference—by sharing their space or donating over-abundant crops. Here are some ways you can use your green thumb to give back: [PDF of full article] Read more »

The house is sold and you’re finding it hard to leave your garden behind.

Belinda Gallagher, head of horticulture at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, and a former real estate agent, recommends planning ahead, especially if there are plants you’d like to move with you. [PDF of full article] Read more »

Whether your garden is a blank canvas waiting for colour, or an established landscape full of bushes and blooms—how do you measure its conditions? [read full article]

Published: Growing Guide (February/March 2010) in Canadian Gardening magazine and on CanadianGardening.com
Notes: This piece was part of a ‘How To’ gardening package I wrote for the annual which has a different theme every year.