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05/03/2012 - 14:12 in Vancouver | Read more
STELLA ~ The Arisaema
I would like to introduce you to Stella, my Arisaema sikokianum. I named her Stella because she is such a stellar specimen in the Araceae family. I get a huge amount of joy from her. Actually she is bisexual at this point in her life and for the past few years she has...05/03/2012 - 14:12 in Vancouver | Read more
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05/03/2012 - 12:51 in Vancouver | Read more
THE WOODLAND SKIPPER
Photo and research courtesy of Ingrid Gowans, Vancouver MG, currently attending MG Advanced Training It was a beautiful sunny day, (August 21st, 2011) ; I was taking pictures in my garden when this little creature landed right in front of me and posed for the camera. At first I...05/03/2012 - 12:51 in Vancouver | Read more
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05/03/2012 - 12:27 in Vancouver | Read more
HOLLAND - Springtime Splendor
Vancouver MG Betsy Jones was fortunate enough to spend some time in Holland this spring: Spring is the right time to be in Holland especially in Lisse, where the famed bulb fields are located. This is near Amsterdam and just north of Leiden, site of the historical Hortus...05/03/2012 - 12:27 in Vancouver | Read more
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02/11/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
BROADLEAF EVERGREENS IN THE WINTER GARDEN
Late winter has to be one of the best times of the year to cast a critical eye over the bare bones of any garden. It’s a welcome opportunity to review the structure and balance of our landscape - or maybe the lack of it - and to consider what adjustments or amendments we might...02/11/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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02/10/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
BUG MYSTERY SOLVED: Rhododendron leafhopper
Recently we were contacted through our website by a member of the public to identify a mysterious bug: "There's a bug that lives on the top leaves of my rhododendron in the summer here in White Rock.It is about 1/2" long , 1/8" thick, green colour with red stripes front to back...02/10/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
ALL ABOUT SPROUTS - it's N.E.A.T!
Why Sprouts? Because, sprouting is N.E.A.T.! As the garden sleeps under the glistening frost, eating fresh living food from our gardens becomes a reminiscent dream. Well, my friends, this year you will be able to enjoy a greater diversity of freshly grown food within the...02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
WINTER MUSINGS
The English poet A. E. Housman gives me an unexpected take on the death that comes with winter and the promise it holds of spring. “The night is freezing fast,” he writes, “Tomorrow comes December;/And winterfalls of old/Are with me from the past;/And chiefly I remember/How...02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
FROSTED TREASURES IN MY GARDEN
A January stroll in the garden finds frosted beauty in the garden.02/08/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/29/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
SEED STARTING: PEAT & PLASTIC-FREE
Peat extraction is highly damaging to ecosystems as peat grows slowly enough, 1 mm. per year according to Royal Horticultural Society, to be considered a non-renewable resource. While many gardeners have traditionally started and grown-on seeds indoors in peat pots and in peat-...01/29/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/28/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GROW: Daphne laureola
WARNING! Laurel-leaved daphne/spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) introduced from Eurasia, is listed by the Invasive Plant Council of BC as "a Noxious weed that poses human health and ecological risks", while Work Safe BC factsheets note this plant "causes severe skin irritation...01/28/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/25/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
HARDY CYCLAMEN - Snow won't stop these beauties!
Winter got you down? Consider beating the blues by planting some superb Cyclamen. Snow is optional! For more detailed information on Cyclamen see 'HARDY CYCLAMEN - Bill Bischoff shares his passion', under Articles on www.mgabc.org Cyclamen coum bloom mid January to late March...01/25/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/22/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
SEMPERVIVUMS - Well Travelled
I love sempervivums - even though they look fragile, they are remarkably tough. It was -36 C when we moved back to BC from Saskatchewan 20 years ago, so I went outside with a pickax and chipped some sempervivums out of the frozen ground. They didn't just survive, they...01/22/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/21/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
GALIANO GARDENING
I live on Galiano in the southern Gulf Islands. My garden is very different from city gardens. I am B.C. born and raised, having lived most of my life on the North Shore in Vancouver. The Galiano climate is so different. It is as close to mediterranean as you can get in...01/21/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
ROBERT'S CREEK DELIGHT
Welcome to Rose Lane, Robert's Creek, Sunshine Coast It was a case of love at first sight when searching for a new home and garden 6 years ago. I could see that 15 years of neglect by the previous owners had not destroyed the beauty of the mature Japanese maple trees which I...01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
PRETTY POSSIBILITIES
To add brightness to any garden consider Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction' and Lilium 'Conca D'Or'.01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
BOWEN ISLAND PARADISE
MG Ann has shared a gorgeous little bit of her Bowen Island paradise with us. Please place your cursor over each photo for descriptions.01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
BOWEN ISLAND PARADISE Spring and Summer
Here are photos of some of Ann's favourite spring and summer plant combinati on Bowen Island: #1 Shade Garden in May - Heuchera sp. (Coral bells), Tiarella sp. (Foamflower), Alchemilla alpina (Alpine Lady's Mantle), Iris spp., Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese Painted...01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
STUNNINGLY SIMPLE WINTER COLOUR : Nandina domestica
What a wonderful way to brighten up a barren bit of space or create some instant drama at your doorstep. The lacy leaves of Heavenly Bamboo shed snow easily. Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) Heavenly Bamboo is classified as an evergreen shrub, however it may lose foliage and...01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
SMALL SPACE GARDENING
Only have a bit of space? Two Vancouver Master Gardeners, Karen Bos and Kristin Crouch make a statement and have fun with these mini garden ideas!01/20/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/20/2012 - 08:32 in Vancouver | Read more
Winter is a time for Planning and Dreaming
On a visit to RHS Wisely last summer we walked through their lovely gardens and left with many ideas for new plants. Annual poppies, like the one above, seem to be a staple of UK cottage gardens and are on our list of things to add to our coastal garden this coming year. Much...01/20/2012 - 08:32 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/19/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
WINTER VEGETABLES that stand up to the cold
For winter vegetables that stand up to the cold, look for descriptions of cold hardiness and suitability to winter weather which brings icy winds, freezing temperatures and snow. Terms such as 'frost hardy' , 'stands all winter' or 'good cold tolerance' on seed packets or...01/19/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
WINTER BIRDS & Wildlife in False Creek
Here in the heart of the city, False Creek South, the birds are thriving. My feeder (filled with sunflower chips) has a regular roster of visitors: chickadees with their buddies the bushtits, juncos & towhees, finches & warblers, and beneath sparrows & varied...01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
HUMMINGBIRDS & WINTER FEEDING
With colder temperatures forecast, it is worth repeating some simple but needed reminders for birders keen on keeping hummingbirds safe and regularly fed. With eleven years of experience feeding hummingbirds twelve months of the year, throughout weather changes, it is essential...01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: Burnaby Lake Nature House
As I was going through the Basic Training to become a Master Gardener I was unaware of the number of volunteer hours that were required, and then very surprised at the number of clinics and community projects where one could do those hours. I was a little frightened that I did...01/16/2012 - 16:00 in Vancouver | Read more
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11/30/2011 - 12:20 in Vancouver | Read more
HARDY CYCLAMEN - Bill Bischoff shares his passion
(An excerpt from a Vancouver Chapter General Meeting lecture, January 2011) Bill Bischoff is a passionate plants person who with his wife Carla has created a garden of visual delight with their enviable collection of hardy Cyclamen in Surrey B.C. Bill and Carla have won many...11/30/2011 - 12:20 in Vancouver | Read more