The Barrie Garden Club

06/17/2026

A great sale to pick up something fantastic for your garden!! 🌱

06/16/2026

Just in case you don’t know if it’s a pest or pollinator!

06/16/2026

Yes, I’m a bit focused on zucchini right now!😁

06/16/2026

Companion planting at its best with tomatoes! 🍅🍅🍅

06/16/2026

I love the nasturtiums , basil and marigolds in my garden! And don’t forget the Alyssum to attract the pollinators!

Forget the endless cycle of sprays and pest treatments.

Some plants naturally help make your garden less inviting to common pests. Through their scent, roots, or oils, they can help reduce insect activity and support a healthier growing space — all while adding beauty or flavor to the garden.

Herbs are some of the most useful companions.

1️⃣ Basil near tomatoes may help discourage aphids and whiteflies.
2️⃣ Chives planted around carrots are often used to help deter carrot flies.
3️⃣ Rosemary beside cabbage, broccoli, or kale can help mask their scent from cabbage moths.

Flowers can help, too.

4️⃣ French marigolds are especially valued for their ability to help suppress certain soil-dwelling nematodes when grown in garden beds over time.

A few companion-planting tips worth knowing:

5️⃣ Nasturtiums attract aphids away from vegetables, making them a useful trap crop along garden borders.

6️⃣ Mint may help repel some insects, but it spreads fast. Keep it contained in pots or barriers to prevent overcrowding.

7️⃣ Garlic planted throughout vegetable beds or near roses may help reduce visits from aphids, spider mites, and other pests.

Companion planting won’t replace good garden care entirely. But paired with healthy soil, proper spacing, and crop rotation, it can help create a stronger, more balanced garden ecosystem.

Sometimes the best pest prevention starts before pests even appear.

06/16/2026

Loretta, Carolyn and Jane were out in the “three sisters” type vegetable Garden at Fort Willow today! Everything is looking healthy and happy! 🐛And check out the caterpillars on the milkweed!!
Thank you BGC members Loretta, Carolyn and Jane for volunteering in this very special Pioneer Garden!!

06/16/2026

Native Plants of Ontario grown in Muskoka by Hidden Habitat. We design ecological landscapes that restore habitat and support local biodiversity.

06/15/2026

We love Nasturtiums!!

Nasturtiums are more than ornamental flowers. In a vegetable garden, they can act as natural allies for your tomato plants.

Gardeners often grow nasturtiums as a trap crop because aphids are strongly attracted to them. By drawing pests toward themselves, nasturtiums can help reduce the number of aphids feeding on nearby vegetables. Their scent may also help confuse or mask surrounding plants from certain insects.

The flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, including hoverflies and parasitic wasps. These helpful predators support a healthier garden by feeding on common pests or using them as hosts for their larvae. Some parasitic wasps target tomato hornworms, one of the most destructive tomato pests.

Plant nasturtiums around tomato cages, raised beds, or garden borders in spring. Trailing varieties work well as living ground cover, while climbing types can grow alongside taller plants. Along with supporting pest control, they add biodiversity, improve pollinator activity, and bring vibrant color to the garden.

06/14/2026

We are now opening up our August Field Trip to other D16 Garden Clubs! Please contact me if you are interested in coming with us! It’s going to be a fantastic trip!! There are a few seats left so register soon!