Grand Erie Master Gardeners

Grand Erie Master Gardeners Helping gardeners with expert advice in Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk counties and surrounding areas.

White versus Pink Turtlehead: White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is native to Ontario and serves as the vital host plant ...
09/03/2026

White versus Pink Turtlehead: White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is native to Ontario and serves as the vital host plant to the endangered Checkerspot Butterfly. Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii or obliqua) is a near native plant from the southeastern USA. Both prefer moist soils.

Are you a traditional gardener who hesitates to plant native because you don’t want a “wild” garden? Rabbits and deer “t...
09/02/2026

Are you a traditional gardener who hesitates to plant native because you don’t want a “wild” garden? Rabbits and deer “trim” native plants all the time - you can support the environment with native plants and still keep a more formal aesthetic. Pictured here is Shrubby St John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) - a potential Boxwood alternative.

Goldenrods are a keystone native species, meaning that they support an exceptional number of native insects, birds and p...
09/01/2026

Goldenrods are a keystone native species, meaning that they support an exceptional number of native insects, birds and pollinators. This is Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) which is a better behaved goldenrod than Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and can be suitable for smaller gardens. It is about 4 feet tall and grows in full sun to part shade.

Did you know that we have native Impatiens plants in Ontario? This is Impatiens capensis, commonly known as Orange Jewel...
08/31/2026

Did you know that we have native Impatiens plants in Ontario? This is Impatiens capensis, commonly known as Orange Jewelweed. It is a 3 to 4 foot tall annual which will reseed profusely each year, but any unwanted seedlings are easy to pull out. Beloved by hummingbirds and bees, it is also the host plant for several moth species. Jewelweed prefers damp soil but will grow well in regular garden soil.

In need of a native ground cover to replace that invasive Periwinkle, English Ivy or Lily of the Valley? Here is one goo...
08/30/2026

In need of a native ground cover to replace that invasive Periwinkle, English Ivy or Lily of the Valley? Here is one good choice - lovely Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense). This plant grows in shade and prefers rich well-drained soil. As a bonus it is rabbit and deer resistant.

These spots are caused by a fungal disease called “Tar Spot”. It will not kill the tree or cause permanent damage and is...
08/29/2026

These spots are caused by a fungal disease called “Tar Spot”. It will not kill the tree or cause permanent damage and is mainly cosmetic (arguably unfortunate in this case, as this is an invasive Norway maple).

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica) will occasionally produce a white flower variation referred to as form “alba”. ...
08/28/2026

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica) will occasionally produce a white flower variation referred to as form “alba”. This is likely a recessive genetic trait for lack of blue pigment.

Who doesn’t love Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)? This old fashioned perennial plant is actually a near native plant and...
08/27/2026

Who doesn’t love Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)? This old fashioned perennial plant is actually a near native plant and benefits many pollinators. Here it is growing combined with native annual Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus). Do not confuse Garden Phlox with the invasive Dame’s Rocket which bloomed earlier in the season.

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