ReLeaf Stratford

05/15/2024

ReLeaf Stratford and Tri-County Master Gardeners (formerly Stratford Master Gardeners) native plant sale is happening very soon; June 1st 9AM to 12PM at The Local Community Food Centre, 612 Erie Street, Stratford. We have a fantastic selection of native perennials available. There is a native perennial for every garden situation.

The plants are plugs which we will lift from flats, so be sure and bring pots or containers to transport your plants home. Master Gardeners are on hand to answer your questions. We always sell out quickly at our sales, especially at this bargain price of $5.00 per plant. Don't miss this fantastic sale! If you attended one of our Pollinator Gardens 101 workshops don't forget your coupon. See you there.

03/07/2024

Tri-County Master Gardeners (formerly Stratford and Area Master Gardeners) will be conducting a workshop Pollinator Gardens 101. In this three hour workshop we will cover how to design your pollinator garden, how to prep and amend the soil, the best native plants to attract pollinators and how to avoid invasive plants. Also included are tips for adding pollinator plants to an existing garden.

The same workshop will be held in three different cities: Goderich, Stratford and Innerkip (near Woodstock). This workshop is suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. Refreshments will be served and there is a door prize of a native plant book. Each attendee will receive a coupon for a free plant at our native plant sale in June.

The cost of the workshop is $15.00. Registration is limited to 25 attendees, so register early to avoid disappointment. Register at Eventbrite, https://tricounty.eventbrite.com

09/14/2023

Pop Up shrub sale of natives and nativars. It's a great time of year to plant. Stratford Master Gardeners will be on hand to give advice. All items $5.00. A fantastic deal, so put the sale on your calendar.

07/24/2023

A fantastic deal on native plants in small pots. Pay $2.00 each, or whatever you can afford. One weekend only.

06/15/2023

Pollinator Prowl Family Event June 24th
As part of Pollinator Week, Stratford and Area Master Gardeners are teaming up with the Stratford Public Library and Stratford Field Naturalists to host a variety of fun activities for families and kids of all ages and abilities. There will be a craft table, pollinator hunts, a story corner and many other activities to introduce kids to pollinators.

The event will take place from 2PM to 3:30PM at the John Street Weir, directly across from the John Street trail entrance to the TJ Dolan Natural Area.

05/24/2023

RELEAF STRATFORD PROJECT TO PLANT NATIVE SHRUBS ON JUNE 3RD

Please join us to plant native shrubs along the bank of the Avon River on June 3, 2023 starting at 9:30 am. In case of heavy rain or thunderstorms we will plant on June 4th at 9:30 am. The meeting location is McLagan Park (see map link below). Bring your own shovel if possible. There will be some additional shovels available. We also need volunteers to mulch the new plantings and pails will be provided. We will plant from the railway trestle to St. Vincent Street.

This project continues the naturalization of the Avon River bank from the John St. Weir to the Thomas Orr Dam. This local environmental stewardship action is recommended in the Upper Thames River Watershed Report Card to improve surface and groundwater quality. Funding for the purchase of native shrubs is made possible with a grant from the Donald McTavish Conservation Fund held within the Stratford Perth Community Foundation.

We appreciate the many dedicated community volunteers who showed up and helped us plant along the river last fall. The native shrubs planted between the John St. Weir and the railway trestle are doing well. Take time to enjoy a walk along the river and see for yourself. We’re looking forward to seeing you on June 3rd!

https://goo.gl/maps/RMEFKq6CUiZ5Y5KB7

05/02/2023

If you missed Cathy Kavassalis' talk in the Stratford and Area Master Gardener speaker series, it can be viewed now at the Stratford Public Library YouTube channel. Cathy's talk on Transforming Landscapes in a Changing Climate: Beware the Sleeping Beauties was engaging and informative and the topic is relevant to all gardeners. Anyone is welcome to watch, even if you didn't initially register for the speaker series.

We gardeners shape landscapes with our plant choices. Those choices have consequences. Escaped garden plants are the primary source of invasive plants in Can...

04/09/2023

Stratford and Area Master Gardeners and ReLeaf Stratford native tree and shrub sale is coming May 13th, 9AM-1PM. All nursery stock is from reputable Ontario growers. For more information on species and pricing visit https://releafstratford.ca

03/29/2023

On April 20th ReLeaf Stratford and Stratford and Area Master Gardens will present the last speaker in our series Gardening in a Changing Climate. This monthly series has been presented in partnership with the Stratford Public Library.

Be sure to register for Cathy Kavassalis' presentation on Transforming Landscapes in a Changing Climate: Beware the Sleeping Beauties. As gardeners we shape landscapes with our plant choices. Those choices have consequences. Escaped garden plants are the primary source of invasive plants in Canada, and that problem will only grow as our climate warms. Come and learn how you can make better choices in your garden to safeguard nature.

Cathy Kavassalis is a passionate gardener, a conservationist and an inspirational speaker. Registration for this Zoom webinar closes April 17th, so be sure and register early at splibrary.ca/gardening

03/01/2023

On March 16th we will feature the third speaker in our series Gardening in a Changing Climate. Sean James will be speaking on Fusion Gardening. This series, in cooperation with the Stratford Public Library, features a monthly speaker via Zoom.

Climate change has resulted in worsening drought around the world including here in southwestern Ontario. Fusion Gardening blends LID (rainwater handling) with xeriscaping (drought-tolerant gardening) and folds in plantings to mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance biodiversity. One of the main focus of this style is beauty and Sean will address the backbone of each of these disciplines and discuss how to do each artfully.

Sean James is an entertaining and dynamic speaker and has been gardening professionally since age sixteen. He is a graduate of the prestigious Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, a Master Gardener and was named one of “20 Canadians Making a Difference” in the Canada-wide magazine GardenMaking.

Speakers will be recorded and can be viewed later on the Stratford Public Library YouTube channel. Register at splibrary.ca/gardening Registration for this event closes March 13th, so sign up now.