The New Ontario Naturalized Garden

Who decides which plants are weeds? Why do North Americans insist on trying to grow a perfect lawn? How can planting wildflowers contribute to a healthier global environment? Lorraine Johnson provides insightful and thought-provoking answers to these and other questions in "The New Ontario Naturalized Garden." Johnson celebrates the diversity of Ontario's native plants and teaches gardeners how to break free from the endless weeding, watering, and fertilizing problems of fussy exotic flora. Readers will discover the benefits of native plant gardening, such as attracting wildlife and recreating various habitats, from prairie pockets to lush urban woodlands.

The key to a carefree garden is to know which plants will thrive under local conditions and which ones are better left at the nursery. With watering restrictions becoming increasingly common, and rising concerns about exotic invasive species, gardeners have to be savvy about plant selection, making native plants both a practical and ecological choice. Lorraine Johnson's 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens is the ultimate source for achieving a lush and stunning garden with ease. Whatever the conditions—sunny, shady or in-between—and whatever your style—formal, informal or a mix—there are native plants to help you achieve your gardening goals. Either add to your garden or start fresh with the help of this reader-friendly guide. With Lorraine Johnson's light humour and down-to-earth perspective, as well as lavish photos by Andrew Leyerle, this is a must-have gardening resource for everything Canadian gardeners need to know about native plants. Horticultural information includes height, blooming period, light requirements and moisture needs, as well as a comprehensive reference chart that provides a list of the most appropriate plants for various conditions at a glance. This perennial favourite of Canadian gardeners is now back in print with a revised introduction, updated botanical names, new information on how to support native pollinators as well as an updated section on native plant societies.

“If the world of gardening has rock stars, Piet Oudolf qualifies as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Prince rolled into one.” —Gardenista The original publication of Planting the Natural Garden ushered in a revolution in landscape design: the New Perennial Movement. Spearheaded by internationally renowned designer Piet Oudolf, and incisively articulated by the late plantsman and designer Henk Gerritsen, it transformed private and public spaces with its emotionally resonant, naturalistic use of hardy perennials and grasses. Now this classic has been expanded and updated to include scores of new plants and combinations. Packed with practical information and visual inspiration, Planting the Natural Garden zeroes in on the New Perennial Movement’s power to move us, making its distinctive plant palette available to all. For enthusiasts of these vibrant landscapes, it is an essential text; for gardeners who love the dreamy moods and colors that Oudolf and Gerritsen celebrate, it’s the key to a magic kingdom of garden beauty.

An exciting vision of the blossoming new role gardening plays for this generation and the next. In The New Canadian Garden, Canada’s gardening guru, Mark Cullen, explores new trends that are redefining today’s gardening experiences. Many of us are utilizing small urban spaces — balconies, patios, and even rooftops — and growing our own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, both at home and through community gardens. Mark has lots of suggestions about which crops will work best for your particular space and how to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden. And he combines the best practical information with an insightful approach to help improve your gardening skills. The New Canadian Garden is a must-have reference for anyone gardening in a Canadian climate.

Sweeping from Toronto to Lake Huron and Lake Erie is a region of biological richness unmatched in Canada. Here the native trees have unusual names -- Sassafras, Cucumber Magnolia, Tulip-tree, Black Walnut, Pawpaw -- evoking the distinctly southern character for which the region is named. The zone is also home to dozens of species of plants, grasses and wildflowers, as well as animals, birds, fishes and mussels, amphibians and reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects not found elsewhere in Canada. The Carolinian region is only a quarter of a percent of the country's total land area, but close to one-third of Canada's rare and endangered plants and animals live here. So does more than a quarter of the country's population. Many unique species depend on the region's distinctive habitats, many of them also in jeopardy. The Carolinian landscape is one of the most threatened in North America. This book is a labour of love for the contributors, naturalists and scientists who share their knowledge of the diverse richness and rarity of the species and spaces in Carolinian Canada through engaging and informative text.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.