Garden checklist
Outdoors, gently brush heavy snow off shrubs and evergreen boughs to prevent breakage.
Conversely, shovel snow onto tender plants and exposed areas in your landscape that do not have adequate snow protection.
Take time to observe the “bones” (woody plants such as trees and shrubs) and other elements of your winter landscape, such as structure and texture. Is there anything you would like to enhance?
Gently brush off heavy snow. (Colleen Zacharias photo)
Indoors, inspect houseplants for signs of insect or disease problems. Take corrective action depending on the nature of the problem. Isolate affected plants from healthy plants for up to 30 days.
Avoid overwatering and insufficient light, depending on the requirements of your plants.
Not planning to keep your holiday poinsettia? Your plant, including the soil (but not the pot), can be disposed of in food waste drop-off stations throughout Winnipeg.
Organize all the supplies you will need for seed starting and determine the dates for when to start your seeds indoors.
Keep a record of all your ideas for what you want to plant when spring arrives!
Native garden landscape plans
Would you like to design a garden with native plants this year but aren’t sure where to start?
Recently, I came across a website that offers free, downloadable native garden designs created by professional landscape designers. Note that the garden designs are appropriate for multiple regions in the United States.
Still, Wild Ones is an excellent resource for tips on climate-resilient landscaping. The plant list for Minneapolis, for example, can be useful in Winnipeg, so long as the plants are matched to Zone 3 plant species or cultivars that are available from one of Manitoba’s local native plant nurseries.
Aside from the plant list on the Wild Ones website — which includes plants that are not hardy to our Zone 3b climate — you may find the free downloadable native garden layouts useful.
Are there any Canada-based, free, downloadable guides for growing native plants? Yes!
In Our Nature is an Ontario-based company which offers free, downloadable guides on “The Principles of Natural Garden Design” and “Choosing the Right Native Plants for Your Garden.”
I downloaded both guides and found the information they provide to be useful, although the guides do not include actual planting templates.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is another good resource with useful tips on planning a native garden such as developing layers, planting hedges, studying the site of your garden, etc.
Native Plant Club
Interested to learn more about plants native to Manitoba? The Prairie Originals Native Plant Club offers a unique hands-on opportunity to explore the natural and cultivated areas of the new home of Prairie Originals, 82051 Rd, 30 E, St. Clements.
Native plants garden design (Val Thomson photo)
The club will meet once a month. Activities include plant propagation, seed saving, and more. To register, email kelly@prairieoriginals.com.
Shrub discontinued
In a recent conversation with Sheldon Falk, owner of Falk Nurseries located in New Bothwell, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut will be discontinued.
An introduction in 2022 by Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota, this handsome shrub offered gardeners deep purple foliage in summer and burgundy foliage in fall, along with edible nuts.
However, Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut has met with production hiccups because of inconsistent foliage colour, said Falk.
“You grow them and you seed them out from seed and a quarter to half of them are green,” he says. “Then the next year you put them in pots and half of those are green and the third year, another half of them are green.”
Falk planted four of the hazelnut shrubs in his yard. “So far, I haven’t had any trouble. They all stayed purple.”
Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut has edible nuts, purple fall colour (Bailey Nurseries)
Debbie Innes hasn’t had any trouble with the Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut shrub, either. Innes, who is actively involved in planting and maintaining the gardens at Albrin Park in Waverley Heights, planted several Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut shrubs a few years ago.
“They were richly coloured last year. They did well in spite of the drought,” said Innes.
Despite reports of successes, we know that not all plant introductions remain commercially available for one reason or another: lack of demand, or as in this case, production issues or inconsistent performance.
Are you growing Purple Leaf Bailey Select Hazelnut? Reply to this email to tell us about your experience!
Mushroom-powered toilet
On Sept. 26, the world’s first mushroom-powered toilet, called the MycoToilet, was unveiled at the UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver.
Developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia, the MycoToilet uses mycelium — the vegetative part or root structure of mushrooms — to compost human waste into nutrient-rich soil.
The MycoToilet: the world’s first mushroom-powered toilet (Joseph Dahmen photo)
It’s an amazing story that is a testament to the incredible potential of fungi for a range of uses in a sustainable future.
Check out this article for more information.
Favourite plants of 2025
Dahlia Brown Sugar and Dahlia Maarn
“I bought the dahlia tubers last spring when I was at Southlands Nursery in Vancouver visiting Thomas Hobbs (nursery owner). They both performed beautifully.”
Dahlia Brown Sugar
Dahlia Maarn
— Marilyn Dudek
Boundless Bright Sky Tree Peony
“A tree peony is a woody shrub that does not die back to the ground in winter. Boundless Bright Sky tree peony is a lovely peony. It came from Cricket Hill in Connecticut. It came up in spring, flowered, and then the rabbits ate it past the graft and that was that.”
Boundless Bright Sky
— Sandra Venton
Fiesta Calendula
“The seeds were purchased from Salt Spring Seeds. I started them indoors in April. Fiesta Calendula was my favourite because of its splash of vibrancy in the garden, and the deer wouldn’t touch it.”
Fiesta Calendula
— Cheryl Geske
Pincushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
“My thing lately is mosses. I got interested in Leucobryum glaucum because I was building terraria. It’s a temperate moss that grows commonly in the East (Eastern North America) but I discovered it also grows here in Manitoba. I tried very hard for awhile to find it. Microscopically, this plant is stunning.”
Pincushion moss
— Carla Zelmer
Zinnias
“I nominate any and all zinnias! Living in Riverview, the deer are constant companions. Deer and rabbits, though, are generally not interested in zinnias. They are almost squirrel proof, too.”
— Louise Sloan
Fishbone cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
“I had seven beautiful blooms when I brought my fishbone cactus indoors last fall. The bloom opens at night with a strong scent and dies in the morning, so you can easily miss the blooming.”
Fishbone cactus flower
— Lilian Tankard
Lathyrus odoratus Henry Eckford sweet pea
“I love sweet peas. This is an old variety (named after the 19th-century Scottish horticulturist, Henry Eckford). It is salmon orange in colour and has deeply scented flowers.”
— Mick Manfield
Angel Wings Senecio and El Brighto Coleus
“Both these plants have their strengths. Angel Wings Senecio has amazing foliage – it’s so soft, fuzzy and silvery! Plus, drought tolerant. I love the name ‘El Brighto.’ It is so very bright and colourful for a coleus.”
Coleus El Brighto
— Alyssa Rempel
Thalictrum delavayi Blizzard
“It’s a pure white thalictrum (meadow rue) that is more compact than the pink variety. It looks very delicate and gossamer-like. It’s not available in Manitoba. I started it from seed (from a seed company in England) and it has proven to be very hardy!”
— Tim Evans
Sedum Thunderhead
“Thunderhead sedum is a tall sedum that did very well (planted) on the roof. It thrived actually in wind and harsh conditions. I grew it from cuttings that my friend, Sandra Venton, gave me. It multiplied quickly. The flowerheads were a deep cherry red.”
— Naomi Wiebe
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
“My favourite perennial for 2025 is Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). It has a curious spathe and spike blooms. It’s elongated seedheads glow bright red in the shade. But between bloom and seed, there remains an umbrella of large tripartite leaves on long, strong stems that stay healthy and green from spring until late fall with no browning, toppling, disease or pest damage. It is hardy to Zone 3 and grows about 45 cm tall.”
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
— Leanne Dowd
Hoya carnosa variegata Tricolour
“This variety of Hoya is my favourite indoor plant, but I’d like it a lot better if it chose to bloom. But it does remain healthy despite neglect!”
Hoya carnosa variegata Tricolor
— Darlene Stack
Nepeta catmint and yellow calendula
“Perennial blue catmint (nepeta) was huge in my front flower garden in 2025. At times, bees covered the entire plant! It was absolutely beautiful. Annual yellow calendula was another beautiful plant last year. I’m a member of the Herb Society of Manitoba and we grew yellow calendula in the Herb Garden we maintain at Assiniboine Park. Both these varieties are simply beautiful plants for the garden.”
— Dawn Hicks
Green Gage tomato and Grightmires Pride tomato
“I adore tomatoes. Two of my favourite varieties in 2025 were Green Gage and Grightmires Pride, which I bought from Heritage Harvest Seeds. Green Gage tomato with small yellow fruit really surprised me. I do not normally care for a yellow tomato, but the size and flavour were really excellent.
“Grightmires Pride is a huge heart-shaped, meaty pink tomato with superb flavour. It’s my personal number one pick!”
Green Gage small yellow tomato
— Laura Rawluk
Orinico Feverfew
“As a flower farmer, I grow several varieties of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) but Orinico feverfew, a semi-double variety, was my favourite in 2025. I purchased seed from Stems Flower Farm which is based in Ontario. While feverfew is typically sold as an annual plant, many of my feverfew plants perform as perennials. It is super easy to grow from seed.”
Orinico Feverfew
— Glenda MacPhee
Five flower favourites
“These were my 2025 favourites: Opuntia Pony, a winter hardy cactus; Dara Chocolate Lace Flower, a colourful annual that self seeds; Royal Ensign Dwarf Morning Glory; Dahlia Kenora Valentine; and Clematis Arabella.”
Opuntia Pony cactus
Dara Chocolate Lace Flower
Royal Ensign Dwarf Morning Glory
Dahlia Kenora Valentine
Clematis Arabella
— Anthony Steffes
A selection of annual favourites
“I’m an annual gal. Ageratum Monarch Magic was new in 2025 — what a performer! It easily held its own in a mixed planter. Full and floriferous all season and a light sweet scent. Monarch butterflies loved it.
“Under the Sea Barracuda Coleus is my all-time favourite coleus. The colours are amazing and change as the season progresses.
“Whopper Begonia is my go-to annual for drought situations. It’s a vigorous grower that just blooms and blooms, sun or shade.
“I tried Desert Flame Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) for the first time in 2025 and loved it. Bright, sunny, whimsical and a solid performer all season.
“Supertunias are the best petunias, in my opinion, due to their vigorous growth. Supertunia Tiara Pink was new for 2025 and wow, did it perform! It has a lovely star-shaped bloom of white in the middle which makes it stunning day or night.
“European Smoketree shrub is gorgeous. I walk by it almost every day in my neighbourhood and stop to admire it all the time. The colour is dark and rich — brighter red towards the tips — and the texture of the round leaves is spectacular.”
— Pat Palanuk
Gardens of Scotland
The grandeur of castles, gardens and stunning views that Scotland is famed for will form the focus of a tour hosted by master gardener Linda Dietrick, May 6-17, 2026.
Drummond Castle (Kenny Lam / VisitScotland)
Tour highlights include:
- Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
- Drummond Castle
- Gordon Castle and Walled Garden
- Inverewe Garden
- Dunrobin Castle and Garden
- Highland Cattle Farm
For details and the itinerary, click here.
Fleurs de Villes returns
Back by popular demand, Fleurs de Villes will presents its third floral exhibition at The Leaf from Jan. 15 to 25.
When Fleurs de Villes premiered its first floral extravaganza at The Leaf in 2024, visitors were enthralled by the gorgeous creations by local florists.
The Assiniboine Park Conservancy is thrilled to welcome Fleurs de Villes to The Leaf for the third year in a row, where visitors will have a chance to see fifteen stunning floral mannequins dressed from head to toe in an extravagant display of fresh flowers and natural materials.
The Fleurs de Villes exhibit at The Leaf last February. (Colleen Zacharias)
This year’s theme celebrates iconic landscapes, rare botanical treasures and natural phenomena. The display will be set in the Mediterranean Biome and Babs Asper Display House at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park.
For the full list of participating florists and to purchase your tickets in advance, click here.
The Gardens Trust series
The Gardens Trust is the U.K.’s national charity dedicated to researching, protecting, and conserving historic parks, gardens, and designed landscapes.
Throughout the year, the Gardens Trust offers a series of online presentations which explore the history of gardening including in-depth profiles of horticultural pioneers and plant hunters who continue to influence gardening today.
- Woman Crossing Boundaries showcases female pioneers in landscape design. Six online talks each Wednesday starting Jan. 14. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.
- Empires, Plants and Gardening explores the influence of political and economic power on garden-making. Eight talks each Tuesday, starting Jan. 20, with participation from English Heritage, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Gardens Trust. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Mark your calendars
- The Herb Society of Manitoba welcomes Dave Hanson from Sage Garden Greenhouses on Jan. 19 for a presentation, Mid-winter Tune-up for Indoor Herbs. Conference room A01, Canadian Mennonite University, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. (south campus), 7 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $5.
The early bird gets the worm. Reserve your spot at these upcoming events by pre-registering:
- On Feb. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Canadian Mennonite University, the Manitoba Master Gardener Association will host a screening of Agatha’s Almanac, winner of the Best Canadian Feature Documentary at the Hot Docs film festival in 2025.The screening will be held in the Lecture Hall at CMU’s South Campus, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Tickets are $10 for MMGA members, $15 for guests. For tickets and more details, click here.
- On Feb. 19, the Manitoba Nursery and Landscape Association will host its annual Grow Show, Manitoba’s premier green industry conference, at CanadInns Polo Park, 1405 St. Matthews Ave. For details on speakers, workshops, and registration, click here.
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