Is there anything more enjoyable than growing plants and creating a beautiful garden space? Shopping for plants and writing about plants has got to be right up there, too.

Hi, I’m Colleen Zacharias. I write about gardens, gardeners and growers and gardening tips in my column every Saturday in the Homes section of the Winnipeg Free Press, and now I’ll be writing this monthly newsletter about gardening in southern Manitoba.

I am a certified master gardener and graduate of the Prairie Horticulture Certificate program. My first column in the Free Press was in 2010 and the topic was hydrangeas, my favourite plant. I grow more than 70 hydrangeas along with countless pollinator-friendly perennials in my large urban garden in south Winnipeg.

My project this year is to create a colourful garden in dense shade using a mix of chartreuse and silver-leaved plants.

I would love to hear about your garden and gardening plans — and more about what you’d like to see in this newsletter!