MGAA: Grounded in Science - Fall Symposium
2021-11-20 09:00 - 14:30 (America/Edmonton)
Join us for our Fall Symposium on getting back to the basics of gardening, grounded in science.
The digital world bombards us with gardening trends, current and not-so current fads. How to sort fact from fiction is challenging. Join the MGAA as we explore gardening practices that are Grounded in Science.
Join Robert Pavlis, of Garden Fundamentals, as he looks at the many positive attributes of creating environmentally-friendly bog gardens and how to build these sans mosquitoes.
Then Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, one of the Garden Professors, will tackle fact-based gardening practices dispelling many current popular myth-based gardening trends.
Please download Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott’s “Garden Zombies! Myths that will not die”:
DownloadPDF
We round out our day with Larry Hodgson, The Laidback Gardener, as he takes us on a tour of the world’s most beautiful Botanic Gardens and the important research and conservation work being done there.
Join us for a clarifying, fact-filled garden conversation.
Note: Talks will be available to ticket holders for 1 week following the symposium.

MGAA Board Meeting via Zoom
2021-11-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-01-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-02-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-03-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton)

MGAA: Xeriscaping and Water-wise Gardening
2021-11-29 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Planting solutions for a dry land with Joanna Tschudy.

Calgary can be a tough place to garden- heavy clay soils, short growing season, cold nights, midsummer hailstorms, sporadic rainfall, hungry wildlife- these are just some of the challenges unique to our high and dry climate. Xeriscaping and water-wise gardening bring solutions and balance. Learn what methods work best and how to implement resourceful planning and resilient design to ensure your green spaces are adapting and thriving!
Joanna Tschudy is the owner of Inhabit Landscape Design & Consultation, a Calgary-based company that specializes in merging her background in horticulture and visual arts with the rich experiences of 25 years in the landscape and garden industry. Whether it is in person, on the radio or television, Joanna loves sharing her expertise and helping Calgarians use their outdoor spaces to their fullest potential.

MGAA: A Lifetime of Lessons from a Tree Whisperer
2021-12-06 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Join author, arborist and tree guru Kevin Lee, the ‘Tree Whisperer’ as he talks ‘trees’.
Kevin Lee, a student of Dr Alex Shigo, has been an arborist in Calgary since the 80s and runs a holistic tree service, krltreeeservice.com .
He is the author of , Your trees, what they want you to know, a lifetime of lessons from a tree whisperer, published this year by Lee Valley tools. A book that focuses on zone 3 tree care.
Kevin advocates a healthy, chemical free tree care practise, where a deeper knowledge of the tree itself, the soil it lives in and regular deep watering usually give you a strong tree that needs little else. These practices free you up from the , business as usual, of many tree services.
Once the pattern of the healthy tree is in your mind and an understanding of what is normal, any abnormality will jump out, because regular through visual inspections are as important as anything else you do

Merry and Bright - DIY Seasonal Displays
2021-12-09 08:00 - 19:00 (America/Edmonton)
Merry and Bright – DIY Seasonal Displays
Presenter: Linda Mulligan
For those who would like to see something other than snow during the cold weather months, this presentation, by Linda Mulligan, will share how to create colorful outdoor arrangements for a reasonable cost that will provide visual interest all winter long. Indoor arrangements for home use or gift giving will be part of this presentation. No previous experience required. Join me as I share my experiences in creating outdoor displays (including my mistakes!) as well as tips on where, when and how to obtain materials on where, when and how to obtain materials on a budget. This is a free talk. To register go to alixmuseum@gmail.com

MGAA Virtual Christmas Social via Zoom
2021-12-15 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton)
Please RSVP to Verne at events-south@mgaab.org.

University of Saskatchewan - Winter Compost Tips
2022-01-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Regina)
2-hour class. Composting outdoors works great during the spring, summer, and fall. But what can we do when the winter hits? Lisa Howse with the Saskatoon Compost Coaches will share tips and tricks to get the most out of an outdoor compost in winter, as well as alternative indoor methods. There will be time for questions at the end of the session.
Free 2 hour, live-streamed class provided through our Healthy Yards Partnership and funded by the City of Saskatoon.
Register here or call 306-966-5539. Registration closes one hour before the class starts.
7PM CST
Format
This class is offered in an online, live-stream format that you can access from your computer, phone or tablet. Your distance class will include your instructor and their presentation live on-screen and the ability for you to ask questions through the course chat. You will not receive a recording nor handouts for this class, but we’re confident you will get good educational value.

Toronto MGs - Virtual Technical Update - Ecological Gardening
2022-01-08 09:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto)
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Theme: Ecological Gardening
Date: Saturday January 8, 2022
Time: 9:00am-2:30pm (“Doors open” at 9:00am, meeting starts at 9:15am)
Place: Online (via Zoom)
Price: $30 per person
This event is open to the public
Click here for more details and registration link

MGAA: Native Grasses of Alberta
2022-01-10 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Join Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed, from ALCLA Native Plants, for a talk on growing Native Grasses.

There has been much interest in growing native flowers, shrub and trees, however native grasses haven’t had much attention. Let Latifia be your guide of the beauty of the humble grass and growing them in our gardens.
Eventbrite Tickets

Low Water Perennials for the Prairies with Verne Williams
2022-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton)
Join Verne for a FREE talk on “Low Water Perennials for the Prairies”.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89710894561?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 1089 4561
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 1089 4561
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Urban Forestry Today
2022-01-13 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Safety Update

Dr. John Ball, South Dakota State University, will return to the ‘Urban Forestry Today’ Noonhour (Eastern) webcast on Thurs Jan 13 to provide an update about safe work practices for arboriculture & urban forestry professionals.
Attend live & receive Free ISA/MCA CEUs by clicking here or by visiting www.joinwebinar.com & entering: 905-048-147

View archived webcasts on the ‘Urban Forestry Today’ website.

Wildscaping: Naturalistic Planting Design for North of the 49th Parallel
2022-01-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Edmonton)

MGAA: Seed Collecting in Kyrgyzstan
2022-01-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Join Yaro Horachek on a trek through Kyrgyzstan in search of native plants.
Come join Yaro Horachek for a photo-rich travel documentary describing his alpine seed collecting trips through Eastern Asia. The plants are unique and the mountainous views are stunning. Yaro is a knowledgeable alpine gardener and great story teller describing his adventures through Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and others.
Eventbrite Tickets

Urban Forestry Today
2022-02-03 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Climate Change & Urban Trees: What Does the Future Hold?
Dr. Leslie Brandt, USDA Forest Service & Madeline Baroli, NIACS, will join the ‘Urban Forestry Today’ Noonhour (Eastern) webcast on Thurs Feb 03 to discuss how a changing climate may impact the future of our urban forests.
Attend live & receive Free ISA/MCA CEUs by clicking here or by visiting www.joinwebinar.com & entering: 905-049-355

View archived webcasts on the ‘Urban Forestry Today’ website.
Stay in touch by ‘Liking’ the ‘Urban Forestry Today’ Facebook page!

Think Spring
2022-02-05 - 2022-02-06
Join the Calgary Horticultural Society for our Think Spring event!
Get ready for spring and learn tips and tricks to implement in your garden. Our speakers will provide timely tips and offer answers to all your gardening questions. We think spring, we think gardening all seasons. Our expert panel of speakers will be able to provide you the guidance you need. Learn and experience from the comfort of your home or office.
This event is presented by our friends at greengate Garden Centres.
The event will include:

Keynote Speakers
Plant, Soil and Water Experts
Marketplace
50/50 Raffle
Prizes
and much more…

Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for non-members and can be purchased here or from the Ticket tab.

Row Gardening & Containers, Using Yard Space
2022-02-10 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Alix Wagon Wheel Museum is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting with Master Gardener Janet Kan on Row Gardening & Containers, Using Yard Space.
“Between the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons, I re-experienced traditional row gardening and broadened my experience with containers. My resulting observations have led me to re-evaluating how I use my yard space and how I go about gardening as the climate changes and as I age. I still want those fresh veggies and flowers. I want it all. Please join me as I review my observations, experiences and lessons learned.”
Janet Kan:
Time: Feb 10, 2022 07:00 PM Edmonton
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87170600672?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 871 7060 0672
Passcode: [REDACTED]

MGAA: The Science of Soil
2022-02-28 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Exploring the ‘heavy’ side of soil with Mike Dorion
Lets dive into the nitty gritty of the soil and what is actually happening down there. We will get up close and personal with the microbes in our soils and leave with an understanding of their roles. If we can understand how to support them then they can do their jobs and support our plants.
Hi I am Mike D, aka the Compost Kid.
Starting with a Gardening class put on by the Calgary Horticulture Society, I became immersed. It continued with my Permaculture Design Certificate, Compost Facility Operators Certificate, and mentoring in Soil and Soil Microbiology. I am currently working on my Soil Food Web Advisor role with the Life in the Soil program put on by Elaine Ingham, and am one of the founders of Highfield Farm an Urban Ag Pilot program with the City of Calgary and Compost Council of Canada.

TICKETS

Perennials of the Year - Have They Stood the Test of Time
2022-02-28 19:00 (America/Winnipeg)
Tickets
Note: this Event will be Central Standard Time

MGAA: Sexual Pollination with Janet Melrose
2022-03-02 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Seeds are Sexy!

Seeds are really just sexual propagation, but they are ‘sexy’, as in ‘the rage’, these days. Forget buying seedlings from the stores….we can grow our own.
This talk will focus on: the botany of seeds; techniques for breaking dormancy; sowing and growing to seedling stage indoors and outside; savings seeds and storage. We will be discussing both annual and perennial seeds; heirloom, open pollinated, hybrid, GM and GE seeds; and the need to rebuild the diversity of species at the local and international level.

Janet Melrose is ‘Calgary’s Cottage Gardener’- Garden consultant, coach, educator and Horticultural Therapist. Her motto is ‘Grow, Nurture, and Bloom’.
She shares her passion for gardening and knowledge through workshops and writing for ‘The Gardener for Cold Climates’ and ‘Calgary Gardening’ magazines, and now co-author with Sheryl Normandeau for the Guides for Prairie Gardeners series of books.

Tickets

Growing Native Plants
2022-03-12 08:30 - 16:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Registration

Tending Gardens, Nurturing Hope
2022-03-12 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver)
Register for this Event
“Tending Gardens, Nurturing Hope”
Saturday, March 12, 2022
9 am to noon PST
Join us for the 12th annual Cabin Fever Gardening Symposium, titled this year “Tending Gardens, Nurturing Hope” a fun, inspiring, and informational virtual event beginning Saturday, March 12. This year’s focus will be on sustainable gardening – developing the skills you need so that your garden works with nature, not against nature. Saturday morning at nine o’clock we begin the symposium by live streaming two notable Principal Speakers both known throughout the nation for their work in ecological sustainability. Presentations conclude at noon.

MGAA: Insect Pests and Their Natural Enemies
2022-03-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Insect Pests and Their Natural Enemies with Scott Meer,
Insect pests can cause havoc on farmers crops and urban gardens. In the past the common approach has been to reach for insecticides but increasingly both farmers and urban gardeners have been partnering with mother nature to help with control. Natural enemies of insects can be our friends but how effective are they and how do we work with them? Lets take a tour of the world of natural enemies and discover the possibilities.
This session will be recorded and available to ticket holders for 1 week following the presenation.
Scott received his BSc in Agriculture from the University of Alberta in 1982 and MSc in Entomology (Biological Control of Wheat Stem Sawfly) from Montana State University in 2002. Scott has served the agriculture industry as a District Agriculturist, Regional Conservation Coordinator, Crop Specialist and Provincial Entomologist. After 35 years of public service, Scott retired and started a private consulting practice (Mayland Ag Consulting) and now works one on one with horticultural and broad acre producers, providing planning, scouting and problem-solving advice. In his spare time, Scott is an avid gardener, cross country skier and sailor.
Tickets

Calgary Seedy Saturday
2022-03-19 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Edmonton) | Winston-Heights Mountview Community Association, 520 27 Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 2A6, Canada
Seedy Saturday is back in person for 2022! Saturday, March 19 from 10am to 3pm at Winston-Heights Mountview Community Association (520 27 Ave NE). This is a free, drop-in event.

Please note that while masking is no longer required, it is strongly encouraged for the safety of all participants.
Calgary Seedy Saturday is keeping the skill of growing from seed to seed alive in Calgary. As large commercial seed companies consolidate and only offer more hybrids and patented varieties, we are increasingly losing the regionally adapted collections that have developed in our unique prairie climate.

Calgary Seedy Saturday is part of the worldwide Seedy Saturday/Sunday events that celebrate open-pollinated seeds.

Contact Information
You can reach us at calgaryseedysaturday@gmail.com, or visit our facebook page.

Edmonton Seedy Sunday
2022-03-20 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
EDMONTON SEEDY SUNDAY
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March 20, 2022
1 pm – 4 pm
Online this year, in partnership with Edmonton Public Library
Register here
Schedule
​
Vendors
The speakers and film are FREE.
Please consider donating to
​Seeds of Diversity who are offering the film without charge to all
Seedy Saturday/Sunday events.
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Spring Affair 2022
2022-03-27 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver)
Register for this Event

MGAA: Spring Symposium, Grounded in Science.
2022-04-02 09:00 - 14:30 (America/Edmonton)
MGAA Grounded in Science Spring Symposium with; Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Marianne Wilburn, and Gary Lewis.

It’s never too early to start planning the summer garden. Our trio of fabulous speakers will help us create our best gardens yet.
Gary Lewis is the creative genius behind Phoenix Perennials. Gary is a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker and will surely delight with his recommendations for Avoiding the Summer Doldrums.
Marianne Wilburn, the Small Town Gardener, is an internationally renowned speaker, columnist and author. Her topic of How to Grow Tropical Plants in Cold Climates will be sure to inspire some tropicalismo in the garden.
It’s time to get down and dirty once again with Dr Linda Chalker- Scott who returns to our symposium stage to enlighten us on the mysteries of Soil Testing.
These session will be recorded and avaiable to ticket holders for 1 week following the presentation.

Tickets

'NATIVE GARDENS FOR NATURE'S SAKE' - MGOI North Region MG Technical Day
2022-04-09 08:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto)
TICKETS
Doug Tallamy, Heather Holm & Joseph Pitawanakwat present topics on Protection and Conservation of Native Plants for our Ecosystem.

Virtual Doors open at 8:30am
Doug Tallamy 9:00am – 10:30am
“Nature’s Best Hope”
Heather Holm 11:00am – 12:30pm
“Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees”
Joseph Pitawanakwat 1:00pm – 2:30pm
“Understanding Awaadiziwin (knowledge/culture) and its role in achieving Bimaadiziwin (life)”
Tech Day closes at 3:00pm
Doug Tallamy
“Nature’s Best Hope”
Recent headlines about global insect declines and three billion fewer breeding birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. To create landscapes that enhance local ecosystems rather than degrade them, we must add the plant communities that sustain food webs, sequester carbon, maintain diverse native bee communities, and manage our watersheds. Native plants do all of these things better than plants from other continents. If we do this on our private properties, we can create Homegrown National Park, a network of viable habitats that will provide vital corridors connecting the natural areas that remain. This approach to conservation empowers everyone to play a significant role in the future of the natural world and thus our own future.
Doug’s Bio
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 106 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021. His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.
Heather Holm
“Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees”
When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered-and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees in our Northern ecosystem.
Join pollinator conservationist and author Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees. Learn about pollen specialists, the presentation of floral resources, and how the physical characteristics of bees can influence their effectiveness as pollinators. Heather will also discuss ways to manage landscapes to enhance bee diversity, plant selection considerations, and ultimately how to think like a bee!
Heather’s Bio
Heather Holm is a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author. In addition to assisting with native bee research projects, she informs and educates audiences nationwide, through her writing and many presentations, about the fascinating world of native pollinators and beneficial insects, and the native plant communities that support them. Her first book, Pollinators of Native Plants, was published in 2014, and her second book, Bees, published in 2017, has won six book awards including the 2018 American Horticultural Society Book Award. Her latest book, Wasps, was published in February 2021. Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps occurring in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Currently, she is working on three projects with volunteers, restoring approximately ten acres of city-owned park land in her neighborhood for pollinators and people.

Joe Pitawanakwat
“Understanding Awaadiziwin (knowledge/culture) and its role in achieving Bimaadiziwin (life)”
Story-telling plant medicine knowledge and its role in the management of the Chronic Disease Epidemic and associated morbidities. We discuss disease pathology and why culture is the only appropriate intervention. We will acknowledge various cultural components as unique humans gifts necessary for life and healing.
We will focus, of course, on the (provided) plant medicines and understanding its mechanism. With us all at a solid understanding of this knowledge (awaadiziwin) and how it is required to achieve life itself (bimaadiziwin) the conversation then, necessarily focuses on the unique human ability to engage in reciprocal relationships with medicines themselves, and our roles and responsibilities to Aki, the land.
Joe’s Bio
Joseph Pitawanakwat is an educator who specializes in plant based medicine. He is the founder and director of Creators Garden. He is from Wiikwemkoong unceded territory. Joseph will share traditional Anishinaabe plant knowledge, that his grandmother taught him. He has continued to increase his knowledge in an attempt to preserve the language specific to plant names and how they were used for generations. We need to learn the names of native plants, why they have that name, what gifts they have, how we can help them and why we need to spend time with native plants.
