Master Gardeners Association of Alberta

St Albert Backyard Gardening Group Seed Swap
2025-03-08 13:00 - 18:00 (America/Edmonton)
More information to come. Save the Date.

Vancouver Master Gardeners Spring Seminar 2025 – Grow Different –Ideas to Transform your Garden
2025-03-09 09:00 - 15:00
Vancouver Master Gardeners Spring Seminar 2025 – Grow Different – ideas to transform your garden.
Special Guest Fergus Garrett of Great Dixter, England
Succession Planting: Creating a Multi-Season Garden – Fergus Garrett
Ecological Gardening: Supporting the Biodiversity that Works for You – Elizabeth Elle
Urban Gardens of the Future – Saba Farmand
Edible Gardens, the Way Nature Intended – In Layers – Chris Chung
Plus, our Gardening Marketplace

Sunday March 9th 9am- 3pm Michael J Fox Theatre, Burnaby

Event Activities – Gardening Vendors, Sea Soil Sale, & Door Prizes!
Early Bird Tickets: $55 until January 15th, 2025
Regular Tickets: $65 from January 16th, 2025
Recordings Only: $35 for one month of viewing – so if you are away you can still see our speakers!
For more information – Click Here
To Register – Click Here

MGAA: Symposium
2025-03-16 09:00 - 15:00 | via ZOOM
Join Myrna Pearman, Gerard Fournier and Robert Pavlis for the MGAA’s Symposium: Ground in Science.

Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home with Myrna Pearman

Join Myrna Pearman, lead author of NatureScape Alberta: Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home as she outlines current conservation concerns related to biodiversity and offers suggestions about what we can do as gardeners to provide habitat in our own yards and gardens. Myrna oversaw the development of the gardens at Ellis Bird Farm into demonstration “Naturescapes” and led research, conservation and education efforts to raise awareness about the importance of backyard biodiversity.
Myrna Pearman is a retired biologist as well as a best-selling author, enthusiastic nature photographer and writer, kayaker and backroads rambler. She is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), the Resident Naturalist for Mother Nature’s Seed, and is actively involved with the Red Deer River Naturalists. She lives on the south shore of Sylvan Lake, AB. www.myrnapearman.com
Planting With Natives with Gerald Fournier

Planting native trees and shrubs makes a lot of sense in our challenging climate. Join Gerard as he discusses some of the traditional uses and stories behind these important and beautiful plants, the biology behind how they have adapted to our growing conditions and best planting practices to ensure success.
Gerard has been in love with trees most of his life, and started his first tree service company at the age of seventeen. Since then, after two other tree outfits and eight years work with a major tree service company in Calgary, Gerard founded his own tree service and tree nursery in Didsbury, Alberta, back in 2000. Serving the industry on various boards and professional organizations most of his career, Gerard has also been a Community Adviser for Tree Canada in Southern Alberta since 2007. Board Certified Master Arborist, Red Sealed Journeyman Landscape Horticulturist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, Gerard spends most of his time in the winters as a part time sessional instructor teaching apprentices at Olds College. Specializing in tree retention consultations and afforestation projects, Gerard is happy to be sharing his knowledge abundantly with all those who love and work with trees!
Climate Change from a Gardeners Perspective with Robert Pavlis

This program starts by asking a key question, is climate change real, and the answer will surprise you. How does global warming affect gardening and how should we change the way we do things in the garden? What can gardeners do to reduce their effect on CO2 levels? We’ll discuss invasives, tilling, composting, and water use in terms of their impact on the environment. Carbon sequestration in soil is key and this has led to several soil management myths which need to be debunked.
Robert Pavlis is a well-known speaker, educator and myth buster with over 40 years of gardening experience. He is an award winning author of several books, Food Science for Gardeners, Building Natural Ponds, Soil Science for Gardeners, Plant Science for Gardeners, Compost Science for Gardeners, Microbe Science for Gardeners and Garden Myths and publishes the popular gardening blog; GardenMyths.com and a YouTube Channel; Garden Fundamentals. As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden, he grows 3,000 varieties of plants.
Robert Pavlis
Published books: Garden Myths, Food Science for Gardeners, Plant Science for Gardeners, Soil Science for Gardeners
Microbe Science for Gardeners, Compost Science for Gardeners and Building Natural Ponds
Blog: Garden Myths
YouTube Channel: Garden Fundamentals
Facebook Groups: Garden Fundamentals and Building Natural Ponds

Tickets: Members $35.00 — MGAA Students $25.00 — General Admission $45.00
Talks will be recorded and available to ticket holders for 7 days after the symposium.
Click here for Eventbrite and more ticket information. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mgaa-symposium-tickets-1231033096129?aff=oddtdtcreator

United Nations World Water Day
2025-03-22
See World water day at:
https//www.un.org/en/observances/water-day

MGAA: Success with Succession
2025-03-27 19:00 - 20:00 | via ZOOM
“The foundation of a successful garden lies in healthy soil, which provides plants with essential nutrients, water and support for growth, so this talk will provide a learning opportunity to understand and improve your soil as a crucial component for a thriving garden.”

General Public $15.00 — Members FREE
This is a zoom presentation. The talk will be available to 1 week for ticket holders to view.
The Eventbrite link is: Success with Succession Tickets, Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

EHS: Joe Gadbois – New perennials for 2025
2025-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 | via ZOOM
About Joe
Joe Gadbois has been gardening most of his life. He developed a passion for hardy lady’s slipper orchids at the age of 10 that quickly branched out into an intense interest in multiple areas of outdoor and indoor gardening. Joe is the Perennials Department Manager at Greenland Garden Centre, where he has worked for the past 16 years. He works closely with growers to source the highest quality and most exciting prairie-hardy perennials from all over the world. Joe is also a co-host of the popular Garden Show on 880 CHED.

Lions Recreation Centre, 11113 -113 Street NW Edmonton.
Doors at 6:30pm Speaker at 7pm

General Public Zoom $5. In person $10. — Members Zoom or in person Free

Seedy Saturday/ Spring Market at Red Brick Common, Edmonton
2025-04-05 10:00 - 15:00
Seedy Saturday/ Spring Market at Red Brick Common on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Event Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Event Details:

Location: PERC – Red Brick Common, 5413 51 St, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B8 – Home of the Organic Master Gardening Program

Vendor Highlights (26 Total)

A’Bunadh Seeds: Heirloom vegetable seeds

Arnica Wildflowers: Native plants, seeds, and books

Bee Inspired ��: Honey and flower seeds

Broadview Farms: Fresh fruits and vegetables

Cracked Cauldron 3D: Planters and spring-themed items

Froggy’s Greenhouse: Seedlings, upcycled planters, and accessories

Grow Joy Farm: House plant cuttings and seedling starts

Heart & Hide: Sewing items and Indigenous crafts

Jessica Semenoff Art: Nature-inspired art and stationery

Linda Kondysar: Various botanical knit items

Medieval Manor Gardens: Edible/medicinal plants and baked goods

Melissa’s Floral Design: Fresh bouquets and dried floral creations

MO JO Garden Centre: Herbs, cacti, tomato plants, and spa products

Mulch Pros: Mulch services, resources

Pam’s Garden Screens: Garden Screens

Prairie Cedar Creations: Cedar planters and garden furniture

Pura Vida Creations: Organic Bath Salts, soap, and essential oil rollers from Native Alberta Plants

REsourceful Rustic: Birdfeeders, wind chimes, and plant pokes

Stone Piles Studio: Prints, mugs, stickers, and scarves inspired by nature

Sourdough Lady: Sourdough products

The Eclectic Earthworm: Hoyas and tropical houseplants

The Garden Blend / Just Garlic Farm: Dried herbs, spices, garlic, and horseradish products

The Pot Shop: Quirky planters and gardening supplies

Valvanera Echevarria (Echevarria): House plants, veggies/herbs, and terrariums

Vintage Supply By Shannon: Jewelry, bird feeders, wind chimes made from vintage items

Organizations : Here are the organizations supporting/attending our event with a table:

Canadian Peony Society – First time ever attending an event!!

MGAA (Master Gardeners Association of Alberta)

Organic Master Gardener Program

George Pegg Botanical Garden

Seeds of Diversity Canada

Stony Plain Horticultural Society

Activities: These exciting activities will be available throughout the day:

Kids Table

Live Music by Amanda

Movie Screening: Painting the Modern Garden – Monet to Matisse

Plant Cutting Exchange Table — how fun is that!! bring your cuttings!

Raffle Draw

Seed Exchange Table – feel free to bring some seeds

Speaker Series: Gardening topics throughout the day

Food: Fresh healthy snacks available for purchase

MGAA: Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates with Bob Osborne
2025-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | via ZOOM
Join us for an evening with Bob Osborne, a renowned author with number of publications and books focused on roses and apple trees.
Bob is also the host of a long-running gardening show on CBC Moncton. In addition, he is the owner and operator of Corn Hill Nursery in New Brunswick. His latest book Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates explores the world of apple varieties that can withstand colder climates, making them ideal for regions with harsher winters.

Tickets: General Public $15.00 MGAA Members Free
For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mgaa-join-us-for-an-evening-with-renowned-author-nursery-man-bob-osborne-tickets-1256934307349?aff=oddtdtcreator

We Love Gardening: Spring Gardening Symposium
2025-04-12 13:00 - 17:00
Join us for an enriching and inspiring Gardening Symposium, where local gardening enthusiasts, horticulture experts and nature lovers come together to explore the regenerative and environmentally friendly ways and techniques to cultivate beautiful and sustainable gardens.
This event will take place in-person at The Star of the North Retreat Centre, St Albert.
Early registration ends March 15.
For more information: Click https://www.starofthenorth.ca/register/browse/programs-2/event/we-love-gardening-300/

MGAA: Shirley Cullun on Growing Dahlias and Gladiolus in Alberta
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | via ZOOM
Join us as Shirley Cullum speaks on the Alberta Dahlia and Gladiolus Society, the The Trial Garden at Piper Creek Trail and the Show Garden.
Shirley Cullum loves dahlias and gladiolus and for 50+ years she’s grown them. She is the president of the Alberta Dahlia and Gladiolus Society plus being involved with several other groups focusing on these plants.
An avid gardener all her adult life, she was inspired by her mom. Shirley gardens outside of Three Hills on Cullum Chicken Farm (with no chickens), and love to putter in her greenhouse experimenting with what can be coaxed to life in this climate.
The ADGS oversees the Piper Creek Trial Garden in Red Deer, the only Dahlia and Gladiolus trial-garden in Canada (Moving to Olds College in 2025).

General Public $15.00 — Members FREE Tickets at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mgaa-shirley-cullun-on-growing-dahlias-and-gladiolus-in-alberta-tickets-1290440404989?aff=oddtdtcreator
This is a zoom presentation (Talks are recorded and available to ticket holders for 1 week after the talk).

CHS: Garden Market
2025-04-26 10:00 - 16:30 | Atco Park, 5302 Forand Street SW,, CALGARY,
The Calgary Horticultural Society has been dedicated to helping local gardeners be successful in Calgary’s growing environment for 117 years. The Society provides educational opportunities from talks, workshops, and courses to events. The one-day Gardeners’ Market is one of our signature events held this year at The Commons at ATCO Park | Blue Flame Kitchen.

This event brings gardeners of all experience levels together to discover what’s happening in the local world of gardening and ignites our garden season. Our exhibitors include garden centres, garden service suppliers, garden decor creators, gardening product providers and specialty plant groups (to name a few) – it’s an event dedicated to gardening right here in Calgary!

The demo/speaker stage presentations are included with price of admission. This year, presentations will be held in a separate room!

The Blue Flame Kitchen chefs will be hosting two demonstration classes in their on-site kitchen. Check back soon for registration details!

Our photo contest will be back with the winner selected from the finalists by popular choice voting at the event.

New for 2025 is the return of an open container competition! The favourite container will be selected by event attendee voting.
Watch for container competition details coming soon!

The Commons at ATCO Park
5302 Forand Street SW
CALGARY, AB T3E 7C6
Start:
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM

End:
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM

Check back soon for more information and details for the 2025 Gardeners’ Market!
CHS Website: https://www.calhort.org/whats-happening/classes/#id=1423&cid=771&wid=5101&type=Cal

MGAA: Healthy Soil Food Web with Debbi Weber, The Living Edge Inc.
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | via ZOOM
Thursday, May 22, 2025 – 7:00-8:00pm
A Healthy Soil Food Web
Join us as we explore the microorganisms that form a healthy soil food web and why they are important. Learn how a healthy soil food web leads to increased nutrient cycling for plants, builds soil structure, suppresses pests and disease, and provides nutrient dense food. Debbi Weber is an Alberta Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and president of The Living Edge Inc.
With more than 20 years experience as a consultant, in private industry and local government, Debbi uses her enhanced understanding of the natural environment, asset management, infrastructure and political acumen, to facilitate land development opportunities, collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals, facilitate discussions with stakeholders, and create partnerships with academia, industry and communities to address complex climate-induced challenges. Debbi provides a strategic focus, brings innovative solutions and remains goal oriented to provide clients with value-added results. Her strength is in the details when managing complex projects and working with multiple stakeholders.Currently, working in a strategic capacity within municipal government, Debbi provides research on emerging opportunities and trends in local government, supports developers, and promotes joint regional opportunities for collaboration.
Debbi shares her knowledge and wisdom as an instructor for Alberta’s first and most extensive organic and regenerative Master Gardener program offered through the Heritage Agricultural Society in cooperation with Gaia College and the Society of Organic Urban Landcare (SOUL). She is currently studying to become a Certified Soil Food Web Consultant through Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School. She has a strong passion for regenerative land practices that restore soil and ecosystem health, and improves food security. Debbi’s education includes a B.Sc. in Forest Management, a Forest Technologist diploma, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certification, is a Certified Organic Master Gardener and is also a Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician.
This is a zoom Presentation. Members Free, General Public $15.00
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-healthy-soil-food-web-tickets-1363556878329?aff=erelpanelorg
Ticket holders will have access to a recording for 1 week.

MGAA: Growing Native Wildflowers in Your Urban Garden: A Sustainable Choice By Manna Parseyan
2025-05-29 19:00 - 20:00 | via ZOOM
Growing Native Wildflowers in Your Urban Garden: A Sustainable Choice By Manna Parseyan, Edmonton Native Plant Society and Arnica Wildflowers
on Thursday, May 29 at7:00-8:00pm
Native wildflowers offer rich colours, textures, and seasonal blooms, creating stunning displays year-round. They are low-maintenance, hardy, and adaptable, thriving without fertilizers or pesticides. Resistant to frost, drought, and disease, they support birds, bees, butterflies, and small mammals. Each native garden becomes part of a larger effort to restore habitats. Enrich your life and ecosystem by growing native wildflowers.
Manna Parseyan has a deep love for nature and a passion for the outdoors. A passionate native plant grower and avid birder, Manna holds a B.Sc. in Geology and a Master’s degree in Paleontology. She volunteers with the Edmonton Native Plant Society, delivers talks on local flora and native plant gardening, and plays an active role in the restoration and stewardship of local prairie ecosystems. In 2018, she founded Arnica Wildflowers to help address the lack of native plant sources in the Edmonton area.
Members Free, General Public $15.00
This is a Zoom Presentation.
For Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/growing-native-wildflowers-in-your-urban-garden-a-sustainable-choice-tickets-1363619495619?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite
Ticket holders will have access to the talk’s recording for 1 week.

CRAGS’ 34th Annual Plant Sale: Saturday May 31, 2025
2025-05-31 12:00 - 16:00 | Lakeview Community Association Hall, 6110 – 34th Street SW., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Countdown to this year’s plant sale!

CRAGS’ 34th Annual Plant Sale: Saturday May 31, 2025
CRAGS’ spring plant sale is always a much-anticipated event for alpine garden enthusiasts. If you would like to be added to our emails with the latest news about our plant sale plans, please send an email to newsletter@crags.ca. If you have questions about the plant sale itself please send an email to plantsale@crags.ca
The Plant Sale will be open outdoors from 12 noon till 4 pm at the Lakeview Community Association grounds, 6110 – 34th St SW, Calgary.
This event will be held outdoors with an option to move indoors in case of inclement weather.
The public is invited to shop from 12 noon till 4 pm. No need to come early as there will be lots of plants to choose from.
Come prepared for a cash-only sale, though some vendors are able to accept other forms of payment. Each vendor will handle his or her own payments, so please bring some small denominations of cash. Please bring your own tray or box as our supply is limited.
We’ll have alpine and rock garden plants for sale, and some other larger perennials. Plants suitable for various environments will be available — rock garden, alpine bed, native plant garden, container, or perennial bed. Most plants are from member growers, and are not available at local garden centres.
In addition to our member growers, some local specialty vendors participate in the sale.

Garden Slippers
Limited Tufa Rock will be also availble for sale

High River Garden Tour
2025-06-28 09:00 | Museum of the Highwood 406 1 St SW, High River
The High River Garden Committee warmly invites you to explore six local flower gardens on Sat. June 28.
As a special treat we are pleased to offer you the option to indulge in a traditional Tea experience. Relax and unwind at a harmonious local as you sip on aromatic teas and savour delectable treats, all while basking in the company of fellow garden enthusiasts.
Tickets are $25. – $50..
For more information and tickets go to:

MGAA Garden Tour: Shirley Cullum's Dahlia and Gladiolus Garden
2025-08-17 13:00 - 16:00
Sunday, August 17th at 1 p.m.
Shirley Cullum has invited the Master Gardeners to tour her incredible garden. Shirley is the president of the Alberta Dahlia and Gladiolus Society which runs the only Dahlia and Gladiolus trial garden in Canada. Shirley has an incredible collection with many other flowers and plants.
This is a members only tour but members may bring a guest.
Please register at vmwgardener@gmail.com
for the map to the garden by Three Hill, AB.

MGAA: Preserving Your Harvest to Boost Your Family's Food Security with Jennifer Burns-Robinson
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:30 | via ZOOM
Joins us for an engaging talk on safe, reliable ways to preserve your bounty – whether your garden is big or small.
We’ll also dive into the topic of food security and share practical tips to help your family stay resilient in the face of climate change. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect and ge inspired.
Jennifer Burns-Robinson is an experienced educator in Landscape and Organic Gardening, having taught at NAIT and with Gaia College. She previously served as an instructor and administrator in the Stony Plain Organic Master Gardener program. Now retired from administration, Jennifer is planning to write a book and is actively developing her 3.5 acre property into a productive, sustainable food paradise.
To resister and or for tickets, please email: treasurer@mgaab.org
This is an on-line Zoom event.
Talks are recorded and ticket holder have access for 7 days prior to the talk.

MGAA: Willow Weaving with Candice Cullum
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:30 | via ZOOM
Candice Cullum is a fungi focused wild crafter and wild harvester based in Edgewood BC, and Kneehill County, AB.
“I spend part of the warmer months volunteering as the Red Deer regional coordinator for the Alberta Mycological Society. Having spent the last 10+ years with them leading public forays, I’ve been able to grow my skills immensely through the generous support of this loving wild community. Now with a second home base in Edgewood BC, I’m able to share throughout both the western provinces and have enjoyed traveling to remote fungus festivals and communities throughout BC and Alberta.
With a deep passion for wild fungi I carry a lot of baskets. Which easily lead into my next passion, wild weaving. When the cold weather sets in and I can no longer harvest fungi, I fill my time teaching wild willow weaving from decorative to practical, it’s an art form that allows me to harvest and connect to nature year round.
My mission is to inspire folks no matter their location, age or status in life to go outside and play with nature!”
Free for Master Gardeners members, $15. for General Public.
Sign Up at / or purchase Tickets at: treasurer@mgaab.org
This is a Zoom presentation. The talk is recorded and available to ticket holders for 7 days to review.

Heritage Agricultural Society - Organic Master Gardener Program
2026-01-31 00:00 - 17:00
Heritage Agricultural Society – Organic Master Gardener Program
The Organic Master Gardener program in Stony Plain is Alberta’s first and most extensive organic master gardener program. Under the umbrella of Red Brick Common (formerly the Multicultural Heritage Centre) the program is geared to adult learners of all levels of gardening experience. From those absolutely brand new to the soil, to those who have years of experience in their own yards, or for those who want an addition to a résumé, the OMG program in Stony Plain is an excellent means to enjoyable learning. And this is a certificate program.
The program runs for 9 months, from January to October. Half of the 26 (3 hour) courses are from the Gaia College curriculum (www.gaiacollege.ca) and the other half are locally developed courses created for our north central Alberta soils and growing season. Students receive no tests or exams but are asked to compile a portfolio of work throughout the year.
For a detailed syllabus, go to www.RedBrickCommon.ca/OMG, or send an email to OMG@RedBrickCommon.ca.
