Master Gardeners Association of Alberta

Bees In the Garden - A How To Guide supporting Bee Habitat in your design
2023-04-19 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
In this short session, Eliese will be sharing planting options for container, lawn alternatives, and garden plant selections to support native and not native bee species. She will also share ways in which you can design your space to encourage bee nesting sites and incorporate honey bee colonies into your garden design and summer time hobbies!
Free for Members. $10.35 for non-members

Crags (Calgary Rock and Alpine Garden Society) Rock Gardens of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
2023-04-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Nestled in the ski town of Vail, Colorado at 8,200ft, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is home to many alpine and rock garden plants from North America and beyond. Curator of Plant Collections, Nick Courtens, invites you on an exclusive tour of the various rock gardens that have been built throughout the past 30 years including several crevice gardens, trough gardens, rock walls and even an alpine house full of rare and unusual alpine plants. Learn about the construction of these rock gardens and the plants that grow in this 4.5-acre public botanic garden through stunning pictures and in depth stories.
Free to CRAGS members. Eventbrite link coming soon.

MGAA Board Meeting
2023-04-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-03-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-02-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-01-18 19:00, 2022-12-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-11-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-10-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-09-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) and 3 more dates | via ZOOM

Trees & their ability to adapt to Climate Change
2023-03-29 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
Event free to members of the Master Gardeners Association of Alberta

Aaron Cull is a Master Gardener, holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany & is an ISC certified Arborist. He has owned/operated Evergreen Ltd. for the past 15 years. Aaron decided to take his Master Gardening certification because his customers kept asking him gardening questions that didn’t relate to trees! Read Aaron’s talk outline below:
Trees and their ability to adapt to Climate Change.’ In this presentation I will be discussing best growing strategies to ensure long term survival of trees and improvements that can be made from current standards of practice. This presentation will take a look at nursery stock and progress to the backyard of the consumer. As well as the 5 best trees to grow in Alberta that are currently not susceptible to disease. This will draw from current literature and research studies which will be provided as a separate Literature Cited page at the end of the presentation for further reading.
I am not monetarily being funded by any third party or promoting any one product. All information is based on my company experience over the past 10 years and changing environmental conditions.

Edmonton Seedy Sunday
2023-03-26 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | Alberta Avenue Hall 9210 118 Ave NW Edmonton, AB
Edmonton Seedy Sunday
March 26, 2023
11:00 am to 4:00pm
​Alberta Avenue Hall
9210 118 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB

Calgary Seedy Saturday
2023-03-25 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Edmonton) | Winston-Heights Mountview Community Association (520 27 Ave NE)
Seedy Saturday will be happening on Saturday, March 25, 2023 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, we respect the right of those participants wishing to wear masks.

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.

Mixing it up - Evolving Gardens 2023
2023-01-21 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver)
Register

TO Master Gardeners presents: Digging Deeper Into Our Changing Relationship With the Garden
2023-01-14 10:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | via ZOOM

Succession and Weeds as Soil Builders by Mark Stumpf-Allen
2023-01-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
TICKETS
Why do some soils grow tomatoes while others grow weeds? Why did I rarely water decades ago and have great vegetables, but now I have a crust and have to water every week? Why do store-bought veggies have no flavour?
Soils are more than just sand, silt, and clay. They are also a complex web of biology and plant species that constantly interact to change and improve soil structure. Over time they unlock the nutrient potential of your soil. We will look at soil development over eons and let the last 4.3 billion years instruct us on how to manage our soil and choose the right amendments so we can grow the plants we love.
Mark Stumpf-Allen is an Instructor with the Organic Master Gardener Program (OMG). He specialized in Composting; Succession; Teas & Brews, Design &Construction
Mark been gardening for five decades and has made it his goal to build soil that will grow tasty and nutrient-dense food similar to what he enjoyed growing up. As Edmonton’s “Compost Doctor” (2008-2020) he helped countless families learn the basics of composting, compost teas, and soil building. Mark has delivered workshops for the City of Edmonton, the Town of Devon, the Strathcona Garden Club, and in smaller communities around central Alberta. He’s a Soil Builder and urban Carbon Farmer.
Succession and Weeds as Soil Builders by Mark Stumpf-Allen
Why do some soils grow tomatoes while others grow weeds? Why did I rarely water decades ago and have great vegetables, but now I have a crust and have to water every week? Why do store-bought veggies have no flavour?
Soils are more than just sand, silt, and clay. They are also a complex web of biology and plant species that constantly interact to change and improve soil structure. Over time they unlock the nutrient potential of your soil. We will look at soil development over eons and let the last 4.3 billion years instruct us on how to manage our soil and choose the right amendments so we can grow the plants we love.
Mark Stumpf-Allen is an Instructor with the Organic Master Gardener Program (OMG). He specialized in Composting; Succession; Teas & Brews, Design &Construction
Mark been gardening for five decades and has made it his goal to build soil that will grow tasty and nutrient-dense food similar to what he enjoyed growing up. As Edmonton’s “Compost Doctor” (2008-2020) he helped countless families learn the basics of composting, compost teas, and soil building. Mark has delivered workshops for the City of Edmonton, the Town of Devon, the Strathcona Garden Club, and in smaller communities around central Alberta. He’s a Soil Builder and urban Carbon Farmer.
Succession and Weeds as Soil Builders by Mark Stumpf-Allen
Why do some soils grow tomatoes while others grow weeds? Why did I rarely water decades ago and have great vegetables, but now I have a crust and have to water every week? Why do store-bought veggies have no flavour?
Soils are more than just sand, silt, and clay. They are also a complex web of biology and plant species that constantly interact to change and improve soil structure. Over time they unlock the nutrient potential of your soil. We will look at soil development over eons and let the last 4.3 billion years instruct us on how to manage our soil and choose the right amendments so we can grow the plants we love.
Mark Stumpf-Allen is an Instructor with the Organic Master Gardener Program (OMG). He specialized in Composting; Succession; Teas & Brews, Design &Construction
Mark been gardening for five decades and has made it his goal to build soil that will grow tasty and nutrient-dense food similar to what he enjoyed growing up. As Edmonton’s “Compost Doctor” (2008-2020) he helped countless families learn the basics of composting, compost teas, and soil building. Mark has delivered workshops for the City of Edmonton, the Town of Devon, the Strathcona Garden Club, and in smaller communities around central Alberta. He’s a Soil Builder and urban Carbon Farmer.

Grounded in Science: Master Gardeners Association of Alberta Fall Symposium
2022-11-05 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
A day of enlightenment and enjoyment as we explore gardening with insects, invasive plants and gardening with ground covers.
Join us as we explore the impact plant invasion has on our environment and learn of methods being used to reduce their introduction and spread with Environmental Horticulturalist Andrea Eastman; How growing ground cover plants reduces maintenance, controls erosion, improves the environment, and beautifies your garden with Gary Lewis of Phoenix Perennials; Discover how insects and plants interact; and, how to design gardens with insects in mind with Dr. Ken Fry of Olds College.

Ornamental Horticulture, Invasive Plants and Climate Change: with Andrea Eastham, P.Ag.
Invasive plants are a global issue and the ornamental industry has long been recognized as a key pathway of introduction. Climate change is another global issue. Linking invasive species and climate change has become a focus of study for researchers, modellers, and land managers.
This presentation will provide an understanding of plant invasion and their impacts, describe initiatives being used to reduce the introduction and spread of invasive plants in ornamental horticulture, and provide best practices for gardeners.
Andrea Eastham is a Professional Agrologist, Retired Status, who moved to Calgary, in 2017. She continues to work on plant science projects including initiatives for the Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS), the AB Invasive Species Council (AISC), and the BC Provincial Government.
The Complete Talk on Ground Covers, with Gary Lewis of Phoenix Perennials.
Ground cover plants reduce maintenance, control erosion, improve the environment, and beautify the landscape. Widely thought of as utilitarian, these plants offer a diverse range of beautiful and intriguing options in a variety of colors, textures, and forms. They can unify a landscape, knit together plantings and hardscape, and add extra layers of beauty, dynamism, and surprise. As a replacement for lawns, they can reduce our use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, carbon-based fuels, and transform a yard into a diverse landscape of habitat and food for native insects, birds, and other wildlife. In this companion talk to Gary’s encyclopedia The Complete Book of Ground Covers to be published by Timber Press in fall 2022, Gary will highlight the functional and aesthetic uses of ground covers in the landscape including tips and tricks for designing with ground covers to take your outdoor space to the next level and a discussion on the diverse services ground covers can provide to make gardens more sustainable.
Gary Lewis began collecting houseplants at the age of 10 and began gardening at the age of 15. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Plant Ecology from the University of British Columbia, training which, with its focus on the botany and ecology of wild plants, greatly informs his horticulture. Gary became the owner of Phoenix Perennials in 2004 on his 28th birthday. Since that time he has greatly expanded the nursery to include one of the largest and most exciting selections of perennials in Canada.
Gary is a frequent speaker at home and garden shows, professional conferences, and garden club meetings. He has written for various magazines including Gardens West, Garden Making, and Fine Gardening. Gary has accumulated many hounors such as; Communicator of the Year by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association (2013); one of Canada’s “Top 10 Horticultural Professionals Under 40” by Greenhouse Canada magazine (2014).
Gary has lead botanical and garden tours to Holland and Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, and Western Australia with future trips planned for Ireland, France, and a return to South Africa.
Plant-Insect Interactions: How to select the plants for your garden that optimize their service to and by insects; with Dr. Ken Fry PhD, Olds College
Insects and plants can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. It all depends on the plant, the insect, and how we design our gardens. We will explore how insects interact with plants, what qualities and properties of plants attract or repel insects, and which plants to select to get the best outcome in our garden. What qualities do pollinators prefer? Which plants do beneficial insects need? What sorts of garden design or features best support a fully functioning ecosystem? These are the practical aspects of plant-insect interactions that will be addressed
Dr. Ken Fry, Entomology Instructor in the School of Life Sciences & Business at Olds College, has been involved in insect pest management research, teaching, and extension for over 30 years. His research is focused on biological control of insect pests and integrated pest management. Current research projects include the introduction of a parasitic wasp to manage the lily beetle, surveillance of invasive species affecting the urban forest, and evaluating the effects of Aphodiine beetles on turfgrass.
Ken’s “happy place” is in the Olds College Insect Collection where he serves as curator for 100,000 specimens. Ken is co-author, with Doug Macaulay and Don Williamson of “Garden Bugs of Alberta” and a contributing author to “Organic Farming on the Prairies”.
TICKETS

MGAA 2022 AGM
2022-10-16 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM

Growing Prairie-Hardy Fruit in the Home Garden
2022-10-05 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Winnipeg)
(Central Daylight Time)

Alberta Horticultural Association 2022 Conference
2022-06-25 11:15 - 15:30 (America/Edmonton) | Lacombe Memorial Centre, 5214- 50 Avenue, Lacombe, AB, T4L 0B6, Canada
AHA annual meeting + 3 guest presentations. Connect with fellow gardeners. New ideas for your Horticultural Society & your yard.
Welcome to the 2022 Alberta Horticultural Association’s Conference and Annual Meeting. We are delighted to be meeting in person.
The day’s schedule includes:
• 9:00-11:00 AM. Judging Recertification- for horticultural judges
• 10:45-11:15 AM. Pre-registration meet & greet
• 11:15 AM-12:00 PM. Annual meeting- AHA members and non-members are welcome to attend
• 12:00-1:00 PM. Catered lunch
• 1:00-3:30 PM. Three horticultural presentations & silent auction.
The Annual Meeting includes reports from our District Representatives sharing news about clubs and societies across the province. This is an excellent opportunity to hear some fresh ideas for your club.
Guest Presentations:
Designing Flower Bed Displays with Annuals. As a Senior Horticulturalist with the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Emily Neis is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Aga Khan Garden and the Patrick Seymour Alpine Garden. She grows the plants for the UABG’s annuals displays. Throughout her horticultural career Emily has designed floral displays and she has been a Communities in Bloom judge for six years.
Emily will give us a step-by-step guide to creating floral displays for home gardens and community projects. Starting with design ideas and eye-catching colour combinations, we’ll learn her tips for outstanding plants to use, best planting practices, and summer care for all season colour. Emily’s favourite part of the year is planting the annuals and seeing the displays develop over the season.
Simple Solutions with Garden Netting. Sandra Rosler manages the family business, GRDNetting Solutions, located in Airdrie.
Urban or rural, large or small, and whatever crops you grow- all of our gardens are vulnerable to various types of damage. Have you ever watched in disbelief while hail destroys your vegetables? High winds, blazing sun, hungry birds, foraging deer, and voracious insects can all take a toll on your garden.
Sandra will show us innovative ways to use garden netting to shield, shade, and protect our gardens from each of these hazards.
Ecovision Club- Canada’s Greenest School. We’ll take a 10-minute virtual tour of Lacombe Composite High School’s innovative environment and agricultural programs. Since 2007 teacher Steven Schultz has guided students on a journey into gardening, greenhouse growing, beekeeping, setting up micro-businesses, solar energy, designing a green roof, and tending goats. All the projects are entirely led, developed, researched, and built by students.
The AHA’s silent auction is a perennial favourite, take home a gift for yourself or for your garden. (There might even be some perennials!) This fundraiser supports the AHA’s Educational Program.
Finish off the day with a drive by the Ecovision Club Garden.
Tickets are priced to encourage participation:
• Judge Recertification Workshop: $10.00 (for certified horticultural judges only)
• Full Registration: $40.00 (includes meet & greet coffee, AGM, catered lunch, and guest presentations,)
• Or Presentations only: $20.00 (1:00-3:30 PM)
Registration deadline Friday, June 17
Payments can be made online via Eventbrite or by cheque:
• cheques payable to Alberta Horticultural Association
• mail to: Judy Bortnik, AHA Treasurer Unit 374, 223 Tuscany Springs Blvd NW Calgary, AB T3L 2M2
Questions? email ab.hort.association@gmail.com
Learn more about the Alberta Horticultural Association at ABHortA.ca
TICKETS

Reader Rock Garden Behind the Scenes Tour
2022-06-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton) | Reader Rock Garden, 325 25 Avenue SE, Calgary, Canada
Join fellow MGs on a rare, behind the scenes tour of this historical, internationally acclaimed garden!
The Reader Rock Garden is an absolute gem in the middle of Calgary. It is especially beautiful in Spring with its many huge trees, including Calgary’s largest Japanese tree lilac (hopefully blooming for us), its beautiful and serene rock garden planted along a cascading stream and gorgeous collections of hardy orchids, Siberian iris and many other unusual Spring blooming perennials collected by Mr. Reader.
We have been given a rare opportunity for a behind the scenes tour with the garden’s horticulturalist, Daniel Walker. Come and learn about the history and the ongoing reclamation efforts behind the garden, future plans, a peek into the world of seed starting and see the garden in its beautiful Spring glory. This is a must see garden in Spring, so come and join fellow MGs on this tour.
Details and Pre-Register:
This private guided tour is for MGAA Members ONLY. There is no cost for this tour.
There is a limit of 12 participants.
Free public parking is available on the west side of the garden, access is from 25 Avenue SE. Prefer public transit? The garden is a short walk from the Erlton Stampede LRT station. We will meet outside the restaurant, Reader’s Garden Café.
Please pre-register by contacting Elaine at learning@mgaab.org.

International Master Gardener Conference
2022-06-18 - 2022-06-23
On behalf of the Johnson County K-State Extension Master Gardeners, your host for the 2023 International Master Gardener Conference in Overland Park, Kansas June 18-22, 2023 we are excited to open the call for proposals for breakout session and workshop speakers.
We are looking for a diverse lineup of topics and speakers. Please consider presenting at the conference and sharing this link with your colleagues. Proposals will be accepted through February 25, 2022. We are using Qualtrics for the submissions. https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UT5316TivCYq4m
Complete information is included in the link. More information about the conference can be found at imgc2023.com If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely
Dennis Patton, Chair IMGC

Dennis Patton
Johnson County K-State Research and Extension
Horticulture Agent
11811 S. Sunset Dr., Suite 1500 Olathe, KS 66061
Office 913-715-7000
Gardening Hotline 913-715-7050 or garden.help@jocogov.org
Life is too short for ugly plants!
johnson.k-state.edu | F/JohnsonCountyKStateResearchAndExtension
Plan to attend the International Master Gardener Conference, Overland Park, Kansas June 18-22, 2023 www.imgc2023.com

Hallowes' Garden - Nanton
2022-06-12 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton)
MGs, you won’t want to miss this impressive garden!
We had the opportunity to visit Donna Hallowes’ garden last year during the summer and were blown away. However, Donna says it’s even better in the Spring and has graciously agreed to open her garden to the MGs.
This is a very large garden filled with a variety of interesting plants and areas including a large rock garden, dwarf conifers and many, many other perennials, shrubs and trees. We can expect to see in bloom, amongst others, fernleaf peonies, bleeding hearts and possibly some lilies.
This is a truly unique garden with Donna’s husband a master craftsman who has built many ornamental structures and implemented a number of innovative strategies such as the incredible water capture system and seed growing drawers.
Details and Pre-Register:
1605 26 Avenue, Nanton
This event is for MGAA Members ONLY. There is no cost for this tour.
Please pre-register by contacting Elaine at learning@mgaab.org.

Staniland and Horachk Gardens Tour
2022-06-11 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Edmonton)
Rob Staniland and Yaro Horachk have once again agreed to open their incredible gardens to us, currently at their peak of bloom. These talented plantsmen have constructed two incredible rock gardens filled with an array of diminutive and beautiful alpine treasures. Both are passionate about alpine plants but their approach to design and favourites is very different.
Yaro’s garden runs along the side of his driveway arranged in a series of intricate rockworks made into grottos and crevices stuffed full of interesting saxifrages, dwarf hostas, orchids, and so many other tiny alpines. The gardens are elevated above the driveway so plants are easily appreciated.
Rob’s garden is incorporated into native short grass prairie. The garden runs along an incredible pond and stream system with many built bog and wetland areas, tufa beds, dryland areas, native plants and dwarf conifers. It’s a stunning feat of engineering and highlighted by gorgeous plantings.
Both of these gardens are incredibly unique and very different from the typical Calgary style garden. Not to be missed!
Directions
Yaro Horachk’s Garden: 92 Bearspaw Acres
Follow Crowchild Trail West to Bearspaw Road, turn R and follow to Bearspaw Acres. House is on the corner on northeast side. Park on the road.
Rob Staniland’s Garden: 30315 Woodland Heights: 30315 Woodland Heights
Follow Crowchild Trail West to Bearspaw Road, turn R and follow to Burma Road, turn L to and go to stop sign, turn R onto Woodland Road, follow to T intersection and turn R. On right hand side. Park on the road.
Both gardens are 5 minutes from each other so easy to take in both in one trip.
Register
Please contact Elaine at learning@mgaab.org to register. Tour will commence rain or shine.

Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton -Private Guided Tour MGAA MEMERS ONLY.
2022-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Edmonton) | Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96A Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB, T6C 4L8, Canada
The Muttart Conservatory, one of Canada’s largest indoor botanical collections, is nestled in the river valley. Lets all get together folks!

Join us FOR A PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR The Muttart Conservatory is a botanical garden located in the North Saskatchewan river valley, across from the downtown core in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. One of the best-known landmarks of Edmonton, the conservatory consists of three city-operated greenhouses, public gardens, as well as four feature pyramids for display of plant species found across three biomes, with the fourth pyramid hosting a seasonal display. A fifth minor skylight pyramid lights up the central foyer.
This event and private guided tour is free for MGAA members only – I look forward to seeing our members in person .
See ya soon folks,
Susan – Director MGAA events north. Please email me if you have any questions
events-north@mgaab.org
Tickets

Climate Change on the Prairies
2022-05-31 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Winnipeg)
Climate Change on the Prairies
Help your garden Thrive
A longer growing season lets us try new varieties, but heat waves, drought, and extreme precipitation
are the downsides. Learn what’s ahead for our region and how to make sure your garden stays beautiful and productive.
ONLINE PRESENTATION WITH DANNY BLAIR AND STEPHEN MUIRHEAD

Gardening in Climate Change
2022-05-25 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | via ZOOM
What every gardener needs to plan for, David Phillips CEEE, will speak on our changing climate.
Join us to hear Environment Canada’s Senior Climatologist David Phillips speak on what the future holds for weather in Alberta. David has been studying weather events all over Canada for more than 50 years and is well-known for his entertaining presentations on Canadian weather events. Alberta’s climate is changing so one of David’s goals is to raise awareness among Canadians as to how our climate is evolving.
Tickets
Free for MGAA members.
