January 7, 2025
Via Zoom
The Gardens of New Zealand
In January 2024, Retired Master Gardener Mary Ann Van Berlo spent three weeks touring gardens in both the north and south islands of New Zealand. Mary Ann will share the amazing gardens and natural areas that were part of her journey. The talk will show the different styles of gardens she visited – formal to English cottage gardens, exotic to native NZ plants. As background, Mary Ann will share some general info on New Zealand, but the gardens, plants, and garden designs will be the focus of her talk.
Mary Ann Van Berlo has a large garden on the St. Lawrence River that was created about 12 years ago. Her garden is open for tours and in July she hosts an annual open garden day with another beautiful garden nearby. As a plant collector, Mary Ann’s garden features annuals, perennials, edibles, shrubs, and trees, some of which are uncommon or pushing the zone limit. She is a retired Master Gardener but is still very active in the gardening community.
This winter meeting will be held via Zoom, from 7:30 pm – 9 pm, with bridge access commencing at 7:15 pm.
Registration by e-mail to kanatamhs@gmail.com is required to obtain the Zoom link to access the meeting, by 5 pm, Monday, January 6th. Cost is $5 for non-members (payable by e-Transfer to kanatamhs@gmail.com) or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
February 4, 2025
Via Zoom
This for That: Native Plant Alternatives for Beauty and Function
In this illustrated talk, author of over ten books about native plants and gardening Lorraine Johnson will present native alternatives to the familiar flowers introduced from elsewhere that often fill our gardens. Using specific examples, Lorraine explores how we can achieve the same beauty in our landscapes but with enhanced ecological value by growing plants that provide habitat for pollinators and thrive with relatively little maintenance. Plant-by-plant native alternatives to introduced plants are featured.
Lorraine Johnson is an avid gardener and author of 10+ books about native plants and gardening, most recently “A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators. Lorraine is the founding editor of the magazine Ground: Landscape Architect Quarterly; a patron of Toronto Botanical Garden; a former president of the North American Native Plant Society; former Board member of LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests); former Board member of Wild Ones!; a community gardening activist and an activist for legalizing urban hens; and a frequent speaker on topics related to gardening, nature and environmental and social issues.
This winter meeting will be held via Zoom, from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, with bridge access commencing at 7:15 pm.
Registration by e-mail to kanatamhs@gmail.com is required to obtain the Zoom link to access the meeting, by 5 pm, Monday, February 3rd. Cost is $5 for non-members (payable by e-Transfer to kanatamhs@gmail.com) or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
March 4, 2025
Growing Dahlias
Dahlias play a key role in many flower gardens, with their variety of heights, colours, shapes and their willingness to flower right up to the last hard frost! Brittiny Lepage of The Dahlia Darling joins our March meeting to show us how to successfully grow dahlias in our local growing zone. Topics to be discussed include how to start tubers in the spring, growth and maintenance requirements during the summer season, and digging them up in the fall and how to successfully store for the winter.
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5 or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
April 1, 2025
The Urban Potager – A Field to Table Experience
Think rainbows of color in the salad and beyond. Crisp lettuces, Asian greens, sweet tomatoes and blooms.
In this presentation from Odette McIntyre of the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton we will learn how to create an attractive living space full of vegetables, ornamentals, herbs and structures in an urban setting where space is a constraint.
Grow beautiful blooms, unique veggies and greens to enhance your table and thrill your guests. Find out about vertical gardening, best practices, found objects and more. An exciting, wide-ranging, transforming way to look at your garden.
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5 or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
May 6, 2025
Why We Love Annuals – How to Use them in the Garden
Claire Leduc from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton joins us to discuss the use and versatility of annual plants and flowers in our gardens. From small and sweet to big and bold, annuals with their wide variety of shapes and colours can add personality and character to any garden. Many of them play the useful role of attracting pollinators while others offer a unique twist to your dinner plate, not to mention their role in making stunning containers and baskets.
The presentation will help you feel confident in adding and caring for a wide range of annuals in your garden!
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5 or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
May 17, 2025
Kanata-March Horticultural Society’s 51st Annual Plant Sale
On Saturday, May 17th the Kanata-March Horticultural Society will hold our 51st annual plant sale at our meeting location, the Old Town Hall, 821 March Road, from 8 am until noon, rain or shine!
This sale will offer a variety of plants which have been donated by our members: hardy perennials for sun and shade, herb and vegetable seedlings, native plants and house plants.
Proceeds from the sale support the society’s monthly speaker educational programs, and the maintenance of the Molly Wilson Memorial Garden located at the Old Town Hall.
New members are always welcome to join our 2025 program for a $20 membership fee.
June 3, 2025
Gardening for Birds
Berit Erickson of The Corner Pollinator Garden and Wildlife Habitat will join us to discuss how we can attract birds to our gardens.
In 2017, Berit Erickson began adding native plants to her yard to create habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. She'll share how to support birds by providing natural sources of food -- seeds, berries and insects -- shelter and nest sites, and water. Her presentation includes many photos of the migratory and common birds that visit her hedgerows, mini meadow, pocket forest, and stream water feature.
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5 or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
September 2, 2025
Flower Show and Dessert Social
After our summer hiatus, the Kanata-March Horticultural Society presents our annual Flower Show, which should be resplendent with entries of late-summer bounty!
After the scoring by an OHA-accredited judge has been completed, there will be time to admire the entries submitted by our members.
We will also hold a dessert potluck for members and their guests to enjoy some social time catching up with their gardening friends after our summer break.
October 7, 2025
What's This in My Garden, Friend or Foe?
Most gardeners think of their gardens as "a happy place" and are hoping it will be immune from pests. Nancy McDonald from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton enjoys checking out the many garden "bugs" who visit and asks herself first if these visitors are welcome guests which the majority are, or unwelcome pests? She has come to realize that enticing and keeping beneficial bugs may mean having a few of those pests for them to prey.
In her garden, Nancy incorporates plants which will attract, feed and provide a habitat for beneficial bugs, creating an insectary garden to help with those unwelcome guests. In other words, choice of plants can help build a resilient garden.
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5 or become a member and enjoy our full 2025 program for $20.
November 4, 2025
Creating Outdoor Winter Arrangements
Angela Firman, owner of Wild Roots Floral will join us and demonstrate how to create a variety of outdoor winter arrangements in time for the holiday season!
This in-person meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall, 821 March Rd (laneway entrance for the Old Town Hall is on Klondike Rd, across from Shopper’s Drug Mart), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7:15 pm). Non-members are always welcome for a visitor’s fee of $5.
