gardening

Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)

Weather slows early Vancouver Island gardening season but boom expected

Warmer weather will bring the green thumbs out of hibernation, businesses predict

 

Lionel de Rothschild, whose grandfather created Exbury Gardens in Hampshire, England, is coming to Nanaimo for a speaking engagement about the rhododendron garden. (News Bulletin file photo)

Grandson of Exbury Gardens creator to speak to Nanaimo Rhododendron Society

Lionel de Rothschild to present Exbury Garden: Past and Present at Beban Park

 

Nanaimo Fire Rescue has issued a reminder to residents that backyard burning is restricted to the months of April and November and property owners must obtain a permit. (News Bulletin file photo)

Backyard burning banned in Nanaimo without permit

Burning yard waste only allowed with permit during April and November

 

Barsby Bulldogs football players Colton Finstad, left, Trysen Rafter, Ryder Mount, Cole Jacques, Rhondé Lyle and Anthony Anderson are some of the team members who will be shovelling and bagging manure as part of the program’s annual garden manure sale fundraiser March 30-April 2. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Barsby football players get shovelling for springtime fundraiser

Manure sale happening this week, March 30-April 2, at John Barsby Secondary School

Barsby Bulldogs football players Colton Finstad, left, Trysen Rafter, Ryder Mount, Cole Jacques, Rhondé Lyle and Anthony Anderson are some of the team members who will be shovelling and bagging manure as part of the program’s annual garden manure sale fundraiser March 30-April 2. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Flowers

Slow flowers

Growing sustainability in the floral industry

  • Mar 14, 2022
Flowers
Butchart Gardens - Handout

Creating the Japanese Garden

A place to think, meditate and be at peace

  • Aug 11, 2021
Butchart Gardens - Handout
Seed-swapping events support healthy, unprocessed food, says columnist. (Stock photo)

OPINION: Grassroots seed protection essential for good food

Seed protectors necessary in the face of corporate capture of food systems, says columnist

  • Jun 3, 2021
Seed-swapping events support healthy, unprocessed food, says columnist. (Stock photo)
Potatoes have two genetic centre of origins, one from the lowlands in Chile and the other from the highlands in Bolivia. The highlands potatoes flower and produce fruit profusely, which is where the seeds come from. They contribute to exciting and ecologically imporant genetic diversity of potatoes. (Submitted/Fiona Hamersley Chambers)

Vancouver Island farmer shares secret for inventing a new potato

Using seeds anyone can name their own variety

Potatoes have two genetic centre of origins, one from the lowlands in Chile and the other from the highlands in Bolivia. The highlands potatoes flower and produce fruit profusely, which is where the seeds come from. They contribute to exciting and ecologically imporant genetic diversity of potatoes. (Submitted/Fiona Hamersley Chambers)
A variety of seeds is now available at Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Harbourfront branch in Nanaimo. (Submitted photo)

‘Seed library’ created at VIRL’s Nanaimo Harbourfront branch

Vancouver Island Regional Library and Village Vancouver partner on initiative

A variety of seeds is now available at Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Harbourfront branch in Nanaimo. (Submitted photo)
A native-to-B.C. wild queen bee (bombus melanopygus for those in the know) feeds on a periwinkle flower. (Submitted/Sarah Johnson, Native Bee Society of BC)

B.C.’s wild bees need messy gardens to survive

The year-long nesting period makes habitat a primary concern for wild bees

A native-to-B.C. wild queen bee (bombus melanopygus for those in the know) feeds on a periwinkle flower. (Submitted/Sarah Johnson, Native Bee Society of BC)
B.C. beekeepers will face extra supply challenges this year thanks to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. bee supply threatened this year by wasps, COVID

No, bees aren’t getting COVID, it’s the supply chain that’s been disrupted

B.C. beekeepers will face extra supply challenges this year thanks to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gordon Cyr and his family run Bee Canadian have been raising mason bees for 20 years and provide homeowners across the Island with pollinators every spring. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island company rents out 135,000 mason bees despite the impacts of COVID-19

Bee Canadian delivers pollinators to renters in pandemic-friendly fashion

Gordon Cyr and his family run Bee Canadian have been raising mason bees for 20 years and provide homeowners across the Island with pollinators every spring. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Vancouver Island garden centres preparing for busy season

Businesses stocking up after last year’s COVID-19 pandemic gardening explosion

  • Mar 24, 2021
Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Dorothee Kieser, president of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association and a volunteer at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach (Submitted photo)

Podcast: Getting your green thumb ready for Vancouver Island’s gardening season

Timely tips from Dorothee Kieser of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association

Dorothee Kieser, president of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association and a volunteer at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach (Submitted photo)
A new West Coast Seeds pollinator mix of cosmos pays tribute to Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted photo/ We Are The Northern)

New blend by West Coast Seeds to bloom in Dr. Bonnie Henry’s name

Cosmo blend designed to attract bees, and marketed with tagline ‘Bee Calm, Bee Kind, Bee Safe’

A new West Coast Seeds pollinator mix of cosmos pays tribute to Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted photo/ We Are The Northern)
Elise Boulanger, Nanaimo Foodshare garden facilitator, is one of several instructors who is guiding participants through online courses that teach sustainable gardening and water conservation methods, as well as how to prepare healthy meals with home-grown food. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Foodshare goes virtual with home-grown food production classes

Online courses teach sustainable gardening, water conservation and meal preparation

Elise Boulanger, Nanaimo Foodshare garden facilitator, is one of several instructors who is guiding participants through online courses that teach sustainable gardening and water conservation methods, as well as how to prepare healthy meals with home-grown food. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
A new demonstration vegetable garden has been planted at Beban Park. (City of Nanaimo photo)

City of Nanaimo vegetable garden meant to give citizens ideas

Parks and rec staff plants demonstration garden behind Beban Park social centre

A new demonstration vegetable garden has been planted at Beban Park. (City of Nanaimo photo)
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes proudly shows off his rented mason bee colony. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich mayor receives his foster bees through pollinator rental program

‘I feel like I’m an adoptive father,’ Fred Haynes says of his rented mason bee colony

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes proudly shows off his rented mason bee colony. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A past Seedy Sunday event at the Nanaimo District Secondary School gymnasium. (Nanaimo Foodshare/Facebook photo)

Column: Seed-planting season is just around the corner

Nanaimo’s Seedy Sunday on March 1 timed for the start of growing season

  • Feb 15, 2020
A past Seedy Sunday event at the Nanaimo District Secondary School gymnasium. (Nanaimo Foodshare/Facebook photo)
Plants, pots and other pretty things at Old Farm Garden Centre

Plants, pots and other pretty things at Old Farm Garden Centre

Buying business included a steep learning curve for owner Robin Knox

  • Jun 24, 2019
Plants, pots and other pretty things at Old Farm Garden Centre