Although it is quite common in woods and hedgerows, this native honeysuckle is known to few gardeners. Glaucous Honeysuckle’s red tubular flowers with yellow anthers, in mid-spring, have the same colour scheme as the much better known Wild Columbine, and it should come as no surprise that ruby-throated hummingbirds are the pollinators it has evolved… Continue reading May I Introduce: Glaucous Honeysuckle
Author: Trish Murphy
Artist: botanical, still life, and natural history illustration.
Garden designer: native plants and naturalistic gardens
A Portrait of Sunflowers
We went to hear Kerri Weller, of the Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists, at the Nepean Horticultural Society, last Thursday evening, Ms Weller gave a quick overview of the history of botanical art and illustration in Western art. She pointed out a lovely feature of the classic plant portraits by Maria Sybila Merian from the… Continue reading A Portrait of Sunflowers
An Urban Pollinator Garden
Berit Erickson dropped by last week to pick up some native plant seeds and talk to me about her demonstration pollinator garden, on a busy corner lot in the west end of Ottawa . Working in her yard, Berit realized how interested passers-by were in her flowers. Berit herself had noticed how much more lively… Continue reading An Urban Pollinator Garden
May I Introduce: Dwarf Canadian Primrose
My first encounter with this charming little native primrose was on the wave swept shore of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula, where limestone pavements shelve incrementally down to the water’s edge. Nestled in tiny, moist cracks in the limestone, never far from the spray, were some small pink flowers with yellow centres, Primula mistassinica.… Continue reading May I Introduce: Dwarf Canadian Primrose
May I Introduce: Downy Skullcap
While active outdoor gardening is on pause, this is a good time to introduce some wildflowers which may not be known to most gardeners in the Ottawa area. These flowers may be unfamiliar because they are not native to the the Ottawa Valley, but hail from further south in the USA, as does today’s species,… Continue reading May I Introduce: Downy Skullcap
A Festive Yuletide to All
Beaux Arbres nursery will be re-opening May, 2019, with even more wonderful native plant species. Hope to see you Mothers’ Day at the Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, Ottawa. Until then, stay warm and plan gardens.
Spring Visit to Alpine Garden, MBG
Remembering a visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden, May, 2018. Beaux Arbres will have Shooting Star (Dodecatheon) for sale in the spring. Rock Whitlow-grass at the Montreal Botanical Garden Eastern Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) The Alpine Garden at MBG is divided into areas planted with species from different regions of the world. I was delighted… Continue reading Spring Visit to Alpine Garden, MBG
Stocking Stuffers for Gardeners on your List
We have packaged a selection of seeds from some of our showiest flowers in time for holiday gift giving. They will be available for sale at the $100 and Under Sale of the West Carlton Art Society in Carp this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The seeds are sharing a table with Michael’s hand-crafted baskets. If the… Continue reading Stocking Stuffers for Gardeners on your List
Tucked in for the Winter
The plants in the hoop house are all tucked in for the winter, under floating row covers. What a visual difference from a couple of weeks ago! Freezing weather came early and fast this year. I was going to get a few more boxes of pine needles to add to the mulch around shrubs, but… Continue reading Tucked in for the Winter
Late Colour in the Hoop House
On a dreary November day, with the golden tamaracks providing the only colour in the landscape, the interior of the hoop house is only a couple of degrees warmer (still quite chilly) but colourful fall leaves still linger. The brightest colour comes from the leaves of Wild Geranium. I like the green and red carpet of… Continue reading Late Colour in the Hoop House
Beaux Arbres Plantes Indigènes / Native Plants 