May I Introduce: Downy Skullcap

Downy Skullcap, Scutellaria incana

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

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

Small-flowered Sundrops

It is difficult to convey in a photo the great charm of Small-flowered Sundrops (Oenothera perennis). I was heartened recently when some discerning customers at the nursery made a bee-line to it. Compared to the enormous luminous flowers of Ozark Sundrops (Oenothera macrocarpa), or the great flower masses of citrine yellow of Common Sundrops (Oenothera… Continue reading Small-flowered Sundrops

Thanks to all our FWG customers!

Maximilian's Sunflower

Another successful sale at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden! Thanks to all the FWG volunteers who put on this wonderful event and thanks to all our customers, some new, some familiar faces. If you were not able to get to the FWG on Saturday morning, Beaux Arbres has an even greater selection of native plants available… Continue reading Thanks to all our FWG customers!

New Species for sale Sunday

Ohio Goldenrod on the shore of Lake Huron, Ontario.

We have always tried to have some genuinely rare and/or unusual plants for the Rare and Unusual Plant Sale . This year we have some new and very special species. We are keeping a close eye on our pots of seed-grown Eastern Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia). This species is not locally native; it occurs in Canada… Continue reading New Species for sale Sunday

Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, 2018

Common Bluets

This is a hectic time for me, trying to get the stock ready for our first big sale of the spring, the Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, traditionally on Mothers’ Day, in Ottawa. This will be our fourth year as a vendor at this sale. We now have enough experience to predict that the Weather… Continue reading Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, 2018

Seed List for 2018 Seedy Saturdays

Boreal Jacob's Ladder

Getting excited about spring? Looking forward to all the wonderful seeds at Seedy Saturday? Beaux Arbres will be bringing more than 70 species of seeds to two local Seedy Days. To really whet your appetite for wildflower seeds, we have now posted a PDF of our seeds for you to browse in advance. Download Beaux Arbres… Continue reading Seed List for 2018 Seedy Saturdays

Not too early to be planning for wildlife-enhancing gardens

In January, the gardener’s thoughts turn to seeds: browsing seed catalogues, preparing seed orders, and receiving parcels of seeds in the mail. When we are not obsessing about seed, we are reading nurseries’s lists. It gets us through the winter – dreams and plans  and anticipation that next season will be the best yet.  With… Continue reading Not too early to be planning for wildlife-enhancing gardens

What did well in the garden this year

Cardinal Flower

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) loves sogginess in the spring, so it’s no surprise that this was a great year for the tall, red, hummingbird favourite. More surprisingly, Bird’s Foot Violet (Viola pedata) was another species that did well this year, This is a violet for sun and infertile, sandy soil. That is what it gets… Continue reading What did well in the garden this year