World Plants

Articles

A Regal Miscanthus: A Plant for Every Gardener

"Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ is one of those charming plants that endears itself to the gardener because of its diminutive form. It is half the size of the cultivars previously mentioned yet seems to retain all of their desirable attributes...."

A Successful Landscape Starts with what is Below

Often little thought is given to this very precious and important resource and consequently one can spend years correcting soil related problems caused during construction while trying to establish a landscape....

A Year At Kew

I will spend the year completing an MSc in Plant Conservation (seed banking) and a foundation year for a PhD. Hence the term sabbatical and rest again....

Allelopathy

Black Walnut Toxicity

Annual Success: Simple Steps for an Exotic Display

By following these simple steps, your annual display should pay dividends and reward you with an exotic display that is the showcase of the neighborhood....

Annual Success: The All-Stars

The annual scene was once passé; it was the fools that planted Marigolds and Petunias, Cosmos and Portulacca. The refined and knowledgeable individual pursued the perennial, the tree and the shrub with passion and dedication....

Before Winter: Large Caliper Tree Care

Although the tree may appear mature when purchased it is essentially in its infancy until it is fully rooted into the native soil. Success with newly planted trees can be ensured by following a few simple steps....

Classy Containers: Potscaping

"People have the ability to garden almost anywhere. In my travels, to remote parts of the world, there is a desire to grow plants even where local soils will not support the practice. The locals simply grow them in containers where almost any vessel is found as a suitable pot for that prized plant...."

Cottage Gardening

"The cottage garden is a challenge; we often have to deal with minimal maintenance, dry rocky soils, windy venues and occasional wildlife problems, yet we want it to look good so that we can enjoy it...."

Dream Home, Dream Garden

"To ensure that your dream home is really your dream home, enhanced by a beautiful verdant landscape..." Originally published in 'HOME' Magazine.

Dressing for Winter: How To Keep Your Evergreen Warm

The idea behind wrapping or dressing evergreens is quite simple, by enclosing a plant in a cloth tent or cover, less foliage is exposed to drying winter winds reducing stress and ensuring happy healthy plants greet you in the spring....

Dressing the Garden: Decorating for Winter

Garden urns and planters can be further enhanced with a little creative dressing. Using material from the garden, that would otherwise be under the cover of snow, you can seasonalize and theme your landscape.

Elements of Design: Interplanting.

Putting plants together is one of the greatest challenges facing the gardener. There are so many variables that must be considered....

Fall of the Norway Maple (pt 2)

"I am not favoured amongst industry peers when I discuss my opinions of the Norway Maple..." Originally published in The London Free Press

Garden Colour: The Smart Way

Colour is a matter of eye and acceptance, what is good for one person and garden may not be acceptable elsewhere....

Gifts for the Garden Guru

"All I want for Christmas is my Felco Secateurs..."

Going Small: Dwarf Conifers

"Dwarf evergreens are an oddity in our landscapes. These miniature versions of their stately cousins are often viewed as ‘genetic freaks’ which in actuality, for most of them, bares true...."

Greening The Desert

Landscaping in this climate has severe limitations, water, heat, soils, plant availability, dust and of course the ongoing maintenance in such a dramatic climate....

Houseplant Help: Soil-salt and Showers

"While flushing these toxic salts from the soil, you are also washing the dust from their leaves. Leaves have pores, called stomata, which can become clogged...."

Icicle Pansies: For Spring and Autumn

"It really does not matter if you plant Icicle Pansies or ordinary Pansies, if you follow a few simple steps you are almost assured of success both in the autumn and spring...."

Leaf Litter: The Magic of Leaves

"Neighbours watch and wait, and shout across the street “that’s a lot of leaves you got there”, or the rare brave individual will volunteer to offer a leaf rake...."

Mulch Musings: Wood chips, compost, plant debris and leaves

I am a mulch fanatic, in fact if I had my way I would mulch the whole world, bare soil would never be seen amongst the plants....

Perennial Passion

"We are no longer interested in planting Aunt Betty’s Peony and are now becoming a nation of gardeners demanding and expecting much more from our local garden center...."

Poinsettia Toss

"Now that Christmas has passed, what to do with this Winter Rose?"

Pruning Improvement: Sharpen your Skills

"The first thing a horticulturist looks for when pruning is damaged, diseased or dead wood. The three D’s of pruning..."

Rules for Entertaining a Horticulturist

"Now there are a few rules you must adhere to if you have a horticulturist in the family or invite one to dinner...."

Seedy Business: Growing Plants from Seeds

"To grow a plant from seed is a miracle that all should experience. That tiny dried lump has the energy and desire to become the grandest tree or the most majestic flower...."

Thailand

"Thailand gives gardeners a reason to smile..." Originally published in 'Landscape Trades' magazine.

The Best Job

"This interest and passion gave birth to a corporate policy that all company properties exemplify the finest in horticultural and landscape management practices..." Originally published in 'Ontario Gardener Beautiful Gardens' magazine.

The Rules

"Seeds are a wonderful source for developing a new garden. Those with the temperament to grow one's own seeds will find it a rewarding experience..." Originally published in The London Free Press.

Time To Bloom: Communities in Bloom

"Communities in Bloom is a non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride and environmental responsibility through community participation and the challenge of a national competition...."

Tomorrow I Plant the Bulbs

"In the hope of encouraging my fellow gardeners to explore new bulb varieties, I will share some of my favourites with you..." Originally published in The London Free Press.

Tree Toppings: Topped or Crown Reduced?

Trees should not be topped but should be crown reduced, making smaller cuts but adhering to proper pruning practices....

Trees: Classified

A list of trees, classified by height and by form.

Books

Flora of Quinta de Sao Pedro: Part 1

A concise guide to the flora of the Quinta de São Pedro, Portugal. It is by no means a complete or comprehensive guide to the Quinta's flora but represents plants of note and distinction that were seen during a visit in March 2007.

Flora of Quinta de Sao Pedro: Part 2

Flora of Quinta de Sao Pedro: Part 3

Pollen Images of Selected British Flora: Part 1

Pollen analysis and research gathered and presented towards the development of a SEM database for British flora.

Pollen Images of Selected British Flora: Part 2

Pollen analysis and research gathered and presented towards the development of a SEM database for British flora.

Pollen Images of Selected British Flora: Part 3

Pollen analysis and research gathered and presented towards the development of a SEM database for British flora.

The Botany Primer

The botanical information covered in this document will help observers make reliable plant observations. Along with basic botany, the phenology vocabulary used here is meant to complement the names used for the Nature’s Notebook plant phenophases (those words are quoted in “italicized red type”). Botanical terminology is defined at the end of this primer; those terms are in italicized green type the first time they are used on a page.

Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the London Area: Part 1

This study guide is a requirement for Woody Tree, Shrubs and Vines identification courses offered in the programs of Horticulture and Landscape Design at Fanshawe College. However, this can also function as a stand-alone text for those who have a general interest in plants and wish to observe them in local surroundings.

Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the London Area: Part 2

Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the London Area: Part 3

This study guide was a requirement for Woody Tree, Shrubs and Vines identification courses offered in the programs of Horticulture and Landscape Design at Fanshawe College. However, this can also function as a stand-alone text for those who have a general interest in plants and wish to observe them in local surroundings.

Presentations

Binomial Nomenclature

Exploring the mystery and confusion surrounding the naming of plants. Explore the two part naming system and understand why commercial plant breeders have had a confusing impact on it for students of botany. A lecture presented to first year Horticulture students at Fanshawe College, London, Ontario: September 17, 2012.

Complete Plant Health (CPH)

Details the alternative to Integrated Pest Management (IPM): - Sensible approach to how we garden - Involves a series of steps or considerations in how we consider our involvement in our gardens development - Change in attitude - Economic benefits

Designing with Perennials

Perennial Gardens

Ecological Gardening

An overview of how common garden practices can interact in the garden environment and why we should pay attention to to what the garden and its occupants are telling us. A presentation to the The City of Stratford and the Energy and Environment Committee. October 27, 2011

Evergreen Plant Identification

Identifying the Different Leaf Types of Evergreens

Evolving Gardens, Growing Careers

A presentation to the Garden Club of London outlining the growth of both Fanshawe College's horticulture program and its gardens. The metamorphosis of a program and its living labs into a leading horticultural educator and a botanical garden. October 17, 2012.

Evolving Gardens: Becoming a Botanical Garden

Presentation to the Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society.

Gardens 1870-1950

The evolution of garden style. Take a look at some of the most beautiful gardens.

Healing Gardens

What is a healing garden?

Kernow Garden Inc. (A Design Company)

Showcasing gardens of influence and garden design.

Landscape Maintenance

Developing a Landscape Maintenance Plan and Responding to Tenders.

Landscape Ontario and it's Role in Education

Long Term Human Resources Planning (Report)

Millenium Seed Bank (Kew)

A look at some of the studies such as seed collecting and pollen analysis.

Plant Conservation: Disappearing Plants Garden

This garden highlights the rich and unusual world of plant diversity and stages a collection of plants that are considered some of the most vulnerable and threatened plants in the world. (Fanshawe College Horticulture Technician Program)

Plant Hardiness: The Meaning of Zones

An overview of plant zones and the difference between American and Canadian zones. Microclimates also are part of this discussion. A lecture given to first year horticulture students at Fanshawe College, London, Ontario; September 24, 2012.

Plant Nomenclature

"You will discover, as you delve further into this text and plant kingdom, that there are distinct differences between a plants common name, which can be mildly familiar, and the scientific name which is often unfamiliar...."

Poisonous Plants

Common poisonous or irritating plants in the local landscape.

The A.M. Mac Cuddy Gardens

Images of Fanshawe's Cuddy Gardens in Strathroy, Ontario.

The Great Magnolia Hunt

A presentation given to the Fanshawe Horticultural Society in February 2020 detailing a hunt for Magnolias and other interesting plants across Canada, through England and Asia during Michael Pascoe's sabbatical in 2017-18.