The large, quilted, scalloped leaves of Big Betony provide a contrast in texture to the smooth grassy leaves of a nearby daylily. 

Creating texture in your garden landscape

This can be done through touch or visual texture

You may have heard the phrase, “Use texture to create interest in the garden,” but what exactly does that mean? Many relate to texture by the sense of touch — is the surface rough or smooth? If you run your hand over a leaf of lamb’s ears you get the sensation of a fuzzy warm

Conical blue junipers and vertical Karl Forrester feather reed grass serve as anchors, adding variety in this mixed border.

Using ‘anchors’ in the garden

These features will hold the look of a landscape together and provide substance

In landscaping, the term anchor means a feature in the landscape that holds it down, holds it together, and provides form and substance. Anchors provide a framework for the other elements of the garden. If all the plants are about the same size, the landscape becomes boring; there is a lack of structure; and there


Karl Forrester feather reed grass is useful when establishing a xeriscape garden.

Planning a theme garden

Too early to get outside in the garden but the perfect time to design and plan

Gardeners are waiting impatiently for winter to finally give up its grip so they can begin creating their 2018 outdoor gardens. In the meantime, March is perfect for planning and designing. How about a theme garden this year? Choose a colour and make that your theme — purples and burgundy-toned flowers and foliage for a

A view of the 100-year-old Morden Research Station from its southern plots. Although the station is renowned for its horticultural research, it has developed many flax, sunflower, corn, buckwheat and pulse crop cultivars. Last year its mandate expanded to include cereal research after the closing of the Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg.

Editorial: Beauty and the farm

The shifting sands in agricultural research were apparent last week as the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Morden Research Centre celebrated 100 years of innovation. Anyone who has visited the picture-perfect grounds on the east side of town is familiar with its reputation as one of the most beautiful in AAFC’s network. Not only has it


What to know when choosing seeds

In the spring gardeners are busy planning their summer gardens, and one of the enjoyable tasks is choosing and purchasing of seeds both for the vegetable garden and for the flower border. There are a few points to keep in mind when doing this job so that the garden produces its maximum output. Rather than

Winter gardening project

You will need a container — a rectangular one works best if you are planning to locate the dish garden on a windowsill. In fact, it is a good idea to decide where you want to display the garden — choose a location that gets some direct sun — and then choose an appropriate container.



Chairs in the Landscape?

When is a chair not a chair? When it is used as a plant stand or as a decorative object in the landscape. A chair is a good accent piece to incorporate, sometimes in a difficult area where hardly anything will grow, on a hardscape surface where some colour and interest are required or maybe



Gardening Has Many Benefits

When my daughter and I were getting ready to plant the garden, I thought about how a garden has much value on many levels. When children are involved with gardening, much learning can take place in this outdoor classroom. Giving children a small plot to care for provides an opportunity for them to take responsibility