Author: Victoria

March 2023 The balcony in my new condo is in 24-hour shade. Can you suggest a few plants or shrubs that could handle both living in pots and constant shade? There are several shrubs, evergreens and plants that will grow in containers in full shade but there are some challenges to overcome in this environment.…

March 2023 I was wondering how I can figure out if a blueberry plant is the pollinator? I already have one, but today we learned that we need a pollinator. Blueberries are native to Canada and thrive in BC. They belong to the Ericaceae family and like azaleas and rhododendrons, prefer acidic soil. They have…

Looking for a local farmer’s market in your neighbourhood? Almost every southern Vancouver Island communiy has a farmer’s market hosting local farmers and their wares. Attending farmer’s markets is not only a great way to get fresh nutritious food items, it is also an excellent opportunity to support our local food producers and a relaxing…

Congratulations to Victoria Master Gardener Linda Cross, recipient of the MGABC Golden Trowel Award for 2022. Linda became a Master Gardener in 2004 and since then has been instrumental in promoting sustainable gardening practices mainly through educational events and programs in the Victoria Chapter. She is always ready to volunteer and help with all kinds…

How do I grow white and pink fawn lilies? Pink Fawn Lily (Erythronium revolutum) Erythronium, is a member of the lily family and is commonly known as the Western Trout Lily, Fawn Lily, Dog’s-tooth Violet or Adder’s Tongue. There are several species of Erythronium that are native to the west coast of North America from…

Thyme: Plant has green and yellow leaves Thyme: Thyme companions in a container Return to: You Asked Us Question Topics Victoria Chapter page

Dec 2022 My thyme plant has green & yellow leaves. What does this mean? Thyme is a hardy, aromatic, perennial, evergreen herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and the fifty or more varieties with many different fragrances and flavours have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The species commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes is…

Dec 2022 My well-established juniper has noticeable dieback. The damage is random. Some tips are brown. Some areas in the centre are dead. What can be causing this problem and what can be done about it? Juniper dieback can be caused by biotic or abiotic factors. There may be a magnesium deficiency in the soil,…

Dec 2022 What type of hybrid is Aspabroc broccolini? Aspabroc broccolini (Brassica oleraceae var. italica) is a natural hybrid of cultivars of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and gai lan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). It is not genetically engineered. The hybrid was first developed in 1993 by Sakata Seed Company in Yokohama, Japan. It looks…

Grafting: When to take scions for grafting Return to: You Asked Us Question Topics Victoria Chapter page