Chances are, you’ve visited one of the many beautiful garden centres here in Southern Georgian Bay. Since then, you’ve planted and pruned, watered and fertilized.
This issue, OUR HOMES spotlights the garden experts who help make all our landscapes beautiful.Our Homes is proud to present talented women who work hard and add a special touch to homes throughout Southern Georgian Bay.
Ken and Carol Ormsby
Owns: Ormsby’s Garden & Landscaping, Meaford (519.538.3145)
Favourite Perennial: Hostas. “There is such a variety and they are easy to maintain. Some new varieties are even slug-proof.”
Favourite Annual: Purple Wave. “It changed flowers and the way they are grown.”
Favourite Tree: Linden or Camperdown Elm
My Garden: “Our whole property is full of gardens and ponds. Our pride and joy is our pond out front. All of our gardens are comprised of annuals, perennials, bulbs, trees and shrubs.”
Garden Tip: “Buy from a reputable garden centre. They provide valuable information on planting and maintenance. If a price looks too good to be true, it probably is. We stand behind our stock.”
 Rhonda Green
Owns: Greentree Gardens and Emporium Inc., Collingwood (705.444.2146)
Favourite Perennial: Peonies
Favourite Annual: Seasonal annuals
Favourite Tree: Climbing Hydrangea
My Garden: Boxwood, Hostas, Hydrangeas and a variety of
ornamental trees.
Garden Tip: Do proper bed preparation, including good drainage and add quality garden soil.
 Clearview Nursery Ltd.
(Wholesale and retail. It’s where the trades shop.) Stayner (705.428.0063)
Landscape Designer and Sales: Stacey Thompson
Nursery Manager and Sales: Josh Rowbotham
Owner: Kevin Elwood
Nursery Greeter: Ivy
(Stacey, Josh and Kevin worked together on the answers)
Favourite Mulch: Cedar and Hemlock Pine
Favourite Shrub: Hydrangeas, Purple-Leaf Sandcherry and Serviceberry
Favourite Tree:
Spring – Flowering Crab Apple
Summer – Schubert Chokecherry
Fall – Autumn Blaze
Winter – Pyramid English Oak
My Garden
Stacey: “I have a full-sun garden that’s colourful, natural and tidy.”
Josh: “I live with a buddy who’s selling his house. I spent about $200 on plants and added $10,000 to the value of the house.”
Kevin: “I have a lot of shade gardens because they’re much more interesting.”
Garden Tip: Use only bark mulch. Plant for seasonal colour. Don’t plant trees too close – it’s a common mistake. Fall planted evergreens must be wrapped in winter.
 Jessica Ladly
Manager: Riverside Greenhouses, Heathcote (519.599.3533)
Favouite Perennial: Peonies
Favourite Annual: Purple and fuchsia Petunias
Favourite Tree: Flowering Crab Apple
Favourite Shrub: Weigela
My Garden: “I have an eclectic country garden. It’s wild, yet manicured. And when I’m not here, I’m usually in the garden.”
Garden Tip: Water, dead-head and prune your plants. Fertilize your annuals twice a week – every couple of weeks for perennials.
 Marta Sawicka
Owns: Marta’s Clearview Greenhouses, Clearview (705.428.2505)
Favourite Perennial: Hostas, Double Shasta Daisies, Dwarf Garden Phlox
Favourite Annual: Osteospermum (African) Daisies, New Guinea Impatiens, Marigolds
Favourite Tree: Ivory Silk Lilac
Favourite Shrub: Ninebark Diablo
My Garden: “It’s a work in progress, but I have sun and shade gardens, plus a vegetable garden.”
Garden Tip: Water and fertilizer. “Use the slow-release fertilizers because they are easy to work with.”
 Diane Lister
Owns: Diane’s Gardens, Collingwood (705.444.0827)
Favourite Perennial: Ligularia the rocket. “It was developed by a famous man named Alan Bloom of Bressingham Gardens in England. He offered me a job.”
Favourite Annual: Geraniums because they stand up well.
Favourite Tree or Shrub: Roses – they’re colourful all summer long.
My Garden: It’s styled after an English country garden.
Garden Tip: “Take a weekly walk through the garden to check all plants for drought, insects or black spot.”
 Rene Forbes
Owns: Forbes Garden Edge, Stayner (705.428.6289)
Favourite Perennial: Lupines
Favourite Annual: Gerbera Daisies
Favourite Tree: Mountain Ash
Favourite Shrub: Hydrangeas
My Garden: Lots of containers filled with colourful annuals. “My garden has both annuals and perennials.”
Garden Tip: Lots of water and fertilizer. Deadheading makes all plants look great and helps flowers bloom all season long.
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