Live chat with expert gardeners: August 18, 2014
Get your garden growing with a live call-in conversation with Ontario Today's Ed Lawrence starting at 12:30 p.m.. We'll also have expert gardeners Donna Parker, Tena van Andel and Linda Hugli. Join us online or by phone at 1-888-817-8995 or do both. Either way, your weeds don't stand a chance!
With this impressive arsenal of gardening talent you can be sure someone will have a bright solution for any problem your garden can throw at you. Don't think so? We dare you to try and stump our panellists.
Starting on Monday at 12:30 p.m. our experts can help you with everything from the right way to get rid of bindweed, how to fertilize your roses, how to grow tomatoes in containers and much more. Listen live to Ed Lawrence on Ontario Today right on this page at 12:30 p.m. Monday and join the online conversation too.
Meet the gardeners
Our rotating group of online panelists will include Jon Peter, Curator and Manager of Plant Documentation at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton and Toronto-area Master Gardeners Claudette Sims, Tena Van Andel and Donna Parker as well as Master-Gardener-in-training Marie Clarke. From Sudbury, we have Master Gardener Linda Hugli.
Jon Peter
Jon L. Peter has diplomas in horticulture from the University of Guelph and from the prestigious Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture. Since graduating, Jon has worked at some of the finest botanical institutions in North America, including the Arnold Arboretum, The Morton Arboretum & the New York Botanical Garden. Jon is currently Curator & Manager of Plant Documentation at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Claudette Sims
Claudette Sims, a retired educator, has been a member of Halton Region Master Gardeners since 2005 and is proud to be Vice President of Master Gardeners of Ontario. She is passionate about gardening and loves to attract and observe wildlife in her garden. Over the years, she’s gained a better appreciation of the role and beauty of native plants in our gardens.
Donna Parker
Donna Parker, a retired educator with a background in Environmental Science, has been a Master Gardener since 2000.
She has worked with woody plants at Sheridan Nursery and had her own garden design and consultation business in the greater Hamilton area. She volunteers on the gardening hotlines at the Royal Botanical Gardens and for Halton Master Gardeners. Donna gardens in Ancaster and loves the challenge of designing and creating beauty among the wonderful old trees.
Marie Clarke-Davies
Marie Clarke-Davies, an executive producer at CBC News and has been involved with Halton Master Gardeners since 2011. Her passions are creating bird—and pollinator—friendly gardens and working with native plants, though she admits to a weak spot for the garden designs of Japan and Italy.
Send us your questions in advance through email at hamilton@cbc.ca or ask our panelists live using the comment box on this page on Monday at 12:30 p.m. at cbc.ca/hamilton. Your garden will love it if you do.
Linda Hugli
Linda Hugli has been a Master Gardener in Sudbury, Ontario for almost 20 years. She served on the Master Gardeners of Ontario Board of Directors for 5 years, and during that time was Webmaster of MGOI.ca . She also coordinated Landscape Ontario's 'Ask an Expert' website forum. Linda's extensive home gardens include more than 200 varieties of perennials, shrubs, and trees. She gardens in Zone 4 in Ontario's mid-north.
Tena van Andel
Tena van Andel is delighted to have been a Toronto Master Gardener since 2003. She enjoys her role as Past Coordinator for Toronto and as Event Coordinator on the board of the Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. She will talk to anyone about anything horticultural, although orchids, large trees and the exotic bring a special gleam to her eye.
Did you know?
Master Gardeners in Ontario are experienced gardeners who have studied horticulture extensively and continue to upgrade their skills yearly through technical training. Master Gardeners start out as master gardeners in training until they complete the educational and volunteer component of the mandate.
Master gardeners and master gardeners in training provide free garden advice to the public by participating in volunteer activities such as garden advice clinics, answering questions via email and now in online chats!
READ MORE
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Live chat with expert gardeners on July 21, 2014
Need help? Ask an expert
- Email questions to hamilton@cbc.ca
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Visit the Master Gardeners of Ontario website
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Visit the Master Gardener Facebook page
- Email Halton Master Gardeners at haltonmastergardeners@gmail.com
- Call the RBG gardening hotline at 905-527-1158 ext 226 or email grow@rbg.ca
