Get a head start on this year’s pollinator garden by watching a few of the following webinars. Local organizations have gathered a wide range of speakers who will share information, research, as well as practical guidance.
Local webinars
Canadian Wildlife Federation webinar series
Free Zoom webinars. Registration required. Topics include:
- Native predatory wasps: their role as pollinators and beneficial insects, April 11, 7 p.m., Heather Holm
- Living earth and the life beneath our feet, April 19, 7 p.m. in English and May 31, 7 p.m. in French, Vivian Kaloxilos, a specialist in soil ecology
- Flower flies: the prettiest flies you’ll see in your garden, April 25, presentation by Gil Miranda, an entomologist involved in pollinator monitoring for CWF
- Native plant garden design for beauty and habitat, May 2, Kristen Miskelly, Satinflower Nurseries
- Create your urban pollinator oasis (featuring native plants of the Quebec region), May 9 in English and May 16 in French, Krin Haglund, Jardin Buzz
- Life on Land : The Buzz on Bees, May 12, noon – 1 p.m.
- Adventures in seed saving, Sept 12, Stefan Weber, CWF
To watch past recorded webinars on a variety of topics, such as native plants, invasive plants, gardening for wildlife, pollinator meadows, and attracting beneficial bees and insects, see the CWF’s webinar page.
Friends of Carlington & Hampton Winter Web Series
This local community association presents its annual series of Zoom webinars. Recordings available.
- Pollinator pals – research findings from University of Ottawa PhD students Susan Gordon and Lydia Wong
- Weeding 101 – the does and don’t of weeding with Nora Lee
- Birds of Mer Bleue – National Capital Commission biologist Alex Stone
- Small spaces – Carleton University professor Lenore Fahrig how small ecosystems make a big difference
- Grow Native Wildflowers from Seed – demonstration of germination techniques, Q & A with local experts
To view previous webinars on topics such as weeding and urban forestry, visit the Friends of Carlington & Hampton’s Youtube channel.
Friends of the Central Experimental Farm 2023 Master Gardener Lectures
This year’s fundraising lecture series explores the theme of gardening with nature.
Friends of the Central Experimental Farm (FCEF) members and Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton: $45 for the entire series, or $10 per individual lecture.
Non-members: $55 for full series, or $12 for individual lecture.
Topics include:
- How to Live with What Lives in Your Garden, Tuesday, March 7 – Judith Cox
- Getting Started, Taking Stock, Tuesday, April 4 – Rebecca Last
- Your Dreams and Nature’s Needs, Tuesday, April 18 – Candace Dressler
- Garden Design with Nature in Mind: Basic Steps and Beyond, Tuesday, May 2 – Agnieszka Keough & Claire McCaughey
- Create a Beautiful Garden with Keystone Native Plants, Tuesday, May 16 – Josie Pazdzior & Adair Heuchan
To register, visit the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton.
Sundaura Alford webinars
Local Algonquin College instructor and native plant micro-nursery owner shares recorded webinars on her Sundaura Alford Youtube channel. You’ll find videos on a variety topics, such as the right to garden/garden bylaws, soil health, winter sowing, permaculture, rewilding & wildscaping, cultural values related to gardening, as well as profiles of individual gardens.
Find information about upcoming webinars on Alford’s business Facebook page A Cultivated Art.
Further afield
Blooming Boulevards
Blooming Boulevards is a Mississauga grassroots organization promoting native pollinator plantings. Its 2023 free Zoom workshop schedule is now open for registration.
- Low Maintenance Boulevard Gardens, February 18 – 10 a.m.
- Design Your Own Pollinator Garden, March 11 – 10 a.m.
- Four-season Beauty & Biodiversity, March 25 – 10 a.m.
- Wildflower All-stars for Sun or Shade, April 8 – 10 a.m.
- Native Plants for Tough Sites, April 22 – 10 a.m.
- Small Trees and Shrubs for Small Spaces, May 6 – 10 a.m.
- Pollinator-friendly Container Gardens, May 20 – 10 a.m.
- Create a Native Woodland Garden, June 25 – 10 a.m.
- Goodbye Lawn! July 8 – 10 a.m.
- Understanding Your Soil, August 19 – 10 a.m.
- It’s Easy! Seed Saving 101, September 2 – 10 a.m.
- Growing Native Plants From Seed, Sep 23 – 10 a.m.
Tending Nature speaker series
Recordings of several annual Ohio State University’s Tending Nature speaker series are available on Youtube.
This free online series features well-known authors and researchers, such as Doug Tallamy and Heather Holm.