Garden Heroes &
Villains
Prepared by:
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
Presented at:
Humber Arboretum
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca
Humber Arboretum
www.humberarboretum.on.ca
1
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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•
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Session Topics
 What
are Natives?
 Benefits
of Natives
 What
makes a plant invasive?
 What
can you do about invasive plants
 Grow
me instead!
 Good
Bugs/Bad Bugs
 Let’s
go for a walk!
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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What are Natives?

Southern Ontario’s native plants existed her for
thousand of years prior to European settlement

The diverse group of plants evolved together with
indigenous wildlife, adapting to local climate and
soil conditions to create stable natural ecosystems

The soil and climate of a region in large part
dictate the plants and animals that naturally exist
in the area – these species are referred to as native
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Benefits of Natives

Benefits of Natives Examples (details to be discussed during tour)

Pollinators are attracted to native plants more than other horticultural
species or varieties


Why because many ornamental varieties have reduced pollen & nectar
often as a result of breeding for larger flowers
Native plants are more adapted to local growing conditions and can
thrive with minimum attention
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Natives you will meet on the Tour

Some natives we will discuss on the tour include:
Common Name
Botanical Name
BeeBalm , Bergamont
Monarda
Black-eyed Susan, Coneflower
Rudbeckia hirta
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Canadian Anemone
Anemone canadensis
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern White Pine
Opuntia sp.
Pinus strobus
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum stellatum
Joe-Pye Weed
Eupatorium
Poison Ivy
Prairie Smoke
Toxicodendron rydbergii
Geum triflorum
Stag-Horn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Tulip Tree
White Ash
Liriodendron tulipfera
Fraxinus americana
Grey Dogwood
Cornus racemosa
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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What makes a plant invasive?

Invasive species



Alien species whose introduction or spread negatively impact native
biodiversity, the economy and/or society, including human health
Alien Species

Plant, animals and micro-organisms that have been accidentally or
deliberately introduced into areas beyond their native range.

Synonyms may include introduced, non-native and exotic.
Invasive species have ‘displacement capacity’

meaning they form such dense colonies or compete aggressively, that they
force our native vegetation
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Did you know?

There are about 500 invasive plants in Canada

Over 440 of them are in Southern Ontario

Invasive plants cost us all…

huge impact on the economy

biodiversity loss, and impact on climate change
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Invasives you will meet on the tour

Some invasives we will discuss on the tour include:
Common Name
Botanical Name
Emerald Ash Borer
Agrilus planipennis
Buckthorn
Rhamnus caathartica
Dog Strangling Vine
Cynanchum rossicum
Holly-leaved Barberry
Mahonia aquifolium
Leather Leaf Viburnum
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Manitoba Maple
Acer negundo
Norway Maple
Acer platanoides
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Common characteristics of invasive plants

Invasive plants commonly have one or more of the
following characteristics allowing them to out-compete
native species:
 High
annual see production and quick establishment of
dense colonies
 Tolerance to
a wide range of growing conditions
 Ability
to spread by underground roots and re-grow
quick when disturbed by pulling, cutting, or fire
 A lack
of natural predators to keep their population
under control in their new environment
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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What can I do about Invasive plants?

Early detection



Learn to identify and manage invasive plants on your property
Rapid Response

Best Management Practice varies by species

Biological control
Prevention

of initial entry into Canada or Ontario

of the spread of a species
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Grow me instead!

The Grow Me Instead guides identify potentially invasive garden
plants and promote suitable alternatives that are either native or noninvasive

Copies of the Grow Me Instead booklet can be downloaded from
http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/index.php/gardenersandhorticulturalists

Grow me instead samples include:
Invasive Plants
Non-Invasive Plant alternatives
Groundcovers
English Ivy, Periwinkle, Goutweed
Wild Strawberry, Wild Ginger, Bearberry, Wild
Geranium, Mayapple, Running Euonymus
Miscanthus
Switchgrass, Indian Grass
Norway Maple
Native Maples, Serviceberry, Hackberry
Japanese Honeysuckle Vine
Climbing Hydrangea, American Wisteria,
Goldflame Honeysuckle
Non-native Honeysuckle Shrubs
Nannyberry, Ninebark, Fragrant Sumac
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Good Bug – Bad Bugs




Did you know?

Fewer than 10% of insects are considered harmful

90% of them are benign or beneficial
Harmful (bad bugs)

Considered bad as they damage and consume plants

Even harmful insects have a purpose
Beneficial (good bugs)

Assist in food production and pollination

these insects are the natural enemies of garden pests (pest control)

Habitat integration

Natural vitality

Aesthetics

Encouraging beneficial insects, by providing suitable living conditions
Benign (neutral)

Play no key role in our gardens
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Good Bugs Bad Bugs

Some Good Bugs Bad Bugs we will discuss on the tour include:

Heroes (Good Bug)



Honey Bee

Monarch Butterfly
Villains (Bad Bug)

Emerald Ash Borer

Aphid
Hero / Villain

Carpenter Bee
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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References

David Suzuki foundation www.davidsuzuki.org

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca

North American Native Plant Society www.nanps.org

Evergreen www.evergreen.ca
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Let’s Get Walking!
Please
feel free to ask questions
during the tour
Any questions before we get
walking?
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
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Etobicoke Master Gardeners
& Humber Arboretum
Thank you!
Questions?
Etobicoke Master Gardeners
www.etobicokemastergardeners.ca
Humber Arboretum
www.humberarboretum.on.ca
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