Organizational Links and Resources
Resources and websites to help you grow in your gardening endeavours.
Please note these websites are not managed, maintained, nor endorsed by the Ontario Horticultural Association (commonly referred to as OHA or GardenOntario) and, as such, we are not responsible for the content.
AGENCIES
Canada’s Plant Hardiness Site
This site explores the relationship between plants and climate across Canada. One portion of the site is dedicated to plant hardiness zone maps.
Environment Canada
This site is a comprehensive source of information related to the environment and the weather.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
This government ministry is responsible for the food,, agriculture, and rural sectors of Ontario.
ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-PROFITS
Bee City Canada
Bee City Canada’s mission is to inspire cities, towns, First Nations, schools, businesses and other organizations to take action to protect pollinators.
Canadian Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society
The Society’s mission is to encourage interest in the cultivation of chrysanthemums and dahlias.
Canadian Hemerocallis Society
A site that offers resources for daylily growers.
Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association
Learn how the use of plants, horticultural activities, and the garden landscape can promote well-being.
Canadian Organic Growers (COG)
COG is Canada’s organic hub.
Canadian Peony Society
A site dedicated to peony enthusiasts.
Canadian Rose Society
A site dedicated to the study and cultivation of roses.
City Farmer
Canadian Urban Agriculture notes.
Compost Council of Canada
Everything you want to know about compost and more!
Conservation Council of Ontario
The CCO is a provincial association dedicated to conservation in Ontario.
CanPlant
This organization actively engages Canadians in creating and sustaining healthy urban environments in schools, public spaces, in housing and transit systems, and communities themselves.
Field Botanists of Ontario
The FBO is dedicated to botany and conservation in the province of Ontario.
Forests Ontario
This organization supports forest restoration, stewardship, education, and awareness.
Garden Clubs of Ontario (GCO)
The purpose of the GCO is to stimulate knowledge of horticulture and the art of floral design.
Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
An association that represents, promotes, and fosters a favourable climate for the advancement of the horticulture industry in Ontario.
LEAF: Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests
A non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the urban forest.
Master Gardeners of Ontario (MGOI)
Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. is committed to helping home gardeners. Free advice is available by contacting a group near you.
Nature Canada
Formerly known as the Canadian Nature Federation, this organization seeks to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in Canada.
North American Native Plant Society (NANPS)
This site is committed to preserving native plant habitat in wild areas and restoring indigenous flora to developed areas.
Ontario Daylily Society
A non-profit organization that promotes and educates the gardening public about daylilies.
Ontario Delphinium Club
A group of members who get together each July to discuss, show, and exchange information on Delphiniums.
Ontario Ferns
Online field guide to Ontario’s ferns.
Ontario Grasses
Online field guide to Ontario’s grasses.
Ontario Herbalists Association
This association promotes safe and natural healing with plant medicines.
Ontario Hosta Society
This site is a great resource for hosta lovers.
Ontario Insects
This site is dedicated to the promotion of insects.
Ontario Invasive Plant Council
OIPC is committed to the collaboration of organizations and citizens to respond more effectively to the threat of invasive plants in Ontario.
Ontario Iris Society
This Society strives to encourage, improve, and extend the cultivation of the genus Iris.
Ontario Regional Lily Society
The group exists to encourage the cultivation, knowledge and enjoyment of lilies.
Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society
This society focuses on alpine plants and related hardy perennials and the creation of rock gardens.
Ontario Trees and Shrubs
Online field guide to Ontario’s trees and shrubs.
Ontario Wildflowers
Online field guide to Ontario’s wildflowers
Perennial Plant Association
This is a trade association composed of growers, retailers, landscape designers, and contractors devoted to perennials.
Seed Change
Seed Change Canada works with family farmers and seed savers in 12 countries around the world, including Canada.
Seeds of Diversity Canada (SoDC)
This organization seeks out, preserves, perpetuates, studies, and encourages the cultivation of heirloom and endangered varieties of food crops and educates the public about their use.
Sustain Ontario-Community Garden Network
Sustain connects community garden leaders to share best practices, strategies, and solutions.
Toronto Cactus and Succulent Club
A group of enthusiasts who want to learn more about the culture of these plants.
Toronto Community Garden Network
A network of members committed to making community gardens an integral part of city life.
Trees Ontario
Trees Ontario acts as the forest restoration arm of Forests Ontario.
BOTANICAL GARDENS
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG)
The RBG is headquartered in Burlington and also owns extensive natural areas and gardens lands in Hamilton, Ontario,
Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG)
The gardens are designed to educate and inspire, spanning four acres within Toronto’s Don Valley Ravine.
COMPETITIONS and SHOWS
Canada Blooms, Toronto
This is Canada’s largest flower and garden festival.
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto
The CNE Garden Show is the largest flower and vegetable growing competition in Canada.
Communities in Bloom
A national program committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement.
Get the Jump on Spring, Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG)
TBG’s annual Horticultural Open House.
Go Wild, Grow Wild, London
Join the largest gathering of the region’s businesses, organizations, and groups committed to growing a greener future.
Hamilton Fall Garden & Mum Show
This show features over 200 varieties of chrysanthemums!
International Plowing Match and Rural Expo
The site of North America’s largest agricultural and rural expo rotates around the province.
Peterborough Garden Show, Peterborough
This annual fundraiser is organized by the Peterborough Horticultural Society.
HORTICULTURAL THERAPY
GreenUP Ecology Garden
GreenUP Ecology Park, located in Peterborough, is a five acre showcase of sustainable landscape ideas and resources.
Guelph Enabling Garden
The Guelph Enabling Garden (GEG) is a multi-use garden designed for everyone, especially those community members with varying degrees of physical and cognitive abilities.
Thrive-Using Gardening to Change Lives
Thrive in the UK uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or are isolated, disadvantaged, or vulnerable.
TOOLS and SUPPLIES
Lee Valley Tools
Lee Valley Tools offers high-quality gardening tools and supplies and other products.
Natural Insect Control
NIC offers natural insect controls and eco-friendly green products for the home, garden, and orchard.
Rittenhouse
Rittenhouse is a source of gardening tools and landscaping equipment.
ACCESSIBLE GARDENING
Carry on Gardening
This website provides general information for all disabled gardeners. Learn about which garden tools and equipment make most garden tasks easier and which methods to use. They also share helpful tips and tricks on how to garden with specific medical conditions.
COMMUNITY GARDENING
Community Gardens Toolkit
This toolkit was developed by Food Banks Canada to help support those who wish to start a community garden at their Food Bank. This guide provides all the information you need to successfully organize, plant, and harvest a community garden.
Community Gardens Themes & Ideas
Evergreen offers a wide variety of downloadable resources related to gardening.
Plant a Row – Grow A Row
PARGAR is a program operating in many Canadian communities that promotes sharing the harvest with others in the community to assist in feeding people who are hungry.
The joy of gardening: how to embrace outdoor space to maximise wellbeing
Having some outdoor space – whether that’s a courtyard, garden or balcony – is a fantastic opportunity. Growing our own vegetables or plants, watching them thrive or simply enjoying the sights and smells of nature
GUERRILLA GARDENING
Guerrilla Gardening.org
Check out this site on guerrilla gardening that offers tips and tricks on beautifying neighbourhoods under the cloak of darkness.
INVASIVE PLANTS
Grow Me Instead (Northern Ontario)
This booklet promotes the use of native and non- invasive alternatives for healthy, diverse, wildlife-friendly gardens in Northern Ontario.
Grow Me Instead (Southern Ontario)
This booklet promotes the use of native and non- invasive alternatives for healthy, diverse, wildlife-friendly gardens in Southern Ontario.
Ontario Weeds
OMAFRA’s Publication 505 provides descriptions and photos of weeds found in Ontario.
PLANT IDENTIFICATION and PLANT LISTS
Evergreen Native Plant Database
The Database includes detailed information on native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, aquatic, and vine species from all regions of Canada.
Northern Ontario Plant Database
The Northern Ontario Plant Database (NOPD) is a website that provides free public access to records of herbarium specimens housed in northern Ontario educational and government institutions.
TYPES OF ROSES
FTD has put together a visual resource that they hope will be both interesting and useful.
USDA PLANTS Database
The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
POLLINATOR RESOURCES
Canadian Wildlife Federation
CWF offers their WILD Spaces Certification program to recognize the amazing efforts Canadians are taking to meet the habitat needs of wildlife.
Be Part of the Buzz…Plant a Pollinator Friendly Garden Today
This 2017 brochure outlines the OHA Pollinator Initiative.
Pollination Canada
Pollination Canada aims to engage the public with educational awareness, coupled with meaningful actions, in the areas of citizen science, pollination ecology, as well as on-farm and garden pollinator management. A wealth of resources is provided.
Pollinator Friendly Plant Lists
The Xerces Society offers plant lists that are pollinator friendly that can be downloaded…
Pollinator Health Action Plan
The Pollinator Health Action Plan outlines the government actions to improve the health of Ontario’s wild pollinators and managed bees.
Creating a Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard
A habitat is a combination of food, water, shelter, and space arranged to meet the needs of wildlife. Even a small yard can be landscaped to attract birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and small animals.
SEED SAVING
Canadian Seed Catalogue Index
Seeds of Diversity provides a comprehensive list to help you find commercial seed sources in Canada.
Canadian Seed Library
Canada’s Seeds of Diversity offers a collection of over 2900 regionally-adapted and rare seed varieties, backing up the work of our member seed savers and Canadian heritage seed companies. Check out the Adopt A Seed program as well.
Community Seed Libraries
Community seed libraries protect genetic diversity in our food system and promote public access to seeds.
Micro-Seedbanking – A primer on setting up and running a community seed bank
This booklet is written for community seed banks, but you can use the same techniques for your own personal seed collection at home.