Welcome

The Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association (VIMGA) is a group of volunteer Master Gardeners living on Vancouver Island from south of Duncan north to Campbell River.

Learn more about what we do and why we do it.

Upcoming Events

  • a frozen rose hip.
    How to Prepare the Garden for Winter
    In this article we will explore the current evidence-based approaches to preparing the garden for winter. Below you will learn how to protect soils from erosion, save perennial bulbs and shrubs from damaging frosts and protect overwintering vegetables from pests and depredation, plus many more essential tips. “More work now when it is still warm, …
  • Plant Propagation Class at Milner Gardens – October 23
    An opportunity to learn about propagating plants through division. First in a series to be continued next spring. Focus: Provide participants with hands-on experience propagating plants through division. Emphasize practical techniques for separating and replanting perennials, bulbs, and clump-forming species, with attention to timing, plant health, and successful establishment.
  • January 2026 – Pruning Fruit Trees; Gardening Resources; Seedy Saturdays
    Gardening Newsletterby Linda GilkesonJanuary 20, 2026 I was suddenly prodded into action last week to get going on fruit tree pruning after I noticed that buds on my peach tree were swelling. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise given the warm winter we have had so far…..So If you can, take advantage of this …
  • February 2026 – Frost Night Alert; Starting Seeds
    Gardening Newsletterby Linda GilkesonFebruary 17, 2026 The weather forecast this morning continues to show a few cold nights this week—ranging from -2 to -5oC [23-28oF] in some south coast areas for Wednesday and Thursday. While in mid-winter such temperatures would not damage hardy vegetables, the warm winter we have had has brought on early, and …
  • March 2026 – March Planting; Simplified Crop Rotation
    Gardening Newsletterby Linda GilkesonMarch 16, 2026 Everyone is eager to plant, despite the occasional waft of winter-like weather (it snowed all yesterday evening at my place). So, what can you do right now? The soil is going to be too wet to work with all the rain this week, but you can try sowing a …

Articles

  • MGABC AGM Speaker Recordings – Available until November 4
    If you missed the AGM here’s your chance to see the 2026 Chapter Presentations and two interesting presentations “Growing Vegetables” and “The Ants – A Plant’s Best Frenemy”.
  • Starting Native Plants from Seed
    Click here to view the handout from Christine Quist’s talk at Fall into Gardening on September 27.
  • Yellow Flag Iris – A Pilot Project in Removal
    VIMGA’s own Jacqueline Sherk participated in a pilot project for removal of yellow flag iris, a pervasive and difficult to control invasive plant in BC. Read the article to learn about this promising method of controlling the spread of this very difficult to eradicate plant.
  • Watching the Harvest Moon
    Who knew that the September full moon will tell us the best place in our gardens to plant next March? Read this fascinating article by Jo Canning about using the full moon to determine where the sun shadow will be in your garden in six months and how that affects your seedlings.
  • A Climate on the Move
    Resources Canada revised the Canadian plant hardiness zones in 2025 to help growers make better choices of plants that will grow in their area. This article explores how our northern latitudes affect gardening in the same way altitude does. Article written by Jo-Ann Canning, VIMGA CMG.
  • Garry Oak Ecosystems
    The Garry oak ecosystems are one of the most biodiverse but also the most threatened in Canada. This interview by Master Gardener Jan Thorsen with Dr. Caroline Josefsson, a biology professor at VIU, about a Garry Oak restoration site on the Nanaimo VIU campus highlights these threatened ecosystems as well as what can be done to restore them.
  • Invasive Plants Change the Environment in Unseen Ways
    Just getting rid of invasive plants may not be enough to allow the ecosystem to recover. Read about the unexpected changes to the soil as well as the long-term environmental impacts of efforts to remove them. By Master Gardener Whitney Peek.
  • The Herb Gardener
    Everything you have ever wanted to know about growing, using, storing and preserving herbs. A wonderfully informative article by Jo Canning!

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