Vancouver Island Master Gardeners The Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Virtual Gardening Series is a partnership between VIRL and VIMGA offering practical, science-based home gardening knowledge.
The seminars started in August, 2019, at the Harbourfront Branch, attracting over 50 attendees for just three seminars. In February, 2020, in-person events ceased due to the pandemic so VIRL shifted to on-line Zoom seminars. They proved a huge hit. By November, 2021, over 500 gardeners had attended 11 seminars, and over 1,300 more gardeners attended after the seminars were posted to VIRL’s UTube channel.
Each seminar allows extra time for attendees’ questions in the ‘chat,’ and VIRL provides a book list for further reading. Monthly Zoom seminars are listed on the VIRL events calendar page. Space is limited but registration is free, and everyone is welcome to attend these living books. Just visit the calendar and click on the event.
Past presentations can be found:
- on this page,
- on the VIRL website (https://my.nicheacademy.com/virl/pathway/30786/course/26567),
- on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSJ2NS0iLhMvjrnaov6XSU1FB-_TeYhT2)
View the 2025 Seminar Schedule
All seminars start at 6:30 pm and last for one-and-a-half hours. Registration is required for all seminars; the registration links are included beneath each description below.
You can also view the presentations here, without registering, shortly after each presentation date.
February 3
Unusual Vegetables
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
Description to come.
March 3
Raised Beds
Presented by Richard Bernier
Description to come.
April 7
Spring Bulbs
Presented by Jo-Ann Canning
Description to come.
May 5
Beneficial Insects
Presented by Debbie Gurrad
Description to come.
June 2
Annual Borders and Hanging Baskets
Presented by Peter MacKillop
Description to come.
July 7
Ground Covers and Prostrate Shrubs
Presented by Cameron Smith
Description to come.
August 11
Greenhouse Gardening
Presented by Richard Bernier
Description to come.
September 8
Rain Gardens
Presented by Mike O’Neill
Description to come.
October 6
Winter Pruning
Presenter to be determined
Description to come.
November 3
Soil Health
Presenter to be determined
Description to come.
View the 2024 Seminar Sessions
All seminars start at 6:30 pm and last for one-and-a-half hours. Registration is required for all seminars; the registration links are included beneath each description below.
You can also view the presentations here, without registering, shortly after each presentation date.
February 5
Gardening Under Cover
Presented by Jo-Ann Canning
Gardening under cover is an important strategy for maintaining our food gardens in a changing climate by mitigating extremes in all gardening zones. Protecting ornamentals (especially those, like berries and trees, that are edible) cannot be ignored either, for they feed the pollinators, protect the birds and small wildlife, and help maintain a healthy landscape.
In this seminar we’ll explore how to judge the parts of the landscape that will benefit most, how to use a variety of covers and weather mitigators, how to use or modify existing structures, and what materials to use. We’ll focus on simple, cost-effective, recycled and DIY materials and strategies as well as discussing a few more elaborate systems. Hand outs will be provided for registered participants, and a Q & A will follow.
Resources:
- Handout from Jo Canning:
March 4
Tomatoes
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
Tomatoes, Tomatoes! They came in so many colours from green to yellow, orange, red, and purple: which to choose and how to grow them? You’ll learn about seed starting, transplanting, growing, which varieties to choose, and what problems to look out for.
Resources:
- Handout from Dorothee Kieser:
April 8
Flowering Perennials – Everything You Wanted to Know!
This is a panel presentation with several Master Gardeners.
A presentation and Q&A panel with the Master Gardeners about flowering perennials.
May 6
Salad Greens All Year Long
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
In the milder areas of BC you can grow all the greens you want for a salad practically 12 months a year. Learn which varieties to choose, when and how to start, transplant, and harvest, how to protect from frost and how to make the greens an ornamental planting.
Resources:
- Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman
- Backyard Bounty by Linda Gilkeson
- Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon and Marina McShane
- West Coast Gardening: Natural Insect, Weed and Disease Control by Linda A. Gilkeson
June 3
Shade Plants & Shrubs
Presented by Jacqueline Sherk
A presentation and Q&A about shade plants and shrubs.
Resources:
- Handout from Jacqueline:
July 8
Small Space Design Ideas
Presented by Richard Bernier
A presentation and Q&A about small space garden design.
August 12
A Year in the Orchard
Presented by Jo-Ann Canning
Fruit and nut trees have fed us since neolithic times, and many consider them our first domesticated crop. From a sapling start these relatively low maintenance crops soon reward the gardener with food and beauty for many, many years while also sheltering local wildlife. In this seminar Jo will explore the basics and take you through the seasonal rhythm of keeping fruit and nut trees. She’ll also cover how to select the right tree for your gardening space, and provide links to explore the art of science of planting and pruning as well as disease and pest control.
Handout from Jo:
Library Resources:
What’s Wrong with my Fruit Garden?: 100% Organic Solutions for Berries, Trees, Nuts, Vines, and Tropicals by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth
Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees by Ann Ralph
Growing Berries & Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest by Tara Austen Weaver
Growing Urban Orchards: How to Care for Fruit Trees in the City and Beyond by Susan Poizner
Cold-hardy Fruits and Nuts: 50 Easy-to-Grow Plants for the Organic Home Garden or Landscape by Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano
September 9
Lawn Care & Lawn Alternatives
Presented by Cameron Smith
To lawn or not to lawn…
While many people are removing their lawns, others are keeping them for various purposes. Whether it be purely for aesthetics, a place for the kids to play, or a backyard bocci court, if you’re keeping a patch of turf it needs to be properly maintained. We’ll start the session looking at the basics of lawn care: what kind of seed based on the need, when and how to fertilize, watering, mowing, and the pros and cons of weed control.
If, however, you’ve decided that grass is not your thing, there are alternatives. For the latter part of the session we’ll first look at stripping out the lawn: when and how to do it. Then we’ll talk about redesigning your space with groundcovers, pathways, flower masses, meadows, containers and patios.
Handouts from Cameron:
- Seed Lists: Five slides from the presentation giving seed lists from Satinflower and West Coast Seeds, as well as a list of some west coast native grasses.
- Information Sources: Links to and descriptions of three native plant nurseries on Vancouver Island: Satinflower Nurseries, NALT Native Plant Nursery, and Streamside Native Plants. Also included are links to and descriptions of the three online information sources for plant descriptions that I rely on the most.
October 7
Root Prep for Successful Transplanting
Presented by Debora Gurrad
A presentation and demonstration of techniques for preparing plant roots for successful transplanting.
November 4
Putting the Garden to Bed for Winter
This is a panel presentation with several Master Gardeners.
A panel of Master Gardeners in a Q&A about getting the garden ready for the winter season.
Panelists are Richard Bernier, Jo Canning, Debora Gurrad, and Dorothee Kieser.
View the 2023 Seminar Sessions
All seminars start at 6:30 pm and last for one-and-a-half hours. Registration is required for all seminars; registration information will be posted here when it is available. You can view past presentations without registering by clicking on the YouTube links below.
February 6
My Favourite Vegetables & How to Grow them
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
Dorothee focuses on her favorite vegetables, those that do well in her garden on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. The discussion ranges from Broad Beans to Zucchini with many others in between. Information will be given on different varieties within the same type of veggies (e.g. choosing among the multitude of tomatoes), how and when to start the seeds, on planning and preparing for the coming season, and choosing between summer and winter varieties.
March 6
Early Spring Prunings
Presented by Deborah Gurrad
Not sure how to prune your garden? This workshop is for you. You’ll learn pruning basics and get to ask a Master Gardener your questions.
Beginning with the basics of pruning in general, Debora will highlight different pruning principles and techniques on plants in Richard Bernier’s garden. She will also spend time showing how to prune a Japanese maple to really bring out its delicate beauty.
April 3
Growing Vegetables for Winter Storage
Presented by Jo-Ann Canning
Storage crops help us enjoy the best winter feasts when food is less accessible, more expensive, and—especially imports—less nutritious. In this seminar I’ll review the best cultivars of easy-to-grow storage crops, and which crops can give us more than one harvest before we take them to storage. Different crops are best suited to different types of storage so I’ll cover the basics of several systems. Some links will be offered for DIY enthusiasts, however, the seminar focuses on the crops rather than on building or managing storage systems. I’ll share some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years from my successes – and mistakes!
May 1
Growing Culinary Herbs
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
This talk is meant primarily for beginners who want to start a kitchen garden. It will cover propagation methods, location, soil, and it will give an impression what you can do to successfully grow a variety of culinary herbs from basil to thyme.
June 5
What’s in a name?
Presented by Jane Kerr
What’s in a Name? Find out what plant names are telling you, plus explanations of the binominal system of nomenclature. We will also cover why plant conventions are no longer being followed and what this means. This presentation is filled with lots of fun facts about plants!
July 17
Weeds
Presented by Cameron Smith
It’s a big topic and a big problem. After we figure out what a weed is, we’ll examine the terms noxious, invasive, naturalized and native. We’ll look at some of the weedy botanical species in BC and talk about weed control and when you should report a weed sighting. We’ll take a deep dive into weed resources for identification, effects on biodiversity, climate change, and the economy, and actions you can take to reduce the weed invasion.
NOTE: The videorecording of the presentation is not available, but we have an audio recording and the presentation slide show.
August 14
Small Trees for the Urban Landscape
Presented by Richard Bernier
The urban landscape has changed in the last few years with today’s small postage sized lots. It has become important to know the mature size and habits of trees. Before purchasing your garden trees you should do a garden plan noting your garden’s environment. Great care and research is needed to correctly choose your garden’s green bones. Doing this will give colour, year-round interest and will reduce your yearly maintenance. Many newer cultivars have been bred for smaller ‘dwarf” and more fastigiate stature. Fruit trees on dwarfing root stalks have been available for many years which will also provide an edible bounty. This lecture will give you a starting point, the choices are limitless.
September 11
Shade Loving Perennial Crops
Presented by Cameron Smith
An overview of some shade loving perennial plants and mushrooms.
October 4
Ask a Master Gardener for Fall/Winter
A panel of 6 Master Gardeners from the Vancouver Island Master Gardener’s Association (VIMGA) answer participant questions for their Fall/Winter gardens.
View the 2022 Seminar Sessions
All seminars start at 6:30 pm and last for one-and-a-half hours. Registration is required for all seminars; registration information will be posted here when it is available.
March 7
Climate Change: What it Means and How to Cope
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
Our climate is changing, and this fact poses some real challenges for our landscapes. Studies show that many simple gardening techniques can help slow and stabilize this change. Jo will explain the basics of how climate change is affecting Vancouver Island, then focus on practical methods for coping, including water smart, protecting plants during sudden weather events, creating biodiversity, and choosing resilient cultivars.
May 2
The World of Alliums
Presented by Cameron Smith
Alliums? Start with onions. Move on to garlic, leeks, scallions, chives, and so on. But don’t stop there: there are hundreds of ornamental alliums grown for their beautiful globular flower clusters and for their appeal to our all-important pollinators. In this seminar, we’ll take a look at the culinary and ornamental alliums, how to grow them successfully, and why you might want to (beyond adding them to your hamburger).
June 6
Fire Smart Gardening
Presented by Joanne Barwise
We have to be smart in our gardening practices, especially here in British Columbia where wildfires are a natural ecosystem process. This session will cover design components of landscaping, xeriscaping, fire resistant plants from trees to ground covers), the do-not-plant plants, plant placement, mulches, water use and maintenance.
July 11
Container Gardening — From Asters to Zucchini
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
For many urban gardeners, small spaces are a fact of life. In this seminar we’ll focus on how to succeed with food crops and ornamentals that live in confined spaces. We will cover how plants respond to containers, the most suitable soils to use, special amendments and irrigation needs, and how to choose the best varieties for annuals and perennials. This is not a design course; it is focused on long term perennial plant health and nutritious food harvests.
September 5
Dahlias
Presented by Gwen Redcliffe
In this seminar we explore the Dahlia, official flower of Mexico. We discuss some of Dahlia’s characteristics, seasonal care, and cover the basics for those novices who may and have just purchased a potted dahlia or a sprouted tuber at a plant sale, with some tips and tricks for the more experienced gardener. There are always new ideas to explore with this wonderful genus.
October 3
Houseplants: The Inside Jungle
Presented by Richard Bernier
In this seminar we will explore the in-home plant environment with its many unique challenges. We will discuss caring for your green babies including correct watering, humidity and temperature control, light needs, and soil profiles. The correct combination of these elements are the factors that affect your success.
View the 2021 Seminar Sessions
November, 2021
Spring Bulbs: Low Maintenance Perennials for Sun & Shade
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
This talk will introduce you to the group of low maintenance perennials we call bulbs, and will show you how they can turn your home into a 12-month feast of blooms. We cover different kinds of bulbs, for different seasons and garden spaces.
October, 2021
Petal Walkers – Planting for Pollinators
Presented by Joanne Barwise
Bees and flowers have co-evolved since the Cretaceous period. And that’s what makes their relationship impressive and unique. This session will cover habitat requirements of pollinators, different kinds of bees, native plants to attract pollinators and some small and significant changes you can make to be the best pollinator attractant on the block. This session will skim the surface just enough to stimulate your curiosity about these little superheroes and encourage you to plant something for them.
September, 2021
Invasive Plants in the Home Garden
Presented by Jacqueline Sherk
What is an invasive plant, and why should it matter to me if a so-called invasive plant is growing in my landscape? In this seminar, we will seek to better understand why some plants are considered invasive and why we should care if they are in our gardens and landscapes. We will also discuss the growth habits of such plants, and how we can best manage them, including suitable garden-worthy replacements.
August, 2021
Native Plants for the Urban Landscape
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
In this seminar we take an in-depth look at some of our beautiful native plants, their growing needs, and their uses in the home garden. Many native are useful for borders along garden beds, planted as an under-storey and they can be useful as feature shrubs and trees. These plants are well adapted to our environment. Several varieties are both wet and drought tolerant making them useful for erosion control and road side plantings. Given their hardy diversity they are an environmentally wise choice for the gardener to consider.
July, 2021
Winter Vegetables: Summer Planting for Storage and the Winter Feast
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
The mainstays of the winter garden are many of our most important foods. This talk addresses when, where, and how to start and transplant them, and what amendments work best for various species. We cover options the different varieties offer for indoor storage or over-wintering outside, and which varieties are suitable for a large veggie plot, a mixed garden, and containers. We will also talk about the different flavours in — and the most nutritious — varieties of many easy-to-grow winter crops.
June, 2021
A Primer on Roses: Varieties, Planting and Care
Presented by Wendy Strachan and Carole Ward
A garden without a rose is a garden that will always be missing something important. Learn about different types of roses, tips on choosing and growing them, and the ways roses can be used to enhance your garden. Learn how to troubleshoot rose problems so these amazing perennials will continue to reward you for years with their beauty!
April, 2021
Rhododendrons: Beauty, Diversity, and Culture
Presented by Chris Southwick
An in-depth look into our native shrub, introducing the many varieties which have come into our gardens from all over the globe. Learn where rhodos fit into garden designs and learn about the basic needs and care of the species as well as proper garden placement, planting and transplanting tips, and pest control.
April, 2021
Garden Tour with Chris Southwick
Enjoy this special treat! Chris Southwick of Vancouver Island Master Gardeners gives us a brief look at her own garden, featuring some of the beautiful rhododendrons she speaks about in her seminar, Rhododendrons: Beauty, Diversity, and Culture.
March, 2021
Perennial Food Crops & Edible Ornamentals
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
Many gardeners are familiar with perennial crops like fruit trees, berries, and herbs, yet little is known about the many perennial vegetables that are easily grown in a backyard. Because perennials provide the primary design structure in every garden, changing to a higher percentage of edible perennials allows us to lower food costs and save labour time.
This seminar will introduce you to the most common perennial vegetable crops and edible ornamentals, and introduce a few surprising and exotic food choices, too.
February, 2021
Starting from Seed
Presented by Dorothee Kieser
In this seminar, Dorothee Kieser teaches teach the value and advantages of growing flowers and vegetables from seed. She will cover how to recognize and buy good seed, the different growth patterns for annuals, perennials and food plants, how to care for seedlings, some simple supplies and tools you’ll need, and tips and tricks for successful transplanting.
January, 2021
Composting the Easy Way: From Big Gardens to Small Courtyards
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
We stay healthy when we eat healthy food, and this is as true for our gardens as it is for humans. In this seminar we will explore how compost, mulches and organic amendments feed our soil for increased nutrients in food harvests and long term landscape health. We’ll cover several composting methods, including vermiculture and fermentation systems. Finally, we’ll investigate some simple techniques to keep labour at a minimum and your composting system workable for any size of garden, whether it is balcony pots or a half-acre food garden.
December, 2020
Sprouts & Microgreens: How To Grow Your Own Fast Food
Presented by Jo Ann Canning
It’s true – anyone, even apartment dwellers and first-time gardeners can grow fresh greens with a small investment in space, time, and money! In this seminar, Master Gardener Jo-Ann Canning will cover the difference between sprouts and microgreens, look at which seeds work best, and share the growing styles and techniques that ensure a bountiful harvest. We will also investigate what equipment and supplies to use including some recycled DIY options that keep your initial costs next to nothing while you decide which system works best for you and your family’s lifestyle. Presented by Jo-Ann Canning of Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association in Nanaimo, BC