Well, here we are: in the final month of 2025 already. I hope the next few weeks grant you plenty of time to rest and relax!

When I started this newsletter back in January, I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out. The idea for a regularly updated list of local gardening events had been in the back of my mind for about a year when I decided to give it a go and see if it could be something useful for people.

Today, I’m pleased to say that there are 160 people who read this newsletter every month. A big thank you to each of you! If you’d like to help me improve future editions of Garden County newsletter, please complete this short survey, or reply to this email with your feedback.

🕰️ Now’s The Time

…to let go of that to-do list!

Confession: I haven’t planted all my bulbs yet. Or sown all my cold-loving seeds. I also have a wagon full of unprotected dahlia tubers in my unheated garage. The time just hasn’t been there.

I’m learning to let go of my garden’s to-do list though. After all, it’s worth keeping in mind that gardening is meant to be a fun hobby, not an annoying list of chores.

Plus, there’s always workarounds: bulbs can be grown in pots (and put into the garden later), and seeds can be stratified in containers anytime this month (or next). As for the tubers: experience has taught me that plants can be surprisingly resilient. I have a few already in storage and, since there’s more than I need, a little loss won’t be the end of the world.

When it comes down to it, the garden will still grow. And isn’t that really the main thing?

📅 What's Happening This Month

Despite how busy December can be, there’s still a few exciting gardening events lined up. Ideal for those of us who are already thinking about our 2026 garden!

First week of December - Plug Sale announcement [online]

• at Dropseed Nursery, Milford, PEC

• Start planning next year’s garden additions with the 2026 plug sale from - sign up to the Dropseed newsletter to get all the details

Throughout December - Seed Shop is open [online]

• Ontario native seeds for $3.75/packet, locally sourced whenever possible, collected from herbaceous perennial species that work well in pollinator habitat gardens.

• These species are adapted to our local climate and soil conditions and evolved in tandem with native wildlife. Together, native plants and insects will create a mutually supportive ecological community - right in your garden!

• Order your seeds via the online shop

• Organised by: Blooming Boulevards

10 December at 6:30pm - Christmas Craft Workshop

• at: St Patrick Parish Hall, Napanee

• Come join us as we make a Christmas Craft using Nature’s Gifts!

• “We welcome anyone that wants to join either at their first meeting or later”

• Organised by: Lennox & Addington Garden Club

11 & 12 December at 12pm - Growing Solutions: Advancing an Invasive-Free Horticulture Industry [online]

• The horticulture trade remains one of the largest pathways for invasive plant introduction into Canada.

• Landscapers, industry professionals, researchers and gardeners are invited to join this FREE 2-day event, which aims to provide a platform to share innovation, and highlight practices that reduce the spread of invasive species.

• Organised by: Invasives Canada & Ontario Invasive Plant Council

13 December at 1pm - Winter Seed Sowing workshops

• at: Bloomfield Town Hall, Prince Edward County

• Two beginner-friendly workshops: Ewa Bednarczuk will lead a short workshop on hand-sowing a mini meadow, then Lise Bois will follow with a demonstration of container-based winter sowing.

• Refreshments will be provided and, at the end, everyone will take home at least one container of winter sown seeds. Join us for a relaxed afternoon of learning, seed sowing, and socialising.

• Free, donations are welcome. Register at CountyGardenClub.ca/dec25

• If you have them, please bring along seeds and containers with lids and holes, but there will be some provided too.

• Organised by: County Garden Club and Ewa Bednarczuk

13 December at 2pm - Warm Up Your Winter Garden: Seasonal Displays and Landscape Design Talk [online]

• This event, taking place on Facebook Live, is for those who would like their outside space to feel more welcoming through the winter months.

• Practical winter design ideas that add structure and colour to your garden or entryway during the colder season.

• Teaching and demonstration, followed by questions and conversation.

• Organised by Emergence Landscape Horticulture, Josh Jones Gardening and Caitlin Robinson. Note: the organisers are based in BC.

Entry fees may apply and events sometimes change or get cancelled, so do check the details prior to making plans.

Got a suggestion for the next newsletter?

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🤩 Cool Find Of The Month

It’s officially stratification season, and if you’re looking to do a little winter sowing then you’ll want to check this out:

Created by Ewa from the Neighbourhood Habitat School, this handy list of native seed suppliers can be emailed direct to your inbox using the link above 👆

Not sure what “stratification” involves? Check out the County Garden Club’s workshop on December 13 (details in the event list above).

🎺 A Little Self-Promotion

Throughout much of December, my nature-inspired artwork is available in Toronto, Cobourg, Picton and Kingston.

So, if you want to support a local artist and you’re interested in poetry, insects or art that’s a bit different, then here’s a short video about the exhibitions I’m currently part of:

(Note: watch the video on a computer instead of a phone if you don’t have an Instagram account)

Thanks for reading!

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