Helen Battersby
@gardenfix.bsky.social
Garden writer, speaker, blogger, walker, traveller, photographer; publisher of the award-winning Toronto & Golden Horseshoe Gardener's Journal. Not always in that order. Toronto, Canada. She/Her
Toronto gardeners, take note! #canadagardens #torontogardens
August 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Toronto gardeners, take note! #canadagardens #torontogardens
This woman's Depression Era Garden is full of plants you've probably never heard of #London #Ontario #Canada
Anne Marie Allen hopes these hardy crops in her London, Ont., garden can come back
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Anne Marie Allen hopes these hardy crops in her London, Ont., garden can come back
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Veggies from bygone time growing in popularity. Just ask the Ontario creator of the Depression Era Garden | CBC News
Nestled in the centre of the quiet Blackfriars Community Garden in London, Ont., Anne Marie Allen’s plot is marked with a large sign that says, “Depression Era Garden.”
www.cbc.ca
July 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
A tiny new butterfly visiting a neighbour’s garden, the Brown Argus (Aricia agestis). It wouldn’t flash me the other side of its wing, but these were lovely enough. That’s a perennial sweet pea, pretty in pink. 🌱 #gardensky #canadagardens #torontogardens #butterfly
July 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
A tiny new butterfly visiting a neighbour’s garden, the Brown Argus (Aricia agestis). It wouldn’t flash me the other side of its wing, but these were lovely enough. That’s a perennial sweet pea, pretty in pink. 🌱 #gardensky #canadagardens #torontogardens #butterfly
Great tips from Nigel Dunnett on using flower form in planting design. Many were mentioned in the presentation I wrote a while back on designing with see-thru plants, which is reassuring. apple.news/AYTCMnUNyTEO... #gardening #gardensky 🌱 #plantingdesign #flowersonfriday
Nigel Dunnett’s top tips on using flower form, not colour, when creating dynamic planting designs — Gardens Illustrated
In planting design, we often consider colour, says Nigel Dunnett, but the form of flowers can be just as important
apple.news
July 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Great tips from Nigel Dunnett on using flower form in planting design. Many were mentioned in the presentation I wrote a while back on designing with see-thru plants, which is reassuring. apple.news/AYTCMnUNyTEO... #gardening #gardensky 🌱 #plantingdesign #flowersonfriday
Finally, I began to see the potential for an alphabet. Here’s an accidental F, L, X. All when I should have been helping do dishes. #artmaking #collage #natureisbeautiful
July 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Finally, I began to see the potential for an alphabet. Here’s an accidental F, L, X. All when I should have been helping do dishes. #artmaking #collage #natureisbeautiful
Another thought as I played with these materials: how many elements can you remove before the design falls apart? #artmaking #lessonslearnedfromdesigners #collage #natureisbeautiful
July 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Another thought as I played with these materials: how many elements can you remove before the design falls apart? #artmaking #lessonslearnedfromdesigners #collage #natureisbeautiful
On my earlier nature collage theme, it’s fun to compare right-side-up and up-side-down. Which do you prefer, and which do you think is which, #1 or #2? #artmaking #collage #natureisbeautiful
July 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
On my earlier nature collage theme, it’s fun to compare right-side-up and up-side-down. Which do you prefer, and which do you think is which, #1 or #2? #artmaking #collage #natureisbeautiful
Some well-deserved hate for landscape cloth from @jessicadamiano.bsky.social — every new gardener (and even some old-timers) should take note. apple.news/AcZY0D6tlTZi...
Why landscape fabric is often a bad idea for your garden — The Canadian Press
Landscape fabric may sound like a neat, tidy and easy solution
apple.news
July 8, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Some well-deserved hate for landscape cloth from @jessicadamiano.bsky.social — every new gardener (and even some old-timers) should take note. apple.news/AcZY0D6tlTZi...
Ephemeral art using gifts from nature. Here today, scattered tomorrow. #canadagardens #canadacamps #camping #natureisbeautiful
July 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Ephemeral art using gifts from nature. Here today, scattered tomorrow. #canadagardens #canadacamps #camping #natureisbeautiful
Because I can never get enough of this poppy. ‘Beauty of Livermere.’ #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardensky #gardens 🌱 #poppylove #flowersonfriday #photography #nofilter #iphonephotography
June 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Because I can never get enough of this poppy. ‘Beauty of Livermere.’ #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardensky #gardens 🌱 #poppylove #flowersonfriday #photography #nofilter #iphonephotography
The arrival of the ‘Beauty of Livermere’ poppies is always a thrill. So red! So crinkly! So look-at-me-everybody! #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardensky 🌱 #messygardens #photographingflowers #nofilter
June 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The arrival of the ‘Beauty of Livermere’ poppies is always a thrill. So red! So crinkly! So look-at-me-everybody! #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardensky 🌱 #messygardens #photographingflowers #nofilter
This old dog in Toronto is trying the new trick of growing figs in a cold climate. All thanks to the guidance of Steve Biggs, who literally wrote the book on it! On lemons and (soon) olives, too. Visit: foodgardenlife.com #canadagardens #gardensky 🌱 #edibleplants #growingfruit
June 10, 2025 at 11:17 PM
This old dog in Toronto is trying the new trick of growing figs in a cold climate. All thanks to the guidance of Steve Biggs, who literally wrote the book on it! On lemons and (soon) olives, too. Visit: foodgardenlife.com #canadagardens #gardensky 🌱 #edibleplants #growingfruit
Reposted by Helen Battersby
A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.
Northern Wildflowers produces flower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds for home gardening #Ontario #Canada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Northern Wildflowers produces flower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds for home gardening #Ontario #Canada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Sudbury, Ont., seed producer helping expand national seed production through new partnership | CBC News
Northern Wildflowers in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production. The company is one of 13 recipients ...
www.cbc.ca
June 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.
Northern Wildflowers produces flower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds for home gardening #Ontario #Canada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Northern Wildflowers produces flower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds for home gardening #Ontario #Canada
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
My first-ever sighting of a double redbud, possibly Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Pom Poms.’ Very showy! But I wonder how it is as a nectar source. Opinions? #bloomscrolling #nativars #gardensky 🌱 #canadagardens #torontogardens #onmywalktoday #floweringtrees
June 3, 2025 at 6:25 PM
My first-ever sighting of a double redbud, possibly Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Pom Poms.’ Very showy! But I wonder how it is as a nectar source. Opinions? #bloomscrolling #nativars #gardensky 🌱 #canadagardens #torontogardens #onmywalktoday #floweringtrees
The wabi-sabi beauty of a frizzled tulip. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #springgarden #bulbs #tulips #photography #photographingflowers
May 27, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The wabi-sabi beauty of a frizzled tulip. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #springgarden #bulbs #tulips #photography #photographingflowers
When squirrels garden. Yes, they dig up your newly planted bulbs and plant plugs and snap heads off tulips. But sometimes they bring you a gift from someone else’s garden. And this mystery fringed tulip matches my colour scheme perfectly. 😇 #bloomscrolling #gardensky 🌱 #canadagardens #springgarden
May 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
When squirrels garden. Yes, they dig up your newly planted bulbs and plant plugs and snap heads off tulips. But sometimes they bring you a gift from someone else’s garden. And this mystery fringed tulip matches my colour scheme perfectly. 😇 #bloomscrolling #gardensky 🌱 #canadagardens #springgarden
Until the Norway maple street trees leaf out, my dry-shade front garden is a dry, sunny garden. Perfect for spring bulbs. #canadagardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #springgarden #bloomscrolling #flowersonfriday
May 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Until the Norway maple street trees leaf out, my dry-shade front garden is a dry, sunny garden. Perfect for spring bulbs. #canadagardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #springgarden #bloomscrolling #flowersonfriday
Sunset on storm clouds, filtered through our slightly dirty car window. #clouds #cloudappreciationsociety #photography #cloudsky #sunset
May 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Sunset on storm clouds, filtered through our slightly dirty car window. #clouds #cloudappreciationsociety #photography #cloudsky #sunset
An aide memoire for gardeners: when adding a new plant, photograph the tag (both sides, if appropriate) with a clue to the location. The date will likely be added, especially if a phone camera. Instant, easy record-keeping. #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardentips
May 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
An aide memoire for gardeners: when adding a new plant, photograph the tag (both sides, if appropriate) with a clue to the location. The date will likely be added, especially if a phone camera. Instant, easy record-keeping. #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardentips
Tulipa ‘Daydream’ gradually changes, becoming more and more orange as it ages. But not every one at the same time. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #springgarden #springbulbs #tulips
May 4, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Tulipa ‘Daydream’ gradually changes, becoming more and more orange as it ages. But not every one at the same time. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #torontogardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #springgarden #springbulbs #tulips
Reposted by Helen Battersby
Contemporary printmaker Julia Lucey often employs aquatint etchings, printing them, cutting out elements by hand, and collaging them, layer upon layer #WomrnsArt
May 4, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Contemporary printmaker Julia Lucey often employs aquatint etchings, printing them, cutting out elements by hand, and collaging them, layer upon layer #WomrnsArt
It’s cherry blossom time! No crowds. I only needed to keep my eyes open in my neighborhood to be awed by this beauty. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #photography #cherryblossoms #torontogardens
May 2, 2025 at 12:31 AM
It’s cherry blossom time! No crowds. I only needed to keep my eyes open in my neighborhood to be awed by this beauty. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #gardening 🌱 #gardensky #photography #cherryblossoms #torontogardens
So much depends on a white tulip. On the wane but lit by sunlight, it almost looks like an etching. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #gardening #gardensky 🌱 #flowersinavase #photographingflowers #photography #blackandwhitephotography
April 30, 2025 at 3:22 PM
So much depends on a white tulip. On the wane but lit by sunlight, it almost looks like an etching. #bloomscrolling #canadagardens #gardening #gardensky 🌱 #flowersinavase #photographingflowers #photography #blackandwhitephotography
Reposted by Helen Battersby
'Reeds all about it' machine embroidery by UK textile artist Rachel Wright #womensart
April 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
'Reeds all about it' machine embroidery by UK textile artist Rachel Wright #womensart