Courtesy of Ryan Torris

RESILIENT PLANTS

Gardening across Canada can be a real challenge. High wind speeds, fluctuating temperatures, short summers and surprise frosts can kill plants overnight. That’s why leaning on Canadian native plants is such a gamechanger. These plants have spent thousands of years adapting to our local weather, so they don’t just survive — they thrive where other plants struggle, turning your yard into a hotspot for local birds and pollinators by providing the exact food and shelter they need. By choosing local plants, you’re choosing a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that’s already built to handle the Canadian outdoors. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a prairie native that is built for extremes. Beyond its toughness, it provides a stunning visual payoff, turning a deep reddish bronze in the autumn and providing seeds for wintering birds. Canada Columbine and Lanceleaf Coreopsis are known for their resilience, with smaller leaves that help reduce wind resistance. Silverweed (Argentina anserina) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) are dense, low-growing shrubs. Virgin’s Bower, also known as Clematis virginiana, is perfect for vertical interest. This plant’s vines are flexible enough to sway rather than snap.

Word Scramble

What does corn say when it feels embarrassed? Aw-shucks! What’s a dancer’s

Let’s make a sizzling kabob! Unscramble the words below to reveal the ingredients.. Hint: Some of them are from the vegetable kabob recipe, but not all of them.

favourite kind of vegetable? Spin-ach!

1. DRE NOONI 2. AAOPELJN 3. LLBE RSEPEPP 4. CCIHIUZN 5. CRNOA QUASSH 6. REHCYR STAMOTEO 7. MOSRHMOUS 8. AELPEPNIP 9. GLPTGEAN 10. ENWMERLOTA 11. RNCO 12. WTEES TEAPSOOT

What is a zucchini’s favourite game? Squash! How do you fix a broken tomato? Tomato paste! Which vegetable can’t you take on a boat? Leeks! Why did everyone dance to the vegetable band? It had a good beet!

Answer Key 1. Red onion, 2. Jalapeño, 3. Bell peppers, 4. Zucchini, 5. Acorn squash, 6. Cherry tomatoes, 7. Mushrooms, 8. Pineapple, 9. Eggplant, 10. Watermelon, 11. Corn, 12. Sweet potatoes