The Helpful Gardeners

Colin recently took a road trip to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, and let’s just say, he’s still buzzing about it. He's got some show and tell and fun stories from this fun place just west of Edmonton, Alberta.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠...

What if your local garden centre offered an ICU for your struggling indoor plants? A brilliant 'Houseplant Hospital' concept out of the UK could be the future and could help plant parents gain confidence while saving time and money.  Discover Hilda: https://hilda.co/ CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ins...

Have you seen that Instagram reel showing someone putting mini disco balls in their garden to deter pests? It’s definitely a vibe, but does it actually keep the critters out? Plus, it's Canada Day! Let's see how knowledgeable Colin is on the regional symbols of Canada.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Is your garden feeling a little… predictable? Like your following a checklist of things you need to "keep up with the jones'"? It’s time to break the mold. From mirrors that trick the eye, to niche flower design, to a fun viral porch trend. Add some much-needed whimsy to your outdoor space.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

From creepy-crawly caterpillar clusters to squirrels turning your freshly planted flower beds into a snack bar, the questions this week are gooooood. Plus, the sweet email from a long time listener and a reminder to enjoy your flowers not only outside but also inside and with others.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Weather is incredibly localized, and understanding exactly how much rain, snow, or hail falls in your own backyard can help you take on a more proactive approach to your garden. This week, we’re exploring CoCoRaHS and how you can use that data to predict when you should cover your tender plants for an incoming storm or if you should bother watering that day. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

After a particularly busy weekend tackling the garden beds, Colin tracked his fitness to see exactly how much "work" he was doing. The results are amazing. Gardening is a heavy-duty, full-body workout that most of us are severely underestimating. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Gardening forums can be convenient spaces to connect with other gardeners, but if you go in with a problem, they can often leave you more confused than when you started. We're diagnosing a sad hanging basket, talking Peony tea, and unveiling a new plant in Brandi's garden that comes straight out of Bridgerton. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Next to the Chelsea Flower show, the FlowerTrials comes close to a premiere event for gardeners. Plant breeders from across the globe gather in the Netherlands and Germany to show off their latest innovations. These aren’t just random flowers—these are specifically engineered, trialed, and perfected plants designed to make your gardening experience easier, more beautiful, and more successful. From...

Are you watching FIFA? Are you as glued to how incredible the pitch looks and thought, "I wish my lawn looked like that"? We’re going behind the curtain a little bit and sharing Colin’s 5 essential tips to get your home turf looking championship-ready.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

You know you're a plant nerd when you get joy out of discovering which bee is your horoscope match, buying bags of soil on the weekend is 'fun', and when your heart flutters when you find a new houseplant invention.   CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspo...

The world of gardening is undergoing a whimsical shift. From comfortable board games about keeping houseplants alive, to the prestigious grounds of elite flower shows. We're talking about a fun new game on Kickstarter and the return of the Garden Gnome to trendy gardens. What's your take? CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Ever felt the pressure of working in someone else’s prized garden bed? This week on the podcast, we’re diving into a great listener question from Kurt, who was just gifted a Jacob’s Ladder by his neighbor. We’re breaking down how to dig it up so you don't kill the plant, the garden, and the neighbourly vibes.  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Pack your bags, we're heading to Vancouver Island!  This week, Brandi is taking us on a virtual getaway to the iconic Butchart Gardens, and yes—she’s filming a gorgeous exclusive vlog from the grounds! Find out how a limestone quarry became a global backyard aesthetic. CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta...

There is a kind of seasonal panic that hits when you walk into the garden center in spring. The tables are overflowing with colour and possibiliity. Have you ever felt overwhelmed, not sure of how many to buy and how to pair them to create a beautiful planter? Designing a show-stopping container doesn't require artistic genius; We have a a simple, three-part formula that will get the ball roll...

Staring at a bare garden bed and wondering how much soil to order without ending up with either not enough or a mountain of leftovers? Plus, we’re demystifying the difference between loam, garden mixes and compost, and settling a "rock" debate between friends. Get the dirt on all things soil! CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

While North American eyes are on the Fifa World Cup next month, Europe is celebrating the world cup of gardening with the Chelsea Flower Show! From jaw-dropping show gardens to indoor plant carousels that move with the sun, we're exploring the trends and fun that can inspire your own garden! CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

What a packed episode! We're diving into a new discovery on bee survival that left us floored. Plus, Brandi has an update on her big landscaping project and a hack to help you pay for your gardening this spring. Plus, we’re taking you on a mini-road trip to Vancouver Island, where hundreds of locals will turn a massive main thoroughfare into a carpet of flower this spring.  CONNECT WITH US  Sh...

Have you ever written off a seed brand based on your experience growing their product? A local gardener reached out frustrated that their seeds from a regional farm completely tanked last season.  "Where is the best place to buy seed packets? Last year I got them from _________ and they were terrible and didn't grow well!" There are many reasons why a seed packet didn't bring you...

So, you’ve finally decided to ditch the old fire pit and that slate stone pad to grow something. We’re breaking down the details of excavation and planning for a new garden bed! CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpfulgardenerspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a Voice...

Have you noticed how the city just smells better lately? The trees and plants are starting to wake up and giving off some serious pheromones. So, why does that scent of pine and soil chill us out and how can we replicate that in our own backyard? CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theh...

Mother's Day is this weekend and while you can never go wrong with flowers, there's a trend in 2026 toward experiences that we're currently LOVING. We're exploring a fun event on Vancouver Island and a local way to spend quality time outside on a garden tour! CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ins...

Spring is here and it's showing up everywhere! It's in the bird nests, tree buds, and even those green little shoots popping up through the soil. Should you do anything to help those shoots or will they thrive without intervention?  CONNECT WITH US  Show Notes |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.goldenacre.ca/podcast   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thehelpful...

Calgary just dropped a brand-new outdoor watering schedule for Spring 2026! Don't worry, this isn't those high-stress Stage 4 restrictions from the feeder main repairs. This will actually help your established plants become more resiliant while also keeping our Bow and Elbow rivers happy. We’re breaking down what this all means including the exemptions which we think will keep gardeners fe...

The image of a "gardener" isn't just a retired person in a sun hat with a perfectly manicured rose bush. Gardening is for the dreamers, the hustlers, and yes, even those of us living with chronic illness or physical limitations. We were recently moved by a story from a woman living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who decided that her diagnosis wasn't going to keep her from her backy...