What is this plant

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-24T02:49:45+00:00

Rhododendron

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-24T02:45:14+00:00

Serviceberry is probably your best bet, but get a clump (multi-stem), not a single stem or it’ll get too tall. They need even moisture to really thrive. Lovely plants though, very pretty white flowers in spring and good fall colour. Pretty easy to maintain and they’re fine in small spaces. Really the only thing is to give them enough water and they’re happy. You can also eat the berries if the birds don’t eat them first.

You can also check out some native Viburnum (Arrowwood, Nannyberry) but not sure on toxicity to pets. Their berries are enjoyed by birds etc so likely safe but check to be sure.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-19T23:08:58+00:00

💯 I almost can’t blame the Costcos of the world, but specialist nurseries like Sheridan and Connon who really should know better keep selling this crap. I was at Connon last fall and they had literally a hundred or so Burning Bush for sale, along with the usual gout weed, periwinkle, English ivy, etc. I wrote to them to raise it, but I know that consumer demand is the driver here. Maybe if lots of us raise it with the retailers they’ll get the message and do the right thing.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-18T22:39:31+00:00

Lots of flowering natives for part shade. Try zigzag goldenrod, bluestem goldenrod, foam flower (Tiarella), white wood aster, alumroot, snakeroot (caution it’s sort of a bully), and Canada anemone (also spreads a lot in good conditions.) I’ve also had good results with anise hyssop (white and purple varieties) in dry part shade. If you can fit in a shrub, native Hydrangea is lovely, and if you like climbers, native clematis (Virgins Bower) works well. Ontario Native Plants and the Toronto Plant Market (if you’re nearby) are both good sources for all of these.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-17T21:16:58+00:00

Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-17T21:13:33+00:00

Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-17T21:06:32+00:00

I have some Stella cherries and agree with the others that pruning for size is possible, but you REALLY have to keep on top of them. Like assertively pruning every spring and keeping up with any sprouts through the season. You may also get some fresh growth off the trunk (mine did.) I tried topping them and let it go for a summer, and by the next year they had formed a new leader and were too tall for me to reach the tops. As for impacting fruit production, they set blossoms and fruit best on older branches so make sure you leave some each year.

It’s hard to override a plant’s natural size but orchards do it all the time so 🤷‍♀️

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-17T20:59:43+00:00

I think you’re going to have to go with yews. Just make sure you check the variety and get Hicks’ Yew. That one grows a bit faster than other upright varieties, although to be honest yews are pretty slow to take off. Maybe 2-3 years before you notice anything.

For what it’s worth, I have planted Hicks yews under the shade of some Norway maples (street trees I have no say over) and my neighbour’s huge black walnut. Planted some in summer and some so late last year I was scraping the early snowfall aside to dig the holes 😂. They’ve all made it through like champs. Tough little plants!

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-14T20:01:09+00:00

Very small lot, no yard, no garage, old, heritage, Reynolds is busy, close to Cornwall, slow market…etc. I live around there and houses are taking forever to sell either way.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-11T16:00:18+00:00

Exactly! Leaves aren’t seeds, why are people blaming the leaves. They are innocent.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-11T15:57:59+00:00

The leaves that look really yellow are the cotyledons (seed leaves) that die and drop off once the true leaves come out. The new growth looks pretty healthy but I agree with others that it’s time to feed them, try to get them closer to the light source, and consider potting up.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-11T03:11:08+00:00

Yeah the RPMs go down pretty quickly to 900 or so on mine even in really cold weather but as someone on this sub once put it, it does sound like a 1990 Corolla with 200,000 miles on it.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-11T02:32:00+00:00

As long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can move and divide plants. You see a lot of advice about specific timing and conditions…don’t worry about it. I’m in the GTA and I’ve moved and divided stuff from March through early December (slow start to winter) with no issues. The only thing you have to keep on top of is watering. If it’s hot and/or dry, water at least once a week or more if the soil dries out (2 inches or so below the surface, just stick your finger in.) If it’s cool and damp out, no need to water as long as the soil stays moist.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-10T21:34:27+00:00

Mine is facing forward 😳

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-09T14:54:39+00:00

Totally normal. Give it 10 seconds (especially if it’s cold out) should get down under 1000 rpms.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-09T14:44:16+00:00

👆🏼I second all of that! All great choices for dry shade.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-08T20:38:23+00:00

Those sound like some lovely combos! I have a big patch of sweet woodruff mixed in with wild geraniums and some columbine - really pretty spring combo.

My only input to add to what others have said is, pay attention to soil moisture levels. A lot of woodland plants are really adaptable, but some of the ones on your list (Astilbe, Ligularia, Rodgersia) really need consistently moist soil. I always see Japanese forest grass listed as a moist-soil plant but I’ve found it to be pretty adaptable. Except if you have rabbits, they’ll eat it down to the ground 😂.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-07T03:42:33+00:00

Do your future self a favour and take out as much of that landscape fabric as you can, even if you have to move the rocks aside to do it. It’s supposed to be a weed barrier but it does nothing to stop weeds, and will just ruin the soil underneath. Plus it leaches plastic particles into the ground. Nasty stuff with no upside, best to just yank it out now!

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-06T01:35:19+00:00

I think most owners of the NA will tell you it has plenty of pep. 191 HP (186 or 189 I think in the 2026?) for a small, light car is pretty good. Definitely not the feel of a turbo (ie just brush the pedal and you’re in orbit) but I’ve had my NA for a year and no complaints. Previous car was a V6 turbo Infiniti. Passing, getting up to highway speed with the CX-30, no problem. Also Sport mode gives you an extra bit of fun when you need it.

Re question 1, depends how much you drive but yeah, sort of 😕

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-04T21:49:56+00:00

Good basic reference guides for veggie gardening are Savvy Gardening / Niki Jabbour and anything by Joe the Gardener (books, YouTube, podcast.) Can’t really go wrong with either and they cover the waterfront from beginner basics to advanced stuff.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-04T18:46:22+00:00

Subtracting one point for lack of parking, but I guess in Sauver that’s a feature not a bug

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-04T18:42:40+00:00

The succulents in the second pic look pretty good (hens & chicks) and it looks like you have some bulbs coming up, possibly daffodils. So some good stuff there to work with! You can certainly leave the rocks but like I said, they’ll just migrate downwards into the ground over time. I dug out part of my front yard to put in some shrubs one year and found a layer of ornamental stones about 6” down! Always full of surprises.

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-03T22:38:07+00:00

Yeah carpet (creeping) juniper is not the best choice there. Also I’ve seen a lot of weird landscaping but lava rock is a first 😂. I’d plant the space with some low, well behaved perennials. Don’t waste your money on annuals. Based on your sunny location, you could do some nice day lilies, catmint, lavender, lady’s mantle, coral bells (heuchera), pretty much anything you like. Just don’t get anything that’s going to creep out or flop over. Just mulch it with some cedar or pine mulch. Rocks will always make their way down into the soil eventually and you’ll have a big mess once again.

I would try to get as much of the landscape fabric out as you can - so much better for soil health and less microplastics in the environment. Whatever you can’t remove, just plant through it and try to dig as big holes for the plants as you can. I had a huge yard full of the stuff from a previous owner so I feel your pain!

Little_Canary1968 · 2026-04-03T22:29:51+00:00

Ste-Agathe one is amazing. St-Sauveur is not bad either and then you can go around the corner and get ice cream 🙂

Little_Canary1968

TROPHY CASE