This week on the podcast, Joanne welcomes Brandie, the Suburban Gardenista, an avid gardener passionate about supporting pollinators with native plants.

Brandie is Pollinator Stewardship Certified by Pollinator Partnership Canada and loves sharing her learnings through podcasts, workshops, and social media.

You can find her online on YouTube and Instagram @thesuburbangardenista.

Brandie's Gardening Journey

• Began gardening ~20 years ago after moving into a home with no plants
• Inspired by her mother's lush gardens
• Discovered native plants through growing Obedient Plant — her "gateway" plant
• Realized the importance of planting natives to support local ecosystems and pollinators
• Certified through Pollinator Partnership Canada (Pollinator Stewardship Certification)
• Shares gardening insights via YouTube, Instagram, and workshops

Native vs. Non-Native Plants

• Native plants provide critical support for specialist pollinators (those reliant on specific species)
• Non-natives mainly support generalist pollinators
• Balance between natives, non-natives, and invasives is key
• Common aggressive natives: Canada Anemone, Obedient Plant, Common Milkweed
• Alternatives like Butterfly Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed are more contained

Managing Aggressive or Invasive Species

• Important to research before planting
• Remove known invasives such as English Ivy, Vinca/Periwinkle, Lily of the Valley
• Learn plant behaviour (spreading, seeding, etc.) before adding to the garden

Designing with Natives in Small Spaces

• Small gardens can host a wide variety (Brandie has 70+ species)
• Focus on the right plant, right place, rather than "low maintenance" alone
• Use design creativity: logs, natural materials, and container plants to fill early gaps

Community and Education

• Shares excess seedlings with neighbours; encourages community planting
• Label plants with signs to spark curiosity and conversation
• Promotes pollinator education through advocacy and her YouTube channel

Pollinator Partnership Canada Certification

• The program includes 3 components:
  1. Education: 8 in-depth classes
  2. Habitat Creation: Build pollinator-supportive space
  3. Advocacy: Share learnings through outreach (e.g., YouTube video)
• Highly recommended by Brandie; new cohorts start in February
• Includes regional eco-guides and plant-pollinator charts

YouTube & Monthly Garden Tours

• Started in 2020 to document native garden progress
• Monthly updates show plants' life cycles and seasonal variations
• Helps gardeners identify seedlings and avoid weeding out young natives
• Encourages patience and learning through real-life, imperfect gardening videos

Key Takeaways

• Start small—one native plant at a time
• Do research: focus on scientific names, avoid hybrids if aiming for ecological impact
• Natives can thrive in containers and urban spaces
• Real gardens are messy, evolving, and full of learning opportunities
• Supporting native pollinators starts with curiosity and one plant

Brandie's Favourite Natives

• Obedient Plant (despite its unruly habits)
• Swamp Milkweed – fragrant and pollinator-friendly
• Eastern Redbud Tree – long-term vision for beauty and ecosystem support

How to Support Pollinators

• "Start with one plant. Once you see the pollinators arrive, you'll be hooked."
• Gardening with natives isn't about perfection—it's about participation in the ecosystem.

Native Plant Resources Mentioned

• Books:
  • A Garden for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee
  • Gardener's Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region
• Online Resource:
  • Rick Gray's interactive North American map of native plant sources
• Organizations: Pollinator Partnership Canada

Have a topic you'd like me to discuss?

Please let me know what other topics you would like me to discuss.

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect with me on my website: down2earth.ca

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide.

Get your copy today on Amazon.

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