My name is Tanya (Northey) Jones and I grew up on a family farm in Lakefield, Ontario where we raised cattle and pigs for market and chickens for our egg business. Growing up on a farm taught me from a very young age to understand and respect the environment around me, including all of its flora and fauna.
In my twenties, my husband and I moved to Huntsville, Ontario were I worked for a private sawmill in the forestry division for eighteen years. We loved the beauty of the Muskoka area but my forestry knowledge led me back home to Peterborough where I now work with the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Forestry Division, helping to protect our Southern Ontario forests.
My passion for horticulture stems back to my sister Susan, who has gorgeous gardens and inspired me to build my own after the purchase of our first home in Huntsville. Although Susan was a great teacher, I later obtained my Horticulture Certificate through Guelph University and created perennial beds covering almost every inch of my property.
I quickly realized that I wasn’t simply planting pretty flowers for my enjoyment but creating an ecosystem that took on a life of its own. For the health of the creatures that inhabit my garden (including humankind), I do not use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and try to mimic nature as much as possible by allowing everything to die back naturally in the fall. I have always loved photography and have spent many hours wandering my property, camera in hand, looking for the perfect bloom or a beautiful creature.
With our recent move back to the Peterborough area, I decided to downsize my gardens which are only a quarter of the size of my Huntsville paradise, but because we are now on the water I get to enjoy all of the new creatures that have come to visit and look forward to capturing a moment of their journey.
Please make good choices for the world we share with nature. Do not use pesticides. Nature isn't meant to be manicured and perfect so relax and allow some weeds to survive. Plant native species for our pollinators such as milkweed, joe-pye weed, asters, goldenrod, sunflowers, rudbeckia, sedum, and phlox to name just a few. Provide a water station for thirsty insects with a shallow dish of water with stones or marbles so they can drink without fear of drowning.
In my twenties, my husband and I moved to Huntsville, Ontario were I worked for a private sawmill in the forestry division for eighteen years. We loved the beauty of the Muskoka area but my forestry knowledge led me back home to Peterborough where I now work with the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Forestry Division, helping to protect our Southern Ontario forests.
My passion for horticulture stems back to my sister Susan, who has gorgeous gardens and inspired me to build my own after the purchase of our first home in Huntsville. Although Susan was a great teacher, I later obtained my Horticulture Certificate through Guelph University and created perennial beds covering almost every inch of my property.
I quickly realized that I wasn’t simply planting pretty flowers for my enjoyment but creating an ecosystem that took on a life of its own. For the health of the creatures that inhabit my garden (including humankind), I do not use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and try to mimic nature as much as possible by allowing everything to die back naturally in the fall. I have always loved photography and have spent many hours wandering my property, camera in hand, looking for the perfect bloom or a beautiful creature.
With our recent move back to the Peterborough area, I decided to downsize my gardens which are only a quarter of the size of my Huntsville paradise, but because we are now on the water I get to enjoy all of the new creatures that have come to visit and look forward to capturing a moment of their journey.
Please make good choices for the world we share with nature. Do not use pesticides. Nature isn't meant to be manicured and perfect so relax and allow some weeds to survive. Plant native species for our pollinators such as milkweed, joe-pye weed, asters, goldenrod, sunflowers, rudbeckia, sedum, and phlox to name just a few. Provide a water station for thirsty insects with a shallow dish of water with stones or marbles so they can drink without fear of drowning.
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Special Thanks
To my husband Glen for all his love and support in everything I do
To my sponsors Jim and Yvonne French for their generous support
To my sister Joanne Galbraith for her technical expertise and creative ideas
To my friend Brian Pfrimmer for his bird expertise and knowledge of Ontario parks
Special Thanks
To my husband Glen for all his love and support in everything I do
To my sponsors Jim and Yvonne French for their generous support
To my sister Joanne Galbraith for her technical expertise and creative ideas
To my friend Brian Pfrimmer for his bird expertise and knowledge of Ontario parks