We’ll begin by helping you cope with the shade garden's particular problems and understand its opportunities. We’ll cover garden design principles for your shady garden (they work in sunny gardens, too!). Come away with ideas for both plants and design approaches that can help you create a high-impact, low-maintenance shade garden.

About Helen Battersby

Despite being so small she nicknamed it the Microgarden, Helen Battersby’s garden is a favourite for all kinds of pollinators. Helen hopes to introduce you to these and more and help you discover how to make them feel at home and keep them coming back.

Helen is a grad of Ryerson’s Landscape Design program and has spent over 15 years as a volunteer with the Toronto Master Gardeners. A member of GardenComm, the Association for Garden Communicators, she has been published in magazines such as Garden Making and, with her sister Sarah, writes the award-winning TorontoGardens.com. In 2017, the sisters took over publishing of a long-standing garden diary – which in 2019 was renamed the Toronto & Golden Horseshoe Gardener’s Journal. Now in its 29th edition, the journal has loyal users from coast to coast.

Safe Program Access

To ensure the safety of our participants and instructors, all staff, volunteers, and participants will be required to wear masks indoors and and maintain physical distancing.

All participants must show proof of vaccination to attend an indoor program at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

You must have received the second vaccine dose at least 14 days before your program. You can present either a paper or digital copy of your vaccination receipt, along with valid ID that includes your name and date of birth.

You will also be asked to complete a mandatory paperless COVID-19 Self-Assessment prior to your participation. Please review our Health and Safety Policies and Refund Policy and Terms of Agreement.

This is an Adult Education program at TBG. All participants must be 16+.

PLEASE NOTE: Should the current COVID-19 closures and restrictions continue into March, this program will be offered online.

We appreciate your support and cooperation.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, March 2 at 12:00pm.