"The Prairie Garden"

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

“The Prairie Garden” is an annual publication produced in Winnipeg, by a team of dedicated and talented volunteers. The 2014 edition entitled “Gardens” marks the 75th year of publication and is due to be released very soon.
The articles that appear in the “The Prairie Garden” are written by gardeners of the Prairie provinces and northwestern Ontario. What makes this publication unique is that it is tailored to the challenges and demands of Canada’s northern climate. Gardeners in the Rainy River District and northwestern Ontario face some of the same climatic challenges as the gardeners of the prairies, so they will find this publication very informative and pertinent to the area.
“The Prairie Garden” is a soft-cover annual publication, dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in the Prairie provinces. Each year, a theme is chosen and the committee works hard to solicit articles related to the theme. Most, if not all committee members also contribute articles, not to mention the stunning photographs that complement the articles. The Editor and the annual Guest Editor, chosen because of their knowledge in the chosen subject area, manage the task of organizing the layout, selecting the submitted articles and preparing the document for the publisher. Under the guise of the Editor, the articles are edited in part and as a whole by the Prairie Garden Committee. The final document is sent to the publisher in time to be released each year before Christmas.
The Prairie Garden Committee consists of dedicated volunteers putting in endless hours of volunteer time to ensure the content of the periodical is accurate and informative and prior to going to the publisher, the final draft is aesthetically pleasing and meticulous in its information. This is what the dedicated readers of the “The Prairie Garden” have come to expect over the years. Committee members are made up of Master Gardeners, instructors in the Master Gardener Program, and/or have careers in horticulture/agriculture related fields that have come together and combined, have unlimited knowledge in horticulture, agriculture, gardening and botany. I have had the honour and pleasure of being invited to contribute to and be involved with the “The Prairie Garden” since the 2011 edition. You will find “Gardening Guru” articles published in the 2011, 2013 and 2014 editions.
The digest is now printed fully in colour and has been since the 2012 edition. As a result there are more photos, graphics and illustrations complementing each article. Printed on high-quality glossy paper, this book looks nothing less than professional and top quality. For many years, the publication has made the McNally Robinson Booksellers Top Ten list. The digest is launched just in time for Christmas gift giving and the annual book launch is an anticipated event, every November, at the McNally Robinson Bookstore in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by the gardeners in the area.
The 2014 edition “75th Edition – Gardens” will be launched on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at the McNally Robinson bookstore on Grant Avenue, in Winnipeg. If you are in the city, I recommend you attend. After the launch, “The Prairie Garden” is available on the shelves of McNally Robinson, University of Manitoba Bookstore and many of the nurseries and garden centres in Winnipeg. Often back issues are available there too. Don’t fret if you are unable to travel to Winnipeg and the “The Prairie Garden” can be ordered through the website at http://www.theprairiegarden.ca/order.html. Back issues are also available through the website. The publication is non-profit and all attempts are made to produce a professional product while keeping costs as efficient as possible.
I recommend all of the editions as informative must reads for any gardener. You won’t be disappointed as you will learn something from each article. The digest is an economical (retailing for $13.95) and informative purchase that will make a great stocking stuffer for the gardener in your life. Visit the website http://www.theprairiegarden.ca to learn more about the “The Prairie Garden” and the history of this publication and its dedicated volunteers.