Wes Porter

Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.

Most Recent Articles by Wes Porter:

The Phantom of the Poincianas October 20, 2018

As her favoured trees burst into their flamboyant bloom November through February in Australia, youths will drive their girlfriends out to local lover's lane

Man Eaters and Other Nefarious Plants October 15, 2018

Alleged bamboo executions of the orient

Bewitching Botanicals: Plants Used by Witches October 8, 2018

Bill Shakespeare's Three Weird Sisters and their bubbling brew have been updated to Three Vegan Witches: eye of potato, ear of corn, head of lettuce, heart of cabbage, skin of banana--all doubtlessly to James's distaste

GARDEN CHORES, NEWTON’S APPLE, MORE October 1, 2018

Toxic pesticides have been found in most of California's illegal pot farms

Questions Asked: Can Caterpillars Predict Weather? September 29, 2018

North American folklore holds that the larvae of the Isabella Tiger Moth, Pyrrharctia isabella, can do just that

The Yellow Birch of Quebec September 22, 2018

"I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among pines."

The Fathers of the Tulip Business September 15, 2018

"A tulip doesn't strive to impress anyone. It doesn't struggle to be different from a rose. It doesn't have to. It is different."

The Best of Bulbs September 8, 2018

"If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is too few."

POST-SUMMER GARDEN CARE & PLANTING September 1, 2018

September may be an important month for gardeners

Questions Asked: US Measurements, Metric, a Botanist August 31, 2018

Pirates can be blamed for the US not using the metric system

The Iceland Greenhouse August 27, 2018

Garden Progenitor: Where It All Began August 25, 2018

Edible Acorns: Nutty Nosh August 18, 2018

Coming soon to your local supermarket?

Vanilla Insufficiency August 11, 2018

True vanilla beans remain an inordinately expensive commodity, exceeded only by saffron

SILLY SEASON REVIVES, DROUGHT DOESN’T August 4, 2018

Biodegradable plastic made from 'tree glue' could be on shelves in five years

Questions We’re Often Asked: Wasps July 31, 2018

Regardless of species, only the already inseminated queen survives overwinter

Monkey Puzzle Tree July 26, 2018

Alas, not withstanding British popular nomenclature, there are no monkeys in Chile

The Tradescants July 22, 2018

Chinese Plant of Longevity July 21, 2018

Elixir of Immortality

Questions We’re Often Asked: Walnut Allopathy July 15, 2018

Other allopathy plants include asters, goldenrod, ragweed, hawkweed, tall buttercup, and crown vetch

A Kick in the Ash July 8, 2018

A faint ray of hope: Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines a set of four options for communities to choose from as they plan for the impact of emerald ash borer.

Hosta to Replace Romaine Lettuce July 1, 2018

• Dogs can detect agricultural diseases
• Crispy, crunchy--and edible--hosta
• Japanese knotweed 'can be eaten into submission'

Acorns, Deer, Mice and Lyme Disease: Tick This June 23, 2018

Cottonwood & North America’s Fluffy Streets June 16, 2018

Pigs, Potatoes and a War June 9, 2018

How a pig that loved potatoes brought England and U.S. to brink of war in 1859

Strawberries are not Berries June 2, 2018

Questions We’re Often Asked: Aphids May 31, 2018

The World’s Most Dangerous Animal May 27, 2018

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquito bites result in several million human deaths every year

Parks & Planting: King Charles II May 26, 2018

One of Charles's greatest decisions was to establish the Royal Society and his influence on swings in commerce and culture resound down through the ages

Veggie Aphrodisiacs May 19, 2018

"In short, the concept of a truly aphrodisiac food is on par with that of finding a crock of gold at the end of a rainbow"