u/MysteryDestinyPat

If you’re ever on St. Joseph Island, there’s a place called Adcocks’ Woodland Gardens that’s worth the trip. It’s one of those quiet Northern Ontario spots that feels like stepping into someone’s lifelong passion project — winding paths, unexpected plants, and a greenhouse full of surprises.

One of those surprises was a fruiting pineapple.
In Northern Ontario.
I stared at it long enough that I finally thought, “Alright, I’m trying this at home.”

Fast forward:
The fruit went on pizza.
The scraps turned into incredible vinegar.
And the tops are now free houseplants.

Northern grit at its finest — use what you have, make something good out of it, and don’t let winter tell you what you can or can’t grow.

If you’re into gardens, quiet travel spots, or just seeing something unexpected in North Ontario, Adcocks’ is still open for tours and absolutely worth a visit.

Five-year-old hardy kiwi, zone 4, northern Ontario with no blooms. The parent plants, at a neighbour's are covered in fruit each year. Ph is 8. Soil is rich and mulched. Plants are healthy and in theory, both male and female. Suggestions, advice, please. I really want my own kiwi!!

Ticks are horrible this year in our region. I started eating garlic, no bites. Stopped garlic, tick bites back. Not science, but I'd like to hear from garlic lovers and haters, how are ticks treating you? Is there a pattern or coincidence? How much garlic do you eat, and have you had any tick bites?

I want banana powder to use as a food. After dehydrating the bananas, they are soft and sticky. I can't grind them in this state. Suggestions please?

We were camping at the old Thessalon, Ontario, airport years ago when we spotted a giant rhubarb plant standing alone in the empty field. Not a patch — just one huge plant, completely out of place.

Anyone who spends time outdoors up north knows what that usually means: something was here.

Once we started looking, more clues showed up.
• Tricolour sage growing where it shouldn’t
• Raspberries — the garden kind, not wild
• A few scraps of an old military uniform, mostly gone except for the buttons
• Wheel hubs sunk so deep it looked like the vehicle had disappeared above the tires
• An old well pump
• And eventually, the outline of a basement

All of it hidden in plain sight, just off the field.

It’s amazing how much history the bush can swallow — and how a single plant can be the breadcrumb that leads you to the rest. Turned out it was the Homestead of J. E. MacDonald. Local history writer and his out-of-print books are a wealth of regional knowledge.

Years ago, at the old Thessalon airport, we spotted a giant rhubarb plant standing alone in the empty field.

Up north, that usually means one thing: something was here.

Following it led us to a forgotten homestead. There was a well pump, wheel hubs, and a military uniform (buttons only). It was the home of local historian J. E. MacDonald, whose out-of-print work reshaped how we see this region.

Amazing how one stubborn plant can open the door to a whole world of northern secrets. Does anyone else have a winky thing that led you to explore Ontario?

Is there a group or support for people claiming self-directed care in Ontario? Is this different than family managed care? Anyone have any information?

I put cinnamon on my turnip this morning, in hopes it will deter flea beetles. Will this work? What other garden hacks work in the real world?

Some of us grew up thinking Rudolph was the only little deer who ever got pushed out for being different. But Northern Ontario knows the truth — young males get nudged out every year, and in the months before, they aren't allowed to play the deer games.

We called our little guy Weiner, born late, stunted, always a few steps behind the herd. They pushed him out early, just nature doing what nature does. But somehow, year after year, he survives on his own.

No glowing nose, no Santa… just grit, instinct, and a whole lot of heart. He was back this morning. Magnificent as his father was.

What other wildlife legends are based on truth? Anyone else see a deer not allowed to play deer games (catch the pumpkin pieces?)

What’s the rarest or most unusual apple you’ve ever found growing wild in Ontario Old homesteads, abandoned orchards, roadside trees — I love stories about forgotten varieties still hanging on. There was a guy in Port McNicol who had the old Centennial Collection. Are there more?

Some people say foxes are the best rodent control. Others say Coyotes actually increase ticks because they reduce foxes. What’s the real predator balance in Ontario? Does this actually work to reduce human disease? Sorry, I had it backwards!!

I’ve been reading that some herbs (like sage and rosemary, lavender and plants like daffodils) deter rodents, but others (like parsley and dill) actually attract them. Is that true for Ontario gardens? Is there a real-world effect to reduce disease potential? I write cozy mysteries set here, so I’m always collecting odd plant facts.

My husband and I once collected a truckload of walnuts from a sidewalk in Wyebridge, Ontario.
We planted them in Bruce Mines — Opportunity and enthusiasm.

One is now a gorgeous, healthy tree. I tapped it this year for syrup.
More coming along.
The deer ate the rest. (I guess healthy feed is good)
Lesson learned: location really matters with walnuts.

I’m also an author, and this whole experience shaped one of my characters — a tree planter/arborist who had to pivot careers after developing seizures.
Curious if anyone else has had trees (or tree‑related chaos) inspire their creative work.

This is my first year with hellibores. I'd like to hear personal suggestions. All I know if they deter rodent chewing in the garden and are gorgeous in spring. (Yes, I looked it up but I'd prefer real-world suggestions.)

Can anyone tell me about Korean pine? Are they a grow-slow, then shoot up thing? How old are they when they fruit?

Pussy willow in bloom long after all others finished...is there a listing for which types bloom first, largest blooms? What eats them? Tell me about the different willows?

I'm looking for herb legends. The wilder the better. Crazy things people quote but have some factual background. Prefer will grow in zone 4 and N. America.

Working on a book where the main character is into herbs. We just had a major late snowstorm pass through and she will be out checking her garden. Sprouts were up and then this freak storm. What can she expect to find first as the snow melts back? (zone 4 Canada) and why would she be excited to see it? What will she see damaged? As her garden is damaged, she's going to forage. ....for what?

I’m working on a mystery novel where the plot revolves around pine saplings showing unexpected signs of stress. I want to portray the early indicators realistically — not old growth, but the youngest trees.

What would you consider the first red flags?
Nutrient issues? Soil contamination? Disease? Something else?

I’m not looking for anything sensational — just accuracy.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share insight.

I’m having a genre identity crisis.
I labelled my series “cozy mystery.” I’m starting to think I wandered into quirky territory.

I’m a butterfly‑brain, former‑tree writer, with a retired ident officer as co, it makes sense that my characters are odd, my humour leans sideways, and plots don’t behave.
What do YOU see as the difference between cozy and quirky mystery?
Is it tone? Violence level? Character eccentricity? Something else?

Learning. Growing. Trying to shelve myself correctly.