MARJORIE HARRIS

Is one of Canada’s leading garden writers.  She has been the gardening columnist for Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail since 1990 ; makes speeches across the country; was the Editor-at-Large of Gardening Life magazine until it folded in November/08. She has been an editor at Chatelaine and Maclean’s;  written 15 gardening books,  lives in Toronto and run MARJORIE HARRIS GARDENS,  a plant consulting business.

2011 Completed work on The Thrifty Gardener for House of Anansi to be published in March 2012; continues as garden Columnist for The Globe and Mail;  features in Canadian Gardening, Zoomer magazine; produces newsletter for Rittenhouse.ca.  Appearances in Port Hope Home & Garden Tour;  John Szczepaniak Garden Tour in Ottawa; Speaking to Edmonton Horticultural Society; leading garden tour to Italy .  Continues to operate MARJORIE HARRIS GARDENS throughout Toronto, Port Hope and Mississaugua.

2010:  Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life With Style published by House of Anansi; features in Chatelaine, Zoomer, Garden Design Magazine. Continues to design gardens including some of Canada best known architects. Speaker at Toronto Botanical Gardens;  The Big Backyard Show in Ottawa; and Manotick Garden Society.

2009:  new revised edition of Ecological Gardening published by Random House in March. Features in Zoomer, House & Home, Chatelaine. Establishes Marjorie Harris Gardens, designing gardens for private clients.

2008:  featured in Zoomer magazine as a Tastemaker; returned to freelance writing for Zoomer, House & Home and other publications.

2007: Speeches: Steinbach, Manitoba; Canada Blooms; Ottawa, Ont; McMaster University; Van Dusen Gardens, Vancouver; Indigo Books in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa; McNally & Rand, Winnipeg; Calgary Plant & Garden Show; How to Make A Garden: Seven Essential Steps for Canadian Gardeners, published in March by Random House. Member of the Board of the Toronto Botanical Garden.   Memoir of June Callwood, June issue of Chatelaine magazine;  tribute to Doris Anderson, Canadian Journal of Women’s Studies; Autumn Planting for EcoOptions magazine; forward to For The Love of Trees. Papers donated to McMaster University.  Board of Toronto Botanical Gardens.

2006 Speeches: St. Andrew’s by the Sea; Barrie Plant & Garden Show; Huntsville Plant and Garden Show. The Mayor’s Roundtable for the Beautiful City.  Board of Toronto Botanical Garden

2005   Speeches: Peterborough Business Women’s Association; Edwards Lecturer Toronto Botanical Gardens with Margaret Macmillan.   Mayor’s Rountdable for the Beautiful City.

Previous speeches: Barrie Plant & Garden Show; Canada Blooms (2002, 2001, 2000), Victoria Plant & Garden Show; Civic Garden Centre (Toronto); Deerhurst Inn, The Copper Leaf (Jordan, Ont), Thunder Bay, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Huntsville, Ont.

2004:  Co-author with Margaret Macmillan and Anne Desjardins, Canada’s House published by Knopf Canada.

2003: Revised editions of Pocket Gardening and MH’s Favorite Garden Tips published in spring; and publication of Botanica North America: The Illustrated Guide to our Native Plants, Their Botany, History and The way They have Shaped Our World.  in autumn.

2000:   Seasons of My Garden published in paperback; columnist Globe and Mail.

1999:   Publication of Seasons of My Garden, HarperCollins;  Patron: Civic Garden Centre.

1998:   Guest speaker and Honourary Patron, Canada Blooms.    Books:   Pocket Gardening: A Guide to Gardening in Impossible Places published by HarperCollins in February.  Board of Princess Margaret Hospital Gardens of Inspiration Tour.

1996:  The Healing Garden published by HarperCollins in May;  revised edition of Ecological Gardening and in paperback Four-Season Gardening (formerly Foliage & Garden Design); co-Editor,  Toronto Life GARDENS premiered in April, 1996.

1995: Articles in Chatelaine Gardens!, The Globe & Mail.  In the Garden: thoughts on changing seasons published by HarperCollins, September.

1994:    Publication of Marjorie Harris’ Favorite Garden Tips, and  Marjorie Harris Favorite Shade Plants; Favorite Perennials; Favorite  Annuals and Favorite Flowering Shrubs published by HarperCollins

1993:    The Canadian Gardener’s Guide to Foliage & Garden Design published by Random House in September 1993. Gardening items on Radio Noon & Gabereau;  Member of the Board of The Civic Garden Centre

1992:    The Canadian Gardener’s Year published in September; member of the Board of The Civic Garden Centre. Regular garden commentator on CBC’s Radio Noon Phone In; and Gabereau!.

1991:    Ecological Gardening Your Path to a Healthy Garden, Random House; Better House and Planet, Ecological household hints, Key Porter. Garden articles for Canadian Gardening, Toronto Life.

1990:     The Canadian Gardener A Guide to Gardening in Canada, Random House;  magazine pieces in Report on business Magazine, Toronto Life, Canadian Gardening; garden featured in City and Country Home. Gardening items on CBC’s Morningside.

1989:        Report on Business Magazine; Toronto Life; garden book reviews in The Toronto Star; guest appearances on CBC’s Metro Morning and Morningside.

1988: Gardening articles in Toronto Star, Toronto Life magazine; regular  on Metro Morning as The Urban Gardener; regular garden columnist Chatelaine.

1987: Everyday Law: A Survival Guide for Canadians co-author with Jack Batten; magazine articles in Physician’s Guide, Applied Arts Quarterly; Toronto Life.

1984-86: Sciencescape, co-author with Dr. David Suzuki; photo editor Times to Remember; magazine articles in Financial Post Magazine, Successful Executive, Toronto Life, Toronto Star.

1979-84: Articles published in all magazines mentioned above plus Chatelaine and Flare. Biweekly column in The Canadian (Cityspan section). Co-editor with Anna Porter on Farewell to the Seventies; writer of Toronto: City of Neighborhoods.

1978: Writer-editor, Toronto Star. Biweekly columnist for The Canadian

1973-77: Associate Editor Chatelaine . Produced radio documentaries for CBC including interviewing, writing scripts and production.

1971-73: Freelance writing for all major Canadian magazines including:  Saturday Night, Chatelaine, Weekend, The Canadian, Artscanada, Quest, Toronto Life. Subjects ranged from design, art, feminism, politics and consumerism; writing and producing documentaries for CBC radio. Regular guest on This Country in the Morning (Peter Gzowski) CBC radio.

1966-71: Staff writer and senior editor Maclean’s Magazine, regular guest commentator on Gerussi! (CBC radio).