By Dave Zeldon and Ely Schweyer
In late June and early July we will be witnessing the annual invasion of the Japanese Beetle on many of our favourite landscape plantings including Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Hibiscus, Roses, Grapes, and Raspberries.
Adult beetles skeletonize foliage.
Many of us have tried the various means available to curb this yearly destruction like pheromone traps, Nematode lawn inoculation, hand picking, and concoctive sprays. But still, we get substantive damage.
Interestingly enough, some plants such as Geranium, Castor Bean, and the flowers of Bottlebrush Buckeye, will cause paralysis and death of these beetles when eaten.
Maybe it’s Time We Look at Whole New Approach
Why not slowly invest in a landscape makeover? One with Japanese Beetle resistant plants!
Trees such as Red Maple, Red Oak, Hickory, and Redbud could replace the susceptible Japanese Maple, Norway Maple, Pin Oak, Linden, and Mountain Ash.
Why not consider growing more Evergreens such as Holly, Yew, Boxwood, and Aborvitae instead of the prone Virginia Creeper, Apple and Plum family of trees, and Birches.
You also may want to contemplate planting perennials such as Coral-Bells, Hostas, Pachysandra, Sedum and Foxglove as opposed to the Japanese Beetle standard menu fare of Evening Primrose, Hydrangea, Clematis, Potentilla, and Zinnia.
Yes, we do have some preventative measures at our disposal to battle the Japanese Beetle (find how to use beneficial nematodes in our fall chore blog) but due to the nature of this pest, it will inevitably win the war. If we continue to grow the some 400+ preferred host plants in our landscape, providing an adequate food source for this invasive pest rather than replacing them with resistant species, surely this pest will make gardening a chore instead of the pleasure it should be.
We hope this article will aid in the prevention of Japanese Beetles in your garden space! For more information – and Japanese Beetle resistant plants – visit Eising Greenhouse and Garden Centre! 🪲
We are thrilled to officially invite you to apply for the Eising Annual Craft Show, November 16 – 21, 2026
Every year, this event grows in both scale and spirit. As we expand, our goal is to grow alongside you while ensuring the best possible experience for our shoppers and our hardworking staff. To manage this growth effectively and streamline our holiday preparations, we are introducing a few updates to our registration process this year.
What's New for 2026?
To ensure a diverse and vibrant marketplace, we are moving to a jury selection process rather than first-come, first-served registration. With the increasing number of talented vendors, this allows us to curate a wide variety of unique products. This variety is key to keeping the show engaging for shoppers and, ultimately, helping our vendors maximize their sales!
Additionally, due to popular demand, we have added an extra two days to the event, making this a six-day shopping experience.
Important Dates and Details
1. Application Deadline (newly extended): July 17, 2026
2. Selection Notification: July 24, 2026
3. Setup Window: November 13 – 14, 2026
4. Show Dates: November 16 – 21, 2026
5. Tear Down Day/Payment Pick-Up: November 24, 2026
Note 1 : If you have not heard from us by July 24th, you will be automatically placed on our waitlist for any potential openings. Until you have received the email noting your selection in this year's event, DO NOT SEND THE ENTRY FEE PAYMENT.
Note 2 : If you would like more than one booth (maximum of two), please indicate your request on your application. Multi-booth requests are not guaranteed, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Craft Requirements
To maintain the high quality our customers expect, please adhere to the following:
1. Handmade Authenticity: All crafts must have a handmade component. The resale of strictly purchased items is not permitted.
2. Pricing: All prices must be round numbers (e.g., $2, $5, $10) to facilitate smoother transactions.
3. Tagging: Each item must be tagged with your three unique initials and the price.
4. Stickers: We will provide printed stickers with your initials. Please ensure these are securely fastened. Items with missing or loose stickers cannot be processed at checkout and will be placed in a "Return to Vendor" bin.
How to Apply
Please complete and submit the online application below, along with two to three photos of your work.
Eising Garden Centre is turning 60, and we want to celebrate this incredible milestone with the community that helped us grow!
Saturday, April 25th
10am to 2pm
Right here at the Garden Centre!
Fun for the Whole Family
We’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this is a day to remember. Bring the kids, grab a friend, and enjoy a full afternoon of festivities:
- Live Entertainment: Set the mood with great music while you explore the greenhouse.
- Kids’ Zone: We’ll have face painting and a variety of kids’ activities, like tallest sunflower growing competition (with a cash prize at the end of the season!), flower pot planting, and a colouring competition to keep the little gardeners busy.
- Free Treats: Enjoy complimentary coffee and cupcakes on us while you browse!
- Special Sales: Held across each department of the garden centre.
Food Trucks
Come hungry! We’ve invited some local favorites to keep you fueled up:
Grand Prize Draw: $600 Gift Card!
To celebrate 60 years, we’re giving away a $600 Eising Gift Card to one lucky winner! Just imagine the garden transformation you could pull off with that.
How to Enter: Fill out a ballot at the event on April 25th. The Draw: We will be drawing the winner at 12:30 PM. Important Note: You must be present at the time of the draw to win, so make sure you’re nearby when the clock strikes 12:30!
The Celebration Doesn't Stop There!
Can’t make it on the 25th? Don't worry—we’re spreading the love all spring long. From April 6th to June 8th, we are giving away 60 gift cards worth $60 each! Every week, we will be drawing 6 winners. To get your name in the hat, simply make a purchase at the garden centre. Your name will be entered into that specific week’s draw, and we’ll contact the winners directly.
Thank you for sixty wonderful years of gardening, community, and growth. We can't wait to see you on April 25th!
