Our writing is a labour of love, a way to share the fascinating world of horticulture with others through blogs, articles and ebooks.

The Virens blog is all about the best in modern gardening culture. Presented free of charge, as a way to build and foster gardening magic both in Vancouver, Canada, and further afield.

If you are interested in having your work published on the site, hiring us to write for other publications or re-print our articles, please get in touch. We love a good collaboration.

Sara-Jane & Alica at Virens Studio

ps You can also find us on Substack at virensstudio.substack.com

sustainable urban landscape design

Kanas State meadow

The Beautiful Wild Garden, It’s all in the Details

There a few things that have been percolating in the back of my mind in relation to eco-friendly plantings. One is the thought, that high…

Is There a Better Solution (Beyond Pesticides) for Invasive Insects?

I live in a city that’s (for the most part) been pesticide-free for at least 20 years. Here, they have been used sparingly, only against…

storm damaged street tree

Why Planting More Street Trees Isn’t the Answer to Climate Change

Recently I came across a study that confirms it, our street trees live fast and die young. The research shows, that urban trees (in comparison…