Trellis - Fall 2017 by Toronto Botanical Garden

VOLUME 44 • FALL 2017

THE MAGAZINE OF THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN

FALL/WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE INSIDE!

FROM LEAF BAG TO COMPOST Page 8

TORONTO’S HERITAGE TREES Page 10

BENDING THE PRUNING RULES Page 12

HortusTV_Trelis_HalfPage.indd 1

2017-02-03 8:06 AM

2018

Garden Tours

with MarjorIe Mason

Channel Islands Garden Tour Holland Garden Tour For more information or to make a reservation, contact your local travel professional or call 1-866-967-9910. For full itinerary details visit denuretours.com

Marjorie Mason

contents NEWS 4

Hort Happenings House plants, Green Leaf Challenge, Poetry Contest and our national flower Green Community Safety for the birds 5 From the TBG Building an international cultural destination TBGKids A howlin’ good time Farmers’ Market Friends Frank and David Volunteers Award-winners! 6 Expansion Unified botanic garden 7 Membership Matters Holiday Open House, Gift membership, Social Calendar and more!

EDITOR

LORRAINE FLANIGAN

DESIGN

JUNE ANDERSON

TRELLIS COMMITTEE

LORRAINE HUNTER (CHAIR) LORRAINE FLANIGAN (EDITOR) COLLEEN CIRILLO CAROL GARDNER SUE HILLS MAGGIE JANICK HARRY JONGERDEN CHRISTINE LAWRANCE MARION MAGEE JENNY RHODENIZER PAUL ZAMMIT CLAUDIA ZUCCATO RIA

VOLUNTEER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT M. MAGEE

HORTICULTURAL FACTCHECKERS

FEATURES

CATHERINE PEER

PHOTOS (FROM TOP): PROVEN WINNERS, LORRAINE FLANIGAN, KEN SPROULE

VOLUME 44 • FALL 2017

Following Leaves Tracing the life cycle of a leaf bag 10 Toronto’s Heritage Trees The history and preservation of heritage trees 12 Pruning Know when and how to bend the rules 15 Crab Apple Aperitif Stir up some wild drinks

IN SEASON

16 Garden Gear Summer snowflake Good Bugs, Bad Bugs Weevils In Our Gardens At Last rose 17 Good Reads Glorious Shade, Essential Pruning Techniques Anna’s Plant Pick Colchicum 18 Sandra’s Plant Picks Show time for bulbs 19 Container Crazy Three-in-one container design Do It! Harvesting herbs

VOLUNTEER PROOFREADERS

M. BRUCE, L. HICKEY, J. MCCLUSKEY, AND M. A. MORRISON

ADVERTISING

416-397-4145 Trellis is published as a members’ newsletter by the Toronto Botanical Garden at Edwards Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1P2, 416-397-1341 Trellis welcomes queries for story ideas, which should be submitted to the editor for consideration by the Trellis Committee at least four months in advance of publication dates. Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the TBG. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. Charitable registration number 119227486RR0001 Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40013928 ISSN 0380-1470 COVER PHOTO: SANDRA PELLA

Printed by Mi5 Print + Digital

HAPPENINGS

20 TBG Lectures Wild Bees; Backyard Foraging Ravine Symposium 21 Mark Your Calendar

Cert no. SW-COC-002063

Plantation House sf_9x.qxp_Layout 1 2017-07-07 12:12 PM Page 1

An invitation to relax!

PLANTATION HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST in Historic Port Hope

WWW.PLANTATIONHOUSE.CA

The atmosphere is warm, calm & comforting. The unique décor provides a sweet escape.

EMAIL: ROSEMEGHIE@SYMPATICO.CA

- TREE & SHRUB PRUNING -INSECT & DISEASE CONTROL - PLANTING & TRANSPLANTING - TREE & STUMP REMOVAL - DEEP ROOT FERTILIZING

AUTHENTIC

Derek W Welsh President

I.S.A. Certified Arborist #ON-0129A

TREE CARE INC.

news TBGNEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEVELOPMENTS

HORT HAPPENINGS

SPECIAL EVENTS

—Compiled by Mark Stewart, Weston Family Library

HOUSE PLANTS MAKE A COMEBACK A plethora of scientific studies support the many benefits of having house plants: from the NASA study showing the airpurifying qualities of house plants to more recent investigations into their positive effects on mental health, concentration and mood. It’s no surprise then that house plants and interior landscaping are very popular right now—many trend watchers say they haven’t been this popular since the 1970s.

ONTARIO’S GREEN LEAF CHALLENGE

POETRY CONTEST 2017

The Government of Ontario and Forests Ontario have partnered to launch the Green Leaf Challenge (GLC) to celebrate Ontario’s 150th birthday. Ontario plants about three million trees each year as part of the 50 Million Tree Program. This year, the Green Leaf Challenge invites Ontarians to match that number. Get involved by adding trees you’ve planted this year to the Challenge’s online counter and planting map. Visit www.greenleafchallenge.ca to register your trees.

The TBG’s poetry group, the Authors of Soul Garden Chapter, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2nd Annual Poetry Contest. 1ST PLACE: Robert Hughey for “A Walk in Toronto Botanical Garden” 2ND PLACE: Gail M. Murray for “Garden for All Seasons” 3RD PLACE: Shaina Davis for “Lifetime” Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who submitted their writing. Get your pens ready for next year’s contest in April!

GREEN COMMUNITY FOR THE BIRDS

Armed with measuring tapes and ladders, TBG staff made their office a little more bird-friendly this past spring. For many years, we had lamented the bird deaths and injuries caused by window strikes. A new DIY product by the Convenience Group provided the solution. Inexpensive Feather Friendly tape was applied to the west-facing window on the TBG’s second floor and to the south-facing window that links the older building with the newer one. If bird strikes are a problem at your home, office or cottage, visit flap.org for solutions, including more information on the DIY tape.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

FALL 2017

In a nation-wide online contest sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Ontario to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, almost 10,000 Canadians chose bunchberry as Canada’s national flower. This native plant held the lead over twinflower (Linnaea borealis) and hooded ladies tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) with an average of 80 per cent of the online vote, says Maureen Hulbert, Executive Director of the Toronto Master Gardeners who spearheaded the contest. Bunchberry changes with the seasons with white flowers in late spring, red berries in summer and great fall colour. The Master Gardeners will submit an online petition to Parliament to have the winner declared Canada’s official national flower, says Hulbert.

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): TONY MAURING/FLICKR, TODD BOLAND, DANEMARK PHOTOGRAPHIC ART

BUNCHBERRY (CORNUS CANADENSIS) VOTED CANADA’S NATIONAL FLOWER

FROM THE TBG HARRY JONGERDEN Executive Director

A HOWLIN’ GOOD TIME

Building an international cultural destination

wish we could have closed the garden for a week this past June. Not because of the excessive rains this spring—no, it was the annual conference of the American Public Garden Association (APGA), held this year in Hamilton. The conference was the best opportunity ever for TBG staff to access professional development opportunities. We had our pick of over 100 sessions and 20 tours, with 700 botanic garden professionals willing to share and willing to teach. We came from our varied disciplines—education, horticulture, marketing, fundraising and special events. We learned from our peers, but perhaps more importantly, we learned from the disciplines beyond our narrow spheres. If anything, we learned how complex and multi-faceted a botanic garden is and that our garden has much to do to get ready for success. We are on the verge of achieving our big dream of becoming a significant botanic garden. In mid-June, the city’s General Manager for Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Janie Romoff, and I did a joint interview with the Toronto Star. The subsequent article quotes us as being in agreement on turning the Toronto Botanical Garden into an international cultural destination. The great significance of the article is that the city was publicly declaring its support for our dream. This was great news to share with colleagues at the conference (OK, there was a bit of bragging going on). We were congratulated for getting to the brink of creating the significant cultural attraction that these other gardens had already achieved. Perhaps most gratifying were the congratulations on the quality of our TBG staff. “My, what great staff you have!” Well of course, how do you think we got this far?!

On Sunday afternoon, October 29, lions and tigers and bears will make their way to the Toronto Botanical Garden. And so will a few wizards and princesses. In fact, the place will be crawling with creatures and characters participating in the TBG’s annual Halloween Howl. There’ll be an outdoor costume parade, a spooky scavenger hunt and themed arts, crafts and snacks. Family (4 people with max 2 adults): TBG members $25, public $35; Individual: TBG members $8, Public $12.

goTo

torontobotanicalgarden.ca to register for this fun family-friendly event.

FARMERS’ MARKET FRIENDS

FRANK AND DAVID SERVE UP TASTY FARE—WITH A SIDE OF HUMOUR!

Early arrivers for TBG Lectures have sampled the tasty suppers provided by two fine chefs and popular vendors at the Organic Farmers’ Market, Franco ‘Frank’ Tofano of Organic Chef Foods and David Milana of Lady Emily Fine Foods. Frank supports local growers who follow traditional farming methods and uses organic ingredients to produce Indian, Italian and Portuguese pastries and Italian family dinner dishes “like the way grandma used to cook”. David offers a selection of dangerously delicious sweets as well as breads, salads and other entrée items. You’ll sometimes hear David and Frank giving each other the gears … they enjoy kidding around! But they play well together, consulting each other to offer a super range of tasty choices every Thursday.

Yours, Mine & Ours VOLUNTEERS

AWARD-WINNING VOLUNTEERS!

Two of our volunteers won MPP Kathleen Wynne’s 8th annual volunteer service award for outstanding contributions to the lives of people in her Don Valley West riding and beyond. Congratulations to Jean McCluskey and Donna Tuttle. Jean then went on to win the Ontario Volunteer Service Award 2017 in recognition of her 35 years of volunteer service. Congratulations Jean, you won every award we submitted you for!

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

FALL 2017

news:expansion TBGNEWS A UNIFIED BOTANIC GARDEN HARRY JONGERDEN • Executive Director

Edwards Garden and Master Plan

Toronto Botanical Garden

Edwards Gardens andPlan Toronto Botanical Garden The Master for the enhanced Toronto Botanical Garden features a circuit loop to access

new areas such as a Gathering Place, Valley Gateway and Greensword.

with W.Gary Smith, Lord Cultural Resources, Moriyama and Teshima Architects, Matrix Solutions, A.W.Hooker Associates Ltd., Blackwell Structural Engineers, Urban Forest Associates Inc.

f patience is one of the chief virtues, then TBG members and supporters are a mighty virtuous bunch. The draft Master Plan awaits Council approval, but we now know that we have the support of city staff for an enhanced Toronto Botanical Garden. This plan, as it was unveiled at the public meeting at the TBG on June 7, contains improvements over our preliminary master plan of two-and-a-half years ago, while retaining all its essential elements and conclusions. Not only has the city agreed that the whole of the Edwards Gardens and TBG landscape will be a unified botanic garden, but they have accepted our vision of what constitutes a great botanic garden situated amongst one of the world’s most extensive urban ravine systems.

Please keep in mind that a master plan is a very high-level document and that the details are up for discussion and further in-depth design. As well, we still have to sort out who does what in the new garden as we discuss the “management plan” for an enhanced TBG with the city. I know that it has taken us a long time to get this far, but we’re on the verge of achieving something wonderful for the garden-loving community, for the people of Toronto and for nature. If I may indulge your patience a little longer as we move ever closer to achieving our dreams, just think of the virtuous points you’re racking up! Thank you, as always, for your patience and your support.

goTo

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

bit.ly/2tyEF3x for details of the Master Plan.

FALL 2017

June 07, 2017

ILLUSTRATION: MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENT

Scott Torrance Landscape Architect, a division of FORREC Ltd.

membership matters GOOD NEWS

SOCIAL CALENDAR

CLAUDIA ZUCCATO RIA Director of Development

SIP AND STROLL FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Holiday Open House

Before we had the time to say “turn on the sprinklers”, summer passed its peak and the countdown to fall is on. Every year, the fast pace of the summer-to-fall transition leaves me stunned and a bit disappointed in the fast-fading blooms. But when that happens, I can always turn to the “blooming” calendar of events and activities the TBG organizes for your enjoyment. For instance, over the years, the Holiday Open House has evolved into a multi-faceted community-wide affair. This year, this fun and festive event includes sales of holiday décor and gifts by our partners from the Garden Club of Toronto, a holiday market featuring organic edibles and vendors of holiday goods, fabulous offerings from the Garden Shop and special TBG lectures. TBG staff and board directors are particularly fond of the exclusive members-only evening event which takes place the same day from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It is an occasion that brings us all together, giving us a chance to catch up, talk about gardens and deepen our relationship with each other and with this organization. It’s also an opportunity to bring the holiday spirit to the gardens, and a time to reflect on another year of connecting people with nature. What’s not to like?

Join us for an exclusive evening tour of the Allan Gardens Christmas Show on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Enjoy botanically inspired drinks, themed food stations, exhibit interpreters and a whole lot of holiday cheer. Tickets: Members $55 or 2/$100; Non-members $60 or 2/$110.

Holiday Open House, Thursday, November 30 Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Members-only holiday event, 6:30 to 8 p.m., bring a friend $20

YOUR BENEFITS

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT MEMBERSHIP

When “two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree” won’t do, give a TBG membership for the holidays! As a TBG member, you can share your passion for nature and gardens at a special discount: purchase one or more gift TBG memberships and save $10 off the regular price (the offer excludes student membership). But hurry! This offer expires on December 24. Tickets available online and at the Garden Shop.

TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

The Toronto Botanical Garden is deeply grateful to its loyal donors who provide continued and generous support through the membership program at all contribution levels. Their gifts enable the TBG to educate and inform the community on horticulture, gardening and environmental issues through lectures, courses and events. We thank the following individuals who contributed to the TBG through the membership program between January 6 and July 4, 2017. SUSTAINING MEMBERS Jay and Myint Gillespie Brenda Kisic Mundy McLaughlin CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS Alexander Armstrong Susan Biensch Michele Bussieres

Sara D’Elia Lorraine Flanigan Barbara Foster Georgette Gerigs Keri Johnston Susan Kerney Patricia Markle Linda Martin

Ellen Novack Andrew Pruss Gisele Quesnel-Oke Ellen Reid Margaret Runcie Catherine Siddall Loretta Skinner Lena Sorg

Beverly Stager Barbara Stewart Ruthanne Stiles Patricia Stone Patricia Thompson Natasha Vekris Eleanor Ward Wendy Wong

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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ASTER AWARDS— CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Do you know any individuals worthy of recognition for their exceptional environmental efforts? Now’s your chance to nominate them for an Aster Award. This year, the TBG’s Aster Awards will recognize Toronto’s Environmentalist of the Year and two Rising Star— Emerging Environmentalist recipients. For full details and to nominate your favourite, visit torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ asterawards by September 8, 2017. The Aster Award Presentation will take place on Friday, November 3, during the Ravine Symposium at the TBG.

FOLLOWING LEAVES

ast year, my local grocery store began selling yard waste bags in bulk. I suspect it was because the manager was tired of me depleting his stock. Perhaps he took pity on me when he saw me every week, filling up my cart with five-count packs. Whatever the reason, it was nice that someone understood the needs of those both fortunate and cursed to live in a part of the city with a huge green canopy that generously drops its leaves every autumn. I don’t mean to complain. I’m privileged and thankful for the shade in summer and the spectacular fall colours that I see against a bright blue autumn sky. But that vibrant display doesn’t stay put. It quickly ends up blanketing my lawn and roof and driveway and street. I’ve often thought about leaving them where they fall, but those leaves quickly pile up, blocking catch basins and creating a slick walking hazard following the slightest bit of rain. So, I rake and sweep and power blow these tree castoffs into brown paper yard waste bags. I placed almost two hundred leaf bags at the curb for collection last year. I had never given much thought to my yard waste until I saw my neighbour, who lives on a ravine lot, blowing the fallen leaves from his front lawn into the back ravine,

where they decompose and become part of the urban forest ecosystem. I wondered what happened to my leaves and what ecosystem, if any, they might be enriching. With the help of Pat Barrett from the City of Toronto’s Strategic Communications, Solid Waste Management and Derek Angove, Director of Processing and Resource Management, I decided to follow my leaf bags metaphorically from the end of my driveway to see where they would end up. The truck that picks up my neighbourhood’s leaf waste travels to one of seven waste transfer stations in the city where it offloads the fall scourge and returns for more curb pickups. From the transfer station, a tractor trailer loads up the potential compost and transports it to one of several secondary locations outside the city, such as All Treat Farms in Arthur, Ontario. At these privately run aerobic composting facilities the urban yard waste breaks down into usable compost. The companies process and bag the compost for sale at the commercial and retail level. All these facilities, says Derek Angove, are provincially licensed and the compost they produce is regularly tested to ensure it is at AA grade level, free of contaminants and pathogens.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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PHOTOS: COURTESY JEAN GODAWA

Jean Godawa traces the life cycle of a leaf bag through the city’s composting program.

Allow grass clippings to decompose on the lawn or let them dry before tossing them into yard waste bags. This enriches the lawn and reduces the amount of waste to be picked up. It is helpful to city workers, according to Derek Angove, to keep clippings out of the yard waste stream because large amounts of fresh grass decomposing at transfer stations produce a strong and offensive odour.

goTo

City of Toronto garbage and recycling website at bit.ly/2gfwu66 for info on proper yard waste and green bin disposal. And remember, in the spirit of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, “Reduce” comes first for a reason.

Good compost needs both carbon rich “brown” components, such as the dried leaves and plant stalks as well as nitrogen-rich “green” waste, including vegetable peels and tea leaves—items that you put into your green bin. Some of the secondary composting facilities supplement their compost with a nitrogen-rich digestate derived from our green bins. After being picked up at the curb, green bin waste goes to one of two organics processing facilities where it is mixed with water in a “hydro pulper” to remove the plastic bags. From there it is placed into an anaerobic digester where, in the absence of oxygen, bacteria break down the waste into digestate. To enhance the soil in her own garden, the city’s Pat Barrett uses the finished compost, which is available free to gardeners at depots around the city and at neighbourhood Environment Days. Last spring, I arrived at Councillor Norm Kelly’s Environment Day ill prepared for my attempt to take advantage of this rich black prize. I did bring a plastic storage container but didn’t think to bring a shovel. Luckily, a couple of gentlemen were obliging with theirs, but not until they had filled their own boxes with compost. As the clock ticked towards 10 a.m., people had circled the mound of compost and were jockeying for position while others waited behind

them, hoping there would be some left once the earlier group moved out. The yard waste and green bin programs are both effective and, as evident at the Environment Day I attended, very popular. Without the yard waste and green bin programs, all this waste would go directly into landfills. Diverting 90 to 100 thousand tonnes of yard waste and 135,000 tonnes of green bin organics per year, the program significantly helps the environment as well as city finances. “It’s cheaper than landfill,” according to Mr Angove. As stewards of our urban environment, we can do our part to ensure the waste we create yields usable and valuable end products. I hadn’t considered how valuable my cantaloupe peels, eggshells, acorns and autumn leaves were until I saw those shovel bearers elbowing their way to that finished compost. If you miss the opportunity for free city compost, you can purchase bags at garden retailers. And, just think that when you buy a bag of compost, you may just be picking up something that started in your own kitchen or yard. Jean Godawa writes the Good Bugs, Bad Bugs column for Trellis and is a freelance writer and science educator.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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TRACING TORONTO’S

HERITAGE TREES

GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING A HERITAGE TREE The process of protecting a heritage tree can be lengthy and complicated but the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) has created a Heritage Protection Toolkit to help people identify and nominate trees for the Heritage Trees Program.

IT SHOULD BE a simple task to define a heritage tree. At least that’s what I thought. Is it a tree that’s been around for many years? Is it a tree that’s witnessed an important event in history? Is it a native tree that has managed to survive for many generations despite climate change, aggressive invasive species, human destruction and watershed urbanization? Turns out, a heritage tree can be any, or all, of those things—it depends who you ask. But one thing is for sure. Trees can play an important role in preserving our human history as well as that of our natural environment. Examples of heritage trees that remain in Toronto include a massive silver maple at Huron Street Junior Public School in the Annex which has been standing since Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris attended the school in the late 1800s. Then there are five trees, including one sugar maple and four black walnuts, on the Kingston Road site of the old Falcon Inn in Scarborough. Once a stagecoach station, the inn burned down in about 1943, but the trees, dating back to the 1820s, are still there as testament to the site’s pioneer history. Toronto trees with indigenous cultural heritage include the progeny of nut trees that were farmed by indigenous people in this area for thousands of years. Other examples include the “trail trees” that grow along the Carrying-Place Trail—the ancient footpath between the Humber River and Lake Simcoe that First Nations people and later French coureurs de bois used as a trading route. They were modified hundreds of years ago by removing lower branches to mark the trail.

Local historian Edith George, who lives near the Carrying-Place Trail, has been trying to get a giant red oak on a neighbour’s property on Coral Gables Drive designated for more than a decade. More than 70 feet high and 16 feet around, it is estimated to be between 250 and 400 years old. The house it currently shades was originally bought because of the tree. The owner and his family cared for it for two generations. “They even made holes in their driveway to make sure its root system got enough water,” said Edith. That tree made it through the ice storm of December 2013 but the house was sold to new owners last year. An application for designation was made to the City of Toronto in 2007. Edith would like to see a plaque designating it as a Heritage Tree. “We will never see trees like this again,” she laments. Also in the area is “The Lookout Tree”, a 300-year-old red oak taken down as a hazard by Toronto Forestry last summer. Carvings are being made from the wood of this tree, and because of connections to their early history, both the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Argonauts are interested in acquiring pieces. A similar fate has met the Leslieville silver maple that inspired Alexander Muir to write “The Maple Leaf Forever” in 1867. Toppled in a windstorm in July 2013, the wood from that tree has been carved into various community art and cultural pieces. While various groups and government agencies have their own definitions of heritage trees, the City of Toronto adheres to the definition set down by Paul Aird of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry in 2005:

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

FALL 2017

PHOTOS: LORRAINE FLANIGAN OPPOSITE: LORRAINE HUNTER, WARREN REED/FLICKR

Lorraine Hunter explores the history and future preservation of heritage trees.

A “heritage tree” is a tree with one, or more, of the following characteristics: • notable size, form, shape, beauty, age, colour, rarity, genetic constitution or other distinctive feature; • displays evidence of cultural modification by Aboriginal or non- Aboriginal people, including strips of bark or knot-free wood removed, a test hole cut to determine soundness, fur rows cut to collect pitch or sap or blazes to mark a trail; • a prominent community landmark; • a connection with a historic person, place, event or period; • a sample of a crop grown by ancestors and their successors that is at risk of disappearing from cultivation; • associated with local folklore, myths, legends or traditions. This definition is generally accepted among heritage tree protection advocates. However, trees can also be given heritage status when they are part of an individual property or Heritage Conservation District via Heritage Preservation Services that meets criteria for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). There are currently approximately 15 trees in Toronto that have been designated under the Act or recognized by Forests Ontario. An additional 21 city or privately owned trees, two groves and three arboreal remnant forests have potential heritage significance. Obviously even the hardiest of heritage trees won’t last forever, which is why collecting their seeds and planting them in appropriate places such as private properties, parks and ravines is so important. For Eric Davies of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology), “Ecological heritage is the most important and often overlooked aspect of heritage trees. In the simplest sense, ecological

heritage refers to both the species of trees that are characteristic of a local area, and their genetic pedigree. Trees that contain the original genes of the local area have weathered thousands of years of climate variation and are therefore genetically adapted to growing in the local environment.” Local trees, he points out, are also adapted to our local biodiversity. “They form working ecosystems with our insects, birds and other fauna. With the Toronto landscape now dominated by trees from other counties and countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find trees with original Toronto genes. Fortunately, Toronto still has many old trees scattered throughout our ravines and hidden in our yards. These are the last bastions of Toronto’s sylvan heritage, so we need to find these trees, collect their seeds, and together use them to restore the ecological character of Toronto.” Eric’s hero is David Milarch, the late Michigan nurseryman and co-founder of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive and a pioneer in the cloning of trees. “He has inspired thousands of people around the world to find the last remaining old local trees and propagate them, so we can re-wild our world.” Some of the trees Eric recommends for planting include white and red oaks, yellow birch (now rare but used to make fighter planes in World War I), black cherry, black maple, silver maple, mountain maple shrubs, hickories and hard and soft woods such as hemlock, cedar and white and black pine. For a longer list of trees native to the Toronto area see the City of Toronto Urban Forestry website at www.toronto.ca/trees. Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer and chair of the Trellis Committee who writes the TBG’s Botanical Buzz blog.

RAVINE SYMPOSIUM, NOVEMBER 3

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HERITAGE TREES AT THE TBG’S 2ND ANNUAL RAVINE SYMPOSIUM, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, FROM 8 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

FALL 2017

IS THERE A HERITAGE TREE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD? To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, Forests Ontario has received funding to have 150 trees in Ontario recognized as heritage trees. Anyone can nominate a tree for the program— whether it is on their own property, on a friend’s or family member’s property or in a public space. Final nominations are due September 22, 2017.

goTo

forestsontario.ca/community/ in-the-spotlight/heritage-trees for more information.

PRUNING:

KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO BEND THE RULES

HAND PRUNERS Of the two types of pruning shears— anvil and bypass—Jim recommends using bypass secateurs. They cut cleaner, are easier to handle and the curved blades get closer to the buds. “And don’t buy the cheap stuff,” he stresses. High-quality secateurs might cost more, but they’ll last for years. They also come in various sizes to fit your hand—which means fewer blisters.

WHAT IS PRUNING? According to Jim Lounsbery, arborist, long-time instructor of horticulture at Mohawk College and owner of Vineland Nurseries in Vineland, Ontario, it’s two things. First, it’s an art. Before setting secateurs to stems, Jim advises homeowners to notice the natural shape of a tree or shrub. A columnar beech has a straight up and down habit whereas a weeping cedar has recumbent branches. Each type of shape and form dictates a different way of pruning. If you see a rogue branch growing outward rather than upward from the trunk of an upright beech, that’s contrary to its natural form, so Jim would prune the wayward branch right back to the trunk. Whereas with the weeping cedar, he cuts off a downward-facing bit of stem growing underneath another one. The remaining branch will naturally bend downward to hide the cut stem underneath. Pruning is also a science, he says, and there are many books that outline the specific rules. These include such pruning advice as cutting at a 45-degree angle just above a bud. “That’s fine if you can do it,” says Jim. But with trees and shrubs with opposite branching, such as burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for example, the branches can be difficult to get at, and you might have to take several tries to get the angle right or to remove a nub that’s too far above a bud.

LOPPERS For limbs and stems measuring between 1.5 and 2 centimetres, use a pair of loppers. Some brands have power gears that make it easier to cut through hard wood and may even be able to lop off branches of about 2.5 to 4 centimetres in diameter. These are great choices for women and small men, says Jim.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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SAW Unless you plan on cutting larger branches between 5 and 10 centimetres thick, a saw might be optional for the typical gardener. But if you anticipate needing one, here’s where quality counts. “Cheap ones bend, the tips break off and the teeth often bind,” says Jim. Invest in a good one, and buy replacement blades when they become blunt.

PHOTOS, LORRAINE FLANIGAN

Lorraine Flanigan talks with Jim Lounsbery for tips on the best ways to prune shrubs and trees.

Even though horticulture is a science, it’s flexible, Jim says. For instance, many books recommend fall pruning for roses, but to protect the canes from inevitable winter damage, experts also recommend hilling them up. But what if you don’t have the time or the materials to do this in the fall? That’s why Jim waits until spring to prune these flowering shrubs, cutting back the winterkilled section of the long canes, which often leaves more live green sections of the stem than would survive on a shrub that was trimmed in the fall. Jim draws on his experience and common sense to develop this advice for home gardeners—whether you’re a nervous Nellie or Neal or a gung-ho honcho or honcha. OBSERVE, OBSERVE, OBSERVE!

“Take a good look at the tree or shrub you’re about to prune before you go at it,” Jim says. To reveal its natural form, first cut out any dead or diseased branches. “This opens it up,” says Jim. “You start seeing branches you couldn’t see before.” Once exposed, gradually start shaping the plant, removing any inward-growing branches and any that cross and rub against each other. Take your time, stand back and look at the results after each cut.

Some branches are difficult to reach, even with bypass secateurs, and two or more passes might be necessary to whittle down the nub.

Whether using a saw, secateurs or loppers, make the cut just above the collar of the branch (look for a slight swelling where the branch meets the trunk or another stem).

When using shears to trim evergreens, turn them over so the blades are convex and follow the natural shape of the shrub or tree.

KNOW HOW THE PLANT RESPONDS

Each genus responds differently to pruning. Generally, Jim advises pruning no more than 20 to 25 per cent of the branches or stems. “This especially applies to trees,” Jim says, “but it’s less important with shrubs, which you can sometimes prune more harshly.” Shrubs such as multi-stemmed dogwoods, privet hedges, forsythias and weigelas that have become overgrown, for example, can be rejuvenated by cutting the stems right down to about 7 to 10 centimetres above the ground to force new growth from the base of the shrub. However, slower growing plants, such as boxwoods, might take years to recover from this kind of extensive pruning, so prune heavily only if necessary.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR PERFECT PLANTERS, POTS AND GARDENS INDOORS OR OUT!

TIME IT RIGHT

finished before cutting them back; otherwise you’ll cut off the current year’s flower buds. But Jim bends this rule when it comes to late summer and fall-blooming plants such as butterfly bush (Buddleia spp. and cvs.) and smoketree (Cotinus spp. and cvs.). “You want to be careful not to push too much growth [late in the season],” he says. Be gentle, he advises, because harsh winter conditions and crazy temperature fluctuations in October and November slow down the plant’s ability to heal. For these late-season flowering shrubs, Jim suggests waiting until they’re dormant and prune them over the winter instead.

If there’s a universal rule about pruning flowering shrubs and trees, it’s to wait until after the blooms have

Lorraine Flanigan is editor of Trellis and an award-winning garden journalist.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

FALL 2017

3012 Kennedy Rd. Scarborough, ON

416-291-1270 www.valleyviewgardens.com sales@valleyviewgardens.com

Crab Apple Aperitif PICKLED CRAB APPLES

In The Wildcrafted Cocktail author Ellen Zachos uses foraged ingredients to stir up some wild drinks.

Most people don’t think of fruit as pickles, but crab apples work beautifully with a spicy brine. Larger fruits (more than 1 inch [2.5 cm] in diameter) make better pickles, because their texture is usually crisper than that of smaller crab apples, which tend to be mealy. This recipe makes two pints. cups of crab apples teaspoons whole, dried spicebush [Lindera benzoin] berries 2 teaspoons dried wild ginger rhizomes [Asarum canadense] 2¼ cups apple cider vinegar 1¾ cups water 3¼ cups sugar

PHOTOS: MARS VILAUBI, KELLER+KELLER PHOTOGRAPHY/STOREY PUBLISHING

4 2

Wash the crab apples, leaving the individual stems in place. Prick each crab apple with a toothpick or skewer in two or three places, to prevent the skins from cracking when the fruit is heated. Place the spicebush berries and ginger rhizomes in a tea ball. Combine the vinegar, water, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to a simmer, add the tea ball with the spices and let the brine simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the brine from the heat. When the brine is cool, add the crab apples and gradually heat the mixture to just below a boil. Keep here, just below a boil, for 5 minutes; if you notice the skins cracking, reduce the heat. Then remove the pan from the heat and transfer the contents (including the tea ball) to a bowl. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature overnight. Remove the tea ball. Divide the crab apples between two sterilized pint jars. Top with the brine, leaving ½ inch of headspace. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes. These pickles will keep for up to a year.

Pickled crab apples garnish this bourbonlaced Kentucky Belle.

THE KENTUCKY BELLE

You can make this cocktail with wild ginger syrup and seltzer or with doublestrength ginger ale. To make doublestrength ginger ale, use twice as much syrup as recommended in a home carbonation system like SodaStream. • TO MAKE ONE DRINK

Combine the bourbon and ginger syrup in a shaker full of ice and shake for

30 seconds. Strain into a champagne coupe and top with the seltzer. Garnish with a pickled crab apple if desired. If you’re using double-strength ginger ale, don’t shake this cocktail! Stir the bourbon with ice, then strain into a coupe and top with 2 ounces of double-strength ginger ale. —Excerpted from The Wildcrafted Cocktail by Ellen Zachos

BACKYARD FORAGING, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 At this TBG Lecture, author Ellen Zachos talks about harvesting and preparing common garden plants to create wildcrafted treats such as dirty daylily martinis, rose hip soup and many others.

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in season Garden Gear

GOOD BUGS, BAD BUGS Weevils

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE

Bug Lady Jean Godawa provides tips on ridding susceptible plants of black vine weevil.

IN OUR

Gardens

This past spring, thanks to a donation from Proven Winners and Sheridan Nurseries, we planted and tested 30 At Last (Rosa x ‘HORCOGJIL’) landscape roses, which will be available for sale in spring 2018. This floribunda rose is said to be disease resistant, and its highly fragrant flowers will bloom all summer.

The most diverse group of insects, the beetles, contains a large family with a bit of a Pinocchio complex. The snout beetle, or weevil (Curculionidae family), has an elongated snout—sometimes as long as its body, depending on the species. Like all beetles, they have hard outer wing coverings (elytra) that protect the membranous wings underneath. Weevil antennae have a rounded end and are almost always bent. With over 50,000 weevil species worldwide, the size, colouring, feeding habits and other identifiable traits are varied. While beetles have a wide range of gastronomic preferences, like rotting flesh or animal dung, weevils are almost exclusively plant feeders, targeting every part of a plant from seeds and nuts to wood, foliage and roots. A common North America pest is the black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus). The adult, known as a broadnosed weevil, has a shorter snout than that of other weevils. The larvae are

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

particularly damaging to potted plants, including rhododendrons, fuchsia, impatiens and begonias. Black vine weevil larvae are legless, c-shaped grubs that feed without detection on plant roots for several weeks before you even suspect a problem. Adults feed on foliage and are active at night. To remove them, lay some paper or fabric down and gently shake the plant. The weevils will fall onto the sheet for easy disposal. Trim off low-hanging leaves that may provide access for these flightless beetles. Where adults are present, larvae are likely nearby. Flooding the soil encourages weevil larvae to come closer to the surface for easy removal. Take infested plants out of containers and wash the roots to eliminate eggs and larvae. Adults emerge in mid-spring and feed for about four weeks before laying up to two hundred eggs. Eradicating adults before they reproduce is the best defence against pest weevils.

FALL 2017

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): S. RAE/FLICKR, KEN SPROULE, K.S., K.S., PROVEN WINNERS OPPOSITE (TOP RIGHT): LORRAINE FLANIGAN

Looking like a giant lily-ofthe-valley, summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’) is a relatively carefree bulb that naturalizes over time, increasing the size of its clumps. It also offers unique fragrant blooms in mid-spring. Summer snowflake grows well in full sun to part shade, tolerates clay soil and is deer-resistant, too. Available in the Garden Shop while supplies last. 10 bulbs/$9.99.

GOOD READS

—Reviewed by Mark Stewart, Weston Family Library GLORIOUS SHADE: DAZZLING PLANTS, DESIGN IDEAS, AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR YOUR SHADY GARDEN By Jenny Rose Carey Timber Press, 2017, $24.95 trade paperback

While shade in the garden is often seen as a problem, this book makes it seem like your best asset. It covers all aspects of shade gardening from the understory to the tree tops. The author discusses all the many “shades” of shade from deep to dappled as well as how they change throughout the day with the movement of the sun and throughout the seasons. There is also a very interesting chapter on roots and soils—an important issue because shade garden soils are often very crowded with tree roots. The book also presents design ideas for various garden styles such as the classic woodland, the water garden, Japanese gardens and even xeric shade gardens. There are extensive plant-by-plant descriptions and growing requirements for a wide variety of shady plants. All in all, the book offers a very thorough and holistic picture of the entire shade gardening process. ESSENTIAL PRUNING TECHNIQUES: TREES, SHRUBS, CONIFERS By George E. Brown, revised and enlarged by Tony Kirkham Timber Press, 2017, $49.95 paper over board

This book is the latest revision of George E. Brown’s classic, The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs, Conifers, which has been the long-standing go-to pruning book for many gardeners. It incorporates portions of the original work updated with the latest horticultural research for today’s pruner. The major feature of this edition is the gorgeous, informative and detailed images, something previous editions were sorely lacking. Learning how to prune is a highly visual process, and these illustrations are an invaluable aid in understanding the concepts and operations laid out in the text. The book begins with a concise explanation of the main concepts in pruning. It then moves into detailed descriptions of the pruning techniques and requirements of individual trees, shrubs and conifers in an alphabetical listing. Both the technical updates and vastly improved images make for an easier to use and informative book.

Anna’s Plant Pick Colchicum Autumn crocus (and friends) Colchicum has several confusing names: meadow saffron, autumn crocus and naked ladies. Even though it’s referred to as “saffron”, Colchicum belongs to the lily group, having six stamens, whereas the saffron we use as a spice comes from the styles of the true autumn-flowering crocus (Crocus sativus) which has three stamens and is related to irises. The name “naked ladies” refers to the appearance of the Colchicum flowers in the fall, which bloom leafless because the leaves grow in the spring and have long withered before the flowers blossom in the fall. (Many other bulbous plants do this, including wild leeks (Allium tricoccum)). There are more than 150 species of Colchicum, native to Europe and ranging to West Asia and South Africa. Colours vary from whites through pinks, purples, lilacs and blues. Some have double flowers. Often the petals appear netted in a darker colour. Colchicum looks great in the autumn garden. The large bulb-like corms are available in late August and September. Plant them immediately or they will flower from the bulb without soil. One corm soon makes a clump. Why are these treasures not more popular? The leaves. The long wide leaves appear in spring, often growing as high as 40 centimetres but more typically 25 to 30 centimetres and slowly turn brown. Without their leaves, the fall flowers often flop down to the ground, so they need some support. I grow mine among hostas. The spring leaves are somewhat similar to those of the hostas and so are less noticeable. Be sure to plant them far enough beyond the leaves of the hosta to see the flowers when they bloom in the fall. Perennial geraniums can also somewhat disguise the leaves. Then, before the Colchicum flowers emerge in the fall, the geraniums can be cut down to promote fresh growth, which in turn provides support for the flowers. European ginger (Asarum europaeum) can also provide support and it also complements the flowers. However, the Colchicum leaves may be noticeable growing among the ginger foliage early in the spring. —Anna Leggatt is an award-winning garden writer and Master Gardener, Emeritus

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E SANDRA’S

PLANT PICKS

Show Time for Bulbs

very fall we add some 20,000 bulbs to the gardens of the Toronto Botanical Garden. In recent years, I have been the lucky one to make these “designer” choices, putting together combinations that I think are appealing, interesting and, simply put, beautiful. Here’s how I come up with the ones for the TBG. When I select bulbs, I try to achieve a display over a long period of time. For example, Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ (Reticulata) is a very early flowering reticulate iris, often appearing through the snow. It is followed by crocuses, species tulips and grape hyacinth

Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ (Reticulata)

Leucojum ‘Gravetye Giant’

Allium sphaerocephalon

‘Silverstream’ tulips & Nassella

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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(Muscari) which provide a show throughout the spring. Another musthave is summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’), which many people have never seen or quite often mistake for a giant snowdrop (Galanthus spp.). If temperatures remain cool, it has a rather long bloom time from April through May. For our insect friends who are in search of a meal in early spring, early blooming crocuses and snowdrops (Galanthus) hit the spot! An honourable mention must go to a West Coast native bulb commonly called quamash or camass (Camassia spp.). After these early spring bloomers comes the big show—daffodils mixed with tulips in groupings that bloom early, mid-season and late, extending the display from April to late May, and sometimes into early June depending on the weather. In areas such as the Perennial Border, we layer bulbs. Daffodils and tulips are planted a minimum of 15 to 20 centimetres deep, covered with soil and then over-planted with crocuses and species tulips to a depth of 10 centimetres. No matter where we plant them, any colour combination goes. I’ve done pink with orange and yellow, and red with orange—as a matter of fact, I’ve done all colours with orange— just try it, they look great! In some areas of our gardens, we naturalize bulbs. The Entry Garden is perfect for this—it’s large enough that we can plant many different varieties of daffodils as well as species and Kauffmanii tulips to fill the many empty spaces. We also add alliums. The choice is now very extensive—we grow A. ‘Miami’, A. amethystinum ‘Red Mohican’ and A. atropurpureum. We’ve also added the blue A. caeruleum and A. sphaerocephalon to most of the borders because they add hits of colour, complementing and filling in spaces among the perennial plantings. The possibilities are endless! —Sandra Pella, Head Gardener

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT): SANDRA PELLA, S.P., JANET DAVIS, S.P. OPPOSITE: PAUL ZAMMIT,

in season plant it!

Do It! HARVESTING HERBS

container

crazy

THREE-IN-ONE CONTAINER DESIGN

BY SUMMER’S end, the containers on your sunny deck should be overflowing with the bounty of aromatic herbs. With a little gardening know-how, you can keep the flavours of these herbs alive and grow more next year. Here’s how to keep perennial thyme (Thymus spp.) and annual basil (Ocimum basilicum).

T H YM E Using kitchen scissors, trim stalks throughout the summer. To prevent legginess, clip off handfuls close to the base. Make a final harvest before the first hard frost, leaving about 5 centimetres above the base. PRESERVE • Drying Rinse sprigs and hang upside down in a warm, dry, dark location or lay flat in a dehydrator. Once they’re dry, strip the leaves off by pinching the thick end of the stem and pulling upwards. Store leaves in sealed bottles or jars. Exposure to light will cause loss of flavour. • Freezing Place the clean branches in airtight freezer bags, or place the leaves in ice cube trays and add water to cover. REPLANT Transfer the potted thyme plant into a sheltered, well-drained sunny spot in the garden. Lightly mulch around, but do not touch the base, and enjoy the thyme next spring.

B AS I L During the summer, pinch out flower heads to encourage leaf growth. Harvest by cutting the whole branch in early fall, just as the flower buds start to develop. PRESERVE • Drying Spread branches out in a

MAKE AN IMPRESSION this holiday season by creating three container designs and tying them together with common elements. These can be colour echoes or repeating elements in each planter that help to unify the grouping. In this series of winter pots, a common mix of white pine, fir and B.C. cedar boughs provides the foundation for each container. Seasonal accents have been added including southern magnolia stems, palm cups, mintola pods and mahogany buds. Providing both strong vertical elements and a horizontal line are branches of red stem dogwood. To disguise the mechanics of the crossing dogwood branches, bouquets of smaller pieces of the evergreen boughs and seasonal accents are fastened at each crossing point. — Paul Zammit, Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture

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shady place on a wire mesh for quick drying. Do not hang in bunches. Do not oven dry. • Freezing Place dried whole sprigs into airtight freezer bags, or chop fresh leaves into ice cube trays and add water to cover. SOW Allow some flowers to grow; collect seeds and store. Start seedlings in spring. —Georgie Kennedy, Toronto Master Gardeners

happenings TBG LECTURES WILD BEES: THEIR LIFE CYCLE, FORAGING BEHAVIOUR AND ROLE IN NATIVE PLANT POLLINATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017, 7:30 P.M. HEATHER HOLM

Wild bees live among us and yet we know so little about them. During this presentation Heather will take us on a detailed exploration of the life cycle, nesting habitat, pollen collection, brood rearing and general characteristics of wild bees found in the Great Lakes region. The pollination of native plants and the mutualism between plants and bees will also be discussed. A horticulturist and biologist, Heather gives pollinator talks and has written about pollinators, beneficial insects and native plants. She is also the author of Pollinators of Native Plants and Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide, which will be available for sale and signing.

When you think about hostas and daylilies, you probably focus on their appealing foliage and vibrant blooms. But these perennials are delicious as well as lovely. A surprising number of garden plants can feed both body and soul. Learn how to harvest and prepare common garden plants, wowing your friends with dirty daylily martinis, rose hip soup and many other treats. Garden writer, photographer and lecturer Ellen Zachos has written seven books, including Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat and The Wildcrafted Cocktail. Ellen conducts foraged mixology workshops across the United States.

Light dinners available before each lecture from 5:30 p.m. Floral Hall doors open at 6:30 p.m. TBG members FREE; members bring a friend $10; public $15; students (with ID) $12

2nd ANNUAL RAVINE SYMPOSIUM

Friday, November 3, 2017, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Floral Hall, Toronto Botanical Garden HOW DO WE RESTORE ecological function to urban ravines? This is the question we will explore at the TBG’s 2nd Annual Ravine Symposium. Inspired by the City of Toronto’s ravine strategy, the stewardship work of city and conservation authority staff and community groups and our own expansion plans involving Wilket Creek ravine, the TBG held its first Ravine Symposium in fall 2016. Through tours, talks, panel discussions, displays and networking, this year’s event will continue the conversations and strengthen the connections initiated at last year’s event. Early bird registration, until September 15: $85 Post-September 15 registration: Members and students $95; Public $105 Optional symposium social $10 This event generously supported by the RBC Blue Water Project.

goTo

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

torontobotanicalgarden.ca/symposium for details and to register.

FALL 2017

PHOTO (BELOW): JASON RAMSAY-BROWN

This lecture is co-hosted by the North American Native Plant Society.

BACKYARD FORAGING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017, 7:30 P.M. ELLEN ZACHOS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Special Events

HARVEST DAY Saturday, September 23, noon to 4 p.m. Celebrate the growing season in the TBG’s Teaching Garden. Plant garlic, ride the smoothie bike and harvest veggies for the North York Food Bank. Stroller accessible. No registration required. FREE HALLOWEEN HOWL Sunday, October 29, 1 to 3 p.m. A family-friendly event filled with spooky games, crafts and snacks. Adult accompaniment and registration required. Family (4 people/max 2 adults): TBG members $25, public $35; Individual: TBG members $8, Public $12. 2ND ANNUAL RAVINE SYMPOSIUM Friday, November 3, 2017, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An exploration of how we restore ecological function to urban ravines. Details at torontobotanicalgarden.ca/symposium. HOLIDAY MARKET AND OPEN HOUSE Thursday, November 30, 2017, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Stroll through the halls decked with holiday cheer and stocked with handcrafted and nature-inspired gifts, décor and treats. Holiday Market presented in partnership with the Garden Club of Toronto. Open to the public. FREE. MEMBERS’ HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Thursday, November 30, 2017, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Join us for light refreshments, prizes and fun!! Free to TBG members; members’ guests and public $10. SIP AND STROLL Thursday, December 7 Exclusive evening tour of Allan Gardens Christmas Garden Show. Members: $55 or 2/$100; Non-members: $60 or 2/$110

✄

ORGANIC FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m. Outdoors until October 5; indoors from October 12. Enjoy fresh produce, preserves, baked goods and ready-to-eat treats.

Weston Family Library Events

ART SHOW Yugen Artists Group: Sumi-e Japanese Brush Paintings, September 1 to December 22. AUTHORS OF SOUL GARDEN CHAPTER POETRY GROUP Last Monday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. A friendly group to share your poetry, meet writers and get inspired. To register for your first meeting, contact Kirk Davis at kirk. davis@hotmail.com. FREE BOOK CLUB Last Wednesday of every month, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Discuss books with a gardening theme. Open to TBG and Book-Lovers members only. To register, contact Jan Neuman at janneuman@rogers.com or 416-656-8246. FREE DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS Saturday, September 23, 4 p.m. Growing Cities examines the role of urban farming in America. See trailer at growingcitiesmovie.com/ the-film/#Trailer. Saturday, October 21, 4 p.m. Mother Nature’s Child: Growing Outdoors in the Media Age explores the ways nature experience promotes children’s well-being. See trailer at youtube.com/ watch?v=OzhnBaJ9p78. Saturday, November 25, 4 p.m. Le semeur (The Sower). Patrice Fortier dedicates his expertise to preserving plant biodiversity. See trailer at facebook.com/LeSemeurLeFilm/ posts/788510307840330. Members: $10; Public: $12

HOLIDAY MARKET & OPEN HOUSE Thursday, November 30, 2017, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. FREE and open to the public Grab a cup of complimentary cider while you stroll through the halls decked with holiday cheer and stocked with unique hand-crafted and nature-inspired gifts, seasonal greens, forced bulbs, holiday terrariums and home-baked treats. Bring a friend to share in the merriment.

NEW this year

Visit the Amaryllis Potting Bar in the Garden Shop.

Toronto Botanical Garden Honey This is your first chance to taste and purchase this season’s honey from our very own beehives. TBG honey will be available for sale while supplies last.

Botanical Bar

Sample an assortment of honey from local beekeepers.

Members’ Holiday Reception 6:30 to 8 p.m. TBG Members in good standing will enjoy this exclusive members’ event. TBG members: FREE Bring a Friend for $20 Buy a TBG membership at the door and enjoy free admission to the event.

LIBRARY STORY TIME Mondays from September 18 through December 11, 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Drop in to the Weston Family Library for nature stories and songs. Ages 1-3. No registration required. FREE

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GARDEN TOURS with Margaret Dailey-Plouffe. Tours that exceed your expectations. Announcing – OCTOBER: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT – Fallingwater tour; NOVEMBER : Vienna/Salzburg Christmas Markets. 2018 – MARCH: Philadelphia Flower Show; APRIL: Gardens of Victoria and Vancouver Island; MAY: Discover CROATIA; JULY: Quebec Garden Tour. Contact: Margaret 416-746-7199 hnatravels@gmail.com www.hnatravels.com

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