For all your gardening needs ...all year round. ealland Cullen NURSERY GARDEN CENTRES
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE GARDEN TOPICS & EVENTS NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE TO MEMBERS...
As I came into the C.G.C. today the Winter Aconites and the dwarf Iris were blooming away and the birds were singing their chorus outside my office window. These signs of spring s arrival make us all think more about our plans for the outdoor gardening season s pending arrival,
Here at the Centre we have ordered in some new lines of stock to interest members who use our garden gift shop. Current needs such as hand pruners, dormant spray kits and a wide assortment of seeds are all now available. Your ~membership discount priviledges on 00 make for reasonable priced purchases for you while providing a small profit to help support the Centre s ongoing overall educational programs.
I might note a few pricing changes in the shop on basic consumable items such as oasis which is used by flower arrangers. Our policy will be to keep the prices somewhat lower than in the past to encourage our members to come to the Centre more often to purchase such items and perhaps borrow a book or two from our marvellous specialized library. We would really like to see you here at the Centre more often. While you are coming, why not bring along a friend and introduce them to the many advantages of membership here at the Centre.
I want to thank all the 45 volunteers who helped plan, set up, man and dismantle the C.G.C. booth at the Garden Pool and Landscape Show. It was an outstanding success.
MEMBER S NIGHTS
Results of our member s nights have thus far been moderately encouraging. Those who have attended have really enjoyed the evenings and I want to thank the volunteers who have enabled us to keep the stores and library open for the hour before the member s night program. This opportunity to use our library and take advantage of our shops during the evening might be of special interest to members who live or work some distance from the Centre. If you would like to see this service continued, please let us know and if you would like to become involved at the members nights, let me know you are-available as avolunteer.
Upcoming Members Nights include topics on Night Lighting of your home garden, on April 12th and the Home Landscaping program on April 26th,and on May 9th we will have a program on planting up a Bonsai pot.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
The Nominating Committee have presented the following names to complete the slate of Board members for 1983: Dr. Brian Bixby, Prof. of Economics, Doug Thomas, Accountant, Monte Watler, Personnel Manager, Peter Hand, Lawyer,
Further Nominations may be presented at the Annual Meeting - April 26, 1983.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
7.30 p.m. - TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1983 in the Auditorium Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Don Mills
BULBS FOR NATURALIZING
Everyone likes a giveaway and we were lucky enough to have several hundred pots of bulbs donated for a spring display in our entrance foyer. The bulbs were then dried off and are now available to our members to use in naturalized plant ings outdoors. = While they may not bloom much next year they will regain strength and the following year should provide quite a good display.
The bulbs are available now - free to members - if you wish to make a small donation - say 25 cents per pot we will be %lad to use the money to buy other plants or our entrance displays.
SPRING PLANT SALE
Since most of our members usually buy at least some plants for spring planting we are mailing an advance order form to all members to pre-order the annual box plants and perennials you want this year. We have changed the sale s hours to make it more practical for those who work to pick up their orders.
Since this is our major spring fund raising project we will be looking for maximum member support. You can help in one of a number of ways -
1. Your own order for plants -please send advance orders as early as possible so we can get a commitment from our grower.
2. Volunteers Needed - a great many hands make light work of unloading the truck loads, sorting the pre-orders, making signs, helping to organize the public sale and manning the actual sales hours with helpful advice on what grows well under which conditions. 3
3. If you are dividing perennials, or herbs,or have sown seeds, especially of plants we don t list, we would appreciate donations of one or more surplus boxes of plants. Please be sure to identify the plants, give details of colour and size if possible.
ahed pogd pred abeisog
Now isthetime
by Ernest Pope
Here is a list of popular annuals and vegetables for starting indoors during April.
April 5- French Marigolds, tomatoes
April 12 - Cucumber, squash, pepper, muskmelon, eggplant
These dates are based on temperatures in the writer s basement of 18°C (68 F) daytime and 16° C, 64 F nighttime.
If your temperatures are lower, seed should be started a week earlier. If higher, then a week later.
April 15 - Dahlias are chronic late bloomers, especially if the summer is hot and dry. To get blooms two weeks to a month earlier, the dormant clumps should be started indoors in mid-April in flats or pots filled with damp peatmoss. The clumps can be divided at the time of outdoor planting in May. If the shoots are too tall, then they can be cut back to two inches in height but great care should be taken not to break them off at the base or damage the new roots.
Early Vegetables
Many gardeners start the frost prone, tropical vegetables such as cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, pepers, etc., indoors to make up for our shorter summer growth Rqeriods.l hesghax&plauted.qum,nor after ay 24. Usually at the same time, plant the seed of the hardier ones such as lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, peas, etc. This is contrary to what nature intends because these vegetables make their best growth in the cool early spring and fall months. Planted in mid-May or later, they often suffer if the summer is hot and dry. You will gain time and have better growth if you seed these hardier vegetables outside during the cool spring weather.
They will germinate even if the soil is cold and wet and should not be harmed by later frosts or even snow on the ground. They will mature a month earlier. In fact, the leaf lettuce will be ready to eat by mid-June. In the case of spinach, lettuce, radish and peas, a second crop can be planted in midseason to mature in the fall. Because of the longer growing season needed growers start the seeds of cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli inside about Apr.1. These can be transplanted right into the garden about May 10 after a few days of hardening off on the patio.
city
gardens
Tropical Plants
Sales and Maintenance
April Garden Duties
April 1
Weather permitting, give the lawn a good raking with a bamboo or flexible steel rake to remove dead grass and miscellaneous debris.
April 5
Apply to lawn a high nitrogen fertilizer such as 1-6-4, 21-7-7 or 18-4-8. Nitrogen grows leaves and that s what makes lawns. The chemical fertilizers you use should therefore contain at least 10% of this element.
April 10
Time to fertilize shrubs, trees, evergreens and perennials. May 1 is a better date for annual beds.
April 12
Remove winter protection materials and mulches from perennials and bi-ennials, especially early flowering ones. Don t prune spring flowering shrubs now; you will only be cutting off the bloom.
April 15
Spray plants for iris borer with Cylfon 2-E, and again one week later, including the ground around the rhizomes. Paint a band of undiluted Cygon around birch tree trunk: five inches for small trees, eight inches for large ones. This is im-
lan A. McCallum, B.Sc (Agriculture) 446-1040 9:00 - 5:00 Monday to Friday __portant. espe some
Spring fertilizing of Tulips
To help your tulip bulbs to make flowers for the following year, if you are leaving them in the ground, you should feed them as early as possible in the spring, usually not later than April 15. It is best to use a low nitrogen fertilizer such as 4-12-8 and it should be spread over the surface of the ground to be washed in by the rain. The Dutch growers have had great success by applying an organic such as milorganite.
When the current year s flowers are finished, cut off the seed heads. Do not remove the leaves and stems until they have turned yellow and the stems give easily when tugged. There is no reason why this same method should not help most spring blooming bulbs.
B.C. Begonia
e cut leaf and...
European varieties which are much more susceptible to borers than the native Canadian birch. Plant pansy plants now. They thrive on cool weather. If you didn t do it late last fall, this is the time to spread compost on the beds for digging in before April 30.
April 20
Remove winter covering from rose bushes, prune them and apply the first feeding.
New plantings of perennials and shrubs should be made before Apr. 30. This also applies to perennial clumps that need dividing, and to roses. Planting the latter after May 1 gives a rose bush only two months or less to grow roots and stems and to provide ample bloom in late June, a rather tall order. A good rule in dividing established perennials is to do it with those whose normal blooming period is after June 1. Those that bloom before that date should be separated in October to avoid destroying the early spring bloom. Get the cold frame set up and working to start receiving annuals for hardening off.
PRUNING SPECIALIST
All types of trees and shrubs pruned properly Tree pruning Insured Willing to barter
Brian Sinclair 762-5828 anytime
This variety was introduced to eastern gardens a few years ago by a local nurseryman bringing cuttings from the Vancouver area. Not knowing the real name, he referred to it as the B.C. Begonia and to date the name seems to have stuck. Actually, according to the writer s research, it is called begonia cubensis and it is a native of the island of Cuba. It is a spectacular trailing plant when grown in hanging baskets in a greenhouse with flowering stems often three to four feet long. The multitude of small blooms are a bright pink. It will also thrive outdoors in a high shade area. It is not a good houseplant, however. On the average home windowsill erlights; it"seems to lose its vigour and the flowers fade out to a rather wishy-washy pink. It apparently misses the high humidity of the greenhouse or outdoors.
We care about your gardening problems. Come and see us at our unique Garden Centre and Greenhouses.
COMING EVENTS AT THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Art at the Centre In the Link Gallery: April 1 to 13th - RUTH BJARNASON watercolours and batik
April 14 to May 3rd - JEREMY TSAI Chinese painting Art in the Studios: April 1 to May 3rd - REIMER REINKE realistic landscapes and abstracts
COURSES STARTING SOON...
See January s Trellis for full description
Mar. 30 - Intermediate Flower Arranging 2 weeks, Weds., 10am to 3pm
April 7 - Birdwatching in Spring course starts (4wks) Thurs., 2pm & 7:30pm
April 9 - Vegetable Garden Workshop by Tommy Thompson, Sat.,2pm - 4pm Fee - Members $1.00, Non-Member $1.50
April 13 - Part II - Flower Arranging for Beginners - 3 wks, Weds. 1:30pm or 8pm
DRIED MATERIAL LECTURE SERIES:
Take all 3 or individual lectures, Each lecture given at 1:30 or 7:30pm Fee per lecture: Members $3.00, April 18 - Non-Members $3.50. Drying Plant materials for Bouquets
April 25Pressed flowers & Corn Husk Crafts
May 2Pine Cone Crafts
May 4 - Photography Course starts - 8pm 6 weeks - Members $30.00, Non - $35.00
May 5 - Part 1 - Basic Flower Arranging for Beginners - 3 weeks, Thursdays. at 1:30 or 8pm - Memb. $12, Non - $15
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE HOURS
Weekdays 9:30am to 4:00pm Sat., Sun., & Hols. 12pm to 5pm
General Information
Volume 10, No. 3 ISSN 0380-1470
Executive Director: Gordon D. Wick
Advertising: G. D. Wick (416) 445-1552
Printed by Munns Press Ltd., Whitby, Ontario
Trellis is published nine times per year as a member s newsletter, by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Telephone (416) 445-1552
The Centre is located within Edwards Gardens, at Leslie and Lawrence Avenue East, at the geographical centre of Metropolitan Toronto. It is a non-profit, volunteer based, gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre.
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Mar. 24 - Can. Chrysanthemum Soc. reg. mtg. at 8pm - Talk on Cold Frame construction, Dahlia Propogation, and Decorative flower arranging.
30 - Hobby Greenhouse Group will show a film at 8pm
April 3 - Dr. Robert Baird will speak on Photographing Orchids at the reg. mtg & mini-show of the S. Ont. Orchid Soc. 1pm to 5pm
5 - Garden Roundup a panel moderated by Ernie Pope will answer general gardening questions at the reg. mtg of the Men s Gdn Club 8pm
9 - Green Thumbs, Junior Garden Club for ages 9 to 13 yrs meet at 9:45am 9 & 10 - FLOWERING HOUSEPLANT SHOW & SALE from 1pm to 4pm both days - Admission $1.00 - Toronto Gesneriad Society
11 - Workshop on potting & Styling of trees in Bonsai pots at the reg. mtg. of the Toronto Bonsai Society at 8pm
12 - MEMBERS NIGHT - Dramatic Garden Lighting - illustrated talk by Kirsten Stevenson of Night Decor - No charge for admission - Open to all.
23 - Regular Spring Meeting and Auction of Trees & Seeds by the Nut Growers of Southern Ontario - 12 noon to 4pm - No charge
26 - MEMBERS NIGHT & Annual Meeting of the Civic Garden Centre 7:30pm Topic - Home Landscaping - Options for S. Ont. Gardens by Wm. Rock, member of C.G.C. Board & Chairman of Dept. Landscape Architecture,U of T (Note: a brief business meeting will introduce the new board,begin at 7:30 pm)
27 - regular monthly meeting of the Hobby Greenhouse Group at 8pm
28 - Can. Chrysanthemum Soc. meeting - at 8pm - Topics include: Soil Preparation, Introduction to Cascade Mums, Discussion of list of late and early cultivars, and What you Should do with your Dahlias.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
7.30 p.m. - TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1983 in the Auditorium Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Don Mills
To approve accounts, elect directors, appoint an auditor, and transact any such business as may come before the meeting,.
The Member s Night program topic will be a slide illustrated talk by Bill Rock entitled Home Landscaping Options for Southern Ontario Gardens . Bill Rock is a member of the C.G.C. Board of Directors as well as being Chairman of the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto.
BECOME A
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CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Membership Secretary, THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE, 777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie), Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2
I wish to become a member of the Civic Garden Centre in the category marked. Enclosed is my cheque for $_______. made out to the Civic Garden Centre.
Please send my Trellis Newsletter to the following:
Name Address
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Postal Code
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ANNUAL DECISIONS
by Tom Powers
Each new growing season gardeners are once again presented with the challenging opportunity of creating unique, dynamic and innovative annual bedding displays around their homes.
Seed companies, greenhouse growers and garden centres offer a bewildering assortment of bedding plants, with an equally diverse array of forms, colours and textures.
Horticultural publications, public parks and even private gardens abound with a wealth of novel planting ideas. They are yours to adapt, develop and expand upon.
Unfortunately, all of this opportunity for creative expression in the garden usually culminates in nothing more than the traditional May 24th pilgrimage to the local garden centre to purchase the time honoured one dozen red geraniums and a flat of white petunias. Acceptable bedding it may be - but exciting it is not.
The most common reason for the limited scope of most home gardener s bedding is that of lack of exposure to any reliable alternatives. This can be readily remedied. Glance through a few books on annuals, visit your local parks and check out the extensive selection of flowers listed in the annual catalogues of many garden centres.
Since its opening in May of 1980, Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village in Whitby, Ont., has been attempting to introduce the gardening public to many of the less widely grown, yet very desirable bedding plants. There has also been a concerted effort made to demonstrate some of the distinctive combinations and arrangements which can be created utilizing the most readily available and popular varieties.
Although slow to change, this exposure to new varieties at Cullen Gardens and similar facilities throughout the country, is beginning to have an impact on the buying habits of the gardening public.
One of the larger plant families, Compositae, provides gardeners with a varied selection of colourful and reliable bedding material. Many of these family members sport daisy like blooms and are tolerant of less than ideal growing conditions.
Arctotis Stoechadifolia (African Daisy, Blue-Eyed Daisy) is an attractive South African native which is well suited for use in mass beds, borders or the cutting garden. The variety Grandis attains a height and spread of 2% and is blanketed with 3 creamy white daisy shaped flowers with reddish undersides and a dark eye. The 10-12 hybrids come in bright white, yellow, pink, red, orange and brown shades.
The flowers of both types are displayed well against the silvery green foliage. Although the plants produce flowers till they are cut down by frost, the blooms close at night and remain closed on cloudy days.
Arctotis does best planted 12 apart in a full sun location with a light, sandy, well-drained soil. One of the major assets of this plant is its ability to withstand droughty conditions. It performs best when the summer night temperatures remain cool.
A close relative, Dimorphotheca Sinuata shares the common nameAfrican Daisy, with Arctotis, as well as the Gazania and Gerbera. It is also called the Cape Marigold. This free-flowering annual grows to 12 and sports 2% - 3% cream, yellow, salmon, pink or bronze daisy-like blooms. It has blue or lavender petal undersides and a dark eye similar to Arctotis.
Dimorphotheca seed degenerates quickly when stored so be certain to use fresh seed when sowing. It requires the same culture as Arctotis. Fertilize infrequently and remove faded blossoms to prolong flowering.
The flowers may last up to a week when cut. You do not have to be too selective when gathering blooms since often many of the undeveloped buds will mature and open in water.
Occasionally garden plans call for a large, distinctive accent plant. Tithonia Rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower) is an excellent choice for such a purpose. This coarse, shrubby annual from Mexico and Central America has 6 to 12 velvety, grey-green leaves and brillant 3 - 4 orangey-red, single dahlia-like flowers from mid summer on. Tithonia usually grows 4 - 6 tall, although it is not uncommon for it to reach 8 if its cultural requirements are satisfied.
The Mexican Sunflower is ideally suited for use in the backs of borders as well as for unusual, fast growing, tall, flowering annual hedges. Its brightly coloured blooms, size and coarse texture dictate restraint when using Tithonia. One situation in which it looks very much at home in is around a pool. For a splash of tropical greenery try a planting of Tithonia with Cannas, Castor Bean, Fountain Grass, Snow -on -theMountain and Love Lies Bleeding.
The single flowers may be cut and used for arrangements. To prolong their life, the ends of the hollow stems should be seared before using.
Tithonia should be spaced 2 apart in a full sun location. It can be grown on a wide range of soils as long as there is good drainage. Due to their size, staking is advisable, especially in exposed windswept areas. The plants are quite heat and drought resistant. Torch , an All-American Selection winner is the variety usually offered.
Solanum Rantonnetti (Blue Potato Bush) is a shrubby, tropical relative of the potato. It has been one of the most popular plants at Cullen Gardens for the last several years. Visitors enjoy the hundreds of deep violet-blue flowers with their bright yellow eyes that grace this shrub when its in full bloom mid-summer till frost.
A small potted plant set out in the garden after frost can easily become a 3 - 4 shrub by fall. The graceful, arching branches and the rare addition of a blue coloured accent
Continued on page 7
>< Mini Rose Nursery
Specializing in Miniature Roses For 1983 Listing Write Florence Gahagan
P.O. Box 873, Guelph, Ont. N1H 6M6
NOW AND AGAIN
has a wonderful way to preserve your wedding flowers and other floral tributes 416-488-8262
TOMMY THOMPSON S TORONTO
Every Saturday Morning at 11:15 am
C.J.C.L.
1430 AM Listen To
this ad with your remittance. on
Your order will be confirmed and an order number assigned by our office on receipt of the completed order including payment in full. Please bring your order no. with you when picking up the plants. Mail your order todayDON T DELAY !
Petunias(Single flowered, Grandiflora)Snow Magic, lg. flwd. whiteMariner, dwf., rich blueSugar Daddy, orchid, wine veinsPink Magic, bright rose pinkBallerina, intense glowing salmonBurgundy, velvety wine redE1 Toro, bright lg flwd. true red
Send $1.00 (refundable on first order) for our new colour cata-
You'll be glad you did! Just return esting bulbs, seeds and plants listed, many exclusive with us, logue, plus a surprise bonus.
The multitude of rare and inter-
will prove to be a revelation. By far the most complete bulb cata-
C. A. CRUICKSHANK LTD. Since 1925
Canada' s LeadingBulb Specialists
1015 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto M4P 2M1 488-8292 (416) 562-4836
® DwarfEvergreens ®
® Heathers ® Perennials ® e Rhododendrons e VINELAND
NURSERIES
P.O. Box 98 ® Martin Road Vineland Station, Ont. logue in Canada.
SPRING PLANT SALES
3pm to 7 pm 10am to 9 pm
Pre-OrdersThursday May 12th 1983
Public SaleFriday, May 13th, 1983
ANNUALSAll boxes this side $1.10 ea
Petunia -(Grandiflora Cascading Types)
LolWhite Cascade, large flowered i ]Pink Cascade. slightly ruffled F 4Red Cascade, deep red
Petunia(Picotee typeGrandifloras)
[ ]Blue Frost, violet bluewhite edge {2Cherry Frost, cherry red/ white i ] -Red Picotee, bright red/white
Tof this order. Please claim your plants by the order number., THANK YOUSweet 100, 2.5 cm each
y Order Date
TomatoesPatio typeTiny Tim ou will receive an order number when we confirm receipt £
TomatoesBonny Best, med. size N | Summary of OrderBall Extra Early, med. hyb. i boxes or pots @ $ 1.10 =Early Girl,earliest slicer boxes or pots @ $ 1.25Better Boy, moderately lg. City _Telephone ( ) boxes or pots @ $ 1.50 =Beefsteak, lg, heavy fruited ; 4 . Y in ; : Order Total =
SPRING PLANT SALES
PeppersSweet California Wonder
OnionsEarly yellow globe (Spanish) The plants listed on this order form are nursery grown for the Civic Garden Centre by special order. Take advantage of our pre-order and pick up offer to ensure the full range of plant materials. Please order before APRIL 15, 1983. Total paymentsweet , Bell Boy must be included with your order. Your special selection is to be picked up onsweet, Hungarian Banana Thqrsday, May 12th 1983 between 3pm and 7pm ONLY.hot, Cayanne, long slim
MuskmelonsHoneyrock (3/bx)
LettucePenn Lake Please list varieties you might be interested in buying.
EggplantImperial Black Beauty We may also be able to supply a range of herb plants.
CauliflowerSnow Crown 1 GlamourRed, very lg. bloomed E:OrangeSincerity $1.50
CabbageEarly, Emerald Cross ] WhiskeyPure white flwr, bronze foliage | ] Draceanas4 pots $ 1.50Late, Penn State é | : [ 1 GeraniamsRedMatador $1.50Savoy, Chieftain 1 White Avalanchehanging basket type i1WhiteSnowmass $1.50Red Rocket ] GlamourRose, very large bloomed {4PinkWendy Ann $1.50
Brussel SproutsJade Cross Wy iy.
VEGETABLES
Fibrous Begonias: | Chrysanthemums will be available as individual inniaThumbelina, dw cm ' i i , ) ¢ plants. Please note the colours in which you are I}State Fair mix, 90 cm 1 Scarlettabright sc}arlet red, small flwd. rp ] White Tausendschondwf. pure white 1 Ginrose/pink flwr, bronze foliage ] VodkaBright scarlet, bronze foliage
StocksTen Week mix, 40 cm 4 [ ] Sweet WilliamDwarf double mix 15 .| i { % Thunbergia alataorange clock vine ;] e [ ] Sweet WilliamEarly Messanger, 51 cm [ Z_er bfena . ;(\i;al I;k;?mt Igle 1f;m
i 3Carioca mix, 51 cm o (z la teRlii Snsine) [ ] Shasta DaisySilver Princess, dwf. 41 cm % }Rocket mix, 7691 cm { % : O ;Z;Ze I [ ] Shasta DaisyAlaska, lg flwd, tall 89 cm
[ 1 SnapdragonsLittle Darling, 30 cm 4 % illtMklx R [ 1 RudbeckiaMarmalade, 51 cm
ortulacadouble mix, very dwf. full sun e1 Supes
BlbhiRed E ] Coreopsu? Double Sunburst, 90 cm i s e Y, [ ] zay : } Gypsophiladbl, Snowflake91 cmBonfire, cmi [ ]Splendens Tall, 76 cm (late) ] g P 4 g; firum u zifgyg dmféglc;m
¢ Boi e e TRose/White bi-color, gr. foliage [ 1 ColumbineMcKana Hybrid Giants
L JGlobe mix, very dwf. ball type [Deep Rose, green foliage [ ] CarnationGrenadine dbl. mix 51 cm
[ ] PhloxTwinkle mix, star shaped blooms [ 1 NovetteBright Orange, bronze foliage [ ]Bellissuper Enorma mix, 15 cm
Plant Sale donations to be dropped off at the Service Entrance at the East end of the Civic Garden Centre on Wed., 9am to 9pm, or Thurs., 9am to 12 noon
ANNUAL DECISIONS
(Cont. from page 4)
to the garden make the Blue Potato Flower especially attractive. This Solanum also makes a spectacular spgcimen when trained as a standard.
Plants require full sun, adequate water and a well-drained soil. Regular feedings with a balanced fertilizer produce lush growth and abundant bloom. At Cullen Gardens the plants performed much better in the open ground than they did in planters and boxes.
Although not generally available Valleyview Gardens at 3012 Kennedy Road in Scarborough, will have a limited supply of Blue Potato Bush in 4 pots and trained as standards. They are also a good source for other standard trained plants, such as Fuchsia, Coleus and Geranium.
The plants will not be in bloom when purchased, but will more than make up for this by early July. Since it is a tropical shrub, Blue Potato Bush may be cut back and wintered over indoors.
The most talked about bedding plant at Cullen Gardens in 1982 was Pelargonium x hortorum Wilma Cox (Wilma Cox Bedding Geranium) Visitors loved the unusual multi-coloured foliage markings on this little geranium. The leaves are light yellow with zonal stripes of red, green and brown.
Individual plants are not overly floriferous, although they sporadically produce small heads of pale pink flowers. The flowers are especially attractive when used with Salvia Victoria or Crystal Palace Lobelia. Most visitors were so intrigued by the brightly coloured leaf variegations that they barely noticed the plants sparse blooming habit. They make an interesting border plant or planter box subject.
Wilma Cox Geraniums require full sun and an even supply of water. Plants tend to be low growing and straggly. They are not very vigorous. The root system is quite small, so caution must be exercised when cultivating around them.
One Mediterranean annual which deserves a more prominent spot in our gardens is Lavatera Trimestris Splendens (Tree Mallow). The Fleuro-select winner Silver Cup merits special attention. The 24> plants have pale green maplelike leaves and produce numerous 4 silvery pink flowers which resemble Hibiscus.
The plants can be used in borders as a background, as a medium height flowering hedge or a shortlived cut flower. They should be spaced 24 apart in a well-drained soil in full sun. Adequate supplies of water and monthly feedings with a balanced fertilizer will encourage good growth. Staking is not required. Deadheading spent blossoms will prolong the season of bloom.
Lavatera performs best during cool, moist weather and may become weak if placed in a dry, hot location. Successive sowings will guarantee an abundance of bloom till late frost.
TOPPING UP
Many of us order a load of top soil in the hope that it will improve the structure of our garden soil. But beware: it may carry one of those sophisticated chemicals used for weed control for a specific crop such as corn. While the potency obviously dissipates after application, the natural leaching process is slow and the residual material may have serious negative effects on the garden, especially for vegetables and flowers. Leaching to rid the soil of these substances works slowly and will depend upon the amount of rainfall and sun. Farmers growing corn in fields where herbicides have been applied are not able to alternate with soy beans for this reason.
When ordering soil for general garden use, make sure it has been taken from fields that have either grown no crops treated with herbicides or from fields untilled for several years.
For home use in window boxes, patio pots or general potting, it is safer to use one of the prepared soils usually containing peat, perlite, composted manure and loam. These have the advantage of being clean and easy to transport as well as being free of weed seeds and disease.
THE ueountry Squireo @ardenn
8 PERENNIAL PLANT SPECIALISTS
Approximately 2000 Species and Hybrids
* Good supplies of Chinese Tree Peonies, especially the yellow one.
* Miniature Trees and Shrubs
* Exciting range of miniature roses
* Extended range of Daylilies
* New varieties this year of Iris Germanica, tall bearded.
Send $1 today for a plant list by mail
The Country Squire s Garden Steeles Avenue West, R.R. 10, BRAMPTON, Ontario L6V 3N2
Opening April 16 Sat.,Sun., & Hols. till the middle of June.
After June 18th, Open Daily Steeles Ave. 2 miles west of Highway No. 10
NOW OPEN YEAR ROUND DON VALLEY GARDEN CENTRE
2714 St. Clair Ave. East Toronto, Ont. M4B 1M6
Complete Garden Supply Centre located centrally in East York just east of O Connor Drive.
¢ Roses Ontario grown stock
e Nursery stock and
e Fruit Trees excellent selection
e Number 1 Nursery Sod
¢ Bedding and Perennial Plants
e Tropical Plants
e Soils ® Peat Moss
e Seeds ¢ Patio Slabs
¢ Fertilizers
Call
HERBS FOR PLEASURE
by Doris Tilt
Herbs are as old as the hills and as new as tomorrow. With several hundred species to choose from let s try some this year that we haven t grown to date. Most of the foliages are fascinating, the odours intriguing and their versatility tremendous.
If you have space try one to three Angelica in your flower area. The leaves are exquisite, the seed heads a flower arranger s delight and by floodlight other worldly. If you find time, and care to cut the handsome plant, you can candy the stem for a confection. Cut the seed heads before they ripen fully or your tree will pass on. Heads will dry for winter creations to remind you of your summer fun.
Hardy lemon balm, lovage, comfrey sage and thyme offer texture and colour interest to your flower or vegetable garden even when not in bloom.
Annuals grow readily from seeds and one package will serve you and all your gardening friends. Basils, anise, borage, caraway, German chamomile, chervil, corlander, dill, fennel, nasturtiums, summer savory etc. The list is expansive and you are inhibited only by time and space, once you become addicted.
If you are looking for a new dimension for your flower or vegetable garden, 'herbs are the answer. They are most rewarding.
Borage for bees - a handsome blue and pink flowered plant. To cheer the spirits plant it in front of bergamot to hide the sometimes bare stems.
Searching for a different border for a bed. Think of alternating opal basil with blue mink ageratum. The colours are pleasing, the basil lovely to weed beside a heavenly odour.
If you need an outing take a trip to Goodwood on a sunny day in early spring and visit Otto Richter s herb farm. You will find many strange and wonderful plants and seedlings and a very concise leaflet containing all you need to know for successful indoor and outdoor growing of herbs.
So many scholarly books have been written on the growing and use of herbs that I hesitate to elaborate. One very comprehensive volume is Herbs for Every Garden by Gertrude B. Foster. The Civic Garden Centre library has it and several others.
I have made no attempt to whet your appetite for herb embellished foods, but I 'm leaving this preamble for a bowl of homemade vegetable soup, well laced with dried herbs.
Many
All the mints are odoriferous, so don t settle for spearmint. hybrids have developed which differ slightly in aroma and foliagecurly mint, orange mint, applemint, pineapple, corsican, mountain and others. Their roots reach out continually, but can be controlled by cutting with a sharp blade or trowel straight down around the plant.
Rue is another I find indispensable for colour and beauty of foliage. It becomes a well established perennial in two years. Perennial herbs require little or no care.
BOOK REVIEW
Bonsai Techniques II by
John Yoshio Naka Dennis-Landman,
Santa Monica, California C 1982 $37.50
This must be the ultimate in bonsai books. Written for the advanced bonsai fancier, it is illustrated with photographs and line drawings (all done by the author) and covers every aspect of bonsai growing.
There is also a section on containers and their fine points and how to display. For all those who have progressed beyond Naka s First Bonsai Techniques.
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