CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE -GARDEN TOPICS & EVENTS NEWSLETTER
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AUTUMN CORNUCOPIA BUILDING DIRECTORY
UP RAMP
Creative Country Crafts
Plant and Bulb Sale
Christmas Greens and Sparkles
DOWN RAMP
Floral Hall - 40 Craft Booths
Winter Bouquet Workshop
Canada Packers Quilts
e HOURS: Friday, October 14, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Garden, Gift and Book Shop Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Link - Mini Art Show Sunday, October 16, Noon - 6 p.m.
Apdigoriugg = Nte (retey
* ADMISSION: $1 Per person
Snack Bar/Coffee Shop .50¢ Children under 12
MESSAGE TO MEMBERS...
by Gordon D. Wick, Executive Director
We have such an exciting array of events coming up in the next month! First and foremost we must all promote attendance at our major fund raising event of year. We really should be able to attract more people over the course of the 3 day event. Many members have been working all summer preparing an outstanding range of homemade preserves, jams, jellies and herbals. Another treat will be the availability of fresh baked mini loaves of bread each morning, again in the Creative Country Crafts area. Speaking of crafts - the range of handcrafted items will be tremendous. Our own CGC volunteer groups will be offering hand crafted stitchery knitted and crocheted work as well as the creative floral design work for which the Centre has become famous.
The volunteers of the Centre s Winter Bouquet Workshop (run for us by a committee from Garden Club of Toronto) have planted, grown, harvested or collected dried and treated an outstanding range of natural materials which, with creative flair, have been utilized in making up a whole range of floral and nature craft items.
Our Christmas Greens and Sparkles area will once again come into prominence with a whole range of handcrafted decorations available and a good supply of many of the fixings for Do-It-Yourself designs such as wreaths, door swags and table centres. We will also have a supply of artificial Christmas trees available for those who cannot use their own natural evergreen materials.
In our plant area we will have a selection of both flowering and non-flowering houseplants, spring flowering bulbs including varieties especially selected for winter forcing. Our features will include paperwhites, narcissus and amaryllis for easy indoor blooming without any additional cold treatment.
We will have a large supply of potted Chrysanthemums at a very reasonable price.
As the cooler autumn weather settles in upon us, we look to a variety of special fall events. Hamilton boasts of their Cavalcade of Chrysanthemums sponsored by the Hamilton Parks Division at Gage Park Greenhouse from October 29th to November 13th, 9 am. - 8 p.m. Free Admission.
If you have never visited the grand old estate of the late Col. R. S. McLaughlin in Oshawa, then you have the opportunity of combining a house tour with a greenhouse visit to see an outstanding display of mums and other fall greenhouse plants in the conservatory.
While we are speaking of short trips, I can heartily recommend a visit to the Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village at Whitby. Each season additional attractions have been added to make this a must see even if you have been other years.
While I have been thinking of special outings I can t help but mention Len s newest venture Cullen Country Barns. Located close to home at Steeles Ave. E., and Kennedy Rd. I really think Len has created a winner. My family certainly found it worth several hours of casual browsing and the food facilities were very tempting.
Response to our proposal for a House and Garden Tour of Philadelphia in May 1984 has been quite encouraging. If you didn t read up on the details look up your Sept. issue of Trellis. Our special events chairman, Nancy Mallett will be following up with those who responded to clarify further details, then come up with a firm price.
If you haven t responded yet, but are interested, do turn in your name, address and phone no., so we can keep you updated.
(Now is the Time - Cont.)
LAWNS
October is the month to apply a fall fertilizer to the lawn. Experts say it is the most important fertilizing of the whole year. This is because it protects the grass against winter kill and produces a healthy disease resistant lawn, visible as soon as the snow goes.
These autumn fertilizers contain less nitrogen but more phosphorus and potash to create strong root systems, rather than blade strength. Several such formulas are 6-12-18, 6-12-24 or 6-8-12.
In recent experiments the University of Guelph have found that slow-release high nitrogen fertilizers such as 12-3-5 applied about November S5th have resulted in much greener lawns as soon as
the snow has departed. They believe that this will take the place of the usual application of lawn fertilizers in April.
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUNDS
I want to publicly recognize donations from our two resident clubs - Garden Club of Toronto and Milne House Garden Club have each given substantial donations toward capital purchase items. Such donations allow the Centre to keep up to date and active without placing extreme stress on our operating budget.
New bookkeeping equipment, round tables for the floral hall, additional lighting and added carpeting on the mezzanine are some of the projects being carried out with Garden Club funds.
More recently we have begun working on a plan for the refurbishing of the Garden Hall (auditorium) with funding from the Milne House Garden Club.
Where Great Gardens
At your closest Sheridan Garden Centre you will find the finest selection of nursery stock in Canada, including more than 750 varieties of plants and trees grown on Sheridan 's own farms.
Begin. And Sheridan s nursery stock is guaranteed for one full year.
At Sheridan Garden Centres you will also find qualified nurserymenwho will be pleased to help you in any way they can. AGINCOURT ETOBICOKE 3444 Sheppard Ave. E., 700 Evans Ave., Toronto M1T 3K4 Etobicoke M9C 1A1 Tel. 822-0251 Tel. 481-6429 Tel. 293-2493 Tel. 621-9100 UNIONVILLE OSHAWA KITCHENER 4077 Hwy. 7, Unionville 847 King St. W., Oshawa 100 ElImsdale Road, Kitchener L3R 1L5 Tel. 728-9429 Tel. 743-4146 Tel. 477-2253
LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENTS: Metropolitan Toronto 621-9111, East Toronto/Markham 477-1499, Kitchener/Waterloo 743-4146.
The Trellis Shop
A visit to our shop will reveal many fresh items for gardeners, flower arrangers, book lovers and gift buyers alike.
For the Gardener-
Our stock of early flowering Spring Flowering Bulbs are selling out quickly but a good selection of tulips is still available. These need not be planted until the ground cools down in late October or even into November.
We purchased a large quantity of paperwhite narcissus. I expect these to last at least until Cornucopia. Our stock is top size, grown in Israel, precooled and ready to plant in either stones or regular potting mix.
A fine selection of oversize amaryllis bulbs will be available starting in early October. Watch for the excellent colour range in these top quality bulbs - and remember that in addition to our normal competitive pricing policy, your membership discount applies for even greater value.
Flower arrangers-
Our new packaging policy has made more people aware of the extensive range of floral supplies we carry on a regular basis.
We have extended the range of inexpensive pottery containers suitable for floral arrangement work and we have several potters working on custom orders for moderate priced containers to our specifications. The first shipment should be available by the time this letter reaches you.
We have once again bought standard Qasis blocks at a special price from our wholesale supplier. We are passing on the savings to our customers. The price will be $1.10 per block for the winter season as long as stock lasts. (Please - a limit of 10 blocks per customer at this special price).
Note: We are still selling the Sahara oasis at a reduced price of $1.29 from the mid summer special we bought - again while stock lasts.
A complete line of both natural and treated dried flower supplies has been added. Be sure to check out the treated gypsophila. With its soft texture it will be a pleasure to use.
You will note the floral arrangement books have been combined with the floral supplies. We have also been able to purchase several excellent books through a remainders dealer at exceptional values. Violet Stevenson s book Creative Flower Arranging is now available at only $14.95 and Betty Massingham s Flower Arranging in Colour at $§12.95.
Books Books Books
In addition to the floral books I just mentioned we have added about 50 titles to our range of gardening books and we are gradually building our stock back up in other titles which have been regular good sellers. Now that the shops are combined we anticipate selling a few more of the lower priced books to casual walk through traffic but a committee are looking at the suitable range of both titles and price ranges of the books we stock.
Gift Items:
NOW AND AGAIN
has a wonderful way to preserve your wedding flowers and other floral tributes 488-8262 or 889-6984
Even a very quick look in our store will entice many to take a closer look at the many new lines of items in our gift department. Our new buying committee have shopped both the fall gift shows as well as doing much independent research and a good many of the new items are moving very quickly.
New lines are still arriving regularly.
Adventures with Bule
byC. W. Cruickshank
Most enthusiastic gardeners like to do a little exploring to find something just a bit unusual, and it can be quite an exciting experience to discover so many delightful and easily grown bulbs often overlooked.
The Tulip family is a large one and there are a host of interesting bypaths. For example almost everyone knows, or should know, the winsome little tulipa Tarda, no taller or larger than a Crocus, blooming very early in Spring. If you let it go to seed the seeds will drop and form new bulbs in no time so that in a few years you will still have plenty of Tarda with a nice increase. Tarda has a very interesting cousin, tulipa Urumiensis, discovered some years ago in a small area in Northern Iran, its only known habitat. It is slightly larger than Tarda, all a deep buttercup yellow with a bronze reverse, with the same interesting habit. While rare it is still not expensive.
The Greigii group of Tulips can provide some beautiful additions to your early Spring garden. A good example is Red Riding Hood, brilliant scarlet, with beautiful mottled foliage like most members of this group.. There is even one named Toronto, a vivid vermilion. Another little Tulip you can instantly make friends with is Pulchella Violacea, an unusual shade of rosy violet, only five inches tall.
In the larger Tulips the so-called Orchid Tulips with fringed edges are most attractive. Swan Wings is a lovely pure white member of this group, and there is a delightful pink variety, Bellflower, still hard to come by. If size is impressive by all means try Big Chief, a gigantic old rose member of the Darwin Hybrid class, now easily the most popular class of Tulips. The large and popular Red Emperor now sports some excellent hybrids. Oriental Splendor, a deep yellow with red exterior is one of the best.
There are some nice discoveries in the Narcissi or Daffodil family. A wonderful giant yellow, outclassing the popular King Alfred is Unsurpassable, good for both garden and pots. For fragrance try Louise de Coligny, white with an apricotpink cup, the only daffodil with a rose fragrance. February Gold, a small yellow daffodil Cyclamineus class, is remarkably free blooming, even the smallest bulb will bloom. I believe it is the only daffodil that can be successfully grown in pebbles and water like a Paperwhite, but it must be kept dark and cool for the usual ten or twelve weeks. Peeping Tom, another member of the Cyclamineus group, has long been a favorite of mine. It has an unusually long slender trumpet and the perianth segments reflex interestingly, hence the name I suppose. To digress to the wee miniatures, little Minimus is an attractive variety. It is a perfectly formed trumpet daffodil, the smallest of all, only three inches tall, with flowers not much larger than a dime - a conversation piece for your rockery. Fine in pots too.
Peeping Tom (cyclamineus)
o
rsnsion b R B
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How to keep houseplants happy? Gardens glowing? Shrubs scintilating? Lawns luxurious? Join us and find out all this and more.
At the Civic Garden Centre you ll be among friends, people who share the same interests you do in gardening and horticultural things.
As a Civic Garden Centre member, you enjoy free borrowing privileges from our Horticultural Library s over 5,000 gardening books. On regular priced merchandise over $2.00 you save 10% in the Garden Gift and Book Shop.. You enroll in special horticultural and flower arranging classes. Trellis newsletter will be mailed to your home ten times per year.
Because the Basic Membership fee alone cannot meet our operating costs, we have established other membership categories which include tax deductible donations.
We issue receipts for tax deductions for all but the basic $10.00 annual members fee (Charitable Registration No. 0228114-56-13)
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CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Membership Secretary, THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE, 777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie), Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2
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NOW 10 beautiful garden stores to serve you
HAMILTON 2500 Barton Street East Parkway Plaza Centennial and Barton St. 560-1600
ETOBICOKE
1582 The Queensway Between Kipling Ave and Highway 427 255-0725
SCARBOROUGH CAMBRIDGE 1306 Kennedy Rd 561 Hespeler Rd. South of Highway 401 Highway 24 North of Lawrence Ave. 500 yds. S. of Highway 401 755-5345 621-5281
WATERLOO 200 Weber Street North 885-2211
BURLINGTON 4265 Fairview Street 639-8692
NEWMARKET 55 Yonge Street South of Davis Drive 895-2457
335 Dundas St. E East of Highway 10 West of Cawthra Rd. 277-2727
MISSISSAUGA WHITBY 1242 Dundas St. E West of Thickson Rd East of Anderson St 6687505
Open 7 days a week
UNIONVILLE No. 7 Highway East of Woodbine Ave West of Kennedy Rd. 477-3330
