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Civic Garden Centre
GENERAL INFORMATION
Vol. 16, No. 10
EDITOR: Iris Hossé Phillips
ADVERTISING INFO: (416) 445-1552
Registered charity number 0228114-56
TRELLIS is published ten times a year as a members' newsletter by the CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, North York, Ont. M3C 1P2. Tel. No.: (416) 445-1552. Manuscripts submitted on a voluntary basis are gratefully received. No remuneration is possible.
Lead time for inclusion of articles and advertising material is six weeks: manuscripts and material must be received by the 15th of the month to insure publication. For example, material received by October 15 will be included in the December issue of Trellis.Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre.
The Centre is located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East. It is a non-profit, volunteer-based gardening, floral arts, and horticultural information organization with open membership.
Printed by York Printing House Ltd.
CHRISTMAS CLOSING
Centre
From December 22, 5:00 pm to January 2, 9:00 am
Shops
From December 22, 5:00 pm to January 8th for inventory.
WINTER OPERATING HOURS
The Civic Garden Centre is open from November 1st to March 31st. Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Weekends & Holidays: Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Editorial
With this issue of Trellis, we begin a new feature called Questions and Answers . As you know, the Centre s Master Gardeners operate a hort. hotline between noon and 3:00 pm daily and field a wide variety of gardening questions. A sample of interesting queries, comments, and answers will appear monthly in Trellis. Out-of-town members who have a query on some aspect of gardening or horticulture should write to the Centre. Also let us know if you have an unusual solution to a common gardening problem.
In the President s Report, published in the July-August Trellis, Brian Bixley informed members that the Centre was preparing to computerize a number of its operations. The Macintosh SE computers are now installed and the staff is learning the system. We are not experts yet so please be patient during this initial period. One immediate result of computerization is the preparation of the address labels by the computer s printer.
hope you plan to attend Mistletoe Magic, our Christmas show and sale, and accomplish your Christmas shopping at our festively decorated Centre. Iris Phillips
The Trellis Shop
Refund Policy
Refunds may be obtained within 5 daysfrom the date ofpurchase. Receipts are required. Books, special orders and sale items are not refundable.
Contents
ECHIOREHE e e et R Witsy | Gardening for the fourth season-Winter X! ¢ B Artine il S5 eseas S el The Loss of Rare and Endangered Woody Plants from Existing Landscapes . .. Tomatoes for Cool Canadian Temperatures 20l §ORE 305 0
Edwards Foundation Lecture . .. Coming ENents | -BanGa, T 0, § Christmads RlantiSale 080 6 191] QuestionsandAnswers ... ....
TakingtheGlovesOff ....... ..
Classified Advertisement .. .. VolunteerCornep Sifig S & REW 0N, Trellis Shop &G R sl BRI
Gardening for the fourth season Winter
by Anne Marie Van Nest
Winter is a tormenting season. This is especially true for gardeners. Staring out the window in the dead of winter only reinforces my thoughts that spring is about a century away. Sure, there are plenty of things to do indoors. | could force some bulbs, browse through catalogues, pamper a few houseplants, but, still long to work with some real soil that | can sink my shovel in. Not being fortunate enought to be able to transplant myself to sunnier climates, | guess am destined to sit and watch the snow fall.
There are some ways that | can make the garden look more exciting from my indoor viewpoint. Planning the garden for this neglected season involves some careful planning. Plants are selected for interesting bark, twigs, persistent fruits or berries. Winter flowers and plants that hold their leaves through the winter are also good candidates. Mother nature sometimes creates a picturesque garden scene, herself. can remember years ago in Montreal, one winter day when freezing rain coated everything in the garden. The mountain ash berries glistened like jewels and the twigs bent downward with transparent layers of ice. To me the beauty of this natural creation far outweighed the damage to plants caused by this ice storm.
Gardening for winter means following a few different guidelines. A view that is picturesque in the growing season may turn into an unpleasant one during the winter as deciduous trees drop all their leaves. Evergreens therefore play an important part of the viewable garden (that which is seen from the main house windows). The winter garden is filled with textures, forms and colours. The smooth grey bark from a beech may be overlooked during the other seasons. It is very striking as it turns dark grey with the melting snow.
Consider these winter garden plants:
Plants with winter flowers:
Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) delicate yellow flowers in late winter.
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) yellow buttercup flowers.
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) pendant white blooms.
Hamamelis mollis (Witchhazel) fragrant early flowers.
Helleborus species (Christmas Rose) showy single flowers.
Iris danfordiae early yellow flowering bulb.
Iris reticulata blue flowering cousin .
Salix discolor (Pussy Willow) silky catkins in late winter.
Plants with interesting bark:
Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) exquisite reddish peeling bark.
Betula papyrifera (White Birch) white paperthin peeling bark.
Betula pendula (European Birch) graceful pendulous branches and white bark.
Carpinus caroliniana (Ironwood) sculptured bluish-grey bark.
Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory) flaky grey bark.
Fagus grandifolia (American Beech) beautiful light-grey bark.
Plants with winter interest twigs:
Salix species (Willow) yellow twigs contrast well.
Cornus alba Sibirica (Red Twig Dogwood) brilliant red twigs.
Cornus stolonifera Flaviramea (Yellow Stemmed Dogwood) bright yellow twigs in late winter.
Corylus avellana contorta (Corkscrew Hazel) twisted twigs.
Euonymus alata (Burning Bush) winged stems are unusual.
Plants with other winter features:
Quercus species (Oak) leaves persist on the tree.
Magnolia soulangeana (Saucer Magnolia) Furry grey buds.
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) reddish bronze leaves.
Plants with winter fruits or berries:
Aronia arbutifolia (Chokeberry) red berries into winter.
Eleagnus species (Autumn Olive) scarlet fruit.
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis (Honeylocust) long twisted seed pods.
Pyracantha coccinea (Firethorn) brilliant orange berries.
Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac) fuzzy red berries persist.
Rosa rugosa (Rugosa Rose) orange red hips.
Symphoricarpos species (Snowberry) rose or white coloured berries.
Viburnum trilobum (High Bush Cranberry) fleshy red berries hang on all winter.
Plants with good winter form:
Abies concolor (White Fir) long blue-green needles.
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) delicate irregular branches.
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) a form that is unique.
Picea species (Spruce) graceful pyramidal trees.
Pinus species (Pine) striking picturesque form.
Taxus species (Yew) dark green needles. Tsuga canadensis (Canada Hemlock) majestic drooping branches.
Anne Marie Van Nest is the Centre s Horticulturist
ART IN THE LINK
Qet. iith < @ct. 30th
Pamela Stagg The Blue Iris and other favourites
Nov. 7th - Nov. 29th
Margaret Squire Wind, Waves and Wildflowers
Nov. 21 - Dec. 4th
Claire Sinclair Treasures of the Field and
D. Joyce Davies The Hanging Garden
Exhibitions will be open
Weekdays 10 am - 4 pm
Saturdays, Sunday and Holidays Noon - 4 pm
AMERICAN CONIFER SOCIETY
Interested in rare and dwarf conifers? JOIN US!!
Receive our quarterly BULLETIN
Annual and Regional Meetings held in different areas.
Individual Membership $20.00
Institutional Membership $25.00
AMERICAN CONIFER SOCIETY
P.O. Box 314 Perry Hall, MD 21128 (301) 256-5595
The Loss of Rare and Endangered Woody Plants from Existing Landscapes
by W.B. Granger
My favorite Magnolia disappeared several weeks ago from a highly-priced residential neighbourhood in North Toronto, plucked from the lawn by a landscaper and replaced with three scrawny White Birch trees in the name of landscape improvement. This was an exceedingly rare Magnolia liliflora Nigra , the only one had seen blooming as a mature shrub in the Toronto area. | once tried to coax a Purple Lily Magnolia into growing (let alone blooming) in Walter Gordon s garden, in a protected spot on Chestnut Park in downtown Toronto, but to no avail. By contrast, the mature shrub had grown quite happily for perhaps 60 years on the front (south) lawn of a house on Teddington Park; | watched the house change hands last year and actually stopped to warn a landscape crew installing a new sodded lawn that their rototillers would damage the shallow Magnolia roots; the shrub did not bloom this year and the new owners obviously thought that its prostrate form was unattractive, even though it leafed out very well.
In retrospect, | should have contacted the owners of the property; would even have paid all costs to relocate this wonderful shrub to my own property or a public park.
| did contact the owners of a large house on Cluny Drive who bought the house next door and tore it down to build an addition on their own house. In the front yard of the former neighbouring house stands a mature Magnolia acuminata, Cucumber Magnolia, which was planted approximabely eighty years ago. This native species is listed as endangered by the World Wildlife Fund s Carolinian Canada program. As soon as the house was demolished | went to the owners and told them how rare this tree is and offered voluntary consulting any time
they needed advice on its care and preservation. | also telephoned the contractor and landscape contractor on several occasions to ask that soil and construction material not be heaped over the trunk of the tree, but as | write this, the tree has been badly abused by equipment and soil compaction for almost nine months. The crown is thinning, leaves have fallen prematurely, and survival is not a sure thing. | do have the assurances of the landscape contractor that the root zone area will be aerated and fertilized when construction is completed, and a snow fence has finally been erected around the tree to stop the construction equipment from crushing the root zone further.
| donated funds to pay for the planting of a Magnolia acuminata in a downtown Toronto park several years ago, and a specimen, grown from seed by Pat Tucker at the University of Guelph was transplanted by tree spade. Maintenance has been carried out, with the wood chip mulch replaced several times and deadwood removed by City parks staff and | am hopeful that this tree will thrive in future years. As always with parks plantings, establishment is a difficult thing.
Another fairly successful transplanting job was completed in my neighbourhood at the Kensington Co-operative Apartment this past spring; the underground parking garage had to be excavated because of leaks and salt damage and the thirty year old landscape trees and gardens above the garage were removed to allow excavation. Two trees in particular, a Weeping False Cypress (Chamaecypress nootkatensis Pendula ) and a native Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), both rare in this region, were transplanted with a tree spade to another location on the property, and
have survived in reasonable condition. Again, | have suggested to the Co-op Association that fertilizing and more regular watering will assist these trees.
Not all transplanting is successful, and often the lack of aftercare causes the transplanted trees to die. This was the case on Lawrence Avenue West at the old Simpson s Warehouse site when the building and parking lots were rebuilt for new commercial uses. A line of thirty year old Copper Beech Trees (Fagus sylvatica Cuprea ) stretched along the frontage and several had to be relocated for new parking entrances. A very good tree moving firm was employed, the trees were moved in early spring, but no follow-up care was given and they died during the hot summer drought. In this case, a little water and mulch would have saved the trees and the investment in moving them. | estimated that these trees would have been worth $4,000-$5,000 each as landscape specimens.
Finally, many woody plants that are not trees but of great rarity and value in our urban landscapes, are frequently destroyed during landscape maintenance , or even regular building maintenance, such as painting or roofing. A fifty year old Chinese Wisteria was cut off at ground level last fall at a house being rebuilt by a general contractor. The cutting was done by a carpenter who thought the vine was an old weed and that the carpentry work around the doorway would look better with the weed removed. The general contractor is a friend; he had a terrible time explaining to distraught clients why the Wisteria had been removed and this past spring he supplied a replacement plant which is a pale shadow of the former vine.
| know of many significant and rare plants around the greater Metro area, including a huge Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) located on the side of a Victorian brick twostorey house at the corner of Ontario and Carlton streets. The house is now used as a restaurant, but its future use is not yet known and the building could well be demolished or rebuilt, with the rare Trumpet Vine being lost in the process. None of the
plants mentioned in this article are located on public property, with the exception of the small Cucumber Magnolia in a Toronto park; none are therefore protected from damage or destruction by the Ontario Trees Act, the Municipal Act, or any other statute or bylaw. In rare cases of redevelopment, specimen plants or gardens may be preserved under the Site Plan Control provisions of the Planning Act, but this requires that the local municipality has adopted a Site Plan Control Bylaw which has identified rare or valuable specimens on the property to be redeveloped and has the political will to stop or modify development plans in favour of plant preservation. In spite of public outcry, the University of Toronto and York University have each cut rare specimens to allow more campus building in the past year.
The best collective defense against this wholesale uncaring destruction of our natural heritage seems to centre around private citizens intervening during the development or redevelopment stage. The following are helpful actions when a tree, shrub, vine or entire landscape near and dear to you is threatened:
1. Find out who the landowners are. Talk to them express your concern about the value of the plants on their property.
2. Determine if the site is subject to Site Plan Control, through your local municipal planning department. If Site Plan Control applies, then make sure that the Planning Staff are aware of the significance of the plants on the site.
3. Make sure that you have identified the plants correctly and that the plants you are advocating for preservation are healthy and sound. Nothing will make your argument weaker than rare species that turn out to be commonplace, or having your subject fall down in a light windstorm.
4. Compile lists of locations and species and work with a local garden club, naturalists group or other knowledgeable people to circulate the information gathered to the property owners and the municipal planning staff before any development of relandscaping is proposed. An ounce of
prevention. If trees are relocated, use a reputable tree-moving firm and ensure that wood chip mulch, fertilizer and especially water are supplied to the relocated trees for two to three years following the move.
Finally, if all other preservation efforts fail, continue to collect seed and to propagate from locally-collected (hardy) seed of rare and endangered plants. | have no seed from the lamented Magnolia liliflora Nigra , and so this specimen truly is lost forever.
Bill Granger, a Director of the Civic Garden Centre and the Canadian Wildflower Society, is Manager of Arborist Services for the City of North York, and is a Citizen Member of the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, appointed by Metro Council. He is also an ardent downtown gardener and old-house restorer.
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Tomatoes for Cool Canadian Temperatures
University of Guelph researchers are in hot pursuit of cold-tolerant tomatoes that could return millions of dollars to Ontario farmers.
Crop science professors Peter Pauls and Bryan McKersie, horticultural science professor John Thompson and research associate Mark Walker are studying the physiology and genetics of chilling tolerance in tomatoes. They have received $496,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council s University/Industry Program and H.J. Heinz of Canada Ltd. as a continuation of a $410,000 award they received to launch the project three years ago.
Cold-tolerant tomatoes could benefit both producers and industry, says Walker. Ontario farmers stand to earn $8 million for every week the relatively short tomato season is extended in the province. And Heinz stands to gain because of the economy of keeping its production lines operating longer, he says.
But first the researchers have to determine how to stop tomatoes from being injured or going dormant during cool spring temperatures. Walker says certain wild tomato varieties have a natural cold tolerance that can be detected by measuring their photosynthetic capabilities (the ability to use light for energy) during cold stress.
Using this criterion, the research team will evaluate 17 breeding lines they produced by crossing commercial varieties with an assortment of cold-tolerant plants, including some native to the Andes Mountains in Peru as well as some from England. The lines that use light the best will be selected for further development.
(Courtesy of the University of Guelph, Newsclips)
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
presents the Seventh Annual Edwards Foundation Lecture
"Ireland's
Heritage of BeautyGardens and Garden Flowers"
an illustrated talk by Dr. Charles Nelson Curator of
The National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, Dublin
Everyone is welcome to attend on Tuesday, November 7, 1989 at 7:30 p.m.
We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary at a party immediately following the lecture
Located in Edwards Gardens
777 Lawrence Ave. East, North York, Ont. M3C 1P2, Telephone (416) 445-1552
AT
Coming Events at the Centre
Many society meetings are open to Civic Garden Centre members.
MISTLETOE MAGIC - ONE-STOP SHOPPING at the CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE'S ANNUAL SALE
Admission $3.00
Ontario Rock Garden Society General Meeting
Dr. Charles Nelson will talk on the Wildflowers of the Burran, Northern Ireland. Visitors welcome.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS - 1 day workshop
Registration deadline November 4
Members $20.00 Non-Members $35.00
Men s Garden Club
FOUNDATION LECTURE - 25th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
|IRELAND S HERITAGE OF BEAUTY - GARDENS & GARDEN FLOWERS by Dr. Charles Nelson
DESIGN WITH A DIFFERENCE - 1 day course
Registration deadline November 3
Members $20.00 Non-Members $30.00
Garden Therapy
Ikebana International General Meeting
Toronto Gesneriad Society General Meeting
Southern Ontario Orchid Society General Meeting
Toronto Bonsai Society General Meeting
North Toronto Horticulture Society (Members Dinner)
WREATHS FOR ALL SEASONS - 1 day workshop
Registration deadline October 16
Members $35.00 Non-Members $45.00
Geranium & Pelargonium Society General Meeting
Rhododendron Society of Canada General Meeting
Mycological Society of Toronto General Meeting
Toronto Cactus and Succulent Club Meeting
Milne House Garden Club General Meeting
The Garden Club of Toronto General Meeting
York Rose and Garden Society Meeting
S. Ontario Orchid Society General Meeting
Men s Garden Club Meeting
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE 'S CHRISTMAS
PLANT SALE
Members pre-order pick up only
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE CHRISTMAS
PLANT SALE - Public welcome
Toronto Gesneriad Society Meeting
Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting
Garden Therapy
Ikebana International General Meeting
am
pm 8:00 pm 2pm -6 pm Noon - 4 pm 2:00 pm 7pm-11 pm 12:30 pm 6:30 pm
ite Rose
v CRAFTS & W NURSERY
WHITE ROSE ... Canada s Largest Craft and Garden Centre has a complete selection of Tropical Plants, Flowers, Evergreens, Trees, and Shrubs, Annuals, Perennials, Pots and Planters, Patio Leisure Furniture and so much more...
NOW WITH 15 BEAUTIFUL GARDEN CENTRES TO SERVE YOU BETTER! °
OPEN SUNDAYS
For the love ofgardens.
When you re at work on the garden you love, A remember SheridarfNurseries. At Sheridan, we have the finest selection of nursery stock in
Canada, including over 750 types of plants and trees grown on our own farms. And all of our nursery stock is guaranteed for one full year. If you need any advice to help make your garden even lovelier, just ask. Advice is free and
our staff is expert. They ll help in any way they can all for the love of gardens, at Sheridan.
LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT: Metropolitan Toronto, N'U Markham, Mississauga and Oakville 822-7575 MISSISSAUGA PICKERING
606 Southdown Rd. 1755 Pickering Pkwy. 4077 Hwy. #7, 100 Elmsdale Rd., Mississauga L5J 2Y4 Pickering L1V 1C0 Unionville L3R 1L5 Kitchener N2E 1H6 Tel. 822-0251 Tel. 428-6316 Tel. 477-2253 Tel. 743-4146
TORONTO ETOBICOKE OSHAWA 2827 Yonge St., 700 Evans Ave., 847 King St. W., Toronto M4N 2J4 Etobicoke M9C 1A1 Oshawa L1J 204 Tel. 481-6429 Tel. 621-9100 Tel. 728-9429
CHRISTMAS PLANT SALE
MEMBERS 10% DISCOUNT ON ORDERS ONLY
MEMBERS ORDER PICK UP DECEMBER 8th 2-6pm PUBLIC SALE DECEMBER 9th & 10th noon-4pm
The plants listed are nursery grown for The Civic Garden Centre.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR MEMBERS DISCOUNT BY ORDERING BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST.
4" Poinsettia Red (O White O Pink O $ 3.39
6" Poinsettia Red (O White O Pink O $ 6.59
8" Poinsettia Red [J White (O Pink OO Red/White(3 Pink/White O $ 16.59
10" Poinsettia Red O White O Pink O Tricolour O $23.99
2' Poinsettia Tree Red O $25.99
3' Poinsettia Tree Red O $39.99
6" Cyclamen assorted colours 0 $10.49
6" Azalea assorted colours J $16.99
All plants are wrapped for winter protection. Decorative foil is available at 50¢ per sheet.
Please order prior to December 1st, 1989. 25 years and still growing!
ADDRESS.....ccco0eeeesnancoreccscsseessasnesssssessonee RODE,......ccooanmiior
Please pay when you pick up your order. Thank you for supporting your Civic Garden Centre.
Questions and Answers
The Civic Garden Centre Master Gardeners operate a hotline from 12-3 pm daily to answer gardening queries. Here are some sample questions and replies.
1. The squirrels are eating my bulbs this fall! What can | do?
Some suggestions include using chicken wire to cover the newly planted bulbs or planting narcissus (daffodil) varieties that squirrels will not eat. Squirrels hunt for their food by smell, so distract them by sprinkling cayenne pepper or moth balls in the area to protect the bulbs. Dried blood meal will keep them off but it is expensive. Bone meal is also available. Both of these are a good fertilizer for the bulbs as well as a deterrent. A thick layer of mulch makes the digging much more difficult for the squirrels. Prunings from a prickly tree or shrub may also help deter the animals.
2. | dug out my foundation planting to a depth of 30 inches, filled the area with humus, peat, and new topsoil. It is now a year later and the bed is full of roots again. The new planting is not growing either. The tree that is causing this problem is a Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo) which is 25 feet away. | want to keep this tree. How can | solve this problem?
Try to erect a stout plastic or metal barrier to keep the tree roots out of the flower bed. In doing this try to locate the main root(s)
and cut them out. The barrier will have to be quite deep to prevent the tree roots from travelling under it. Other suggestions are to plant a ground cover such as periwinkle (Vinca), japanese spurge (pachysandra) or euonymus. Place containers or planters filled with showy annuals among the groundcover. This will allow you to have complete control over the plants.
3. How should | protect my rose bushes for the winter?
You should not fertilize your roses after August 15th. This last feeding should have been with superphosphate to encourage root growth and winter hardiness. Cover your roses with soil in late fall, just after the first frost but before the earth is frozen solid. If possible, bring in fresh soil so that you are not scraping around the rose roots. Mound it up to a foot in height. To stop the weather and squirrels from undoing your work, place a plastic rose collar over the mound or use evergreen boughs. If the rose bushes are tall (over 5 ft), prune back the top shoots to prevent the winter winds from loosening the roots. Pruning should be done while the weather is still warm enough for the wounds to heal. Replace any lost shrub roses with the new Explorer roses, hybridized in Ottawa. The library has the Agriculture Canada Publication #1727 that describes these roses.
From the Bookshop
by Barbara E. Stevenson
A wealth of new gardening books has appeared in time for holiday gift giving. Perhaps the most exciting addition is In a Canadian Garden by Nicole Eaton and Hilary Weston with photography by Freeman Patterson. Mr. Patterson is one of Canada s top photographers and this is his first gardening book. Any gardener would love to receive this book. It offers a stunning photographic portrait of thirty-five private gardens and includes a description of the garden by the owner. The beauty and diversity of these gardens is amazing. They include Japanese gardens, wildgardens, and formal French style gardens .
Another delightful new book is The Green Tapestry by Beth Chatto. This is her best book yet. It combines a beautiful pictorial record with her wonderful knowledge of plants. Beth Chatto discusses her favorite plants and tells how to deal with many difficult gardening situations. All plants shown in each photograph are identified.
Potpourri by Penny Black is a delightful book. There are many beautiful colour combinations of potpourri as well as many enticing recipes. A country basket potpourri contains pine cones, conifer tips, sandalwood chips, citrus fruit, lavender and various spices. Many lovely gift ideas include sachets, scented pillows, pomanders, scented wreaths, and bath recipes.
Rosemary Verey has a new book titled The Flower Arranger s Garden. This book contains plans of cutting gardems and shows many beautiful flower arrangements. The book ends with a very good chapter called Essential Plants For The Flower Arranger s Garden .
Don' t forget our childrens book section when shopping at the Trellis Shop. The Christmas Robin is a story of two robins in search of food at Christmas and what befalls them when one of them tries to get some tinsel off a Christmas tree. Stickybeak is the perfect story for the junior
kindergarten to grade one crowd. It is the story of a duck s weekend at home with one of the school s pupils.
What Makes A Flower Grow? is full of interesting facts for a child six and over. For example, the question What is the biggest flower? receives the reply The flower of the rafflesia plant is the biggest flower in the world. It measures nearly a yard across. The rafflesia flower is also very smelly .
For older children and young adults
Terence Dickinson s book Exploring the Night Sky and Exploring the Sky by Day are solid introductions to astronomy. We also carry The Bird Book and Feeder. The popular series The Garden Book and The Green House by Wes Porter will arrive at the shop in a few weeks.
Good reading over the winter holidays everyone.
@p@ci&li&t& in: ODPerennials
5201 Highway #7 East, Unionville, Markham, Ontario L3R 1N3 Telephone 416-477-1231
Taking the Gloves Off
by Janet Davis
had just come in from planting Oriental lilies. As put my stylish mauve garden gloves through the third murky rinse in the basement washtub, it occurred to me that these necessities may be the biggest impediment to gardening ever created. A firm believer in the merits of sopping wet peat moss as soil amendment, | had spent more time retrieving my equally sopping gloves from the bottom of the planting holes than | did in actually planting. At temperatures just above freezing, their thermal qualities were lost after the first few minutes. Subsequently, they were just a nuisance.
As watched clods of nicely amended soil disappear down the drain, | was left to wonder who wears these things effectively? Oh sure they're great for insulating the hands against the frostbite potential of an aluminum rake in October. And they're invaluable for relocating dew-worms to sparsely populated areas of the garden (and baiting fishing hooks when the rest of the family turns a deaf ear to pleas for assistance). I've also used them to take Christmas lights off an arid Scotch pine in mid-January, thus enduring only minor puncture injury. But in the same way that my elegant straw garden hat eventually impedes both my progress and vision, these darned gloves seem hard-pressed to fill a useful role.
Judging from the myriad colours and fabrics available in styles ranging from appligued frou-frou to no-nonsense cowhide, it appears that the marketing types have done their demographic studies and determined that there are enough glove-garbed gardeners out there to support the product.
[, for one, could never deadhead in gloves. Everyone knows you have to snap a thumbnail against an index finger to do this
well. And the extrication of dandelions is best accomplished in a three-part motion: 1) gouge at earth, 2)tug at stalk, 3) curse taproots. Gloves would make me lose my grip as well as my temper.
For me, the essence of the matter is this. To garden is to commune. (A late '60s verb, to be sure, but nonetheless appropriate.) In order to commune, | need to feel soil under my nails; to discern with my fingertips the well-being of the flora under my care. Try as | might, | just can t commune in gloves. Those that | possess were gifts to me from friends who likely judged my obvious need of them after gazing at my fingernails in high summer.
Well, I've grown accustomed to having broken nails and permanently blackened cuticles. | keep a bottle of nail polish in the car and do my manicure at red lights. Waiting for the light to turn green is pretty much the only spare time have during the gardening season anyway.
Janet Davis communes in her perennial garden in North Toronto.
LOVE PLANTS BUT KILL THEM?
LOVE PLANTS AND GOING AWAY?
LOVE UNUSUAL PLANT DESIGNS?
CALL FOR EVER GREEN
Barbara Furlong 482-7120 for
* A Plant Consultation
* A Plant Sitter
* A Topiary Frame
* A Topiary or Living Basket
November 2, 3, & 4
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: $3.00
One Stop Christmas Shopping at THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie) Toronto (416) 445-1552
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT
GIANT CRAFT SUPPLY SALE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 164 ST. CLAIR AVENUE EAST, (BETWEEN YONGE AND MOUNT PLEASANT) 9:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M.
Everything must go silk and dried flowers, custom arrangements, spray paints, ribbons, wreath bases, vases, and much more.
ALL NEW STOCK PRICED AT WHOLESALE OR LESS!
Cash and carry only.
For more information call 483-9075
by Carolyn Dalgamo\ Volunteer Co-ordinator
Volunteers are desparately needed for THE CHRISTMAS PLANT SALE
December 8, 9 and 10th
December 8th 1:30 - 6 p.m.
December 9 & 10th 11:30 - 4 p.m.
Volunteers also needed for set-up on December 7th 10a.m.to 4 p.m.
PLEASE CALL Carolyn Dalgarno 445-1552
All Civic Garden Centre volunteers will receive an invitation to the Volunteer Recognition Party on December 6th. Come and meet others who enable us to continue a high level of service to our members and the public.
The " @ountry .Squirea Garden
Knowledgeable staff
Steeles Ave. W, (2 miles west of Highway 10) R.R. 10 Brampton L6V 3N2 7 days a week (9-5pm) mid-April - mid-Oct.
Over 3000 different hardy plants, alpines, dwarf conifers and shrubs, Hardty ferns, vines, groundcovers and native wildflowers icates $10. up (10-15-20 etc.{-by mail any time All Year
Gift Certi
Send $2.00 for NEW (No.10) PLANT L
PERENNIAL PLANT SPECIALISTS ST by mail to above address
EASY GROW GREENHOUSES
More light, more air, less heat loss and healthier plants. No other Green Houses can make these claims as confidently.
Send for our Free Catalog 4802 Hwy. #7 East Unionville, Ontario Two models on display.
For more information: Call 857-1849 or 292-7593
Beautiful from any angle! Here s a side showing the handsome wide glass panes and the streamlined appearance created by the wide white plastic strips that cover the seams. It s a greenhouse you ll be proud to own.
SALE SALE SALE for Members only
25 % off (or more) on all shop merchandise
Wednesday,December13th,1989 9:30am to 6:30pm
Please bring your membership card to our Annual Christmas Sale for your one stop Christmas shopping Cheques and credit cards accepted.
Return Policy
Refunds may be obtained within 5 days from the date of purchase. Receipts are required. Books, special orders and sale items are not refundable.
Civic Garden Centre Executive Committee
President: Dr. Brian Bixley
1st Vice-President: Mrs. Susan Macaulay
2nd Vice-President: Mr. Klaus Bindhardt
Treasurer: Mr. Kenneth H.C. Laundy
Member: Mrs. Anne Bawden
Member: Mrs. Heather MacKinnon
Board of Directors
For 1989: Mrs. Anne Bawden, Mr. Klaus Bindhardt, Dr. Brian Bixley, Mrs. Barbara Brown. Mrs. Eliane Hooft, Mrs. Doreen Martindale, Mrs. Heather MacKinnon, Mrs. Gail Rhynard.
For 1989 and 1990: Mrs. Cicely Bell, Mr. Stuart Gilchrist, Mr. Alan Grieve, Mr. Kenneth H C. Laundy, Mrs. Susan Macaulay, Mr. Victor Portelli of Metropolitan Toronto Parks, Ms. Laura Rapp.
For 1989, 1990 and 1991: Ms. Georgina Cannon, Mr. William Granger, Mrs. Bayla fLQGrOSS Mrs. Judy Lundy, Mr. Robert Saunders, Mrs. Robin Wilson.
A CREATIVE LANDSCAPE BEGINS WITH A PLAN... AND JUST KEEPS GROWING!
Hawe your planting plan prepared by a professional Zndscape consultant who will visit your home. The Landscape Consultant will listen to your landscape ideas rovide a scale drawing of your new landscape that is & to follow.
r both) within our designated area. Fee is wath purchase of Weall and Cullen nursery
minimum $800 plant purchase). Ask at your nearest Weall and Cullen location for more details. 7 locations to serve you #8 opening in Etobicoke in May.
Canada Postes
. * Post Canada
Poslage paxd Port pave
Bulk Ennombre third troisieme class classe
S12139
TORONTO
May we invite you fo join us?
The Civic Garden Centre warmly welcomes new members. Join us, and you will make friends who share the same interest in gardening, the floral arts and horticulture that you do. In addition to the many exciting classes, garden shows, speakers, clubs-within-the-Centre, etc., that will be available to you, our membership fee entitles you to the following:
e Annual subscription to members
e Free borrowing privileges from one of newsletter Canada s largest horticultural libraries
* Discounts on courses, lectures
* Discount on Soil Testing Service and workshops S
* 10% discount on most purchases in * Free Admission to the the Trellis Shop Members Programmes
e Special local and international
e Access and discounts at special Garden Tours members day plant sales
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Mail to:
The Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Avenue East North York, Ontario, M3C 1P2
New Member ] Renewing Member & Single Membership B2 00 Family Membership BASHTNE s Gift Membership Donation, Tax deductible FOTAL o
(PLEASE PRINT)
Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms
ADDRESS: : APT.
POSTAL CODE
TELEPHONE (Home) (Business)
METHOD OF PAYMENT
CHEQUE (Payable to the CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE) VISA 1 MASTERCARD
CARD NUMBER EXPIRY DATE
Signature