TRELLIS
The newsletter of the Civic Garden Centre in Toronto March/April, 1998 Volume 25, Number 2
INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW MAY 8 TO 10
Seepage 9for details
Civic Garden Centre
General
Information
TheCivicGardenCentreisavolunteer-based,not-for-profitorganizationwhosemission istoactas a centralresourceforgardening, horticulture and allied environmentalissues by encouraging interest; promoting involvement; and gathering, disseminating and interpretinginformation in order to enhance the quality oflife forthe community.
Located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East in Toronto, the Centre serves members throughoutthe Toronto area and across Ontario.
The CivicGardenCentre is pleased to rentfacilitiesformeetings, receptions, exhibits and shows.
Hours:
Administrative offices: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Winter(November1 toMarch31) LibraryandTrellisShop:weekdays9:30a.m. to4:00 p.m.; weekends and holidays noon to 4:00 p.m.
Summer (April 1 to October 31) Library and Trellis Shop: weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; weekends and holidays noon to 5:00 p.m.
Telephone: Area code 416.
Main number: 397-1340
Rentals: 397-1349
Library: 397-1340
Fax: 397-1354
Trellis Shop: 397-1357
Volunteer program: 397-1362
Course registration: 397-1362
Master Gardeners Infoline: 397-1345 (hours: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. weekdays; noon to 3:00 p.m. weekends and holidays)
Photography permit for Metro Parks: 392-8188
Board of directors:
Chair: HelenShaw
Members: Charlotte Ambridge
Wendy Barrett
Peter Boeckle
Dugald Cameron
Lindsay Dale-Harris
Susan Dyer
Staff members:
Susan Gibson
Mark Hartley
John Howard
Carolyn Kearns
Gwen Kearney
Nancy Laurie
Acting executive director: Ron Dubyk
Assistanthorticulturist: SheilaSmith
Manager, Community
Services Division: Jessica Harris
Assistantmanager, Trellis Shop: ~ Silke Gathmann
Maintenance supervisor: Walter Morassutti
Administrative assistant: Shirley Lyons
Course co-ordinator: Ada Brzeski
Librarian: Mara Arndt
Trellis editor: Iris Hossé Phillips
Barbara Mayer
David Money
Liz Primeau
Allan Pat Ryley
Craig Stubbs
Dolce Tatlow
About ourcover:
Sheila Siegerman is an internationallyacclaimed botanicalartist. She is a memberof the Southern Ontario Orchid Society.
TRELLIS
Volume 25, Number 2
Editor: Iris Hossé Phillips
Editorial co-ordinator: Leslie Lynch
Proofreader: Mara Arndt
Advertising information: (416) 397-1340
PrintedbyIconLitho&DesignCommunications, Etobicoke, on recycled paper
Trellis is published six times a year as a members newsletter by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, North York, Ontario M3C 1P2. Telephone number: (416) 397-1340.
Manuscripts submitted on a voluntary basis are gratefully received. No remuneration is possible.
Articles, manuscripts and advertising material must be received by the first of the month to insure publication eight weeks later. For example, material received by May 1 will be included in the July/ August issue of Trellis.
Opinions expressed within Trellis do not necessarily reflect thoseoftheCentre. Submissionsmaybeeditedforstyleand clarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission.
Editor s note
By Iris Phillips
Long-time members of the Centre will be awareofmyincreasinguseofnativeplants in my garden. Some have adapted beautifullywhileotherswerenothappy anddid notreturnthenextyear.LorraineJohnson, former board member at the Centre, has written an inspiring yet practical book on native planting, Grow Wild! Native Plant Gardening in Canada and Northern United States. The book has vision and is accessible,easytoread,andfullofwell-researched material. The photographsarebyAndrew Leyerle who has shared his life with Lorraine for two decades. What a dynamic duo !
One ofthe 20 native plantgardens that LorraineprofilesbelongstoFrankKershaw whoiswellknowntomembersthroughhis lectures and courses at the Centre. He has more than 375 species of plants in his Etobicoke garden and the majority are natives.Lorrainecomments: Hisisnotsome mini-botanical garden all disconnected display but, rather a carefully designed woodland planting ofelegantproportions ... WhatFrank has achieved is exactly that balance between chaos and control, fun and frame.
Constructionhas started on the TeachingGardeninEdwardsGarden.Aftermany years ofmeeting, planning and fund-raising the project is a step closer to completion.Thedesigndrawingsareondisplayin thefrontfoyerattheCentresotaketimeto review them when you are next at the Centre.
ThesockhopheldinlateJanuarywasa fund-raising event for the Teaching Garden. Itwas terrific fun and a financial success. Read about the event on page 12. There will a full article on the Teaching Gardenin the next issue of Trellis.
THE EDWARDS LECTURE SERIES
Speaker: Barry Porteous
Topic: Springtime in Scotland: a humorous look at private and public gardens ofScotland
Wednesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy Scottish gardens fromhighlandgardensto thetropical gardens atInverewe. The stunning visual tour will include the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, Branklyn in Perth, Inverewe,Arduine,UrquhartCastle,EihlanDhonanCastle, andCraraeonthewestcoast. The tour will include some private gardens and a look at the bestScottish nurseries
Althoughmany oftheplants Barryhighlights are rare, he promises that they will not be ungrowable here. A complete slide list with Latinnames will be available. Scottish humor will be evidentthoroughouthis talk.
About the speaker:
Many members already know Barry Porteous as he is an active member in many societies including The Ontario Rock Garden Society. His credentials include positions of former director of the North American Rock Garden Society, the North American Heather Society, and the North American Penstemon Society. Barry has written many articles, organized exhibitions and ledbotanical tripsinNorth America, and the French and Austrian Alps.
Speaker:
Trevor Cole
Topic: The Asian Connection
Wednesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
Without the plants introduced from China, Japan and Korea, our gardens would completely different: no ginkgos, chrysanthemums, hostas orhardymagnolias; roses as we know them wouldn texist; and tree peonies wouldbe unknown.
TrevorColewillfollowthepathsofplantexplorers,fromFatherPierreD 'Incarvillein the mid-1700s to the present day s Roy Lancaster, and look at some of the plants they introduced.
About the speaker:
TrevorColetrainedinhorticultureinEngland. He graduated fromtheRoyalBotanic Gardens,Kew,in1960andafterseveralyearsofnurseryexperience,emigratedtoCanada in 1967. He was appointed curator of the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa in 1972 and retired in 1995.
Trevor lectures widely, has regular columns in the Ottawa Citizen, is the main horticulturalconsultantforReader sDigestCanadaandwasCanadianeditor-in-chieffor PracticalGuidetoGardeningin CanadaandtherecentlyreleasedA-ZEncyclopediaofGarden Plants. Hisfirstbook, TheOntarioGardener,hassoldover20,000copiesandhislatestbook, Gardening with Trees and Shrubs, was released in May, 1996.
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Tuesday, April 28 7:30 p.m.
TheannualmeetingoftheCivicGardenCentrewillbeheldTuesday,April28intheFloral Hallat7:30p.m. ThisisyourCentre, sojoinustofindoutabouttheachievementsof1997 and plans for 1998.
After the business meeting, guest speaker Alexander Reford will mesmerize us with rare and beautiful slides of the national historic site Les Jardins de Métis,which is ranked among the great ornamental gardens of Canada.
A passion for gardening;: Elsie Reford s garden at Grand-Métis, Quebec
Speaker: Alexander Reford
After the Annual General Meeting of the Centre
Elsie Reford created one ofCanada s largest and mostpopular gardens at Grand-Métis, Quebec. Beginning in 1926, at age 54, she developed a garden at her summer estate. Locatedona cliffoverlookingtheSt. Lawrence andMétisrivers, fewgardenshavebeen created in such an inhospitable location. Blessed with high winds and poor soil, the propertyElsieRefordreceivedfromheruncle,LordMountStephen,wasmorepropitious for salmon fishing than for gardening.
Undauntedby the challenges presented by the site, she designed and built a garden whicheventuallyextendedovermorethan40acres. Herpassionforgardeningoccupied her days from dawn to dusk for more than thirty years. Against remarkable odds, she introduced more than 2,000 species and varieties to her gardens.
Because of her passion and perseverance, Les Jardins de Métis are home to extensive collections of azaleas, rhododendrons, lilies, gentians, peonies, roses and primula. The beds of Meconopsis betonicifolia, the spectacular but notoriously difficult Tibetan blue poppy, dazzle visitors inJune and July.
UsingtherecentlydiscoveredoriginalphotographsandElsieReford sgardendiaries, Alexander Reford will give a visual tour of the garden and unveil the character and passionsofthewomanwhocreatedthem. Thegreat-grandsonofElsieReford,Alexander hasbeenin charge ofthe restoration of LesJardins deMétis since 1995.
Notes from the Board
By Dr. Helen Shaw, president, Civic Garden Centre Board
The Boardhasadoptedrecommendations fromtheHumanResourcesAdvisory Committee and endorsed changes in the staffing structure at the Civic Garden Centre. The changes are now being implemented under the direction of the Board and the acting executive director Ron Dubyk. Jessica Harris (formerly Trellis Shop manager)hasassumedthepositionofmanager of community services. Her job description includes co-ordinating courses, Edwards Lectures and allprograms atthe C.G.C. In the near future managers of corporate services, horticultural services andvolunteers willbe appointed. We ask for the support and co-operation of our members, staffand volunteers as we work togethertomaintaintheC.G.C.asacentral resource for gardening, horticulture and related environmental issues.
In November, a ten-year management agreement was signed between the Civic GardenCentreandMetro(nowtheCityof Toronto). On December 23, 1997, a tripartite agreement was signed by Metro,
the Civic Garden Centre and The Garden Club ofToronto. Both documents indicate the Civic Garden Centre s obligation to maintenance and programming in the Teaching Garden in Edwards Gardens. Constructiononthe TeachingGardenwill start in the spring and the official opening isplannedforJune, 1998. ProgramsinvolvingtheTeachingGardenareanticipatedas exciting additions to activities offered at the C.G.C.
This year we expect one or two vacancies on the Board of Directors. Elections occur at the annual general meeting but nominations mustbe received at least one month in advance of the meeting. If you have suggestions for prospective Board memberscontactLindsayDale-Harris,chair of the Board Development Committee.
Board members are looking forward to volunteering at Edwards Lectures, Get a Jump onSpring and at the CGC booth at theCanadaBloomsshow. Introduceyourselfl We ll see you at the annual general meeting onTuesday, April 28.
Members involvement essential to our success
By Ron Dubyk, acting executive director
I wonder if you know how much your Civic Garden Centre membership really means? Whetherit sintroducingachildto thejoyofgrowingaflowerorvegetable,or providing up-to-date horticultural information, oraccessto ahorticulturalhotline, you have been a leader in the Centre s effortstomakeTorontoacityofgardeners.
YouandIstillhavesomuchtodo. This year, the challenges are greater than ever and together, we can improve our Centre throughthepromotionofourevents, pro-
grams and the Teaching Garden. Yourleadershipisneededandsincerely welcomed. Ihope thatyou take amoment today tojoin (or renew) your membership or contribute to our programs, attend our special events and/or with a donation. A membershipthatreachessomanycontributes greatly to the overall quality of our lives.
Your commitment to gardening...your assistance...and your contribution are all sincerely appreciated.
Master workshop on pruning
Sunday, April 5
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $15
This pruning seminar is open to Civic Garden Centre members and the public. Please join us for an enjoyable and informative day.
Paul Ehnes is owner of Greenery Unlimited, winner of the Financial Post design award for his naturalization project at Husky Injection Moulding Systems in Bolton, and a horticultural consultant. He will discuss and demonstrate the restoration of woody plant material. =~ Paul has very generously donated his time to present this session for us.
David Tomlinson, a landscape architect and owner of Merlin s Hollow in Aurora, will discuss and demonstrate the steps in creating an espalier.
lan Bruce, partnerwith Thomson, Bruce and Associates and program coordinator of arboriculture at Humber College, will discuss pruning evergreens to restore their shape and how to control their growth.
Coffee and muffins will be available from 9:00 a.m. The sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Floral Hall. Bring your own lunch and join other gardening enthusiasts for this interesting event.
Registration form: Pruning workshop
To register: mail or fax (416) 397-1354 this form to the Centre. To registerby phone, call (416) 397-1340. Registration deadline: Friday, March 27.
NAME PHONE FAX
ADDRESS CITY POSTAL CODE
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE? YES NO D
CGC MEMBERSHIP NUMBER EXPIRY DATE
TOTAL AMOUNT CHEQUE ENCLOSED (PAYABLE TO THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE) D Visa D MasTERCARD D
CARD NUMBER EXPIRY DATE SIGNATURE
PLANT SALES AT THE CGC
SALE OF PERENNIALS
) S Ty
7S Friday, May 1is members day: 10:00 A, TO7:00Pm. 2
\\ Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 : noon to 5:00 p.m. /S
, A
3 Featuring: ::f(:" Y ¢ new and unusual perennials 3 . ( 28V, ¢ ornamental grasses and ferns
Ws.2 ;
34.;@\; » waterside plants and drought tolerant plants ;; , g\\ X%\ « sun-loving, semi-shade, and shade-tolerant perennials g
5\,}}% * herbs for all seasons y/\g p\ :; .:\\ jg e quality perennials in 4 inch pots and mature plants in larger :)74'\5 S Z pots
'L V/ All plants are subject to grower availability. WS
Vo SALE OFANNUALS
;& &;é Wednesday, May 13 is members day: 10:00 A.m. to 7:00 p.m. >\\°',',\\\ Sy Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15: 10:00 A.m. to 5:00 p.m. (/,\::'\(\% b{ Saturday, Sunday and Monday May 16, 17 and 18: 701\ A\ noon to5:00 p.m. Moo oS W22
\',\: Featuring: e,
3 \" * an excellent selection of many exciting new varieties and aj "'é.,": oldfavorites :::-"é:g? :( ;\ « from Abutilon to Zinnia \"0 /or * avariety of vegetables \' /°VA All plants are subject to grower availability. ;\}/',_ \ SN Nz
3/5 Free parking. Advice from the Master Gardeners. \\!1 \ \'gd'bg Members receive 10 per cent off purchases over $10 I\"/ /\,,, Questions or inquiries about availability, call (416) 397-1355 o, N\3 ."\\'/4 Sl MVl W\ SpleAl Y W "e
11th annual garden tour
THROUGH THE GARDEN
GATE
featuring The Gardens of Hogg s Hollow
Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21
noon to 5:00 p.m.
The tour includes:
* gardens designed by prominent landscape architects gardens lovingly designed and prepared by their owners perennial gardens, shade gardens, formal gardens and gardens with water features a boutique area where lunch will be available the area s historical highlights complimentary shuttle buses
Tickets $20 will be limited and will be valid for the day of issue only. The tour will run rain or shine. This is a major fund-raising event for the CGC. Look for details of the gardens in the May/June issue of Trellis.
5th Annual Canadian Garden & Flower Show
THESHOWFORGARDENERS
Open the gardening season at Success with Gardening, the must-see show for practical, hands-on gardening!
Over200 friendly exhibitors share their knowledge and experience with you. Plusthousands of plant and gardening products are on display to see and buy bulbs, seeds, hard-to-find plants, tools, plant care products, garden decor, accessories, gifts, books, magazines and more!
AlsoFreewithAdmission:
® Seminars with headline speakers: Helpful hints, great advice from experts!
® Display gardens: Inspiring ideas!
® Treasured Blossoms: OHA s Plant and Flower Arranging Competition.
¢ Enterfor a chance to win an ECO adventure in Costa Rica via Gateways International, compliments of the Toronto Star. FNIETDTIRIRIR
Trellis, March/April 1998
March 20-22,1998
TheInternationalCentre,6900AirportRd., Mississauga Friday & Saturday 9:30 am-9:30 pm Sunday 9:30 am-6 pm
Adults: $9 Seniors & Students: $7 Children (6-12): $4 (5 & underfree)
Advance group tickets (20 or more): $5 per person For information or to order advance tickets call (905) 881-5708, fax (905) 881-1576. Web site: www.oak.net/shobiz
Orchid exotica just add macaw!
By Tom Shields
Imagine bright, splashy, exotic flowers in yourhome inspiring awe and fascination. Imagine, too, that they last for weeks or months, with moderate care. Sound impossible? Notwithorchids. Orchidscome in a practically endless variety of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes guaranteed to please and intrigue. As abonus, many are deliciouslyfragrant:imaginehoney,chocolate,mint,sweetmalt,apricot,vanilla,raspberry, sandalwood, nutmeg, lavender, coconut, and spice aromas!
Visually, orchids announce themselves with arresting stripes, dots, bars, and blotches from a palate ofwhite, pink, red, magenta, purple, orange, yellow, brown, green,andnear-blueovercontrastingcolor backgrounds. Shapes caninspire idealsof serenityandelegance,bemesmericallyfanciful, or even prove mysterious and bizarre. Sizes also vary, with giants (plants over one metre tall or flowers over 25cm wide) and lilliputians (plants under 20 cm tall or flowers less than 1.5cm wide) at extremes. Plantsmayalsobearfromfewto hundreds of flowers at a time, depending on their genetics, age, and health.
Couple this versatility with the 30,000plus species and hundred-thousand-plus hybrids available and it s easy to see why almost everyone loves orchids. And today scomplexhybridsandselected clones mean that even green-thumb neophytes cangrowthousandsoforchidswithconfidenceandsuccess. PlantsinthePhaleonopsis (moth orchid) or Paphiopedilum (tropical Asiatic lady slipper) groupings are especially easy, and boast artistically sublime flowers. You only need to supply proper light,water,fertilizer,temperature,humidity, air movement, a growing space, a potting medium, and love.
The essentials
e Light: Most cultivated orchids like bright, filtered light. With seasonal shading, a south, east, or west window can do thejob. Nosuchexposure? Manygrowers have success with fluorescent lights positioned 20cm above leaf-tops and lefton 14 to 16 hours per day. They operate cooler and at less cost than incandescents. But regardlessofsource,yourlightmustnotbe sointense as to causehardshadowsto fall on your orchids leaves when you pass yourhandoverthem, ortocausetheleaves to feel hot. If you notice either symptom, quickly distance your plants from your lightsourceorprovide shadingtoprevent burning.
e Water: Rainwater, whichisnearlymineral-freeandslightlyacidic,isthepreferred thirst-quencher orchids receive in nature. Ifyouhaveaccesstodownspoutsandbuckets,it seasytocollect. Ifrainwaterisoutof the question, municipally treated tap water will often do. However, tap and especially well water are comparatively mineral-rich and, particularly in the Golden Horseshoe area, alkaline. After many waterings, mineral salts can build up inside pots to the point where they become toxictoroots. Fortunately,youcanusually avoid this problem by watering before the potting medium dries out until water flushes outthe potbottom.
e Fertilizer: Therearethreefertilizerrules ofthumb when growing orchids: 1) fertilize only actively growing plants; 2) fertilize at half the recommended strength on alternate waterings, or at one-quarter the strengthwitheverywatering; 3) use a fertilizerthatcontainsmicronutrientsinaddition to the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Until Trellis, March/April 1998
yougainexperience,it'salsobesttostickto a balanced formulation such as 20-20-20 (N,P,K, respectively). Remember, no growth= don tfeedme; growth=feed me, please! Whenyourorchidsaren tgrowing (i.e. dormant), cutback on water, too.
* Temperature: In nature, temperatures normallydropatnightandriseduringthe day. Orchidslikethesametreatment;most fallintooneofthreegrowingranges:warm (15-18°C nights; 22-27°C days), intermediate (12-15°C nights; 18-22°C days), or cool (10-12°C nights; 17-20°C days). The night temperature is critical, making intermediate and warm growing orchids popular. Don'tthinkyourhomegetsthiscool? Check night temperatures on windowsills, sunrooms, solariums, enclosed porches, nearpatiodoors,andinbasements. Alittle thermostat, space heating, or insulative tinkering may put you in range.
¢ Humidity: Mostorchidslike50percent relative humidity or more. How do you provide such cloud-forest concentrations
in winter? Try combining these methods. 1)Encloseyour growingarea inclearplastic, awayfromtherestofyourcamel-prone environment. Don tsealoffaccesstoheat.
2) Grow your plants on top of gravel or brokenpotshardsinwater-filledpans,and/ or mist them daily with rain or distilled water. As water evaporates, it will humidify the surrounding air. 3) Use a coolairhumidifier.
e Airmovement: Orchidsneedairmovement to keep fungal infections at bay. If you plan on growing in a relatively enclosed environment, position one or more ideally oscillating fans to move air gently under or over your plants. Aim to eliminate dead air pockets.
* Growing space: Choose a space that will allow you to control these growing essentials. Manypeople startwith a single plant only to quickly fill all suitable windowsills. Expandinghobbiescanbehoused under home-made or commercial light stands, complete with benches. Some of
International Orchid
Show
May 8 - 10, 1998
Sheraton Toronto East Hotel
2035 Kennedy Road, at 401 to See & Buy!
Thousands of Orchid Flowers
Beginners Help Desk Photo & Art Exhibits Free Door Prizes!!!
Bring this ad & get $1.00 off per person/per ad!
For additional $1.00 off coupons, pick them up here at the Civic Garden Center
Don t forget to visit their booth at our show!
Show Admission: $6.00 Per Adult, Per Day Children 12 and Under Free Parking Available
For Information contact Peter Poot: Phone (905) 640-5643 email: epoot@ican.net Bc Moon Miss Luna s Dawn x Lc Ruth Montgomery Watercolour, courtesy of artist, Sheila Siegerman and the McLaren-Barnes Gallery, Oakville Ontario
thefinestgrowersusethistechnique,turning part of their homes into humid, minijungle, soul-soothing refuges from Canadian winters. Just add macaw!
* Potting medium: With some exceptions, cultivated orchids mustbe grownin asoil-less,moisture-retainingmediumthat nevertheless affords good drainage. Fir bark,treefernfibre, sphagnummoss, cork, charcoal, rock wool, and perlite used singly or in various mixtures are popular. Regardless, the potting medium must be replacedbiannuallybeforeitbeginstosour and/orbuilduptoxic salts. (Plantsgrown on slabs of tree fern, cork, or driftwood escapethisrite). Anyenterprisecateringto orchidists should carry these supplies. e Love: Love is the ultimate growing essential. Tend your plants, and they ll indicate their needs, likes, and dislikes by the way they grow. Respond accordingly andyou'llberewarded with blooms,sometimes for months. Show your plants, too. You'llinspireotherstocultivatethesemost exotic and sadly endangered expressions ofnature s finest art.
Other easy orchids
Try certain hybrids and species in the followinggroupings: Cattleyaalliance(corsage orchids, often ethereally scented); Cymbidium (used for corsages and as cut flowers); Dendrobium (long flower spikes used in floral arrangements); Miltonia (pansy orchids, often sweetly scented); Stanhopea (flowers fanciful to the extreme andhighlyfragrant,althoughshort-lived). There are many other choices, as well.
Free advice!
Orchidgrowersandretailerswillgladly share information and introduce you to orchids you haven t met. One of the best places to meetboth people and plants is at an orchid society meeting or show. Here, growers discuss problems and solutions, share insights, buy and sell plants, and
havefun. Contactthefollowingsocietiesin the Golden Horseshoe area for meeting and show dates and times. The CGC library houses the SOOS book collection which is available for borrowing by all members ofthe CGC.
e Southern Ontario Orchid Society (SO0S). Call the Civic Garden Centre at (416) 397-1340. Note:SOOSishosting a huge international orchid show this comingMay 8 to10. For more information phone (905) 640-5643 or e-mail epoot@ican.net or address http:// retirees.uwaterloo.ca/_jerry/orchids/ sooson the web.
* CentralOntarioOrchidSociety. Phone Jerry Bolce at (519) 885-1888 or e-mail jerry@ist.uwaterloo.caoraddresshttp:/ /sciserv2.uwaterloo.ca/coos.html on the web.
¢ The Orchid Society of the Royal BotanicalGardens. CalltheRoyalBotanical Gardens at (905) 825-5040.
* Niagara Region Orchid Society. Call Mario Ferrusi at (905) 892-4187.
Tom Shields is a writer, editor, researcher, photographer, and member of SOOS whose refugecontainsabout300orchids. Herecently served as the science editor for the Nelson Canadian Dictionary.
Planning an event?
Consider the Centre as your location
Function roomsatthe Centre are available for special occasions. From the 3,400-square-foot Floral Hall to the 20seatBoardroom,theCivicGardenCentre s rooms offer a great location, free parking, handy transitaccessandwheelchairaccessibility. Forinformation, call (416) 397-1349.
Soil tests can help solve garden problems
For even the most experienced gardeners, mysterious problems can arise in the garden. Onesteptosolvethemysteryisasoiltest. TheCivicGardenCentre ssoilanalysisservice can provide some help in determining soil problems in terms of soil pH and salt levels. The soil tests are done at the Centre and results are obtained within a week. The soil testing fee is $8 (+ GST) for members and $10 (+ GST) for non-members. The results can be mailed for an additional $1 if total payment is made in advance.
Call (416) 397-1355 for more details.
Bringing kids and nature together: Become a children s tour guide
The Centre offers two programs to school groups in the beautiful surroundings of Edwards Gardens. The children s tour guide group welcomes new members. Volunteer to join us in our programs Bugs, Flowers and Things in the Dirt and Nature Recycles.
Both these programs have been designed to stress the importance of environmental awareness and responsibility, how nature recycles without help from mankind and how we can recycle and compost at home.
We are an enthusiastic group of varying ages and experience. Training sessions begin in the spring.
For additional information, call Barbara Mayer at (416) 922-1097.
Retro sock hop raises dollars for future
By Dr. Helen Shaw, president, Civic Garden Centre Board
On Friday evening, January 23, the usual ambience in the Floral Hall was transformed. All who entered the crepe-papered, ballooned, disco-balled gym and experienced the familiar beat of Mr. Disc Jockey smusic, were carriedto anotherera. Even Dunnington Grubb smiled approvinglyfromhisportrait. Thosewhohadnot tried a hula hoop for years, and those who obviouslyhad,wereoneasthecompetition progressed. The young and not-so-young had a ball! So much fun and practical too, assignificantfundswereraisedforoperating expenses ofthe Teaching Garden.
Special recognition goes to Susan Dyer whohadtheideaandmadesureitcameto fruition. Kudos also to members of her committee. They include Anne Brethour, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Lyn Gaby, Janet
Greyson, Naneve Hawke, Jennifer James, Nancy Kennedy, Ann Kerwin, Kathleen Lackie, Susan Macaulay, Nancy Mulvihill and Carolyn Weiss.
The directors of the Board of the Civic Garden Centre thank all who contributed to the success of the Sock Hop. We look forward to many more imaginative and enjoyable fund-raising events.
Art in Bloom
If you have a passion for art or flowers, or both, you will love a visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario during their five-day celebrationofspring,ArtinBloom. Dates are April 22 to 26.
For the love of gardens.
When you're at work on the garden you love, remember Sheridan Nurseries. At Sheridan, we have expert staff to help you, and 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 two full years! Need any advice to help make your garden even lovelier? Gardens By Sheridan landscape designers offer everything from peerless consultation and planning to complete construction and maintenance services. All for the love of gardens, at Sheridan Nurseries.
SHERIDAN NURSERIES
ETOBICOKE MISSISSAUGA TORONTO KITCHENER UNIONVILLE 700EvansAvenue 606Southdown Road 2827 YongeStreet 100ElmsdaleRoad 4077Huwy. #7 EtobicokeM9C1A1 ~ MissisaugaL5]2Y4 TorontoM4N2J4 KitchenerN2E IH6 UnionvilleL3R 1L5 Tel: (416) 621-9100 Tel: (905) 822-0251 Tel: (416) 481-6429 Tel: (519) 743-4146 Tel: (905) 477-2253 GARDENSBYSHERIDAN:Metropolitan Toronto, Markbam, Mississauga andOakville Tel: (905) 822-7575
Bulbs for summer and fall arrive
on March 15
Gardeners often think of spring as the traditional season for bulbs that were planted in thefall. However, bulbs that are planted in spring flower in summer and are among the most spectacular. Although many are not winter hardy in Canada, you do not want to miss these stunning beauties they are definitely worth the extra effort of lifting them for winter storage! A 10 per cent members discount will apply.
Bulb list:
Acidanthera murielae is a scented, close relative of the genus Gladiolus which explains its common name, fragrantgladiolus. Blooming in late summerthrough early fall, the white, purple-red throated flowers look perfect together with purple Liatris. 36 in, winter storage. $3.40/10
Agapanthus umbellatus (white): A gorgeous, pure white form of the lily of the Nile that gains more and more popularity. 40-50 in, winter storage. $4.10/1
Agapanthusumbellatus Blue Triumphator : Tall flower stems overnarrow, strap-shaped leaves with umbels bearing up to over 100 violet-blue flowers. Bloom throughout the summer. An old favourite, particularly for containers. 40-50 in, winter storage. $3.60/1
Alstromeria (mixed): Hybrids ofthe Peruvianlily come in shades ofpink, salmon, yellow, white and red with intriguingly fine lined petals. The extremely long lasting flowers bloom in early summer. $5.20/3
Anemone corona -de Caen- strain: Early blooming, bright coloured, poppy-like flowers. 6-9 in, winter storage.
Hollandia: Single, brilliant red blossoms with a dark centre. Good for cutting. $3.50/10
Sylphide: Single, beautiful rose-pink flowers with a dark centre. Good for cutting. $3.50/10
The Bride: Single, pure white flowerswith a dark centre. Good for cutting. $3.50/10
Mixed: Mixture of above Hybrids. $3.50/10
Anemone -St. Brigid- strain
Mix: Double flowering Hybrids in mixed colours of red, blue, pink and white. $3.50/10
Arum italicum: Pale green to pink, calla lily-like flowers over beautiful dark green, cream-veined leaves inearly summer. As autumn approaches Arum reaches the peak of showiness with berries turning from bright green to fiery tomato-red. 10-12 in. $3.50/1
Begonia
Fimbriata Scarlet Fimbriata Pink Fimbriata Yellow
Pendula Scarlet Pendula Pink Pendula Yellow
Nonstop Scarlet Nonstop Rose Nonstop Orange
Nonstop Yellow Nonstop Apricot Nonstop White
$4.40/2
$4.40/2
$2.20/1
$2.20/1
PastelPicotee:Stunning, camellia-like,doubled, cream-salmonflowerwith athinrededge. $2.30/1
Bletilla striata: Despite its exotic look the Chinese ground orchid is an easy keeper . The carmine pink flowers open up from June to August nicely complemented by dark green narrow leaves. 16-18 in. $5.90/2
Brodiaea Queen Fabiola is a lilac-blue form with star-shaped flowers blooming in mid-summer. Use forrockgardens, woodlands and as cutflowers. 20-30cmhigh, needs winter storage. $2.80/10
Caladium
Pink Beauty: Gorgeous, pink leaves with deep green veins and a narrow green edging. $2.70/1
Candidum: Theleaves are cream-white nicely contrastedbylush greenribs and veins. $2.70/1
Canna
Ambassador: Brilliant red flowers over unusually bronze-coloured leaves, winter storage. $4.25/3 City of Portland: Beautiful coral-pink flowers over green foliage. 4-5 ft, winter storage. $4.25/3
City Gold: Rich, warm, deep yellow flowers and green foliage, winter storage.$ 4.25/3
Chlidanthusfragrans: Beautifulclustersoffragrant,brightyellow, lily-likeflowersbloomingfrom early to mid-summer. Common name: sea daffodil. 16-18 in, winter storage. $3.90/2
Crocosmia Fireking: An old favourite, this monbretia produces masses of brilliantly glowing, small funnelled, orange-red flowers over sword-shaped, bright greenleaves. 20-30 inches, winter storage. $4.90/10
Crocosmia mix: A colour mix of Montbretia hybrids ranging from orange, red to yellow. Silver, blue or greenbackground plants enhance the intensity of these brilliant colours. 20-30 in, winter storage. $3.70/10
Cyclamen neapolitanum: Delightful pale to deep pink flowers borne during mid- and late autumn. Theleaves areivy-like darkgreenmarbling andmottled withsilvergreen. Hardy to zone5, 6-8in. $3.80/1
Dahlia
Decorative Dinner Plate Dahlias
Arabian Night: Gorgeous ,deep glowing ruby red flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Duet: Outstanding, dark purple-red flowers with large white tips, strong stems. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Lavender Perfection: Beautiful, lavender-coloured flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
White Perfection: Pure white flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Garden Wonder: Pretty flowers in a warm-red tone. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Golden Emblem: Attractive deep yellow flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Rosella: Brilliant, deep-pink flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Orange Beauty: Unusual rich orange flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Anatol: Striking, lilac-pink, flamed flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
High Society: Attractive orange flowers with large rose tips. 50 in, winter storage $3.30/1
Veritable: Darkpurple flowers withwhite centre. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Cactus Dahlias
Bergers Record:Vermillion red flowers. 50in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Colour Spectacle: Orange-pink flowers with small white tips. 50in, winter storage. $3.30/ 1
Gina Lombaert: Light pink flowers with a yellow centre. 50in, winter storage. $3.30/1
My Love: Pure white flowers. 50 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Semi- Spider Cactus Dahlias
Cha Cha: Brightrose-red tips, soft-yellow towards the centre. 40 in, winter storage. $3.60/1
Jura: Pure whiteflowers with lavender-blue tips. 40 in, winter storage. $3.60/1
Shooting Star: Yellow flowers with faint orange edges. 40 in, winter storage. $3.60/1
Vuurvogel: Ablend ofbright yellow with dark scarlet-red tips. 40 in, winter storage. $3.60/1
Spider Cactus
Alfred Grille: Pink flowers with a yellowheart. 40 in, winterstorage. $3.30/1
Apache: Striking, fiery red flowers. 40 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Popular Guest: Lavender-blue flower tips over a white heart. 40 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Yellow Star: Yellow flowers. 40 in, winter storage. $3.30/1
Eucomis bicolor: The pineapple lily is a perfect container plant. The flower spikesbear creamy to il
greenish, star-shaped flowers with purple edges, crowned by a leafy rosette . Maroon flecked stems and light green, strap-shaped leaves. 16-20 in, winter storage. $3.50/1
Freesia: The tubular flowers are borne in early summer on distinctive 1-sided spikes, each about2 in. long.Thecolourrangesfromwhite,yellow, orangeandredtopink,purple,lilacandblue. Most white and yellow forms are reliably fragrant. 16 in. high, winter storage necessary.
Ballerina: Pure white blooms, fragrant. $3.30/10
Royal Blue: Campanula-blue, white throated, violet-striped flowers. $3.30/10
Mixed: Amix of the full colour range. $3.30/10
Double mixed:Amixture of double floweringhybrids. $3.40/10
Gladioli
Hochsommer: Orange flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Oscar: Red flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Pandion: Purple flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Spic & Span:Bright, deep rose-pink flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Spotlight: Yellow flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Victor Borge:Red flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
White Friendship: Giant white flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Yellow Emperor: Yellow flowers. 18-36 in, winter storage. $3.20/10
Haemanthus multiflorus (Scadoxus multiflorus ssp. katherinae): Orange-red, star-shaped flowers, borne in globular heads over a mid-green leave rosette. $6.90/1
Homeria breyniana (collina): We sell a salmon-pink form, but generally the colour varies from lightsalmonto deepyellow. Ifplantedinspring, the cup-shapedflowersopenupinmid-summer. 12-18 in, winter storage. $3.85/5
Incarvillea delavayi:Aravishingbut seldom-grownperennial. The trumpet-shaped, pink flowers appearinclustersfrommid-springtomid-summer. 18-20in. high, full sunto lightshade. $3.50/2
Iris xhollandica:Abeautifulmix ofthemostpopularDutchirishybrids. The flowers openup in early summerin all shades ofwhite,yellow, blue, purple and bronze. 24 in. high. $2.95/10
Ismene (Hymenocallis)festalis: Peruvian daffodilorspiderlily. Large, fragrant, white flowers on leafless stemsblooming early to mid-summer. 18-24 in, winter storage. $3.75/1
Ixia mix: Anice corn lily hybrid mix of rose, red and cream colours. The small tulip-like flowers bloom inearly summerunder sunny conditions. Ideal for containers or as a rock garden plant. 16 in. high, winter storage. $3.40/10
Liatris spicata Alba Floristan : An excellent snow-white form of Liatris. $3.40/10
Liatris spicata: Blooming in late summer, tiny fuzzyblossoms open from the top of the 12-16 in. long flower spikes. Ideal as cut flower. 30 in. high. $3.40/10
Lilium t Lilies
African Queen: Slightly fragrant, very rich, warm, deep tangerine apricot. $3.40/1
Pink Perfection: Large varying from deep to pale fuchsia-pink flowers. More than a dozen blooms per stem. $3.40/1
Asiatic Lilies
Connecticut King: Deep rich yellow flowers with paler tips on strong stems. $3.40/1
Menton: Pale salmon flowers with a few dark spots. $3.40/1
Red Carpet: Rich darkscarlet-redblooms floweringearlyinthe season. $3.40/1
Rosita: Wide opened, lilac toned petals with rosy pink. $3.40/1
Oriental Lilies
Casablanca: Glistening, heavenly scented, snow-white flowers, borne in sprays from mid-to late summer. $3.40/1
Stargazer: Pinkflowerswithdarkercrimson-redspotswithnarrowwhitemarginsbloomingmidsummer. $3.40/1
Tiger Lilies
Tigrinum Pink: Pink flowers. $3.40/1
Tigrinum Yellow: Yellow flowers. $3.40/1
Martagon Lilies
Martagon: Delicate pinkto red-purple Turks-cup flowersprays openup inmid-summer. $3.40/1
Martagon alba: Apure whiteform that canbe used tohighlightthe coloured ones. $3.40/1
Mirabilis jalapa( mix) is also called four-o clock plant as the flowers open late in the afternoon. Colours range from red, pink and yellow to white. 18-36 in, tender annual. $3.50/3
Nerinebowdenii:Beautiful, funnel-shaped,pinkflowersopenupastheleaveswitherattheendof summer, early fall. Perfect to brighten upa fall garden .18-20 in, winter storage. $3.85/3
Ornithogalum thyrsoides: White, star-shaped flower cups borne in dense clusters in early summer. ThecommonnameisStarofBethlehemand they areexcellent, long-lastingcutflowers. 20-25 in. $3.80/10
Ornithogalum arabicumproduces fragrant, creamy-white, star-shaped flowerswithablackbase. Like O. thyrsoides, they are excellent cut flowers.14-18 in, winter storage. $3.85/3
Oxalisdeppei IronCross producesmasses ofrose-pinkflowersovergreenleaveswithareddish center. 8-12 in. $2.95/10
Polianthes tuberosa: Popular in Victorian times, these pure white, waxy and slightly fragrant flowers are excellentcutflowers. Theybloom attheend ofsummerand only for one season. 18-36 in. $4.90/3
Ranunculus mix: Peony-like, doubled flowers in brilliant colours: white, yellow, orange, red and rose. 12-16 in, winter storage. $5.30/10
Sparaxis tricolormix:Also called harlequinflowersbecause oftheir striking colour combination: Thecenterisyellowtoppedby ablackstripewhich dissolvesinred, pink, orange, purpleorcream petals.4-16in, winter storage. $2.10/10
Trigida pavonia mix: Iris-like flowers opening up throughout the summer. The colours are red, orange, pink or yellow with a contrasting center. 24-50 in., winter storage. $4.70/10
Tritonia crocara mix: Bell to cup-shaped flowersopeninearlysummeronwirystems.Agorgeous mixture ofpastel colours in coral, pink, peach and orange.14-20 in, winterstorage. $3.20/10
Zantedeschia (Calla ) Solfatare Curving, petal-like, spathe flowers over arrow-shaped leaves. Solfatare is a yellow variety and flowers all summer long.12-18 in, winter storage. $3.85/1
Zantedeschia (Calla) Rehmannii is abeautiful pink formflowering throughoutthe summer. 1218 in, winter storage. $3.85/1
Zephyranthes robusta: Beautiful, open funnel-shaped flowers borne in late summer to early autumn. Pale-pink. The common name is rain lily or fairylily. 8-12 in, winter storage. $3.95/15
Proceeds from the Trellis Shop help support the Civic Garden Centre s programs!
Plant portrait: Pulmonaria longifolia ssp. cevennensis
By Anna Leggatt
Pulmonarias, or lungworts, have been in our gardens for a very long time. In general, they had coarse, hairy, mid-green leaves sprinkled with pale splotches. The blue/pinkflowers appearedinthe spring, justin time for the early hummingbirds. I remember,asachild,pullingthelittleflowers off and sucking out the sweet nectar. I never bothered much with the plants as theygrewlargeandwiltedonahotday.By the fall, theyhad added spots ofmildew.
Today s introductions (or re-introductions of forgotten species) are much improved. Most are mildew free and have clearer colors more clear blues, good pinks and whites. The variegation maybe roundtheedgeasinP.rubra DavidWard'. Herethefrostedgreenleaveshaveacream border. One description calls the flowers tangerine red Ithinkorangish-pinkmight becloser.Mildewdidnotappear,nordidit in Peachesand Cream .
My favorite groups are the angustifolia/ longifoliatypes.Thesearedarkforestgreen with steely, silvery spots. The foliage is longerandnarrower,and,sofar,theplants do not seem to wilt as much.
P. longifoliassp.cevennensishasthemost spectacularleavesofanyThaveseensofar. They are well over 40cm long and only about 7 or 8cm wide. The flowers start pinkish and end up a violet blue. Use this as a focusinthe shade garden. Theyareeasyingoodhumusysoil.Donot grow in a sandy soil unless you can water frequently.
Many of the cultivars do not come true from seed, butthis seemstobe a species so it should. I find some of mine cross with their neighbors, but so far, they have all gone to the compost except one. Its leaves are not as good as the possible parent s leaves. |amwaitingtoseehowtheflowers turn out.
Some ofthenewplantshave larger and more ruffled flowers. Perhaps a stunner willappear.Somehow, Idoubtit.Thereare probably too many forms on the market already!
Anna Leggatt is a TorontoMaster Gardener, a member ofGarden Writers ofAmerica and a mad rockgardener.
Clean the air: put green thumbs to work indoors
By Sheila Smith, assistant horticulturist
Do you haveburning eyes, itchy throat or respiratory problems? If you have these symptoms at work or at home, you may haveSickBuilding Syndrome (SBS).
Problems with indoor air pollution became more prevalent in the 80s when homeswerebuiltwithefficientenergysystems and recirculating air flows with little outsideair. Theidentificationofthechemicalsandtheirdisease-likesymptoms causing these problems took many years to identify. Many researchers have investigated this subject including NASA. They began diagnosing problems with sealed space inhabitants inthe early 70s.
NASA was instrumental in determining that house plants improve the quality oftheairthatwebreathe. Theydiscovered that300volatileorganicchemicalswere in
the air in the spacecraft occupied by the crew. They began looking at using plants tohelpcleansetheairforpeopleinhabiting the closed environment ofthe spacecraft.
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America jointly funded a two-yearstudyonaspecificgroupofhouse plants. Theyexaminedtheeffectivenessof these plants in removing three priority pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.
Dr. B.C. Wolverton, a former senior research scientist at NASA sJohnC. Stennis Space Centre, headed up the team on this study. In 1988, Dr. Wolverton and his researchers evaluated 12 plants to determine their effectiveness in removing the three toxic chemicals. The 12 plants are: Sincethislistwasfirstselected, atotalof50 plants have been researched and listed in
Twelve plants that clean the air
COMMON NAME
Bamboo palm
Chinese evergreen
English ivy
BOTANICAL NAME
Chamaedorea seifritzii
Aglaonema modestum
Hedera helix
Gerbera daisy
Janet Craig
Marginata
Mass cane/corn cane
Mother-in-law s-tongue
Pot mum
10. Peace lily
11. Warneckei
12. Ficus e B ) O e e
Gerberajamesonii
Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig
Dracaena marginata
Dracaena massangeana
Sansevieria laurentii
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa
Dracaena deremensis Warneckei
Ficus benjamina
Dr. Wolverton s latest book, Eco Friendly House Plants: 50 indoorplants thatpurify the air in homes and offices. The following ten plantshavebeendeterminedtobethebest of the 50 in purifying indoor air of toxic chemicals. Theplantswereratedbasedon ease of growth; maintenance; resistance to pests; efficiency at removing chemical vapors and transpiration rates.
This book reminds us why we are so dependent on plant life for our existence.
The top ten
COMMON NAME
1. Areca palm
2. Lady palm
3. Bamboo palm
4. Rubber plant
5. Dracaena Janet Craig
6. Englishivy
7. Dwarf date palm
8. Ficus
9. Boston fern
10. Peace lily
Plantscleantheairthroughaprocesssimilar to how we breathe, taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide. Plants reversetheprocessthroughphotosynthesis, taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen.
Ifanyairbornepollutantsinterferewith the exchange of gases, symptoms of their harmfuleffectswillbeginto appear. Children, the elderly and the sick are most affected. Itis more importantto cleanthe air during winter when we spend 75 to 90 percentofourtimeindoors. Newerhomes, whicharemoretightlysealedtobeenergy efficient, trap many air pollutants inside.
How plants purify the air
The structure of a leaf provides an understandingonhowplantspurifytheair. Gases enter the microscopic pores on the lower epidermis ofa leaf. These pores are called
BOTANICAL NAME
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Rhapis excelsa
Chamaedorea seifrizii
Ficus robusta
Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig
Hedera helix
Phoenix roebelenii
Ficus macleilandii *Alii
Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis
Spathiphyllum sp.
stomataandaresurroundedbyguardcells which control their opening and closing. Some plants have more stomata than othersandarethereforebetterequippedto cleanse the air. For example, an apple leaf has approximately 39,000 per square centimeter, while anorange leafhas45,000 per square centimeter. Carbon dioxide enters a leaf through the stomata and becomes diffusedinthemiddletissuewhere carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapor move freely. Through complex chemical reactions, photosynthesis takes place and oxygenis released.
Photosynthesis, respiration, microbial activityandtranspirationareprocessesthat playimportantrolesinsustainingplantlife as well as humanlife.
Plants take substances out of the air through tiny openings in their leaves,
Wolverton said. But researchinourlaboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soilbacteria are all importantin removing trace levels of toxic vapours. (NASA Study Plants Cleanthe Air)
Forexample,theirresearchfoundthata peace lily s potting soil contained six soil microorganisms (including bacillus and streptomyces) capable of biodegrading toxic chemicals when activated by root growth.
Transpiration rates in a great many of these(house)plantsarealsohigh. Aswater moves rapidly from the soil surrounding therootsupthroughtheplant,airispulled down around roots adding nitrogen gas and oxygento the soil. Eco FriendlyHouse Plants, B.C. Wolverton, page 17.
Respirationinplantcells only occurs in the presence of oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide and water as wasteproducts. Itis theexactoppositeprocessofphotosynthesis. The two processes compliment each other.
Mostmicroorganismsinthesoilarebeneficial and help to break down organic waste materials, make nutrients available toplants, releaseminerals andpurifytoxic substances that reach the soil.
Plants with higher transpiration rates helptomovetoxicairtotherootzoneinthe soilbreakingitdownintofoodandenergy for microbes. Transpiration rate is one of thecriteriaWolvertonusedtogradehistop 50 houseplants. The process of transpirationnaturally addshumidity to the air.
The spider plant is not mentioned in Wolverton stop10 butisacommonhouseplant that is most effective at removing carbonmonoxidefromtheair. Ina24-hour period, a spider plant can remove 80 per cent of the formaldehyde pollutants from an enclosed room.
Interestingly, Christmas cactus and epiphytic orchids and bromeliads absorb carbondioxideandreleaseoxygenatnight.
Hence, for a complete 24-hour filtration system, place a variety of houseplants in yourhome or office. Wolverton estimates that 15 to 20 golden pothos and spider plants can clean and refresh the air in the average 1800-square foot home.
Withhouseplants,wecannotonlybeautifyourlivingspacewecanbegintoreduce levels of air pollution in our homes and work places. People will feel better, perform better and enjoy life more. We are guardians ofthe earth and we all must do our part to improve life on earth for all living systems.
Sources:
e EcoFriendly House Plants: 50 indoor plants that purify the air in homes and offices, B.C. Wolverton, 1996.
e Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air PollutionAbatement,FinalReport-September 1989, B.C. Wolverton, Anne Johnson and Keith Bounds, NASA.
* Sick Building Syndrome, Howdoyou spell relief? P-L-A-N-T-S. An Interim Report, B.C. Wolverton & W.L. Douglas, Florida Nurseryman, January 1989.
* Indoor Plants. WinningtheBattlefor Clean Air, Foliage for Clean Air Council.
Contributions to Trellis are welcome.
Questions and answers with the Master Gardeners
Q. I have two problems with my begonia plants: there is a grey mould on some ofthe leaves and there is a lot ofsalt build-up on the edges of the pot. I use tap water and I give the plants fertilizer regularly.
A. Both of these arise from problems with watering and feeding. The greymouldis a fungus;begonias are susceptible to developing this. It canbe prevented by keeping the leaves dry andimprovingthe air circulationaround theplant. Water theplantfrombelow,orstanditinapanofwater.Oncethesoil is moist, allow it to drain. This will preventtheleaves getting splashed. To cure the mould, use a fungicide spray. The salt build-up comes fromoverfertilizing and/or fromusingwater straight from the tap. Let the water stand for a while to evaporate some ofthe chemicals it contains, orboil it and letit cool.Wateryourhouseplantswithtepidwaterforbestresults.
Begonia: fungal disease on leaves from splashes
Q. What can Igrow to amuse a three-year-old child?
A. Peas, beans, and sunflowers are all good seeds for children to watch grow. Mung beans can be sprouted in a jar, and the sprouts eaten. Mustard and cress canbe grownonmoistvermiculite and cut andeaten. Agrassballisfun,growingontopofaplasticbottleorglass jar. Put a mixture of grass seed and earth (or potting soil) in cheesecloth and draw it up into a ball. Leave a long tail or wick of cheesecloth and place this in abottle filled with water, with the ball resting on top. A ball of grass is fun to grow.
Q. Can I use rhododendronfor a hedge?
A. Notrecommendedastheplantsareexpensive, need partial shade and shelter, require careful soil amendmentandexcellentdrainage, andhighmaintenance. For anevergreenhedge, tryyews or cedar or euonymus.
Thanks to Vivien Jenkinsonfor illustrations.
Gardening questions? Call the Master Gardeners Infoline (416) 397-1345 weekdays, 10:00 A.m. to 1:00 p.m. weekends, noon to 3:00 p.m.
Update on courses; garden info on the Web
By Ada Brzeski, course co-ordinator
As the sun starts to warm up the soil, gardeners think about planting, digging and pruning. TheCGCoffersover40coursesto provide a wealth of garden-related information. Courses start Monday, March 23 and otherd days through spring until the end of May. The course calendar was included with theJanuary/February Trellis. Ifyou didnotreceive a copy orifyouare a newmember, call (416)397-1362andleave yournameandaddresssowecanmailyou one. You can also pick up a copy at the reception desk.
New topics
Three gardening experts will share their tips and ideas for shade gardening over three evenings. For the herb enthusiast, several courses cover everything from planting a herb garden, to cooking and decoratingwithherbs. Jazz upyourpatio by transforming a garage sale find into a pieceoffunfurniture. Makeyourownbird house or learn how to create a fence or trellis out ofwillow.
Another course
Added to the spring semester is Chicken Wire Garden Sculpture with Martha Johnson. Martha s sculptures have been featuredonTV and atCanadaBlooms and makeanidealgardensculptureortopiary. This is your opportunity to learn to make one yourself. The two-day workshop will be held Tuesday, April 28 and Tuesday,
May5from 10:00A.m. to4:00p.m. Theprice is $90 for members.
Gardening on the Web
During the winter, I did a lot of virtual gardeningandfoundsomeinterestingWeb sites. < One of the best s www.ICanGarden.com. CreatedbyDonna Dawson, a Master Gardener from Alberta, it includes a Canadian zone map, lists of events and courses, gardening catalogues andaquestionsandanswerforum. Donna has placed the Civic Garden Centre s courses on line (look under events).
Another great site is www.budsgarden.com. This site was createdbyalocalgardencentreowner,Valerie Ward. Valeriewillbeteachingtwocourses attheCGCthisspring. HerWebsiteoffers a great list of perennials that are ideal for Toronto gardens. Shehas also designed a new classification for shade.
The number of gardening Web sites is overwhelming. Ihave found some useful directoriessuchastheInternetDirectoryof Botany at www.biol.uregina.ca/liu/bio/ ibd.shtml. Itis acomprehensivecatalogue ofWorld Wide Web sites listed alphabetically from African Violets Online to Zone 10 a source of tropicals on the Internet.
Yahoo, anInternetsearchengine, offers a good directory for gardeners at yahoo.com/entertainment/Home-andGarden/gardening, including a list of 24 gardening magazines on line.
Students of English offered garden tours
Share your interest in Edwards Gardens by leading instructional tours that will help English as a Second Language students understand thevocabularyand concepts of
the English language.
For further information on becoming an ESL Tour Guide or to book a tour call
Sheila Smith at (416) 397-1355.
March/April
Landscape Ontario celebrates 25 years
Landscape Ontario is a trade association, made up of companies that operate in the lawn and garden industry. It was formed 25 years agowhen the Ontario Landscape Contractors Associaton, the Ontario Garden Maintenance and Landscape AssociationandtheOntarioNurseryTradesAssociation joined together. The organization aims to promote the industry, the professionalism of its members and support industry expansion.
There are eight chapters for members: Georgian Lakelands, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Toronto East, Toronto West, Waterloo and Windsor.
Teamed with The Garden Club of Toronto,LandscapeOntariolaunchedCanada Blooms lastyear. The event attracted over 70,000 people and presented Landscape Ontario members ability and professionalism to thepublic.
ArecentachievementwasCongress98, the largest horticultural trade show in Canada, put on by Landscape Ontario.
Each year, judges choose top projects completed the previous season by Landscape Ontario members. Another interestingprojectisthe livinglogo byHighway 401,viewed by thousandsofmotoristsdaily as they travel near the airport.
Feeling lucky?
Buy a raffle ticket
The Board has organized a fund-raising rafflewith great prizes. Ticketsare on sale at the Centre s Trellis Shop and reception desk. Tickets are $2 each, 3 for $5. The draw will be made at the Annual General Meeting.
LOS ANGELES ¥, garden editor Robert Smaus
OJAI ¢ Touractor PeterStrauss's garden in thevalleywhere Lost Horizonswas lmed SANTA BARBARA ¢ LotuslandSAN Luis OBISPO ¥ stayat || Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort . MONTEREY SantaCruzBotanicGarde zé SAN FRANCISCO ¢Spendaday% in thegardens and wineriesof NapaVaIley: For complete details or to reserve call 1-800-387-1483
Help your neighbors have better gardens
When your neighbors ask for your help with their garden problems, don 't forget to suggest that they might wantto become a member of theCivicGarden Centre. Solutions, inspiration, information ... they re all here forthe asking. Membership is $40 for a family, $30 for an individual.
Discover the Exciting MNew Store & Everyone's Ialking About!
GARDGNTIES e il 1
1065 Davis Dr., Newmarket L3Y 2R9
BooksforGardenersAmateur,ProfessionalorArmchair
3,000+ titles Cards & Stationery GAR%fSn ' & Newsletter p0SSA 7 o
International Newgate Plaza § magazine selection n.w.corner Davis&Leslie Good Coffee! Davis Dr. (Hwy 9) e Q (well, not bad) | §
(905)830-9693 s
Advertise in Trellis
Want to reach other gardeners with yourproductorservice? Trellis classified ads are good value: 50¢ a word for members, $1 a word for non-members. Deadline forthe May/June issue is March4.
VOLUNTEERS
You are invited to learn about the organization of The Civic Garden Centre s plant sales at an orientation or refresher session during the set-up of the Perennial Sale
Learn the delivery routine, the setting-up procedure, cash register refresher (just for cashiers), the challenges of plant care, how to wrap plants at certain times of the year, how much money is raised and why it is better for members and the public to shop at our sales, and more...
Wednesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. or Thursday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. in the Floral Hall Everyone is welcome to the one hour training session. Call (416) 397-1355 for more details.
Library opens for Edwards Lecture evenings
The Centre s library is open on the evenings of the Edwards Lectures: 7:00 to 7:30 and 9:00 to 9:30 pP.m. Come in and borrow one of our new books or a perennial favorite.
Books in review
Available atthe TrellisShop
The National Wildlife Federation Book of Family Nature Activities Page Chichester, publishedby Owl Books, 1997, $20.95
Ifyouwishtotakeyourfamilyonaninformativeexplorationofthenaturalworldaround them,thenthishands-onguideisforyou.Together,youcanbegin by exploringyourown backyard or go farther afield to wilderness habitats including forests, beaches, swamps and streams.
The activities include such projects as planting a butterfly or hummingbird garden, starting a compost pile, finding and preserving animal tracks, building bat houses and bird feeders, setting up a terrarium and even creating a bugarium . Each activity containseasy-to-followinstructionsrankedbydifficultylevel,materiallist,tips,andalist of references on each topic.
Trilliums
F.W. Case, Jr. and R. B. Case, published by Timber Press, 1997, $41.95
Trilliumsfinallyhave abookinthisblendoffieldguideandgardener shandbook, with cultivation and propagation information based on practical experience. Everyone in Ontario is familiar with the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), our provincial flower, amongthemostshowy and abundantspringwoodlandflowers. Peoplemaynot know that there are 43 species oftrilliums. All are covered in this text with information onhabit, form, variety, distributionmaps, and a key for each species. The authorshave trekked all overNorthAmerica to photograph the 38 Americanspecies in the wild.
Easy, Practical Pruning
Taylor s Weekend Gardening Guide
Barbara Ellis, publishedby HoughtonMifflinCompany, Boston, 1997, $17.95
Pruningisoneofthemostimportant,commonlypracticedandatthesametimeoneofthe mostfeared gardening techniques. By usingphotographs, how-to-drawings, and clear, conciseexplanations, this guidehelpsthe gardenerunderstandhow, why, andwhento pruneevergreens and deciduoustreesandshrubs, fruittrees andberrybushes, hedges, vines, androses. Inaddition, the authorcoversthepruningbasicsliketherightchoiceof tools, pruning safety and common mistakes.
Taylor 's Weekend Gardening Guides series also includes:
Safe & Easy Lawn Care Water Gardens
Backyard Building Projects
Attracting Birds & Butterflies
Indoor Gardens Organic Pest & Disease Control
Plants for Problem Places Window Boxes
The Winter Garden
The Smaller Perennials
Jack Elliott, published by Timber Press, 1997, $41.95
Thisillustratedreferencelistsperennialsthatgrowtoaheightof30inches, anddescribes some400 genera andhundreds ofindividual species and cultivars. Thisis agoodbook for gardeners who wish to grow alarge number ofspecies within a small space and still maintain garden scale. The plants are particularly useful at the front of herbaceous or mixedborders, or between architectural plants and shrubs in shady beds.
Hardie Newton s Celebration of Flowers
Storey Publishing, Vermont, 1997. $39.95 Reviewed by Anna Leggatt.
HardieNewtonisawellknownAmericanfloraldesignerwhoseworkhasbeencommissionedbytheNationalGeographicSociety.Thisbookisherfirst.Ittellsofhermovetothe BlueRidgeMountainsofVirginiaandhowshedesignedherhouse(29doors)tofitinwith the wildflowers and the countryside.
Storey Publishing has a mission to publish practical information that encourages personal independence inharmony with the environment. Thisbook fits these criteria.
Themainthemeisusingflowersbothinsideandoutsidethehouse.Atthesametime, she tells the story of her life. We see different arrangements throughout the year with lovelycolorcombinations and clearphotographybySunnyReynolds. Ithinkalistof49 hints for flower arranging wouldbe very useful for thebeginner.
Thetextissprinkledwith appropriatequotations. Therearealso afewherbalrecipes andmanyhintsandcommentsonthehappeningsaroundher.Hardieloveschildrenand some easy arrangements are featured.
The last few pages contain a blossom gallery, with descriptions, cultivation hints where applicable and uses of various plants. There is also a list offlowers by color.
Usually, I do not like books by people who are communing with nature. I was pleasantlysurprisedbythisone. Itissuitableforabeginnerflower arrangerwholikesto read. The only fault I found was that the color combination pictures are not captioned.
Stonework: Techniques and Projects
Charles McRaven, Storey Publishing, Vermont, 1997, $26.95 Reviewed by Anna Leggatt.
Ifyouarethinkingofbuildingsomethinginstoneforthefirsttime,thisisthebookforyou. It contains clear, step-by-step descriptions of how to build different kinds of walls, (including windows and arches), entry pillars, moon gates, stone steps, stone seats, waterfalls, small pools, paths, stepping stones, bird baths, stone groupings and even bridges. There is even a section for using stone inside the house.
Theintroductionpointsoutthevalueofstonewhileacknowledgingthenegativeside (weight, shaping, time etc.) McRaven giveshints onhow to recognize good work.
The following chapters describe differenttypes of stone with their characteristics weight, workability and strength. Where to find stone, including recycled stone, is covered asishandling stone. Thisincludes liftingand loading, various tools (withtheir pictures) and safety. Selecting, cutting and shaping are emphasized.
This seems to be a very useful book for the beginner. The true proof will be your successful completion ofyour garden improvement.
The Garden Design Book
CherylMerserandtheeditorsofGardenDesignMagazine,ReganBooks,HarperCollins, Publishers Inc., New York, 1997. $72 Reviewed by Anna Leggatt.
This is a sumptuous book, filled with lavish pictures. (If you read Garden Design magazine, youmayhaveseenmanyofthesealready). Nearlyeveryoneofthe304pages has at least one picture. It makes a great coffee table book.
Ifyouareredesigningyourgarden,orevenpartofit,thisbookshouldbeagreatsource ofideas. Itstarts with discussing who is the new gardener and whatis the new garden. There are suggestions on developing all your senses in the garden. Sight includes borrowedviewsandbacklighting.Sheincludesdifferenttexturestotouchandusesplants forscentandtaste.Soundisnotforgotten,forexample,placingsilverfeathergrassforthe wind to whistle through.
Designelements boundaries,structures,pathwaysandwater ofvariouskindsare well illustrated. Plantsfordifferentcolorandtextureareshown. Thereareafewpagesof climbers and ground covers and eight large pictures emphasizing color combinations. Thelastsectionofthebookgivesplansfordifferenttypesofgardens,withlessons. These areabasetostartforthebeginnergardener. Thereisnotenoughdetailforcompletionby anovice.
I also wish that every page was numbered. I realize numbers would spoil the photographs,butitisbothersometryingtolook somethingup. Iwould also prefermore textto the extra large print in the early chapters.
The Trellis Shop
Bulbs for summer and fall
arrive on March 15 and will be for sale the following day.
Please check our list of available garden bulbs - published in this Trellis edition - for details.
Members receive a 10% discount on most purchases. All proceeds from the Trellis Shop help support the Civic Garden Centre!
CLASSIFIED
Wildflower plant sale: The Canadian Wildflower Society annual sale of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, vines and grasses. Sunday,May 10, 10:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street. Phone (416) 261-6272 or e-mail: cking@yorku.ca.
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Gardener s tour of New Zealand, Australia and Fiji with Jim and Lorraine St. Marie, November, 1998. Enjoy 13 spring daysinNewZealand, 10inAustraliaand3 in Fiji touring sub-tropical and temperate zoneprivateandpublicgardensplusnurseries. CallDiscoverTravel, Waterloo, ON, 1-800-540-2892. E-mail: jhall@golden.net
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Garden consulting, design and maintenance.Specializinginperennialbeds,shade gardens and flowering shrubs. Ornamental tree and shrub pruning. Experienced, personal and affordable care for your garden. Carole Charsley, (416) 444-8254.
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Birdwatching and Wildflower Tours. PointPelee,AlgonquinPark,RideauTrail, Cape Breton, Bermuda. For free newsletter, call George Bryant at Natural History Tours, (416) 223-6922 or 1-800-371-7779.
The Shady Garden, morning: Practical solutions to selecting and growing shrubs, perennials and annuals in shade. Garden Ornamentation, afternoon: Explores the developmentofthe gardenfrom medieval times to the present and the contribution garden ornament has played in its evolution. For further information, call (905) 727-8979.
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Merlin s Hollow, Summer Gardening Course,ApriltillOctober. Theclassesconsist of two-hour sessions held approximatelyonce amonthsixtimesthroughout thesummersothatstudents, bothbeginner andexperiencedgardeners, canlearnanononsense approach to maintaining a well stocked flower garden. Held in Merlin s Hollow. Classes arelimited to 15 students soearlyregistrationisessentialifaspecific time slot is required. Sessions are held on aSaturdayorMondayat10:00a.m.tonoon or2:00to4:00p.m. Studentsselectonetime slot only. A gift ofour winter seminars or summer garden course has been used on many occasions for birthdays, Christmas, retirement present or as a token of friendship. Some of our students have joined with a friend or small group to meet monthlytoenjoyclassestogether. Forfurther information, call (905) 727-8979. ° P
Gardeners to Alaska cruise-tour, Canadian Rose 80ciety June6to15,1998. Fund-raisingcruise N\ @ ANNUAL ROSE SALE to Alaska with Gardening Life s g{% MarjorieHarris, pluspre-cruise gar- jf W, SAT. APRIL 25, 1998 den tours of Vancouver, B.C. From DOORS OPEN AT 12.00 NOON
SoLLBB ik, [IBCOUTT IO o NEWESTVARIETIES**AUSTINS**MINIS members and friends. Call Cruise g : i g Concepts at 1-800-317-0464. *WINTER HARDY ROSES**OLD FAVOURITES
° Experts to help select the right roses foryour garden and Merlin s Hollow 10th annual Win- to give you the latest advice on planting, pruning and ter Gardening Course, 1998, 10:00 e e a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In historic Hillary CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE House,Aurora. Saturday, March21: 777 LAWRENCE AVE. E. (at LESLIE)
Coming events at the Centre
March 1
e SouthernOntarioOrchidSociety,meeting, 1:00 p.m.
5
* MycologicalSociety,meeting,7:30p.m. 8
* Ontario Rock Garden Society, meeting, 1:30 p.m. Speaker: Marian Jarvie. Topic: China 9
e Toronto Bonsai Society, meeting, 7:00 p.m. 10
e North Toronto Horticultural Society, meeting 8:00 p.m. Speaker: Burt Card. Topic: Delphiniums.
14
* Orchidjudging centre, 1:00 p.m. 17
e Toronto Cactus and Succulent Club, meeting, 7:30 p.m.
20
* Ikebana International Chapter #208, meeting, 7:30 p.m.
25
e Edwards Lecture series, 7:30 p.m. Speaker:BarryPorteus. Topic: Springtime in Scotland
26
¢ CanadianChrysanthemumandDahlia Society, meeting, 7:00 p.m.
29
e CanadianRoseSociety,annualgeneral meeting, 2:00p.m. Speaker: Dr. Campbell G. Davidson. Topic: Chinese Roses: The MordenParklandRoses. Free. Guestswelcome.
April
2
® MycologicalSociety,meeting,7:30p.m.
5
¢ SouthernOntarioOrchidSociety,meeting, 1:00 p.m.
8
e Ikebana International Chapter # 208, meeting, 7:30 p.m.
12
* Ontario Rock Garden Society, plant sale 12:30, meeting, 1:00 p.m. Speaker: TonyAvent,PlantDelightsNursery,North Carolina. Topic: If it s a good plant, let's grow it.
13
e Toronto Bonsai Society, meeting, 7:00 p.m.
14
e North Toronto Horticultural Society, meeting, 8:00 p.m. Speaker: Janet Davis. Topic: Gardens around Paris.
19
¢ York Rose and Garden Society, meeting,1:30p.m. Speaker: Marion Jarvie.Topic: Roses in the landscape.
20
e RhododendronSociety, sale
21
¢ CanadianChrysanthemumandDahlia Society, meeting, 7:00 p.m.
22
e Edwards Lecture Series, 7:30 p.m. Speaker: Trevor Cole Topic: The Asian Connection
25
e Canadian Rose Society, annual rose sale, noon
28
e Civic Garden Centre, annual general meeting, 7:30 p.m. Speaker: Alexander Reford. Topic: A passion for gardening: Elsie Reford s gardens at Grand-Métis, Quebec
Trevbr Céle
March/April speakers bring ) broad view of garden world
See pages 2 and 3. Barry Porteous
Elsie Reford