A supplement to Trellis, the newsletter of the Civic Garden Centre in Toronto July/ August 1998 Volume 25, Number 4
Inaugural Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture
Gardens that survive: Xeriscaping in Ontario
Speaker:
Jennifer Bennett
Date: Tuesday, July 7
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Jennifer Bennett will present a slideillustrated lecture based on her book Dry-land Gardening. She will provide a xeriscaping guide for our climate and suggest plants and techniques that enable gardens to survive dry spells unaided.
Xeriscapegardeningisanenvironmentally sound technique that conserves not only water, but also time andenergy. Itisperfectforcottageor low-maintenance gardening
JenniferBennettistheauthorofthe best-selling The New Northern Gardener, Lilies of the Hearth, Our Gardens Ourselves, The Tomato Handbook, and The Harrowsmith Annual Garden.
Her gardening columns appear regularly in Canadian Living and she has also written articles for other magazinesincludingHorticultureand Organic Gardening. Jennifer livesjust north ofKingston, andhas extensive experience gardening in Ontario.
In July, 1993, the Civic Garden Centre received notification that one of its long-time volunteers and aformer member of the Board of Directors, Peter D.C. Thomas, had bequeathed $10,000 in honor ofHelen Flegg. The interestfrom thegift will be used to fund the annual Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture.
Notes from the Board
By Helen Shaw, president, Civic Garden Centre Board
Over 250 people attended the Annual General Meeting at the Civic Garden Centre onApril 28. The participation indicates to me interest in the well-being ofthe CGC and the attractionofthe guest speaker,AlexanderReford. I appreciated questions regarding the audited financial statements and I hope membershave a clearer understanding ofthe complex functioning ofthe CGC.
As reported, 1997 was a challenging year for members of the board, staff, volunteers and financial supporters. The majority of you in attendance tonight experienced these challenges first-hand and recognize that we are all in thistogether. We continueas aBoardtoworktowardfulfillingthemandateof the Civic Garden Centre. We are pleased to announce that March, 1998, financial statements show we are operating in the black . Thank you all for your continuing support.
Programmingwillbegininthe TeachingGardenthis summer. Theposition ofhorticulturist/Teaching Garden co-ordinator has been posted and we plan to have a person on staffby the end ofJune.
Board membersplanto attend aretreatinJune. Thiswillprovide anopportunity for us to get to know each other and to discuss plans and structure for Board activities inthe year ahead.
Have a great summer. Bring your friends to the CGC. Persuade them to become members. I hope to see you at upcoming events, but above all take time to enjoy your garden.
Annual report available
Members will find the Centre s 1997Audited Financial Statement and the President sAnnualReport in the library for theirviewing.
Space allocation changes
By Ron Dubyk, acting executive director
The Milne House Garden Club is moving to a new location within the Civic GardenCentre. The group willoccupy theeastend ofthebuilding. The large sunnyroomwillprovidememberswithmuch-needed additional space. Members look forward to occupyingtheir newhome inJune.
The Civic Garden Centre is pleased to welcome the administrative staff of Canada Blooms to new offices at the Centre. Canada Blooms will occupy the space formerly occupied by Milne House. Canada Blooms will move in this summer.
Coming events at the Centre
July
4
* Orchid Society, TorontoJudging Centre, 1:00 p.M. 7
* Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture Speaker: Jennifer Bennett Topic: Gardens that survive: xeriscaping inOntario Time: 7:30P.M.9
. Teaching Garden, opening, 3:00 P.M. -5:00.M.
25
* Native plantbus tour, 8:00 A.m.6:30P.M.
30
¢ Canadian Rose Society, meeting, 8:00p.Mm.
August
1
* Orchid Society, TorontoJudging Centre. 1:00 p.M. .
* Mycological Society, meeting, 7:00p.m.
15
* (Canadian Iris Society, auction, 1:00 p.m.
23
¢ Geranium and Pelargonium Society, show, 1:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. S
e Canadian Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society, meeting, 7:00 p.Mm.
TRELLIS
Volume 25, Number 4
Editor: Iris Hossé Phillips
Editorial co-ordinator: Leslie Lynch
Proofreader: Mara Arndt
Telephone number: (416) 397-1340
Printed by Icon Litho & Design Communications, Etobicoke, on recycled paper
July/August 1998
Jordan wine and garden tour Thursday, October 1
The day will begin with a slide-illustrated lecture in Jordan about the gardens on the lake. A gourmet luncheon will be followed by a winetasting session. A private tour of Cave Springs Vineyard will end the tour.
Call the Centre at (416) 397-1340 for more details.
NATIVE PLANT NURSERY BUS TOUR
Saturday, July 25
8:00 A.m. to 6:30 P.m.
Tour Big CreekBiotaand Pterophylla, both specialized plant nurseries. Attend a slide-illustrated presentation of Conservation on a grand scale.
Visit:
¢ the main facilities
¢ beds of wildflowers and grasses
e demonstration sites
e one-year-old tall grass prairie restoration site
* eight-year-old tall grass prairie restoration site
e 60-acre Carolinian forest fragment restoration site
Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, and dress appropriately for a farm tour. Bring a hat and bug repellent.
A tasty box lunch is included.
Tickets are $70 for members and $80 for non-members.
Call (416) 397-1340 to register.
Book a Walk in the o
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE TOUR GUIDE GROUPS
The following tours are available: Adult Adult ESL Children
Tours are available from May to September
For more information or to book a tour, call the CGC at (416) 397-1340
Please join us at the CGC summer celebration of the Teaching Garden in Edwards Gardens
Thursday, July 9
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Fun activities for children of all ages
Call (416) 397 - 1340 for more details
BBQ for volunteers September 9, 4:00 p.M.
THE TRELLIS SHOP
Summer Sale
August 24 - 29
Members receive an extra 10% the firstday ofthe sale.
The Wildflower by Bette Woolsey Castro; introduction by Lady Bird Johnson; foreword by Helen Hayes, Fulcrum Publishing, 1991.
Thelibraryaboundswithdelightsfor the gardener but many books in the collection involve work or troubleshooting. The Wildflower is a collection of short poetry dedicated to individual wildflowers. The verse is beautifullypresentedwithillustrative borders of wild plants. A cup of herbal tea, a quietspot and thisbook will revive your inner creative spirit.
Wanted: seeds to exchange among members
The
Centre s second annual seed exchange
ByAnna Leggatt, CGC member
Our first seed exchange, lastyear, was very successful. Let s make the second even better. To do this, please collect seeds of your favorite garden flowers. Wild collected seed is acceptable, too, as long as you only take 10% or less of the seed.
To collect seed:
Do not deadhead your flowers. Go out on a dry day. Cutoffthe opening pods andplacethemina paperbag. Labelthebag. Ifthe seedhead is small, putitin a yogurt or margarine container but do not put the lid onunless the seeds are likely to jump as in the geranium family.
Cleaning seed:
Removeasmuchofthelargedebrisaspossible. Thenusesievestoseparatethe chaff.Iftheseedsareinberries, squashthemandputtheminwatersothepulp can float off. Usually the remainder can be separated in a sieve. Dry on a paper towel.
Packaging seed:
Puteachkind inone paper envelope, notplastic. Label. InSeptember, wewill tell you how to send your seeds to us.
Library grateful for donations
By Mara Arndt, librarian
The Centre s library welcomes donationsofhorticulturalbooksandmagazines. In addition, we are grateful for monetary donations from individualsorgroupsforspecifictitlesor books on our wish list. Donors will receive a tax receipt on request.
Our wish list: Vegetables ofCanada by Derek B. Munro and Ernest Small, NRC Research Press, 1997, $69.95
The Inviting Garden: Gardeningfor the Senses, Mind and Spirit by Allen Lacy, Henry Holt, 1998, $37.50
The Gardener s Guide to Growing Peonies by Martin Page, Timber Press, 1997, $28.13
Donors will be suitably credited on thebook plate.Please contact Mara Arndt, librarian, at (416) 397-1343.
Gardener s tourofNew Zealand, Australia and FijiwithJim andLorraine St. Marie, November, 1998. Enjoy 13 spring days in NewZealand, 10 inAustralia and 3 in Fiji touring sub-tropical and temperate-zone private and public gardens plus nurseries. Call Discover Travel, Waterloo, ON, 1-800-540-2892. E-mail:jhall@golden.net
L]
Garden consulting, design and maintenance. Specializing inperennialbeds, shade gardens and flowering shrubs. Ornamental tree and shrub pruning. Experienced, personal and affordable care for your garden. Carole Charsley, (416) 444-8254.
BirdwatchingandWildflowerTours.PointPelee,AlgonquinPark,RideauTrail, Cape Breton, Bermuda. For free newsletter, call George Bryant atNatural History Tours, (416) 223-6922 or 1-800-371-7779.
Next Trellis deadline
Deadline for the September-October issue of Trellis is July 1. Submissions are welcome.
Art in The Link
June 18 to July 7
Elizabeth Rajotte Nadasdy
July 13 to August 3
Sarah Merry
July/August 1998
Questions and answers with the Master Gardeners
Q. Iordered some ladybugs. How can Ikeep them in my balcony garden?
A. The only way to keep ladybugs is to supply them with plenty of food, which means keeping a good crop of aphids handy.Ifthereareinsectstobeeaten,theywillstaywithyou, but ifnot, they will fly away to forage elsewhere.
Ladybugs will only stay around if there are insects to eat.
Q. Ihave broccoliplants that are alreadyfourfeet tall andflowering. Can Ipick these now and will the plant continue togrow?
A. The causes ofbroccoli flowering too early maybe either extended cool periods or excessive heat and drought. The top flower can be removed and in most varieties the plant will continue to bear side shoots.
Take off the top flower to encourage good side shoots.
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.wm.
Editor s note
By Iris Phillips
The CGCBoardis interestedto hearyour responseto thenew summerformat of Trellis. Regular contact with the membership is important to theboard and proposals are being considered for 1999. The September/October issue of Trellis willbe in the regular format and include the fall course insert. Reserve November 18 for the Edwards Memorial Lecture and celebration of the 40th anniversary of the CGC. The speaker will be Julie Moir Messervy, author of Contmplative Gardens and The Inward Garden.
Master Gardeners have reason to celebrate
Recent Master Gardener graduates are: Helen Battersby, Dan Cooper, Marie Huxter, Linda Jackson, Lynda Johnston, Sue Martin, Margaret Wright.
Honored for ten years service were Master Gardeners: Rosemary Dobson, Susan Dolbey, Barb Gomme, Vivien Jenkinson, Norman Levandoski, Linda McCrossan, Roseanne Nelson and for five years service: Riki Dixon, Alice Kazmer, Lorraine Webster.
