Trellis

The Newsletter of The Civic Garden Centre in Toronto November/December, 1999

Volume 26, Number 6

Always in Bloom

Wildflowers, herbs and grasses live on in the pressed-flower art and handsome wreaths made by two long-standing CGC groups. The crafters love their work, even after all these years

By Lorna Luke

t s a normal WednesIday in Studio 2 at the CGC. Deft hands are turning tiny dried petals of vetch into miniature bluebirds of happiness. A fra- &8 grant pot pourri is mixed [ from blossoms specially grown for their fragrance. Elaborate flower arrangements are carefully glued to cards and bookmarks.

Doris Saffrey, here workingon apressed-flower bookmark, never dismisses a weed. They make excellent driedflowers,

for the Trellis shop and November s Mistletoe B Magic.

Ofcourse, there s a social element to their September to May sessions. Not surprisingly, the women have become lifelong friends who enjoy one another s company. It s a good place to come as you get older, says Vera And artistic and unusual Christmas ornaments are emerging frombeans, pine cones and otherbits ofnature dried for the purpose.

Watchingthe small group ofvolunteers from the pressed flower and Mistletoe Magic craft groups work on their creations is like stepping back in time. They use age-old techniques, some thathaveenduredforcenturies, tomaketreasures

MAGIC

November 4 - 7, 1999

TORONTO' S FINEST CRAFT SHOW AND SALE! Unique Handcrafted Gifts Holiday Decorations Specialty Foods Distinctive Artwork & more.

Enjoy MormngCoffee, Lunch or Afternoon Teain the Café! SHOW HOURS: Thur. & Fri. 10 am. - 7 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission $5.00

The Civic Garden Centre ! ~ at Edwards Gardens

Southwest corner of Lawrence Ave. E. & Leslie St.

Ample FREE Parking!

TTC from EglintonStation Lawrence East 54 or 54A

For Information:

Phone: (416) 397-1340

Fax: (416) 397-1354

Email: cgcl@idirect.com

All proceeds support the programs & services of The Civic Garden Centre :

Fall s farewells and hellos

By Lindsay Dale-Harris, president, Civic Garden Centre board

Rememberyears ago, a dayamongourlast when we kept digging in the bed though it was cold and overcast? Half smiling What might it mean you asked I'm burying KingAlfreds whileyours are called Bronze Queen? ... "

Susan Kingsolving, Alluding to Daffodils

y now [ hope all our members have B buried their emperors, kings and queens, not to mention their presidential wives ( Lady Bird Johson , that is) and elegant ladies. The Trellis Shop, thanks to Silke Gathmann, had a wonderful supply of bulbs and I, for one, am already looking forwardto springwhenone ofthe shop snew introductions Moonshine, a gorgeous, pale yellow lily-flowered tulip will emerge, tall and stately, bymyfrontdoor(not

| ART IN THE LINK

onelosttothe ravenous Toronto squirrel population, ofcourse).

Speaking ofSilke, all ofus at the Centre, and especially the volunteers and staff, were very sad to see her leave in September. Her husband, Oliver, has found a great job in Boston and Silke, who is expecting a baby early in the new year, is joining him there. We wish them every success, and hope they all will come back and visitus often. We are fortunate indeed to have found a new, and highly recommended, horticulturist for the Centre, Cathy Cox. Cathy is a Master Gardenerwho is not only an expert in plants, but hasextensiveexperience inretail sales. Some of our members, I am sure, will remember her from Dominion Coal and Wood on Gerrard Street and (more recently) Plant World in Etobicoke.

VirginiaJones, formerlymanagerofcommunity services, also left inthe summer. Virginiatook aposition in the communications department with the Town ofMarkham. She workeddiligentlywiththe press over the last year, raising awareness ofthe Centre andits events. Once again, we are extremely pleasedtohave found anexceptionalreplacement. Kathy Varley comes to us from the City ofToronto, where she worked with the media, withvolunteers in the organization of special events, and in fundraising.

I d like to thank Robert Lowrey for his most generous loan of a grand piano for the Floral Hall, and thereby granting Douglas Markoff s wish, expressed at this year s annual meeting in the spring. The piano has a beautiful sound, and is there for our enjoyment. ¢

The BeautyAround Us - Oils, watercolours and acrylics, by Marianne Crone and Lucy Poscente. Continues to October 31.

The Flowers ofEdwards Gardens - November 9-21. Opening November 10, 7 p.m. Watercolours by Cynthia Nelson.

Love ofColours andShapes/Joy ofLife - November 10-21. Opening November 11, 7 p.m. Art by Janet Aird and Lise Genova.

The American West as Canadian Scenery: Cross Border Painting - November 22-December 5. Opening November 22, 7 p.m. David Cassels modern waterolours ofthe American west.

VA

}% IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL 35 = Toronto Chapter 208 OB e Presents

THE SPIRIT OF IKEBANA 18th AnnualShow andDemonstrations

Saturday, November20, 1999 11:30am-5:00pm Sunday, November21, 1999 11:30am-5:00pm

DEMONSTRATIONS

1:30p.m. and 3:30p.m. Daily

Civic Garden Centre, Edwards Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie), Toronto

Admission: $7.00

Forticket information contact YukieAsa(905)887-9554 or CharlotteSmith(416)444-4510

MARJORIE MASON-HOGUE PERSONALLY INVITES YOU TO THE MILLENNIUM

GARDEN TOUR

of England, Wales and Scotland, July 3 to 17, 2000 Highlights include a full day at the Hampton Court Flower Show in London, and visits to Beth Chattc Gardens Bressingham, Rose Garden in St. Albans; Warwick Castle, Powis Castle, Crug Farms, Donant Gardens and Aberconay Nurseries, Beatrix Potter s Hilltop Farm and Wordsworth Dove Cottage (Lake District). Attractions in Scotland include stops at Robert Burns Memorial Gardens, Threave School of Gardening and Culzean Castle Garden (in the Highlands). Visits to Cherry Bank, Balmoral Speyside Heather Nursery, Inverewe Gardens and Edinburgh Botanic Garden, plus historical interests will be included in this very personalized tour. $3799 per person, double occupancy (This tour is limited to 30 participants)

Contact Lorna

CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL

TEL: 905-683-8411

TRELLIS

Volume 26, Number 6

Editor: Liz Primeau

Proofreaders: Mara Arndt, Dorothy Gebert, Lorna Luke

Advertising information: (416) 397-1340

Trellis is published six times a year as amembers newsletter by The Civic Garden Centre, at Edwards Gardens, 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 for the January/February issue should be received by November 1. Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity.

Charitable business number: 119227486RR0001

Printed by Harmony Printing, on recycled paper

Notes from the Corner Of ce=

Truth and rumours about the CGC

by Douglas Markoff, executive director

verthe last six months I vehaddozO ens offrank and insightful conversations with people representing a wide variety ofgroups on myriad issues pertaining to The Civic Garden Centre. These discussions have been with members and non-members of the CGC who have attendedfund-raisingevents such as aplant sale orthe Through the Garden Gate tour, taken a course, rented a room for a social occasion orbusiness meeting, orjustvisitedonalovely summer weekend.

Duringthese discussions I vegatheredinformation on such basic questions as: Why do you support the CGC? What other services might the CGC implement? How can itimprove? What andwho is the CGC? Amongmyconclusions isthe inescapablefact that the CGC must do more to communicate a fundamental message to the public: whowe are we and who we are not.

There is no better place to start than with ourownmembers, so here is an informal, do"~it-at-home survey. Ask yourselfwhether each of the following is true or false.

1. The CGC is operated by the City ofToronto, Parks and Recreation Department.

2. TheCGCreceivesallnecessaryannualoperating capital from the City ofToronto.

3. The CGC s governedby an elected, volunteer board ofdirectors.

4. Edwards Gardens and the CGC are the same organization.

5. The CGC and The Garden Club ofToronto are the same organization.

6. The CGC is a charity.

7. The CGCjust celebrated its 40th anniversary.

8. The Teaching Garden at Edwards Gardens is operated and maintained by Toronto Parks and Recreation.

9. The staffofthe CGC and Edwards Gardens are city employees.

Now let s see how you scored. The Civic Garden Centre is a distinct entity. It s a volunteer-based charity which, for 40 years, has been a leading horticultural information and resource centre. The CGC is a place where people of all ages and abilities who share a love for gardening can visit to exchange information, learn more, and perpetuate their passion for plants and related issues. The CGC is run underthe guidance ofan

elected board of directors, while the daily operations are conducted by an executive director(yours truly), paid full-time andparttimenon-unionized staff, and a large contingent of enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers. The landonwhich the CGC rests is cityproperty, and we share the parking lot with Edwards Gardens, a City of Toronto park. As such, the general public perception is thatwe are one and the same organization which seems a natural assumption. There is certainly a lot ofcooperation between the CGC and Edwards Gardens staff, but we operate independently.

The CGC does not receive all its operating capital from the city. The city provides a grant of$25,000 peryear, pays for hydro, is responsible for upkeep ofthe building, such as roofrepair, and has a representative on the CGC board of directors. The bulk of our revenue must come from our own fundraising initiatives. These include several annual plant sales, gardentours, andMistletoe Magic. Othersources includethefacilityrentals, friembership dues, donations (tax deductible), Trellis Shop sales, courses, Teaching Garden registration, and several miscellaneous sources.

The Teaching Garden at Edwards Gardens, whichjust celebrated its first anniversary, was created through the hard work and

innovative thinking of The Garden Club of Toronto. The club has since handed over to the CGC all responsibility for the Teaching Garden sprogrammingandmaintenance. Further, The Garden Club of Toronto is a separate and distinct charitable organization with its own executive, board ofdirectors and, like the Milne House Garden Club, is not part of theCGC, eventhoughtheheadquartersofboth clubs are on ourpremises. Because we have a close relationship, both clubs have representatives on our board. The CGC also houses the offices ofCanada Blooms, the wonderful annual garden show organized by The Garden Club ofToronto and Landscape Ontario.

The CGC has a responsibility to communicatetomembers andthegeneralpublic who we are. Each ofyou, our members, are ambassadors for the CGC, and as such are the best means ofletting members ofthe public know who and what we are. Only together can we effectively deliver the message. Tell a friend, tell a neighbour. Together we can increase membership. Together we can enhance the CGC' s position as the leading horticultural resource centre in Ontario.

Andremember, this is yourCivic Garden Centre. I am certainly available to talk with groups onanyissuerelatingto theCGC. Feel free to give me call. e

Complete with over .0 colourphotographs, updatedplant information, planting tips, rose care information, the Canadian Hardiness Zone map, andmuch more! We are sureyou willfindthis colourfulandinformative Guide an essential toolto answerallyourgardening needs.

Visit any one ofour stores to pick upyour copy today, and happygardening from yourfriends at Sheridan Nurseries!

Always in Bloom

Continuedfrom page 1

than 20 years ago, it had many more members. At that time it met in Studio 4, which was available to the volunteers six days a weekformakingcrafts andsellingtheirwork.

Eileen Brooks was in charge of setting everything up and delegating the work. The women made freshanddried flowerarrangements, and preserved wedding bouquets to order in silica gel, which the brides then stored in a cloche or dome as a keepsake. According to Doris, they weren t allowed to do the good stuff, like making cards and arrangements, until after lunch, when they had finished pressing and preserving their flowers. Later, when The Garden Club ofToronto tookoverthegroup, only the four present members stayed on; the others moved on to

othergroupsorinterests. Sevenoreightyears ago, the Garden Club gave up the group and theybecame partoftheCGC again, and startedto meetwith the Mistletoe Magic crafters. Some ofthe changes have been difficult, especially the loss ofgood friends.

Although capturing the beauty of fresh flowers in an arresting way is a challenge facing each volunteer, this part of the process is the most fun. One card can take from one to four hours to complete, depending on the intricacy ofthe design. First, though, the flowers must be collected (each memberhas her own source) at the right time, which means not after arain, when there is too much moisture. Through trial and error, the women have learned which flowers press better, which are the right size for their work and which keep their colour. Delicate flowers such as pansies, forget-me-nots, larkspur,

Coming Events at The Civic Garden Centre

NOVEMBER

November 4-7

Mistletoe Magic Toronto's finest craft show and sale, sponsored by The Civic Garden Centre.

Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission $5 at the door, children under 12 free.

November 9

North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting 8 p.m. Visitors welcome.

November 12

Good Health Gardening Conference

1-9 p.m. Gardening Life magazine and the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association present the first Good Health Gardening conference at The Civic Garden Centre for gardeners and healthcare professionals. Learn about the therapeutic and positive effects of gardening. Speakers include: Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of Bioplanning a North Temperate Garden, Toronto Star columnist Michele Landsberg, horticultural therapist Mitchell Hewson, and Henry Kock of the University of Guelph. Gardening Life editor-in-chief Marjorie Harris will also be on hand with her new book, Seasons of My Garden. The conference includes cocktails and dinner. Tickets $85 to $135. Space is limited. Call (416) 593-0204, ext. 268.

November 14

Ontario Rock Garden Society Meeting 1:30 p.m. Speaker: Anna Leggatt on California Wildflowers. Open to the public.

November 17

Edwards Memorial Lecture

7:30 p.m. Thomas Hobbs, author of the recently released Shocking Beauty, founder of Thos. Hobbs, Florist, and owner of Southlands Nursery in Vancouver, shows slides of gardens throughout North America and Europe. Free.

November 20-21

lkebana International

The Spirit of lkebana 18th annual show, presented by the Toronto Chapter. Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m - 5 p.m. Demonstrations daily at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.Tea room and ginza. Admisssion $7.

November 28

Master Gardeners

Seminar, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Theme: Fill That Space. Guest speakers: Dugald Cameron, Marion Jarvie and Darren Schmal. Visitors welcome bring lunch, but dessert and beverage are provided. Admission $20.

November 28

Rhododendron Society

Plant sale followed by general meeting. 2-4 p.m. Speaker: Bob Dickert on Importing Plant Material.

November 28

York Rose & Garden Society

Annual meeting 2 p.m. Visitors welcome.

DECEMBER

December 3

Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Annual meeting and Christmas party.

December 3-5

Christmas Plant Sale

Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday noon - 4 p.m. All the plants and greenery you need to spruce up your home for the season. CGC members receive 10% discount on purchases over $10.

December 12

Ontario Rock Garden Society

Meeting 1:30 p.m. Speaker: Peter Goldblatt on South African Wildflowers. Open to the public.

Call the Civic Garden Centre today to book space for your important function.

verbena, cosmos, chives, bergamot and laceleafdustymillerlookbeautifulwhenpressed, as do grasses, weeds and herbs. Each worker organizes her flowers in herown unique way -some are pressed in a book, others in a box.

TheMistletoeMagic grouphas fivemembers andworks withpine cones, seeds, chestnuts, acorns and poppy seedheads. We recycle from nature, says long-time member Lillian Lee, and it s a challenge to find new ways to use these things. Pine cones are first curedbyheating them in an oven at 350 degrees to kill the bacteria and insects. And although we may think ofthem as identical, each has its own unique look. You discover their differences as you work with them, Lillian says. For example, white pine releases its pitch during baking and develops a lovely sheen. The rich shadesofbrown and varied textures of the cones present a wide range of options for making wreaths, door swags and tree decorations.

Astheirnumbersdwindle, members ofthe two groups worry what will happen to these dying arts. Young people nowadays are too busy with their lives to find time for this, says Dorothy, butit s awonderfulhobby you can start when you re young and continue through your life. They hope others will be inspired tojoin, and enjoy the work as they have.

Ifyou haven t had a chance to see these charming crafts, stop by the Trellis Shop and don t miss Mistletoe Magic. ¢

We hope you ll come to ourChristmas party, Wednesday, December 8, 4-7 p.m. We promise nourishment forboth body and spirit during the mad holiday rush.See you there!

Don tmiss Mlstletoe

craftsale fea-

crafted gifts unusual toys dried flowers, stained glass, carvings, pottery, pamtmgs distinctive clothmgfor adults

shoptillyoudrop,acaféiswaitingtoserve you morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. November4-7.

Thursday d Friday: 10

Plant Portrait

Hedera helix welcomes the season

ByAnna Leggatt

O, the holly and the ivy, when they are in full bloom.

Various plants are associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season, including ivy, often overlooked as a plant for decorations. The carol remarks on the ivy s bloom, but in fact the flowers are very small.

cold climate, itmay dieback. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of named varieties andcultivars, in cream, gold, with fancy variegations and different leafforms, including dwarf, and with crested leaves, but most are not hardy here.

helpe sore and smartingwaterish eies, ifthey be bathed and washed with the water wherin they have been infused. I think a doctor would be more help.

May all yourplants grow bigger and better in the new millennium.

They make great house plants because ¢ It s the berries on the female tree that can be spectacular. Ivy flowers are greenish andthe berries are usually a dull, blackish green.

When I was a child in England, we relied on ivy for filling spaces, using long trails on stair rails and placing smaller pieces around pictures. We gathered both young and old forms. The climbing stems had the typical ivyleaf; thebranching stems hadoval leaves. We didn t hesitate to tear masses of ivy off the trees where it was growing because we knew it might eventually kill the trees.

they tolerate shade and are forgiving when youforgettowaterthem. Because ofthe way they climb, with rootlets, they root easily, so you ll soon have several to use inwinterdecorations.

Ivy has many superstitions attached to it. Mymother didn t care for it in the house because sheconsider//lustrated Plant Lore says itsymbolizes immortality and is anevil omen because it kills whatever it embraces. In ancient times, it was associated with Bacchus andwasthoughttopreventdrunkenness. Ivy growing on a pole was used as an early inn

In Canada, the common ivy, Hedera helix, ishardytoZone 6, (with sheltertoZone 5). sign. It makes a good ground cover in shade and Gerard sHerball says The leaves laidin will cling to a sheltered wall. In a severely steepe in water for a day and a nights space,

bljary News

SRR ac = ST5

With the help offunds from the Milne House Garden Club, the library is now able to gain access to the following CD-ROM encyclopedic databases that will help us answer your gardening questions:

* Botannica s Roses * Garden Encyclopedia ¢ Garden Problem Solver ¢ Trees in Canada We d also like to extend our thanks to all CGC members whose generosity has enhanced our collection over the past year. [1

Gardening from Scratch

By Ann Lovejoy; photographs by Allan Mandell; illustrations by Jean Eammons (Macmillan, New York; 1998. 164 pages, $29.95)

A delightful, easy reading book born from the Gardeningfrom Scratch weekly column she writes in Bainbridge Island, Washington, in this book Ann Lovejoy shows readers the practical steps and questions to consider when planning a new yard. Beautifully illustrated with awesome photography bound to suggestpossibilities to apersonbrowsing fornew ideas, this book is sure to be on the must-read list ofstudents, homeowners and garden enthusiasts. @

Reviewed by Anne Wright, volunteer

Wanted

Is your home cluttered with an excess ofalready-read gardening books and horticulture magazines? Would you like to clear out those old but still usable gardening tools from the shed? The Civic Garden Centre would gladly accept these items for a fundraiser planned for the spring of2000. Please bring them to the library the next time you visit the CGC. Thank you in advance.

THE EDWARDS MEMORIAL LECTURE

SPEAKER: THOMAS HOBBS

DATE: WED., NOVEMBER 17

Toric: SHOCKING BEAUTY

Author and garden impresario Thomas Hobbs shows slides fromhis collection of stunning gardens throughout North America and Europe. His choices include scene-setting vignettes such as Portable Drama, StagingIncidents, and Zonal Denial. He also advises on blending colour, texture and plant species for unusual effects. Hobbs was founder of Thos. Hobbs, Florist, for years Vancouver s favourite flower shop, and is now owner of Southlands Nursery in Vancouver. He s a frequent media guest and speaks on gardening to horticultural societies and professional organizations, and has his own spectacular garden, which has appeared on Canadian Gardening Television and has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Home and Gardening Lifemagazines. Hisbook,ShockingBeauty, wasreleasedthispastspring. TheeveningisfreetoCGCmembersand non-members.

Erratum

In the September/October issue we erroneously reported that Sondra Gotlieb s column appeared in The Globe and Mail. The mistake was made because Trellis s editor, a followerofthe column who wondered why she hadn' t seen it lately, does not have a subscription tothe The NationalPost, where it now appears. We regret the error.

Expert advice from the Master Gardeners

Q. Is treated wood badfor myplants?

A. Wood preservatives based on creosote, pentchlorophenol and arsenic are toxic to plant life. Preservatives such as napthalene, copper sulphate and zinc naphthenate are safe to use.

e s DER R e T e e e eeeeo . 7Gem

Sl s S RS 1o ¢m §hononn |2Scm

Planting depth for, from left, fritillaries, narcissus and tulip.

Q. I'm confused about the proper planting Don't use toxic woods for your raised beds. time for bulbs. When should fritillaria, allium, tulips and daffodils beplanted?

A. Fritillaria should be planted as soon as you receive them as their viability is lost as the season progresses. Plant them in partial shade. Allium can be planted in spring or autumn, in full sun and rich soil, with ample moisture. For tulips, wait until the soil has cooled down in mid to late autumn. Daffodils need to make roots before winter and should be planted in September to early October.

Q. Part ofmy cedar hedge is dying back. A blackwalnut tree rows near it could this be the cause?

A. Yes. Most evergreens are susceptible to thejuglone given offby that tree. Try red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, which is more tolerant ofjuglone.

Gardening questions?

Call the Master Gardeners Free Infoline: (416) 397-1345

0 Weekdays: 10 a.m.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Garden consulting, design and maintenance. Specializing in perennial beds, shade gardens andfloweringshrubs. Ornamental tree and shrub pruning. Experienced, personal and affordablecare foryourgarden. Carole Charsley (416) 444-8254.

Wildflower and bird watching tours.

Point Pelee, Algonquin Park, Great Smokies,VancouverIsland, Turkey. For free newsletter, call George Bryant at NATURAL HISTORY TOURS (416) 4430583 or 1-877-245-2424.

For sale: Canadian Wildflowers, by C.P.Traill. First edition, published in 1868. Ten coloured plates painted and lithographed by Agnes Fitzgibbon; $700 CNDN. Call: (416) 924-1732.

Deck your halls at plant sale

Let the CGC s Christmas Plant Sale set the stage for all your holiday festivities. We have all the plants and greenery you need to spruce up your home poinsettias, azaleas, cyclamen and Christmas cacti, plus fresh mistletoe and wreaths. On-site advice on plant care is available from the CGC s horticulturist and Toronto Master Gardeners. Members receive a 10 percent discount on purchases over $10. @