THE CI1viC GARDEN CENTRE at Edwards Gardens
Who We Are
~ The Civic Garden Centre (CGC), founded i 1958, is avolunteer-based, not-for-profit tion whose mission is to act as a urce for gardening, horticulture ironmental issues by encouragin promoting involvement, and gatherin seminating and interpreting informatio bers ofthe community.
8,000 books, 70 periodicals, and a large collection of clippings, pamphlets, nursery and - seed catalogues, as well as a greatséleck tjgqbf,
many unique gifts, books and garde
plies for sale. The Teaching Garden has order to enhance the quality of life for mem- created as a working garden to foster interest
What We Offar
Located at Edwards Gardens, The Civic Garden Centre offers many programs and services, including year-round activities for families and
nity service, Art in the Link offers gallery space children. Our horticultural library has over one ofToronto s favourite garden spots.
3% Directory & Hours of Operation
Administrative Offices
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CGC Library &Trellis Shop cgclibrary@idirect.ca
April 1 to December 23
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday& Holidays 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Closed at3 p.m. December 24
January 1 to March 31
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 12 noon to 4 p.m.
3% Directory
Main Number ................. (416) 397-1340
FaXe Ol vr SR e e e (416) 397-1354
Emaiboss oo Sl S cgcl@idirect.com
Course Registration ............. (416) 397-1362
COCLibrary o o naling (416) 397-1343
Horticultural Services ............ (416) 397-1358
Teaching Garden ............... (416) 397-1355
Master Gardeners Free Info Line (416) 397-1345
Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 12 noon to 3 p.m.
Rentals s ol o ininaine {416) 397-1349
TrellisShop:- v oiso i asamans (416) 397-1357
Volunteer Co-ordinator .......... (416) 397-4145
Photography Permit, Toronto Parks & Recreation Division . . .......... (416) 392-8188
and educate people in the love and values of gardening and the natural world. As a commuto local artists. As well, the CGC has a wide variety of banquet halls, meeting rooms and show space, with access to Edwards Gardens,
3% Board of Directors
President: Lindsay Dale-Harris
Members: Kim Dalglish Abell, Alice Adelkind, Timothy P.D. Bates, Arthur Beauregard, Sandra Beech, Marisa Bergagnini, Dugald Cameron, Victoria Lister Carley, Susan Dyer, Clare Fisher, Judy Floyd,Janet Greyson, Lorraine Hunter, Carolyn Kearns, Cecil Lamrock, Tracey C.H. Lawko, Sonia Leslie, Kenneth D. Maiden, Barbara Mayer, Grace Patterson, Janet Rowley, Helen Shaw
3% Staff Members
Executive Director Douglas Markoff Manager, Community Services KathyVarley
Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox
Accounting
Joe Sabatino
Administration Shirley Lyons
Course Co-ordinator Rosetta Leung
Librarian Mara Arndt
Library Info. Technician Lisa Uyeno
Maintenance Supervisor Walter Morassutti
Rental Co-ordinator Randie Smith
Teaching Garden Co-ordinator
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Volunteers
3¢ Patrons
Shannon Collins
Carol Gardner
Over 425 volunteers
Honorary Patron: Hilary Weston, Lieutenant-Governor ofOntario
Patrons: Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, Lorraine Johnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
NU[BS from the Board
== by Lindsay Dale-Harris ® PRESIDENT
Creating the love ofgardens
Ifwhatwe knowis whatresembles us Whatwe knowisagarden
A garden can be as small asyour hands. It can restanywhere there is light to reach it
Patrick Lane reprinted, with author s permission, from The Bare Plum of WinterRain (Harbour, 2000)
It cannot be denied: cold nights, blustery
winds, a frantic effort to plant my final bulbs, and the realization that Mistletoe Magic is just around the corner, all herald the end of my gardening season.
Although most gardens look a bit the worse for wear at this time of year, it does seem an appropriate time to reflect on their magic, for it is the magic that draws us back to the garden year after year.
Some gardens are simply quite magical places because of their design, their use of colour and form, or their sense of peace and tranquillity. Many of us strive to create gardens with these qualities; few have the talent to achieve them.
Other gardens that appear to be more pedestrian can be equally magical, but for a different reason they offer special experiences and opportunities for their owners, or for visitors. One of the special things about the Centre s Teaching Garden is the way it introduces children not just to the knowledge of gardening but also to the magic of gardening. Shannon Collins, our new Teaching Garden co-ordinator, is experienced in children s education, and this summer she developed some exceptional programs designed to teach children about the garden through the use ofdrama, art and the world ofthe imagination. Her approach was particularly evident during the Green Adventure program for inner city children, made possible through the support of the Garden Club of Toronto. Every Friday, when 40
or more eager children scurried off the buses and wended their way across the bridge and up the hill to the Teaching Garden, one could see clearly that they weren t just anticipating having some fun but on their way to create their own magic. It was the magic that helped them understand nature and the environment. Yes, they learned how things grew, but they also learned about imagination. Shannon introduced them to the program by telling them the story of The Giving Tree. Papier-maché and paint helped create individual talking-tree wands or totems, which each child could take home as a reminder of the different trees and spirits that inhabit the Teaching Garden.
What a wonderful way for children to discover the magic of gardens.
Mén yThanks to at the Civic
THEVOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL supporl of all ofourfriends is vitallyimportanttothe pro-
Campangn just six monih&ago and aimady'we are at 50 per cent of our $25,000 goal. We think thisis a tremendous success for ourfirst
Christmas is a time of giving and wehope that you will consider making The Civic Garden Centre one ofthecharitable organiza-
service area but you willalsoréceiVe a variety ofbenefitsassociatedwithyourlevel ofgiving. Again... thank you to everyonewhacontinuestomake th ng programasuccess.
JanetGreysonandThe Czvzc, den Centre Fundraising Comfiiiiree
Nov. 9-11, 2000 Thisfestive event1spacked with decorating tips to malketheupcomingholidayseasononetoremember: Over 100 trees lit with 30,000 lights * Innovative Displays * Demonstrations ¢ Boutiques * * Charming Gingerbread Houses ¢
from the Corner Office
by Douglas Markoff ® Executive DIRECTOR
Please don t rain on myharvest
s [ write, it s the fourth week of August.
AIn previous years the vegetable garden tended mostly by my wife has been a horn-of-plenty, with enough tomatoes to contribute to the local food bank, our daily salads, delicious canned sauce, and giveaways to lucky neighbours.
This summer we looked forlornly at our vegetable garden. Though green and healthy, our tomato plants were hesitant to set fruit. We usually start to pick the ever-reliable Early Girl in early July and continue through September, but this year it was was reluctant to turn from green to that distinctive rosy orange that beckons you to pick its fruit for a Sunday afternoon grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. Beefsteak tomatoes, which we normally start to harvest in late July/early August, also remained green. We're finally picking cherry tomatoes, albeit with thick skins. One of the farmers at the Foodland Ontario Market described her cherry tomatoes as being deliciously sweetwith a distinctively chewy skin .
Tomato pollen requires a minimum temperature of 14°C to germinate, ideally 16-25°C. The cool spring temperatures and generous rainfall experienced throughout much of Ontario hampered fruit-set by impeding pollen growth. The seeds of carrots and beets were washed out; our eggplants and peppers flowered, but bore scant fruit. The yield of squash, both yellow and zucchini, which at this time of year normally overwhelms us, has been modest bordering on meagre. Even the raccoons and groundhogs seem disappointed. These denizens of our urban vegetable garden usually help with the harvest by ensuring that the day before we plan on picking that perfect squash for dinner we find it or most of it has vanished.
Farmers have likewise felt the effects of this year s weather. A friend at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, told me
excessive rainfall meant that soybean and grains such as oats and barley had to be seeded two and three times, and the crops were two to six weeks behind schedule. Flooding left fields erratic and uneven, making it difficult to machine harvest. Corn, usually majestically level to the eye, has varied in height from three to six feet (one to two metres).
Tender fruits such as peaches, cherries and strawberries were good to excellent, although the harvest varied across Ontario. The excessive rain caused more fungus than usual, increasing production costs. Our strawberry harvest, normally sufficient for two dozen jars of preserves (half for new membership gift packages at Mistletoe Magic), was modest. Commercial strawberry growers in the 519 area had one of the best years in memory, whereas production in the 705 area was highlyvariable.
The weather also affected a new community initiative in which the CGC is participating. Plant a Row, Grow a Row, designed to provide the less fortunate with garden-fresh produce, is sponsored by the Toronto Public Health Department and the North York Heart Health Network. Until the end of October, all the excess fruit and vegetables a home gardener grew could be dropped off at the Civic Garden Centre Sundays between noon and 5 p.m. But the rain and lower-than-average temperatures precluded regular production, much less any excess for donations. (If you have produce you can spare now, call (416) 635-7771 for the drop-off depot nearest you.)
Although the weather adversely affected vegetable gardens, other plants performed marvelously well. Perennials and herbs in general reveled in the moisture. Some perennials flowered longer than usual and others showed a second flush of flowers, including one CGC member s bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), foam
flower (Tiarella) and sweet woodruff (Galium). Our forsythia flowered for weeks longer than average, even after being laden with snow and frost in May.
Other plants flowered earlier than usual. In our garden, rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), usually a late-summer/early-fall bloomer, started the last week in July, while mums flowered early to mid-August, as did our showy stonecrop (Sedum spectabile). Another CGC member said her toad lily (7ricyrtis) flowered in late June and her witch hazel (Hamamelis), normally a winter bloomer, in late August.
Interestingly, the past two years were ones of comparative drought, prompting several provincial ministries, local municipalities and conservation authorities to plan a water-management strategy. Ontario Water Response 2000 was designed to co-ordinate and support local responses in the event of drought. Precipitated (no pun intended) by the drought, water levels in the Great Lakes were low Ontario, Huron and Erie levels were down by three feet (one metre), as were ground water, aquifer levels
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and tributary levels. This year, levels in Ontario and Erie are back to normal, while those in Huron, Michigan and Superior remain low.
The dog days of summer are over. But were there many? Again, as I write, Environment Canada reports only two summer days with temperatures above 30°C in the GTA. Not to let a small thing like this year s weather dampen our resolve, my wife and I are already planning our garden for next year. The cycle of nature will prevail and we look forward to a bumper year with sufficient bounty for ourselves, the food bank and, of course, our fourlegged garden assistants.
What do you think of....
A spring bustour to Stratford, Ontario, organized . by; e Civic Garden Centre? We'd leave the CGCin the morning, visit the Shakespeare Gardens and _otherlovely gardens in Stratford. Then we'd enjoy adelicious lunch in a local restaurant and attend amatinee performance of an acclaimed play. Express your interest call Kathy Varley today, (416) 397-1351
GARDEN GETAWAY 5 - 20 AUG. 2001
personally escorted by Marjorie Mason-Hogue Aug. 5 to Aug. 20 in England and Scotland will enable us to more fully enjoy the heather on the hills and to attendtheRoyal Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. Air Canada will be our airline of choice, flying non-stop into London, Heathrow. We ll spend several days in the southeast visiting the Gardens of Wisley, Sissinghurst and Capel manor. Then it s west to Somerset and the Garden of Nori and Sandra Pope at Hadspen House and authors of the superb book Colour by Design. We ll visit the Garden House where Keith Wiley s unique meadow plantings have become very popular. Then it s through the picturesque Cotswolds and north to the Lake District we ll enjoy Beatrix Potter s Hilltop Farm and Holehird Garden operated by the Lakeland Horticultural Society. Their national collection of hydrangeas will be attheirpeak. Heading north to Scotland we ll enjoy gardens, history, castles and breathtaking scenery ofthe Highlands and the Isle of Skye. There will be a visit to Allen Paterson s Garden in Dumfriesshire. Among the Scottish gardens will be Crathes Castle Falkland Palace and Edinburgh Botanic Garden.
Contact Lorna: Carlson Wagonlit Travel Tel: 905-683-8411
by Carol Gardner
Here s to our front-liners
MY HUSBAND' S JUST been picked up by the police. What should I do?
That may not be a typical telephone request received by our receptionists, but it was a real one. The answer, alas, has been lost to posterity. But it was probably a perfectly sensible answer our receptionists have learned to roll with the punches.
Each week, 10 volunteer receptionists do a regular shift one morning or afternoon answering the main CGC phone line, greeting visitors, giving information and taking registrations for a wide variety of programs and services: memberships, courses, garden tours, The Great Gardening Conference and so on.
Some have a lot of CGC experience and some are relatively new volunteers. Nuala Vermeiren, who has just retired from her
I LOVE TREES & SHRUBS
Wednesday afternoon shift, was a receptionist for 14 years; Helen Lawson has been at her post for 11 years and is still going strong. Our newest recruits Gladys Cutler and Jackie Megill look like they re made of the same sturdy stuff.
The unflappable Dorothy Ferris starts off the week with a (really terrible) joke to cheer up the staff; Monday afternoon s Sheila Macdonald continues the mood with her banana earrings (memories of Carmen Miranda). And so it goes with Bev McKeigan, Margaret Van Wagensveld, Helen Fonberg, Sheila Kinross, Kay Bastajian, Joy Sjare and Grace Mueller consistently bringing humour, intelligence and energy to the front lobby.
Bette-Jane Filipkowski, a real godsend, is scheduler and makes sure the shifts are filled when a regular is away. And away they sometimes are: like a lot of volunteers, some take long winter or summer holidays. We have golfers, cottagers, grandparents, world travellers you name it. And because they have rich lives, they bring that extra something to the job.
That s why we have a back-up crew (who ve saved our lives on more than one occasion) for all our scheduled volunteer jobs, not only in reception, but also in the library and the Trellis Shop.
So if you ve been saying to yourself, I'd like to volunteer, but I have a life don t! You can have a life and be a volunteer. Honest. If you don t believe it, the next time you re in the building, speak with the receptionist.
Don tforget to reserve a couple of hours for us this holiday season. Our annual Volunteers Christmas Party is on Wednesday, December 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. in The Floral Hall. Hope to seeyou there.
Tea[:hmul}arden
by Shannon Collins
Fall fever
IN KEEPING WITH the eager air of back-toschool, teachers all over Toronto filled every available session in the Teaching Garden s fall series within days of receiving our brochure. With the increased demands on their time, teachers appreciate programs that are based on Ontario s science curriculum.
Leaves changed, and children came and learned through doing. To teach about time, seasons and cycles, we made sundials, measured our shadows and planted garlic bulbs. To explore water and wind energy, we created waterways to supply whole miniature villages with irrigation and drinking water. Composting activities in the Grade 3 program, That s Not Dirt, culminated in the creation of pop-bottle garbage gardens. The highlight of the Grade 4 program, Movin On Out, was the bird-feeder hanging ceremony. The Grade 5 program, Whatever the Weather, engaged students in constructing various weather instruments and recording climatic factors, such as wind speed and humidity. As the weather cooled, billions of bugs hid deeper in the soil, perished or flew off to warmer climates. Those that stayed quivered their wings and wiggled their antennae in fear of being classified by enthusiastic Grade 6 students.
With these seven programs enriching classroom learning, it seemed time to create a program that focussed on schoolyard learning. From Concrete to Conservation was a special one hosted by the Teaching Garden as a part of the Toronto Environmental Film and Video Festival, which had a theme of Planet in Focus. With a generous donation from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund through its Cool Schools program, two classes of grades 4 and 5 students were invited to take part in the September workshop. Schoolyard naturalization is a trend in the efforts to encourage growth in the concrete jungles of Toronto. Educators are becoming aware of the learning potential of cracking
the concrete and turning grey to green. With our 60 students we screened a documentary film about schoolyard naturalization, then went into the Teaching Garden to play with compost, build bird feeders and hike through the trees. What would a colourful fall be without art, we asked ourselves. In response, we developed an after-school Art in the Park program to run every Tuesday and Thursday from September 26 to October 12. Sarka Buchl, a professional artist who has led most Art in the Park programs in the past, took the children on a drawing and painting journey.
With the winter chill now upon us, we curl up like cocooned caterpillars to dream up plans for the Teaching Garden s spring and summer programs
The Teachmg Gardensays aspeczalthankyou to June Knudsen who, in memory ofher sister, Lenore Smith, donated lavender and wormwoodfor making pot pourri sachets. Lenore died in April this year, and the plants were favourites in hergarden.
ardens:--
On a November day, an old cemetery can be a peacefulplace to enjoy nature
t the bitter end of summer, it s hard to Afind a garden that excites us. We can do our best and admire berries and seedheads and tree bark, and enjoy the crunch of leaves underfoot, but eventually we have to admit it s all more or less over for another year. Even the excitement of seeing the last rose buds tinged with frost begins to lose its charm. What better time, then, to visit an old Toronto cemetery? All is calm in these places now, with a feeling of gravity and permanence that slows us down and brings us well-prepared
Trellis
The Chapel of St. James-the-Less was built in 1857 in St. James Cemetery, NOW across Parliament Street from St. JamesTown apartment complex
into grey November. Many of the gravestones reveal the names of people who played an integral role in the history of our city.
MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY,
which stretches east from Yonge to Bayview between Merton and St. Clair, is sometimes a busy place for the living, designed as it was with a variety of terrain. Little hills, hollows and glades welcome joggers and strollers. Young arbourists and garden designers are often taken there by their teachers Ryerson students in the landscape program can sometimes be seen frozenly clutch-
ing damp notes as they peer at incipient buds, bark and branching patterns to determine if the tree is a red or sugar maple. It helps that Mount Pleasant has a system of tree-labelling and a map available (for a fee). The cemetery is big and it s easy to get turned around on a visit there. Consequently, it lacks the coziness of some ofToronto s more intimate burial grounds.
For pure old-Toronto charm, nothing beats the NECROPOLIS at the northwest corner of Winchester and Sumach streets. It s surrounded by the always interesting Cabbagetown, which has many fine examples of small garden design. The Necropolis was laid out as the successor to the earlier Potter s Field burial area located in Yorkville. It s a serious place, with no orchestrated vistas or cunningly situated willows, where one might go to contemplate life.
Some of the trees are huge, and those that do well prosper in the pure sand that comprises this part of the bluff above the Don River. The bark of some makes them easy to identify even without leaves. Look for the pleats of the big ash tree, the twists of the black locust, and the flaky plates of the silver maple. Make sure you search out the golden, silky bark of the Manchurian cherry (Prunus maackii), which gleams in the early winter sun. A list of most of the older trees is available from the office as well as a plan of some of the historically interesting early grave markers.
The pretty and delicate Victorian Gothic chapel, lodge and porte-cochere, built in 1872, will make you smile even if you visit on a blustery late autumn day. Try to return in spring to see the flowering dogwood in bloom in a corner by the chapel. As you wander among the gravestones look for names of famous people from Toronto s history George Brown, one of the fathers of Confederation; Ned Hanlan, a worldchampion rower; and George Leslie, nurseryman, after whom Leslie Street is named.
If you have time, cross the street to Riverdale Farm to see what remains of summer s herb and perennial garden. If you're in luck, the little cafe across the street will be open for a hot drink or lunch.
Just up the street from the Necropolis, on the east side of Parliament just north of Wellesley, is ST. JAMES CEMETERY, designed in the 1840s by architect John Howard. At the time, many graves and monuments were moved from the churchyard at St. James Cathedral, which was being cleared for new development. John Howard is known to Torontonians as the architect who bequeathed his home, Colborne Lodge, and the surrounding lands (now High Park) to the city.
The cemetery is laid out in fairly utilitarian fashion, with trees and shrubs deposited about with little sense of style, in the manner of a simple English graveyard. The charm of St. James lies in its many attractive headstones
Despite a rather macabre name, the Necropolis boosts a charming Victorian Gothic chapel and porte-cochere, built in 1872.
and the Chapel of St. James-the-Less. This small Gothic building full of romantic personality was built in 1857; try to visit when the crematorium isn t belching black smoke.
The east edge of the 26-hectare cemetery falls away rather steeply toward the Bayview extension, and the sound of cars is pervasive. To the west are the grim towers of St. James Town. It s interesting to think that many of the families who lie in this cemetery were the developers and promoters of early Toronto, when the cemetery was a much more peaceful place.
STORING
o D %M #
How to putyour babies to bedfor winter
ow that the cool
wet summer that | brought an armada
of insects and mildew is behind us and fall is in full swing, it s time for dahlia enthusiasts to think about putting their babies to bed. A killer frost that blackens dahlia foliage is a sure sign it s time to cut off the stems. Cut about half way down and remove stakes, being sure to tie the name tags to the remaining stems. After a few days, cut stems back to 12 inches (30 centimetres) and leave them to stand for about a week. This allows moisture to flow down into the tubers.
To lift tubers, use a garden fork or spade and gently dig in a wide circle around the clump. Holding the remaining stem in one hand and supporting the clump with the other, gently ease the tubers from the ground. Take care not to damage the necks of the tubers. Remove soil from the clumps by gently tapping the stems with a hammer. In gardens with light soil this may be adequate cleaning, but in heavier soils a spray with the garden hose may be necessary. To dry tubers, lay them on newspaper or drying racks upside down, out of the sun, for a few days. Cut tubers off the old
stem without damaging the crowns or eyes. These eyes will be nextyear s growth.
To maximize bloom and propagate the plants, tubers need to be split up. You can do this in fall or spring, but they re easier to store if split in the fall. To sever the clump into individual fingers, use a sharp knife and cut as close to the neck, or crown, as possible. Be sure to leave a piece of the neck and at least one eye on each finger. Cut away the old stem and wet centre pith, and trim off straggly tails and fibrous growth. Dust fresh cuts lightly with sulphur powder to help prevent rot. Label tubers with an indelible pencil or permanent marker. Several methods and media can be used to pack tubers for winter. My choice is vermiculite, but some gardeners use peat moss or wood shavings, or simply wrap each tuber in newspaper and don t use a loose medium for packing. Ifyou decide on a loose medium, place a layer in the bottom of a newspaper-lined cardboard box or plastic pail. Lay tubers soldier fashion over the medium, but don t allow them to touch. Add medium to cover, and another
Late fall is the time to dig and store exhibition dahlia tubers for winter.
layer of tubers. Continue until the container is full. I like to put some of each variety in each container so if something should happen to one container during the winter I don t lose all of one variety. Lay newspaper over the top of the packed container and close it. Cover with a plastic garbage bag and store in a cool place where there is no danger of freezing, 2-10°C (35-50°F) the cooler the better.
Once a month, check tubers. Open the boxes or plastic containers and gently slip your hand
CGC, Don Mills Shopping Centre ChallengeTreeTrimmers
DuringtheweekofNovember6, 12creativeand competitive teams representing horticultural groups will rise to a challenge issued by The Civic Garden Centre and decorate a tree at the Don Mills Shopping Centre.
The challenge has been organized by the FundraisingCommitteeoftheCivicGardenCentre, under the leadership of Sue Stevenson. It s an excellentwayfororganizationstoachievesome of their goals in the area of community outreach, Suesays. And it sgoingtobea lotoffun,too.
The eventis also a CGCfundraiser.Adonation box will be at the site to receive contributions for anas-yetunnamed CivicGarden Centreproject.
At thetime of writing, the North Toronto Horticultural Society, the CGCboard ofdirectors, the CGC staff, theMilneHouse Garden Club, Blooms staff, the
down the side tubers should feel firm. If any have rotted, remove them. If tubers are starting to shrivel, mist them lightly with water, allow them to absorb the water, then re-pack and re-bag.
Mike Maves is a member of the Canadian Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society. Meetings are held at 8 p.m. thefourth Thursday ofeach monthfromJanuary toJune, plus August, at the Civic Garden Centre. For more information, call Roy Foxat (416) 286-5798.
The Branch Manager
Is your Ficus Benjamina tree lookinga little droopy and tired? Call The Branch Manager for selective pruning of Benji and your other interior trees and tropical plants. (416 512-1298
ive pruning promot: proper growth.
Milne House Garden Club
S
presents A Christmas Table Design Workshop
A demonstration and workshop Wednesday, December 6 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Civic Garden Centre $15.00
Admission includes basic materials. Please bring a garbage bag to cover the table, wire cutters, scissors, needle nosed pliers and a 12 ruler.
To Register call: 484-0677
LE.ARNING THE LiNgSO
Icould have been a gardener, butIdidn thave the Latin, jokes Charmiene Montgomery. Butshe s teasing us in this issue, in her own wittyand informedstyle, she begins an explanation of the Latin names ofsome ofourmostfamiliar ornamentals
ome of you may remember the British Ssatirical group, Beyond the Fringe, starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. In one of their skits, an old miner complains that he could have had a judicial career, but he didn t have the Latin for the job. I know how he felt. There comes a time in any budding gardener s career (sorry, no pun intended) when she realizes she needs the Latin, too.
For most of us, what Latin we remember from high school is pretty vague amo, amas, amat; veni, vidi, vici; and my daughter s favourite: semper ubi, sub ubi. However, since so many English words derive from that dead language, it s not too hard to guess the meaning
of a lot of Latin botanical names.
While the problem of Latin vs. English doesn t arise much with vegetables, when it come to flowers, trees, and shrubs it s helpful to know the Latin name, which doesn t vary from one part of the world to another, for the most part. Thus, you can avoid the confusion caused by such common names as woolly betony, Saviour s flannel, and lamb s ears all localized names for Stachys lanata. Another point in favour of the Latin: most reputable nurseries list their plants by the botanical Latin name, making it easier to be sure you re buying what you really want.
Of course, you shouldn t go overboard and call all plants by their Latin names. Such things as marigold or yew are so well known by their common names that to refer to them as 7agetes or Taxus is to risk comments that you are an overly pedantic bore. But with a little practice, it s easy to fall into the habit of referring to your other garden plants by their botanical names. In fact, some flowers are only known by their Latin names: iris, clematis and dahlia, for example. At first, it s difficult to get your tongue around all those syllables, but after a while such things as Filipendula hexapetala just pop out without a thought.
As well, the Latin names tell you something about how a plant looks or grows (think twice about anything called reptans it will spread, trust me!). The shape of leaves or the colour of flowers is described with adjectives like alba, rubra, variegata, or plumaria.
It s a lot easier to remember the botanical name if you know where the name came from, so in coming issues of Trellis I'll give you details about the origin and meaning of the names of some of our more common ornamental plants. Then you ll be able to rhapsodize about the flamboyant blooms on your rhododendron, knowing it s from the Greek rhoden, or rose, and dendron, or tree.
Charmiene Montgomery is a Master Gardener and designer who specializes in small residential gardens. Watch for the next installment of Learning the Lingo in the January/February issue of Trellis.
The TrellisShop s newvarieties add drama toyourspringgarden will
by Cathie Cox
ORANGE IS IN, and the Trellis Shop has it.
The bulb of the year is Orange Lion , a soft orange Darwin tulip 22 to 24 inches (55-60 centimetres) tall. It blends beautifully with the deep purple Negrita . Orange Bow! , another Darwin, has huge scarlet blooms flamed with rich yellow and black centres. The elegant lily-flowered Ballerina has fragrant, long-lasting bright orange blooms and looks good with Burgundy , a rich dark-coloured lily-flowered variety.
But tulips come in many colours as well as orange. The stronger, shorter stems of Tulipa greigii Flaming Goliath make it ideal for windy, exposed areas. Its large vivid red flowers are edged with gold and the foliage is striped. Violet Beauty has mauve blooms overlaid with a shimmer ofamethyst.
Beau Monde , a 26-inch (65-centimetre) Triumph, is another worthy new tulip with large ivory blooms and pale rose markings. The 20-inch (50-centimetre) Candy Club is ivory edged with violet and features four to five flowers a stem, making it an excellent cut flower.
The recently popular peony tulips have double flowers resembling a peony, and they re also noted for their long-lasting presence in the garden or as a cut flower. The reddish purple flowers of Blue Spectacle would make a splash teamed with white Mount Tacoma . Uncle Tom has deep, blackish-red blooms, and the always popular Angélique has soft blush pink blooms easy to fit into almost any garden colour scheme.
The Greigii and Kaufmanniana tulips, which often have striped or mottled foliage, bloom earlier than other types and naturalize well. They vary
from four inches to a foot (10 to 30 centimetres) in height, which makes them ideal for rock gardens or the front of the border; they're also ideal for forcing in pots.
With planning, it s possible to have tulips blooming from early spring to late May. Species tulips such as tulipa tarda bloom first, followed by the Greigii and Kaufmannianas. The single or double early varieties (such as Peach Blossom ) come next; then Fosteriana tulips (the largest blooms are usually in this category), followed by Triumphs and Darwins and then lily-flowered types; and finally the single late types (such as the new, nearly blue Cum Laude ), the late doubles and the parrot tulips.
The Trellis Shop has many other bulbs to try. Fritillaria meleagris, which is good in damp soil and part shade, grows 15 inches (38 centimetres) tall in white, mauves and purples with checkered markings. Camassia esculenta is a native North American bulb once used a food; it's now appreciated for its spiky, soft blue blooms. Camassia likes damp, moist areas and naturalizes well when it s happy. Ipheion is a hardy small bulb that grows two to three inches (five to eight centimetres) tall. The blooms of Wisley Blue are richly coloured, fragrant and long lasting.
Alliums are excellent bulbs for sunny, welldrained spots in the garden. They flower from May toJune, later than most spring bulbs, and are not fancied by squirrels. Allium giganteum grows about four feet (120centimetres) tall and has large purple blooms. A. schubertii s rayed starryblooms in a pale purple make it look as though it s landed from outer space. Alliums also naturalize well.
by Joy Reddy
For the
esSlive SEASON
(How to make an evergreen wreathforyour door or dining table)
WREATHS MADE WITH evergreen branches are among the most traditional of festive decorations. Scotch pine, white pine, Douglas or balsam fir, hemlock and cedar can be used, and will add fragrance to your home. You can use a mix for contrast and texture or the same material to cover the whole ring, according to your taste.
Trim evergreen boughs to pieces about six inches (15 centimetres) long. Snip from the main stem by cutting upward from underneath the branch at an angle. This gives a clean, hardly visible cut. Organize the pieces into piles of six to eight, depending on the density of the greenery. Judge how many piles you need to
initially awkward because you re working with one hand holding onto the ring while, at the same time, trying to keep the wire taut. It will get easier after you ve attached a few clusters of boughs. Continue until the ring is completely covered, then tie and snip off the wire. Extra stems can just be pushed through the tightly wrapped greens where it 1ooks bare.
To hang the wreath, fix a piece of wire to the back of the ring. A piece of coat hanger wire made into an S-hook will do the trick and can also be easily moved. The wreath is now ready to be decorated. Candles can be added if you are using the wreath flat, as a table decoration. Wide, no-drip cover the ring. First tie
MATERIALS
Enough evergreen boughs candles are stable and the spool wire secure- for a good, dense cover the safest to use. Cut ly to the straw ring. 1 straw ring,at least 12inches }i§ a piece of heavyGather a cluster of (30centimetres) in diameter. gauge florist wire (or branches with the (A straw ring is preferred because a straight piece of stems pointing in the ofitssturdy base.) coat hanger wire), same direction and -*| Paddle orspool wire,22-26gauge heat it under a flame arrange them e.lround Sharp pruning shears and' stick the heated the ring, leaving the part into the bottom of backuncovered.
Fasten the cluster tightly to the ring by wrapping the wire around them several times. Leave the wire uncut, so that a continuous line is used. Gather the next cluster, place it over the stems of the previous one and secure tightly, again wrapping the wire around it several times. The wire should be constantly kept taut. This process is
Sler
the candle as far as you can. This will be quite secure after it has cooled off. To fasten the candle to the wreath, insert the end of the wire into the straw ring. Mist the wreath now and then to help it stay fresh, and keep it away from direct sunlight.
After the festive season, use the evergreen clusters as mulch on your poor frozen plants.
When the lights
Candles, co-operation and ingenuity turn a stormyafternoon into an excellentadventure
by Loretta Skinner
hortly after lunch on Friday, Sjuly 14, as many activities were going on in The Civic Garden Centre and a severe thunderstorm was battering the building, the power went off. Indoors, the staff, with co-operation and ingenuity and the benefits of the Centre s abundant natural light continued with events and the afternoon proved to be an adventure rather than a misfortune.
In the Teaching Garden, however, the storm proved to be more of a challenge. Co-ordinator Shannon Collins and four volunteers Marisa Bergagnini, Midge Cooper, Marie-Christine Joli and Janet Westwood were with 25 children, ages 6 to 13, involved in the Eco-Adventure Program. The group sought shelter in the garden house, but point lightning struck near the shed, frightening the children. (The house is grounded, so the children were not in danger.)
During a lull in the storm, the group made its way to the Centre. Since the Eco-Adventure was a day-long program, the children could not be dismissed, but the power was still out and natural light had to be found to illuminate some indoor activities. The answer was the lower link, which proved to be just right, and the children happily spent the remainder of the afternoon planting beans and drawing storm pictures. They went home enthusiastic about their memorable day.
Art in the Park, a program with a group of eight 6 to 10-year-olds, was being conducted by Sarka Buchl with Clare Fisher as assistant. These children were brought in from the garden to continue their program in the upper link.
With so many children in the building, the
washrooms were in heavy demand. None has natural light, but the solution eerie emergency lighting provided a thrilling adventure for the children.
Meanwhile, the library operated fairly normally with candles supplementing its natural light, but they were of no use for Lisa Uyeno s computer and the server, which relied on the new UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) to power down appropriately. Marion Magee, who was working on some Trellis manuscripts, moved to the large window; Joy Reddy concentrated on the front display case; Kay Takaoka, on the front desk, qualified for a candle, as did librarian Mara Arndt, who used a tiny candle to find books for patrons who braved the weather to come to the CGC.
Realizing the Trellis Shop could suffer losses during the blackout, Kathy Varley went to help and processed sales manually. The Centre s upper level has natural light from a skylight and many windows, so work in the administrative offices proceeded as normally as possible; preparations for a wedding receiption in The Garden Hall were also completed satisfactorily.
The only problem the staff wasn t able to solve was the ice cream stored in the freezer for a future event. Everyone tried valiantly to eat it all, but they just weren t up to the task.
While the storm caused some erosion in Edwards Garden, the lower end of Wilket Creek Park sustained massive damage and in two places the path all but disappeared. More debris was heaped against a bridge that had already been blocked during a May storm. Water was barely flowing under it and clean-up after this storm will take some time.
by Anna Leggatt
Clematis: Itwas avery good year
THE CLEMATIS SHOW has been spectacular this year. Clematis are usually successful in this growing area, but they ve revelled in this year s constant supply of water and the cool soil.
The first variety that usually comes to mind is the large purple Jackmanii . But there are many other large-flowered forms, as well as delicate species and many small-flowered clematis. The latter may be urn-like, starry, bell-or lantern-shaped. The largest flowers I've had in my garden were about eight inches (20 centimetres) in diameter, the smallest just under half an inch (one centimetre). Colours range from shimmering whites to whites with a central tuft of purple stamens, creams to yellows, delicate blues, bright blues, lavenders and purples, pinks and reds. There are several bi-coloured cultivars as well as many doubles.
Not all clematis are climbers. Some herbaceous forms can be grown in the perennial border, and others are small enough to make good climbers in patio pots.
Plant clematis in fall or spring, in rich loam. They need good drainage and hate standing in wet soil. Dig a hole about 20 inches (48 centimetres) deep and wide, incorporate well-rotted manure or compost, and plant clematis about two inches (five centimetres) deeper than it was in the pot. It needs at least four hours of sun a day, but prefers cool roots. Let your clematis climb up into the sun in full sun, it produces more flowers.
Provide a support from the start. The slats of wood trelliswork are too wide for the delicate branches, but you could tack chicken wire over it to give the petioles (leaf stems) support. Iron clematis cages are good. Horizontal wires about 12 inches (30 centimetres) apart make a good support on a wall.
Clematis are great with shrubs or grown in a combination of varieties. On our pool fence I grow double blue C. Belle of Woking ; Hagley Hybrid , a pale mauve-pink; pink Rosa Clare Martin and red R. Dortmund . As Belle fades, purple and white C. viticella Venosa Violacea takes its place. Clare Martin flowers all summer, and occasional flowers bloom on the other clematis. Wow!
Not all clematis are hardy in our area. Any native to New Zealand take only a light frost. Stay away from evergreen species and varieties that flower in the winter. Clematis montana is borderline hardy. However, several gardeners grow it well in the Toronto area. The C. alpina and C. macropetal group are the hardiest and grow in Zone 2.
Mulch plants for the first winter. A summer mulch helps keep the roots cool and controls weeds. Add more compost in the spring. Pruning often confuses gardeners. Look at your plant in the early spring if it s died back, it s in need of a vigorous pruning. Gently scratch a twig. If the wood is soft and green underneath, the branch is alive. Group A clematis flowers in early spring on old wood; just prune out dead wood. Group B, which flowers in summer, should have dead wood and spindly growth removed in the spring, but you should cut overgrown or nonflowering plants back to about a foot (30 centimetres). Group C includes the late-summer and fall-blooming viticella and tangutica groups, and should be pruned back to a few buds each year. They die back to the ground in most winters.
Sweet autumn clematis (known by several botanical names) does not always die back to the ground, but cut it back anyway. Otherwise you may not see the flowers they ll be too high if the plant is trained on a tree.
Winter DUFSES Gardening « Nature
Botanical Arts & Crafts
Banish those January blues with visions of great ideas and plants to try in your garden come spring. In our winter courses you can begin your spring daydreaming and let the CGC help with the practical planning. Or plan to develop your creative talents with one of our botanical arts and crafts courses. Whatever your interest, come see what we have sprouting under our roof right now.
REGISTRATION BEGINS TUESDAY, JANUARY 2
Garden Catalogue 101
CATO1 DNEW3
with Dugald Cameron
-Seed and nursery catalogues bring the ingredients for an exotic, nostalgic or simply thriving garden right to your door step. Discover endless sources and get tips on how to be a savvy shopper. Put those glossy pictures in perspective. Learn to read between the lines for information about a company, find truth in plant descriptions and decipher terms.
Date: Monday, January 15
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Great Gardens ofQuebec and theMaritimes GREO2 with Frank Kershaw %
Discover the beautiful gardens of eastern Canada. Join us on this illustrated tour of some of the finest private gems nestled in the rolling hills of the
Laurentians and in the fertile soils of the Annapolis Valley. These areas are rich in garden history and offer a plenitude of design ideas.
Date: Monday, January 22
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Plantscaping Your Garden PLAO3 with Marion Jarvie
Get ready for the gardening season by taking a critical look at your garden and planning for success. Organize planting zones depending on light, drainage etc., and design with colour, shape and texture. By the end of the course you will be ready to visit your favourite nurseries, shopping list in hand.
Dates: January 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27
(Tuesdays)
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 6 evenings
CGC members: $80 Public: $95
NETO04
with Lorraine Flanigan
Designed for cybersurfing gardeners, this course introduces those with some knowledge of the Internet to the top gardening sites on the World Wide Web, provides tips and techniques for searching for plant and gardening information and events, and shows how to find listservs and chat forums to connect with gardeners around the world. Join us in the library for some hands-on practice.
Date: Wednesday, January 24
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Retaining
WallsDoneRight WALO5 with Tom Leedle
This hands-on workshop covers the construction of retaining walls using precast blocks and pressuretreated lumber. Learn about proper preparation, choosing the best materials and the right tools and installation techniques.
Date: Saturday, February 3
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Course duration: 1 morning
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Dramatic Foliage
FOLO6 with Frank Kershaw
Coloured veins, big leaves, saw-toothed edges, variegations galore. Ignite interest with an exciting list of plants with bold foliage. Create drama in the dirt using big, bold plants as accents, backdrops and planter specimens.
Date: Monday, February 5
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Small Garden Renovation GARO8 with Charmiene Montgomery
Basic information to help the novice build a new garden or improve an existing one. The first session covers the principles and practices of good garden management, including analysis of soil, climate and light, and practical and aesthetic choices of plant material. Bring a rough scale drawing of your garden with a list of needs/wants. Session two deals with planting and illustrates small garden renovations, with participants working on plans for their own gardens.
Dates: February 12, 26 (Mondays)
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 2 evenings
CGC members: $30 Public: $40
Success with InterlockingStone ST009 with Tom Leedle
Learn about the design and building of walkways and patios using interlocking stone. Participate in the hands-on demonstration of proper installation, including base materials, choosing pavers and the equipment you ll need.
Date: Saturday, February 24
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Course duration: 1 morning
CGC members: $30 Public: $35
SeedStarting Workshop with Anna Leggatt
Starting your own plants from seed saves money and is rewarding. Learn the most effective techniques for germinating seed for annuals, perennials and trees, just in time to get your vegetables and flowers under way for the coming summer. All materials are included in course fee.
Date: Wednesday, February 28 (SEE10)
Time: 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 afternoon
CGC members: $25 Public: $30 OR
Date: Wednesday, February 28 (SEE11)
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $25 Public: $30
Vertical Gardening VER12
with Marion Jarvie
Explore the world of climbing plants, from clematis and roses to vines. Introduce climbers to your property as an inexpensive alternative to fences, as a screen for your compost pile, or to add vertical interest, especially in small gardens, while using very little space.
Date: Thursday, March 1
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
HerbalRemedies REM13
with Roger Lewis
Discover the plants used in Western herbal medicine. Learn about the most common herbs: their applications, dosages, combinations and dangers. Join chartered herbalist Roger Lewis for an enlightening evening and learn to create a herbal first aid kit for your home.
Date: Monday, March 5
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Planting with Pizzazz PIZ14
with Marion Jarvie
DNEW S
The contemporary garden is all about visual pizzazz. Innovative plantings are created using clashing colours, combining grasses with ground covers, and drawing on dazzling textures. Find out what s hot in garden beds and become this season s trendsetter.
Date:Tuesday, March 6
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
TheEvening Garden EVE15
with Anna Leggatt
LNEW3
Design a garden perfect for twilight enjoyment.
Explore the many plants that bloom at day s end and look stunning in the setting sun. From four o clocks to moon vines and fragrant stocks, learn to bring your garden to life after dark.
Date: Wednesday, March 7
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Perennials Plus PLU16
with Charmiene Montgomery
Design your garden for a succession of bloom and interest throughout the season, using perennials and shrubs. Select plants to provide colour, texture and structure in pleasing combinations. Planting and maintenance topics, such as soil conditions, pruning, staking and coping with pests and diseases will be included.
Date:Thursday, March 8
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Native Plants NAT17 with Frank
Kershaw
Break free from endless weeding, watering and problem pests to celebrate the diversity of native plants. Using native plants in your garden will attract wildlife, require less maintenance and give you new and exciting options. Discover garden designs and plant sources in this illustrated presentation.
Date: Monday, February 19
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
BlackMagic BLA1S
DNEW S with Anna
Leggatt
Black sweet potato vine and deep purple heuchera have captivating colouration. Plants with dark leaves - woody, perennial or annual - need careful companions to complement their hue. Whether your intent is harmony or contrast, learn the tricks to an effective colour scheme. Discover some dark and tantalizing possibilities for your yard.
Date: Wednesday, March 28
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
GettingStarted in OrchidsI ORC28
with Claudio Rossi
Discover the exotic world of orchids. Learn how easy it is to grow beautiful orchids in your home. Explore the four main groups that are good candidates for beginners. Be inspired by the slide presentation. No matter what growing conditions you have, find the best orchids to grow and learn how to grow them.
Date:Tuesday, February 6
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
WinterPhotography PHO19
with Rob Stimpson
Pressing the shutter is the final stage in taking a picture. This course is designed to bring the technical and creative sides of photography together. Learn how the camera works, the rules of composition and the correct use of light and film. Bring your photographic equipment. Film and developing are included in course fee. Please note course includes two field trips: Saturday, January 27 and Saturday, February 10,9 a.m.to 1 p.m.
Dates: January 18; February 1, 15, 22 (Thursdays)
Time: 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 6 sessions (including 2 field trips)
Aromatherapy Workshop with Liz Kirk
Open the door to the healing world of aromatherapy with this introductory workshop. Discover how essential oils work and how to use them safely and effectively. Experience the oils and discover their many healing benefits. Learn some basic blending techniques and prepare a blend to take home.
Date:Thursday, January 25 (ARO21)
CGC members: $16; both parts, $30
Public: $21; both parts, $40
GettingStarted in OrchidsIl ORC29
with Claudio Rossi
Bring your orchid-related questions and learn how easily this fascinating family of plants can be grown and enjoyed in your home. Discover many of the bizarre and intriguing species that will appeal to any plant enthusiast.
Date:Tuesday, February 13
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16; both parts, $30
Public: $21; both parts, $40
CGC members: $125 Public: $145
PhotoJourney Jou20 with Rob Stimpson
Awaken from your winter slumber for a journey down the Mountain River. Explore the Canadian Arctic through a photo journey that will rejuvenate your mind and body. This slide show documents a two-week canoe trip down one of Canada s most spectacular rivers.
Date: Wednesday, January 31
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $16 Public: $21
Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 evening
CGC members: $35 Public: $40 OR
Date:Tuesday, February 6 (AR022)
Time: 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Course duration: 1 afternoon
CGC members: $35 Public: $40
WatercolourPainting: Beginner& Continuing WCP23
with Ita Pechenick
Discover the versatility of watercolour painting from basic to more advanced techniques. This course will cover materials, colour theory and composition. Through demonstration, practice and individual assistance, you will develop a range of skills using washes, wet and dry paper techniques, negative painting, glazing and experimenting with light and shadow. Bring watercolour paper, pencil and any brushes and watercolour paints you have. A materials list will be provided at the first class.
Dates: January 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 19, 26; March 5 (Mondays)
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Course duration: 8 sessions
CGC members: $130 Public: $150
Drawing&PaintingStudio STU24
with Nola McConnan
We are all artists. Creating visual art is an eye-hand co-ordination skill. Join teacher/artist Nola McConnan in an exciting evening program using coloured pencil and watercolour in a realistic style. Learn practical skills and techniques in classes that include warm-up, appreciation, demonstrations, personal help and practice ideas for the week. Bring any paper, pencils, brushes, and watercolours you have. A suggested materials list will be supplied.
Dates: January 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6 (Tuesdays)
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Course duration: 8 sessions
CGC members: $130 Public: $150
BotanicalDrawing:Beginner&Intermediate DRW25 with Margit Koritar
Turn to the botanical realm for instruction and inspiration. Classes will focus on understanding the characteristics of plants and developing drawing skills (line, proportion, perspective, light and shadow). Start with pencil exercises, then experiment in your choice of watercolour or coloured pencil. Progress at your own level with individual assistance. Bring pencil and paper to the first class; a list of materials will be provided.
Dates: January 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7 (Wednesdays)
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Course duration: 8 sessions
CGC members: $130 Public: $150
Basketry Workshop BAS26 with Donna Pasman
Learn the basic techniques of basket weaving. Enjoy this workshop making a double-bottle wine basket, perfect for a springtime picnic. We'll provide the flat reed and show you step-by-step how to set up a basket, insert a handle, apply and lash a rim. Please bring a bucket, a dozen clothespins, spray bottle, tape measure, pencil, scissors, needle-nose pliers, awl or small screwdriver, and an apron.
Date: Thursday, March 29
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Course duration: 1 day
CGC members: $40 Public: $50
Pamela StaggMaster Class in Botanical WatercolourPainting % PAM27
with Pamela Stagg
A unique opportunity to work with one of the country s best botanical painters. Participants will work on an extended painting of a botanical subject, with continuous individual feedback, and will be encouraged to present a portfolio of work for critiquing. The master class is intended for experienced botanical painters. Participants are welcome to use the subjects and watercolour materials of their choice.
Dates: Friday, March 30; Saturday, March 31; Sunday, April 1
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Course duration: 3 days
CGC members: $110 Public: $130
Dugald Cameron owns Gardenimport Inc., a mailorder bulb and plant business. For more than 12 years he has searched the horticultural world for little-known gems that do well in Canadian gardens.
Lorraine Flanigan is a freelance garden writer, Master Gardener in training, and BookBeat editor at GardenCrazy.com. In the winter her favourite place to garden is in cyberspace.
Marion Jarvie started her own landscape consulting business more than 10 years ago. She teaches at George Brown College andThe Civic Garden Centre as well as lecturing throughout North America.
Liz Kirk is a licensed holistic health practitioner and professional member of the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists. She holds regular aromatherapy clinics atThe Scarborough Hospital and The Wellness Centre at Centennial College.
Frank Kershaw has degrees in science and in urban and regional planning, a diploma in horticulture, and a certificate in landscape architecture. He believes in growing natural landscapes in the gardens of North America.
Margit Koritar is a botanical watercolour artist. She received her art instruction at the Ontario College of Art and the University ofToronto and from various world-renowned artists.
Anna Leggatt is a nature interpreter at the Kortright Centre for Conservation. A former teacher, she has a diploma in horticulture and is active in numerous horticultural groups.
Tom Leedle is owner of Leedle Landscaping. Tom teaches landscaping courses and contractor certification at Durham College in Oshawa and at Landscape Ontario s head office in Milton.
Roger Lewis graduated from Dominion Herbal College in British Columbia. He works at Thuna Herbals, Canada s oldest herb shop. Roger writes articles on herbal remedies, lectures regularly and has appeared on TV and radio shows.
Charmiene Montgomery has been involved in garden and design and renovation for more than five years and maintains a number of small gardens in Toronto. Her emphasis is on perennials and shrubs. A Master Gardener and member of Garden Writers of America, Charmiene also volunteers at the CGC and works at a garden centre.
Nola McConnan, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, sells her animal and botanic works in watercolour and egg tempera to collectors across North America. She designed the Canadian EquestrianTeam logo for the Barcelona Olympics and teaches with Toronto Parks and Recreation.
Donna Pasman started weaving baskets nine years ago at the Haliburton School for Fine Arts. As well as teaching workshops and seminars privately and with The Basketry Network, she participates regularly in exhibitions and sales.
Ita Pechenick has more than 20 years experience in design and fine arts. Her paintings feature florals, landscapes, still lifes and figures. She is an original member of the Group ofTen Artists ofToronto.
Claudio Rossi is an accredited judge with the American Orchid Society. As a member of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society, he participates in their monthly judging sessions at The Civic Garden Centre. Claudio has been growing orchids for more than 25 years. He has a greenhouse in Scarborough which houses his personal collection of about 5,000 orchids.
Pamela Stagg is a Canadian botanical artist who has achieved international recognition for her work. She holds the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal for Painting.
Rob Stimpson is co-owner ofWindsong Adventures, a four-season outdoor adventure company. Rob is an award-winning professional nature photographer and outdoor guide who has travelled throughout Canada. His photographs have appeared in corporate collections, books, magazines, cards and calendars.
tLLNLER 2001 REGISIRATION FORM
e Ok Carden Contre 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2
at Edwards Gardens Tel: (416) 397-1340 Fax: (416) 397-1354 Email: cgc1@idirect.com
To confirm registration please call the Course Office (416) 397-1362.
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REGISTRATION INFORMATION
REGISTRATION FOR WINTER 2001 COURSES STARTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 2. Participants may register in person or by mail, phone or fax.To register by mail, please fill out the registration form on this page and send it to Course Registrations, The Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, ON M3C 1P2. Full payment must be enclosed. NSF cheques are subject to a $20 surcharge. To register by telephone, call (416) 397-1340. Fax to (416) 397-1354, accompanied with payment byVisa or MasterCard. Registrations are accepted strictly on a first-come basis. Register early for best selection. Deadline for registration is one week before the start of each course. Registration fees are always lower for members ofThe Civic Garden Centre than for non-members. If a membership is purchased at the time of course registration, the member s discount will be applied immediately. Please contact the CGC to inquire about memberships, (416) 397-1340.
NOTIFICATION, CANCELLATION, REFUNDS: No confirmation ofregistration is sent out. Please make note of the courses for which you have registered. To confirm registration, call the course office: (416) 397-1362. Cancellations made after the deadline are subject to a 20-per-cent administration fee.The CGC reserves the right to cancel an event if the minimum number of registrants is not reached by the deadline, in which case coursefees will be refunded in full. Registrants will be notified of such cancellations by telephone between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please supply telephone numbers where you can be reached in person or by recorded message. We cannot accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to those whom we are unable to contact.
LIABILITY: The Civic Garden Centre assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to property, or for personal injury or mishap, during courses; all activities are at the risk ofthe participant.
Gifts for Green Thumbs
AS WINTER APPROACHES and outside gardening comes to an end, many of us start to think of buying gifts for the holidays. A subscription to a gardening magazine makes a welcome gift for a green-thumbed relative or friend, and the publication s Web sites provide you with a taste of the style and content of the magazine, as well as the practical details on how to subscribe.
Canadian Gardening
A good magazine that covers gardens coast to coast, with interesting articles and practical advice. Web site: www.canadiangardening.com. A one-year subscription (seven issues) is $22.95 plus GST and may be ordered by mail (PO Box 7175 Stn Main, Markham ON L3P 7V3), by phone (905-946-0893) or by e-mail (subscriptions@canadiangardening.com)
Fine Gardening
An American publication with excellent articles, many relevant to Canada, and a good balance of how-to articles. Web site: www.finegardening.com.
The cost of a one-year subscription (six issues) for Canadians is US$36. (GST included) and may be ordered by phone (1-800-888-8286, operator W668) or on the Web site.
Gardening Life
A magazine in a somewhat glossier style, with a good variety of articles and the occasional recipe.Web site: www.gardeninglife.ca. A one-year subscription (four issues) is $14.95 (GST included) and may be ordered by mail (511 King Street West, Suite 120, Toronto ON M5V 2Z4), by phone (905-946-1021) or by e-mail (subscriptions@canhomepub.com)
Plant and Garden
A good down-to-earth Canadian magazine, with lots of practical advice. Web site: www.plantandgarden.ca.A one-year subscription (six issues) is $13.95 plus GST by mail (Helpard Publishing Inc, Circulation Department, PO Box 2000, Ajax ON L1S 7)2), by phone (905-856-4178) or by e-mail (plant@wheels.ca).
The ULTIMATE Garden
Join this workshop and watch Toronto EXPERTS unveil theircompetitiveplansfor The Ultimate Garden .
Experts, including the winners of the 1999 Canada Blooms design awards, Earth Inc., Mark Hartley and others, will present their designs and answer questions from the audience. Competing designers have all been given a typical Toronto lot size, soil conditions and exposure, and a proposed garden budget not unlike your own. Participate in this workshop and you are bound to get some ideas for your own yard.
This presentation and discussion workshop offers something for new homeowners as well as long time gardeners! Lots of time for questions and answers!
Sunday, February 25, 2001
For more information watch for your January Trellis or call (416) 397-1351
The Civic Garden Centre atEdwards Gardens
777 LawrenceAvenue East, Toronto, Ontario
Refreshments and child care provided.
Edwards Memorial Lecture |
Speaker: DAVID TARRANT
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 7:30 p.m. Toric: Gardening in Canada
AS HOST OF CBC-TV S popular Canadian Gardener, David Tarrant has become a household word among this country s gardeners. His television career began in 1974 with appearances on BCTV and CBC talk shows. In 1982 he began as co-host on CBC s Western Gardener (in 1985 it was renamed Canadian Gardener) with Bob Switzer.
Since Bob retired in 1993, David has hosted the program himself, while remaining education co-ordinator for the University of British Columbia s Botanical Gardens. David was a
Artin the Link
Upper and Lower Links
TheDon ValleyArt Club
November 11 to 19. Opening Night November 13
Heather Cullity &Ellen Gulden
December 4 to 17
Diverse Palettes.Vibrant colours and intricate shapes define Heather s watercolours and acrylics, while Ellen's work in oils is interpretive realism, based on architecture and fantasy. Opening night December 7.
Upper Link
Cynthia Nelson
November 20 to December 3
The Flowers of Edwards Gardens. Nelson s enthusiasm for the colour and natural beauty of flowers brings pleasure to the viewer and reflects the beauty of Edwards Gardens. Opening night November 22.
Lower Link
MargitKoritar, Margaret Graeb &Leslie Staples
November 22 to December 3. These artists offer their work painted in the centuries-old tradition of botanical art, which combines accurate rendition with creative artistic expression. Opening night November 22.
dinner speaker at our 1993 Great Gardening Conference, and we're thrilled to have him back for the Edwards lecture.
David is an expert in all areas of horticulture and will lecture on Gardening in Canada' the challenges, the changes, the opportunities. His down-to-earth approach to both speaking and gardening endears him to audiences.
The lecture is financially supported by The Edwards Memorial Foundation and takes place in the Floral Hall, free of charge to members and non-members.
Winter Themes, Winter Scenes
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE S board of directors invites artist members to submit original works for its first annual winter show, to run December 18, 2000, to January 29, 2001. The subject is Winter Themes, Winter Scenes. The show is intended as a celebration of Canadian winters and will provide members with the opportunity to share their interpretations of the season. The show will be judged, and a prize will be awarded. Entry details are available at the front reception desk.
Smith, Nixon & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants
Ken Maiden, CA (416) 361-1622
Suite 1600, 320 Bay Street ® Toronto, ON M5H 4A6
New on our shelves |
WE'VE SUBSCRIBED to several additional magazines this fall: Country Living Gardener, Garden TravelJournal, The Growing Edge and Magnolia Magazine.
Following our usual policy, current-year issues may be consulted in the library; issues from previous years are available for circulation.
The following books have been added to the collection of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society and can be borrowed by CGC members: African Orchids in the Wildand in Cultivation by Isobyl and Eric La Croix
The Genus Paphiopedilum: Natural History and Cultivation, Part Twoby Dr Guido]. Braem et al.
Growing and Displaying Orchids: A Step-by-Step Guideby Wilma Rittershausen
An Introduction to the CultivatedAngraecoid Orchids ofMadagascarby Fred E. Hillerman.
The Orchid Observed: Five Centuries of
Web site REVIEW
BotanicalIllustration
OrchidSpecies Cultureby Margaret L. Baker and Charles O. Baker
OrchidsbyJoyce Stewart
Orchids atKewbyJoyce Stewart
Orchids ofBrazilbyJim and Barbara McQueen
Orchids ofJamaica by A. Gloudon and C. Tobisch
Orchids ofMalawi: The Epiphytic and Terrestrial Orchidsfrom South andEast CentralAfrica by L.F. La Croix et al
The Orchids ofPuerto Rico and the Virgin-Islands byJames D. Ackerman (text) and Maruja Del Castillo Mayda (illustrations)
Sarcochilus Orchids ofAustraliabyWalter T. Upton
Simon & Schuster s Guide to Orchids by Alberto Fanfani and Walter Rossi
Slipper Orchids ofBorneo by Phillip Cribb
Taylor s Guide to Orchids
AS PART OF OUR ongoing review of gardening Web ing. There are thousands of sites, here s another useful and easy-to-use location: feature which helps locate www.markcullen.com. Its few simple icons stand navigation pmblemscan be out well, and the large cross in the top nghtcorner tion markicon.Thesite
byJean McCluskey
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* QualifiedStaffincluding Canadian Certified
* FrequentPurchaseBirdSeedProgram Horticultural Technicians
o Seniors Club for those 60+,
. Adz'isqry S_en'ice, includ_ing: Pla_nt
offering 10% offevery day ofthe week., Identification, Pest & Disease diagnosis
* Unique Plant & Product Sourcing
* Free use ofspreaderwith fertilizerpurch
* Telephone Orders
* Free Re-potting service for indoor houseplants Delivery Service
* Gift Certificates
® TrunkLiners
* Freepre-mixedwatersolublefertilizer
e 2yearNo-Hassle Nursery Stock Guarantee
e ProductInformationSheets
o Pre-drawn landscapeplans
e FreeIn-store Sketch Design servi
o Premium quality housebrands
OPEN 7 DAYSA WEEK, 363 DAYS A YEAR!
Etobicoke
Kitchener-Waterloo
Tel: (416) 621-9100 Tel: (519) 743-4146
Mississauga-Oakville North Toronto Tel: (905) 822-0251 Tel: (416) 481-6429
Unionville-Markham Farm Outlet Tel: (905) 477-2253 Tel: 905-873-7547
November 30 to December 3 Thursday November 30 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Friday, December 1 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Saturday, December 2 10am. 4p.m. Sunday, December 3 10am. -4 p.m.
The Civic Garden Centre atEdwards Gardens 777LawrenceAvenue East, Toronto, Ontario
from the Master Gardeners
QWill seeds from bittersweetvine germinate?
A There is some evidence that the seed coat has an inhibiting effect on the germination of Celastrus (bittersweet) seeds.They need to be stratified at 5°C (41° F) for two to six months before they ll germinate: place seeds in moist sand or peat moss and store in the fridge. Or you could take cuttings of soft wood in July or August, which root easily in sand. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone No.2 to hasten sprouting.
Bittersweet seeds can be stratified in a jar in the fridge. Be sure to label the jar. These seeds are poisonous
Presentedby
Don Heights Unitarian Congregation
Just-do-it
Coffee House
Friday November 17th
Showtime 7:30pm
Featured Entertainers
Open mike for audience participation.
Bring a friend andjoin us for an enjoyable evening. Music, poetry, laughter; coffee and socializing. Cover charge $5.00 includes coffee andcookies.
Garden Hall Auditorium
Civic Garden Centre, Edwards Gardens
Information:Jean Latimer 416-438-0254
Q My corn plant is too big. Can I take cuttings and start a new plant?
A Dracaena or corn plant can be propagated in spring or late summer by taking tip or stem cuttings, or using a basal shoot.The tip cutting should be young and comparatively stiff, and three to six inches (eight to 15 centimetres) long. Stem cuttings must be cleanly sheared, 1 1/2 to two inches (four to five centimetres) long and have at least one growth bud. Be careful to make a note of which is the right way up. Place cutting in a three-inch (eight centimetre) pot filled with rooting mixture and keep moist for four to six weeks by covering the pot with a plastic bag. When roots appear on the surface, transplant to a larger pot. Corn plant can be propagated from tip or from stem
% IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL OX g Ges Toronto Chapter 208 G }'Z% " celebrates & The DAWN Of£ A NEW CENTURY 19thAnnualShow andDemonstrations
Saturday, November 25, 2000 12 noon-5:00pm Sunday, November 2ty 2000 12 noon-5:00pm
OemonsTrRATIONS
1:30pm and 3:30pm Daily
Cwic Garden CeNTRe, EDWARDS (GarRDeNs 777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie), Toronto
Aomission: $7.00
For ticket information contact Brandy Hermant (416) 927-7124 or Charlotte Smith (416) 444-4510
What s on atthe Civic Garden Centre |
NOVEMBEHR
2,3,4,5
Mistletoe Magic
Craft and gift show and sale
Thursday and Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $5.
For information: (416) 397-1340.
9,10, 11
Christmas at Home
Garden Club of Toronto flower show
For more information: (416) 447-5218. A
]
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Meeting, 1:30 p.m. e Visitors welcome. / For information: (416) 755-2325.
g3
Toronto Bonsai Society
Monthly meeting, 7:30 p.m. For information: (416) 755-0880.
13
Mycological Society
Speaker: Dr. Jim Anderson
Topic: Fungal Evolution and Your Health 7:45 p.m. e Visitors welcome. For information: (416) 444-9053.
14
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Speaker: John Gale, 8 p.m.
6 p.m.: Potluck supper and annual awards. For information: (416) 484-0677.
15
Edwards Memorial Lecture
Speaker: David Tarrant Topic: Gardening in Canada Floral Hall. 7:30 p.m. ® Admission free.
25, 26
Ikebana International Toronto Chapter 208
19th annual flower show
Theme: The Dawn of a New Century Noon to 5 p.m.
Demonstrations daily at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Admission $7.
26
Ontario Water Garden Society
Meeting 2 p.m. ® Non-members $5. For information: (416) 422-2164.
26
Rhododendron Society
Meeting 2 p.m. ® Visitors welcome. For information: (416) 486-6631.
DECEMBEHR 1-17
First Annual Pre-Christmas Sale In the Trellis Shop
3
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting 1 to 4 p.m.
6
Christmas with the Milne House
Garden Club
Decorations for Christmas 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Admission $15.
10
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Barrie Porteous Topic: On Weeds 1:30 p.m.
For information: (416) 755-2325.
11
Toronto Bonsai Society
Monthly meeting. 7:30 p.m.
For information: (416) 755-0880.
13
Ikebana International Toronto Chapter 208
Seasonal arrangements 7:30 p.m.
IN & AROUND THE GTA
N OVEMEBEHR 2-11
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR
WINTER GARDEN SHOW
Display gardens and advice from master gardeners. National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place. For ticket information, call (416)872-1212 or (800)461-3333. For general information, call (416)263-3482.
DECEMSBEHR
3, to earlyJanuary
ALLAN GARDENS
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS FLOWER SHOW
Garlands, swags, wreaths and decorations reminiscent of the Victorian era are on display. Greenhouses are candlelit from 3:30 to 5 p.m. daily. Sherbourne and Carlton Streets. Open daily. Call (416)392-7288.
Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #1737325
CLASSIFIED ADS
Wildflower and Birdwatching Tours
Point Pelee, Arizona, Bermuda, New Zealand, South Africa. For free Newsletter and itineraries, call George Bryant at Travel Helpers (416) 443-0583 or (877) 245-2424.
Great Gardens of England in the Spring
Join me on an exclusive tour visiting the most spectacular gardens in the south and southwest of England in May/June of 2001. Optional visit to Chelsea Flower Show. Group limited to 8 persons maximum. Fully escorted. Further information from Judy Prentice (905) 947-4595
DONATIONS WANTED
Is your home cluttered with old gardening books and magazines? Would you like to clear out those old but usable gardening tools from the shed? The Civic Garden Centre will gladly accept these items for a fundraiser planned for next spring. Please bring them to the library the next time you visit the CGC.
Sheppard Ave. l