Trellis - V28, No2 - Mar 2001 by Toronto Botanical Garden

THE CIvIC 3 GARDEN CENTRE at Edwards Gardens

Who We Are

TheCivic Garden Centre (CGC), is avolunteer-based, not-for-pi onwhose mission is to a ce forgardening, horticul ironmental issues byencour: romotinginvolvement, and gatherir seminating and interpreting informat bers of the community.

WhatWeOffr

8,000 books, 70 periodicals, and a

ction of clippings, pamphle eed catalogues, aswell asa | en s gardening books mationServicesoffers mal on year round, and the many unique gifts, books and created as a working garden to foste

~ plies for sale. The Teaching Gard order to enhance the quality oflife for memLocatedatEdwardsGardens,TheCivicGardenl

Centre offers many programs and services including year-round activities for falm children. Our horticultural libraryh:

3% Directory & Hours of Operation

Administrative Offices

Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CGC Library &Trellis Shop

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.

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.

Main:Number ...l S 416-397-1340

Fax: J. o3 S S O T i et 416-397-1354

~ gardeningand the natural world. Asacommunityservice, Artin the Linkoffersgallery space to local artists. As well, the CGC hasawide ~ variety of banquet halls, meetingroomsand"

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,Judy Floyd,Janet Greyson, Lorraine Hunter, Carolyn Kearns, Cecil Lamrock, TraceyC.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 Kathy Varley Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox

Accounting Joe Sabatino

Administration Shirley Lyons

Course Registration

Emall . 33, Gl cgc@civicgardencentre.org .............. 416-397-1362

Course Email. . ... courses@civicgardencentre.org

CGCLibrary i Rl S o oy 416-397-1343

Library Email ..... library@civicgardencentre.org

Horticultural Services ............ 416-397-1358

TeachingGarden ................ 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:, .t Lol ool 416-397-1349

Rentals Email .... rentals@civicgardencentre.org

Trellis Shop 416-397-1357

Volunteer Co-ordinator 416-397-4145

Photography Permit, Toronto Parks & Recreation Division 416-392-8188

Course Co-ordinator Rosetta Leung

Horticultural Assistant Nicole North Librarian Mara Arndt

Library Info. Technician Lisa Uyeno

Maintenance Supervisor Walter Morassutti

Rental Co-ordinator Randie Smith

Teaching Garden Co-ordinator Shannon Collins

Volunteer Co-ordinator MaryStrachan

Volunteers Over 425 volunteers

3% Patrons

Honorary Patron: HilaryWeston, Lieutenant-Governor ofOntario

Patrons: Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, Lorraine Johnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner

Volume 28 % Number 2

EDITOR

Liz Primeau

DESIGN

June Anderson

VOLUNTEER EDITORIALASSISTANTS

M. Arndt, M. Magee

VOLUNTEER PROOFREADERS

M. Bruce,J. McCluskey

L. Skinner, A. Smith

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Trellis is published six times a year as a members newsletter by The Civic Garden Centre at Edwards Gardens. 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2, 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 ensure publication eight weeks later. For example, material for the May/June issue must be received by March 1.

Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. Submissions may be editedforstyleandclarity.

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A feast of lectures for 2001 6 Notes from the Corner Office

Collaboration has its rewards

8 Volunteer News

Free courses offered

9 Teaching Garden

Like the kids, we have fun, too

24 Plant Portrait

Oenothera triloba

26 QzA

Expert advice from the Master Gardeners

28 Library News

Book and Web reviews

A Visit with Sondra Gotlieb

A neglected backyard becomes an unique garden Community Gardens

Neighbourhood gardens are fast replacing traditional allottment gardens

Exploring Chelsea

It s big and it s exhausting. But it s still the best flower show in the world

Canada Blooms Heralds Spring

Our own vastly successful five-year-old show

Learning the Lingo Botanical myth-nomers

Guest speakers add flavour to CGC talks 30 Coming Events At the CGC and around the GTA

NHS from the Board

B by Lindsay Dale-Harris ® PRESIDENT

A feast oflectures

t the CGC, all the activities designed to Ateach us how to master the language of gardening are grouped under the elegant and informative title of programming and are generally co-ordinated by the you guessed it programming committee, chaired by Susan Dyer with support from the board, staff and volunteers. For this year the committee has designed an outstanding series of lectures and other programs for CGC members and volunteers, as well as for aficionados of gardening throughout the Greater Toronto Area (yes all ofyou 905-ers, 416-ers and 647-ers).

Through the continued support of the Edwards Foundation, there will be at least nine Edwards Lectures. An impressive array of speakers of local, national and international repute has been gathered. By the time you read this you may have missed Ken Beattie and Richard Ubbens; but not to worry you may just catch Ken Parker from Sweet Grass Gardens in Hagersville, the first native plant nursery in North America owned and operated by a Native Canadian. Parker speaks March 21.

The speaker at the Edwards Lecture following the annual general meeting on April 24 will be Dan Heims (with the memorable e-mail address hortiholic@home.com) from Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon. Dan is a remarkable horticulturist, world traveller, plant collector and breeder of heucheras, heucherellas, pulmonarias and penstemons. In May, Denis Flanagan will speak on containers, and inJune JeffMason will tell us who is who (or what is what) in the world of the hardy succulent. September is bulb planting month, and Dugald Cameron of Gardenimport will give us the inside track on what is hot in the bulb world for 2002. John Peat and Ted Petit, authors of the Color Encyclopedia ofDaylilies, will also speak in the fall. Rick Darke is the speaker at the Edwards

planned for 2001

Memorial lecture on November 14. Darke was the curator of plants at Longwood Botanical Gardens from 1986 to 1997 and has an exceptional garden which he co-designed with his wife, Melinda Zoehrer.

This year we will also have a special lecture series which will bring seven more outstanding speakers to the CGC: Mark Cullen, Pam Duthie (author of Continuous Bloom), Stephen Westcott-Gratton (author of The Naturalized Garden), Marco Polo Stufano (from Wave Hill Gardens, outside New York), Dan Hinkley (from Heronswood Nursery in Washington state and author of The Explorer s Garden: Rare and Unusual Perennials), Fred Case (the trillium guru) and Ray Evison (the clematis guru).

The Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture will be given in October by Maureen Heffernan, director of public programs at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Heffernan is an expert in the development and operation of teaching gardens, and she will also address Teaching Garden volunteers and interested parties.

One of the most esteemed and distinguished British horticulturists, gardeners and garden writers has also agreed to speak. On the afternoon of Sunday, May 13, Christopher Lloyd, whose garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex is internationally renowned, will speak at the CGC. He ll be accompanied by his trusted and knowledgeable head gardener, Fergus Garrett. This is their only appearance in Canada, and it follows a special lecture series in the United States organized by Horticulture magazine. What a fabulous Mother s Day treat!

A huge thanks to the programming committee and all the staff who have organized the exceptional speakers program for the year 2001. How much more fluent we will be at year s end. ®

/CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE ANNUAL GOLF DAY

GOLF & DINNER

$150/person includes:

* GolfCart & Green Fees (Scramble Format)

* Tee Times 11:40 AM- 1:40 PM

* Contests & Prizes

* BBQ Buffet - 6:00 PM

GARDENTOUR& DINNER

$80/person includes:

Tour Start - 2:.00 PM

* Butterfly Conservatory

* Behind the Scenes Tour (Insect & PlantPropagation)

* NPC School Garden Tour

* BBQ Buffet - 6:00 PM

SPONSORSHIP

$200/Hole: Contact Paul Gardner 416-494-2598

SEPTEMBER 7, 2001

N(o)) ' from the Corner Office

m by Douglas Markoff ® EXecuTive DIRECTOR I

Collaboration has its rewards

ollaboration and co-operation between The Civic Garden Centre and other organizations can only be a win-win situation it provides tangible returns for all involved. For the CGC, the principal benefits are increased public awareness of our programs and services and growth in our membership.

Recently, the CGC participated in a Christmas tree decorating contest in a high-traffic area of the Don Mills Shopping Centre. Each group had a tree to decorate, and the CGC staff faced stiff competition from Toronto Bonsai Society, Canada Blooms, the North Toronto Horticultural Society, the Southern Ontario Orchid Society, the York Rose & Garden Society, The Canadian Rose Society, Ikebana International, Milne House Garden Club, the CGC board, The CGC s Teaching Garden, and Don Heights Unitarian Congregation. Each of the three CGC groups won a $50 gift certificate for a total of $150, and the CGC donated the money to the Daily Bread Food Bank and the CHUM Christmas Wish Fund.

Here are more examples of collaboration: the CGC works with Canadian Blood Services to set up blood donor clinics in Floral Hall. Last year we also partnered the Toronto Public Health Department and The North York Heart Health Network for the Plant a Row, Grow a Row program. The CGC was a depot for excess produce from home gardens which was passed on to the less fortunate. In both cases the CGC was featured in the ad campaigns and promotional materials produced by these groups.

The CGC collaborates with the City ofToronto Parks and Recreation in several ways. Our volunteer tour guides organize and conduct public tours in the Toronto Music Garden at Harbourfront as well as in Edward Gardens. When the public visits Edwards Gardens and has questions on the identity of plants, often it s our horticulturist, Cathie Cox, or the Toronto Master

Gardeners who provide the answers. Many CGC courses, or at least segments of them, take place in Edwards Gardens, including those on birding and astronomy. Each collaboration seems to translate into new members for the Centre. This year we re exploring a pilot project to offer courses in a city community centre to raise awareness ofCGC programs and services.

The Green Adventure summer program for inner city children, developed and delivered by our Teaching Garden staff and volunteers, was a three-way joint effort between The Garden Club of Toronto, the CGC, and two municipal community centres. This organizational symbiosis benefited the children most of all. (By the way, Green Adventure continues this summer and we invite volunteers to join us.)

Getting the Jump on Spring, our annual horticultural open house, is a wonderful example of co-operation. This community event is made possible through the participation of close to 50 horticultural organizations, environmental groups, The Toronto Zoo, Toronto Parks and Recreation, and more. Plus, of course, the dozens of people who present lectures and conduct demonstrations just because they believe in the CGC mandate and can in turn promote their business or interests to garden enthusiasts. Did you realize they give this time without financial compensation?

Even the production of 7rellis is a collaborative effort. Many feature articles are written by people representing organizations whose messages are interesting and important to our members. The result is an information-packed publication and an opportunity for people to raise awareness of their special interest or organization.

Mistletoe Magic is an annual event that involves collaboration with a few long-standing groups who call the CGC home. The Pressed Flower Group, the Mistletoe Magic Craft Group and Milne House Garden Club each spend

months designing and creating unique handmade items. These are sold during Mistletoe Magic and significantly contribute to making this event the successful fundraiser it is.

Likewise, the success of Through the Garden Gate our annual tour of Toronto gardens is made possible by contributions from hordes of volunteers, including the Toronto Master Gardeners. They are the ones who tirelessly answer questions in each of the gardens on the tour. Public awareness of the Toronto Master Gardeners and the CGC is also gained through the Horticultural Hotline, a service the Master Gardeners provide.

Other collaborations have included: Art in the Link, a venture with the Toronto arts community; re-naturalizing the shoreline of Wilket Creek, planted by CGC volunteers and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority; the orchid tree built by members of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society to complement the redesign of the pool in the CGC s front lobby; and the grand piano in Floral Hall provided by Robert Lowrey s Piano Experts which bridges the wonderful

worlds of music and gardening.

The CGC invites others to come forward to explore ways we can co-operate and offer new or improved services to our members. To discuss any win-win ideas, please contact me by phone at 416-397-1346 or e-mail me at director@civicgardencentre.org.

Never forget: this isyourCivic Garden Centre. ®

NEW Historical Tours of Edwards Gardens

Saturday May 5%

Sunday May 6"

11:00 a.m. (rain or shine)

One hourtalk lead by CGC Tour Guides. Limited Tickets available $5.00.

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEFEK, 363 DAYS A YEAR!?

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Uolumteer News

e =9\

by Carol Gardner

Volunteers offered free courses

THESE ARE EXCITING times for volunteers. Not only has the United Nations formally recognized volunteer efforts by declaring 2001 the International Year of Volunteers, but the 28th annual National Volunteer Week is coming up April 22 to 28. Naturally, everyvolunteer organization will try to make this year very special for its volunteers, and the CGC is no exception.

As a small thank you for a big contribution, we're offering a number of courses to our volunteers at no charge. In the spring Douglas Markoff, executive director, will give a course on training espaliers in the Teaching Garden in Edwards Gardens. Lorraine Flanigan, Master Gardener, garden writer and an invaluable member of our Web site committee, will offer a course on gardening on the internet. Cathie Cox, manager of horticultural services, will give a class on seed starting, andJim McMillan, a frequent and engaging CGC teacher, will offer pointers on garden maintenance. If you're a CGC volunteer interested in any of these courses, please leave a message on the volunteer office phone at 416-397-4145.

In addition to courses available to all our vol-

unteers, we ll be focussing more on training related to specific jobs. Cathie Cox has developed a training plan for Teaching Garden volunteers. Many have already taken the course on vermiculture led by Master Gardener Jack Cameron and Teaching Garden co-ordinator Shannon Collins. Tour guides will shortly be studying tropical plants in preparation for a new working relationship with Allan Gardens (we ll have more about that in future issues) and this past fall we began an update program for CGC receptionists.

Alas, this is my last column as volunteer co-ordinator, though I'll continue to write for 7rellis. I've thoroughly enjoyed my work but, now that my children are grown, I've finally become what I always wanted to be idle! My husband and I hope to do a little wandering before our minds figure out how old our bodies are. But we ll both continue to be CGC volunteers; this place has become a second home, and a pretty terrific one at that. Thanks for all the wonderful memories, and here s to many more to come as we work together at what I think is the very best place in the world to be a volunteer. Cheers! @

Several Teaching Garden volunteers took advantage of January s seed starting and vermiculture courses, conducted by Cathie Cox and Shannon Collins

From left Stephen Whitney, Shannon Collins, Jean Anderson, Bob Buckingham, Georgia Bamber and Kirsty Pazek.

by Shannon Collins

Like the kids, we have fun, too

OUR RECRUITING POSTER says it best: Do you like working with children? Are you enthusiastic? Do you like playing in gardens? Do you know a little about plants, trees, bugs, weather and soil? Are you interested in art, music and drama? Do you have time to share?

These are the attributes we look for in volunteers for the Teaching Garden, and many people with colourful backgrounds and varied interests have come calling in response. Our campaign has reached out to people all over the Toronto area: university and high school students, retired people, young parents and working folk, and all have something special to offer. Teaching Garden volunteers, it can be said, are asked to fulfil some of the zaniest tasks at the CGC, from painting letters for the alphabet garden or organizing and storing dozens of empty bottles and other odds and ends in the garage to leading a bug exploration or pretending they re geese flying south volunteers must always be ready for the unexpected.

And so our orientation and training program for Teaching Garden volunteers reflects our varied needs. Our goal is to get volunteers playing with each other as they will with the children in the programs, and working together on the maintenance of the garden. On the afternoon of March 6, our orientation class for both new and experienced volunteers will hike around Edwards Gardens looking at its features as a child might. Then I will run through the various upcoming programs, such as the school programs, Art in the Park and Eco-Adventure, and have the volunteers participate in some of the activities that will be part of these programs making garden gnomes or planting seedlings, for example. The afternoon concludes with an outline of the special gardens planned for this year, including our Magic Garden and the International Vegetable Garden.

The Teaching Garden s success is easily attributable to the enthusiasm and dedication of our volunteers. As its co-ordinator, I thank you a billion times over, and if I've managed to entice you to the attractions of volunteering at the Teaching Garden, please contact me at 416-397-1355 or teachinggarden@civicgardencentre.org, ®

THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE

June 16, 17: Mark your calendar for the 14th Through the Garden Gate tour, this year featuring the gardens of Moore Park and Bennington Heights.

A Visit Wzth

by Lorna Luke

Inspiration, professional help and happyaccidents turn a neglected backyard into a uniquegarden

Mine is a gardener s garden, with all the mistakes and mess, says Sondra Gotlieb, shown here among her roses.

dant heart, as Russell Page claims, then Sondra and Allan Gotlieb s garden is proof of their bounteous natures. But it also exemplifies their artistic and unique personal style.

If green fingers are the extension of a ver- Allan s stint as Canada s ambassador to the United States and bought a century-old home in Rosedale. The back garden, dominated by a brick garage, was virtually non-existent. When a new dining room was added it was decided to demolish the garage, but as the contractor began to work Sondra had an inspiration: she decided to leave the ruins of one wall partly standing. She loved the effect, and realized she d created a garden room.

Using the ruins of an old brick garage as the starting point, they turned a neglected backyard into a charming series of garden rooms adorned with strategically placed architectural antiques, patterned brickwork walks and old tiles inserted into flagstones. The restful atmosphere and natural, uncultivated effect makes you feel you ve stumbled into a mediaeval English garden.

It all began 10 years ago, when the couple moved back to Canada from Washington after

At this point, Sondra realized she needed help with the design and she contacted Penny Arthurs of The Chelsea Gardener. Penny loved the wall and suggested a series of garden rooms, a concept Vita Sackville-West made famous.

Later, when the Gotliebs had the opportunity to purchase a piece of land running the length of their property, they added an additional sequence of rooms by creating more walls with reclaimed brick. Although Sondra has changed the garden and added new plants over the years, its basic structure remains. The garden is always changing, always in process, she says. I never knowwhere it s going to go. Basically, it s a garden of happy accidents. Penny describes it as an example of the happy synthesis of her designer s eye, Sondra s particular style of planting and Allan s fine collection ofobjets d art.

From the paved terrace at the back of the house, one looks down over the largest of the garden rooms. Here, stone steps flanked by antique urns lead down to brickwork paths, a small lawn, a boxwood hedge and several small seating areas. Firethorn Pyracantha, hydrangea, euonymus and clematis blanket the walls of the house and serve as a backdrop for a rich variety of roses, including many David Austins Sharif Asma , Evelyn , Heritage and shrub roses. At the bottom of the garden a deep blue-green shaded pool, designed for Sondra to use for exercises for her arthritis, adds an attractive and inviting element. To brighten the area, Sondra selected shade-loving perennials such as goat s beard Aruncus dioicus, lady s mantle Alchemilla mollis, a blue poppyMeconopsis and hydrangea to grow under established trees. Clematis, climbing roses and hydrangea on the walls complete the effect. The dappled light filtering through the trees gives such a cool and restful feeling it s easy to understand why this room has become a favourite spot for the whole family.

From this area, brickwork paths lead to three small courtyards enclosed by more brick walls. In one room, a small moss garden weaves around stepping stones and small shade trees, lady s mantle, narcissus, several varieties of heather Erica, ferns and hosta. Beside it, and protected by a row of cedars, a second room is planted with a wide variety of old-fashioned favourites such as asters, hydrangeas and viburnum.

The third and sunniest room is laid out in a checkerboard pattern with flagstone alternating with small square beds. Inspired by Russell

Page, who considered this type of garden (which has been used since mediaeval times) ideal for trying out new plants, Sondra uses it as her experimental garden. In the beginning she was overly enthusiastic, and now the garden is overgrown. She s gradually replacing the iris, lilies, roses, clematis, daphne and tree peony with lower and smaller plants, mainly annuals, that will allow her to see the checkerboard design more clearly. Sometimes I plant something that s quite rare, and sometimes it s a Loblaws special that s the way I garden.

Sondra feels that walls are a wonderful way to showcase her climbing vines, particularly the clematis. Everywhere you look, walls, fences, arbours, shrubs and trees are covered with ivy, clematis, roses, firethorn and hydrangea. She s collected more than 30 varieties of clematis, including C. x durandii , C. Betty Corning , C. Duchess ofEdinburgh and C. Duchess ofAlbany .

Allan Gotlieb has also played an active part in the design and conception of the garden. Sondra says he s the architectural designer, and all the wonderful touches are his. Because he particularly loves mosaics, Allan is the one who finds the tiles and decides how the brick should be arranged for example, in the herringbone pattern of the brick paths. All the architectural and structural pieces, such as the mosaic planter, antique urns and the iron grille, were collected by him in Toronto and on his travels.

Sondra s arthritis prevents her from gardening as much as she d like, and last spring was difficult for her. She has helpers who come regularly to do the heavy work, but it s hard to sit and watch when you love the process of gardening.

Despite the beauty of her garden, Sondra considers it imperfect. It takes two or three hours a day to make a garden perfect, she says. However, she also says a garden should look as though no one has touched it for five weeks. Otherwise it s a designer garden, and you don' t feel the personality of the gardener. It s boring, even if it s attractive. I like to feel that mine is a gardener s garden, with all the mistakes and the mess. ®

Community Gardens

Because they re closer to home, neighbourhoodgardens are fastreplacing traditionalallottmentgardens. Butperhaps their greatest harvest is an ability tofostera sense ofcommunity

by Laura Berman

of the first community gardens

a day; teach him to fish and you feed himfora lifetime.

I 've always thought this old adage was true of gardening as well. But what does the would-be gardener do if he or she doesn t have a garden? The easy answer is join a community garden.

I got involved in community gardening about six years ago, when I was looking for a change from designing residential landscapes. I took a job as the community garden co-ordinator with FoodShare Toronto, a non-profit organization that works to improve citizens access to affordable and nutritious food, and my role is to help

Give a person afish andyoufeed himfor facilitate the growth of community gardens throughout Toronto. Typically, a community group comes to me wanting help to start a garden but knowing very little about what is involved. I help them find land city-owned or private with a water supply close at hand. I help design the garden layout, assist in writing a set of ground rules which everyone can live by and ensure that the group has an organizational structure so that all the work doesn t rest on one pair of shoulders. I also help to raise funds for necessities like fencing, soil amendments, tools, storage, hoses, message boards, timber and paving materials, picnic tables the

Photos: Laura Berman

One

in Toronto was on Huron Street behind the Lillian H. Smith Library, shown here in its first year.

list goes on. Gardens can be started with very little money if you know how and where to get things. Local businesses are usually generous with small community projects and often donate goods in kind, rather than money. Sometimes they donate labour digging or helping build a fence or gazebo.

Until about five or six years ago, Toronto s idea of community gardens were the traditional allotment gardens administered by clerks at City Hall, in places like High Park and on cityowned property at the end of Leslie Street, as well as 10 other locations. There was little community input and these gardens were, by and large, devoted to vegetables. All that is changing. Today s community gardens contain an incredible diversity of plants as well as people. Moreover, today s community gardens are more visible no longer hidden away far from residential areas. It seems obvious that the gardens should be located within walking distance of the gardeners homes lugging tools on the TTC is not my idea of a good start to an afternoon among the tomatoes and roses. And when I come home after work on a summer evening, [ want to be able to gather my salad from close by, not have to drive to my garden plot. In some cases, community garden plots are smaller than allotment gardens, but what they lack in size is made up for in accessibility.

The first community gardens on Parks property were two community-initiated projects on Huron Street behind the Lillian Smith Public Library and the organic demonstration garden at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre. They were so successful as community projects that the powers that be at the Parks Department became convinced community-led endeavours were a good thing, as well as being of benefit to the Parks Department. Since then, community gardens have been started on what had previously been considered sacred ground (i.e. Toronto Parks Department land) and a community garden coordinator, Solomon Boyé, is on staff in the department. Although I work for FoodShare, he and I collaborate on some projects.

One major hurdle in convincing people that

community gardens have a place in public spaces is overcoming the notion that vegetable gardens are, by definition, unattractive. If you ve ever passed by the Huron Street garden in the middle of the summer, you know they can be extraordinarily beautiful but not without work, of course. In designing that garden, [ was mindful of the stereotype and made sure to include plenty of space for flowers; others who have worked on the garden since then have continued in the same spirit. The garden now boasts one of the most beautiful perennial borders I've seen, and attracts butterflies, dragonflies, birds and other admirers.

The way these new community gardens are managed is also very different from the old-style allotment gardens. In today s gardens, the gardeners decide what the garden will look like, the ground rules which everyone lives by, and whether there will be a fee per plot. This allows people to garden in ways that best suit them and the neighbourhood. Thus, community gardens are whatever the community decides they should be. Generally, they re not communal although some are in the sense that all gardeners work the whole garden. Most gardeners prefer to have their own plots, where they can grow whatever they want by whatever method they choose. It s up to the group to decide this and other issues.

One thing most gardens have in common, however, is a rule against the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides. If you're going to grow food, it should be as healthy as possible, and there s a strong feeling among community gardeners that organic methods are best. Another trend is to set aside a common area for native plants, such as butterfly or wildflower gardens, or to grow large vegetables such as corn or squash in a common plot, with everyone sharing the harvest.

Many community gardens are also taking part in the Plant a Row, Grow a Row program, under which a portion of the harvest is donated to local food banks. Sponsored nationally by the Composting Council of Canada, this program is spreading across the country. Other community gardens are set up to grow exclusively for a food

bank. Stop 103, a food bank in the Davenport and Ossington area, has a garden in Earlscourt Park where everyone donates their time to grow enough to supply the food bank.

An important part of any garden, community or private, is compost. Community gardens are the perfect hosts for community composting projects, so important now in light of Toronto s garbage disposal crisis. With a bit of input from government, every one of Toronto s community gardens could take part in a community composting project, helping ease the garbage crisis and providing opportunities to compost for apartment dwellers and others without a place to compost. Community gardens address other urban issues as well. Dufferin Grove Park s Big Back Yard has helped cut down on crime in the neighbourhood by providing an abundance of constructive activities. Regent Park s four community gardens have very little vandalism because of the many eyes looking down on the gardens from the apartments above another argument for keeping gardens visible within the community. Seniors gardening in the Garden of Eden, located at a Parkdale apartment complex, have reported not only that they re eating better since they started their community garden, but also that they feel more alive and involved with the rest of the world. And Green Thumbs/Growing Things, a children s program in the Cabbagetown-Regent Park area, not only provides an after-school activity for many children but also teaches them valuable lessons about where food comes from, about nature and their role in healing the environment.

Community gardens have evolved from oldstyle allotments in many ways, and they hold many possibilities for community improvement. Their ability to encourage a sense of community is the most important harvest ofall. @

Ifyou d like to be involvedinacommumtygarden, contact FoodShare Toronto at 416-3921668, or e-mail the author at laura@foodsharenet Web site' WWWfoodsharenet

Laura Bermanis Co-ordmator of FoodShares community garden program and chair of the Toronto Community Garden Network. As FoodShare s horticulturist and landscape architect, she works closely with Toronto Parks and Recreation to make Toronto s community gardens vibrant and exciting. Laura is also author of How Does Our Garden Grow? A Guide to Community Garden Success.

Fund-raising s first year a success

Janet Greyson reports that the first year of the | Friends of the Civic Garden Centre fund-raising campaign was a great success. Our goal was $25,000, and in spite of the fact that the programwasn t up and running until spring, we | were able to raise $20,000 to support the many great programmes offered at the CGC, she says. The support of members has been very gratifying, and we want to thank them.

This year s goal is $25,000 as well. Please | consider joining us and receiving the many benefits Friends offers you in return for your contributiontotheworkoftheCGC, Janetsays.

TheAlexWilson community is on Ridlmond Street at Portland.

Saturday, April 7, 2001

Enjoyafulldayoflectures, demonstrations,ideas all aboutbringingnewelementstoyourgarden.

Tai Chi » Japanese Landscaping

Chinese Landscaping * Beautiful Bonsai

Japanese maples and other trees & shrubs

Feng Shui » Water Features * All about Bamboo Music, origami and much more!

WORKSHOP FEES:

777 LawrenceAvenue East Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2

Phone: 416-397-1340 Fax: 416-397-1354

e-mail: cgc@civicgardencentre.org www.civicgardencentre.org

EXPLORING helsea

by Helen Shaw

Time, the Healer, a display garden at last year s Chelsea Flower Show, was designed by the staff and inmates of Britain s Leyhill Prison.

On contents page: a view ofThe Flying Garden.

Like allgarden shows, it s exhausting. And ithas its own particularfoible rain. But it remains the bestflowershowin the world

l ast year, when my daughter moved to

England to complete her master s degree at the University of London, [ selfishly began planning a visit with the intention of attending the Chelsea Flower Show. I knew little of the show except that my gardening friends referred to it as the ultimate in flower shows.

Once I'd determined the exact dates on the Internet www.rhs.org.uk and obtained a telephone number, I called, joined the Royal Horticultural Society and ordered members tickets for the second day of the show, May 24, 2000.

Since Victorian times the show has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London. From our hotel in central London, my husband and I travelled to the show on the underground, exiting at the Sloane Square tube station. From there we followed the crowds. Because we had full-day tickets (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; half day and evening tickets are also available) we arrived early and a vendor advised us to get to the gardens before the crowds arrived. It was good advice. By 11:30, when off-peak fares on

commuter trains are in effect, crowd density had increased dramatically.

Twenty-three show gardens were on display out of doors in the grounds. Each was worth waiting to see, but I had two favourites. One called Time the Healer appealed to me both visually and conceptually. Designed by the staff and inmates of Leyhill Prison it was created to demonstrate nature s ability to cure the ravages of man. It showed how, with the end of heavy industrialization, vast areas of the countryside have been left derelict. Consequently, the land was allowed to return to its natural state, reminding one of times past and the land s ability to heal itself and bring hope to the world.

The second outstanding display in my opinion was The Flying Garden. Planned for difficult locations, from rooftops to concrete courtyards, it was truly three-dimensional. Flying plants hovered over a pool of water, their movement complemented by floating islands of grass and bedding plants.

As at any show, one becomes exhausted and supersaturated with information. There s so

Photo: Helen Shaw

much to absorb that pacing oneself is important. At noon we chose not to queue for entrance to one of the first-class restaurants but instead to join the multitude sitting on plastic bags and newspapers on a bank of land, enjoying beef on a bun or hot dogs smothered in onions. It was a much better location for people-watching as well. By mid-afternoon we discovered the bandstand in Ranelagh Gardens, where the Household (Her Majesty s) Division Musicians Association Band was in concert for two hours. Comfortable chairs were available and beverages were served. These two breaks helped us retain our stamina.

The 2001 Chelsea Flower Show runs from Tuesday, May 22, to Friday, May 25.Tickets run from £7 to £22 for RHS members, and from £10 to £27 for non-members.The first two days of the show are reserved for RHS members; non-members may attend only the final two days. Members ticket hotline from overseas: 011 44 1293 453780.

For the first time in its history, the 2000 show boasted two dazzling white pavilions, which replaced the old marquee and allowed more room for exhibits and better crowd circulation. Sentimental Chelsea visitors could purchase aprons and bags made from the canvas of the old

Milne House Garden Club 777 Lawrence Avenue E. Toronto, Ontario 416-449-3664 Presents A RAL ARTDEMONSTRATION

By JUDITH BUTTERWORTH From

Great Britain

AT: The Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, Ontario

In theFloral Hall

ON: Thursday, March 15, 2001

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Cost: $15.00 at the door

Judith isPublic Relations Chairperson forThe World Association ofFlower Arrangers (WAFA) Flower Show to be held in Scotland, June, 2002. Complimentary refreshments

tent. The new pavilions housed spectacular nursery displays, specialty plants and horticultural gems, and provided shelter when the inevitable rain fell for over three hours in the late afternoon.

Chelsea s grounds are vast but everything is fascinating, from the vendors and horticultural society displays to the floristry marquee, where the floral arts competitions take place, and the lifelong learning exhibits are found.

Was it worth it? Would I go again? Absolutely! If you're going, take an umbrella, wear a raincoat, sport your most comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for a visual, intellectual and sensual feast. My friends were right Chelsea is the greatestofall horticultural shows. @

Helen Shaw is pastpresident ofthe board ofthe CGCandserves on the Trellis committee.

SPRING& SUMMER ART IN THE LINK

Two special art competitions, open to all members ofThe Civic Garden Centre, are planned for July and August of 2001. Submit your slides by June 1%,

Indicateyour preference: Spring Feverto be exhibited in July Summer Madness to be exhibited in August 1* prize - $100.00 gift certificate

To find out how to become a member call: 416-397-1340

Heralds Sprin

by Amy Cole

The vastlysuccessfulfive-year-oldshow not only inspires gardeners, itsproceeds support communityprojects

ANADA BLOOMS _.! first show in 1997 might have been planned as one big communal birthday party for its organizers, The Garden Club of Toronto (50th) and Landscape Ontario, (25th), but since then it s developed a life of its own. Everyyear the show has grown bigger and more successful, and it s now ranked as one of the top five garden shows in the world. For 2001, its fifth year, the organizers are planning the most spectacular flower and garden event in Canadian gardening history. Canada Blooms is now active year-round, with a small but permanent office staff supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers from Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto as well as from the gardening community at large. Both volunteers and staff serve on 18 committees which oversee every-

The display gardens are the centrepiece /s ofCanada Blooms. Here is one from ® the 2000 show ~ thing from the opening night party, the horticultural displays and the speakers forums to marketplace and the feature garden awards. Anyone who has attended the ¥ show knows the 30 or so idea-filled gardens are its centrepiece.

The show is a nonprofit venture, and since 1997 The Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario have donated more that $250,000 to 20 community horticultural and civic projects. They 're proud to have supported the Teaching Garden at Edwards Gardens, Communities in Bloom, the Master Gardeners Program and Scugog Shores Memorial Museum, as well as many other worthy projects. Last year, the show s opening night party, a festive evening that includes an incredible cocktail reception, dinner, entertainment and the opportunity to preview the gar-

Photo by Tony Bock, courtesy of Canada Blooms

dens, raised more than $7,000 for the City of Toronto s Tree Advocacy Program. A portion of the proceeds raised at the 2001 opening night will be donated to the Ontario Heritage Foundation s Garden Conservancy Fund.

Canada Blooms success depends on its volunteers. They are essential to the smooth running of the show, and last year hundreds of people donated their time, energy and efforts. Volunteering at Canada Blooms has become incredibly popular with garden clubs, and we have a group of people who come back year after year, says Ted Johnston, the show s executive director. Many gardeners plan their holidays around the show, and volunteer for several days. We ve received applications from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba.

Volunteer shifts run three hours, and volun-

teers are free to pick a day and time to suit their schedules. Many volunteers request a speakers schedule with their volunteer application so they can plan their shift around the lectures they d like to attend. Canada Blooms is still looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic gardeners at all skill levels. If you d like to donate some time, call the Canada Blooms office at 416-447-8655. ®

Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower and Garden Show, returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, March 14 to 18. Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the opening night party are $125 and can be reserved by calling the Canada Blooms office at (416) 447-8655. Admission to the show: advance tickets $12; adult general admission $15; seniors (65 and over) and students (13-19yrs) $12; children under 12free; 2-day pass $20.

Amy Cole isprojects co-ordinatorfor Canada Blooms.

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LEARNING THE Lok INIgEC D

How botanical myth-nomers havefound their way into the language ofplants

by Charmiene Montgomery

S ince early botanists used Greek and Latin changed into a laurel tree on the spot. Her name lives on in the sweet bay tree, Laurus nobilis, whose Greek name is Daphne. This evergreen is often clipped and grown in tubs outside restaurants on the Mediterranean.

in their naming of plants, it must have seemed only natural to them to look to classical mythology for inspiration. They chose the names of gods, goddesses, nymphs and mortals, sometimes stretching logic in their search for a meaningful moniker.

The daffodil or narcissus, the lovely yellow flower that trumpets the arrival of spring, is said by many to be named for Narcissus, the handsome Greek youth who spurned the love of the nymph Echo and thus caused her death. Eventually he got his comeuppance: as punishment for rejecting another lover, he was made to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool and to pine away for it until he died. Upon his death the gods turned him into the Narcissus, whose blooms continue to look downward. The only drawback to this welcome spring plant is its foliage: like an unwelcome guest, it lingers too long, often not dying back to leave its space for replacement annuals or perennials until late spring.

The goddess Iris was the classical version of FedEx, the heavenly messenger between gods and mortals. The rainbow, her symbol (Iris means rainbow in Greek), formed the bridge between the sky and the earth. The flower named after the goddess reflects the rainbow s wide spectrum of hues which modern hybridizers have expanded even further with an amazing array of combinations.

Pity the poor nymph Daphne, pursued by the god Apollo, who didn t understand that no means no. In desperation, she appealed to a river god to save her from Apollo and she was

Apollo s twin sister, Artemis, was not only the chaste goddess of the hunt and archery, but also, paradoxically, the defender of wild animals, children and other weak beings. A busy goddess, she was also in charge of the moon. The genus Artemisia (of which there are about 400 species) was named for her because its silver-grey foliage is reminiscent of pale moonlight; its pale, almost fluorescent, glow makes it an excellent addition to the evening garden.

Two characters from Homer s Iliad have found their way into the garden. Achilles, the Greek hero of the vulnerable heel, had a magic spear that could both kill and cure not unlike some of our modern medicines. Achillea, a plant reputed to have healing powers indeed, some sources claim Achilles discovered the plant s medicinal properties is named after him. Helen, the woman whose charms led to the Trojan War, is remembered by the late-blooming Helenium. Depending on the legend, the flower either sprang from her tears or was used by her as protection against snakes. It s ironic that a flower named after the most beautiful woman of her time has the common name of sneezeweed.

The early-bloomingAdonis was named for the god of vegetation and nature. Adonis was killed by a wild boar one day while he was hunting, and Aphrodite was so saddened by his death that she made a flower spring up from his blood. Adonis had been virtually adopted by Aphrodite

after his mother, Myrrha, had been turned into a tree as the result of a trick Aphrodite had played on her. The tree, Commiphora myrrha, produces an aromatic resin which is one of the oldest known medicines and was one of the gifts of the Magi to the infantJesus.

Another plant with a medicinal connection is that stalwart of the June garden, the peony. Its botanical name, Paeonia, honours Paeon, physician to the gods, who is reputed to have discovered the plant s medicinal properties. Another physician, Euphorbus, was a real person; he s remembered in the name ofEuphorbia; some of its species are medicinal and some are toxic.

Other real people from ancient times have plants named for them. Mithridates VI Eupator,

There's still time

REGISTRATION FOR our spring courses begins Monday, March 19. Many of the courses will help you discover ways to bring out the best in your garden this season using aquatic plants, bulbs, containers, lawns, perennials, roses, statuary and trees. Or learn how to capture the season s bounty in beautiful, creative flower arrangements, or jars of tasty jam made with fruits from your garden. For a full course listing visit www.civicgardencentre.org.

The following courses have been added to our agenda since the course listings appeared in the January/February issue of Trellis.

REGISTER NOW

Nature Photography PHO26 with Rob Stimpson

Pressing the shutter is the final stage in taking a picture. This course is designed to bring both 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 there are two Saturday photo field trips included, March 24 and April 7,9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

an ancient king of Pontus on the Black Sea, lends his name to Eupatorium. And then there s the Lysimachia family, spreaders all. Gardeners whose beds are being taken over by creeping Jenny or gooseneck loosestrife will be entertained by its origin: Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great s generals, became king of Thrace after Alexander s death, but over time his empire expanded to include Thessaly, Macedonia, and a large part of Asia Minor. Let his avariciousness be a warning, ¥

IN THE NEXT ISSUE: plants whose names describe them.

Charmiene Montgomery is a Master Gardener and designer who specializes in smallgardens.

Date: Thursdays, March 8, 15, 29, and April 19

Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

CGC members: $125. Public: $140.

Rob Stimpson is an award winning professional nature photographer and outdoorguide who has travelled throughout Canada. His photographs have been published in corporate collections, books, magazines, cards and calendars.

Basketryforthe Garden: Trellis Workshop BAS27 with Kim McBrien

Get creative with local natural materials. Participants will make a variety of trellises for garden use on walls, in containers and freestanding. Learn to identify and harvest materials such as willow, dogwood, grapevine, iris leaves and more. Bring garden clippers, wire cutters, hammer, bucket, apron and gloves.

Date: Wednesday May 9

Time: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

CGC members: $50 Public: $60 Kim McBrien is a contemporary basketmaker and textile artist. She teaches adults and children across Canada and the United States to create works ofart thatare truly unique.

LEARNING THE L.I1INgO

How botanical myth-nomers havefound their way into the language ofplants

by Charmiene Montgomery

Pity the poor nymph Daphne, pursued by the god Apollo, who didn t understand that no means no. In desperation, she appealed to a river god to save her from Apollo and she was

The following courses have been added to our agenda since the course listings appeared in the January/February issue of Trellis.

REGISTER NOW

Nature Photography PHO26 with Rob Stimpson

IN THE NEXT ISSUE: plants whose names describe them.

Charmiene Montgomery is a Master Gardener and designer who specializes in smallgardens.

Date: Thursdays, March 8, 15, 29, and April 19

Time: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

CGC members: $125. Public: $140.

Basketryforthe Garden: Trellis Workshop BAS27 with Kim McBrien

Date: Wednesday May 9

Time: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

CGC members: $50 Public: $60

Kim McBrien is a contemporary basketmaker and textile artist. She teaches adults and children across Canada and the United States to create works ofart thatare truly unique.

SpEAKER: KEN PARKER

WHERE: Floral Hall

Edwards Lectures

WHEN: Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.

Topric: Native Plants from a Native Perspective

KEN AND HIS WIFE, LINDA, are owners of Sweet Grass Gardens, a native plant nursery in Hagersville, Ontario, on the Six Nations Reserve, and the nursery s mission statement encapsulates their aim: It is our goal to restore the wisdom from our elders as to the many plant uses and their relationship to the environment. The revival of this knowledge is as important as the cultivation of the plants. Ken is well known throughout North America as a leader in knowl-

Speaker: DAN HEIMS

WHERE: Floral Hall

edge of native plants, and has been growing indigenous plant material since 1992. It s a hobby that s grown out of control, he says.

Ken s presentation will cover the establishment and growth of Sweet Grass Gardens as well as a discussion of native and aboriginal plants, including Ontario grasses, plants to attract birds and butterflies, clay busters and shrubs.

Free to members; non-members $4.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 24, 8 p.m.

Toric: Fabulous New Genera

THE WORLD OF ART HAS The Group of Seven. Politics has The Brat Pack. Horticulture has The Plant Nuts and Dan Heims is one of them. As Dugald Cameron of Gardenimport says: If it weren t for Dan, we d all still be gardening with Heuchera Palace Purple . Dan has spent the last 26 years deeply involved in horticulture and his perennial breeding programs have produced many international gold and silver medal winners. Currently he s president of Terra Nova Nurseries Inc. in Oregon, a wholesale company

noted for bringing new introductions to horticulture. Dan s articles and photography have appeared in a number of magazines, he s taught horticulture courses, and he runs a wholesale plant business and his own design-and-build landscape company. He s been host of a weekly radio gardening show and has appeared on television. Dan has also lectured on gardening in many countries and we are pleased to welcome him as speaker to the CGC s annual general meeting. Free to members; non-members $4.

WANT TO PLAY?

Smith, Nixon & Co. LLP

Chartered Accountants

Ken Maiden, cA (416) 361-1622

Suite 1600, 320 Bay Stree ® Toronto, O

The Civic Garden Centre is looking for volunteer pianists to play our Baldwin grand for about 30 minutes before Edwards Lectures. Ifyou'd like to take advantage of the opportunity to sample a great piano, contact Douglas Markoff at 416-397-1346, or by e-mail at director@civicgardencentre.org.

Special Events

CONTINUOUSBLOOMWITHPAMDUTHI

WHERE: Floral Hall

WHEN: Thursday, April 19, 7:30p

GARDEN DESIGNER Pam Duthie s new book, Continuous Bloom, is a month-by-month guide covering blooms to grace your garden from March through November. This book is the culmination of 12 years of work but, as Pam says, Like a good garden, a book needs time to mature and grow. It s an easy-access guide with pictures and all the information you need under each photo. There are 272 perennials

included as well as a host of insider tips from Pam Tlittle tricks she has learned that help her plants grow better and look great. Her formal education is in political science and Spanish, and her horticultural training began with handson gardening at the age of 8 when she worked alongside her grandfather in the vegetable garden. Today Pam teaches at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Admission: $5.

A SPECIAL AFTERNOON WITH CHRISTOPHER LLOYD

WHERE: Floral Hall WHEN: Sunday, May 13, 3:30 p.m.

SET ASIDE THIS Mother s Day afternoon for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the fabulous Christopher Lloyd. The Civic Garden Centre is privileged to offer a special presentation by the renowned English gardener and writer, and his head gardener, Fergus Garrett. Lloyd was a special guest at the CGC' s first Great Gardening Conference in 1985. In recent

years, he has greatly reduced his speaking engagements, and we are indeed lucky to have him join us on this North American visit. Lloyd s talk title is Good Plants and Good Planting, and Garrett will talk on Succession. Admission (includes afternoon tea): members $25, non-members $30; reservations required call 416-397-1351 or 416-397-1340.

SPRING AND SUMMER BUS TOURS READY TO ROLL

gain this year the CGC has planned some exciting out-of-town bus tours for members and friends. Plans for the two tours below are pretty well finalized, and a June tour to the beautiful gardens of KingTownship is in the planning stage. Watch the June/July issue of Trellis for details.

FOR PLANT FANATICS, THURSDAY, MAY 3

A special trip to opening day of the excellent plant sale at the Royal Botanical Gardens. We ll book the bus if there s enough interest, so sign up early. A van will follow the bus so you can buy more than you can carry and still get your purchases home safely. We ll even plan a couple of stops along the route home so you can supplement the day s purchases. Back at the Civic Garden Centre you ll still be in time to shop at the first day of our perennials sale. Only one bus is making the trip. Lunch is included. Members $50; non-members $60. Registration deadline is April 25: call 416-397-1351 for details.

A DAY AT THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

The Civic Garden Centre will be taking one lucky busload of 50 people to see Twelfth Night at the Stratford Festival Theatre, starring James Blendick, Domini Blythe, Peter Donaldson, Paul Dunn, Michelle Giroux and William Hutt. Enjoy a comfortable coach to beautiful Stratford, making stops at some interesting gardens along the way. Lunch in a picturesque setting in Stratford will be followed by the matinee performance; all seating is reserved in the A section ofthe FestivalTheatre.Transportation, lunch, theatre tickets, garden visits and refreshments en route are included. Members $140; non-members $150. Registration deadline isJune 15: call 416-397-1362(or 1340) for details.

by Anna Leggatt

Oenothera

triloba: for magical evenings

Oenothera are commonly known as evening primroses and Oenothera triloba lives up to its name. On warm summer evenings, my family gathers round our plants to watch the flowers open at dusk. One may cry This one s started! when the long, pointed green sepals split, revealing a glimpse of a silky primrose-yellow petal. The rest of us hurry over to see the flower open in less than a minute. Often we go back to other plants and find several flowers have opened in the time we were away. Some of my plants have had up to 14 flowers open in one evening. Place yours near a sitting area so you can watch the flowers open a glass of sauterne will complement the occasion.

The flower is about five centimetres (two inches) in diameter and has a saucer shape, with prominent stamens and pistils. The petals join to form a long tube, and the ovaries (later the seed pods) are nestled among the base.

At in e Link S

Upper Link

Quartz Tiles ofIznik

February 14 to March 5

A stunning collection of ceramic tiles that replicate the splendid tiles of the Ottoman empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. Presented by The Iznik Foundation in collaboration with Ontrex Inc.

Shahla Andrews

Capturing Nature s Beauty

April 17 to April 30

An exhibition of oils, acrylics and watercolours that reveal the painter s passion for colour and simple shapes, as well as her eye for composition. Opening night:TBA.

Undamaged flowers turn a dirty, satiny pink in the sun, and the leaves resemble thin dandelion leaves; they form a dome-shaped plant about 25 centimetres wide and 15 centimetres high (10 by 6 inches).

The blooms are slightly fragrant, to entice moths to pollinate them, but slugs love them too by morning following a damp night the petals are often thoroughly chewed. Indeed, I suspect slugs do most of the pollinating in my garden. O. triloba is a biennial or a short-lived perennial. It self-seeds easily if left alone, and it prefers well-drained rich soil and full sun, although mine grow in sandy, wet and dry soils, and in a raised bed that s mostly clay. Moreover, some of mine are happy in semi-shade. Young plants transplant well in spite of a long tap root; they frequently collapse for a few days, but quickly recover. Plants are sold by most nurseries in spring, and they are easily grown from seed. ®

Lower Link

Bring in the Light

Watercolours and acrylics by Ita Pechenick

February 13 to March 9

Ita s paintings bring light, character and warmth to a winter day. People and places are expressed with buoyant colour and movement.

ImaginativeInterpretations

Barbara Lea and Lynn Kelly

May 1 to May 14

Flowers, plants and everyday objects in watercolour and acrylic. A kaleidoscope of creative images. Opening night: May 2.

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X Expertadvice from the Master Gardeners |

Q 1've been given a gardenia plant, but the buds are turning brown. What is the problem?

A Gardenias aren t easy to grow because they re temperamental and susceptible to many pests. Brown buds could be due to several conditions. (1) Low humidity: the plants need a moist atmosphere: stand the pot in a tray of water filled with pebbles. (2) High temperature: the ideal is 7 to 10°C (45 to Gardenias 50°F). (3) Drafts: the gardenia ke itcool hates a current of air, whether it s warm or cold. (4) Soggy soil: k gardenias need well-drained sonl but don t let it dry out.

Q How can I germinate primula seed?

A If the seeds are from the past season s crop, chill them two months to aid germination, but it s better

to sow seeds in a cold frame as soon as they ripen (from May to September). Named varieties won t come true from seed. Seeds need light to germinate, so don t cover them. They take 21 to 40 days to germinate at 21°C (70°F). Keep seedlings moist and lightly shaded too much sun will quickly burn them.

Primula seed needs pre-chilling and light, to germinate

Q Can I feed pruned twigs from fruit trees to my pet rabbit?

A Twigs from plum and apricot trees may be toxic, but grapevine prunings are safe. : L2 N By

A rabbit will enjoy grape vine prunings

PLANS FOR RENEWING THE CGC ARE MOVING AHEAD J:IITERIET

OVERTHE PAST FEW MONTHS, visitors to the CGC have had the opportunity to view the architectural models of our plans to revitalize the building, which were on display in the front lobby. We have two immediate initiatives: to reconfigure the building, and to expand into the gardens immediately adjacent to the CGC.

Revitalizing the CGC will allow us to deliver gardening education programs to the community more effectively; to expand indoor and outdoor programs as well as public services, including the library, a horticultural therapy program and a year-round children's interactive area; and ensure that the CGC remains an important source of useful horticultural information and instruction.

Two committees are spearheading these plans.The future planning committee, headed byTracey Lawko, is defining and developing each step of the building and gardens revitalization, including the business plan. The capital campaign steering committee, led by Janet Greyson, is laying the foundation and defining the path necessary for the fund-raising campaign. Naturally, we must raise the funds before we can begin construction.

Many CGC members have heard the future planning committee's presentation, as have volunteers, staff, the executives ofThe Garden Club ofToronto, Milne House Garden Club andToronto Master Gardeners, horticultural organizations who meet here, and rental clients. These groups have provided us with valuable feedback. Several meetings have also been held with representatives from the City ofToronto Parks and Recreation.

Communication is integral to the CGC. Past issues of 7rellis have carried articles related to the revitalization, and we will be providing regular updates. A broader city-wide public relations campaign is also planned; it will communicate a fundamental message: who and what we are, and why we need to revitalize the CGC. The message will be communicated to the mayor and councillors of Toronto, and to the public through many means, including our Web site, the media and public forums.

If you'd like to know more about our plans for renewing the Centre, feel free to call me at 416-397-1346. ®

lllustrations:

Vivien Jenkinson

GARDEN GETAWAY 5 -20 AUG. 2001 personally escorted by Marjorie Mason-Hogue Aug. 5 to Aug. 20 in Englandand Scotlandwill 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 ofNori 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 throughthq 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

CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Tuesday, April 24th 7:30 p.m.

To be followed at 8:00 p.m. by an Edwards Lecture featuring Dan Heims, principal ofTerra Nova. One glance at the catalogue from Terra Nova, and you will know you want to hear what this man has to say. CGC experts are unanimous in their description ofDan Heims: the man who brought usALL those interestingplants. Dan s lecture will be Fabulous New Genera . Membersfree; non-members $4.00

TheAnnual General Meeting will take place at: The Civic Garden Centre

The Floral Hall 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2 7:30 p.m.

by Mara Arndt

Books: our latest wish list

DONATIONS OF HORTICULTURAL and gardening books, as well as magazines, are always welcome at the CGC Library. Donations of money, from individuals or groups, are used to buy specific books on our wish list, and tax receipts are issued on request. Donors are credited on the bookplate. Our current wish list includes the following titles (prices indicated are the library s cost after discounts):

The Artist & the Garden, by Roy Strong; Yale University Press, 2000; $50.

The ColorEncyclopedia ofDaylilies, by Ted L. Petit andJohn P. Peat; Timber Press, 2000; $45.

Monastic Gardens, by Mick Hales; Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2000; $35.

Book REVIEW

Web site REVIEW suite101.com

ByJeanMcCluskey

SOMETIMES SEARCHING the Internet can be very time-consuming, so why not try the portal Suite101.com, which describes itself as an online publishing company of real people helping real people . It s well organized and may be searched in two easy ways: by using the BrowserTopics which are arranged as in a library, using the DeweyDecimal Classification System,orby typing a subject in the search box. At mefmomenf;the site offers just over 1,300 topics,which I some38,000articlesand42,000 links.

Tobegin, | went to the Browser checked out gardening (which falls under 6! appliedsciences in the Dewey System),andwa rewarded with dozens of articles on all kinds of topics, from cottage gardens to the gardens of Tasmania. Using the search box, | was more specific: | typed in bulbs, and a listing of 256 articles popped up.

Chat groups are available, varying from the lighthearted and fun to more serious discussions.Topics vary from vacationing in Florida to Irish genealogy.

In short, Suite 101.com is a comprehensive site with thousands of articles and links and well worth a visit.

djoyqfPropagation By Ken Druse NewYork, Clarkson Potter, 2000; 256pages,$65.95

KEN DRUSE, one ofAmerica s foremost,gardenmg authorities and an award-winning photographer, guides us through the steps of plant propagation including seed sowing, perennial division, cuttings and such. A book that claims to have something for everyone should always be viewed with scepticism, but this one is an indispensable guide for both amateur and professional gardeners. It has exciting projects for all levels of expertise, and as your gardening knowledge and appetite grow throughout your gardening career, it could continue to be your guide.

Initially, you're captivated by the exquisite photogra phy everyimage captures the magic of nature.The text is a perfect complement to the photography informative, with step-by-step, photo-by-photo instructions that encourage the reader to attempt new challenges. Included is an invaluable, comprehensive appendix that charts propagation methods for more than 700 genera and thousands of species of plants under both their common and Latin names. As Ken Druse so aptly puts it: To become a great propagator you must have patience, but to begin to propagate plants, all you need is curiosity.

. EXPf RIENCE OVER 75,000 SQ.FT. OF SEEDS, BULBS, HARD-TO-FIND TOOLS INTHE GARDEN MARKETPLACE. EXPLORE THE AWESOME TROPICAL RAIN FOREST. ENJOY THE ONTARIO HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION S FLOWER COMPETITION. HELP KIDS GROW IN THE MAKE IT & TAKE IT GARDEN. TOUR OVER 15,000 SQ.FT. OF FANTASY LANDSCAPES.

* GET A GREEN THUMB FROM THE XPERTS AT THE PLANT & GARDEN SEMINAR STAGE LIKE: WHILE

MARK CULLEN, ART DRYSDALE, CECIL LAMROCK & MANY MORE ...

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

=r> ll What's on atthe Civic Garden Centre |

M ARCH

Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting: 1 to 5 p.m.

Mycological Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-444-9053

Ontario Rock Garden Society Meeting: 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Information: 416-755-2325

Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-755-0880

12-16

March Break in the Teaching Garden

For details: 416-397-1355

North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

Information: 416-484-0677

Ikebana International Meeting: 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Mycological Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-444-9053

Toronto Cactus Society Meeting: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Information: 905-877-6013; www.webhome@idirect.com~naylor/tcsc.htm

Edwards Lecture

Speaker: Ken Parker, Sweet Grass Gardens, Hagersville

Topic: Native Plants from a Native Perspective Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Free to CGC members; non-members $4

22

Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-286-5798

Rhododendron Society ofCanada Meeting: 2 to 4 p.m. Free.

Information: 416-226-1270; matthew.h@home.com

Canadian Rose Society

Annual meeting: 2 p.m.

Speaker: Art Drysdale

Topic: Rose Growing Past and Present Guests welcome; admission free

APRIL

Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting: 1 p.m.

Mycological Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-444-9053

York Rose & Garden Society Meeting: 2 to 5 p.m.

Information: 416-282-4434

CGC

Workshop

Topic: Gardening Styles from the Orient 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: full day, members $40, non-members $50; half day: members $25, non-members $30.

Lunch additional.

Information: 416-397-1358

Ontario Rock Garden Society

Sale: 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Meeting, with speaker: 2 to 5 p.m.

Information: 416-755-2325

York Rose & Garden Society Meeting: 2 to 5 p.m.

Information: 416-282-4434

Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-755-0880

North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

Information: 416-484-0677

Ikebana International Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

Toronto Cactus Society Meeting: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Information: 905-877-6013; www.webhome@idirect.com~naylor/tcsc.htm

Special Evening

Speaker: Pam Duthie, Topic: Continuous Bloom Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.; $5 for all attendees

Canadian Rose Society Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

¥4

Geranium & Pelargonium Society Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

Mycological Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-444-9053

CGC Annual General Meeting and Edwards Lecture

Speaker: Dan Heims

Topic: Fabulous New Genera Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting: 7 p.m.

Information: 416-286-5798

IN & AROUND THE GTA

MARCH 14-18

CANADA BLOOMS

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, 222 Bremner Blvd, Toronto

Visit the CGC' s Trellis Shop, located on Blooms Avenue, and our booth in the horticultural

organizations exhibit area. Watch for Teaching Garden co-ordinator Shannon Collins March 17; Shannon will speak on Growing Playworlds. Information: 416-447-8655 or 1-800-730-1020; www.canadablooms.com 15-18

SUCCESS WITH GARDENING SHOW

International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga. In conjunction with the International Home & Garden Show. Information: 416-512-1305; www.home-show.net

APRIL 6-8

ONTARIO GARDEN SHOW

Royal Botanical Gardens Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, Ontario Information: 905-522-6117, ext. 306; www.rbg.ca

It may seem a long time off.... But don tforget the CGC s Easter plant sale.As in previousyears, the Trellis Shop will be selling seasonal plantsduring Easter week,April 8 to 15. Lots of lovelies have been ordered, including blue, pink and white hydrangeas, Easter lilies and baskets filled with bloom.

DON HEIGHTS UNITARIAN CONGREGATION

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 this spring. Please bring them to the library the next time youvisit the CGC.

*FOR SALE-"

Three tier floral light plant stand and light timer. Excellent condition. Please phone and leave message 416-483-5393