The Civic Garden Centre (CGC), founded in 1958, is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to act as a central resource for gardening, horticulture and allied environmental issues by encouraging interest, promoting involvement, and gathering, disseminating and interpreting information in order to enhance the quality of life for members ofthe community.
What We Offer
Located at Edwards Gardens, The Civic Garden Centre offers many programs and services, including year-round activities for families and children. Our horticultural library has over
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 2 to March 31
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 12 noon to 4 p.m.
MainiNumber .53 uiG e sl aiiiings 416-397-1340
FaX., e TR SR e 416-397-1354
Email ........ civicgardencentre@infogarden.ca
Course Registration .............. 416-397-1362
Course E-mail ........... courses@infogarden.ca
CGC Library syl e vis 416-397-1343
Library E-mail ........... library@infogarden.ca
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.
Rentalsi i Lishs bndns il sy 416-397-1349
Rentals E-mail .......... rentals@infogarden.ca
Trellls: Shop. ool b aunia Sl inie, 416-397-1357
Volunteer Co-ordinator ........... 416-397-4145
Photography Permit, Toronto Parks & Recreation Division ............ 416-392-8188
8,000 books, 70 periodicals, and a large collection of clippings, pamphlets, nursery and seed catalogues, as well as a great selection of children s gardening books. Horticultural Information Services offers free gardeninginformation year round, and the Trellis Shop has many unique gifts, books and gardening supplies for sale. The Teaching Garden has been created as a working garden to foster interest and educate people in the love and values of gardeningand the natural world. As a community service, Artin the Link offers galleryspace to local artists. As well, the CGC has a wide variety of banquet halls, meeting rooms and show space, with access to Edwards Gardens, one ofToronto s favourite garden spots.
3% Board of Directors
Kim DalglishAbell, Alice Adelkind, Arthur Beauregard, SandraBeech, Marisa Bergagnini, Dugald Cameron, Victoria Lister Carley, LindsayDale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Suzanne Drinkwater, Mary Fisher, Judy Floyd, Janet Greyson, Lorraine Hunter, Cecil Lamrock, Sonia Leslie, Kenneth D. Maiden, Grace Patterson, Janet Rowley, Dawn Scott, Tim Tanz
3 Staff Members
Executive Director
Douglas Markoff
Manager, Community Services tba Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox
Accounting Joe Sabatino
Administration Shirley Lyons
Capital Campaign Director
Course Co-ordinator Janice Turner King Rosetta Leung
Development Co-ordinator Niti Bhotoia
Horticultural Assistant Nicole North
Librarian Mara Arndt
Maintenance Supervisor Walter Morassutti
Rental Co-ordinator Angela Carruthers
Teaching Garden Co-ordinator Shannon Collins
Volunteer Co-ordinator Christine Martin
Volunteers
3 Patrons
Over 425 volunteers
Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, Lorraine Johnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
Lorrame
M. Arndt, T. Coombes, M.Magee
M Bruce,J.McCluskey
L. & S. Skinner, A. Smith
llis
by Sonia Leslie ® AcTING PRESIDENT
Speakers, events and tours at the CGC
he Civic Garden Centre regrets to Tannounce Tracey Lawko s resignation as president. Tracey has contributed significantly to the Centre s activities, both before and during her tenure as president. The board thanks her for all the work she has done and wishes her well in her new endeavour. Because the resignation occurred in mid-term, Grace Patterson and 1, as co-vice-presi-
al illustrated lecture on what can be learned from the great classical gardens. Focusing on small gardens, the Ultimate Garden Workshop was also a huge success. Landscape designers Bill Hewick, Janet Rosenberg, Victoria Lister Carley and Terry McGlade showed us four different approaches to garden planning.
While on the subject of events, be sure to keep your current Trellis handy dents, are temporarily fulfilling }lnewireatm | as a source of information on the presidential duties. storefor our all the latest happenings at the
Our extraordinarywinter weath- mbem will be a CGC. In particular, watch for er and the growing enthusiasm for M d&y tour Of a new series of lectures to gardening contributed to the enor- p vategardemin be generously sponsored by mous success of Getting the Jump Bloo n ela , our good friend and supporter on Spring. Even though this year s | Mark Cullen. event had to compete with the Wellingtonaud Our major annual fundraiser, Canada-United States gold medal Picton in Prince Through the Garden Gate, will hockey game at the Olympics, it Edwani COWW- take place on Father s Day weekwas verywell attended.
In the past short while we have been pleased to present a number of eminent speakers. Adrian Bloom came from England to give a stimulating lecture on conifers in the garden. He recommended the continuous review of trees and shrubs to prune or remove those that have outgrown their space. His slides included some hilarious examples of houses completely hidden behind 40-year-old foundation plantings.
Brian Holley, a Canadian who is director of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, entertained us with an overview of his years at the gardens, providing inspiration to us at the CGC as we move forward with our own exciting revitalization plans. Several board members met with Brian to discuss his management of the recent expansion and reconstruction at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
Our recently retired Trellis editor, Liz Primeau, provided an interesting and education-
end, June 15 and 16. This year we present a tour of some wonderful private gardens in Lawrence Park. The planning and logistics are well in hand under Victoria Lister Carley s leadership. Be sure to come and bring a friend!
A new treat in store for our members will be a two-day tour of private gardens in Bloomfield, Wellington and Picton in Prince Edward County. Two of our volunteers, Carol Gardner and Diane Kerbel, are hard at work tweaking the final details (see page 21).
The Teaching Garden s summer program for our children is already in place and we are now planning an outreach school program for the fall.
As chair of your Volunteers Committee, an active tour guide and a Master Gardener, I realize how important the work of volunteers is to the successful functioning of the CGC. I particularly wish to thank you all for your wonderful support of our recent events and look forward to your continuing assistance. @
Announcing a NEW Member Benefit
Get 10AirMiles®whenyou renewyour CGCmembership
Renewing and new members will now receive a coupon for 10 Air Miles® to be redeemed at Weall & Cullen Garden Centres with a minimum purchase (No minimum amount, even a pack of seeds will do.) Just by showing your membership card, CGC members are also eligible for a 10 per cent discount offWeall & Cullen products (excluding FTD service and sale items). This special benefit is valid to December 31, 2002.
The Civic Garden Centre wishes to thank Weall & Cullen for their generous financial support of our 2002 Special Lecture series.
Seed Exchange, 2001-2
This year the CGC had an excellent seed exchange. Our 15 donors provided 156 different seeds from which we filled orders received from 56 members. We only ran out of one or two items, so nearly everyone received their complete order. Leftover seeds were donated to the CGC Teaching Garden.
The most popular seeds were: Anemone x lesseri (17); Papaver somniferum pink double (12); Stokesia laevis (12); Cleome sp. (12); Agastache (ex Pink Panther ) (10); Monarda punctata (10); Nicotiana sylvestris (10); Pulsatilla vulgaris Papageno (10).
Thank you to the donors, the checkers, the sorters and the recipients. May all your seeds germinate!
~Anna Leggatt
Distinctive Garden Accents
Exploring the World of Rhododendrons
ne hundred rhododendrons and azaleas in bloom in early May? Where in Toronto would one go to see such a spectacle? The Civic Garden Centre of course! Until the middle of May, the front lobby of the CGC will be transformed by the World of Rhododendrons, a well-crafted educational display highlighting the how-to of forcing rhododendrons and azaleas into bloom. And when temperatures are suitable for moving the plants outdoors, these rhododendrons and azaleas will be acclimatized and put out into beds in Edwards Gardens to provide continuing enjoyment for all of us.
Rhododendrons are blooming in the lobby of the CGC.
Most of us have seen forced flowers while attending shows such as Canada Blooms, but few of us have witnessed first-hand the stages and changes plants go through from dormancy to full flower. This display explains the mystery
of plants by demonstrating how valuable rhododendrons are in the home landscape. Did you ever wonder how to tell an azalea from a rhododendron? This display will tell you. As well, all the plants are labelled and information sheets and brochures are available describing proper siting, soil preparation, planting and maintenance as well as listing proven garden performers among rhododendrons, azaleas and other members of the heath, Ericaceae, family of woody plants. Would you like to learn more about rhododendrons? The CGC library and Trellis Shop feature a great selection of books on rhododendrons, azaleas and their companion plants.
...thefrontlobbyofthe CGCwillbe transformed bythe WorldofRhododendrons, a well-crafted educationaldisplayhighlightingthe how-to of forcingrhododendronsandazaleasinto bloom.
behind the traditional horticultural technique and art of forcing plants. It encompasses rhododendrons and azaleas of varying sizes as well as many species and cultivars including ones that flower in early, mid- and late season. Along with the familiar, large-flowering evergreen types of rhododendron, there are small-leaf ones such as the PJM Group, deciduous azaleas and evergreen azaleas.
The exhibit will also make us more aware of this extraordinarily beautiful and versatile group
Originally created for the annual convention of the Ontario Horticultural Association District 5, which was co-hosted by the North Toronto Horticultural Society, the World of Rhododendrons display continues to be maintained by the Rhododendron Horticultural Society, Toronto Region. In partnership with The Civic Garden Centre, the goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness of and to encourage membership in both the OHA (through membership in an affiliated society such as the North Toronto Horticultural Society) and in the Rhododendron Society, two vital community organizations.
The Civic Garden Centre welcomes opportunities for collaborative plant displays with any of the societies within the horticultural community. Let s continue to build bridges. To discuss your ideas, please contact us after all, this is your Civic Garden Centre. @
by Mary Strachan e VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR
My time here has been a series of gifts . . .
ON MY VERY first day at The Civic Garden Centre, I was givena gift. I was sitting at reception with Carol Gardner, finding out more about my new job, when Maneck (one of our faithful volunteers) came by and introduced himself. We chatted about lots of different things, including what it s like for the building to be a rental facility. Apparently, renters often leave things
This column will be my last before| begin my new job as a mom. By the timeyou read it,
co-ordinator, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know a wide variety of interesting people, young and young at heart, some experienced gardeners, some beginners. Beyond that, there have been many times when [ have marvelled at the dedication of volunteers and their willingness to give of themselves in such whole-hearted and unselfish behind, unclaimed, especially there ll likely be a ways. It has beena gift to be surafter private functions. Maneck new baby in my life, rounded by so many people who scurried off and came back with keeping me busy, believe so passionately in what one such item, a small glass can-
ojfering up a whole We do. dleholder. He offered it to me series ofnewgf s- But perhaps the greatest gifts (actually he insisted I have it!) a welcome to The Civic Garden Centre gift, so to speak. I remember going home, thinking that if everyone was half as thoughtful and kind as Maneck, all would turn out well. And now, over a year later, I 'm pleased to say that I haven t been disappointed. As volunteer
The Civic Garden Centre has given me are time and a relatively calm working environment. Having come from one of the helping professions, it has been wonderful to be free from its related crises and stress. Working part time has allowed me to pursue other interests, like yoga teacher training and my own volunteer work at an arts centre in Regent Park. My work here has offered the challenge I needed, while giving me the opportunity to have a more balanced, healthy lifestyle. For this gift in particular, am most grateful.
This column will be my last before I begin my new job as a mom. By the time you read it, there ll likely be a new baby in my life, keeping me busy, offering up a whole series of new gifts. But, before I hang up my volunteer coordinator hat, I'll remind you that Through the Garden Gate is fast approaching. We ll need lots of assistance and support to ensure its success. People who volunteer receive a complimentary ticket for the alternate day. If you are interested, please call the Volunteer Office at 416-397-4145. @
A special thank you to everyone who volunteered at Getting a Jump on Spring and at Canada Blooms.
/' We're celebrating our fourth birthday!
AS THE TEACHING Garden reaches its fourth birthday, the programs that bring it alive each year continue to grow. This summer will see many of the old favourites like the Pumpkin Patchers for three- and four-year-olds and their guardians, Sunflower Hideaways for five- to sevenyear-olds and the Green Thumb Camp for eight- to 10year-olds, but we will also be trying out some exciting new initiatives. For instance, our first ever Bug Camp - for eight- to 12-year-olds will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 29 through August 1.
...children in low-income, high-densityandhighly diverse neighbourhoods in Toronto are bused out to the Teaching Garden to playand learn about gardeningandnature...)
A part of the Teaching Garden mandate includes outreach to high-needs communities. Green Adventure Fridays have successfully met that goal for the past two summers. For these day camps, children in low-income, high-density and highly diverse neighbourhoods in Toronto are bused out to the Teaching Garden to play and learn about gardening and nature in our own special green space.
The Garden Club of Toronto has funded this program in the past and has agreed to continue funding it this year provided we double our outreach efforts and find funding from one other source. We have taken up the challenge and are now committed to run eight school program sessions for high-needs grade three classes throughout the city. The lucky classes are in for full days of active learning about soil and plants in the garden during the month ofJune.
Based on inspiration from Maureen Heffernan s workshop in the fall (Maureen s from the Hershey Children s Garden in Cleveland), the Teaching Garden has decided to open the garden to parents
and their children from 1 to 3 p.m. on selected afternoons (see dates below) so they can visit our free afternoon discovery stations. Activity stations will be set up to allow children and guardians to explore the garden at their own pace. On Mud Pie Mondays, children will learn more about soil, make mud pies, check out the worms in our vermi-compost and help spread garden compost. In Plant Pandemonium, the Tuesday program, children will make plant crafts, go on plant scavenger hunts, taste-test veggies and flowers from the garden and plant a seed to take home. At Paint a Story on Wednesdays, young visitors will listen to a garden story before exploring and painting in the garden. @
THANKSTOALLtheanonymousdonorswho have dropped offgiftsofrecycled materials. TheTeaching Garden programsdepend greatlyonthe donation ofsuch goods. Here sa listofourneeds.
2-litre pop bottles &juicejugs (with lids) clear plastic peanut butterjars (with lids) various sizes of plastic and glass containers & jars (with lids) egg cartons long cardboard rolls old colourful fabricremnants pieces ofwood and tools yoghurt containers various sizes ofcans Polaroid film
old fun clothes (for costumes and scarecrows)
Summer programs fill up quickly! For more information or to register: call 416-397-1355, fax 416-397-1354 or e-mail teachinggarden@infogarden.ca.
WE LOOK FORWARDTO SEEINGYOU ONTHESE OPEN GARDEN DATES
JULY 2,3 JULY 8TO 10 JULY 15TO0 17 AUGUST 1, 6 » AUGUST 19 TO 21 « AUGUST 26 TO 28
Through the Garden Gate: THE EDUCATION OF A GARDENER
"Iknow nothing whatever ofmanyaspects ofgardening and very little ofa greatmanymore. ButIneversawa gardenfrom which Idid not learn somethingandseldom met a gardener who did not, in one wayoranother, help me."
by Lisa Wood
Potscapes and water gardens were popular features in last year s tour of the gardens of Moore Park.
These are the words of the famed British garden designer, Russell Page, in the introduction to his book, The Education of a Gardener. A large part of being a good gardener is developing a critical eye, and this can be done by looking at as many gardens as you can. In other people s gardens, you are removed from the constraints thatyoumightfeel inyour own gardenand are free to look objectively at the ways in which the garden owner has created his or her garden. When you go home, you' ll see your own space in a different way and perhaps decide to make some changes as a result ofwhatyou have seen.
In earlyJune, the light is soft and the air is fresh and it is lovely to be in the garden. Since it s the startofa new season, there is stillplentyto do and lots of time for experimentation and assessment of plant choices and combinations. This is a great moment to have a look at what other people are
doing in their gardens. Through the Garden Gate, the CGC s 15th annual tour of private gardens, provides a perfect opportunity. Our tour of 20 private gardens in Lawrence Park will give you a chance to have the kind of learning experience that Russell Page considered useful.
Lawrence Park was first developed as a community by Wilfrid S. Dinnick around 1910. He envisioned a community where "glorious gardens surround houses that are designed and built by men of taste and refinement." In contrast to the gridiron pattern common to many planned communities, Lawrence Park s streets followed the natural contours of the landscape and houses were planned to harmonize with the surrounding mature stands of woodland. Advertisements spoke of the "green glades of shady woods" that would be near the new homes, but early photos show that the houses
being built were surrounded by fields of mud, just as they are in modern subdivisions. Over time, the community became more settled, and by the 1950s infill houses were being built and the community took on its present urban feel. Today, although new and bigger homes are replacing some of the older ones in the area, Lawrence Park still contains several houses listed on the city of Toronto s Inventory of Heritage Properties; two of them are on the garden tour. The many gardens and
( Today, although newand biggerhomes are replacing some ofthe you are seeing. The garden older ones in the area, Lawrence Park still contains several houses listed on
ing plants. The brochure also includes a glossary of some of the more important plants on the tour, listed by both botanical and common names. And, there will be a Toronto Master Gardener in every garden to help answer plant-related questions.
A day of viewing these varied gardening designs will certainly afford an appreciation of the many different ways of approaching the creation of a garden on a particular piece of land. Because the Through the Garden Gate tour is such a good resource for gardeners, The Civic Garden Centre makes sure that you have the tools to help you make sense of what guide in the tour package provides a brief description of each garden including, in some cases, the owner s commature trees in the area con- the Cit_}/ Of Toronto s ments, the name of the gartinue to be evocative of InVentory ofHeritage den designer and a short list Dinnick s dream of a neigh- Properties/ of some of the more interestbourhood that would create a "harmonious picture." On the tour you will be able to look at some of the houses and envision how they must have related to the gardens and green space that once surrounded them. Through the Garden Gate showcases a variety of garden styles. Several are new gardens designed by Toronto s busiest landscape architects and feature many modern elements including plentiful stonework, fountains and pools and fashionable plants. The older gardens, many designed and maintained by their owners, offer more mature plant material and reflect the times in which they were created. Some gardens have a Japanese influence with bamboo screens and Japanese maples while others are firmly rooted in English gardening traditions. Gardeners with the good fortune to back onto a ravine make use of this "borrowed" green landscape at the bottom of their gardens.
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
takes place on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16 from noon to 5 p.m.Tickets are valid for a specific day, either Saturday or Sunday. The tour is often sold out in advance so it is a good idea to buyyour ticket in good time. Tours will proceed in all weather. Ticket prices remain unchanged from last year at $20 for members and $25 for non-members. For information and tickets, call 416-397-1340
The tour headquarters is always at the heart of each garden tour. This is the place to share ideas and reactions with other gardeners. You will be able to buy interesting plants from the CGC garden booth or a light lunch, ice cream or a cold drink for a mid-tour break. Cool water or ice cream is also available along the tour route. You can park your car and walk to the gardens, but if you don t want to walk, you can do all or part of the tour by boarding complimentary shuttle buses that constantly circulate along the route. In addition, if you come by TTC, a complimentary shuttle bus will pick you up adjacent to the Lawrence station on the Yonge subway line and bringyou to tour headquarters.
The education of a gardener is never complete, and we should do all we can to develop our understanding and knowledge of the pastime that we love. Start by becoming a member of the CGC, reading a copy of Russell Page s book, and joining us on that lovely weekend in June for Through the Garden Gate. @
Lisa Wood is a garden designer and long-time volunteerat the CGC'.
THE DIRTY DOZEN
"In this second in a series ofarticles examining pesticides, Carol Gardnerlooks at Canada s responses to a problem thatgoes beyond its bordersy
n the last issue of I Trellis my introductory article ended with a plea (okay, a whine) for clarity on the issue of the effects of pesticides on the environment and human health. This article discusses something that most scientists do agree upon the dirty dozen not a wacky old war movie, but a group of 12 chemicals called Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which is composed of eight pesticides as well as four chemicals used or " generated by industry. These 12 chemicals are all toxic, persist in the environment, accumulate in the body fat of people and animals and can travel great distances.
Between 1975 and 1990, all eight POPs pesticides were banned in Canada. Nevertheless, because POPs are trans-
THE DIRTY DOZEN
¢ aldrin-pesticideappliedtosoilstokilltermites, grasshoppers, corn rootworm and other insects
¢ chlordane- used to control termites & as a broad-spectrum insecticide on a range ofagricultural crops
o dieldrin usedtocontroltermites&textilepests o dioxins chemicalsproduced unintentionally in the manufacture ofpesticides & other chlorinated substances
* endrin - insecticide used on cotton and grains & to control rodents
o furans produced unintentionallyduring the production of PCBs
¢ polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used in industry as well as additives in paint, carbonless copy paper & plastics
¢ toxaphene- insecticide used on cotton, cereal grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables
those in women who live in Southern Canada. Another study, by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, showed that 80 per cent of pollutants detected in the Arctic appear to come from countries other than Canada.
In a recent Toronto Star story (January 23, 2002), researchers with the University of Windsor s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research reported that Arctic polar bears are acting like furcovered chemical factories and warned that new types of chemicals are building up in the organs and tissues ofbears, seals, whales and other animals, just as PCBs and DDT have in the past.
Clearly, when it comes to pollutants, a country has to look way beyond its borders. In recognition ported far and wide on air currents by hopping from one point to another (scientists call this phenomenon the grasshopper effect), Canada is still very threatened by these toxic substances, particularly in the Arctic where the cold climate and low evaporation rates trap POPs, allowing them to enter the food chain.
Scientific evidence shows that levels of certain POPs in the breast milk of some Inuit women are up to nine times higher than
of this fact, representatives of 90 countries (including Canada) signed an agreement in May 2001 to ban the 12 POPs. The treaty must be ratified by at least 50 of these countries before it can enter into force. In September of this year, the United Nations is expected to announce the results. Canada has already ratified the POPs agreement, and in August 2000 announced the creation of a $20-million fund to assist developing countries to address POPs issues.
Laudable though that is, we shouldn t be congratulating ourselves yet. A report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development of the House of Commons, published in Canada has already costs of research (facilities and institutional costs) as they do in the United States. According to a November 2000 report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, that gap is allowing May 2000, stated that Canada s Tat ed the POP.S Canadian research to fall behind 30-year-old Pest Control Products @& reement, and in that ofmany other countries. Act is woefully inadequate.
AugllSt 2000 Nature hates a void. In this case,
POPs issues.
in health and environmental research is replete with the names of major chemical producers and lobbyists. The dimensions of this problem were elucidated in a 1999 report by Dr. E. Ann Clark of the University of Guelph in which she warned that industry agendas, including those of the life science companies, have assumed increasing prominence in academic research.
The problem is certainly not limited to Canada. The bottom line everywhere is that research funding is desperately needed and that universities that want to stay in the research business have to take the money where they can find it. And more and more, it seems, they re getting it from organizations that have a proprietary interest in the results. Is this as it should be or, as some fear, are the foxes drawing up the plans for the chicken coop? @
The committee, which was convened to study the effects of pesticides on humans and the environment, reported that more than announced the creation ofa $20-millionfund to assist developing the funding void has been filled in part by business and industry. All well and good, so far. But the list of external funders for Canadian uni7,000 pesticides are registered for coyntries to address Versities that are heavily involved use in Canada and that many of them contain active ingredients that have not been re-evaluated for years. Of the over 500 active ingredients contained in registered products, over 300 were approved before 1981 and over 150 were approved before 1960. The report recommended new legislation that must be comprehensive and progressive in design and thrust. It must articulate a vision for pest management that will withstand the test of time. It must also set forth a blueprint for action that, in the short term and the long term, will best protect the health of Canadians and the environment. The report also stressed the need for research to be undertaken to provide that degree of scientific certainty needed to support precautionary action, with particular emphasis on research related to endocrine disruptors, synthetic pyrethroids and phenoxy herbicides.
But research takes money. Although federal funding for university research is increasing, the federal commitments do not support the indirect
Carol Gardner is a garden writer and active volunteerat The Civic Garden Centre.
eee FURTHER READING eeo
e Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada: www.aucc.ca
e Canadian Arctic ContaminantsAssessmentReport andArcticPollution Issues:A State ofthe Arctic EnvironmentReport. Arctic Monitoring & Assessment Program of Indian Affairs and Northern
Affairs Canada, 1997. www.ainc.inac.gc.ca/NCP
e David Suzuki Foundation: davidsuzuki.org
e Inuit Circumpolar Conference: inuitcircumpolar.com
e Pesticides: Making the Right Choicefor the Protection ofHealth and the Environment. Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, May 2000. www.parl.gc/InfoComDoc/36/2/ENVI/Studies/Reports/envi01/04-toc-e.html
e United Nations Earthwatch: earthwatch.unep.net/toxicchem/pops.html University ofGuelph: www.plant.uoguelph.ca/faculty/eclark/industry.htm
CREATING A HERITAGE GARDEN AT Black Creek Pioneer Village
(Workingwith early Canadian seedcataloguesand journals, The Garden Club ofToronto has begun to restore thegardens ofBurwick House.)
byAnn Adams /
The Greek Revival Burwick House will feature a kitchen garden
restored byThe Garden Club ofToronto.
fter planting the thousands of young Ashrubs and trees that have grown and matured in Black Creek Pioneer Village over the past 40 years, The Garden Club of Toronto returns to the site for its latest project the re-creation ofa rural 1860s garden to complement the newly refurbished Burwick House. An authentic 1844 gentleman s house, Burwick was built in the Greek Revival style. After a dramatic move in 1958 from its original Woodbridge site, Burwick was opened to the public in 1961 a lovelyhouse without a garden.
Accepting Black Creek s invitation in April 2000 to design a historically appropriate garden for the house, The Garden Club formed a seven-member project committee chaired by Pat Martin.
Working with the site plan, project members Suzanne Drinkwater and Francis Price got down to work on the design and plant selection. Francis cross-referenced seed catalogues from the early and mid-19th century with journals and documents from the Ontario Archives and the original garden diaries of John Howard s Colborne Lodge in High Park. All of this research was valuable, but Suzanne particularly appreciated the tremendous amount of information she gleaned from a popular periodical of the times, Canada Farmer. From its pages, the rural pioneers of Ontario could follow and learn from the serialized stories about the Homedale Farm Family as they made the transition from city to country life.
Along with archival research, Suzanne and
Courtesy Black Creek
Francis visited other heritage gardens and consulted with experts such as Wendy Woodworth, the heritage horticulturist with the city of Toronto who is responsible for the gardens at Spadina House. Garden historian Pleasance Crawford also provided advice on the garden design. During the design process, many structures such as trellises and garden seats were rejected for reasons of accuracy or conservation. Only those whose authenticity was confirmed by at least two references were incorporated in the final garden plan.
The committee s next challenge was to compile a wish list of plants, guided by their master concept garden plan and archival research. In the lozenge-shaped beds on the south and east sides of the house, the committee planted some
PLANTS FROM PIONEER DAYS
ANNUALS
Amaranthus Love-lies-bleeding
Antirrhinum Snap-dragon
Calendula Pot marigold
Celosia Cockscomb
Heliotropium Heliotrope
Impatiens Balsam, Busy Lizzie
Ipomoea Dwarf morning glory
Nigella Love-in-a-mist
Papaver Poppy
Tagetes Marigold
Zinnia Zinnia
PERENNIALS
Hemerocallis Daylily
Paeonia Peony
FRUITSAND SHRUBS
Cydonia Common quince
Lonicera Honeysuckle
Ribes Black currant
Syringa Lilac
Viburnum Highbush cranberry
GRAINS,VEGETABLESAND HERBS
Fagopyrum Buckwheat
Petrosolinum Parsley
Phaseolus Pole bean
Solanum Potato
of the long-blooming annuals that were newly available to early gardeners, including that most Victorian of plants, love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus. All of the annuals were grown from seed largely supplied by Wendy Woodworth whose advice and help was invaluable to the project committee.
Before any planting could take place, however, the village s heavy clay soil needed improvement. The team first tried a pioneer formula for green manure by tilling in buckwheat, but last fall they decided to abandon this method in favour of supplementing itwith good soil and manure.
When the garden opens this season, the east side of the house will feature a kitchen or vegetable garden, a ubiquitous feature of any 19thcentury garden. Although redesigned after a newly dug swale reduced the original size, it will be planted with pole beans, potatoes and kitchen herbs such as parsley. Separating it from the lawn will be pot marigolds and a living fence of black currant bushes.
All gardens, modern or heritage, are a work in progress. Some of the future plans include adding peonies, daylilies and poppies (the Victorians loved poppies). Lilacs, honeysuckle, highbush cranberry and quince are some of the shrubs on the wish list.
Although financed in part by proceeds from Canada Blooms, the garden of Burwick House, like all such projects, is dependent upon volunteers to make it a reality.
The re-creation of the Burwick House garden will be an important addition to the recently announced five-year plan for the refurbishment and restoration of Black Creek Pioneer Village. And it would almost certainly meet with the approval of Rowland Burr, the original owner of Burwick House, who believed he should Never waste my time in Bed or in idle or useless employment. @
Ann Adams is a nurse by training, antique dealer bychance, writer bychoiceandgardenerbyluck.
For more information on Black Creek Pioneer Village, phone 416-736-1733 or log on to wwwi.trca.on.ca
Hostas Fire the Hearts of Enthusiasts
(Grownfor their distinctivefoliage, hostas add texture, colourandform to many landscape designs, Jfrom shadywoodlands to sunnyrockeries.)
by Bob Leask
ostas are the most popular Hperennial on the market. With origins in Japan, Korea, and China, hostas were introduced first to Europe, then to North America. Over the past two decades, a flurry of hybridization has resulted in many new and interesting developments in colour, shape, size, flowers and habit, causing greater interest in their use in the landscape.
Most gardeners are aware of the traditional large green clumps of hostas with the beautiful white fragrant blooms as well as the smaller clumps of the green and white one used for borders and mass plantings, but there is now a myriad of new textures and features to fire the hearts of enthusiasts. Hostas are usually chosen for their distinct foliage characteristics colour, size, variegation, shape and form; so when hybridizers started playing with these, mixing any and all varieties, there were bound to be some phenomenal results. Moreover, tissue culturing has made these new varieties available very quickly and at a fair price.
Because hostas vary in size from a small 15centimetre (six-inch) clump up to a reported 90 centimetres (36 inches) in height and a spread of two metres (seven feet), they fit into just about any landscape setting you can dream up and our climate is especially friendly for them many are hardy up to Zone 2. They are also suitable for many rockery applications and as container specimens.
While thought of as mainly shade plants, hostas are not shade-loving, just shade-tolerant. Many varieties do better in the sun usually those that produce the most fragrant blooms as well as many of the gold varieties. The secret to
success with hostas is adequate E water because of the transpiration " rates oftheir large leaves.
In- March of 1995, a small group of backyard gardeners, growers and retailers formed the Ontario Hosta Society. Since then, i the OHS has evolved into a sustaining membership of approximately 300 loyal followers.
The aim of the Ontario Hosta Society is to further the appreciation of the genus Hosta and to provide its members and the general gardening community with enough information to grow healthy and happy plants. We provide speakers and slide shows, garden tours, plantings, auctions, seed sales, newsletters, picnics, plant shows and the friendliest gardeners you can find anywhere!
Many of our members are linked by the Internet, creating a constant flow of information about the latest, best, worst and indifferent varieties. Our clearing house for hosta information is at www.hostalibrary.org.
To join the Ontario Hosta Society, write to PO Box 731, Erin ON, NOB 1TO, or send an e-mail to rleask@stn.net. Fees are $15 per calendar year. Along with newsletters and an annual list of suppliers, our members often receive literature or programs not usually available through normal sources or at a substantial savings.
With approximately 2,500 hosta varieties currently registered and probably as many more named but not registered, there is much to be discovered by novices and old-timers alike. Hmm, which one should you add to your garden? @
Bob Leask is president of the Ontario Hosta Societyandgrows over 500 varieties ofhostas in hisgarden.
Howmany birds make theirhomes in Edwards Gardens? I ll tell nowsome thatIknow, and those thatImiss, Ihopeyou llpardon. (A CORRUPTION OF AN ENGLISH FOLK SONG)
by Loretta Skinner
pring is a great time to view the birds in SEdwards Gardens. Not only is the migration in full swing but it s the time when many birds display their most colourful plumage and when they are most active. Cardinals, Blue Jays, chickadees, phoebes, sparrows, Crows
area, you might also see and hear a Song Sparrow (watch for its distinctive breast spot) or a Whitethroated Sparrow with its unmistakable call.
Birds are no respecters ofboundaries, so, to see other species, walk into Wilket Creek Park. In the tall spruce trees before you reach the first bridge, and Downy Woodpeckers fly On the bridge you might spot a Saw-whet Owl a around the buildings while Mallard nearest to small bird, about 20 centimetres Ducks, Canada Geese and gulls (eight inches) tall, which rests high waddle around the water even in Lfovgrl;%iet gizg: against the trunk of the tree; but, the coldest weather. i i remember, because it s nocturnal, it
The most common spring birds ;g Zxguls;ée may be asleep. Continuing along the 00 UCKS. are the robins that you ll see on the lawns, the swallows and swifts that nest in the old coachhouse and the barn and the Red-winged Blackbirds that live in the reeds to the right of the bridge nearest to Lawrence Avenue. None of these is hard to spot.
Around the barn on late May and early June evenings, keep watch at the flowers in the baskets and window boxes for a glimpse of a Rubythroated Hummingbird passing through on its way north to cottage country. Early in the morning, on the bridge nearest to Lawrence Avenue, look for the rare and exquisite Wood Ducks. These ducks nest in hollow trees as high as 15 metres (50 feet) above ground; one nesting spot appears to be in the tall trees on the other side of Lawrence Avenue. It s funny to see the ducklings tumble to the ground as they try walking down the tree trunk.
Back at the entrance to the garden, walk to the left towards the cemetery and you ll pass a giant red maple tree. In the early morning or evening, you ll hear and perhaps see a pair of Baltimore Orioles flying among the huge trees in the cemetery. As you cross the long bridge in this wooded
path, you might see Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers and American Redstarts.
In the tall trees that cover the bank from the creek to the houses on the ridge, you may see a woodpecker the Yellow-shafted Flicker. It has a peculiar undulating flight pattern it flaps frantically, then coasts downward before flapping again, often callingwhile in flight.
Farther along the path, take a seat in a lovely spot where fallen tree trunks have been arranged casually as benches. Rest and wait and you might see a pair ofPileated Woodpeckers that have lived here for the past several years. Our largest woodpeckers, their colouring is exotic butyou ll probably hear their hoarse cry before you see them.
One short article cannot describe all of the birds that live in Edwards Gardens. On your next visit, bring alongyour binoculars and a bird book to discover the vireos, warblers, wrens and finches that are everywhere in the park. @
Raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, Loretta Skinner is an active CGC volunteer and memberofthe Trellis Committee.
What' s Newin_ Annuals for 200
( From coleus in stainedglass colours tofragrant nemesiasand boldly colouredgazanias, new varieties ofannuals makegoodchoicesfor containergardening.)
by Cathie Cox
A miniature, petunia-like plant, million bells Liricashower Deep Blue looks good in hanging baskets.
nnuals for pots and containers are in . AAs gardens become smaller and more people buy apartments and condominiums with balconies, container gardening is becoming more popular and many new varieties of annuals have what it takes to make good container plants: a compact growth habit, long blooming season or colourful foliage, and even fragrance.
SHADE-LOVERS
For shady areas, the dwarf impatiens, Impatiens Firefly Series, flower all summer. Available in a wide range of colours from blush pink to burgundy, their easy-to-grow habits make them a popular choice.
Coleus, Solenostemon scutillarioides, have been hot for the last few years and are likely to remain so with the new Stained Glassworks Series. Varieties include Tilt a Whirl with rose and yellow foliage, Garden Walk with densely patterned dramatic green and red leaves, Zebra with green and black stripes and Dragon s Claw with dark spots, purple stems and serrated leaf edges.
Scaevola Jacob s White is a new white form of fan flower and is a great substitute for lobelia. It flowers all season, is vigorous and tolerates sun if well-watered. Jacob s White is a new variety that can be used as a trailer to soften the edges of containers.
SUN-LOVERS
For hot sunny areas, Calibrachoa, commonly called million bells, has been increasingly popular in recent years (especially in hanging baskets) because of its fast-growing, ever-blooming and self-cleaning habits. New colours in this mini-petunia look-alike are Liricashower Deep Blue and Liricashower Stonewash a denim blue. The Wave Series of petunias, Petunia, are equally tolerant of sun and heat and make good groundcover plants as well as container plants.
Lavender Wave has a rich lavender colour, grows or spreads to over a metre (four feet), requires little or no maintenance, is floriferous and already has won two medals! For double petunia lovers, the fairly vigorous trailing habits of the Double Cascade Series and Doubloon Series make them suitable for containers.
FRAGRANT NEMESIAS AND DIAsCIAS
Fragrant flowers are always popular and particularly exciting are the Sachet Series ofNemesia. New colours this year are Plum Sachet , the coral-rose coloured Parfait Sachet and Lilac Sachet . These nemesias are very fragrant, tolerate sun, heat and some shade and flower all season with a little judicious deadheading. They can be planted in beds or containers.
Diascia x hybrida Sun Chimes Series is an improved form of this annual with a good trailing habit and larger flowers that bloom all sum-
Courtesy Paul Ecke Ranch
mer in bluish-pink, peach or pink. I find that diascias require some shade but are worth growing for their English cottage charm.
BRIGHT, BOLD COLOURS
Bright, intense shades of reds, yellows, orange, blues, and purples continue to be popular. Gazanias, Gazania, with their large bright daisylike flowers that bloom in a wide range of colours from oranges and deep pinks to whites and yellows, are ideal for a hot sunny border and require little care. However, the Joey Series of paper daisies, Bracteantha, which require similar conditions, are better suited to containers because they only grow to 10 centimetres (four inches). This year, they re available in bronze and cream as well as yellow.
Pelargonium Black Magic Rose is a geranium with distinctive green-edged deep chocolate foliage and pink blossoms while Impatiens
Accent Midnight Rose is the first dark-leaved variety in the Accent Series.
NEWVARIETIES FROM SEED
If you like to start annuals from seed, there are
two newly available and exciting nasturtiums, Tropaeolum majus. Golden Leaf has mahogany-red blooms and chartreuse-yellow foliage while Alaska Red has variegated leaves and red flowers. What more could you want? easy-to-grow plants with bold, eye-catching colour that will flourish almost anywhere!
Two more great new introductions are Cleome Sparkler Blush and Sparkler Lavender . Easy to germinate from seed, these plants have the typical cleome blossoms but on shorter and bushier plants. Cleome or spider flower requires no deadheading and loves hot, sunny areas.
With all these plants, there are new and exciting annuals for everyone! @
As manager of horticultural services for The Civic Garden Centre, Cathie Cox hunts out the newest and the bestfor CGC members. Come see what's new at the Annuals Plant Sale, May 16 through May 19.
Love, Lilt and Laughter - Autumn in Scotland October 04-14 2002 Hosts: Marjorie Mason-Hogue ofMason-Hogue Gardens and Stewart Bennett, Dumfries native, will share their enthusiasm for all things Scottish . Gardens, golf, music, dancing, history, folklore, food and whisky all set in the magnificent scenery ofthe Highlands and the Isle of Skye plus the historical City ofEdinburgh.Cad$2979.00 per person double occupancy, including direct Air Canada flights from Toronto.
Floriade 2002 Holland,Germany,Denmark, Sweden August 12-25,2002
Hosted by Marjorie Mason Hogue, this tour, highlighted by a full day at Floriade, is the perfect time to visit Northwest Europe annuals, summer blooming perennials and ornamental grasses. This trip is packed with inspirational gardens, history, scenery and the companionship of other keen gardeners. Cad $4879.00 per person double occupancy including air from Toronto. Just 8 seats now available for this tour.
Chicago 4 day Gardeners Getaway 16 September 19 September 2002. $579.00 per person double occupancy
Celtic Garden Adventure 23 June 07 July 2003 Ireland , Wales and Scotland in the planning stage!
Contact Lorna for detailed itineraries for all Marjorie s tours 905-683-8411 fax 905-683-6842 e-mail Ibates@on.aibn.com www.gardenersworldtours.com
Visit the Town and Country Gardens of Port Hope
Courtesy lilachollow.com
Wayne Lang s Lilac oIIow
It s been ten years since Bayla Gross arranged a
Civic Garden Centre Tour to the historic town of Port Hope. Of the many gardens we ll visit, all but one, Batterwood, are new to the tour. An added feature this year will be a guided tour of one of Ontario s best-preserved towns.
Port Hope, on the banks of the Ganaraska River, was strongly influenced by its prosperous early settlers an influence which can be seen in the design of the town, its houses and its gardens.The area around Port Hope
$pring &Summer Courses
Aprll-August 2002
Spring courses are running right now! For summer courses, register early for best selection. Space is limited. To get a free copy ofthe course booklet, call 416-397-1340, or check our Web site at www.infogarden.ca
is reminiscent of the English countryside with rolling hills, wonderful vistas and extensive woodlands. Here s a sample of some of the beautiful gardens we ll visit.
Batterwood The Garden oflan and DaphneAngus
We are revisiting Batterwood to view the many changes that have been made to the grounds since our visit in 1992. This grand estate designed in the style of an English manor recalls a more gracious era. Batterwood was formerly owned by Vincent Massey, Canada s first native-born governor general. The gardens are classic in their design with terraces, formal hedges and framed views over the lake. Under the direction of the current owners, the gardens are lovingly tended by a resident gardener.
Lilac Hollow The Garden ofWayne Lang
This 50-acre property features many different gardens enhanced by unusual sculptures. Ponds, a vineyard and forest trails have all been developed with great care and imagination by its owner.
The Butternut Inn -The Garden of Bonnie and Bob Harrison
An attractive bed and breakfast run by Bonnie and Bob Harrison, the Butternut Inn nestles under a majestic butternut tree that dominates the property. This town garden includes a wonderful variety of perennials, annuals, herbs and shrubs.
TheAdamson Garden
An exuberant cottage garden, this garden features plants that attract butterflies (such as Canterbury bells, delphiniums, buddleia and Joe Pye weed), a lily pond, a bubbling waterfall and a brightly painted garden shed.
THIS TOUR TAKES place on Tuesday, June 18.
Buses leaveThe Civic Garden Centre at 8:30 a.m. and return at approximately 6 p.m. A delicious lunch at the elegant Woodlawn Inn in Cobourg is included in the ticket price. (Please advise the CGC ifyou have any dietary restrictions.)
Cost: members $80; non-members $90. Register early as places are limited. Call 416-397-1340.
Glorious Gardens of Prince Edward County
A Civic Garden Centre Tourofthe Private Gardens ofBloomfield, Wellington &Picton
June 26 and 27, 2002
JOIN US FOR a two-day tour of Prince Edward County the heart of Ontario s mostfascinating history from the courage of the United Empire Loyalists to the daring of the rumrunners who used the area as a staging point for smuggling whisky during Prohibition.
Accompanied by gardening experts and a guide to local historical sites, we ll visit the area s most inspiring private gardens and dine in famous local restaurants such as the elegant Waring House and the funky Hidden Bistro where whimsical décor combined with innovative cooking makes fora perfect vacation experience.
The Jablonick garden
The highlight, of course, is the gardens. Some gardens on our tour have been featured in Canadian gardening magazines; others will no doubt appear in the future. Bring comfortable shoes, a camera and your gardening notebook and prepare to steal ideas shamelessly.
We ll depart The Civic Garden Centre by bus at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26 and return by 6 p.m. onThursday, June 27. Accommodations will be at a charming bed and breakfast in the area. Join us!
Costfor the trip, including all meals, is $249 per person. Forfurther information and booking, please contact Lorna Bates, Carlson Wagonlit Travelat 1-800-831-1185.
The area is a mecca for artists of every kind: painters, potters, glass blowers, quilters, photographers even makers of fine chocolate. Tour the art and antique shops of Bloomfield while enjoying special demonstrations by local artisans. 5s 5E = 25 o a5
DO YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES ARE
The Civic Garden Centre is proud to present a DOING? newly expanded
Horticultural Outreach Exchange Program
Beginning with a grand introduction at Getting theJump on Spring 2003, horticultural societies and gardening groups will be invited to share their annual schedule ofevents. We ll post this information on the CGC website and possibly print it in a magazine to be distributed to all groups.
For information, contactNicole at 416-3971371 or at hortassistant@infogarden.ca
Attract Butterflies to Your Garden with these New
Perennials
> Ofthe many new 4 perennials available this season, Cathie Cox highlights some ofthe bestfor attracting butterflies.
Buddleia Guinevere : a butterfly bush with fragrant, blackish purple blossoms and blue-green leaves
. B. davidii Potter s Purple : . a vigorous butterfly bush with solid purple flowers
B. Silver Frost : upwardfacing milky white blossoms and silver grey leaves
B. Attraction : the reddest blooms yet to be seen in a butterfly bush
Caryopterisx clandonensis ArthurJ. Simmonds : a blue-flowering form of Caryopteris with improved vigour
C. divaricatus Snow Fairy : a new introduction from Dan Heims with blue flowers and variegated foliage
Echinacea purpurea Ruby Giant : a coneflower with a stocky clump-forming habit and huge reddish purple flowers with recurved petals
MOVIES for Gardeners
Moviie for a rainy day.
Saving Grace is a delightful movie set on the rugged Cornish coast of England.
Grace Trevethen, played by Brenda Blethyn, is a proper English gardener with a cheating husband, a mortgaged-to-the-hilt manor and a lot more moxie than anyone suspects. When her husband dies suddenly, she takes extreme measures to save home and hearth from her creditors. She teams up with the manor s caretaker, played by Craig Ferguson, to embark on an adventure involving growing an illegal substance, her husband s exmistress and a passel of dubious London-based characters. If you don t rent this one for the best laugh you ve had in a long time, rent it for the scenes of the to-die-for greenhouse.
Reviewed by Carol Gardner
New InfoGardenAPRONS
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE wishes to thank Plant & Garden magazine and CarlsonWagonlit for their generous sponsorship which made possible the purchase of our new aprons.
Trellis Shop volunteers Linda Ward, Prushanti Chatterji and Barbara Burgess show offtheir new InfoGarden aprons.
3V VBORCY.\ B 3 EXTENDED ONE MORE DAY!
Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 4 ¢ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5 e 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
by Anna Leggatt
Jack Frost is a shade plant that looks good from April until November
WOW! WHAT IS THAT?
Where can I get it?
Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost is one of the most exciting new plants to arrive in our nurseries in the last year. Garden designer Marion Jarvie, who has grown it for two years, confirms that it is an important new introduction. It has fantastic landscape value it grows in the shade and looks good from April till November, long after the hostas have vanished. I have also heard that it was still looking handsome in a friend s garden this past February (but remember we had an unusual winter!)
The heart-shaped leaves of Jack Frost are a glowing frosty silver. Their solid colour is emphasized by a thin dark green margin and a network of threadlike green veins. The leaves are up to 15-20 centimetres (six to eight inches) across. The plant makes a clump 30 centimetres (12 inches) tall and 45 to 60 centimetres (18 to 24 inches) across. Airy sprays of blue flowers add to the picture in the spring. Use it as a focus or specimen plant. A mass planting
by a cool stream or pond would be spectacular! This exciting new plant will be available this spring at better nurseries and at the CGC s perennials sale in early May but probably will be expensive.
Brunnera macrophylla, or Siberian bugloss, has been available as a groundcover plant for many years. Native to the Eastern Mediterranean as well as Siberia, it features sprays of blue flowers that appear as the leaves unfurl in late spring. It is happy in the shade and although it prefers moist soil, it will tolerate some dry soil. Siberian bugloss is a little smaller than its cultivars which include: Hadspen Cream with its medium green leaves and a cream border; Dawson s White or Variegata with a broader creamy white border and more vigour than Hadspen Cream ; and, Langtrees which has silver-grey speckles on darker green leaves that increase in numbers near the leaf border. Jack Frost is a chance sport of the latter, first found in the United States at Walters Gardens.
Low-maintenance Brunnera grows best in fertile, moist soils. Those with plain green leaves will grow in the sun. However, they will need more moisture. Plants with light-coloured borders will suffer if they have too much sun, so plant them in leafy shade or with morning sun. Roots can be divided carefully in the early spring. Watch for slugs, particularly on the cultivars with light-coloured borders. My Variegata occasionally reverts in part to solid green. Should this happen to your plant, these leaves can be easily removed at the base.
I was given a white sandstone buddha for Christmas. I will place it beneath a dull green Tolleson s Weeping Juniper . Several plants of Jack Frost surrounding it will provide a perfect focus across our deck as you enter the garden. @
Anna Leggatt isaMaster Gardener, garden writer andactive volunteerfor The Civic Garden Centre.
B Expert advice from the Master Gardeners |
Q What can 1 do about a big ant hill in my garden?
A Try one of these methods:
e Pour boiling water onto the nest late in the day, being careful not to apply it too close to the roots of nearby plants; fill the cavity to try to kill the queen;
e Pour on a boric acid solution composed of one cup (250 ml) of sugar, three cups (750 ml) of water and four teaspoons (4 ml) of boric acid;
e Buy a commercial preparation designed to control ants and carefully follow directions.
Q Why aren t my fritillarias blooming? They used to be spectacular and have multiplied a lot.
A The bulbs have probably become too crowded. In late summer or early fall, dig up the bulbs and sepa-
MILNE HOUSE GARDEN CLUB
35 ANNIVERSARY FLOWER& GARDEN SHOW
The Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario
rate them. Replant them into a hole with compost and a gravel base, spacing them well apart.
Frittilaria may become overcrowed
Q How can I control raspberry borer?
A Raspberry borers lay their eggs between two cuts circling the current season s canes, at between 15 and 23 ¢m (6 to 9 in.) from the top, causing the tip of the cane to wilt. Cut off the wilted tip about 10 cm (4 in.) below the lower slit. Examine the cane to be sure the borer hasn t worked its way down below your cut. Alternatively, inspect the cane to find the cuts and prune the canes before wilting starts.
The tip of the cane wilts after the borer has cut around it
Doyou havea question aboutgardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardeners InfoLine at 416-397-1345 or log on to the Q&A Forum at infogarden.ca/mastergardenerboard.htm and AskaMaster Gardener!
Illustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
SUMMER FLOWER SHOW
Allan Gardens will reveal Alice in the Glass Palace by creating a scenefrom Lewis Carroll sfamous Alice sAdventures in Wonderlandfrom plant material &
The Centennial Park Conservatory isfeaturing agiant topiary tortoise and a very sheepish harefrom the wrenownedAesop sfable The Tortoise andHare.
Daily 10 am 5 pm
Admission isfree
Allan Gardens Centennial Park Conservatory
Carlton Street 51 Elmcrest Road (between Jarvis and (north of Rathburn Road, Sherbourne Streets) west ofHwy 427)
[l TORONTOParks & Recreation
Edwards Lecture
SPEAKER: JUDITH ADAM
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, May22, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: The Myth of Low Maintenance Gardening
WHAT IS IT that plants really need to get along on their own? Horticulturist and landscape designer Judith Adam will help us understand how to pay attention to garden site and soil to get the best results from our plants. Judith is a frequent contributor to several Canadian gardening magazines, has appeared on HGTV s Calling All Gardeners and is the author of Landscape Planning: Techniques for the Home Gardener. Her two new books, High Performance Perennials and The Hungry Herb Gardener, are for sale in the Trellis Shop. A book signing follows the lecture.
Free to members; non-members $5.
Landscapes
SPEAKER: LORELEI HEPBURN
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: Non-Toxic Lawn Care
WANT TO GET your lawn off drugs? Lorelei Hepburn will share her expertise on pesticide-free lawn care. A graduate of Durham College s Environmental Technology program, her articles on nematodes and natural lawn care practices have appeared in Canadian gardening magazines and newspapers. She is president and CEO of an organic lawn care service called The Environmental Factor Inc. and a founding board member and current Communications and Education CoCoordinator of the Organic Landscape Alliance (OLA). She also contributes her time and expertise in the community as an active member of several environmental organizations.
Free to members; non-members $5.
Specialists
Special _ Lecture
SPEAKER:JOHN ELSLEY
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday,June 12, 8:00 p.m.
Toric: Peonies and Perennial Companions
DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE at Klehm Companies, John Elsley trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and was vice-president of the Park Seed Company for many years. His lecture on growing peonies is part of a fundraising event that includes a sale of art in a variety of media for the New Haven Learning Centre for children with autism. Admission: $10. Proceeds will be shared with the CGC.
Artin the Link =N e
Upper Link
BatikExhibit
SHEILA BROGREN
April 23 to May 6
A method of wax-dye resist on 100 per cent cotton. Sheila Brogren takes a modern approach to a traditional method of the crackled wax effect.
Mixed Company
KEN MACFARLANE
May 7 to May 20
A series of landscape compositions and still lifes illustrating a variety of themes and techniques including transparent washes, dry brush and subtle detail.
Willowdale Group ofArtists
June 4 to June 17
Sixty new works ofart by the Group.
Works
ZARINE CHENOY
June 18 to July 1
Upper and Middle Links
From the Garden- BARRY URIE
May 21 to June 3
Impressions and reminiscence from the garden.
For information on Art in the Link, call Cathie Coxat416-397-1358.
Thursday, May 16 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, May 19 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
by Mara Arndt e LIBRARIAN
&510 vouknow?
THE CGC LIBRARY is open one half-hour before and after CGC-sponsored evening lectures including the Edwards Lecture series, the Special Lecture series, the Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture and the Edwards Memorial Lecture. Call 416-397-1343 to reserve books and magazines for pickup.
Website REVIEW
Container Gardening on the Web
IFYOU LOVE gardening but have no time, energy or space to do as much as you would like, try using containers. Fill hanging baskets, window boxes and planters with flowers or with herbs and fresh vegetables. Container gardening is enjoyable without involving too much work.
For the basics, go to www.gardenguides.com. Click on Browse our Articles near the top of the list on the left-hand side of the screen. Scroll through the next list, then click on Container Gardening. Scroll down again and click on Guide to Container Gardening. This article covers types of containers, planting mediums, light, fertilizers, watering and what to grow.
At www.mel.lib.mi.us/science/contain.html, over 30 articles cover everything from an herb window box to container vegetable gardening, indoor topiaries and dish gardens. More than one needs to know!
Another very useful article about Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers for Older Gardeners and Individuals with Physical Disabilities can be found at www.hort.vt.edu/human/pub426020d.htmi. Because my brother gardens from his wheelchair, | was particularly interested in this helpful and comprehensive article. The emphasis is on designing the garden area to fit the needs of the individual so that gardening remains a pleasure and does not become drudgery. For this article alone, this site is well worth visiting.
Happy Gardening!
Reviewed byJean McCluskey
Book REVIEW
Canadian Encyclopedia of Plants andFlowers
Editor-in-chief: Christopher Brickell Editor-in-chief for Canada: Trevor Cole London, Dorling Kindersley [Toronto, Tourmaline Editions], 2001; 720 pages; $69.95
PLANTS _FLOWERS
THE FIRST CANADIAN edition of a British book, this encyclopedia upholds Dorling Kindersley s reputation for producing beautiful books full of excellent illustrations.The first few pages of this stoutly bound hardback provide a standard overview of garden design and are followed by colour-coded pages containing excellent illustrations of trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, perennials, annuals, biennials, rock plants, bulbs, water plants and succulents. Each illustration is accompanied by a brief plant description and symbols to show space, sun, zone, and water requirements. An excellent 236-page index provides crossreferences from common names to the appropriate botanical names.
While the adaptation of this British book for Canada is very good, it s not perfect. For example, some of the more exotic plants are marked with temperature requirements such as Minimum 7°C (45°F). In a Canadian book, these plants should be listed separately as indoor or greenhouse specimens.
However, this is a minor quibble about an excellent book. At $69.95, it costs less than one cent for each of the 8,250 plants described and less than two cents for every one of the 4,250 photographs. When a single perennial or a much smaller paperback book can cost $20, the Canadian Encyclopedia of Plants andFlowers is a real bargain.
ReviewedbyJohn Oyston
What' s on atThe Civic Garden Centre|
MAY
1-5
CGC Perennials Sale
May 1-4: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
May 5: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information: 416-397-1340
4
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Judging, 1 p.m. Open to the public.
Information: soos.ca
5
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting: 1 to 5 p.m.
Information: soos.ca
York Rose & Garden Society Meeting: 2 p.m.
Speaker: Cec Lamrock
Topic: Miniature Roses
Information: 416-282-4434
6
Mycological Society ofToronto Meeting: 7 p.m.
Information: 416-444-9053; myctor.org
6-9
Milne House Flower Show
Open to the public
May 6: 5 to 10 p.m.
May 7: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
May 8, 9: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: 416-449-3664
8
Ikebana International Toronto Chapter Workshop: 7:30 p.m. Information: 905-642-4229
Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting: 8 to10 p.m., Information: 416-286-5798
IN & AROUND THE GTA MAY 11
MERLIN S HOLLOW
Open house. 181 Centre Cres., Aurora
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: free; Also open June 8 and July 6, 14
JUNE
152
JARVIE GARDEN
Open house. 37Thornheights Rd., Thornhill
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: free
Also open July 13, 14
29
NoOTL CONSERVANCY
Annual garden tour
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Information: 905-468-42610r 905-468-1950; online tickets at niagaraonthelake.com/TicketEvent.jsp
CLASSIFIED ADS
Bermuda Gardens, March 2003.
Based in a delightful hostel we study birds, tropical botany and seashore life. Our fourth tour to this magical island. For free Newsletter and itineraries, call George Bryant atTravel helpers (416) 443-0583 or 1-877-245-2424.
Great Gardens of England and More -
Exclusive small group (maximum 6) small roads tours of gardens and places of interest in Britain. Variety of itineraries for 2002, plus customized tours. Combine with your visit to Chelsea or Hampton Court Flower Shows, WAFA or Floriade. Information from Judy Prentice 905-947-4595.
Hidden Gardens of EastYork, June 9, 2002 - A seif-guided tour of 12 gardens from cottage to ravine size, organized by EYGC. Noon - 5 p.m.Tickets $10 Info: 416-429-8669 or visit www.eygc.ca
Toronto s Green Living Show, Saturday, June 15 - Care about the environment? Earth friendly products and services from home to garden to help green your lifestyle. Gardening seminars too! The Civic Garden Centre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. $5. For show highlights, view www.greenliving.ca.
