The Magic of Mlstletoe Magic
WhoWedre
8,000 books, 70 periodiééls, and a large col-
lection of clippings, pamphlets, nursery and seed catalogues, as well as a great selection of children s gardening books. Horticultural Information Services offers free gardening information year round, and the Trellis Shop has
seminating and mtarpretmg information in order to enhance the quahty of life for mem-
The Civic Garden Centre (CGC), founded in 1958, is avolunteer-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, disbers ofthe community.
What We Oer
Located atEdwardsGardens, The Civic Garden
~many unique gifts, books and gardening supplies for sale. The TeachingGarden has been| created as a workinggarden to foster interest - and educate people in the love and values of
gardening and the naturalworld. As a communityservice, Art in the Linkoffers gallery space _ to local artists. As well, the CGC has a wide Centre offers many programs and services, including year-round activities for familiesand children. Our hort:culmral 1ibrary hasoverf}
3¢ Directory & Hours of Operation
Administrative Offices
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Library &Trellis Shop
April 1 to December 23
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday& Holidays noon to 5 p.m.
January 2 to March 31
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays noon to 4 p.m.
Telephone: 416-397-1340; Fax: 416-397-1354
E-mail: civicgardencentre@infogarden.ca
Master Gardeners Info Line: 416-397-1345
Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday& Holidays noon to 3 p.m. or Infogarden.ca/mastergardenerboard.htm
Community Services: 416-397-1351 communication@infogarden.ca
Courses: 416-397-1362; courses@infogarden.ca
Horticultural Services: 416-397-1358
horticulture@infogarden.ca
Library: 416-397-1343; library@infogarden.ca
Rentals: 416-397-1349; rentals@infogarden.ca
Teaching Garden: 416-397-1355 teachinggarden@infogarden.ca
Trellis Shop: 416-397-1357 hortassistant@infogarden.ca
Volunteer Co-ordinator: 416-397-4145 volunteers@infogarden.ca
variety of banquet halls, meeting rooms and -show space, with accesstoEdwards Gardens, af I emmo sfavou ax enspots.
3% Patrons
Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, Lorraine Johnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3% Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Janet Greyson
Kim Dalglish Abell, Alice Adelkind, Arthur Beauregard, SandraBeech, MarisaBergagnini, Dugald Cameron, LindsayDale-Harris, KathyDembroski, Leslie Denier, TonyDiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater, Ralph Fernando, Mary Fisher,JudyFloyd, Carol Gardner, Lorraine Hunter, Cecil Lamrock, Sonia Leslie, Patrick Li, Grace Patterson,Jean Read,Jennifer Reynolds,Janet Rowley, Dawn Scott, Tim Tanz
3% Staff Members
Executive Director Douglas Markoff Manager, Community Services Jenny Rhodenizer Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Accounting
Administration
Capital Campaign Director
Course Co-ordinator
Development Co-ordinator
Horticultural Assistant
Librarian
Maintenance Supervisor
Rental Co-ordinator
Christine Martin
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
Janice Turner King
Rosetta Leung
Niti Bhotoia
Nicole North
Mara Arndt
Walter Morassutti
Angela Carruthers
Teaching Garden Co-ordinator Diana Teal
Volunie 29 x Ndmbér 6 EDITOR
MMagee
M. Bruce, M. Burston
L.&S. Skinner,A.Smith
Gardening through the year
Notes from the Corner Office Volunteers at work behind the scenes
News Gifts from our volunteers
Looking back at summer
Timely GardeningTip
Dried stalks add winter interest
Plant Portrait
Evergreens a Christmas tradition
Q&A
Expert advice from the Master Gardeners
From the Library
Tips, Web site and book reviews
The Magic of Mistletoe Magic
Let the CGC add a little magic to your holiday season Milne House Celebrates 35Years Enjoy the fruits oftheir labour at Mistletoe Magic
Oylnlm'u;wessad in Trellis do not neeis&imy reflect those of
by Peter Chan
[][HS from the Board
" by Janet Greyson e PRESIDENT
Gardening through the year
The next phase in our gardening year is win- feel better. Studies have shown that patients in hospital who have views of gardens and trees are ready to go home faster than those who do not. How this happens, we do not know, but The Civic Garden Centre is interested in investigating horticultural therapy programs to see what they are all about. A gen-
ter. (Surelyyou don t think that the gardening year is over once late fall comes and the frost and snow settle?) At The Civic Garden Centre, we re planning lots of activities that involve gardening over the winter months. For example, there are courses on
Landscaping for Winter Interest, The Civic Garden | erous grant from The W. Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Bloom, Centre is interested| Garfield Weston Foundation has Botanical Watercolour Painting, in investi allowed us to undertake such a Flower Arranging, Kitchen horticultura feasibility study. We will keep Cosmeticsandmuchmore. therapyprograms...| you informed onwhatwe find.
One of the delights of winter is that it gives us time away from the hands-on activity of gardening to explore new opportunities and interests. When I was in Stratford this summer, [ picked up a book that describes the use offlowers in Shakespeare s writing. The book not only renewed my interest in Shakespeare, but it also made me reflect on the influence that flowers have in our lives. I liked the way Shakespeare describes fall and his favourite flowers of the season in A Winter s Tale (Act 1V, Scene 4): Sir, the year growing ancient,/Not yet on summer s death, nor on the birth/Of trembling winter, the fairest/flowers o the season/Are our carnations, and streak d gillyvors.
One of the ways that flowers have influenced us at the CGC is through our exploration of an aspect of gardening called horticultural therapy. Intuitively, each of us knows that seeing a beautiful flower on our windowsill or walking in a garden or park or in our own backyard has therapeutic value. However, this therapeutic influence has been studied in the field for many years, resulting in a formal discipline known as horticulture therapy. We've all seen examples of horticulture therapy: the gardens of retirement homes allow the elderly to work with flowers; when we are sick, we love receiving flowers because it gives us pleasure to look at them, we
Winter at the Centre continues to focus on gardening. Whether you are at the CGC exploring the Library s books on garden design, attending workshops, listening to one of our exciting lectures, attending the annual horticultural open house Getting the Jump on Spring, or simply browsing our 7Trellis magazine or Web site, your winter days will fly by. Once spring arrives, you ll welcome it with renewed energy, armed with the new knowledge gleaned through your winter experiences at the CGC.
Do not forget to come to Mistletoe Magic, our annual holiday season craft fair. Not only is itfun for us to welcome the community to The Civic Garden Centre by inviting them to do some gift shopping, it s also an opportunity for us to raise funds for the many programs that we are able to offer to the public at reasonable prices.
We at The Civic Garden Centre wish all our readers the very best for the holiday season and the coming winter. I would also like to add my thanks to each and every one of the volunteers and staff at the Centre for your excellent and valued support in everything that we do here. Without you, we could not offer the programs and services to the community that we do provide. The Civic Garden Centre does indeed garden throughout the year . @
Allan Gardens and the Centennial Park Conservatory Christmas Flower Show
December I, 2002 January 6, 2003
Open 10:00 am-5:00 pm daily Conservatory by Candlelight
December IS 30, 2002, 5:00-7:00 pm
Admission is Free
Please bring a high protein non-perishable food item for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Allan Gardens &The Centennial Park Conservatory - Conservatory
Opening Day Events at Centennial Park Allan Gardens Conservatory by Candlelight:
Sunday, December
12:00 noon
* Season s Greetings
Grand opening December 15, 5:00-7:00 pm
Victorian Carollers 12:00 noon-5:00 pm Hot Apple Cider & Cookies
* Victorian carollers
* Visit by Father Christmas
* Hot cider and cookies
* Horse and buggy rides in the park
» Children s outdoor activities 4
Centennial Park Conservatory is located at 151 Elmcrest Road. north of Rathbum Road and west of Hay 427.
For more info call Allzn Gardens is located at the #88 416-394-8543. south side ofCariton Street between lanvis and Sherbourne Y et UL
For more imfo call 416-392-7288.
from the Corner Office
by Douglas Markoff ® ExecuTive DIRECTOR
Volunteers at work behind the scees
| have taken pen (or should I say keyboard?)
in hand in past columns to write about Civic Garden Centre volunteers. I've written about their selfless dedication, the prominent and diverse roles they play, how integral they are to our success and the tens of thousands of hours volunteers generously donate every year.
Volunteers like to make a difference.
As you walk through the CGC, you ll see our volunteers working as receptionists, as assistants in the Library, as sales staff in the Trellis Shop and watering plants throughout the CGC. Both the Pressed Flowers Group and Mistletoe Magic Craft Group are creating unique cards and holiday gift items for sale. As you walk outdoors, volunteers are at work helping to maintain the bog garden and Teaching Garden or delivering programs in the Teaching Garden while our volunteer guides are conducting a tour through Edwards Gardens. These are just some of the ways in which our volunteers contribute to the operations of The Civic Garden Centre.
A less prominent group, but one that plays an equally vital role, includes those volunteers who work mostly behind the scenes. These are the people who provide staff with much-needed administrative assistance.
Administration is one of those tasks that we as staff members accept as part of our overall responsibilities. Administration is not embraced but is, rather, part of the job . Administration involves tasks that take a lot of time and some of us have more of it than others. For the most part, administration time means time away from developing and delivering excellent programs and services to the community.
Volunteers like to make a difference. The work they do must be important. It must be
appreciated. Administrative assistance makes a significant difference and is both important and very appreciated by all of our staff and by the members of the Board of Directors, who are themselves volunteers. For example, if not for volunteer assistance, we might still be sorting through the thousands of door prize forms visitors filled out at Mistletoe Magic. This effort to determine how visitors heard of the event was critical in identifying which types of advertising were most effective.
Our administrative volunteers help us in many different ways. Because of our volunteers, the copy of Trellis that you hold in your hands reaches you on time, the invoices for rentals and other CGC services are prepared and mailed out, that grab bag you received at Getting the Jump on Spring is stuffed with goodies, and your registrations for such programs and activities as the Teaching Garden are quickly processed. And only through our team of administrative volunteers do our many brochures and membership letters get printed, photocopied and folded. Not particularly exciting work, to be sure, but vital because it allows the CGC to communicate with our members and with the public as well as helping us deliver programs and services to the community.
I want to thank each and every volunteer who works behind the scenes in these administrative capacities. I also want to appeal to those of you who may be interested in donating a few hours a week ofyour valuable time. Please contact Christine Martin, our Volunteer Co-ordinator, at 416-397-4145 or by e-mail at volunteers@infogarden.ca. We can certainly always use your assistance remember, this is your Civic Garden Centre. @
The CGC Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors
LESLIE DENIER
With a BA in English from the University of Western Ontario, Leslie brings to the board extensive volunteer experience. A member of the Junior League of Halifax, the University Women s Club, Halifax, and The Garden Club of Toronto, Leslie has been a volunteer member since 1993 of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation where she currently chairs the York Region branch.
HEATHER DICKSON
An accredited primary school specialist, Heather Dickson holds a BA from the University of Western Ontario. She brings to the board both a wealth of experience in children s education and extensive volunteer work. A member of the Wellspring board of directors, Heather is an elder at Timothy Eaton Church and currently serves as a reader at Providence House. Heather has been involved with the Centre s Teaching Garden and is a member of the Teaching Garden Committee.
TONY DIGIOVANNI
Executive director of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, Tony DiGiovanni is a professional horticulturist with previous experience as a gardener, grower, educator and garden communicator. He has served as coordinator of the landscape technology program at Humber College and has held advisory positions at the University of Guelph as well at Niagara, Seneca and Humber colleges. One of its founders, Tony currently sits on the steering committee ofCanada Blooms.
RALPH FERNANDO
3
The CGC is delighted to announce the appointment of our newest ~ member to the Board of Directors. Ralph Fernando joins the CGC team as treasurer. A graduate of the University of Lancaster in England and currently treasurer for the Toronto East General Hospital, Ralph is skilled in finance, accounting, management and organizational planning. Ralph s interests range from the arts, environment, housing and international aid to animal welfare. Plants and gardening will soon be added to his list of interests.
CAROL GARDNER
With a BA in English from the University of Western Ontario, Carol Gardner worked in the field of communications for over 15 years for Human Resources Development Canada. More recently, she has undertaken freelance assignments in corporate communications. Well-known at the CGC, Carol is a former Volunteer Co-ordinator and currently serves on four committees as well as writing frequently and eloquently for Trellis.
PATRICK LI
A principal and co-founder of the firm EDA Collaborative Inc., Patrick Li holds a bachelor of landscape architecture from the University of Toronto and a certificate in urban design from Harvard University. Patrick is a member of the Ontario, Canadian and American societies of landscape architects and has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a landscape architect, lecturer, adviser and jury member. Patrick is also responsible for the design of the Teaching Garden at Edwards Garden for which he won a Merit Award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects in 1999.
JEAN READ
With a BA in economics and political science, Jean Read is extremely knowledgeable in the field of " human resources. Having worked for the Ontario Ministry of Labour for over 20 years, her skills include negotiation, mediation and arbitration. For the past seven years, she has had her own firm, Jean Read Dispute Resolution. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum, serving on a number of its committees including those on governance and human resources. She is also currently secretary of the International Women s Association of Toronto.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS
A landscape designer and a contributor to Gardening Life, | Jennifer Reynolds has worked for over 13 years in the gardening industry with experience in landscape design and garden writing and editing. Her gardening segments appear weekly on HGTV's House & Home TV. Winner of several design awards at shows such as Canada Blooms and the Canadian National Exhibition s Horticultural Show, Jennifer is passionate about gardening and is always looking for another plant that will grow in the shade. Jennifer holds a BA in women s studies from Queen s University.
by Christine Martin ®
Gifts from our volunteers
AT THIS TIME of the year our minds turn to giving and to receiving. At The Civic Garden Centre, it seems like Christmas year-round with all that we receive from our volunteers. The gifts of time and talent are generous and thoughtful. They are wrapped beautifully in friendliness, caring and patience and we don t have to wait for Christmas to
The diversity of the gifts our volunteers give is overwhelming. They range from the musical talent to entertain audiences at our lectures and the artistic flair to design promotional materials, to years of library experience that help to make our horticultural library so great. Our volunteers speak 22 languages and represent cultures from almost receive them. We can open up ...the skills l&t every continent in the world. these gifts right away, delighted aarwallmteelsgiVe There are those who come to discover the treasures thatlie ~#0the CGC develop aimost daily to contribute in hidden inside.
What a variety and abun-
enhance the whatever way they can.
our volunteers give in ways that few know about, such as helping with administrative tasks like preparing mailings. Some volunteers give in very quiet, understated ways while others are much more colourful. They all generously give of their time and talents to contribute to the work of the Centre. Together, the skills that our volunteers give to the CGC develop and enhance the success of all its activities.
So, thank you to all of our volunteers during this festive season. Thanks for your thoughtfulness, generosity and continuing contributions to the success ofThe Civic Garden Centre. @
Others offer years of retail or dance of great gifts we have activities. teaching experience. Many of received this year! We have welcomed the contributions of over 400 volunteers. Many of these gifts are just what we wished for: we hoped for people to take minutes at meetings and they appeared; we needed volunteers to help lead our Teaching Garden programs and we received enthusiastic ones; when vacancies developed in the Trellis Shop and the Library, new volunteers stepped in just when they were needed. We have been overwhelmed by the many who volunteered during our big special events such as Through the Garden Gate and Canada Blooms; all of you gave much more than we expected. As well, we benefited from the continuing gifts of our long-time volunteers, gifts that we have treasured over the years.
Other gifts that we received have been complete surprises, yet just the right thing the skilled photographer who appeared just when we needed great photos for promotion; the professional trainer who stepped in to help plan our new volunteer training workshops; the young computer-savvy students who are helping us move forward with technology. We are so fortunate that the people we need appear just when we need them most to support and help develop our programs.
Teaching Garden
by Diana Teal ® TEACHING GARDEN CO-ORDINATOR
Looking back at summer
I REMEMBER THE BUTTERFLIES fluttering in my stomach as I started my new job as Teaching Garden Co-ordinator on July 2. They were happy butterflies, though I was so excited by the opportunity to become an integral part of such a wonderful program. Looking back over the past few months, I can only smile at all of the memorable moments and marvel at all of the fantastic discoveries that children
Harvest Food Bank. They also went on scavenger hunts and kept very busy constructing wildly imaginative and creative insect theme parks out ofnaturalmaterials theyfound in the garden. I would like to take this opportunity to send out a huge THANK YOU to the Garden Club of Toronto and to the Raptors Foundation whose financial support funded the bus and nutritious - lunch services for the Green made in the Teaching Garden. eeed huge THANK Adventure program. Without
We said a sad see you later YOUto the Garden their support, we would not to Jen Turgeon, the Teaching Club OfToronto have been able to provide such a Garden s creative and awesome = and to theRaptors wonderful group of children assistant, and a happy welcome Foundation... with the chance to sow seeds aboard to the program s new assistant co-ordinator, Diana Suzuki. Diana and I became the Dianas which created a short-lived source of confusion neither one of us had ever had a nickname. So, I adopted an alias Big D in an attempt to give myself that always needed air of authority with the children. Mostly, theyjust thought it was funny.
The highlight of my time at the Teaching Garden so far was the Green Adventure program that we ran on Fridays for inner city day camps. Although the program was slightly delayed by the city workers strike, we were able to provide over 150 children from the Oakridge Community Centre and the O Connor Community Centre with some good gardening fun. From learning about compost with our crazy garden character, Sally Soil, to getting their hands dirty planting seeds, watering and harvesting veggies, the children were quick to say that the Teaching Garden was the best place ever .
We were also fortunate to have had a very special partnership with the Canadian Centre for Victims ofTorture (CCVT) this past summer. Ten families from the CCVT joined us for a one-day Green Adventure program. All members of the families planted seeds and helped to harvest five bushel baskets of vegetables for the North York
and meet earthworms, stare in wonder at a bee collecting pollen, harvest a basketful of lettuce or discover the beauty (and enormous size) of a giant sunflower.
The kindergarten to grade six programs for schools were a big success again this year and were fully booked by the second week of September! The children helped plant bulbs, mulched the garden beds, constructed bird feeders and weather forecasting instruments, studied the insect kingdom and fed our redwrigglerworms.
We always welcome new volunteers to the Teaching Garden program. Whether you are interested in exploring the world of gardening with children or helping with garden maintenance, the Teaching Garden has lots to offer! Call the Teaching Garden at 416-397-1355 or send me an e-mail at teachinggarden@infogarden.org. @
Many thanks and good luck to Diana Suzuki who joined the CGC as theTeaching Garden s assistant co-ordinator from August until November. Her enthusiasm and knowledge helped us deliver an exciting season of children s programs.
j
The Magic of Mistletoe Magic
Let the CGCadda little magic toyourholidayseason
by Sonia Leslie
ust when you think everything has quieted
down after a season of gardening activities, guess what s right around the corner?
Mistletoe Magic! Here at the CGC our resident elf, Rosetta Leung, who wears a red and green hat throughout the show, has been planning and organizing our biggest fundraising event of the year.
People ask: Why the name, Mistletoe Magic?
When we look around the garden in November for something green [&& with flowers or berries, there is not much choice. We needa little magic that word which my dictionary defines as the art of influencing events by occult control of nature, a mysterious agency or power . Magic certainly could be applied to mistletoe. There it is, bright green and with wonderful white berries. No wonder our ancestors gave it magical properties. Even today the custom of kissing under the mistletoe bough remains, and we all know how magical that can be! Hence the title of our show. We certainly hope we can bring a little magic to your holiday season, even ifwe can t promise you a kiss!
reconfiguring the Floral Hall, which will have a new look this year with three wide aisles and colourful curtain dividers between the vendors, to the little details like checking the tablecloths and skirts. Rosetta also co-ordinates the show s advertising with Jenny Rhodenizer and the decoration of the Centre with Cathie Cox and Nicole North and works with Christine Martin, who is busy defining the i tasks and shifts for the volunteers who are so essential to the success of Mistletoe Magic. The
Mistletoe Magic is the place for holiday gifts!
¥ Pressed Flowers Group is ¢ hard at work decorating candles and cards. The Mistletoe Magic Craft Group is making Christmas decorations along with those delightful but labour-intensive pine cone wreaths. Milne House volunteers are also gearing up their production of decorations and delicious treats.
Our elf has been busy booking artisans, such as Michael Gear Pottery and Norm Tendall Woodcrafts, as well as new vendors like Cute Stuff Design offering baby clothes and accessories, and a host of others to fill the 90 show booths. Rosetta s behind-the-scenes activities include everything from the large tasks like
Decorating the building requires lots of advance preparation. Do you remember the lovely strings of cones on the ceiling in the studios last year? This year s new theme will be a surprise. Nearer to showtime, Executive Director Douglas Markoff will drive several brave volunteers in a cube van to the farm of one of our volunteers to spend a day in the cold, cutting, collecting and transporting evergreen branches and trees for our new décor.
If you're looking for cards, decorated boxes, or wrapping paper, our Mistletoe Magic vendors will have them. Try our new vendor,
Noteworthy Women, or an old favourite, Papeterie (an important vendor for a close relative of mine who shall remain nameless), or Rhonda Nolan and Eco Works.
Are you looking for hostess gifts? Try Mary s Gourmet for luscious handmade Belgian chocolate goodies or Durie Street Chutneys and Curds
Ontario s Dance Halls & Summer Dance Pavilions, a book by Peter Young who will be signing copies on Sunday.
Have I mentioned gifts for the home? Don t miss the custom-made pillows, limited edition photos, photo art by computer, memory boxes, 3-D scrapbooks, photo montages and lamps, along with paintings in watercolour and acrylic by artist Carole Reeve-Newson whose work has been featured in the CGC s Art in the Link.
Foruniqueholidaygifts, browse the booths at this year s Mistletoe Magic.
- all made without preservatives or colouring agents. Lillies Bakery features candies, fruitcake and gingerbread, and The Flour Pot offers chocolate novelties and homemade cookies.
Jewellery, handmade and one-of-a-kind, abounds at the show, glistening with gemstones, minerals, pearls, gold, silver, amber and beads.
Many of our favourite clothing vendors are returning including Dem Hats with their fashionable capes, scarves and hats, Berry Ellen, Clews Clothing, the afghan jackets of Designs by Maureen and AB Originals Sweater Shoppe with its hand-knit sweaters and vests. These are just a few of the many clothing vendors who will be setting up shop at this year s show.
A favourite of last year, children s author Dr. Henry Shykoff will be returning on Friday with his second book, Just a Little Later with Eevo and Sim. On Saturday, author Catherine Slaney will present her new book, Family Secrets: Crossing the ColourLine a true story of someone who discovered black ancestors while researching her roots. Natural Heritage Books is showcasing Let s Dance: A Celebration of
For children and grandchildren, Pineneedle Enterprises returns with Boyd s plush bears and other teddy bears and decorations, while our other vendors offer a huge selection of toys, puzzles, clothes, accessories and, new this year, porcelain Dolly Madison dolls.
The Trellis Shop is also gearing up with wonderful gardening books, candles and seasonal plants as well as table and giftware in black, white and silver and in ever-popular animal prints.
After an exhausting shopping spree, how nice it is to sit, relax and join your friends over a cup of coffee and a light snack at our café. And just before you leave, prepare to pamper your homecoming with handmade soaps and bath products there s a lot to choose from.
All of us at the CGC - our dedicated and hard-working staff, our fantastic volunteers and our vendors hope that you come and enjoy the magic. Bring a friend - or several friends and help make the show a great success! @
A member ofthe Board ofDirectors anda longtime volunteerofthe CGC, Sonia Leslie is chair ofthisyear sMistletoeMagic craftshow.
Works
Milne House Celebrates 35 Years at The Civic Garden Centre
byJoyce Dossal
hirty-five years ago, members of The TCivic Garden Centre s Women s Committee, wanting to improve their design and horticultural knowledge, decided to form a new garden club. They named it Milne House Garden Club to commemorate the early 19th-century home of Alexander Milne, owner of the mills that once stood in Edwards Gardens. At that time, members belonged to both Milne House Garden Club and The Civic Garden Centre for the modest annual fee offive dollars.
That summer, the new club held its first public flower show and, at Christmas, it began the club s tradition of participating in the Centre s annual fundraiser, then known as Christmas Greens and Sparkles. Milne House club members helped to decorate the present administrative building and, as the emphasis was on showing the public how to create their own decorations, gave demonstrations and sold the supplies to make them. Members in period gowns also served wassail
popular tradition at Mistletoe Magic.
In 1989, Milne
Cornucopia, and Milne House took up the challenge by filling the studio rooms with our work needlepoint angels and sleighs, tree ornaments and wreaths and our now-famous baking and yummy peanut brittle. In 1989, Milne House made a most significant contribution to the Centre: Charlotte Smith, a Milne House member, suggest-
House membez
ed a new name for the annual
punch with Christmas cake Charlotte Smiti craft show Mistletoe Magic. and mince tarts. suggested a Today, a dedicated group
creations for the popular fourday sale. Their work, complemented by The Bake Shop and dried material collected by our members, is sold by the Milne House ladies. Dressed in their pink smocks, they welcome everyone to visit and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
As we celebrate our 35th anniversary, we look forward to supporting the Centre by being part of Mistletoe Magic for manyyears to come. @
When the Centre was new name meets year-round in the Milne expanded in 1976, Milne MistletoeMagic. House clubroom to make their House gained a clubroom in the old part of the building and from there ran its own section in the annual Christmas event, selling home baking, preserves, handmade candles, herb vinegars, dried flowers and arrangements. A special feature in the dried flower section was statice that had been harvested from Edwards Gardens and hung to dry in the barn. An interested audience also enjoyed learning how to make such things as kissing balls, seed flowers and pomanders.
In the 1980s, artisans were invited to bring their many crafts to the newly-renamed
Past President ofMilne House Garden Club and a member since 1970, Joyce Dossal is editoroftheMilne House newsletter.
Wecan'tpromiseyouParis,butApril in Montreal isdefinitelyon the menu! Join us for three elegant days and two romantic nights in la belle province.
The adventure begins with a shorttrain trip to downtown Montréal, accommodation at one ofthe city's mostcharming hotels,and dinner and a ghosttour ofthe Old Port.
We'll spend a dayatthe Montreal Botanical Gardens where we'll visittheir 10 greenhouses and speakwith experts about everything from the rainforestto traditional Chinese gardens. Naturally,we'll make time fortouring,shopping and dining in the city's most captivating bistros.
Ifyou'replanningtojgin us
It'sthe giftthat keeps on giving we hope you are),start dieting now! [ : For furtherdetails,seethe next issue ofTrellis a.ll year.lo.ng. Stuffsomeone s stockln.g orphope Lorna Bates,CarlsonWagonlitTravel with a Civic Garden Centre membership. é i905-683 8 . Call 416-397-1340 or complete this form.
I would liketo purchase a Gift Membershipfor
EXCHANGE i
Address
yourseeds by October25!
Tel.
Send cleaned seeds in a paper envelope, clearly labelling each packetwithyour name, address, and telephone number; plantname (both __ Family$40 ___ Single $30 common and botanical, ifpossible) and cultivar (if known); plant type (e.g., annual, perennial, bulb, This giftisfrom vine); colour; height in centimetres; description and 9 growingtips. Note ifseedwas collectedinthewild Name or comes from a hybrid plant (hybrid plants will Phone not set seed that is true to the parent).
S ee
My cheque is enclosed
(PayabletoThe CivicGarden Centre)
Cathie Cox Visa/M rCard # THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE sa/MasterCard 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2 S Expiry /
Dressing for Winter
In this third in a series ofarticles on balconygardening, JenniferReynoldssays that dressing upyour containers for winter is actually easier than dumping them out.
started decorating my pots for winter make festive winter arrangements in the urns, I because it was easier than putting them hanging baskets and window boxes where away. Let s face it, who annuals once dazzled. wants to be playing tug o war ...step baek and To decorate an outdoor conwith dead annuals on a cold, make sure that tainer, choose a frost-resistant damp November day? Not me. ~ the arrangement pot made of fibreglass, resin, So instead of taking everything = IS balanced WIith cast iron or tin. Start with a wet out, | just put more in. Z0OOd PrOPOTLIONS. soil base - this is the one time Evergreen branches, twigs, 4 that previously used soil or grape vine, pine cones, rosehips and dried inexpensive topsoil is acceptable for container hydrangeas are just a few of my favourite gardening and compress the soil in the pot. materials. I harvest them from the garden to Collect clippings from your evergreens (clip
Pine cones and evergreen boughs dress up containers for winter.
only after heavy frost to ensure plants are dormant) or purchase pre-cut boughs at your local garden centre. Count on using two to three bunches of boughs (approximately 15 branches) in each urn. Begin filling the urn by pushing freshly cut branches into the wet soil until you can no longer see any soil at all. Next, choose |
the end into the soil). When you re finished fiddling around with little details, step back and make sure that the arrangement is balanced with good proportions. Water well and . you re done. Really, it s that easy. The only maintenance these planters need is a little water every once in a while until the soil freezes completely.
One final thing to remember: come March,
larger, arched branches and twigs to set into the centre of the arrangement to . winter arrangements, establish its height and ° now brown and desiccatscale. Soften the remaining evergreen founda- ed, belong in the compost pile. @ tion with greens in contrasting colours and tex- 3% 3& 3%
3
X tures (blue spruce with dark green holly is a A member ofthe CGCBoard ofDirectors and a fabulous combination) and add natural adorn- member of the Trellis Committee, Jennifer ments like pine cones and dried hydrangea (you Reynolds is a landscape designerand contributor may need to twist a wire around them and stick fo Gardening Life.
CHRISTMAS and HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Thursday,December5 - 10 a.m.to4 p.m.,in the studios
COMEANDJOIN us fora series ofdemonstrations on how to decorate yourhouse forChristmas and the holidays!! 2
Our "drop in" event includes a series of30-minute demonstrations on T~ how to decorate the inside and outside ofyour house. W The series will include how to makethe mostofyourplanter, how to make and decorate wreaths, swags, garlands and table centrepieces and even how to decorate yourhostess gifts. There will alsobe advice given onthe care ofChristmas plants such as poinsettias and cyclamen.
All materials shown in these demonstrations will be available intheTrellis Shop orin theLobby ofThe Civic Garden Centre at competitive prices and ofcourse all members gettheir usual discount of 10 percent. Fee foreach demonstration, $2.
Available forsale are traditional and unusual Christmas greens, wreaths, pine cones, berried branches, poinsettias andotherfloweringplants.
PESTICIDESA Troubling State of Affairs
In the last in ourseries on pesticides (though we will continue, ofcourse, to write on related topics), Carol Gardnerstates her conclusions.
need to say, right up front, that these are my opinions only, and don t necessarily reflect the view of anyone else at the CGC. So if you think I'm crazy, be calmit s only me.
WhenI started the series, I tried very hard to report on pesticide-related issues in a neutral fashion. This goal was immediately challenged when [ attended a presentation by an environmental scientist. Reader, believe me when I say this, I went with an open mind; some might even say an empty one. However, I found the bias of the presentation sufficiently appalling that I decided to find out who had been the major funder of the research. This opened a Pandora s box.
I knew, of course, that research funding comes from many sources, and that one | of the main ones is corporations, but I was stunned by the coziness of the relationship between manufacturers and researchers. All over the world, major environmental research scientists are heavily and consistently funded by the top 10 chemical manufacturers ... and I'm talking heavily funded. Not only that, but in towns where universities do major environmental research,
branches of chemical companies are often strongly represented. The relationship is sufficiently close that scientists often go from being employed by one to being employed by the other.
How right is it that organizations that make billions in profit out of a product are the main force behind the research about its health and environmental effects? And they do make billions. In the year 2000, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment estimated that over 2.5 million tons of pesticide-type chemicals were produced, worth over US$30 billion. Just 10 multinational corporations were responsible for producing 73 per cent ofthese products. Notwithstanding this troubling state of affairs, it would be naive to think that we could just stop using synthetic chemicals cold turkey . In many cases we have severely compromised the ability of natural predators to do their jobs by killing them off along with the target organisms. Returning the environment to a healthy state will mean that we simply don t use toxics for cosmetic purposes and, if there s a real problem, we use the least toxic solution while
trying to allow nature s natural checks and balances to rebuild.
It s easy to be frightened into using toxic solutions, but even in extreme situations like the current concern with the West Nile virus, they may not be the best. Toronto Public Health says that the best way to eliminate the virus is not by using pesticides but by eliminating mosquito breeding sites such as small pools of standing water and sites of decaying organic matter.
While writing this series, I found myself drastically reducing my use of synthetic garden products to the point that we are now au naturel as it were. It seems to me that there is enough evidence to show that some pesticides are implicated in certain cancers such as "Hodgkin s lymphoma as well as in some neurological conditions and a wide range of reproductive aberrations.
In addition to the test results, there is one image that I just can t get into focus: the image of the CEO of a multinational chemical manufacturer saying to his people, We re going to have to give up producing these products, in spite of the fact that we re making millions from them, because they re just not good for people. If you think I'm being too cynical, think about tobacco for a minute.
I m not paranoid, but if I disappear suddenly, could someone please make sure that Julia Roberts plays my part in the movie? @
Carol Gardner is a garden writer, a volunteer and a member ofthe CGC s Board ofDirectors as wellas a member ofthe Trellis Committee.
CORRECTION
The article about the NorthYork Horticultural Society published in the September-October issue ofTrellis contained an error.The society financially supports a flowerbed of annuals on the grounds of St. John s Convalescent Hospital; they do not create it. Our sincere apologies for the error. Ed.
Inviting Ikebana intoyour Life 20 Annual Flower Show
Saturday November 16, 2002
SundayNovember 17, 2002
Demonstration by Mr. Mutsuo Tomita
Grand Master ofOhara School Saturday 16 at 1:30pm Civic Garden Centre
Edwards Gardens, 777 Lawrence Ave. E
Admission $10 good for both days
Information Annie 905 883 6937
The Civic Garden Centre Gift and Craft Sale
November 7 to 10, 2002
Thursday & Friday 10am.to7 Saturday & Sunday 1M0am.tob
ConnectingPeople £, Gardens
CGCguides offer tours ofAllan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto sMusic Garden andEdwards Gardens.
by Carolyn Moore
-
If home is where the heart is, then the stu: ESLTours ofAllan Gardens Conservaton} run January to March. :
dents in Ms. Crean s class have come home. Most are from countries near the equator and on this particular morning they wander among familiar vegetation surrounded by a breath of warm, humid almost tropical air. No matter that it s the middle of a Canadian winter in downtown Toronto. These adult students of English as a Second Language (ESL) are taking today s lesson in Allan Gardens Conservatory 16,000 square feet of greenhouses maintained by the City of Toronto. They are here because a group of professional and very dedicated volunteers, the tour guides of The Civic Garden Centre, made it possible.
Gloria Broks, chair of the Tour Guide Committee and one of two guides today, points to a tall tree. A marker denotes its Latin name: Musa acuminata. Does anyone know what this is? she asks. One eager young man, a wide grin on his face, shouts, Banana. We have that
in my country! It s apparent that this is more than an English lesson. The connection to their homelands, found here in a new country, delights the students. Here they see the familiar at a time in their lives when much is unfamiliar. Like flowers in my friend s garden, a young woman says with excitement in her voice. She makes a sweeping gesture as she looks around the Tropical House, one of the conservatory s five greenhouses. They are from home. She says she never paid much attention in her own country but to learn about the flowers has clearly piqued her interest.
CGC tour guides have been helping people appreciate gardens for more than ten years. The program began with general tours of Edwards Gardens, later adding special tours for seniors and ESL classes. When Toronto s Music Garden opened in 1999 it wasn t long before CGC tour guides were conductingwalking tours, helping the public interpret the landscape thatwas inspired by
Bach s FirstSuite forUnaccompanied Cello.
Over the past year, demand for all of the tours conducted by CGC guides has soared. There were four pre-booked guided tours of Edwards Gardens in 2001. This summer there were bookings for 16 seniors tours alone, although some had to be cancelled because the weather was too hot for the participants.
But it was the number of requests for ESL tours in 2001 that took everyone by surprise.
ESL walking tours of Edwards Gardens proved more popular than anyone had anticipated, said the CGC s Rental Co-ordinator, Angela Carruthers, who books the tours. We had a dramatic increase in the number of tours and the size of the groups that wanted to come out. We ended up sending several ESL groups on self-guided walks because we could not accommodate them all.
Never ones to pass up an opportunity, the tour guides approached Allan Gardens with the idea of conducting winter tours for ESL students. In May and June of 2001, Sonia Leslie, Gloria Broks and Gwen Merrill developed the program, scripted it, then tested it on tour guides in September. The new program began in January of this year and ran until the end of March. In just three months, nine schools and 190 students had benefited from the guides work.
This is a great opportunity, says Martha Crean, whose ESL class from San Nicola di Bari Church was the last of the season to take the Allan Gardens tour. We can only do so many field trips. This is a good price at only $2 [per student]. She adds that many individuals could not afford more given their circumstances as newcomers. Even with these modest fees, the Allan Gardens tours generated $356 in revenue for the CGC.
By the end of August, income from all 2002 tours had reached $2,400 in comparison with $1,400 in 2001. The committee s expenses are minimal (mostly photocopying) and, except for booking, 25 dedicated members do all the work. Our tour guides deserve a big thank you for their efforts.
The tour guides are pleased that they can con-
tribute to the CGC s bottom line. But the real joy for them comes from sharing their enthusiasm for gardens. They spend countless hours developing and learning their scripts which they revise and evaluate based on feedback. They discuss how to make each tour the best it can be. At the end, though, it is the heartfelt thank yous that make itallworthwhile.
In the Allan Gardens Conservatory on a wet winter day, these thank yous can be seen in the delight on the faces of 20 strangers who ve found a connection to home in a garden. @
Carolyn Moore, afreelance writerandprincipal of cdMoore communications inc., is a former managerofcommunityservicesat the CGCand a member ofthe Trellis Committee. She recentlymoved to the Quinte area where she s discoveredmanygardeningkindredspirits.
Master Gardeners Launch Fundralsmg Campaign
byJohn Hetherington
MASTER GARDENERS OF ONTARIO INC.
has been granted registered charity status and has launched its first fundraising campaign. The Master Gardeners Program came to Ontario in 1986 with the help and financial assistance of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the support of the Ontario Horticultural Association. This government funding has been withdrawn and now Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (MGOI) has become a not-for-profit registered charity.
There are currently over 700 volunteer Master Gardeners in Ontario, operating in 38 groups from Kingston to Windsor to Thunder Bay. The groups are distributed amongst eight zones, each with an elected volunteer director. The largest group is the Toronto Master Gardeners which works out of The Civic Garden Centre. The Toronto Master Gardeners operate the hort InfoLine at 416-397-1345 and respond to questions on the CGC s Web site, www.infogarden.ca. These Master Gardeners answer questions and offer free expert advice to CGC members and to thousands of gardeners throughout the province, year-round.
MGOI is seeking financial support to continue its work across the province. With recent increases in fees at the University of Guelph (it now costs $675 for the courses to become a Master Gardener volunteer), bursaries are needed to ensure that anyone with an interest in becoming a volunteer is not denied the opportunity because of lack of means. Funds are needed to continue the work of the eight volunteer zone directors in forming new Master Gardeners groups and strengthening existing groups. Funds are needed to recruit new volunteers to join Master Gardeners groups. Funds are needed to develop a new and comprehensive Master Gardeners Web site for the whole province.
Master Gardeners of Ontario will have three levels of support: Supporters of the Master
Gardeners Program, those giving $15, $25 or $50; Friends of the Master Gardeners, those giving $100 to $500; and Patrons who provide significant financial support and who may be invited to become a member of the MGOI board of directors. Charitable donation tax receipts will be issued to all donors contributing $15 or more. If you have ever called a Master Gardener info hotline, or asked a Master Gardener a question or would like to continue the good work of Master Gardeners across the province, please make out a cheque to Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. for $15, or $25, or $50, or, if possible, a more significant amount and mail it to: Stewart McCombie, Treasurer Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. 121 MacBeth Cres.
North Bay, Ontario P1B 7X7
Master Gardeners Help Us Grow GreenThumbs
MASTERGARDENERS have completedtwoyearsof horticulturalstudyfrom the UniversityofGuelph and committo provide 30 hoursofunpaidvolunteer serviceeachyear.You willfind MasterGardeners:
1.Answering information hot lines
2.Answering questions on Master Gardener Websites
3. Giving lecturesand presentationsto interested groups
4.Answering questionsat public events such as theCNEand Canada Blooms
5. Holding free dinics at local nurseries
6.Participatingintherapeuticgardeningactivities | forseniorsandat long-term care facilities
7. Providingarticlesfor newspapers, magazines andtelevision
Amemberofthe TomntoMaster Gardeners,John Hetherington is PresidentofMaster Gardeners of Ontario and, before moving to Thornbury, consideredhimselfRosedale s lastdirtgardener:
Dried Stalks Add Winter Interest
by Cathie Cox, Manager, Horticultural Services
: talks of mullein add interest to the winter gaeh.m
NOVEMBER IS THE BEGINNING of the garden s forgotten season, winter. After the lushness of summer and the splash of colour that is Ontario in the autumn, the garden may look a little bare, but trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and pansies can add interest and allure. Here s a tip to make your garden both attractive and secure during the winter.
Instead of cutting down ornamental grasses and many of the perennials that grew in the garden, leave their stalks, seeds and faded flowerheads to add interesting elements in the snow. Not only do they look attractive but the dried stalks will also trap snow, insulating the plants from the freeze-and-thaw cycles of winter and early spring.
For more information about winterizingyour garden, the CGC Web site features these fact sheets: Putting the Garden to Bed: www.infogarden.ca/mg/puttinggardentobed.htm and Winterizing Your Garden: www.infogarden.ca/mg/winterizing.htm
TRELLIS SHOP ANNUAL SALE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 TO MONDAY, DECEMBER 23
25 per cent offall items for non-members 30 per cent offfor CGC membersJoin the CGC now and save!
Visit the Shop for all your holiday needs. We stock cards, decorations, gifts, tropical plants, books and floral supplies. It s not too late to plant many ofthe fall bulbs that are still available in the Trellis Shop. Stop by for a last chance to plant a garden ofcolourful spring bulbs!
byAnna Leggatt
Evergreens a Christmas tradition
WHY IS GREEN one of the Christmas colours?
Green decoration at the time of the solstice goes back thousands ofyears to when people believed that trees were the homes of wood spirits. When the trees lost their leaves in the winter, they were thought to be dead and that their spirits wandered the earth until they were allowed back in the spring. Trees that remained green in the winter were considered to be alive and so had good spirits inside them. Because people thought that bringing evergreens into a dwelling would offer protection from bad spirits, boughs were placed around entry points doorways, windows, stairs and fireplaces. Wreaths were considered particularly effective as they had no beginning or end, thereby confusing any evil beings.
Christmas trees are a comparatively modern custom. Christmas trees were known in Germany and other parts of northern Europe in the 16th century. The custom was taken to England by the Hanoverian monarchs but did not gain popularity until the time of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.
Hessian troops brought the tradition to North America during the Revolutionary War. General Friedrich Riedesel is credited with introducing the custom in Canada on December 24, 1781 when he and his family were temporarily in residence at Sorel, Quebec.
Why should you choose a real tree? Christmas trees are usually grown on marginal land that would otherwise be scrub and grass. As they grow, trees add oxygen to the air and protect the soil from extremes of temperature and erosion. After the trees are cut, the land is replanted, continuing the process of responsible
land use. By purchasing a real tree, you will also be providing income to a farmer. Although synthetic trees last longer, they are made from our rapidly depleting fossil fuels. They cannot be recycled and will add to the garbage problem, whereas many municipalities recycle real trees.
Of the many trees to choose from, my favourite is a balsam fir, Abies balsamea. It is a good dark green, aromatic and does not easily drop its needles. Blue spruce, Picea pungens, looks lovely but will lose needles in a warm room. Norway spruce, Picea abies, is cheap but drops needles quickly. Scotch pine, Pinus sylvestris, retains its needles for weeks but it is too bushy for my taste.
Buy your tree early in the season; your tree will survive better in water, away from the dry, windy parking lot where it was sold. Before selecting a tree, measure your space to make sure the tree will fit. When examining a tree, pick it up and ask yourself, Is the trunk straight? How dry is the stump? Tap the tree. Only brown needles should drop and the green needles should be pliable.
When you get home, cut the end off of the trunk and put your tree into a bucket of hot water. Leave the tree in a cool place where it will not freeze until you are ready to place it inside. Once indoors, make sure the tree is away from doors and heat sources. Use a stand that holds a lot ofwater and top it up every day.
Now that your tree is ready, why not plan a tree-decorating party? @
Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener, garden writerandactive CGCvolunteer.
A Expert advice from the Master Gardeners |
Q My Spanish onions are only 2.5 cm (1 ) in diameter. I've grown them next to tomatoes for three years. I've added composted manure and composted leaves to the soil and I start them from seed in June. Why don t they reach their full size? Are the tomatoes toxic to them?
A Growing Spanish onions, Allium cepa, from seed needs a long season, 95 to 130 days. Try starting them earlier indoors say at the end of April. They need rich, fertilized soil, lots of humus and should be at least 10 cm (4 ) apart as the bulbs mature. Keep the soil moist throughout the season. Be careful to select a variety that will mature in the time available at your location. The tomatoes do not have any W effect on the onions. [For optimum size, before har)/ vesting, wait until the foliage of the onions has died back and browned it' s at this stage that a great deal of the bulb growth occurs. Ed.)
Onions grow leaves in cool spring weather; and the bulbs grow in later warm weather
Q@ Can water hyacinth be grown from seed?
A Because water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is easily propagated from runners, it is sold as plants rather than as seeds. Plants spread rapidly in warm weather, requiring frequent thinning so there is no shortage of young plants.
Water hyacinth- Eichhornia crassipes - is very invasive in warm weather
Q 1 am getting some air plants, Tillandsia, and would like to know the proper watering technique for them. Is it better to mist daily and soak in water once a week or just soak once a weekwithout daily misting?
Tillandsia can be attached to a branch, or grown on stones.
A Both methods are acceptable. Tillandsia is unique in its ability to survive without a functional root system. Since all the moisture and nutrients required by the plant are absorbed through the leaves, daily misting or weekly soaking is essential. From my reading, | learned that tiny silver scales cover the leaves and provide a one-way route for water to enter. It is recommended that you handle the plants very carefully to protect these fine silver scales.
So the choice is yours mist frequently or immerse the entire plant in water (room temperature) for about a half an hour every week or so. Growing these plants in more humid areas of your home (kitchen or bathroom) will also provide some additional moisture for the leaves. [Because the scales are so fragile, some sources recommend the safer method of misting. Also, because these plants suffer from exposure to lime, rainwater or demineralized water is recommended in regions where tap water contains high levels of lime. Ed.)
Doyouhavea guestion aboutgardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardeners InfoLine at 416397-1345or log on to the Q&A Forum at infogarden.ca/mastergardenerboard.htm and Ask a Master Gardener!
lllustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
Edwards Memorial Lecture
SPEAKER: ROB PROCTOR
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN:Wednesday,November20, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: Perennial Pleasures
RAISE YOUR SPIRITS, expectations and results by attending this lecture with passionate gardener Rob Proctor. Rob will be discussing how to use perennials in exciting and innovative ways including intermingling them with bulbs, herbs, annuals, shrubs and even vegetables to provide an ever-changing kaleidoscope throughout the seasons.
Rob Proctor is the Artistic Director of the Denver Botanic Gardens in charge of supervising garden design. An internationally known author, illustrator and photographer, Rob s artistic works hang in the Smithsonian. He has written ten books including Naturalizing Bulbs and (with David Macke) Herbs in the Garden: The Art of Intermingling. His most recent book, Passionate Gardening: Good Advice for Challenging Climates, was coauthored with Lauren Springer and received top honours from the Garden Writers Association of America and from the American Horticultural Society as well as receiving the Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence. Rob s private garden and home have been featured on both television and in magazines.
Support from the Edwards Foundation enables the CGC to offer this annual special lecture at no charge.
Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture
SPEAKER: WILLIAM CULLINA
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, November27, 7:30 p.m.
Topic: Secrets and Myths of Wildflower Propagation
There is value in preserving wilderness, but there is equalvalue in restoring thesuburbsandcities where most ofus live to something closer to balance for our children s sake and the sake ofall the other species around us. Growing wildflowers is not only fun and easy, itfosters a genuine connection with the regionyou live in. William Cullina
William Cullina offers clear and detailed information on growing and propagating wildflowers. His lecture will cover why you should propagate wildflowers from seed, seed collection, moss germinators and everything you d ever want to know about growing wildflowers. No matter what your level of interest, this lecture will help you succeed in introducing native plants to your garden.
William Cullina holds degrees in plant science and psychology and has been working in plant propagation and nursery production for fifteen years. In 1995 he became nursery manager and propagator at the New England Wild Flower Society s Garden in the Woods, where he runs the NEWFS native plant nursery. Cullina lectures on native plants and propagation and writes for popular and technical journals. His first book, The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers ofthe United States and Canada, was published in 2000. A follow-up volume, Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines: a Guide to Using, Growing and Propagating North American Woody Plants, was released in June 2002. Admission free.
it Special Lectures
Co-SPONSORED BY WEALL & CULLEN
SPEAKER: CLAUDIO ROSSI
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, December 11, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: Orchids Demystified
FOR THOSE IN the orchid world who know Claudio Rossi, he is automatically associated with paphs and sometimes phrags. Claudio is an accredited judge with the American Orchid Society. As a member of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society, he participates in monthly judging sessions at the CGC. Claudio has been growing orchids for over 25 years and he has an outstanding personal collection of approximately 5,000 orchids. Claudio is also the proprietor of Cloud s Orchids in Toronto. Admission $5
Book REVIEW
LandscapePlanning: Practical TechniquesfortheHome Gardener
ByJudithAdam s
Toronto, Firefly Books Ltd, 2002; 224pages; $39.95
IN A WELCOME treatment of a familiar problem, author Judith Adam leads homeowners through the sometimes thorny chore of landscaping their own properties. Information and alternatives for making the best landscaping decisions are provided. Complete with various practical ten best lists as well as a sample four-year plan, hands-on projects and expert directions, Landscape Planning answers the most important questions for any would-be home landscaper. Inspiring instructions coupled with stunning illustrations make this, without a doubt, an indispensable tool for the dedicated gardener, whether remodeller or beginner.
Reviewed byMadge Bruce
by Mara Arndt e LIBRARIAN
Did you Know?
ONE OF THE LARGER SECTIONS in The Civic Garden Centre Library is devoted to floral arts. This aspect of gardening is popular the world over and we have books in eight languages: 32 books with some French text, 19 with German, 17 Japanese, four Spanish, six Chinese, four Italian, four Dutch and one with some text in Danish. Moreover, some of the volunteer library assistants are bi- or multilingual an added benefit for ourvaried clientele.
Web site REVIEW WILDFLOWER WEB SITES
WildflowerFarm
FOR THOSE INSPIRED by William Cullina s lecture who wish to know more about wildflowers or growing native plants, go to your favourite search engine such as www.google.ca and type: wildflowers Ontario. There are many sites available, but one of my favourites is www.wildflowerfarm.com. This is a Canadian company that sells wildflower and native grass seed packs and plants as well as running workshops. Although they do not ship live plants, orders may be picked up at the Schomberg farm. | enjoyed going to Wildflower Selection Guide in the left-hand panel and clicking on Ontario on the map. This provides a list of species indigenous to Ontario along with a clear picture and a wealth of information about each plant.
Reviewed by Jean McCluskey
Practical Technigues forthe Home Gardener
TheWildfiowerSource Designing a Wildflower Garden
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ART SHOW
raphite Study 8"X10.5"
RECENT WORKS BY TRIS NERIMA
Well known Toronto Artist Tris Nerima is pleased to announce his first showing at Edwards Gardens.Over fifty works on paper...including watercolours, gouache graphite and colour pencil.The realistic approach to a wide array of subjeds will appeal to a wide audience.The truly realistic prices will appeal to everyone, just in time for the Holiday Season.Enjoy the show.
EDWARDS GARDENS
NOVEMBER 19TH TO DEC.1ST
Upper Link
SomethingforEveryone
TRIS NERIMA
November 19 to December 1
A well-known award-winning art director and designer, Tris Nerima has worked in Toronto for over 30 years. The show contains a wide range of subject matter in watercolour, gouache and graphite. Affordable prices ... just in time for holiday giving.
Middle Link
Reflections
J. CAMERON BROWN & GAIL FULARSKI
November 19 to December 1
Incredible landscapes on location that inspire creativity here! J. Cameron Brown has studied in France and takes tours to France and Italy to paint or study art. Gail Fularski spends three periods a year in Florence to paint and teach. The paintings of both artists can be found throughout the world.
Lower Link
Studio Artists ofThornhill
November 26 to December 8
Mixed watercolours and oils
Upper and Middle Link
Colourful Shapes
SHAHLA ANDREWS
December 3 to December 16
An OCA graduate, Shahla unveils her passion for unusual composition in her vibrant paintings. In this exhibit of colourful shapes, the artist draws inspiration from Henri Matisse who worked with pure colours and bold shapes.
For information on Art in the Link, call Cathie Coxat 416-397-1358.
HOLIDAY PLANT SALE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
THROUGH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CGC Lobby
Poinsettias in a wide range ofcolours and sizes
Cyclamen, Azaleas, Paper-whites, Amaryllis and other flowering plants
Christmas greens, berries, dogwood and curly branches
Wreaths and topiary forms of rosemary and ivy
Items for the Do-It-Yourselfer and for the Busy Hostess!
COME TO OUR OPEN HOUSE ON THURSDAY - LEARN HOW THE PROFESSIONALS DECORATE FOR THE HOLIDAY.
VISIT THE TRELLIS SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND FALL BULBS MEMBERS RECEIVE 10 PER CENT OFF ON ALL PURCHASES OVER $10
Distinctive Garden Accents
accent on gardemns kate's garden
Euets Galendar
What s on atThe Civic Garden Centre}
NOVEMEBER
2
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American Orchid Society
Judging, 1 p.m. Open to the public
Boardroom and Administrative Foyer
Information: www.soos.ca
3
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Speaker: Terry Kennedy
Topic: Orchid Collecting in Ecuador
Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
7-10
Mistletoe Magic Craft and Gift Show
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $5; Information: 416-397-1340
11
Toronto Bonsai Society
Discussion: Why don t my trees look like the ones in the Kokufu Show?
Garden Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Information: 416-755-0880; torontobonsai.org
12
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Potluck Dinner and Awards Night
Speaker: John Gale
Topic: Stokes Seed
Floral Hall, 6 p.m.; Information: 416-484-0677
16-17
Ikebana International - Inviting Ikebana into Your Life
21st Annual Flower Show, Tea Room, Ginza and Door Prizes
Floral Hall and Auditorium, noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Demonstration by Mr. Mutsuo Tomita, Grand
Master Ohara School
Admission: $10.00 (ticket good for both days)
Information: 905-883-6937
17
Geranium, Pelargonium & Fuchsia SocietyAnnual meeting
Studios 1, 2 and 3, 2 p.m.
Open to the public; Information: 416-281-6399
York Rose & Garden Society
Speaker: Marg Fleming
Milne House Garden Club room
1 p.m.; Information: 905-316-7458
18
SOOS Newcomers
Topic: Light, Humidity, Air Movement, Pests and Diseases
Boardroom, 7:30 p.m.
Information: Wayne Hingston, 905-649-2467
Mycological Society ofToronto Auditorium, 7:45 p.m.
Information: 416-444-9053; vsoots@globalserve.net
19
Toronto Cactus and Succulent Club Slide Show
Studio 1, 7:30 p.m.
Information: 905-780-7729; 905-877-6013
20
Edwards Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Rob Proctor
Topic: Perennial Pleasures
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Admission free
24
Ontario Rock Garden Society, Rhododendron Society and Ontario Water Garden Society
Speakers: Liz Knowles, Anna Leggatt, David Hinton
Topic: The Beauties of Corsica in April
Floral Hall and Garden Auditorium, noon to 5:00 p.m.
Information: 416-755-2325; 416-226-1270; 416-422-2164
27
Helen Flegg Memorial Lecture
Speaker: William Cullina
Topic: Secrets and Myths ofWildflower
Propagation
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Admission free
DECEMBEHR
1
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Christmas celebration
Floral Hall, 1 p.m.
Information: www.soo0s.ca
5
CGC Christmas Open House
Seasonal decorations
Various studios, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Demonstrations: $2 each Milne House Open House
Christmas table centre workshops: 1:30 & 7:00 p.m.
Fee: $15
5-8
Holiday Plant Sale
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
7
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American
Orchid Society
Judging, 1 p.m. Open to the public
Boardroom & Administration Foyer
Information: www.soos.ca
8
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Barrie Porteous
Topic: Alaskan Adventure
Floral Hall, noon
Information: 416-755-2325
9
Toronto Bonsai Society
Speaker: Bob Fisher
Topic: An Overview ofTropical Trees
Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Information: 416-755-0880; torontobonsai.org
11
Ikebana International
Christmas giftwrapping withJapanese paper (presented by the Japanese Paper Place)
Studio 1, 7:30 p.m.
Special Lecture
Speaker: Claudio Rossi
Topic: Orchids Demystified Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $5
16
SOOS Newcomers
Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum Boardroom, 7:30 p.m.
Information: Wayne Hingston, 905-649-2467
IN & AROUND THE GTA
NOVEMBER 8-17
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR
NATIONAL TRADE CENTRE, EXHIBITION PLACE
Information: 416-263-3400; www.royalfair.org
DECEMBER 1, 2002 To JANUARY 6, 2003
ALLAN GARDENS
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS SHOW
Handmade wreaths, garlands and topiary trees. Traditional Christmas flowers and plants. Hundreds of candles lit late each afternoon.
Sherbourne & Carlton Streets
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Information: 416-392-7288; http://collections.ic.gc.ca/gardens
SCHEDULES
BonsaiTools New Garden Product
For Sale: bud shears and bonsai tools. Never Used. Sponsored by National Research Council Call Lucie, 416-499-1796 Excellent Business Opportunity. 416-698-8362
$3655.00, April 4 - 18 $3399.00 inc. 8 nights beach
Gardens of Eastern Cuba Expert led exploration REACH 2,500 GARDENERS! . y : ) A classified ad inTrellis costs only of specialty gardens, mountains, forests; discover wild $1 a word (1/2 price for members). orchids, ferns, ancient plants - January 24 - February 7 | To book an ad, contact Jenny Rhodenizer, 416-397-1351 resort. Contact Elisabeth Tschopp 416-769-2601, or Kate cwicgard.encentre@infog?rden.ca Deadline forJan/Feb. issue, 416-656-2061, e-mail daleyvaldes@yahoo.com October 21, 2002