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 of the 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.
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
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 gardening information 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 gardening and the natural world. As a community service, Art in the Link offers gallery space 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¢ 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, Marisa Bergagnini, Dugald Cameron, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Leslie Denier, Tony DiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater, Ralph Fernando, Mary Fisher,Judy Floyd, Carol Gardner, Lorraine Hunter, Cecil Lamrock, Sonia Leslie, Patrick Li, Ruth MacKneson, Grace Patterson,Jean Read,Jennifer Reynolds, Dawn Scott, BunnySlater, Tim Tanz
3¢ Staff Members
Executive Director Douglas Markoff Manager, Community Services Jenny Rhodenizer Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox
Volunteer Co-ordinator Christine Martin
Accounting
Administration
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
Capital Campaign Director Janice Turner King
Course Co-ordinator Rosetta Leung
Development Co-ordinator Niti Bhotoia
Horticultural Assistant Nicole North
Librarian
Mara Arndt
Maintenance Supervisor Walter Morassutti
Rental Co-ordinator
Randie Smith
Teaching Garden Co-ordinator Diana Tea!
Volume 30 3% Number 2
EDITOR
Lorraine Flanigan
DESIGN
June Anderson
VOLUNTEER
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
M. Arndt, T. Coombes, M. Magee
VOLUNTEER PROOFREADERS
M. Bruce, K. Mills
J. McCluskey
M. Pote, A. Smith
ADVERTISING
416-397-1351
Printed by HarmonyPrinting on recycled paper
Trellis is published six times a year as a members newsletter by The Civic Garden Centre at Edwards Gardens. 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1P2, 416-397-1340.
Manuscripts submitted on a voluntary basis are gratefully received. No remuneration is possible.
Articles, manuscripts and advertising material must be received by the first of the month to ensure publication eight weeks later. For example, material for the May/June issue must be received by February 28.
Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.
Charitable business number: 119227486RR0001
Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40013928
ISSN 0380-1470
4 Notes from the Board
Excellence at the CGC 6 Notes from the Corner Office
A vision for The Civic Garden Centre
8 Volunteer News
9
110 12 14 16 18
Honouring our award-winning volunteers
Teaching Garden
Growing Green March Break Camp
22 Plant Portrait
Berberis thunbergii Japanese Barberry 23 Q&A
Expert advice from the Master Gardeners 24 Spotlight on Horticultural Societies
Toronto Herb Society 27 Library News
News, Web site and book reviews
A Symphony of Gardens
Canada Blooms a performance not to be missed!
Chelsea THE Show of Shows
Find outwhygardeners flock to England in May
Healthy Gardening -Taking Stock
The first steps in gardening naturally
Potted Herbs are Perfect for Balcony Gardens
Plant seeds for a well-seasoned herb garden
U ofT Greenhouses
The historic plant houses move to Allan Gardens
10 Best Horticultural Films NEVER Made
Tune in to the Gardener s Movie Network ON THE COVER: Symphony of Flowers arrangement by CGCcourse instructor, William Mc Knight.
Photo: Tam Kam Chiu
from the Board
- by Janet Greyson ® PRESIDENT
Excellence at the CGC
The Civic Garden Centre continues to provide continues to work effectively by reviewing its role through its Governance Committee and the staff continue to demonstrate their professionalism through the work that they do which in turn is supported by a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers. As an organization, our Revitalization Campaign is all about providing a centre of excellence in horticulture. Through our programs, services, staff and volunteers, The Civic Garden Centre will continue to excel in achieving its mandate and [ am convinced that we ll do it in a most excellent way. @
an exciting array of programs, workshops, lectures, courses, garden tours and events. We also maintain an excellent library and publish Trellis magazine. Listingall ofthe things thatwe do is a good way of describing who we are because, in many ways, we are what we do. But, that s not the whole picture. We also have a desire to pursue excellence in implementing our mandate. That can be judged from the way in which we carry out our programs and activities. Here, [ think that we are movingfrom strength to strength.
One good example of this is 7rellis which is filled with interesting and informative articles and continues to look better and better. Thanks must be given to Lorraine Flanigan, our editor, and to Lorraine Hunter, the chair of the Trellis Committee, all of her committee members and to the team of 7rellis volunteers for this fine result.
Another example is our Teaching Garden which continues to grow in the number of programs offered: winter and spring workshops, for example, such as Get Growing! which teaches children how to plant seeds in a mini-greenhouse of their own construction.
Speaking of children, have you read Children and Gardens, the book by Gertrude Jekyll, the famous turn-of-the-last-century English garden writer? It is in our Library in the historical section. Jekyll points out that the most important thing for children to learn about gardens is that they should be places of fun and adventure, and so she talks about the fun of having tea parties in the garden and even provides recipes for making food to eat such as fairy cakes. She devotes a chapter to the fun she had as a child with her pussycats in the garden. The point being we shouldn t take the garden too seriously, particularlywhere children are concerned.
The desire to achieve excellence at the CGC is demonstrated in other ways as well. Our Board
r FAREWELLTO % Douglas Markoff
ouglas Markoff has resigned as Executive Director of the CGC as of February 14, 2003. Douglas has been with us since 1999. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours.
The Civic Garden Centre
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, April 23, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
To be followed at 8 p.m. by the Edwards Memorial Lecture featuring & Dan Heims speaking on Colourful
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE LIBRARY
(SPRING, . .
Time to Smell the Flowers!
Enter Te Win
Shop!lng Spree
b {From =
¥Explore over 90,000 sq. ft. ofplants, bulbs & hard-to-find tools in 2 the Garden Marketplace and Backyard Get-a-Way Gardens!
¥ Escape to the Tropical Rainforest!
¥ Help
Kid s grow in the Make-It & Take-It Garden ! REC = @';_,-_.
RBC
6900 Airport Rd. Toronto
¥ Experience \ the Ontario Horticultural Association s R Plant & FlowerCompetition! ;g
¥Meet S
* Mark Cullen .
* Denis Flanagan !
* Liz Primeau , *Jennifer Reynolds & Other experts at the EAI]DE El Ngheatre! ATTENDTHE INTERNATIONAL
F.EE with paid admission to the Success With GardeningShow! Thm,FnGSat 10:00AM-9:00PM T3
by Douglas Markoff Executive DIRECTOR I
A Vision for The Civic Garden Cente
o the many people who have asked me Tover the years about my vision for The Civic Garden Centre, I give you this clear vision: the CGC must take the lead in developing a botanical garden in Edwards Gardens, the first in the history of the City ofToronto.
storage facilities; and a rich history all this, and a location in the geographical centre of an urban area with 4.3 million people, accessible by TTC and nearby highways.
A botanical garden would enhance Toronto s impressive botanical heritage that now includes Allan Gardens, Centennial Park and the Humber Arboretum. Further, it would complement exist- (The cGC;Ollld a solid foundation ing parks and ravine systems
A botanical garden in Toronto would draw even more tourists to a city and region that already offers a stunning variety of cultural institutions and activities. Like other botanical gardens around the world, a botanical garden in Toronto would clearly benefit our city economically and add to its reputation.
such as Edwards Gardens, for programs and A botanical garden would High Park and the Rosetta services offered by a help to make the city a betMcClain Gardens. Raising botanicalgarden.) ter place to live and work: awareness of and preserving the ecological integrity of these places would form part of an educational program of a botanical garden.
The CGC could provide a solid foundation for programs and services offered by a botanical garden. We have an unparalleled horticultural library; a large and committed volunteer base; educational programming that includes a Teaching Garden; courses, lectures, horticultural workshops and community outreach; the services of the Toronto Master Gardeners; the support of horticultural societies and gardening groups; diverse and modern mechanisms for communicating with the public such as 7rellis and the CGC Web site; and a respected reputation within the community.
The creation of a botanical garden in Edwards Gardens could also build on the natural features and existing infrastructure of the gardens a park of diverse and unique geography and topography. The present gardens already incorporate walking and service pathways; an array of tree, shrub and herbaceous plantings including unparalleled magnolia and rhododendron collections; a massive rockery; greenhouses and
educational programs would offer information for newcomers and long-time residents alike; various activities would bring the natural world to those who may not have easy access to it otherwise inner city children, the elderly and the disabled for example; the multiplicity of plants from all over the world in a botanical garden would not only expand the horizons of those of us who grew up in Canada but also bring a little bit of home to the many Torontonians who have come here from elsewhere.
The steps towards creating a botanical garden start with agreement in principle on the concept. The CGC is currently engaged in a visioning exercise to define its long-term objectives. If the CGC Board of Directors decides to embrace the long-term plan to become a botanical garden, discussions with appropriate city officials will begin, a governance model developed, and a financial business plan put into place.
There are pitfalls to inaction. Considering today s economic climate and the associated downsizing by local government, it is possible that the private sector would recognize the value of creating a botanical garden in Edwards
Gardens. If such a project were launched without the involvement of the CGC, our opportunities for an increased profile, programming and position within the horticultural sphere would be seriously challenged.
For now, the revitalization of our building and gardens and the capital campaign in which we are engaged must remain the primary focus of our medium-term plan. At the same time, the CGC must have a strong long-term strategic plan that will drive the direction of new programs in our revitalized building and gardens.
Imagine a beautiful botanical garden with an
arboretum; the revival of the Edwards Gardens rock garden; collections of native and nonnative plants; summer concerts performed by an orchestra in an amphitheatre overlooking Wilket Creek; sculptures by renowned artisans; and an expanded parking lot moved underground to make way for a large garden area.
This is the botanical garden that is my vision for the CGC. Honed yet unchanged since it was first published in the May/June 1999 issue of Trellis, I invite you to share in my vision because, remember, this is your Civic Garden Centre. @
Amsterdam & Keukenhof Garden Tour
Cote d Azur Garden, Culture & Museum Tour
Paris & The Chelsea Flower Show
Spring In London and the Chelsea Flower Show
Castles & GardensThe Loire Valley, France
Gardens of Ireland Cork and Dublin
Gardens of Lisbon Portugal Tour
Exotic Gardens ofSouthAfrica Tour
Uolunteer News
by Christine Martin ® VOLUNTEER
Honouring our award-winning volunteers
EVERY YEAR, MILLIONS of viewers gather around their TV screens to see which celebrities will walk away with the big awards. Movie buffs watch the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Pleasejoin me in
though, the CGC s volunteers have not been paid millions or even thousands of dollars for their contributions. Many have worked behind the scenes, quietly contributing for years towards the work of Television viewers tune in to the ~CONgratulating those The Civic Garden Centre. It's Emmys. The Grammys appeal to ~ vVolunteers who were truly amazing what all of these music fans. It's exciting to see recognized late last volunteers have accomplished. talented people receive credit for year with awardsfOl Please join me in congratulating their hard work. We cheer for the year 2001. those volunteers who were recour favourites and celebrate all that these people have contributed to our world.
The talent, contributions and dedication of The Civic Garden Centre s volunteers have been recognized with awards too. Our volunteers have been honoured for years of service, for outstanding achievement and for spirit. Unlike celebrities
OUR OUTSTANDINGVOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD (Province of Ontario)
DorothyFowler for over 20 years ofservice in the Pressed FlowerGroup
MargaretHertlingforover 20years in the crafters group
Helen Lawson forover 10years ofservice as a receptionist
JeanMcCluskeyforover20years ofservice in the Libraryand on the Web team
LilianLee forover 15 years in the crafters group
DorisSaffreyforover 20years ofservice in the Pressed FlowerGroup
QUTSTANDINGACHIEVEMENTFOR 2001 (Thank You GreenToronto)
Midge Cooperfor leadership in the TeachingGarden s programs and committee
Jean Godawa forworkas aTeachingGarden leader, in program development and as a committee member
ManeckSattha for dedication in assistingwith horticulture, special events, maintenance andforservingasa CGCambassador
SPIRIT OFVOLUNTEERISM(Thank You GreenToronto)
JeanJohnston forTeachingGardenmaintenance, library workand special events
COMMUNITY SPIRIT: FOODACTION (City ofToronto)
JeanJohnston for Teaching Garden maintenance and food production
ognized late last year with awards for the year 2001 .
And let s not forget, as we watch those awards ceremonies, that only one person wins in each category but that many others deserve the award. Congratulations to all of our volunteers for a job well done! You all deserve awards. @
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED FOR CANADA BLOOMS!
CLOSE TO 200VOLUNTEERswill be needed to help atthisfive-day horticultural event held atthe Metro TorontoConvention Centrefrom March 12to 16. Mainjobs includecustomerservice, providing information, set upand take down. Please contact theVolunteer Office at416-397-4145 or volunteers@infogarden.catosign upandfind outmore.
Left-right: John Macintyre, Arthur Beauregard, Christine Martin (for Jean Godawa), Jean Johnston, Maneck Sattha, Midge Cooper, Douglas Markoff, Councillor Joe Mihevc
Growing Green March Break Camp
BLOBS OF PAINT, bugs, frogs, animal tracks, garbage can relay races and puppets: what do these things have in common? They are part of the exciting lineup of activities that the Teaching Garden has planned tion, including activities such as Garbage Can Relay, Meet a Tree and Home Sweet Habitat. At the end of the day, participants become certified Eco-Heroes definitely something every child should be.
for Growing Green, this yeat s Thursday s program We end the week with a fanMarch Break camp for kids, ISfOI heroes only tastic Friday program Puppet which runs from March 10 to Eco-Heroes... Pandemonium. Sarka Buchl 14, 2003. Parents or guardians can register their six- to 10-year-olds for the whole week of programming or for any of the following special theme days.
Monday is visual art day, appropriately named Butterflies, Brushes and Blobs of Paint. Participants will unearth their artistic abilities and learn about sketching and painting techniques from Sarka Buchl, a professional artist and the instructor of our popular Art in the Park summer program.
Jean Godawa, entomologist, instructor of our beguiling Bug Camp and founder of Class Insecta, a travelling insect education program, will join us on Insect Day Tuesday to teach participants bugology. Jean has promised to bring her bug friends with her, including Millie the African millipede and a couple of giant cockroaches; so this is a day that should not be missed!
Ever wondered what frogs and toads are talking about in the spring when they won' t stop croaking? Take a walk on The Wild Side on Wednesday morning, when Sarah Ingwersen, co-ordinator of the Adopt-A-Pond wetland conservation program and amphibian aficionado from the Toronto Zoo, will teach us about the frogs and toads of Ontario. In the afternoon, participants will learn all the skills necessary to become an expert animal tracker in Edwards Gardens.
Thursday s program is for heroes only EcoHeroes, that is. Join the Teaching Garden staff for a full day of indoor and outdoor earth educa-
will join us again to inspire creativity in young puppeteers as they reuse and recycle materials such as pop bottles, fabric, shells, rocks and plant roots to create a wacky cast of characters. A puppet pageant will be the perfect end to this day of pandemonium.
If you have children in your life who want to get Growing Green this March, please contact the Teaching Garden today at 416-397-1355 or teachinggarden@infogarden.ca for registration information! @
VISIT THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE AT CANADA BLOOMS!
Let some spring sunshine into your life with a visit to The Civic Garden Centre's two locations at Canada Blooms. At our exclusive address on Blooms Avenue, the Trellis Shop will be selling what's new and exciting for gardeners and floral arrangers.
On the 700 Level outside the speakers' rooms, our book sales boothwill be stocking the latest in gardening books as well as providing demonstrations in the art of flower making, using everything from marzipan to vegetables!
We'll also be hosting book signings by speakers RogerPhillips, KenBeattie, Mark Cullen and Marion Jarvie. Bring your CGC membership cardto receive your discount.
March 12 to 16, 2003
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Advance general admission tickets $18, available from the Trellis Shop
A Symphony of Gardens: A PERFORMANCE
NOT TO BE MISSED!
( TedJohnston leads us through the scents, sights and . sounds of Canada Blooms 2003./)
anada Blooms has fast become the not to be missed event for gardeners across the country. A co-operative effort of The Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario, Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower & Garden Show has inspired and entertained more than 600,000 visitors in its six years. With monies raised at Canada Blooms, more than $400,000 has been donated to horticultural projects, including the new entrance garden at The Civic Garden Centre.
Each year the challenge is to out-showcase the year before. Garden designers, floral arrangers and retailers will do their best to interpret this year s theme, A Symphony of Gardens. The scents, sights and sounds of spring will fill six acres of gardens deep inside the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Landscape designers, architects and builders will compose some of the most inspirational gardens ever seen at a flower and garden show.
Volunteers and staff spent most of the summer and fall shopping for new, unusual and under-used plants for the gardens. More than 10,000 square feet of greenhouse space has been dedicated to the forcing of perennials,
trees and shrubs. Visitors will want to take notes on the new combinations. Thousands of tulips, running brooks, shooting fountains, mounds of rock and the sweet scent of dark mulch will drive gardeners wild with desire.
Placed among the gardens are more than 25 extravagant floral arrangements from some of the best professional florists in the city. The Garden Club of Toronto not only helps to produce Canada Blooms but also puts together one of the most prestigious judged flower shows in the country. Amateur flower arrangers from around the world compete for the coveted red ribbons.
There are more talks, lectures, demonstrations and seminars than you ll find at a community college. And, at a much lower cost they come with the price of admission. The avid showgoer can spend the whole day at Canada Blooms, wander through 30 gardens, shop with more than 200 retailers and still take in six hours of lectures.
Roger Phillips from Great Britain will introduce his new book and lecture on Gardening in a City. Anne Roberts and Horst Dickert will talk about Yo-Yo Ma and the Music Garden at Queen s Quay in Toronto. Visitors have an opportunity to meet their favourite gardening
Left: Canada Blooms display gardens create the magic of springtime.
Photos courtesy Canada Blooms
Right: Mary Lou Carter creates floral art.
guru, purchase their books from The Civic Garden Centre in the Education Hall and have them autographed too!
Serious gardeners will be lining up to view the performance at the New Varieties Theatre produced by Landscape Ontario. The theatre is filled with new plant introductions and unusual plants. The new Plant Market in the marketplace will satisfy the need to buy for this yeat s garden. Here s where you ll find more than 200 retailers with the best, the hottest and the most interesting products for the garden or garden room.
Terry McGlade of Perennial Gardens has designed two gardens filled with ideas for apartment or condo dwellers. With the assistance of Plant World, Via Verde and Marjorie Mason Hogue, McGlade has created a space with more than just a couple of ideas for using containers on rooftop, terrace and balcony gardens.
During the lunch hour, celebrities will compete against one another on the Unilock Celebrity Centre s stage. While the audience acts as judges, personalities from Global TV, EZ Rock 97.3, National Post, Canadian Home & Country and Canadian Gardening and a variety of other media will entertain and create flower arrangements at 1 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
Ifyou can' t face the crowds, come after 3 p.m. Shopping is best in the evening. Taking public transit is the best way to get to the show just catch the shuttle bus from Union Station. Parking is less expensive at Queen s Quay which is a short walk or shuttle bus ride from the South Building. Pre-plan your visit with help from www.canadablooms.com, the February/March issue of Canadian Gardening or the Canada Blooms special section in the March 9 edition of the National Post. Wear comfortable shoes, check your coat, enjoy a snack or meal at one of the many food areas, and bring your camera, lots of paper and a pen. The best deal in town is the two-day pass or an early morning tour.
Canada Blooms 2003 is A Symphony of Gardens orchestrated and performed to reach into every gardener s soul.
TedJohnston is Executive Director of Canada Blooms and a contributor to Gardening Life.
Helen Dillon s Garden in Dublin isjust oneofthe v featured Gardens on Marjorie s Celtic Garden Tour 1 22 June 05 July 2003
Ireland touring includes:- Bunratty CastleVillage ofAdare the Burren ~ Celtic Park Gardens ~ Ring of Kerry- linacullin Island GardenWaterford Crystal Wicklow Mountains Helen Dillon s Garden in Dublin -National Garden Exhibition centre Wales ~ Mountains of Snowdonia ~ National Botanical Gardens Powis Castle Beatrix Potter s Hilltop Farm in the Lake District-Scottish Borders - Loch Lomond and Glasgow Botanical Gardens
$4579.00 per person, double occupancy includes Air Canada direct flight service.
Discover the Magic ofScotland Tour
includes Edinburgh Tattoo August 4 - 15, 2003
w Love, Lilt and Laughter in the HlghIands and the Orkney Islands
2" annual all things Scottish tour includes castles and gardens, golf, music and dancing, history, folklore, food and single malt!! Direct Air Canada flights $3779.00 per person, double occupancy
PHILADELPHIA
Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine Valley Coach Tour September 14 17, 2003
Marjorie and Jeff will co-host this annual Fall Garden Getaway Tour.
$699.00 per person, double occupancy
All tours personally designed and escorted by Marjorie Mason of Mason Hogue Gardens, Uxbridge, Ont. May we welcome new and past gardening friends to our 2003 tours,
For further information or registration Contac: Lorna at 905-683-8411 e-mail lbates@on.aibn.com
Chelsea -THE Show of Shows
LCathie Coxtells us whygardenersflock to England in May.)
Ilook forward to the Chelsea Flower Show
all year, every year. | admit it. I am obsessive about plants and am amazed that plants do not lose their fascination for me as I grow older. I will do anything to see new introductions as soon as they emerge and my list of must have plants remains too large & for the size ofmy garden. I am not a shopper and hate crowds, but I love the zoo that is the Chelsea Flower Show. I have heard many people tell me that they prefer the quieter, more refined Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. There is no flower show that I dislike, but the more plants, the better the show for me.
The Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious horticultural event in the world. It is put on by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, for four days in May. The show is much publicized before the event: articles fill all of the daily papers and weekly magazines for weeks before and during the event and television provides extensive coverage. It is easy to become sucked into the growing excitement that is Chelsea. By the time I emerge from the tube (subway) station nearest to the hospital grounds on members day, I am not unduly surprised to find that [ am part of a mass of humanity, all moving quietly and purposefully towards the show. I do not even need to consult a map to find the nearest entrance. [ just follow the crowd.
The heart of the show is the exhibition of plants in the floral pavilions where professional and amateur gardeners show the best and latest plants available. Surrounding the pavilions are the upmarket stalls selling everything from the latest in wellies (rubber boots to Canadians) and teak furniture to seeds and lawn mowers with Ferrari engines. Refreshment tents offer a range of food from fish and chips and Cornish pasties to pizza and one booth is entirely devoted to selling that most English of all drinks, Pimms No. 1!
One of the pavilions houses a series of exhibits designed by various horticultural societies and groups, colleges, tourist groups and nurseries. A destination spot for me is Hillier Nurseries with its amazing displays of unusual trees and shrubs, perennials and water plants. A definite highlight of my 2002 visit was finding a new foxglove introduction, Digitalis Saltwood Summer ; its orchid-like white flowers have split petals splashed with red spots. It is frustrating knowing that we will not be able to get this plant in Canada for at least a year, but the anticipation makes it all the more worthwhile. Anyway, by the time it arrives, we will know if it is a reliable performer. The last must have plant I was excited about was Geranium Rozanne from Blooms of Bressingham, first exhibited in 2000. Also memorable last year were the exhibits by Blooms, Peter Beales Roses, the island of Grenada s shipwreck surrounded by spice trees and Matthew Soper s Hampshire Carnivorous Plants which received a coveted gold medal. The exhibits are overwhelming: my husband fell in love with the display of potatoes in one booth and the many displays of clematis in several others. He s given me a shopping list ofClernatis Crystal Fountain Fairy Blue , a Japanese introduction from Raymond Evison with blue blooms and white fountain-like stamens, and C. Dominika , a new hardy Polish blue-and-white cultivar.
Photo courtesy Cathie Cox
The exhibits under the pavilions are overwhelming!
One of the most important areas of the show is the 19 thematic show gardens that are laid out through the middle of the Royal Hospital grounds. The opening gala evening is always held here where the ticket-holding members of high society, the well heeled and well dressed, major celebrities, members of the government, royalty and, of course, the Queen meet the garden designers and horticulturists, discuss the individual gardens and drink champagne.
Last year, the common theme of the show gardens was Back to Nature with references to traditional horticultural and agricultural practices a far cry from the modernity and sleek lines of the outdoor rooms, water features and garden sculptures of the previous year. The Prince of Wales and landscape architect, Jinny Blom, co-designed The Healing Garden, a garden full of wildflowers used for medicinal purposes. Other gardens included Urban Thickets Prairie House and Garden USA, an American prairie garden from the 1400s, and Reflections on a Tateshina Meadow, the Kowa Creative Art Company s garden with a marshy meadow filled with bog plants and acid-loving plants. My personal favourite was Tearmann si A Celtic Sanctuary, by the young Irish designer, Mary Reynolds: granite thrones set among Irish wildflowers overlooked a circle ofwater.
Britain. This is most evident at this show where whole displays are set aside for one type of plant. A large display of uniformly huge lupins of every colour will stand next to a display of delphiniums which lies adjacent to a display of Japanese maples of every colour, size and habit. There are whole huge tents of these displays.
At the show, everyone discusses plants, gardens and tools with the utmost seriousness. It is uncommon to hear the comments I don t like that or I love that. Instead, huge numbers of gardeners stand around the display gardens analysing the designs, the plants, the theme of the gardens, the elements incorporated and why they had been chosen and what they would incorporate into their gardens. Famous garden designers, horticulturists and media personalities stand by to answer questions from the public.
Displays feéfure everything from delphiniums to vegetables.
There is something for all gardeners at the Chelsea Flower Show: the exhibits of floral art and garden sculptures are displayed along with exhibits revealing the latest in research and technology alongside the medicinal and healing aspects of gardening and individual plants including, last year, an impressive exhibit titled, From Genes and Greens to Vaccines. A bonus for all those serious plantspeople is the literature: catalogues and handouts available at all booths as well as strong bags to hold them all.
There are also smaller show gardens that for the first time last year were open to competition from all garden designers as well as horticultural colleges and societies affiliated with the RHS. Part of the charm of these gardens is that many of the individual elements present in each design can easily be emulated by the homeowner and are affordable. Gardens last year showcased ornamental grasses, Agaves, Phormiums, slate, bricks and rocks in all forms, stones, gravel, native meadow plants, herbs and anything recycled, especially from tires.
Plants and gardens are taken very seriously in
I would recommend that anyone visit this show but I would also recommend that the visitor get a good night s sleep first, wear comfortable shoes, become a member of the RHS and go on members day when there are fewer people attending. This year s show runs from May 20 to May 23: for more information go to www.rhs.org.uk. [ hope to see you there!
As manager, Horticultural Services, Cathie Cox seeks out the newest and best in the horticultural world, bringingher insights back homefor the benefitofCGCmembers.
Photo courtesy dthie Cox
Healthy Gardening Taking Stock
(]n thefirst ofa series ofarticles about converting Jfrom synthetic chemicals, Carol Gardnertakesyou through thefirststeps ofgardening naturally. |
If this is the year you ve decided to try natur-
al gardening, you may be anticipating the first signs of spring with mixed feelings. What to do? Panic not. This gardening season, we ll be taking you step by step through the first year of conversion from synthetic chemicals to natural gardening; don t worry, we ll get through it together.
As with any change, the first step is to assess what you have garden soil, plants, lawns.
GARDEN SOIL
f you've been relying on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, there s a good chance that the nutrients in your soil may be out of balance too much of one thing, too little of another. The first step is to test your soil, both for pH (soil acidity/alkalinity) and for nutrient levels. Depending on how much information you require, you can purchase a soil testing kit, bring a sample for testing to our Trellis Shop or, for the most comprehensive results, have your soil analysed by a laboratory. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food accredits laboratories for soil testing; you can find a list of these laboratories on its Web site at www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/resource /soillabs.htm. I know that it sounds like a big deal, but this test is probably the most important thing you can do for your garden; it s well worth the effort to find out how to take the samples and to submit them for analysis. Make sure to emphasize to the lab thatyou re looking for advice on organic rather than synthetic soil amendments. Once you have the results, you can follow through by adjusting the nutrients, thus ensuring that your plants have the healthiest possible growing environment. There are many natural sources for key soil ingredients. Nitrogen is found in fish meal and blood meal, phosphorus in bone meal, and potassium in liquid seaweed,
kelp meal and wood ashes. Many of these natural ingredients can be found in the formulations of commercially available organic fertilizers. After the nutrients are adjusted, start adding compost to your soil whenever possible throughout the season. You can either make it yourself or buy it at one of the city s compost depots that open in April. As well as compost, many gardeners like to add a layer of mulch to the soil in early spring. Adding mulch will help with weed control, moderate the soil temperature and assist in water retention (which is why I never eat mulch). The type of mulch you choose is directly related to the results of your soil testing. Pine bark can make your soil moreacidic and cocoa shell mulch is very high in potassium. For reasons I've never understood, some gardeners get very worked up about mulch. Cocoa mulch, in particular, seems to be right up there with politics and religion in the category of topics to be avoided in polite company . We used cocoa mulch twice in our garden, and [ must say that I loved both the chocolate smell and the rich colour it gave to the soil. However, on both occasions, a week or two after application, it was covered with a white, mouldy substance that was the opposite of lovely; that and the fact that it was twice as expensive as most other mulches has sealed its fate in our household. However, I'm told that the mould was probably due to putting it down too thickly, or when it was warm and wet, and itdid eventually disappear. So don t let me put you off it; the smell alone makes it wortha try.
PLANTS
nce your soil is healthy, take a long hard look at plant selection. This is going to be really difficult! Ifyou re like me, you occasionally fall in love with a plant even though you
know it isn t recommended for your climate, soil pH or sun requirements. The plant either dies or limps along, detracting from the overall look of the garden. Occasionally, though there is no apparent scientific reason, a plant simply doesn t thrive in your garden (check out my clematis but do it quickly before it croaks, as have all its ancestors). Bite the bullet and get rid of those plants and, more importantly, DON T BUY ANY MORE! If you can t follow through on this, at least seek out one of the newer, hardier and more disease-resistant varieties.
Right now is a great time to read up on companion planting for fighting pests and disease. Many plants have natural pest-fighting properties; rose gardeners, for example, swear by planting garlic among their roses to repel aphids. That, as well as an early spring application of horticultural oil to the rose bushes and lime to the rose bed will smother insect eggs and Kkill disease organisms before they have a fighting chance. But the very best thing you can do for your roses is to interplant them with other plant species. Any monoculture invites a plant s natural enemies to come on in and have a feast. At David Austin s English nursery, lady s mantle, foxglove and delphinium frolic among his luscious roses.
LAWNS
he best thing I can say about lawns is that the less you have of them, the better! No matter what you do organically, your lawn is never going to look like the turf on a golf course, because it simply was never meant to look that way. Front yard gardens are becoming more and more popular; both the Trellis Shop and the CGC Library have an excellent selection of books on the topic. If you must have some lawn, there are a few steps you can take to keep it looking its best.
The kindest thing that you can do for your lawn is core aeration, particularly if it gets a lot of traffic. You can rent or buy aerating equipment but, if you've never done it before, it s best to get professional help. If you aren t sure what you re doing, you can play havoc with
underground cables and wiring. Aerating takes plugs out of the grass, allowing oxygen to penetrate and thus reducing the soil compaction that kills grass roots and allows weeds to move in. Aerating should be done at least twice a year once in early June and once in early September. After aerating, lightly top-dress with compost and overseed, as needed. Make sure that the seed you buy is right for your conditions. Throughout the season, water your lawn wisely. A thorough watering once a week, preferably in early morning, should usually do the trick. Watering the lawn lightly and frequently, either in full sun (when much of the water will evaporate) or at night (when the water may contribute to mould and decay) will only make the roots reach towards the surface to get the nourishment they crave. And use discretion with that lawnmower, removing no more than 1/3 of the blade length at a time. Sharpen your lawn mower blades over the season and keep them set at about 3 inches.
PiE=SAES
emember that for every pest, there is a redator; natural insect control is based on that premise. For a good overview of what is available in the area of biological controls, check out the catalogue of NIC Natural Insect Control a company in Stevensville, Ontario. The Trellis Shop has been carrying beneficial nematodes for a couple of years now, including Steinernema carpocapsae, a nematode that kills off the lawn grubs that have become the plague of most Canadian gardens. Nematodes are effective only when applied at specific soil temperatures, so read the instructions carefully.
No doubt you ve come to the conclusion that this is a lot ofwork. It is. Ifyou can, hire experts to help you with the things you haven' t the time, or the desire, to do. Gardening is too wonderful a hobby to feel burdensome! Good luck on your new path; I'll see you in the next issue of 7rellis.
Carol Gardner is a garden writer, a volunteer and a member ofthe CGC s Board ofDirectors as wellas a memberofthe Trellis Committee.
Potted Herbs are Perfect for Balcony Gardens
In thisfifth in a series ofarticlesaboutbalconygardening, Lorraine Hunter plants theseedsfora well-seasonedherbgarden.
GET A JUMP on the season by sowing seeds indoors so that you ll have seedlings ready to plant outdoors as soon as it s warm. Not only is it extremely rewarding to start herb seeds indoors from seed, but seeds are cheaper than bedding plants, there s much more choice ofvarieties and it s fun.
GETTING STARTED
BEFORE YOU START, make sure you have ample windowsill space with a sunny exposure or an artificial light source. Seed containers may be purchased or you can recycle old pots from last season, use cut-down milk cartons or plastic margarine tubs. Whatever you use should be sterilized, have drainage holes and be at least eight centimetres (three inches) deep for roots to form. Before sowing seeds, it s important to understand the differences in growing media. Seeding mixtures and potting soils are not the same. Seeding mixes incorporate ingredients blended to create a light, porous medium that will hold moisture and allow oxygen to reach the plant roots. Potting soils are usually made up of various combinations of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite as well as pasteurized soil, compost and additional nutrients. They are heavier than seeding mixtures and are meant to be used for potted plants. Seeds to be sown and grown in their original containers need a mixture with the friable properties of a seeding mix and ingredients that will nourish seedlings for a longer time.
PLANTING SEEDS
MOISTEN SEEDING MIX and let it stand for a while. Then, press seeds down gently and cover sparingly with mix or leave exposed to light, according to package instructions. Water with tepid water as necessary. As seedlings grow, be sure to thin them out so that there is about six millimetres (1/4 inch) between seedlings. If you
are raising seedlings on a windowsill, move them inside the room on nights when it is especially cold outside.
Container plants can dry out quickly inside heated buildings, so water thoroughlywhen topsoil becomes dryto the touch.
For best results, transplant seedlings in plastic pots or liners when their proper leaves have sprouted and place these inside more aesthetically pleasing large clay pots once they go outside.
HARDENING OFF
TRANSITIONING PLANTS FROM indoors to out is called hardening off and involves subjecting plants to gradual changes in temperature and exposure to direct sunlight, light wind and gentle spring rain over about a two-week period. It means putting seedlings outside during the day, bringing them in again at night, then leaving them out at night covered with light fabric, and eventually leaving them out uncovered all the time.
If you try growing some of your favourite herbs from seed, remember to keep your space requirements in mind. Should you end up with too many plants for your own balcony, rooftop or patio garden, give extras to friends and relatives.
Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer and member ofthe Board ofDirectors ofthe CGCas well as chair ofthe Trellis Committee.
Grow these herbs from seed
Chives,Allium schoenoprasum
Dill,Anethumgraveolens
Common thyme, Thymus vulgaris
French tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa
Indulge yourself in an engaging travel experience, discover Hong Kong - City of Life! More than |50 years of colonial influence and 5,000 years of Chinese tradition give Hong Kong its unique brand of magic and mystique. Explore the unforgetable sights, sounds and history of the City of Life! For more information visit DiscoverHongkong.com/canada.
To book your "May in Hong Kong" Package,
INSIGHT VACATIONS
Uof T Greenhouses Make Way for the Future
(Restoredand reconstructed, the palm house and its wings are moving toAllan Gardens. "
by Lorraine Flanigan
ignitaries gathered on a warm June day in D1932 to witness the opening of the University of Toronto s new plant houses. Seventy years later, on a wintry December day, workers carefully removed each pane of glass before dismantling the frame of the Victorian style Lord & Burnham greenhouses to make way for the new Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building.
The greenhouses extended the length of the south wing of the Botany Building at the corner of College Street and University Avenue and encompassed passageways connecting them to the building, a series of temperature-controlled houses and the crowning glory a central palm house flanked by a fern house to the west and a desert house to the east. The glass houses were constructed by Lord & Burnham, the leading greenhouse builder of the day. Since its founding in 1856, Lord & Burnham had built plant houses for both private and public clients. Those still standing today include the conserva-
tory at New York State s Sonnenberg Gardens, completed in 1915, and the Conservatory in Golden Gate Park, built in 1878.
Like their counterparts at Sonnenberg and in San Francisco, the historically significant sections of the U of T greenhouses are being restored. Over the winter, Peter Faber of Faber Solariums worked with a team composed of the historical architect, Rick Coombes, and representatives from Heritage Preservation Services along with the University of Toronto s project manager, Randy McCall, to restore each piece of the palm house and its two wings the sections that are to be designated as historical buildings by Toronto City Council once restoration has been completed. Starting in April 2003, the restored greenhouses will be reassembled on the site of Allan Gardens with a planned reopening as a children s teaching pavilion in November.
Just as parts of the greenhouses have found a new home, so has the Botany Department s collection of 800 species of plants. High atop the U of T s Earth Sciences Building is a retrofitted, state-of-the-art greenhouse that will allow Bruce Hall, the Botany Department s chief horticulturist since 1993, and his staff to regulate about 21 different climate zones. Complete with computerized controls for cooling, heating, and a misting-fogging system to adjust humidity levels, the new
Entrance to theUofT palm house -
Photo: Judy Hernandez
environmental system provides Hall with a far more sophisticated way of monitoring and tracking greenhouse conditions. It s a far cry from the old greenhouses where the automatic cooling system consisted of a chain that Hall pulled to open a window.
No captain likes to leave an old ship, says Hall, but the greenhouses that were welcomed into the faculty in 1932 have long since deteriorated and greenhouse maintenance was becoming a challenge. During the last winter the greenhouses operated, Hall found himself climbing a ladder on four occasions to staple plastic to the frame of the roof where the glass had been damaged by storms.
Peter Fabr dismantles the glass roof of the plant houses.
Moving a collection that filled almost 9,000 square feet of greenhouse space might seem a daunting task for most, but Hall notes that his staff are experts at moving plants there are very few people who have moved as many as we have! That s because most of the plants in the Botany Department s collection grow in potsso they can be moved easily from greenhouse to classroom. The challenge was to move the more mature plants and those that had been growing for many years in the ground of the greenhouse. A year before the move, Hall started taking cuttings and divisions from these plants, including a mature banana plant that threatened to grow through the ceiling, in case they did not survive the move. One of the plants that Hall worried most about was a unique Welwitschia that had arrived in a pot from Portugal sometime in the 1960s. I did agonize over this plant, recalls Hall. To prepare for its move, he dug a threefoot trench around the plant about a year before the move. When the time came, he cut the bottom out of a rain barrel, carefully slipped it over the plant, then tipped over the barrel-sheathed plant, and rolled it out onto a waiting cart. The weather co-operated amazingly, says Hall, who oversaw the move of most of the plant material during a week of mild weather last October. Scheduled to open officially this coming
September, the new Earth Sciences greenhouses are already attracting researchers who could not have considered conducting their studies in the university s antiquated Lord & Burnham plant houses. The enhanced environmental controls of the new houses will facilitate the tropical studies ofTaylor Feild who is moving to the cam& pus from California, as well as the research of Rowan Sage who is examining the impact of CO: levels on plant physiology. With a home for the elegant greenhouses at Allan Gardens and with advances in horticultural research and botanical studies well under way at the University of Toronto, our past remains honoured while we continue to serve our future.
Editor of Trellis, Lorraine Flanigan is a volunteerand member ofThe Civic Garden Centre as well as a Toronto Master Gardener.
Gardens of Devon, Cornwall & Chelsea Flower Show
10 Days from $3595 Departs 14 May 2003
Includes: Return Airfare, Breakfast & Dinner Daily, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Lost Gardens ofHeligan, The Eden ~g=a . Project, Various Private i . Gardens, The Garden S % House, Trelissik Garden
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1 800 668 6859
Horticultural Films NEVER Made
JanetDavistunes in toa week ofold Javourites on the Gardener sMovieNetwork.
Days of Twine and Roses
Thorny problems faced by gardener with hard-to-stake shrubs.
Driving Missed Daisies
Golfer finds unique way of ridding lawn of weedy English daisies too short for lawnmower blades.
Leafing Las Vegas
Documentary about planting shade trees on this Nevada city s boulevard of broken dreams.
My Pear Lady
Juicy biography of Madame Poirette Anjou.
On Golden Frond
Gripping martial arts drama with swaying bambootreetop fight scene by director of CrouchingTiger, Hidden Dragon.
Singin in the Grain
Gene Kelly croons, tap dances and sows a few wild oats in this corny love story ofa music-loving wheat farmer.
Snowdrops Falling on Cedars
A story of love and loss filmed in the balmy Pacific Northwest where snowdrops grow tall as conifers.
The Canna Mutiny
Thousands of tall plants with bright blossoms object to being imprisoned in a park flowerbed and refuse to remain in their assigned rows.
The Gourdfather
Mob leader vows to squash his enemies.
The Silence of the Yams
Psychopath tortures, kills, then eats innocent potatoes.
A member ofthe CGC, JanetDavis is afreelance garden writer and horticultural photographer whose stories and images have beenfeatured in numerouspublications.
by Anna Leggatt
Berberis thunbergii Japanese Barberry
WHO WOULD WANT to grow
Berberis?
Aren t they nasty, prickly bushes with insignificant flowers and tiny red berries? Besides, isn t it illegal to grow them? If these thoughts crossed your mind, you would have been correct a few years ago. However, modern cultivars have attractive foliage, bunches of clear yellow flowers and, often, larger berries. And recently the long-standing ban in Canada on growing many of the barberry species and cultivars has been lifted. The European common barberry, Berberis vulgaris, is host to a rust, Puccinia graminis, which can severely damage wheat (and other cereals). Over the past several years, various cultivars of the deciduous B. thunbergii have been tested for their susceptibility as hosts to the disease. Those with a clean bill of health are now being sold. So far, 11 different cultivars of Berberis thunbergii have become available in Canada.
Jocelyn Mann
lllustration:
Modern cultivars have attractivefoliage.
Berberis thunbergii may have burgundy, purplish, green or yellow elliptical leaves, usually about two centimetres (3/4 inch) long. The spiny branches may form a ball-shaped mound or may have a more upright, arching growth. The flowers look like yellow clusters of tiny grapes and are followed by small red tearshaped berries. Spring colour is often a good deep red. Many varieties turn brilliant red in the fall.
One of my favourites is B. ¢t. Rose Glow . This is a mounding bush with the usual small elliptical leaves that are a deep burgundy with pink splashes. The bush has an overall pinkrose appearance and grows to 1.5 metres (5 feet). Another cultivar is B. ¢. Aurea Nana which forms a bright yellow ball, less than one
metre (3 feet) in height. One that I have not yet seen, but is mentioned in the excellent article about barberries published in the December 2002/January 2003 issue of Canadian Gardening, is Monlers Golden Nugget it s a smaller cultivar that makes a mound 30 centimetres (12 inches) high. Other cultivars to look for in the future include Atropurpurea Nana , a small and slow-growing ~) barberry that s suitable for a rock < garden. One of my favourites, : K\T.< GoldenRing , appears on the cover = 5;\" of the December 2002/January 2003 issue of Canadian Gardening. It grows up to two metres (6.2 feet) in height with deep burgundy leaves which have a golden edge actually more green than gold. The leaf turns a screaming red in the fall with a narrow orange edge. When it becomes available, try growing itwith the purple Clematis Polish Spirit (pruning the clematis will be prickly!). Helmond Pillar grows into a terrific purple column. I have seen ones in England that are two metres (6.2 feet) tall but only 30 centimetres (12 inches) wide. Powwow is similar but has golden foliage.
Deciduous varieties of Berberis are easy to grow and do well in well-drained, moist soils. They will, however, tolerate dry soils. Full sun is necessary for the best yellows and burgundy leaf colours. Softwood cuttings will root if taken in June. Seed should be cleaned and planted outside in the fall, but it may not come true to type.
Look for newly available varieties and add continuous summercolour to your borders.
Anna Leggattis aMaster Gardener, garden writerandactive CGCvolunteer.
"X Expert advice from the Master Gardeners |
Q What is corn gluten used for?
A A byproduct of milling corn, corn gluten is used as a natural pre-emergent weed control. It is available as a powder or in pellets. It is especially good for discouraging crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis or D. ischaemum, dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, smartweed, Cuscuta polygonorum, redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus, purslane, Portulaca oleracea, lamb s quarters and weed grasses like foxtail barley, Hordeum jubatum, barnyard grass, Echinochloa crusgalli, and quack grass, Elymus repens. Apply in the spring, before weed seeds germinate. Dandelion, crabgrass purslane and quack grass can be controlled by corn gluten.
Q 1 have some clematis and am wondering whether [ can cut them back. Last year I didn t and there was lots of dead-looking stuff. One of the clematis is sweet autumn clematis but I don t know or remember what the other one that is tangled up with it is.
A Sweet autumn clematis, Clematis terniflora, flowers on new stems each season, so you can cut the old growth back quite severely. In late winter or early spring (that is, now) you can remove the top growth down to where the strong new leaf axil buds appear, at a point just above the base of the previous season s stems, between 30 and 75 centimetres (1 to 2.5 feet) above soil level.
It is too bad you don t remember what the other clematis is because other types of clematis require different pruning methods. Some, like the alpinas, C. alpina, flower on last year s wood, and others, especially some of the big-flowered hybrids flower twice, once on last year s wood and again on new wood. [Generally, if a clematis blooms before the end of June, it blooms on old wood; if after June, it blooms
on new wood. Ed.] So, if your unknown clematis is an early flowering one and you treat it like the sweet autumn clematis, you risk cutting off all the flowers. If, however, it is a big hybrid that blooms again on new wood, you may have flowers later in the season.
Clematis: do the flower buds spring from last year s growth, or from new shoots?
Doyou have a question aboutgardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardeners InfoLine at 416397-1345orlogon to the Q&A Forum at infogarden.ca/mastergardenerboard.htm and Ask a Master Gardener!
MILNE HOUSE GARDEN CLUB
Fourth Annual Legacy Event featuring
MICHAEL BOWYER ofSalisbury,England
Demonstration
Thursday,March 13,12:15 for 1 p.m. Fee:$20
Workshops
Friday,March 14,10 a.m.& 1:30 p.m. Fee:$25 plus $35 for materials
Tickets:
D.Paton,34Wakefield Cr., Toronto M1W 2C2 (make cheques payable to Milne House Garden Club); information: E.Gilbert, 416-445-3341.
lllustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
Toronto Herb Society
by Lorraine Flanigan
elving into all things herbal is what the DToronto Herb Society is all about. A group of about 50 people, the society was founded in April of 2000 to promote an interest in herbs. As project chair of the newly formed society, Geri Adam s first task was to come up with ideas for supporting the society s mandate: to further the knowledge, enjoyment and use of herbs for members and for the community. Although membership in the society is limited for the very practical reason that meetings are held in the homes of its members, the Toronto Herb Society is investigating where we fit into the community, says Geri.
...the society decided to fund a $6,000 project that would not only enhance the descriptions of the items in the Li rag/ s herbal collection, but add to it as well. )
even reprints of some old herbals which date back to the 1600s. One of the gems of the new collection is a revised edition of an encyclopaedia published in association with The Herb Society of America entitled The New Encyclopedia ofHerbs and Their Uses, written by Deni Bown.
The Library project is a continuing one that the Toronto Herb Society hopes will help their group develop over time, just as the Library s herb collection continues to grow.
Editor of Trellis, Lorraine Flanigan is a volunteer and member of The Civic Garden Centre as well as a Toronto Master Gardener.
This interest in supporting the community is what led the fledgling society to select The Civic Garden Centre s Library as its first community project. While conducting research in the CGC Library one day, a member of the society s horticultural group its research arm saw the need for more detailed abstracts to describe the content of the Library s materials on herbs. After preliminary meetings with the CGC' s librarian, Mara Arndt, the society decided to fund a $6,000 project that would not only enhance the descriptions of the items in the Library s herbal collection, but add to it as well. It seemed to be the ideal project for us because the Library is part of our community, explains Geri; thus both the society and the Library would benefit from the project.
Soon after, Grace Andrews librarian, Master Gardener and CGC member was hired to create the detailed abstracts and to catalogue the new material thatwas acquired on the recommendation of the librarian. The collection features new books, CD-ROMs and videos on a broad range of topics encompassing herbs for cooking and for dyeing and
PERENNIAL SALE MAY1 to 4, 2003
Thursday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WIDE SELECTION OF NEW AND EXCITING PERENNIALS! WE'LL HAVE THE PLANTS THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT! . NEW THIS YEARASELECTIONOFSPECIALAND
SMALL SHRUBS AND A FABULOU OF CLEMATIS AND OTHER FLO
MASTER GARDENERS AND STAFF HORTICULTURISTS WILL BE ON HAND TO GIVE ADVICE ON SELECTING AND GROWING SUITABLE PLANTS FOR YOUR GARDEN.
Check the Trellis Shop and our Web site at www.infogarden.ca for a list of perennials that will be available for sale. Pre-sale orders are welcome: by e-mail, horticulture @infogarden.ca; by fax, 416-397-1354; or by post, Horticultural Services at The Civic Garden Centre.
I.IEJ < 2
Middle Link
Foliage ... and Flowers
JOCELYN MANN
March 11 to March 24
Intimate plant portraits focusing more on foliage than flowers.
Upper, Middle and Lower Link
Breathing Space
MARY DUGGAN
March 25 to April 7
Share the artist s enthusiasm as she explores the many ways in which land, sky and water meet. These
paintings and plein air sketches take you on a jour-
o = < . ney through Holland Marsh, Scarborough Bluffs and 8 m & O (o) abroad. Dotted among the landscapes are a series of T m - (O] ) wildflower studies painted on location in the
g - cZ = i Muskoka and Georgian Bay areas.
g w i (] = Opening night: March 26, 7 to 9 p.m. N < [ g = o |.:E
; Z 8 ,': L
i g g W
Et: % s <
North York VisualArtists SpringShow
® VARIOUS ARTISTS
b April 8 to April 21
s Created by a group of enthusiastic artists from North = : g E N z' York, the goal of the North York Visual Artists is to pro-
2 7] g ot < duce and promote art in the community.Avariety of = H % < 1 8 works in different media and styles will be on display.
2 B E
8 Opening night: April 10, 7 to 9 p.m.
B . . o 5 = -
Upper and Middle Link
o3 = TheJourneyBegins 8 SHAHLA ANDREWS g -
April 22 to May 5
For information on Art in the Link, call Cathie Coxat 416-397-1358. CONTINUES TO APRIL 7, 2003 AT THE CIVIC
Shahla Andrews art unveils her deep passion for nature s revelations. A tireless, creative artist and art instructor, over the last few years she has explored her fascination with the Canadian wilderness and the beauty of its seasons. Her exhibition includes works in acrylic and watercolour.
Opening night: April 23, 7 to 9 p.m.
NOTE: date ofthe opening party forthe Bayview Watercolour Society show (February 25 to March 10) has been changed to March 2, 2 to 4 p.m.
I AM DELIGHTED to announce that our newly Toronto, Firefly Books, 2002; I: 492 pages, II: acquired herb books, videos and CD-ROMs are 540 pages; $95 each volume now available for borrowing or reference use. These items were purchased with a generous grant from theToronto Herb Society (see page 24).
VISUALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY STUNNING,
The Botanical Garden spans the gap between geng ;s eral gardening books and scientific textbooks. Its two This grant also allowed us to write abstracts for volumes feature descriptions of over 1200 distinct 260 herb-related works in our collection. groups of plants, from oaks to violets and waterlilies to These abstracts are available online at | grasses, all presented in evolutionary order from the www.infogarden.ca/librarysearch.htm. Click on the most primitive to the most highly developed. The books books icon, then enter the keyword herbs in the also address numerous botanical themes from the hissubject search box. Select any item from the results tory of plant development to the current use of DNA bt 4o vitw the abstract In the Notes coctias. For analysis which is revolutionizing plant classification. Bistis clidk i the Seancher's Guido lsk
Written by well-known botanist Martyn Rix and ! . lavishly illustrated by renowned photographer and B painter Roger Phillips, The Botanical Garden Web
site REVIEW
Balcony
includes 2000 detailed photographs of more than 1000 genera of temperate plants.
These volumes are invaluable both as a reference Gardening sourceandforpure reading pleasure, especially ifyou are SHERIDANNURSERIES impatientlygearing upforthegardeningseason.
: Reviewed byMadge Bruce
FRIENDS OF MINE GARDEN on their balcony and patio, and | always admire the colourful display they achieve each year. If you are considering gardening in a small place, have a look at the following Web sites. Go to www.google.com and type balcony gardening , being sure to click on pages from Canada . On the first page of results, the site that | found most helpful was : ; Atrip to country roperties Garden Tip #36 Balcony Gardening. Created by the set Ink-the 1ollie% S aw. staff at Sheridan Nurseries, this fact sheet includes tips Peterborough and the artha Lakes. for creating hanging baskets and annual containers and Six innovativeprivategardens, for growing hardy plants in year-round containers. distinctive designs, quiet retreats, For an extensive list of good container gardening lunch at an attractive lakeside resort. Web sites, click on Google s Directory tab. From the Home category, select Gardens , then Designed TuesdaJune 24 Gardens , and Container . Topping the list is Departure8:15 am / Return 6 p.m. windowbox.com; as they say on their Web site, Members $85; non-members $95 they re the biggest name in little gardens . To Book Call 416-397-1340
Reviewed byJean McCluskey Organizedby Bayla Gross andThe CGC Tour Committee
Living in an apartment, acondominium, oraseniors
C Ountry Gardens residence shouldn't be a limitation to gardening if you're of Durham and Northumberland lucky enough to have a balcony.
Port Hope Garden Tour a
The Magnificent Gardens of Montreal
Inspiring gardens, scrumptious food, and the company ofkindred spirits isn t that an appropriate reward for getting through another long Canadian winter?Join us for athree-daycelebration ofspringin one of our country s most romantic cities Montreal. We'll travel bytrain, stay in a splendid hotel in the city s Old Port, and soak up inspiration at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Biodome and a selection ofsome ofthe city s best private gardens.
Naturally, woman (or man) does not live by inspiration alone, so we ll make time for dining (at some ofthe city s best bistros), shopping (inthe Paris-inspired St. Denis area) and touring areas both historic and fasinating. We may even run into a ghost or two!
We'll depart bytrain on the morning of May 13th and return on May 15th at 9:00 pm having enjoyed dinner and wine on the first-class return trip. Costfor the trip is $625.00 per person, double occupancy. Forfurther information, see the CGC web site at www.infogarden.caor contact Lorna Bates, Carlson Wagonlit Travel (www.gardenersworldtours.com) at 905-683-8411.
This is a Civic Garden Centre Fundraising Initiative. nf garden =" Tue Civic GARDEN CENTRE
Edwards Lectures
SPEAKER: KAREN YORK
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: Stake Two Asters and Call Me in the Morning
INCREASINGLY, STRESSED OUT North Americans are discovering the garden s healing power. Karen York discusses the elements that contribute to a healing space and how gardens enhance our well-being.
Author of The Holistic Garden: Creating Spacesfor Health and Healing, Karen is a certified horticulturist, botanical editor and writer. Her articles have appeared in Gardening Life magazine and the Toronto Globe and Mail. She is also a board member of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association. A book signing will follow the lecture.
Free to members; non-members $5
SPEAKER: DAVID TOMLINSON
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.
Toric: Wet and Wild: Wetlands, Ponds and Bog Gardens
WHEN YOU BRING WATER into the landscape, you add more than an aesthetic flourish, you are building an ecological wonder. David Tomlinson will let you in on the secrets to building and maintaining your watery urban oasis, helping you select the moisture-loving plants that thrive in this environment.
A graduate of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, David Tomlinson is a landscape architect and lecturer who has been in private practice as a landscape consultant in both Alberta and
Ontario since emigrating to Canada in 1973. In 1979, he produced a master plan for a botanical garden at Barinas, Venezuela, receiving an Ontario Design Award for his work. Recently, he has become more involved in the design of private gardens, including his own perennial flower garden, Merlin s Hollow, in Aurora. David has also served on The Civic Garden Centre s Board of Directors.
Free to members; non-members $5
Edwards Memorial Lecture
SPEAKER: DAN HEIMS
WHERE: Floral Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, April 23, 8 p.m., after CGC annual meeting (7:30 p.m.)
TOPIC: Colourful Companions
DO NOT MISS this opportunity to view one of the most comprehensive slide presentations of variegated plants in the world including surprises from New Zealand, Japan and Europe. Dan Heims will cover such topics as how variegated plants are discovered and the use of colour in design.
Dan is president of Terra Nova Nurseries, a company noted for its new introductions to horticulture, many of which have garnered international gold and silver medals. Dan s articles and photography have appeared in a number of magazines and he has hosted a weekly radio gardening show and has appeared on television. A coveted speaker throughout the world, Dan is currently working with Graham Ware of British Columbia on a book aboutHeuchera. Admisson Free. Support from the Edwards Foundation enables the CGC to offer this annual special lecture at no charge.
Buens Calentar
=5l What s on atThe Civic Garden Centre|
M ARCH
1
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American Orchid Society
Boardroom and Administration Foyer
Judging 1 p.m. Open to the public.
Information: www.soos.ca
2
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Meeting, Floral Hall, 1 p.m.
Information: www.so00s.ca
York Rose & Garden Society Meeting, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Information: 416-282-4434; 416-482-2244
5
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Karen York
Topic: Stake Two Asters and Call Me in the Morning
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Members free; non-members $5
9
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Maria Galletti
Topic: A Montreal Garden and Nursery
Floral Hall: plant sale 12:30 p.m.; speaker 1:30 p.m.
Information: webhome.idirect.com/~gillpete/ORGS
10
Toronto Bonsai Society
Topic: Grafting and Air Layering
Garden Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Information: 416-755-0880; torontobonsai.org
11
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Speaker: Wayne Cardinal
Topic: Think Sharp! Garden Tools and Their Maintenance
Floral Hall, 8 p.m.; Information: 416-480-9379
13-14
Milne House Garden Club
Fourth annual legacy event (see page 23)
Information: E. Gilbert, 416-445-3341
17
Mycological Society ofToronto
Speaker: Dr David Malloch
Topic: A Foraywell Address
Garden Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Information: vsoots@globalserve.net; 416-444-9053
18
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club Meeting, Studio 1, 7:30 p.m.
MID-AMERICA CONGRESS/CANADIAN ORCHID CONGRESS ORCHID SHOW
Inn on the Park Hotel
Open to public: April 5 & 6,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: www.so00s.ca
CLASSIFIED ADS
Fluorescent light plant stands, beautiful oak frames
Large Unit 3-2X4 shelves $350, Small Unit 3-2X2 shelves $250, Sue 416-755-0028
Garden Tours 2003 to Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Philadelphia with Marjorie Mason please see page 11 for details. Visit our website www.gardenersworldtours.com or call Lorna 905-683-8411
Garden Murals
Bring the:beauty of your garden indoors. Enjoy Year Round. Sharyn 416-250-1249
Gardens of Eastern Cuba
Expert led exploration of specialty gardens, mountains, forests; discover wild orchids, ferns, ancient plants April 4 18 $3399.00 inc. 8 nights beach resort. Contact Kate 416-656-2061, daleyvaldes@yahoo.com or Elisabeth 416-769-2601 or Miriam 905-859-0286. www.realcubalonline.com
