countless Canadian gardeners. Almost 50 years later, the Toronto Botanical Garden has expanded its vision and set a goal to become a self-sustaining urban oasis while making Toronto the most horticulturally enlightened cityin the world.
What We Offer
- Located at Edwards Gardens, the Toronto Botanical Garden offers many programs and services, including year-round activities for families and children. Our horti-
books, periodicals, and a large collection of clippings, pamphlets, nursery and seed catalogues as
The Toronto Botanical Garden is a volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthy environment. Since its inception in f ~ cultural library has over 8,000 1958, the Toronto Botanical Garden, formerly The Civic Garden Centre, has encouraged, stimulated and educated
3¢ Directory & Hours of Operation
Administrative Offices:
777 Lawrence Ave. East Toronto, ON M3C 1P2
Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Library: Limited services until late 2005
Trellis Shop: Closed until December, 2005
Telephone: 416-397-1340; Fax: 416-397-1354
E-mail: tbg@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 torontomastergardeners.ca
Communications: 416-397-1351
communication@infogarden.ca
Courses: 416-397-1362; courses@infogarden.ca
Donation Inquiries: 416-397-1483 annualgiving@infogarden.ca Events: 416-397-1484 or events@infogarden.ca
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 workinggarden to foster interest and educate people in the love and values of gardening and the natural world. As 2 community service, Art in the Link offers gallery space to local artists. As well, the TBG has a wide variety of banquet halls, meeting rooms and show space, with access to Edwards Gardens, one ofToronto s favourite gardenspots.
3 Patrons
BrianBixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, LorraineJohnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3% Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: GeoffreyDyer
Brad Badeau, Marisa Bergagnini, Susan Burns, Dugald Cameron, Peter Cantley, LindsayDale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Tony DiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater, Geoffrey Dyer,James E. Eckenwalder, Ralph Fernando, Mary Fisher, Colomba B. Fuller,Janet Greyson, Bill Harding,Janet Karn, Linda Ledgett, Sonia Leslie, Rosemary Phelan,Jean Read, Kathy Redeker, Dawn Scott
3¢ Staff Members
Executive Director
Margo Welch
Manager, Communications Jenny Rhodenizer Manager, Horticultural Services Cathie Cox Program &Volunteer Co-ordinator Graham Curry
Accounting
Administration
Development Director
Capital Campaign Director
Development Officer, Annual Giving
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
Janice Turner King
Janice Turner King
Andrea Maclntyre
Development Officer, Capital Campaign Niti Bhotoia
Maintenance Supervisor
Facility & Event Supervisor
Facility & Event Co-ordinator
Librarian
Supervisor, Children s Education
Teaching Garden Co-ordinator
Walter Morassutti
Stephanie Chiang
Kristin Campbell
Leanne Hindmarch
Tobin Day
Caley Baker
EDITOR
Lorraine Flanigan
DESIGN
June Anderson
TRELLISCOMMITTEE
Lorraine Hunter (chair), Lorraine Flanigan (editor), Carol Gardner, Lorna Luke, Marion Magee, Jenny Rhodenizer
VOLUNTEER EDITORIALASSISTANTS
T. Coombes, M. Magee
VOLUNTEER GRAPHICDESIGNER
Jennifer Capretta
VOLUNTEER PROOFREADERS
M. Bruce,J. Campbell, L. Hickey,J. McCluskey, S.&L. Skinner, K. Sundquist
ADVERTISING
416-397-1351
Trellis is published six times a year as a members newsletter by the Toronto Botanical Garden 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 September/October 2005, issue must be received by Sept. 2, 2005. Opinions expressed in 7rellis do not necessarily reflect those of the TBG. Submissions may be edited forstyleandclarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.
Charitable business number: 119227486RR0001
Canada Publications Mail Product
dahlias
Printed by Harmony Printing on recycled paper
from the TBG
by Margo Welch e Executive DIRECTOR
A Summer of Activity
ummer used to be a relatively quiet time S at the Toronto Botanical Garden - times have changed! This summer we have been extremely busy gearing up for the reopening of the building in December, planning for expanded programs and overseeing the construction project. It is exciting and challenging work
and we have a deadline approaching in a matter of months if we are to meet the Kresge Challenge whichisworth a matching donation of US$350,000. Thank you to all who have given; if you are not yet a donor, or would consider adding to your previous gift, please give now and help us reach our goal.
Plan to attend the
Enclosed with this issue of that has involved staff, board special members Trellis is our ~Blossom c'ampaign members, volunteers, consult- ] heduled newsletter with more informaants and community members. opening scheaulte tion about the campaign and
The new addition is light- JorSaturday, howto make a donation. filled and beautiful as well as December3, 2005. functional. The building is so well integrated with the surrounding terraces and gardens that the transition from outdoors to indoors will be subtle. Building finishes will be added soon, the green roof will be installed in the early fall and final details will be completed in October. You are invited to come and see for yourselves just how wonderful it is at a special members opening scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2005. Look for more information about this event on page 24 of Trellis.
Site preparation for the gardens has involved pulling up existing pavement and concrete, installing irrigation systems, laying electrical cables and grading the grounds. Visitors to Edwards Gardens now access the park by a new footpath, and visitors to the TBG take the same path as it curves around to the barn to the west entrance of the building. The garden footpaths and terraces will be completed this fall as will most of the framework planting.
We have managed to accomplish so much through a combination of board vision, determination, hard work and significant support, particularly in revenue generation. Our fundraising campaign has done extremely well and we are very close to meeting our goal of six million dollars. But we are not there yet
In preparation for the reopening of the building, there are countless details to attend to including identifying furniture needs and purchasing equipment for the Library, Children s Centre and Shop. We are also now starting to hire staff for key positions.
Brad Keeling is the new manager of the TBG s shop and he has already started by working part-time this summer. Our new shop will be literally front and centre and we are confident that Brad will help us put it on the map!
Graham Curry is joining us as the program and volunteer co-ordinator. This new position combines the duties of two previously part-time positions. Graham will work closely with Jenny and Cathie to ensure that our programs run smoothly and that our volunteer program is well supported.
We have much to look forward to this fall and I hope to see you here when courses and lectures resume in September.®
Renovations Take Shape
fter a warm and at times noisy summer, the building has taken shape. The view from the window was like a little boy s paradise as dump trucks, bulldozers and diggers ambled back and forth digging, drilling and moving dirt. Inside, progress has also been swift as the wiring, cabling and drywalling professionals have all come and gone, leaving us with some wonderful new spaces that we ll soon inhabit for our operations. Unfortunately only people with hard hats are currently able to wander around the new wing as we push towards a December 3, 2005 opening, but the accompanying pictures will give you a sneak peek at how they are taking shape.
As of September 12, our programs begin again in the Floral Hall and Garden Auditorium where renovations are for the most part complete. The outdoor hardscaping, including the new courtyards attached to these halls, has
been made safe for your direct access into these spaces. The courtyards will be planted in the early spring of 2006, but when you come to visit, you will be able to get a sense of what s to come. These open-air courtyards will function as both quiet areas for relaxation and outdoor rooms that are ideally suited for weddings, special events and other private functions. The gentle sound of flowing water has been incorporated into the courtyards to provide a feeling of serenity while fragrant shrubs, flowering vines and perennials encourage visitors to linger and enjoy the splendours of nature.
As the construction zone still sits in the middle of the building there is no indoor passage from the Floral Hall to the Moriyama wing of the building. We have erected numerous outdoor signs to guide the way. We have a full complement of lectures and programs this fall, so we hope you will pay us a visit in our new digs.®
Program & Volunteer Co-ordinator
GRAHAM CURRY joins the TBG staff as our new program and volunteer co-ordinator. She recently moved from Chicago to Toronto where she has been working as a set painter for the film industry. Graham has many years of experience in educational programming as the director of education at the Evanston Art Center in Illinois and as co-director of the Lill Street Art Center, a ceramic arts education facility. Graham has a strong
interest in nature and the environment. Last year she experienced the rewards of sustainable agriculture first-hand while working as a wool designer on an organic, predator-friendly sheep farm in Montana. Until the new building is completed, Graham will be sharing an office with Jenny Rhodenizer.
Shop Manager
BRAD KEELING has been hired as manager of the TBG s shop. Brad has 15 years of retail experience, most recently with Club Monaco International where he was involved in setting up stores across North America. He brings to the job extensive operational and systems knowledge as well as expertise in merchandising, customer service and training.
Openedin 2004, EaglesNestis aninstant OldWorldclassicthatalreadyplays likeit sbeen aroundfor acentury , saysToronto Lifewho ratedthecoursefour-and-a-halfstarsthisyear. Withthefieldlimitedto144players,thiseventiscertaintosellout,50weencourageyouto reglsterea y Don'tmissthisopportunitytoplayoneofthebestcoursesin theGTAin ~ supportoftheTorontoBotanicalGarden. = Golfdayanddinner, $300pergolfer Dinneron/ly, $75 =] &= Sign up online atwww.torontobotanicalgarden.ca, byphone at 416-397-1484 ore-mail at events@infogarden.ca
Forsponsorship and donationinquiries, contactAndreaMacIntyre at 416-397-1483 or ,J annualgiving@infogarden.ca A = s g gy 11:,;- ?5 "
ToBIN DAY ® SUPERVISOR, CHILDREN S EDUCATION
CALEY BAKER ® TEACHING GARDEN CO-ORDINATOR I
Providing Opportunities for All Children
THE TEACHING GARDEN' S primary mandate is simple: to provide children with an opportunity to discover the natural world through hands-on experiences. We want all of our programs to allow kids to see, hear, smell, touch and do new things. Whether by touching the fuzzy leaves of lamb s ears or smelling pineapple sage, by watching a sensitive mimosa plant shrink shyly from their fingers or listening to the hollow rattle of horsetail stalks, we want to show our participants something that they 've never imagined.
Another important element of our mandate is that the Teaching Garden be inclusive. We want to open the garden to kids who might not otherwise encounter green spaces. With the support of the Teaching Garden Bursary Program, our Green Adventure and Allan Gardens Children s Conservatory programs allow high-needs day camps and classes to participate in our programs at no charge. Participants in these programs often impress us with their unlimited curiosity and determination to learn the time that they spend in the garden or greenhouse just never seems long enough.
Generous funding from the Beach Garden & Horticultural Society and The Garden Club of Toronto made it possible for three students
from Thorncliffe Park Elementary School to attend our Thyme Travellers nature day camp from August 15 to 19. These children, who had visited the Allan Gardens Children s Conservatory with their classes last winter, were selected by the school s vice-principal and Grade 3 teachers because they are especially curious, bright individuals whose enthusiasm for plants and nature was obvious and outstanding. They are students who do not have the means to attend another summer camp but who clearly deserve the opportunity to do so. Funding ensured that transportation, camp registration, and even a snack, were provided.
A child s reaction to a new experience is amazing to witness and the opportunity to see these reactions every day is one of the reasons that working with kids is so satisfying. If the experiences that children have in the Teaching Garden not only allow them to encounter the unfamiliar but encourage them to continue to explore their world, our programs are a success. And, if we can open our programs to as many children who truly want to learn as possible, we have certainly met our mandate.®
- THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
Onjg}f:ehalf oftheTeaching Garden and TBG, we would like to thank the Beach Garden & Horticultural Society and the Garden Club of Toronto for contributing to the Teaching Garden Bursary Program, and the Imperial Oil Foundation forsupportingouroverall children s programs.
FRIENDS OF THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN
THANKYOUTO OUR FRIENDS for providing generous support toward our programs and services. Our Friends are fundamental to the TBG s ability to educate and provide the community with the most
BENEFACTORS
($1,000- $2,499)
Mona Campbell
Joyce Ogden
SUSTAINING
Carolyn Kearns
Barbara Murchie
Dawn Scott
Gilbert & Marion Warburton
Joan Williams MEMBERS
($300 - $599)
Patricia Crawford
FRIENDS
($140 - $299)
Tony DiGiovanni A Friend
Suzanne Drinkwater
Gail el Baroudi
Janet Frosst
Joyce Johnson
Mildred Alexander
KatyAnderson
Lynn Armstrong
Deborah Barbour
SEND SEEDS FOR THE 2006 EXCHANGE BY OCTOBER 28
THE SUCCESS OF THE TBG SEED EXCHANGE depends on your generous donations of seed collected from your gardens over the summer.To submit for this year s exchange, please send cleaned seeds in a paper envelope, clearly labelling each packet with your name, address and telephone number and the following information:
¢ Plant Name (common and botanical if possible) and Cultivar (if known). If you don t know the name, enclose a photo, or press and dry it and slip it into the envelope, and we ll try to identify it for you.
e Plant Type (e.qg., annual, perennial, bulb, vine)
¢ Flower Colour
¢ Bloom Time
¢ Height (centimetres)
e Comments (e.g., easy to grow, attracts birds)
Send or deliver seeds by October 28 to Cathie Cox, Manager, Horticultural Services, Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto M3C 1P2. Remember, donor s orders are filled first!
valuable and up-to-date information on gardening and horticulture. The following individuals made donations to the Friends Program between May 6 and July 6, 2005.
Jennifer Bloomfield Beth Lawrence
Ruth Bolt John McColl
Mary Bosley Joyce McKeough
Mary Lou Carter Vodrie McOuat
Marilyn Creighton Kenneth Moore
Nancy Garrow
Louise Golding
Ellen Hoffmann
Frances Price
Margaret Purves
Jill Robinson
Lorraine Hunter Allen D. Russell
Matsumoto
Frances Johnson
CM Kruitwagen
Connie Sam
Joan Stevenson
DeborahVernon
Michele Landsberg LiviaVitrups
John & Maria Lane
Diane Wells
""Specializing in a total plant health care approach to maintenance oftrees, shrubs, vines and hedges in city gardens."
BRUCE TREE
Our work is backed by knowledge and experience gained over 50 years in the horticulture and arboriculture field. q
JDesigning with Ornamental Grasses
There s plenty to ponder, says Lisa Wood, before addinggrasses to mixed borders
t the Toronto Music Garden, the big Ashowy ornamental grasses are looking good, so well-suited to the billowy endof-summer mood with its high clouds and steamy days. The stands of northern sea oats, feather reed grass, dwarf fountain grass, and others are mixed casually with loose clumps of purple coneflowers, Russian sage, and yarrow. There s plenty of texture and movement especially when there s a breeze and the bees and butterflies are around. Grasses look their best in these kinds of generous plantings where there is plenty of space for them to grow and for us to stand back and admire. In the middle of the very urban setting of the Music Garden, the grasses give a sense of being in a meadow, in the country; and by the end of summer they are tall enough to enclose the spiral path of the Courante.
URBAN SETTINGS
Most of us, however, have gardens that are too small to be turned over to such an intensive planting of big-scale grasses. We lack the space, especially since so many grasses don't look like much until at least midsummer. Many of them will not do well in shade either: that is a fact that cannot be wilfully ignored or you will find yourself with sad, pale plants that will never flower and are completely unsatisfying. If you want a grass-like effect in shade, consider instead some of the sedges, Carex spp., or rushes, Luzula spp., that may do better and have delicate form and colouration that work well with other shade perennials.
FORMAL DESIGN
Because grasses evoke the idea of wild grasslands or meadows, they are not incorporated
easily into gardens that are otherwise largely composed of more formal plants like hybrid tea roses, or boxwood, although the small-flowered dahlia Bishop of Llandaff looks well planted in clumps of one of the delicate grasses like Panicum. Ifyou want to use a lot of grasses in a mixed border, fix the idea of a prairie or meadow in your mind and plant the grasses with other small-flowered clump-forming plants. Perennials like Lysimachia clethroides, Monarda, Achillea, or Centranthus will be more successful than stiffer plants like oriental lilies or large-flowered hibiscus, for instance. Good design always maintains a loyalty to a strong central idea but it s easy to forget this when choosing plants because, as everyone knows, so many of them are enticing.
Although it is important to keep the idea of appropriate scale in mind when planning a mixed border, you could always just plant a single specimen of giant silver grass, Miscanthus Giganteus (also sold as M. floridulus), which when it reaches its full height of more than two metres (6.5 feet) will be very impressive, and forget about all the rest. The very big grasses always steal the show; in gardens with lots of contemporary stonework, hard edges and clean lines they are often all you need. The built structures will visually support the unstructured nature of the grass very pleasingly. Around water too, especially naturally edged ponds, grasses are unsurpassed in the way they complement the movement of the water in a breeze.
All grasses are somewhat transparent and therefore it is important to consider the context in which they will be viewed. Try to ensure that their effect will not be dissipated by a background that is either too weak or too strong to enhance their attributes.
PLAYING WITH COLOUR
The foliage colour of grasses should be consistent with the colour scheme with which you are working, and because colours range in tone from almost sulphurous yellow to metallic blue, this is not difficult. In a hot border, warmtoned grasses like Hakonechloa macra Aureola (or Aurea ) work well combined with yellow-
flowered Coreopsis, for example, and red-flowered Gaillardia; conversely, if you are working with contrasting colours then plant them in combination with something like a blue-flowered Veronica or Caryopteris x clandonensis cultivars. Remember that warm colours in the landscape, as in a painting, appear to advance while cool colours recede. By using blue or grey foliage plants with warm-coloured plants you will get pockets of coolness in the sunny composition. You can enhance the perception of depth in a garden by using cool colours towards the back and warm colours in the front.
POTS OF GRASSES
Grasses work well in ornamental pots too. I like the effect of using only one variety of grass in a pot or perhaps combining grass with a ring of violas or forget-me-nots. This is especially effective if your pot is classical or ornate; the clean simplicity of the grass foliage and its rural feel contrasts interestingly with the ornamentation and curves of the pot.
TAKING CARE
Once you've chosen your ornamental grasses and planted them, they need little care. Plant them in a good location, give them enough water, especially at first, and cut them back to the ground in early spring. After a few years, if growth becomes uneven especially in the middle, some may need to be divided.
Really, choosing grasses for a garden depends on the same kinds of ideas that you would use to choose furniture or a pair of shoes it all comes down to appropriateness, sense of proportion/scale, colour and style. The American landscape architects, Wolfgang Oehme and James Van Sweden, and the Dutch designer Piet Oudolf know how to make these kinds of choices; having a look at some of their books will help you a great deal. Look for Designing with Plants by Oudolf or Gardening with Nature by Van Sweden. For ideas on colour, Color by Design by Nori and Sandra Pope is a good resource.®
Lisa Woodisa landscape designerand TBGvolunteer.
'Front Garden MAKE W LEGR
Carol Gardnerenlists the help oflandscape designers to add drama to afrontgarden
I t started innocently enough. After 25 years,
our outdoor front steps had sunk to the point that we had to either get them replaced or recruit taller friends. As we re quite fond of the friends we have, it seemed more sensible to get new steps.
Alas, the front of the house had never been a priority. All our attention had been lavished on the
admired on many HGTV gardening shows. Getting an appointment with him was akin to getting an audience with the Pope; this should have sent off little sparks in my mind but on that day my instincts were apparently having a holiday at the beach.
Some weeks later, the pope arrived, right on time. We joined him outside so that he could survey the property, which he regarded with what can only be called a jaundiced eye. Nothing was said for what felt like a very long
BEFORE: The snow was barely melted before the bobcats started work on the front yard renovation.
1. A curving pathway winds past the mature blue spruce trees which were incorporated into the new design.
back garden, while the front could claim only two very tall blue spruce trees, some grass, and a couple of woebegone shrubs. While we re fixing the steps, I suggested to my husband, we might as well refurbish the path and the driveway and get rid of those hideous shrubs. He agreed, though I noticed that a pained expression started to make its way across his face. It was a preview of an expression that I would see more than once. It wasn t long before the concept had expanded to include an entire remake of the front garden, with the exception of the two blue spruces, which were still full and glorious. I phoned a landscape designer whose work [ had
time. Then he said: The last garden I did cost a half million . After another long silence, he opined: You ll have to get rid of these trees . I watched the blood drain from my husband s face. Twice. The pope did not give written estimates and only discussed design once the initial cheque had been written; alas, we dispatched him back to the Vatican empty-handed.
A few days later, remembered that I had been impressed by the designs a company called Earth Inc. had presented at Canada Blooms. I phoned, we arranged an appointment, and a charming and down-to-earth young man (bear in mind that everyone is young to me) named Joel Loblaw arrived. This time, I
2. Corkscrew hazels and a tapestry of heucheras line the entrance to the Gardners home.
was on my own; my husband had opted to play golf rather than deal with another traumatic encounter. Too bad; this discussion was the polar opposite of the first one. We talked about what we wanted and had a realistic discussion of costs. I sighed up on the spot.
The resulting design was beautiful, creative and unusual. Left to our own devices, we could never have envisioned it. Moreover, we were given three different estimates, based on materials used. We mixed and matched untilwe got itright.
When the big day arrived, I was prepared for anything anything bad, that is. We had recently undergone an indoor renovation that had resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for the contractor never a good sign. So there I was, many cups of coffee coursing through my bloodstream, awaiting the hounds of hell. Blessedly, the hounds were replaced by a cheerful businesslike crew that worked all day, every day, for two weeks, until the job was done.
Though we wanted to select and plant the trees, shrubs and perennials ourselves, Joel gave us some advice: a front garden needs drama, so go for mass plantings and use a lot of ornamental grasses. For someone who never met a plant she didn t like, to fill up a space with five, seven or even nine of the same thing seemed to me a horrible waste. Nevertheless, we followed through, though it took great self-control.
We chose three ornamental grasses Bowles golden sedge (Carex elata Aurea ) paired with veronica (Veronica spicata Royal Candles), blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) interplanted with love-in-a-mist (/Vigella damascena Miss Jekyll ) and a large grouping of fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) to border a halfcircle of rocks. Considering our long winters, we also selected some specimens that would look good in the snow. Now, the gnarly branches of corkscrew hazel (Corylusavellana Contorta ), the red fruits of winterberry (llex verticillata Winter Red ) and the yellow branches ofyellow twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Falviramea ) add pizzazz to the winter landscape.
There were some inspirations, some happy accidents and, naturally, a couple of disasters. Four Heuchera cultivars Obsidian ,
Marmalade , Green Spice and Lime Rickey planted in a half-circle near the walkway, are knitting together like a leafy Persian carpet. An impulsive purchase of spiderwort (7radescantia Sweet Kate a.k.a Blue and Gold ) looked so good on a slope between the two spruces that we hurried back to the nursery to fill the space with them. I love the romance of lavender, but it never survives winter in our garden. Instead, we planted 15 catmints (Nepeta x faasenii Dropmore Hybrid ) bred in Manitoba to withstand harsh conditions. Hopefully it will also repel the family of rabbits that considers the garden their personal buffet. The catmint surrounds a bed of hot-coloured plants poppies (Papaver orientale Orange Glow ), Helenium Indianersommer , Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun and Echinacea Art s Pride .
Interplanting a group of white bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis f. alba) with pale tulips (Tulipa Spring Green ) proved to be underwhelming, however; it made the whole area look anaemic. The bleeding hearts have been banished to the back garden, replaced by the pink variety. Many of our bulbs were uprooted by the squirrels; they ll be replanted along with liberal doses of human hair (don t ask) this fall. Worse still, our big-ticket item, a wonderful coralbark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum Sango-kaku ) didn t make it through the winter. So broken-hearted am I to lose this sterling specimen that, as I write this in midsummer, it is still standing where it was planted. Everything s coming out late this year I tell my husband, hopefully. He shakes his head sadly and walks away.
Would we do it again? In a nanosecond. We re only left with one problem. The front garden looks so good that it s making the back look a bit tired. Reviving one part of a garden is like getting a partial facelift; the renovated part looks great, but the rest looks worse than before. Ah, well, what s another winter of eating pork and beans when compared with the pursuitofa dream?@
The stories thatNature tells, says Martin Galloway, have much to teach us
t is impossible to walk through the river valleys of Toronto and not have a multitude of stories come to mind. The Don River, along with the Rouge and the Humber, originate in the Oak Ridges Moraine. These rivers cut through the city through broad ravines that provide natural boundaries to a variety of urban communities, and they infuse the city with elements of the wild. These green oases have the advantage of being accessible to everyone, yet they also provide sanctuary to a wide range of organisms representing many different types of communities and environments as well as different environmental histories.
The Don Valley is a great place to see the blending of southern or Carolinian forest plants and animals with creatures more typical of the Great Lakes Deciduous Forest region. In a way, if these valleys can remain wild enough to allow
normal ecological processes, they might be an interesting place to watch the effects of global climate change as southern species increase their range northward and more northern species give way to the new competition. The valley is certainly a place to observe the intense competition between indigenous plants and the more aggressive introduced species such as Norway maples, Acer platanoides, garlic mus- b tard, Alliaria petiolata, and goutweed, Aegopodium podagraria. It s difficult to know how this community of plants would change, or what its ultimate composition would be, but it can be a useful exercise to extrapolate from what is happening now to imagine a future landscape, and to think about whether this is the world you would choose to live in.
The next time you are in the valley, look up through the leafy canopy and travel back in
time to imagine what naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton must have seen a massive and noisy flock of Passenger Pigeons passing overhead, in numbers beyond counting, on their way to their nesting groves of mature beech and American chestnut trees. Okay, it s not an easy job to imagine this scene now that this species of pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) has become extinct and the American chestnut, Castanea dentate, was eliminated by a fungal disease accidentally introduced from Eurasia but it is instructive, and could leave you wondering, which species you are willing to lose next. Another possibility is that this reflection on times past could leave you appreciating and marvelling at the glory ofwhat we still have.
A historical view always helps to put the present into perspective, and wandering through the Don Valley offers plenty of opportunities to recall history. You can look up at the Bloor viaduct to imagine the sweat and hardship of the immigrant workers who erected this marvel of engineering, or explore the Don Valley Brick Works or various old mill sites, to conjure up the effects on the local environment of our earlier industrial history. A reading of the landscape might also prompt you to consider how time and small incremental changes can bring about large-scale effects such as the carving out of this great valley, piece by piece, through the erosive power of the relatively tame looking Don River. Admittedly though, this process was occasionally helped along by dramatic events such as the severe flooding and massive destruction caused by Hurricane Hazel, the impetus for the conservation authorities we have today.
It doesn t always require an examination of the big picture, but simply a walk through the valley, to discover some fascinating stories that nature can tell that may leave us scratching our heads. For example, poke around in the vegetation in late summer and you might spot a Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum, in full fruit. The plant you are looking at may be a six- or seven-year-old female, but probably it only recently changed gender. Chances are that for the first few years of its life, it germi-
nated and grew as a seedling in a less-thanideal location; or its future was precarious because of intense competitive disadvantages like wrestling enough moisture, light and nutrients from surrounding trees and herbaceous plants; or it was highly likely to have been consumed by a herbivore. Faced with few prospects for a long life, but with a powerful drive to reproduce, the plant s best chance for survival was as a male since pollen is relatively easy to disperse and cheap to make compared to the resources required to produce ovules and pericarps.
Although the likelihood of pollen reaching a female flower is pretty low it s better than having no chance of producing descendants. Over time though, as the new plant establishes itself as one of the few lucky survivors of its cohort, it steadily accumulates enough resources until it reaches some threshold level at which point its best strategy is to undergo a gender change no surgery required and become a female for whom reproduction is a more assured thing. That s because there is no shortage of pollen available from the younger, male Arisaema population, which forms the majority. By producing a rich crop of seeds wrapped in enticing juicy fruit, the female is counting on the likelihood of an animal gobbling them up and excreting the indigestible seeds in another location. This increases the chances of leaving lots of descendants widely dispersed within the habitat, which makes that particular Jack-in-the-pulpit an evolutionary winner.
That s the thing. We humans tend to view the world in the here and now, and we assume that the status quo will be maintained unless we change it. But really nothing remains the same, and the processes at work are often more complex than we are ready to comprehend. The fun is in trying to better understand how the universe works and in learning a few new stories along the way.@
Martin Galloway is a biologist and has been the host of HGTV s Secret Life of Gardens. He is also the owner of Chalk Lake Greenhouses, a perennialand native plant nursery.
J In and Around Niagara-on-the-Lake
& Less than two hoursfrom Toronto Carol Gardnerdiscovers
hat better way is there to round off the summer than a weekend trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake? Stop en route at Jim Lounsbery s Vineland Nurseries in Beamsville. For over thirty years, Jim has shared his passion for rhododendrons, Japanese maples (their catalogue contains 60 varieties) and dwarf and unusual evergreens. The plants are well cared for and brimming with health and the staff is helpful and good-natured; when overhearing my husband and I having a wee disagreement over a potential purchase, a gardener said sotfo voce to my husband: Might as well give in now, sir. I think it s hopeless . Helpful, good-natured and wise.
Not far from Beamsville is the lovely and ever growing enclave of Jordan Village, home of The Copper Leaf, voted one of the ten best gardening stores in Canada by Gardening Life. As well as the normal gardening accoutrements, they carry a tempting array of sculptures, fountains and frost-proof terra cotta pots. By now, it should be lunchtime, and you're in luck. Directly across the street is the Inn on the Twenty Restaurant, the much-celebrated winery-restaurant run by Cave Spring Cellars. It features the finest VQA wines of the region as well as a menu offering locally grown fruit, organically grown vegetables and an eclectic
array of main courses and desserts. After lunch, have a look at the stores in the same complex; there are some great antiques.
Now we re ready for the main course Niagara-on-the-Lake. For lower-than-Toronto prices, don t miss Mori Gardens, a 50-year-old family business. Mori began life as a wholesaler, but they now also have nurseries in Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and parts of the United States. They specialize in perennials, miniature roses, flowering vines, flowering shrubs, evergreens, shade trees, fruit trees, grape vines and berry fruits.
Rose lovers will want to visit Palatine Fruit & Roses. The owners, Rene and Eva Schmidt, were initially fruit growers, but when Pallek Nurseries closed four years ago, they took over the stock and added roses to their repertoire. Every Saturday at 1 p.m. (until the end of September), they give tours of their growing fields, which contain about 10,000 roses. Palatine carries disease-resistant roses from Kordes Roses in Germany. You may want to ask to view their test fields for a preview of the varieties that will be available over the next couple ofyears.
The gardens at Regal Florist & Garden Centre have been featured in Canadian Living and HGTV s Gardener s Journal. Balcony gardeners will rejoice in their selection of unusual con-
tainers and everyone will enjoy seeing the wide assortment of obelisks, garden statuary, fountains and arbours.
How about scheduling your trip around some of the special events that are planned for the fall? The town s B&Bs are home to some of Niagara s finest gardens and the 15th annual B&B House Tour will take place on September 25.
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival runs for ten days, from September 16 to 25, and includes a parade, a craft show, winery tours, wine receptions and gourmet meals, concerts, cooking demonstrations and more. In November, local wineries will host Taste the Season over three weekends: November 12/13, November 19/20 and November 26/27. For the price of a passport ($30) you can enjoy a sample of wine and food pairing at each of the area s participating wineries. Proceeds go to Second Harvest food bank.
There s no shortage of accommodations in this town. Consult the Niagara-on-the-Lake Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site for a comprehensive list of hotels and B&Bs (www.niagaraonthelake.com). During our last
NURSERIES
Mori Gardens
1695 Niagara Stone Rd.
Niagara-on-the-Lake 905-468-7863
www.morinurseries.com
Palatine Fruit & Roses 2108 Four Mile Creek Rd. Niagara-on-the-Lake 905-468-8627
www.palatineroses.com
Regal Florist & Garden Centre 1616 Niagara Stone Rd., Virgil 1-888-578-8238
www.regalflorist.com
Vineland Nurseries
4540 Martin Rd., Beamsville 905-562-4836
E-mail: jlounsbe@vaxxine.com
B&B stay there, we shared breakfast with a hardy Swedish couple who were trekking all over the world to go hiking (not my idea of a good time, but that s me) and a charming young [talian diplomat who was travelling to forget a shattered romance. You don t get that kind of drama having breakfast in a hotel dining room.
Before you leave, don t forget to have a browse in the lovely shops along Queen Street. If you haven t visited in a while, you ll find that they have gone upmarket. There are still a few T-shirt and tchotchke shops, but there are also some really different places such as (my personal favourite) the BeauChapeau Hat Shop, with its selection of over 4,000 hats the perfect place to find a fetching new gardening hat. Just a few stores away is Tablecloths Etc. (formerly LEsprit Provence) whose colourful tablecloths, wireware, enamel plaques and French herbs and vinegars will immediately transport you to the south of France. Not bad for an hour-and-ahalf drive, eh?®
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writerand member ofthe Trellis Committee.
RESTAURANTS
Inn on the Twenty Restaurant 3836 Main St., Jordan 905-562-7313
www.innonthetwenty.com
SHOPS
BeauChapeau Hat Shop 126 Queen St. Niagara-on-the-Lake 1-877-YOURHAT (968-7428) www.beauchapeau.com
The Copper Leaf Garden Store 3845 Main St., Jordan and 10 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake 1-800-370-0063
www.thecopperleaf.com
Tablecloths Etc.
106C Queen St. (at Victoria) Niagara-on-the-Lake 1-888-468-1817
www.tableclothsetc.com
EVENTS
B&B HouseTour &Taste the Season
Tickets available online for both these events through the NOTL Visitor & Convention Bureau at www.niagaraonthelake.com
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival 905-688-0212
www.grapeandwine.com
/ AWalkThrough the Museum of Garden History
Jannette Porterdiscovers the Neolithic origins ofmodern gardening tools
eed whackers, leaf blowers, and ride 'em mowers. These are gardening aids we re familiar with and are sometimes reliant upon. But how did gardening equipment like this develop? The answer lies within the walls of London s Museum of Garden History.
A fortuitous purchase of a book called Little Known Museums in and around London by Rachel Kaplan brought me and my spouse to the doors of this museum. It is in, of all things, a church. Surprisingly, the venue is appropriate as the adjoining graveyard houses three generations of Tradescants (think Tradescantia or spiderwort). There is a certain interplay between the light-filled church s religious setting and the theme of gardening as a way of being at peace with nature.
Although the Neolithic people who used an antler to dig a ditch around Durrington Walls Henge (near Stonehenge) can hardly have been considered to be gardening, the tools we use today have evolved from such implements as well as from those used for agriculture. The antler and a Neolithic axe are the oldest pieces in the collection at the museum. According to the guidebook available at the museum, people
have designed tools specifically for horticulture only in the past 500 years, long after the antler was used at Durrington about 4,000 years ago.
As a gardener, I found it fascinating to see not only what aspects of gardening interested our forebears at various stages in history, but also the ingenuity involved in creating tools to make it all happen. Although I can t find a cucumber straightener in my 2005 Lee Valley Tools garden catalogue, it s interesting to see that other clever gardening devices, such as cloches and wasp traps, appear in that catalogue and are enjoying a revival centuries after they came on the scene.
One aspect of the museum s collection that I found quite striking was how intertwined our social history is with that of gardening. At first it was the aristocracy who had gardens although, of course, they didn t do the gardening; they paid others to do it. With the Industrial Revolution and the accompanying expansion of the middle class, more people owned a house with a piece of property. The desire to treat each house as a smaller version of the large estates with their expansive lawns led to the need to cut those lawns. You wouldn t
Visit the Museum of Garden History
The museum is right across the RiverThames from the Houses ofParliamentand next door to Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury s London residence. It is within walking distance ofthe Lambeth North (Bakerloo line) and Waterloo (Bakerloo, Northern and Jubilee lines) tube stations.The café offers a nice change from the usual British pub fare and | had a very tasty vege-
tarian meal.And then,of course, there s the shop where | purchased some neatgift items. Luckily itdidn t have a copyoftheTony Blair garden gnomethatwason display in the museum, otherwise my spouse might have been tempted to buy it. (I've told him our garden is a nognome zone!). For more information about the museum,visitwww.museumgardenhistory.org.
want your guests to be playing croquet on a bumpy lawn! And, the various lawn mowers on display were made possible because of the steelmaking technology of the Industrial Revolution.
As gardening became popular with the masses, the demand for seeds increased; vegetable and flower seeds were needed in large volumes and industry responded with colourful seed packages and catalogues. The museum has some lovely seed packages with painted images of flowers the forerunners of our full-colour photos. (Before my visit to this museum, I had tossed out some seed packages my parents had bought from Dominion Seed House when I was a child. Oops, maybe I should have donated them to a museum!)
The Museum of Garden History is a delightful place and you should give yourself lots of time to explore not only the indoor exhibits but also the church and the grounds, complete with knot garden, the centuries-old gravestones of parishioners, like the candle maker and the proprietor of the local butcher shop, and, of course, the Tradescant tomb. John Tradescant the Elder was head gardener to some of England s nobility and in the late 1620s became Keeper of His Majesty s Gardens, Vines and Silkworms for King Charles 1. In addition to his skill in gardening, Tradescant the Elder was also noted for his thirst for knowledge. He and his son, John Tradescant the Younger, not only were pioneer plant hunters but were entrusted with nurturing and propagating plants introduced by other plant hunters. In fact, this desire by plant hunters and their patrons to find new lands with new plants helped to expand the British empire (a further intertwining of gardening and history). The incredible lengths that some plant hunters went to get their treasures back home, and the inventions that helped them do it, are also on display.
After visiting the museum, I'm glad there have been advances in gardening tools at least I don t have to dig my garden with an antler!®
Jannette Porter isfascinated with the ways people use the landscape around them. She is a graduate of Ryerson University s landscape architectureprogram.
TSI ST
/FALL TOOL CLEANUP
Putyourgardening tools to bed, advises Lorraine Hunter, clean, sharp and well oiled!
AS YOU RAKE THE LEAVES and mow the lawn for the last time this season don t forget one other important chore get your gardening tools ready to put away for the winter. You ll be thankful when you re ready to go outside, and get to work, on the first fine day next spring.
It s nice to put your tools to bed clean, sharp and oiled, says Margaret Nevett, a Master Gardener and manager of Gardenscapes in Toronto. Start by cleaning them with water, drying them and using steel wool to remove rust. Be sure to protect your eyes with safety glasses or goggles while cleaningyour tools.
For sharpening pruners, loppers, hedge shears or knives, Margaret uses a folding DMT diamond grit mini-sharpener. It has an eightcentimetre (three-inch) diamond blade and is easy to use. Margaret uses it in spring and fall. Only sharpen the bevelled edge of a bypass pruner. Sharpen from heel to tip, holding the blade at a 20-degree angle, in either a circular or straight motion. Then flip it over to remove any burrs. Lawn mowers and hedge clippers are best sharpened by a professional, she advises, adding that they are never as busy in fall as in spring.
The front edge of spades and shovels should also be sharpened, she says, and recommends using an ax file or bastard file. Use the ax file on the front tip edge. And don t do this chore on a Sunday morning because it makes a horrible noise, she warns.
Moving on to the handles of tools, Margaret recommends using sandpaper to smooth out cracks and remove potential splinters from wooden handles. And this is a good time to brighten handles with paint, so that you can find your tools easily in the garden, she adds. The best way to look after metal-handled implements is to always keep them clean and dry by hosing them down and drying after each use. After spades have been cleaned and sharp-
ened, they should be oiled. Margaret recommends rubbing the wooden handles with boiled linseed oil. You can buy it. You don t have to boil it yourself. Another oiling method that s good for the metal blades of trowels and spades and for pruners, is to fill a bucket with sand and then pour just enough vegetable oil to spread evenly over the top. Pushing tools through this mixture will remove any debris and also make them safe from winter water damage. The whole job up to this point should take less than an hour, says Margaret.
Other tasks for autumn include:
e Wash and air dry gardening gloves and put them away clean.
e Edge the grass one final time before the snow comes.
e Drain the hose and turn off the water to outside faucets.
e Take away plant markers from plants that have already disappeared so your garden doesn t look like a graveyard.
* And finally, Margaret suggests: Keep your window boxes in place to use for Christmas greens. @
Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer and chair of the Trellis Committee.
SPOTLIGHTON
by Marion Magee
LYING MIDWAY between The Hague and Amsterdam, the town of Leiden offers many sights, but for gardeners the gem is Hortus Botanicus. It s hidden behind the mediaeval buildings of the university, and as you enter through an arch at number 73 Rapenburg, you are stepping into the oldest botanical garden in The Netherlands.
In 1587 the University of Leiden petitioned to establish a hortus academicus for the benefit of its medical students. The famous botanist, Carolus Clusius, became the garden s first prefect, and during 1593-4 he set out his garden of over 1,000 different plants all on a tiny plot measuring only 35 by 40 metres (115 by 130 feet)!
This early garden eventually was replaced by the front garden we see today but Clusius garden was recreated in the 1930s, complete with replicas of all the plants, fences and arbours of the original, providing a lovely example of an old enclosed medical botanical garden.
Clusius acquired many plants for the garden at Leiden. In particular he encouraged the Dutch East India Company to collect specimens of tropical and subtropical plants. He was also deeply involved in laying the foundations of Dutch tulip breeding (it is thought that the first tulip to flower in Europe bloomed in the Leiden garden), which led to the establishment of the modern-day bulb industry its acres of bulb fields lie just outside the city.
Despite additions of glasshouses, an Orangery and a new Japanese garden, the garden is still relatively compact. There is also a
rose garden, a fern garden and an herb garden. Most recently a new greenhouse was slipped into the landscape to house huge subtropical plants in tubs. It has a gangway to view the tops of the plants, and it also cleverly incorporates the visitors centre, the shop, the café and other amenities.
The arboretum boasts some wonderful old trees, including a golden chain tree, Laburnum anagyroides, dating from 1601, a tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, from 1682 and a gingko, Ginkgo biloba, from 1785.
One gem - some might say the gem of the garden is the gigantic water lily, Victoria amazonica, which has a greenhouse and pond all its own. The lily s pads reach up to three metres (10 feet) in diameter and can bear a weight of 40 kilograms (88 pounds). The 40-centimetre (16-inch) wide flowers sit on top of 7-metre (23-foot) high stalks. This lily flowers only at night and when it does the greenhouse is open for all to stand and stare.
One side of the garden is bounded by the waters of the Witte Singel where there are lots of benches for sitting and relaxing. When I was there the benches were occupied by young people seeking solitude for reading and romance and older folks merely taking pleasure in the peace and sun of a lovely spring day.®
A memberofthe Trellis Committee, MarionMagee visitedHortusBotanicus in thespringof2005.
isiting the Hortus Botanicus
Hortus Botanicus is at Rapenburg 73, Leiden, and is an easy walk from anywhere in the town. The garden is open all year but the days and hours of opening vary: check www.hortusleiden.nl before you go.
1 LOVE TR EES SHRUBS
DALLYING
Lorraine Flanigan meets a nonagenarian with a giftfor growing dahlias
IN 1942 HARRY PEZZACK moved into the house that he and his wife once dreamed of building one moonlit night while cruising Scarborough s lakeshore. The couple soon established their home and family and for a time all seemed well.
Then a neighbour brought Harry four dahlia tubers, and he planted and grew them. The next yeat, the neighbour brought Harry 20 more, and he planted and grew them too. Over the years, the neighbour s gifts developed into Harry s passion. At its peak, his garden boasted 40 or more different dahlia cultivars, and although at age 96 Harry is slowing down a bit (not that you d notice), he still grows 15 cultivars with the help of neighbours and friends and last year his garden was filled with almost 200 plants!
When [ visited Harry one day last spring, a room in his basement was filled with boxes that held carefully packed dahlia tubers. The room had a light bulb strung from the ceiling, an ancient heater that gently hissed in one corner and a thermometer that Harry checked to make sure the temperature remained at a constant 40°E Harry opened one ofthe boxes and removed the layer of newspaper that covered about a half-dozen dahlia tubers carefully packed in vermiculite. Gently lifting one of the tubers from the box, Harry brushed off particles of vermiculite to reveal a name printed on the tuber with black marker: Jean Gervais it read. Another bore the name Castle and another Sam . "That s a good one," he said pointing to one ofhis favourites.
We walked out to the garden where he showed me how he started the tubers each spring in shallow wooden boxes lined up by the fence.
"l don t plant any before May 24," he says. And when he does plant his dahlias, a shovel full of compost taken from his 50-year-old heap goes into the planting hole along with a stake marked with the name of the dahlia. The tubers are planted in two 30- by 10-foot beds arranged in rows, 15 down and six across.
Harry lives in the same house that he and his wife bought all those years ago, and his passion for dahlias enduresB
Lorrame FIanzgan is a Master Gardener and editor ofTrellis.
CANADIAN CHRYSANTHEMUM & DAHLIA SOCIETY
Harry is a former member of the Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society and fondly remembers club meetings at The Civic Garden Centre (now the Toronto Botanical Garden). If you re developing a growing enthusiasm for dahlias, the society meets at the TBG on the last Thursday of the month in January, February, March, April, May, June, August and October. Flower shows take place at the Canadian National Exhibition from September 3 to 5; at Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village on September 17 and 18; and at Agincourt Mall on September 24. For more information see www.icangarden.com/clubs/CCDS.
TORONTO GARDENBOTANICAL
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Noon to 4 p.m.
We wish to invite our valued stakeholders, including TBG members, donors and volunteers, to our first day offull operation as we reopen and unveil our building to the public. Staffand board members will be available to answer questions and introduce you to the amenities offered by our new and improved building.
Here's a Sneak Preview of What You'll See
- Weston Family Library: almost 2,000 square feethousing ourunique horticultural library with new public computer stations
- Children's Education Centre: dedicated to year-round classes on the environmental sciences for schools, community groups and individuals
- TBG Shop: prominently located at the front entrance and carrying a broad array of gardening books and distinctive wares for home, gardening and outdoor living
by Anna Leggatt
@risaema sikokianum -
Snow Rice-Cake Plant
ARISAEMA SIKOKIANUM, or snow rice-cake plant, makes a dramatic statement in the midspring garden. In mid- to late May a pointed purple-mottled vigorous shoot suddenly appears and rapidly grows in height. Leaves quickly follow, folded round a long purplish bud. This speedily opens up, revealing itself to be an aroid, and, as such, a close relation of our native Jack-inthe-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum.
A pure white spherical-headed spadix, the flower of the plant, projects from a long central tube, or spathe, which is purplish black at the base, sometimes with lighter green veins. The base of the tubular spathe is as white as the spadix but flares out and up to about 10 centimetres (four inches) wide before tapering to a long point, which is dramatically coloured with purple-black and greenish white vertical stripes. The top of the spathe has a white lip on one side. The display usually lasts about three weeks.
The true flowers are numerous and tiny and are attached to the spadix at the base of the spathe. The flowers are not botanically complete: they either have male parts, the stamens, which produce pollen, or female carpels, which contain ovules. Large strong plants have female flowers. Weaker ones have male flowers. A female plant will revert to male if it exhausts itself producing seeds. (I like to tell this to my Grade 3 classes. The girls love it!) Insect pollination is by flies and beetles.
After fertilization the spathe bends forward, covering the mouth of the tube, perhaps to protect the developing berries. The spathe then shrivels and splits, revealing a cluster of green berries that look like a small ear of corn. These turn scarlet in the fall.
Branching off the stem are leaves that are compound in from three to five parts (younger
plants have three). Closer inspection shows that the middle leaflet has its own stem while the two leaflets on either side are joined with a common stalk. The leaflets are slightly mottled and midgreen in colour and obovate in shape, and sometimes have small teeth on the margins. The largest leaves are about 23 centimetres (nine inches) long by 15 centimetres (six inches) wide.
Grow Arisaema sikokianum in semi-shade, in a humus-rich welldrained soil that is slightly acidic. The plant is hardy to at least Zone 5 and to Zone 4 with good snow cover. Buy the tubers in the fall (or in the spring if available) and plant at least 20 centimetres (eight inches) deep. Remember where you planted them as sometimes arisaemas sulk and stay underground for a year. Damaging a bulb will result in fatal rot.
The easiest way to propagate these plants is by seed. If you sow dried seeds rather than fresh ones, soak in hand-hot water for 24 hours. Remove any flesh from the seed and wash the seeds before planting. (Wear gloves to guard against contact dermatitis. Seeds may also discolour skin and fingernails.) They will germinate at 21°C (70°F) in about three weeks fresh seed germinates fastest. You can leave the pots of seeds outdoors, or grow them indoors under lights. Keep the seedlings growing on as long as possible to bulk them up, feeding with dilute fertilizer. If they dry out theywill go dormant and will need a cold period before they will re-grow.
In the garden, leave plenty of space around each plant to show it off to best advantage. Hmm, but then again, a field of them looks lovely too... @ .\l..\ ..\ ..\ .} . I NNS NE N N N N PN I'\ \ \ \
lllustration: Jocelyn Mann Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener and TBG volunteer.
Edwards Lectures 2005 |
GROWING A VISION
THE FALL 2005 EDWARDS LECTURES
features experts speaking about the key elements that have been incorporated into the new vision for the Toronto Botanical Garden and our current Revitalization Project.
SPEAKER: MARTIN GALLOWAY
Toric: TORONTO S CAROLINIAN FOREST
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 7:30 P.M.
WHERE: FLORAL HALL
TORONTO' S INTRICATE ravine system is this city s Central Park. Widely used by residents, the ravines also form an important wildlife corridor. Over the years urban development has brought many changes to our landscape, including the introduction of exotic or invasive plants. Fortunately, some of our ravines have been preserved. Martin Galloway will discuss the origins of Toronto ravines and the evolution of their various plant communities, including southern Carolinian forest plants and northern plants. He will also offer advice on ways to grow these plants in our gardens.
Martin Galloway is known for delving into the sex lives of plants and insects as the host of HGTV s The Secret Life of Gardens. From his lectern he has instilled students with his wisdom and enthusiasm for the natural world. He also operates a native plant nursery, Chalk Lake Greenhouses.
Free to TBG members; non-members $12. Door sales only. Seating is limited.
SPEAKER: CORNELIA HAHN OBERLANDER
Toric: GREEN ROOFS AND SUSTAINABLE GARDEN DESIGN
WHEN: TUESDAY, OcCTOBER 18, 7:30 P.M. WHERE: FLORAL HALL SPONSORED BY BoUSFIELDS INC.
EUROPE S GREEN ROOFS
have long provided environmental, aesthetic and economic benefits. There is now a slow but growing awareness of their value here in Canada. Cornelia Hahn Oberlander has been actively involved in the design of green roofs and in greening urban areas since 1953. She will discuss the importance and benefits of designing buildings and gardens that are sustainable and environmentally responsible.
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, a recipient of the Order of Canada, is known for expressing cultural, social and environmental concepts in her work. She is considered one of Canada s premier landscape architects . From her base in Vancouver, Cornelia Oberlander has designed landscape architecture for many public projects, including the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Canadian embassy in Berlin and the Canadian chancellery in Washington, DC. She believes that it is imperative to provide green living for city dwellers .
Free to TBG members; non-members $12. Door sales only. Seating is limited.
Mum Sale Returns Next Year
Building renovations wreak havoc with plant sales like our annual Fall Mum Sale, so this year we ve had to postpone this popular event. WATCH
Q My portulacas have self-seeded for the past three years. However, the new plants end up at the edge of the bed rather than nicely spread out. I thought I could do better by collecting and spreading the seeds myself. How do [ know when they are ready to collect? How do [ keep them over the winter? When should I sow them?
Portulaca will grow easily from seed lllustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
A Wait until the small triangular pods of the plants turn a tan colour that s when they re ripe. To collect the very small seeds, place an envelope under the pods and allow them to drop into the envelope. Dry the pods and seeds for a few days in a warm, dry spot. Place the dried seeds in a used film container or a small pill bottle and mark it with the year and plant name before storing indoors in a dry area.
In the spring, after the last frost, plant the seeds directly into the ground where you want them to grow. You can mix some dry soil or sand with the seed to help spread it more evenly. Seeds will germinate between 10 and 15 days later. You can start seed indoors, but if you do, plant it in cell packs or peat pots because the seedlings can be tricky to transplant. Once they re growing, thin the plants to space between five to six inches. Instead of collecting and sowing seed, you could let the plants reseed in the garden and on a cloudy, coolish spring day transplant them to where you want them, taking care not to break the fleshy stems. Water well and keep them slightly moist for a few days they ll take off!
Q1 had blooms on my lilies that were just beautiful this summer. I cut off the flowers of three of them but left the last two on the plant. There are now numerous round pod-looking objects where these flowers were. [s this normal growth?
A Those round pods are seedpods. Lilies, like all flowers, produce seeds.These can only develop in the
ovary of a plant, which is at the base of the flower. When the flowers are cut, seeds cannot be produced. Unless you want to try propagating your lilies by seed, the spent flowers should be cut from the plant. This will divert energy from seed production to the storage of food in the bulb. Lilies also reproduce by growing bulblets that form underground on the main bulb. When these small bulbs grow, they split off from the main bulb to create another plant that grows beside the "mother" plant. Because there are two methods of reproduction, it is not necessary to allow seeds to develop. Your lilies will increase in numbers on their own from the bulblets.
Lilies will form seeds if flowers are not removed
Q 1 have an Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black , which I planted this spring and which is blooming wonderfully right now. In wet weather the branches become heavy and break off the main stem, but still bloom. Should I cut it back?
Flowers of aster Lady in Black become too heavy for branches
A This is a wonderful plant, but the branches do tend to get heavy if it rains a lot. For this season, give it some support by surrounding it with a tomato cage or stakes that wrap around the plant. Next spring, try two things: transplant the aster in the border where neighbouring clumps of tall and sturdy perennials such as phlox will help keep it upright. Also, in June or early July, cut back each stem of the aster by about 1/3 its length.This encourages lots of horizontal branching, which helps to stabilize the plant. If you do this, though, the flowering time will be somewhat delayed.
Do you have a question about gardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardeners InfoLine at 416-397-1345 or log on to the Q&A Forum at torontomastergardeners.ca andAsk aMaster Gardener!
Leanne
Great Resources about Green Roofs
GREEN ROOFS HAVE BEEN attracting an increasing amount of attention as a result of the wide variety of environmental and social benefits they offer. Here at the TBG the decision to incorporate a green roof into our revitalization project is an expression of a commitment to environmental responsibility. To find out more about green roofs, roof gardens and sustainable gardening, is a variety of resources that are currently available in the Library or on the Internet.
BOOKS AND ARTICLES
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander , Trellis, March/April 2005. A profile of Oberlander s life and work.
Green Roofs by Jessie Keith, The American Gardener, March/April 2005. A discussion of the energy benefits, costs and issues to consider with respect to green roofs.
Green Roofs Grow Up by Alex Newman, 7oronto Star, June 25, 2005. Highlights a privateToronto green roof designed byTerry McGlade. RoofGardens: History, Design and Construction byTheodore Osmunsdon. This beautifully illustrated book provides everything you ever
Milne House Garden Club PRESENTS
CHRISTMAS WITH MILNE HOUSE WORKSHOPS
Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Toronto Botanical Garden, Floral Hall 1:30 and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets $20, available from 416-491-0540 and 905-881-1406
wanted to know about roof gardens, including some stunning examples of roof garden design.
AVision of Sustainability ,AABGA Newsletter, December 2001. This brief article showcases the three green roof elements in the Queens Botanical Garden in New York.
WEB SITES
Gardens in the Sky www.gardensinthesky.com
The Web site ofTerry McGlade s firm provides a sense of the difference between green roofs and roof gardens. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities www.greenroofs.org Sponsored by a non-profit industry association, this site provides a variety of information about green roofs, including the potential public and private benefits.
The Greenroof Industry Resource Portal www.greenroofs.com The Greenroofs101 section of this Web site includes technical details on how green roofs work as well as a plant list and a bibliography of resources.
To learn about green roofs and rooftop gardening, plan to attend Cornelia Hahn Oberlander s lecture on October 18: see page 26 for details.
Hope in Bloom
Hope in Bloom Tulips raise awareness, education and advocacy for Parkinson Disease. Only $5 buys you a bag of 10 bulbs, and helps buy people with Parkinson s the support care they need.
To order Hope in Bloom Tulips visit www.parkinson.ca or call 1-800-565-3000, ext. 3376.
Book REVIEWS
CreatingandPlantingAlpine Gardens: How to Build SmallRock Gardens and Work with Alpine Plants By Rex Murfitt Wayne, PA, B.B. Mackey Books, 2005; 284 pages; US$22.50
Creating and Planting Alpine
Garxdens
Rex Muxfitt
HowtoBuildSmaliRockGardensandWorkwithAlpinePlants
CREATING A SUCCESSFUL small rock garden is akin to transferring a selected piece of alpine landscape down to our own lowland garden and making it look as if it belonged there. In this book, the author explains the factors involved in this complex task. He begins by suggesting proven methods of nurturing alpines under North American growing conditions. Firstly, to survive, they need good light, excellent drainage, protected rock crevices and lean and gritty soil all of which means choosing a suitable rocky site. However, even with limited growing space, success is very rewarding for serious gardeners. If a conventional rock garden cannot be accommodated, the author suggests using troughs and tufa rock as well as other containers, raised beds and alpine houses instead of greenhouses.
The book s comprehensive list of suitable plants for small alpine gardens is invaluable and inspiring information. These plants are mostly perennial and are readily available from many nurseries.
Rex Murfitt is a distinguished and award-winning writer on the subject of rock gardening. This book is dedicated to gardeners who enjoy a challenge and are desirous of creating the special conditions necessary for growing alpine plants.
Reviewed byMadge Bruce
Web site REVIEW All About Ornamental Grasses
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES have become the hottest new trend in gardening in recent years because of their aesthetic and practical value. To find out more about them, here are some excellent Web sites to explore.
Grasses for cold climates. University of Illinois, Extension Dept. www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/grasses
This site reports research results of the cold hardiness of ornamental grasses and also recommends and describes cold-hardy species. In addition to numerous illustrations, an extensive list of grasses provides detailed descriptions of many species. It includes a useful section on grasses for different landscape needs such as shady locations, dry shade, water gardens, containers, screens, alternative lawns, fall colour and winter interest and winning combinations. Well laid-out and easy to use.
Hort on the Net: Ornamental Grasses. North Carolina State University, Dept. of Horticultural Science www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/hort internet/ornamental_grasses.html
An extensive Web site that covers both overview information and specific grass species. A central index provides links to various state extension resources that take you to descriptions of grasses from a wide variety of databases. Reliable and easy to use.
If you are looking for a wider selection of cultivars for your garden or just want to see what is available, this Web site links you to the Web sites of 17 Canadian nurseries that specialize in ornamental grasses. You can browse through their catalogues, search specifically for a grass or order online.
Reviewed byLorna Luke
= l What's on atthe Toronto Botanical Garden |
SEPTEMBER
3
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American
Orchid Society
Judging, 1 p.m.; Open to the public Administration Foyer
Information: www.so00s.ca
4
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Meeting: Garden Auditorium
12:30 p.m.
Information: www.so0s.ca
10
Canadian Hemerocallis Society
Fall Extravaganza
Speakers: Frank Smith, Frank Smith Daylilies
Barry Matthie, Bonibrae Daylilies
John P. Peat, Cross Border Daylilies
Garden Auditorium, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: www.distinctly.on.ca/chs/
12
Toronto Bonsai Society
Meeting: Garden Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
17
North York Horticultural Society
Flower show: Around the House
Members will display roses, fruit and vegetables and houseplants in the cultural classes. Decorative classes include Hogarth curve, vertical designs, water-viewing and many others. Garden Auditorium, 2 to 5 p.m.
Information: 416-493-0141
18
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Flower show and meeting
Speaker: Jacques Thompson
Topic: A Michigan Alpine Garden
Floral Hall, 1 to 4 p.m.
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
Toronto African Violet Society
Open house & plant sale
Garden Auditorium, 1 to 4 p.m.
Information: www.geocities.com/tavsca/tavs.html
27
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Newcomers meeting
Boardroom, 7 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
OCTOBER
1
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American Orchid Society
Judging, 1 p.m.; Open to the public
Administration Foyer; Information: www.soos.ca
2
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Meeting: Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
5
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Martin Galloway
Topic: Toronto s Carolinian forest
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Free to TBG members; public $12
Door sales only. Limited seating.
11
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Newcomers meeting
Boardroom, 7 p.m.; Information: www.soos.ca
15
North American Native Plant Society
Annual general meeting
Garden Auditorium; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information: www.nanps.org
16
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Elke Knechtel
Topic: Highlighting woodlanders
Floral Hall, 1 p.m.
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
17
Toronto Bonsai Society
Meeting: Floral Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
Mycological Society
Meeting: Garden Auditorium, 7:45 p.m.
Information: www.myctor.org
18
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Cornelia Hahn Oberlander
Topic: Green roofs and sustainable garden design
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Free to TBG members; public $12
Door sales only. Limited seating.
22,23
Toronto Bonsai Society
Semi-annual show & sale; Floral Hall
Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
24
Toronto Bonsai Society
Meeting: Garden Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
27
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Meeting: Administration Foyer, 8 p.m.
Information: 905-686-8058; www.icangarden.com/clubs/CCDS IN & AROUND THE GTA
GARDENS IN THE SKY
Terry McGlade leads a tour of three rooftop gardens in downtown Toronto
9 to 11:30 a.m.; Public $35; TBG members $30
Preregistration required: 416-397-1362
ROSEDALE NORTH EXCLUSIVE
Landscape designer Kent Ford takes you on a tour of three private Rosedale gardens.
1 to 2:30 p.m.; Public $35; TBG members $30 Preregistration required: 416-397-1362
Golf & dinner $300; Dinner only $75 Information & tickets: 416-397-1484; events@infogarden.ca
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRES TIME BE SURE TO CHECK AHEAD.
John Brookes
Wild Ways
The evolution of landscape design through the 20th century
John Brookes is a world-class, influential garden designer, famous for his work, his teaching and his writing.
Friday, November 18 at 7 pm
Convocation Hall
University of Toronto
Proceeds to benefit Toronto Botanical Garden
For tickets and information contact Landscape Ontario at www.landscapeontario.com/brookes or call 905-875-1805
CLASSIFIED ADS
Marjorie Mason s Garden
Gardens of France, England and the Hampton Court Flower Show July 1 12 2006 The Garden of England visits include, Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Wisley. Northern France gardens include Giverney, Chateau Villandry and Bois de Moutiers.These and the Normandy landing beaches are just some of the highlights of our 2006 tour through the Loire Valley, Rouen and Normandy.
Tours 2006 - Preview
Garden and GolfTour of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland August 12 26, 2006. Garden visits to the Islands of Arran, Isla, Mull, lona and Skye. Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Cawdor Castle Gardens, Brodick Castle and Dunvegan Castle. Experience evening at the EdinburghTattoo. Contact Lorna for detailed itinerary and pricing for the above exclusive small group tours (limited to 20 participants) Call 905-683-8411 or e-mail Ibates@on.aibn.com
