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 1958, the Toronto Botanical Garden, formerly The Civic Garden Centre, has encour-
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 horticulturallyenlightenedcityin theworld.
What We Ofer
Located at Edwards Gardens, the Toronto Botanical Garden offers many programs and services, including year-round activities for families and children. Our horticultural library has over 8,000 books, periodicals, and alarge col-
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 Shop TBG has manyunique 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 well, the TBG has a wide variety of banquet halls, meeting rooms and show space, with access to Edwards Gardens, one of Las-ged, stimulated and educated lection of clippings, pamphlets, Toronto s favourite garden spots.
3¢ Directory & Hours of Operation
777 Lawrence Ave. East Toronto, ON M3C 1P2
Administrative Offices: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Library: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday noon to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays shop TBG: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday noon to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays shop TBG and Library open for some special events and holidays: call 416-397-1340 to inquire.
Telephone: 416-397-1340; Fax: 416-397-1354
E-mail: info@torontobotanicalgarden.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 www.torontomastergardeners.ca
Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, LorraineJohnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3% Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Geoffrey Dyer
Brad Badeau, Marisa Bergagnini, Susan Burns, Dugald Cameron, Peter Cantley, Lindsay Dale-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
Development Officer, Capital Campaign Niti Bhotoia
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Officers
Receptionist
Special Events Supervisor
Facility Sales Co-ordinator
Librarian
Supervisor, Children s Programs
Co-ordinator, Children s Programs
Walter Morassutti
Alvin Allen, Jack Speranza
Nancy Kostoff
Stephanie Chiang
Kristin Campbell
Leanne Hindmarch
Tobin Day
Caley Baker
VOLUNTEER
EDITORIALASSISTANTS
T. Coombes, M. Magee
VOLUNTEER GRAPHICDESIGNER
Jennifer Capretta
VOLUNTEERP ROGFREADERS
416397-135
Printed byHarmonyPriming on recycled paper
Trellis is published six times a year as a members 'ewsletter by
No remunerationispossible.
Articles, manuscripts and advertisingmaterialmustbereceivedbythe first of the monthto ensure publication eight weeks later. For example, material for the May/June 2006, issue must be received by March3,2006.
Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflectthose of the TBG. Submissionsmaybeedited for style and danty
from the TBG
by Margo Welch e Executive DIRECTOR I
Going green
e are eagerly anticipating the coming W ofspringwhen workcan resume in the gardens and the dream of creating botanical gardens for Toronto will become a reality. The Toronto Botanical Garden has accomplished much in ashorttime, and2006 willbe the year in which we announce ourselves to the broader public and invite everyone to come and share our passion for plants, gardens, horticulture and the environment.
Much of the construction on the Revitalization Project has been completed. Planting will begin as soon as the weather permits, which we hope will be sometime in April, and the infrastructure and hardscaping for the gardens are scheduled for completion in June.
Our application for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification has been submitted, and our consultants are confident that it will be approved as early as this summer. We are especially proud ofparticipating in this sustainable development program, and I am pleased to report that it has generated considerable interest.
Our green roofis the mostvisible element ofour green building. Word about its unusual angle seems to have spread as I often find visitors to the building inquiring about it and climbing the stairs
for a better view. The roof has been a useful insulator over the winter and will again prove its worth during the spring showers as it cleans the rainwater and helps manage runoff.
Storm-water management is probably not something most people think about but the summer of 2005 gave us all a new understanding ofits importance as we watched with horror the damage caused to our ravines and parks during several fierce storms. The TBG s green roof, water recycling system, pathway and courtyard design and irrigation system are all important parts of our program to manage water responsibly. And we will demonstrate these good practices soon when we will include water management issues in our educational programs and communications.
The extreme damage that occurred in Edwards Gardens during the storms of 2005 and our own efforts to mitigate future damage from stormwaters originating on TBG-managed land have led us to present a new initiative to the city. As many ofyou might know, our parking lot is in need of repair. Rather than repaving it, we are proposing that the city rebuild it as a green prototype for sustainable development. Using a permeable surface and beds of plants known to clean groundwater would reduce the concentrated runoff from the lot into the ravine and ensure that the water that does join the creek is clean. The knowl-
edge and expertise to implement such a scheme certainly exists, and it would be a wonderful opportunityfor the cityto build on the TBG s green project to create a more extensive building model for others in the private and public sectors. Our city wishes to be clean and beautiful. The TBG can be a showcase for building and living that way. @
by Jenny Rhodenizer ® MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS
A building that tips its hat to the gardens
The new building dissolves the distinctions between indoors and out.
y now [ hope that you have all had the Bopportunity to visit the George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture, home of the Toronto Botanical Garden. The building was designed by the respected Torontobased firm of Montgomery Sisam Architects, which was selected for its commitment to designing buildings that function efficiently, are environmentally sustainable and have a positive affect on the people who use them. David Sisam, founding principal of the firm, led the TBG project. During our open house in December 2005,
Sisam declared that our firm does its best work for their most demanding clients, and the TBG held up its end of the bargain, and we hope you feel we did as well.
The design of the building was driven by four key ideas. First, visitors entering from the former entrance designed by Jerome Markson arrived in the middle of two floors essentially reaching no destination but facing a decision about whether they should go up or down. After analysing the grade of the parking lot, it was discovered that whatwas previously considered the
basement could become the ground floor of the new building. By changing the entrance level, visitors now arrive on the floor where our main amenities are located, including shop TBG, the Weston Family Library and the two lecture halls.
This first key idea made an immediate impact on both the new and former spaces which now work together seamlessly. The library, which was tucked into the back of the lower level, essentially lies in the same space as before (though it has expanded into the former Trellis shop area as well), but with this simple change in levels, it is now visible from the front entrance which gives it the prominence it deserves.
The second design focus was a humbling one for an architect. Sisam soon realized that the building was not the showcase of our project but that the gardens would play the starring role.
The building tips its hat to the gardens, says Sisam. Angled towards the gardens, the building is enveloped by its outdoor courtyards. The windows at the west end of shop TBG frame a stunning view of the spiral mound, and the walls of glass that line the lobby corridor help bring the outdoors inside by providing views of the surrounding gardens and courtyards. From both the Floral Hall and the Garden Hall visitors can see the adjoining courtyards with their serene water features. Three new doors have been added at the entrance to the Floral Hall, allowing natural light to pour into the hall as well as providing easy access to the lobby and the Westview Terrace beyond. And on the second floor, the glass walls of the corridor offer an educational vantage point for looking at the green roof.
The third idea was to generate a festive spirit of celebration and to welcome visitors by creating a pavilion in the park. With this in mind, the new addition juts into the parking lot, beckoning visitors with a two-storey glasssided bow-shaped peak that rises to the sky, giving the building a notable presence. After twilight the building glows like a lantern in the park, guiding the way for visitors. The TBG has always been an organization of great vitality
and boundless enthusiasm for all things horticultural. Now our building seems to share in the excitement we all feel.
The fourth idea, and the one most closely aligned with our mission, was that of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Together with Enermodal Engineering Limited, Sisam and the TBG worked through the rigorous process of
December 3, 2005 TBG opening.
attaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Water efficiency, use of sustainable materials, waterless urinals, bike racks, green housekeeping programs and an educational training program have been implemented to demonstrate our commitment to the environment. Even the glass that forms the walls in shop TBG is fritted with porcelain strips that cut down on 70 per cent of the heat entering the building, thereby reducing the costs of air conditioning in the summer. And the pergola that runs along the front of the building shades the bottom half of the windows from the southern exposure. These and other attributes, which support our LEED certification, are explained in our touch-screen computer kiosk located in the front lobby, and they are also posted on our Web site.
Although the building construction is finished, Sisam says that the building is not complete without the landscaping . This summer, with the landscaping and planting of the gardens, Sisam s vision will be fulfilled: a building that encourages an appreciation of its surroundings and dissolves the distinction between indoors and out.®
Architect Davi:IMSisa}n and Marjorie Harris at the
Volunteers Grow Community
Volunteering it can begin with the simplest ofgestures, a gift oftime, energy, commitment. Somethingprecious thatgrows stronger with every hand that touches it. andgrows across communities, and through the veryfabric ofour nation. and begins, once again, with the simplest ofgestures. Volunteer Canada
THE THEME OF National Volunteer Week, Volunteers Grow Community, aptly reflects the growth of the Toronto Botanical Garden. The contributions of our volunteers over more than 45 years have helped to establish a flourishing TBG community. By working as a team, our volunteers are helping to make the TBG one of the best volunteer-based charitable organizations.
During the week ofApril 23 to April 29, Canada pays special tribute to volunteers who give ofthemselves to better their communities and the lives of others . Here at the TBG, we will be honouring our volunteers with special events throughout the week as a way of thanking them for their gifts to us.
The first National Volunteer Week in Canada was proclaimed in 1943 when the Women's Voluntary Services organized special events across the country to highlight the contribution women were making to the war effort on the home front. By the 1960s, a special week was designated to honour all community volunteers and it continues to be widely celebrated today.
This year, let s join together and celebrate the contributions of our volunteers to the communi-
ty at the TBG. During National Volunteer Week, please visit the TBG and help us say thank you to the over 400 volunteers who have helped shape this wonderful organization. Volunteers will also be recognized at the annual general meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2006.
Be a community builder. Volunteer at the TBG by contacting the Volunteer Office at 416-3974145 or volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
e Allan Gardens children s supervisor, weekly shift through March 2006
e Canada Blooms, March 8 to 12, half-day shifts for the Speaker Series and for the TBG book booth
® Edwards Lectures: March 28, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
® AToast to the Garden Series with Mark Cullen, April 6, event set-up
e Perennials Sale, May 4 to 8
e Annuals Sale, May 17 to 21
¢ Through the Garden Gate, June 17 & 18
® Tour guides (ongoing): Toronto Botanical Garden, Edwards Gardens,Toronto Music Garden
Friends of the Toronto Botanical Garden
Thankyou to thefollowing and horticulture.ThefollowFriendsforproviding ing individualsmade generous supporttowards donationsto the Friends our programsand services. Program from November 1 Qur Friends arefundamental to December 13,2005. tothe TBG's abilityto educate and providethe Benefactor ($1,000 - $2,499) communitywith the most Janet Greyson valuable and up-to-date Sustaining Members information on gardening (8300 - $599)
Karen Barnett Diana & Philip B. Jackson
Nancy & John McFadyen JaniceTurner King
Lindsay Drake Nightingale
Helen Skinner
Suzanne & Donald Kopas
Nancy & Richard Kostoff
Friends ($140 - $299) Laurie MacLachlan
Roger & Janice Barton Marion Moore
Brian & Maureen Bixley Konrad Radacz
Ruth Bothern
Marie Doidge
Marion Hill
Catharine & H. David Ross
Shirley & Allan R.Taylor
Pat Weddell
Ghildren's Programs
by Tobin Day ® SUPERVISOR, CHILDREN S EDUCATION
Meet Malcolm Gordon
A teacher with a smile, come rain or shine!
Stout: an attractive, but bloodthirsty little carnivore.
Cian, Grade 3, St. Denis Catholic School
WORKING AT THE Toronto Botanical Garden, [ have the pleasure of meeting teachers from all over the city. Several of their familiar voices bring a smile to my face when they call to book a program. One of these teachers is Malcolm Gordon from St. Denis Catholic School. He has been bringing his Grade 3 classes to the Teaching Garden for the last four years.
One of the best things about working with Malcolm is that he doesn t mind the rain. In the fall of2005, Malcolm s class visited the Teaching Garden on one of the rainiest, coldest days of October. In spite of this, every time I looked at him, I found a smile on Malcolm s face. When adults engage themselves in the program regardless of the weather students have an easier time focusing on the activities and ignoring the rain or cold.
Malcolm brings his classes to the Teaching Garden each year because he wants his students to see and feel the soil in action. From working in the vegetable garden to finding wiggler worms in the compost bin, the students learn to see plants and soil in different ways. Malcolm also enjoys the setting under the pine trees even in the rain and he appreciates the enthusiasm that TBG instructors Caley and I bring to our teaching.
Malcolm s commitment to the TBG goes beyond the Teaching Garden. After hearing about the new indoor programs at the James Boyd Children s Centre, he was one of the first teachers to sign up his class. It was his students who created an art display on North American animals for the TBG s open house in December. If you peek in the Children s Centre window, you can see their drawings and accompanying
descriptions, including one of the infamous bloodthirsty stout!
Teachers like Malcolm help make the school programs at the TBG successful. By returning year after year, these teachers are letting us know that our programs are meeting the needs of their students. I look forward to hearing from Malcolm for many years to come.®
Happenings atthe lamesBoyd
' andTeaching Garden . ® The winner of our Art Contestfor grades 2 . KldSummer (luly4).Freenature stati theTeaching Garden ff to11 year d&ls camps for 2006: Gro;mdhog Hoedown, Furry - and Feathered Friends and Intense Insectology.
Web site, www.torontobotamcalgarden.ca, or call 416-397-1355.
Canada Blooms Celebrates 10 years!
Steve Barber invitesyou to experience the Urban Mosaic theme at thisyear s show, March 8 to 12.
t Canada Blooms, the Toronto Flower and AGarden Show, you ll discover a paradise bursting with six acres of glorious gardens in full bloom, more than 100,000 square feet of green thumb shopping and more than 200 hours of seminars, workshops and demonstrations from some ofthe bestgarden experts inNorthAmerica.
Feature gardens
More than two dozen dazzling and unique display gardens designed and built bythe best landscape designers and architects offer plenty of ideas for the home gardener. Designed to reflect the theme of Urban Mosaic, the feature gardens are the stars of the show. You'll see brilliant spring flowers in full bloom, lush plantings, dazzling water features and dramatic stonework.
Escape to your private retreat in the Urban Oasis presented by The Home Depot. Make this year s Dream Garden a reality where you can lounge with a book under the shade of the cabana while the children play in the pool. Or plan a day with friends and enjoy lunch, drinks and laughter on the patio.
The popular Balcony and Townhouse Gardens return to showcase innovative and sophisticated
design ideas for urban gardens. New this year are the Terrace Gardens, which offer big ideas for small spaces.
In the Stoney Ridge Estate Winery garden, Days ofWine and Roses, you can experience the ambiance of Old World bistros in an enchanting garden that features the handcrafted stone facade of a winery, fountains, a gazebo wine bar, natural stone patios and more than 200 roses.
In acelebrationofspringand the Canadian Tulip Festival, the Ottawa Tourism garden offers a taste ofCanada s Capital Region in full bloom. Hundreds of colourful tulips will fill beds that surround a water feature representing the Rideau Canal.
Canadian Gardening Magazine presents Around Every Corner, a design that provides evocative glimpses of Toronto s diverse cultures, architectural styles and gardens.
Stop by to see a dry stone wall being built during the show. A traditional craft that s enjoying a revival, this year s dry stone project takes a more modern turn to evoke a sense of civic pride.
Plants, plants, plants
For our 10th anniversary year, we re celebrating with the Canada Blooms Plant of the Year,
Clematis Josephine . Available at the Home Depot booth, this beautiful lavender-coloured, double-flowered vine is a must for every garden. Then take a peek at the season s new plants at the Landscape Ontario display a must for every visitor to Canada Blooms. Bring a notepad to jot down some of the vibrant and exciting new annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs created by North America s top plant breeders. While you re there, don t forget to pick up a copy of the special edition of Landscape Trades for home gardeners which features new plants for 2006.
Demonstrations and talks
As always, Canada Blooms is the best place to learn from Canadian and international experts who share their secrets on everything from garden and floral design trends to low-maintenance and guerrilla gardening. There s plenty of information about growing the most garden-worthy plants too. Here s where you re sure to get the goods on the latest trends and techniques from those in the know.
Flower show
In the Garden Club of Toronto floral exhibition hall, you ll see prize-winning floral designs by some of the most talented and creative non-professional exhibitors and garden club members.
Again this year there ll be an open horticulture competition. It s a chance for any non-professional exhibitor, and all members of horticultural societies and garden clubs, to show off their green thumbs at Canada s most prestigious flower show. Enter avarietyofhorticultural categories including Boot-i-ful, a walk around town , a class using a pair ofboots decorated with growing plant material. For more information on the open classes, visit www.canadabloooms.com.
Gardeners marketplace
Discover new treasures foryour garden, shop for exciting gardening gadgets and designer innovations from across Canada in the Toronto Star Marketplace and along Blooms Avenue. Here s where you'll find everything for outdoor living from the newest plants to the latest in gardening gear, décor and accessories.
The Garden Party
Celebrate spring by attending The Garden Party, Canada Blooms opening night gala, which takes place on Tuesday, March 7. Stroll through our dazzling gardens while you savour signature cocktails and sumptuous cuisine and enjoy great entertainment all night long. This fun-filled eveningoffers a chance to meet some of the most innovative landscape designers and architects in town. @
SteveBarberisgeneralmanagerofCanada Blooms.
Volunteer at Canada Blooms
Canada Blooms is a not-for-profit volunteerdriven event which seeks to promote awareness of horticulture and to showcase outstanding floral and landscape products and services. The show could not be produced without the generous assistance of over 800 volunteers from across Canada. Please contact the Canada Blooms office if you are interested in participating as a volunteer. To date over $500,000 in show proceeds has been reinvested in community horticultural projects including the new Entrance Garden at theTBG.
Don t miss Canada Blooms
Wednesday, March 8 to Sunday, March 12 Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MetroToronto Convention Centre, South Building Late afternoons and evenings are the best times to visit.
Tickets
ADULTS: $18 at the door; $15 in advance (before March 4) from participating Sobeys Ontario stores, shopTBG or garden centres and online at www.canadablooms.com.
SENIORS $15, Students $15, Children 12 and under, free
EARLY MORNINGTOURS $35 (includes all-day admission, reservation required)
OPENING NIGHT PARTY $175 (advance tickets only): call 416-447-8655
Tickets available now online at www.canadablooms.com
Discoveries of a Social Climber
Dugald Cameron confesses to afondnessfor
clematis.
I don t know about you, but my garden is usu- bloom from April until August. In April there is Clematis Frances Rivis and C. macropetala Lagoon . Following them are the June-flowering Guernsey Cream and Anna Louise. July starts off with Venosa Violacea , Alba Luxurians , Etoile Violette and Purpurea Plena Elegans . Shortly after these I enjoy the blooms of Etoile Rose , Duchess of Albany and Gravetye Beauty . The texensis and viticella species are really amazing because they bloom for well over a month. Because space is tight in my garden, [ prune these back to the ground in spring to keep them smaller, but this method seems to produce multi-stemmed plants that still grow into large vines. The season finale is C. terniflora (sweet autumn clematis) with its abundance of fragrant blooms.
ally too small and occasionally too big: too small when I'm trying to fit in more plants and too big when it s weeding time. It s the small part that s bothered me for the past several years. Mine is a typical urban oasis of 18 by 5.3 metres (60 by 17 feet) with lots of sun, a rich loamy soil and neighbours I'd like to see less of. The first thing [ planted was the climbing rose (Rosa) Alchymist . It blooms only once a season but with such abundance I can forgive it. (Besides, it has another use I'll discuss later.) My backyard is a proper trial garden . Like the cobbler s children, it gets little attention. If I can grow it, anybody can grow it. In my garden, it s survival of the fittest or, as my staff at Gardenimport would say, a proper trial.
In 1985 I'd been to a Raymond Evison lecture and was amazed at the variety of clematis available, so when we moved into our current house with its bowling alley backyard I immediately built a trellis along one side. My goal was to have as much bloom for as long as possible. The result was a mass planting of about ten clematis vines that grow on 18 metres (60 feet) of trellis. By carefully choosing the cultivars, my flowers
There have been occasional casualties, which I regard as opportunities to plant others, and to list them all would mean running out of space in Trellis. But for the most part, this first planting plan was so successful that [ soon followed with Carmencita and Minuet , which [ planted among the shrubs on the other side of the backyard and in the front yard. Carmencita looks particularly fetching growing through the
matis viticella
chlorotic foliage of Hydrangea paniculata Pink Diamond. (I'd amend the soil for my hydrangea but it runs against my minimal care philosophy.)
Both C. texensis and viticella are perfect companions for that climbing rose [ mentioned earlier, the Alchymist , as well as for several shrubs. These serve as a trellis for the clematis vines, and by pruning the vines to the ground in spring, [ can reach in to maintain their rose or shrub supporting cast.
One of the great things about clematis vines is how little space they need. My trellis is covered in them, but I still have plenty of room for more. Enter the non-climbing clematis! Unlike their twining brethren, they either lean on their neighbours for support or climb an obelisk or scramble through the border. The three nonclimbing types that grow in my garden are C. integrifolia (there are many colours and cultivars), C. x diversifolia (integrifolia hybrids) and C. heracleifolia. The first one I planted was C. x durandii, an older integrifolia hybrid that makes up for its sparse blooms with astonishing indigo flowers, with pale yellow centres, that bloom from June to frost.
C. Mrs. Robert Brydon is a bit of a monster with stems as thick as a pencil, a rambling habit (it grows up to 2.5 metres or eight feet) and clouds of small, pale blue flowers that bloom for about four weeks during August and September. It looks nothing like a clematis and is adored by
bumblebees and two-legged garden visitors. The latter inquire about that blue shrub by the gate . Other additions to my vyard are Aljonushka (a.k.a. Alionushka ), Hendryetta , Inspiration and Pretty in Blue. These bloom with hundreds of flowers for at least six weeks. Like C. viticella and texensis, these are best pruned to the ground every spring.
Next year, I'll be adding some of the new C. koreana hybrids to my collection. These look very much like C. alpina and bloom early but have a longer flowering period, a different palette of colours, including one with pale yellow petals tipped with red, another that s a combination of dark red and purple, and several shades ofwhite with pink and they re fragrant!
Whether they re climbers or scramblers, the care and feeding of clematis vines is simple. In March, I feed them with super phosphate and in April they re top-dressed with manure. In the fall, I spread a mulch of compost and manure around the base of each plant.
Like most social climbers, clematis vines are most charming in a crowd dazzling everyone with their profusion of colour, their adaptability and beauty. No garden is complete without ten or twenty.®@
Dugald Cameron is owner of Gardenimport, a mail order catalogue of choice plants, and a member ofthe TBG board ofdirectors.
- CLEMATIS ONLINE
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GROWING CLEMATIS VINES, CHECK OUT THESE USEFUL WEB SITES.
o American Clematis Society: clematis.org
o Clematis on the Web: www.clematis.hull.ac.uk
e GardenWeb Clematis Forum: forums.gardenweb.com/forums/clematis
® Home of Clematis: www.homeofclematis.net
o International Clematis Society: dspace.dial.pipex.com/clematis
A NEW GENERATION OF CLEMATIS
Learn more about the diversity ofclematisfrom one ofthe world stop authorities. Wim Snoeijer will be speaking attheToronto Botanical Garden at7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,April 26,as partofthe Bold and Brilliant Edwards Lectures series. Don t miss seeing some ofthe latest introductions!
CanadaBlooms
THE TORONTO FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW
Treat your senses to a welcome escape from winter...
» Explore acres of fantasy gardens stretching the imagination with vibrant colours and fragrances.
* Retreat to your own private Urban Oasis Garden presented by The Home Depot.
* Find small-space ideas in the balcony, towhouse and new terrence gardens area.
* Learn answers to all your questions in non-stop workshops by your favourite gardening gurus.
For complete up-to-date details, visit www.canadablooms.com.
Canadian Iris Society
The CIS celebrates its 60th anniversary.
ixty years ago the Canadian Iris Society (CIS) was founded in the basement of a local church by two Hamilton natives, W. J. Moffat and Dr. Leslie Laking. Moffat became the society s president during its first ten years. Today the society has approximately 140 members across Canada, from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, to Indian Brook, Nova Scotia. The membership includes amateur gardeners who enjoy growing iris as well as commercial growers and hybridizers.
For members of the society, iris season begins in May with open garden events. CIS members open their gardens so other members can see their irises in bloom during the peak season. In June there are iris shows where members can exhibit bloom stalks and earn credits to use at sales and auctions that take place in August. Last year the CIS introduced a program for interested members to grow new acquisitions for use in the silent auction held in July.
Iris growing tips
* New research based on hybridizers experiences suggest that in the colder parts ofCanada bearded iris should be planted deeper than generally recommended, with up to one inch (2.5 centimetres) of soil covering the top of the rhizome.
e Plant bearded iris and Spuria Group iris in welldrained soil. Siberian and other beardless iris like a soil that is more moist. Pseudacorus and versicolor iris can be planted in shallow water.
e Provide plants with at least half a day of sunshine.
e In early spring, check rhizomes and push those that have heaved in the frostback into the soil.
e Fertilize in early spring, and again just after blooming, with a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10.
e Cut spent flower stalks right down to the rhizome.
e Remove dead leaves and any unsightly foliage.
e Allow the green foliage to remain standinginto the fall so it can feed the plant.
e Divide and/or move bearded iris every three to five years; from late July to the end of August is the ideal time.®
Join the Canadian Iris Society
In addition to the open garden event, sales and auctions, the CIS provides members with a quarterly newsletter. The CIS maintains a Web site where you can find lots of information on irises. Check it out at www.cdniris.ca. Membership information can be obtained from the Web site or by contacting Kate Brewitt at 120 Glass Drive, Aurora, ON, L4G 2E8; 905-841-9676 or kbrewitt@aci.on.ca
Iris Iced Up
Photo: Chuck Chapman
African Viole
Lorraine Hunter tells us all we need to know to grow this popular houseplant.
he African violet is North America s Tfavourite houseplant and no wonder. Practically everyone I know either grows them or knows someone who does.
People love African violets because they are easy to grow and despite the weather outside, we can have flowers all through the year, says Doris Brownlie of the Toronto African Violet Society. Doris and her husbandJohn run a hobby business, Aca s Violet Tree. In fact, John Brownlie, a hybridizer, recently had one of his hybrids, Aca s Red Ember , make the top 100 list of favourite African violet varieties of the African Violet Society of America.
The Africanviolet (Saintpaulia ionantha) is a low compact plant with attractive dark green, thick, hairy leaves. The violet-like flowers are borne in small panicles just above the foliage. Besides the traditional shades of blue-violet, there are also many modern hybrids with flowers in shades of pink, fuchsia and white and with single, semi-double and double rows of petals. Some have white edges, coloured edges, dots and streaks in varying hues, to name just a few of the variations. There are also many different leaf shades and shapes.
The African violet really is an African plant, discovered in East Africa by the German Baron Walter von Saint Paul in 1892 and brought to North America in 1926 when seeds were imported from German and British greenhouses. More than 20 wild species have been found to date.
Growing tips
e African violets adjust well to the warm temperatures and dry air of our Canadian homes.
They require good light, but direct sunlight is not necessary. Windows facing north or east usually provide the best light exposures.
e Africanvioletspreferaporous soil, orapasteurized soilless mix of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite, that allows surplus water to pass through easily.
e Use tap water that has been allowed to sit for several hours to dissipate the chlorine. Keep plants evenlymoist, andwaterfrom the bottom ofthe pot.
e Most growers recommend regular fertilization every time you water. Use a 20-20-20 mix or one slightly higher in phosphorus such as 12-3614, diluted one millilitre to 4.5 litres (4 teaspoon per gallon) of water.
e Groom regularly by removing dead or dying foliage and flowers.
e Routinely rotate plants one-quarter turn every time you water to assure even growth.
e Remove suckers, those tiny plantlets that sometimes grow between the leaf axils.
e Keep plants free of dust and soil particles by dusting with a soft, natural bristle brush.
Controlling pests and disease
e Inspect plants frequently for problems such as thrips (tiny off-white to beige insects that look like little bits of thread on the blooms), mealy bugs (that look like minute cotton balls hiding near the base of the leaves or in the soil), or mites (tiny eight-legged spider relatives thathide under the leaves).
e The non-chemical way to treat plants with thrips is to disbud them for a period of six months to prevent them from blooming. Control foliar mealy bugs by picking them off by hand
and/or wiping them awaywith a swab dipped in alcohol and then rinsing the plant in lukewarm water to avoid alcohol damage to the leaves. To control soil-based mealy bugs, use a soil drench made of a chemical insecticide. While chemical miticides are available, it is difficult to defend against a mite infestation. Many experts recommend throwing out mite-infected plants before the pests spread to other plants.
® [solate new plants, preferably in another room, for at least six weeks and always wash your hands after handling them.
e Keep outdoor plants away from African violets to avoid exposing them to minute insects.
e Use only pots and saucers that have been washed, rinsed and soaked in a chlorine bleach solution (1 part bleach to 15 parts water) and rinsed again. This prevents eggs and spores that
may have been present in used containers from transferring themselves to your new plants.
® Space plants well apart. Crowding them or allowing them to touch each other will reduce air circulation, which increases opportunities for fungal spores to take hold.
e Treat fungal disease, including mildew, botrytis blight and crown rot, by dusting leaves with sulphur, then brushing it off in a few days. But be very careful when using sulphur as it can cause an allergic reaction to humans when used indoors.®
Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer and chair of the Trellis Committee.
Don tmiss the Toronto African VioletSociety s flower show andsale onApril 23 from 11 a.m. to4p.m. atthe Toronto BotanicalGarden.
AFRICAN VIOLET RESOURCES
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT
AfricanViolet Brat pack: www.african-violet-brats.com
AfricanViolet Society of Canada: www.avsc.ca
Toronto AfricanViolet Society: www.geocities.com/tavsca/tavs.html
Toronto Botanical Garden 6th Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, June 26, 2006 at Eagles Nest Golf Club $300 Golf/$75 Dinner
For information or to participate, contact Sarah Durnan at annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca or 416-397-1483.£ .
Wildflowers of the World
Western Australia
September 25 - October 11, 2007 ¢ Land Cost: US$3650 (Appmx)
Spri ia ¢ one m % V\gr
tanic Gardens along m coast as we b;,m_ ? iful kangaroo paw and over 123 species of orcl mogxgEs1 way.
Leader: Vonnie Cave. Vonnie is a well known garden writer and plant photographer in her native New Zealand. Vonnie has led more than a dozen wildflower tours to this area.
Sichuan & Yunnan
June 1-22,2007 » Land Cnst: US$3995(Approx.) T xemgh untains¢ t;,ga"w\\
Leader: PeterCunningt(m. Peter is an cxpericnccd and very popular leader who has accompanied numerous trips, including our very successful wildflower trips to the mountains ofChina and Europe. are limited to 16 participants. act us: :-800-387-1483
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MEET VOLUNTEER SONIA LESLIE
Graham Curry profiles a long-time volunteer who brings her skills, enthusiasm and dedication to the TBG.
SONIA LESLIE: committee member, member of the board, former board president, chair of Mistletoe Magic, tour guide, Master Gardener the list goes on. A dedicated volunteer since 1993, Sonia is a former teacher in the schools of North York. With a lifelong interest in gardening, her first volunteer position at the Toronto Botanical Garden was as a tour guide. Then in 1994, after completing the two-year training course, she became a Master Gardener and began volunteering at the Royal Winter Fair, the Canadian National Exhibition and Canada Blooms.
During this time, she was nominated as Master Gardener representative to the TBG board of directors where she continues to serve today. In 2001, Sonia was asked to step into the role of co-president of the board after the unexpected resignation of the serving board president. This is one of many examples of Sonia s ability, dedication and commitment to the TBG: she has been here to support, research and lead whenever and wherever she is needed.
Over the years, Sonia has been avalued member of many committees, including Building Implementation (which conducted initial research on our green roof), Through the Garden Gate, Mistletoe Magic and Governance. Together with Helen Shaw she initiated the Volunteer Committee when she recognized the
need for a stronger representation at the board level of the voices of TBG volunteers. Sonia continues to champion the volunteers by helping the Volunteer Working Group develop a Volunteer Management Plan and Awards Program, which seeks to promote stronger staff and volunteer relationships and to recognize the vital contributions of all of our volunteers.
As chair of the volunteer tour guide committee, Sonia encouraged the introduction of an English as a Second Language program. The ESL component of the tours has become a vital way of meeting the needs of the city s growing population of immigrants, and we now have guides who speak many languages, including French, German, Chinese, Gutrati Hindi, and Swahili.
When Sonia volunteers, her husband Alan is there, supporting her work and attending many functions as an unofficial volunteer. We ve always done everything together, says Sonia. Alan, a retired civil engineer, helps in Sonia s garden where he built a lovely gazebo that was featured in the New City Gardener by Judith Adam. Without the support of her husband, Sonia is adamant that she could not have done all that she has for the TBG. So thank you Alan, for without Sonia the TBG would not be what it is today! @
Graham Curry is the TBG s Program and Volunteer Co-ordinator.
by Cathie Cox ® Manager, Horticultural Services
Perennials in the TBG gardené
The creation of four acres of spectacular gardens will allow the Toronto Botanical Garden to make significant progress towards its vision as an outstanding horticultural landmark, providing leadership and education in gardening and horticulture and enhancing the quality of life for the community and visitors.
This statement became the mantra of the team of landscape architects, staff and volunteers involved in the design ofthe gardens. Each plant had to be the best available and was selected with an underlying purpose apart from design, whether it be education, research or the attraction of wildlife.
Perennials with a long flowering period, like this Eryngium will be planted throughout the garden.
i easterly part of the garden, there will be perennials that like sun and acidic soils.
One of our visions is to relate the gardens at the TBG to those of the gardeners of Toronto who face the ever present challenges of limited space. Therefore, each of our relatively small gardens has been designed as a garden in its own right apart from its place in the overall garden design. Accordingly, perennials were chosen to fit into the specific design of each garden.
For example, in Nature s Garden, the focus is on attracting wildlife, especially birds and hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects. This is a garden of two parts: a transitional area at the edge of a typical Toronto ravine and an area dedicated to plants of the Boreal Forest/Canadian Shield. So the plants in this garden were chosen not only for their abilities to attract wildlife but also as representatives of each of the two distinct ecological environments: in the ravine you ll see plants that tolerate part shade and alkaline soils, and in the more
Because of a steady decline in the native flora of Toronto due to increased competition from alien and invasive plant species and from pollution and land disturbance, only one-third of the original native populations remain in the Greater Toronto Area. It has been a thought-provoking experience to discover that some of the native plants on our wish list are impossible to locate. Nonetheless, on the shady ravine side of the garden, we ve managed to establish pockets of native columbines (Aquilegia), wild ginger (Asarum), trilliums (7rillium), violets (Viola) and Dutchman s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), which give way to drifts of meadow and wild phlox (Phlox), wild lupines (Lupinus), beardtongues (Penstemon), vervains (Verbena), ironweed (Vernonia), and a collection of asters (Eurybia, lonactis, Oclemena, and Symphiotrichum) in the more open areas.
The Entry Garden Walk, designed by Piet Oudolf in conjunction with Martin Wade Landscape Architects, is a sophisticated meadow with groups of ornamental grasses and
perennials juxtaposed and combined to emphasize their form, texture and harmony. Oudolf, a native of the Netherlands, claims that colour is secondary to form and structure. A variety of shapes helps to create interest: upright spires attract attention and act as sculptural exclamation marks; spiky plants add drama and rounded hummocks are restful.
While they may look natural, Oudolf s gardens are based on a painstakingly careful selection of plants. The perennials for this garden were ordered from Europe and will be supplied by Valleybrook Gardens. Many of them have never been seen in Ontario and should create excitement as they develop and mature.
The ornamental grasses in the Entry Walk Garden include the prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis), which is becoming increasingly popular because of its graceful hummocks of silver green foliage, tall airy flowers and seed heads that turn golden in fall. A background of small trees and shrubs will add structure, fragrance and colour in spring, and as the seasons change, hardy geraniums (Geranium), burnets (Sanguisorba), salvias (Salvia), speedwells (Veronica), blue stars (Amsonia), and astilbes (Astilbe) will fade and be superseded by the flower heads of purple coneflowers (Echinacea), sneezeweed (Helenium), Russian sage (Perovskia), Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium), asters, bee balms (Monarda), stonecrops (Sedum), and Culver s root (Veronicastrum). Their browned and blackened seed heads will be silhouetted against masses of swaying and shimmering grasses.
Shade-loving and spring-flowering hellebores (Helleborus) and barrenworts (Epimedium) will be planted under the shrubs and trees. Perennials with a long flowering period will be used repeatedly throughout the garden, including Persicaria amplexicaulis Firetail and Firedance , Geranium Rozanne and Calamintha nepeta. Perennials such as Eryngium yuccifolium (sea holly) and Echinops ritro Veitch s Blue (globe thistle) will add spiky drama to the mix.
Plant collections are an important part of a botanical garden. They are needed for research and propagation and, most importantly, to show both the amateur and the professional gardener
how and what can be grown. The steep east-facing slope of the Terrace Garden will be planted with a large and exciting collection of hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp. and cvs). More than 60 varieties of these succulents have been ordered, includingSempervivaum Hookeri , Raspberry Ice and Plastic . A collection of hellebores will be housed in the alkaline soil of the Westview Terrace, including varieties of the Christmas rose (H. niger), Lenten rose (H. x hybridus), stinking hellebore (H. foetidus), and the Corsican hellebore (H. argutifolius). The Show Garden will contain a small collection of groundcover sedums, and the west bank of the Terrace Garden will have a number of varieties of speedwells, hardy geraniums and creeping phlox.
In the Water Garden, perennial borders will be planted in a series, starting with cool colours that gradually change to dramatic hot colours. The perennials in these beds were chosen to demonstrate three design principles: to provide a succession of colour, to illustrate that colour can set a mood, and to show how colour can create a sense of distance.
The perennials in the Garden Hall Courtyard have attractive, interesting or unusual foliage. They represent the wide variety of plants that either tolerate or require acid soil conditions. And perennials such as x Heucherella (foamy bells), Astilbe, Epimedium and Japanese hakone grasses (Hakonechloa) show the breadth of hardy plants that can be used as groundcovers.
A section of the Show Garden will highlight the latest plant introductions. This garden will help both amateur and professional gardeners make educated choices that are based on actual plant performance. Organized by category, each plant will be identified, growers or nurseries where they may be purchased will be listed and any special growing conditions will be outlined. Part of the Show Garden will be dedicated to plant trials and testing in conjunction with the University of Guelph. The results of the trials will be published at the end of the season on the TBG Web site. While the Show Garden should prove to be one of the most vital and engaging of our gardens, there is much to see and learn in the diversity of the gardens at the TBG.®@
by Anna Leggatt
Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff and other dark-leaved cultivars
I GREWUPthinkingthatdahlias had no ornamental use in the garden. I never saw them planted in borders when [ was young. I thought of them as being planted in rows, fed and watered to extreme and then entered in a flower show where they won prizes for the biggest flower.
Then I discovered shorter dahlias. These were bushy and had many blooms. Some had quill-like petals, like Park Princess , which is a lovely pink cactus type. However, the foliage on these shorter plants was rather ugly, and summer was well advanced before their flowers bloomed.
Then I discovered dahlias with dark foliage. These look stunning in mixed borders, in containers and as cut flowers. One of my favourites, Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff , is a hybrid that s been around since 1924. It was named to honour Pritchard Hughes, the bishop of Llandaff (now part of Cardiff in Wales). Its foliage is typical of dahlias with glossy, deeply serrated compound leaves that are not as coarse as the foliage of most other dahlias. The plant grows to about a metre tall (three feet) and produces scarlet semi-double flowers that are held high above the foliage. The flowers are not large, about 10 centimetres (four inches) across. If you want to show them, remove the side buds that develop below the main flower on each stem to encourage larger (but fewer) blooms. To encourage a bushier more compact form when growing dahlias in the garden, remove the terminal (central bud). This will induce more branches, which will produce more flowers, but they ll be smaller than those grown for show.
Modern breeding has produced a great selection of dahlias with nearly black foliage. Poeme is a fullydouble apricot/salmon dahlia. Another double-flowering one is David Howard , which has orange flowers. Terracotta is a compact dahlia cultivar that bears single orange flowers with a dark orange streak down their centres. Yellow Hammer , with butterscotch/yellow flowers and bronze foliage, grows just over one metre (three feet) tall, and Bednall Beauty has beautiful cutleaf foliage. And then there are more bishops, including Bishop of Canterbury , Bishop of Oxford and Bishop of York .
Use your imagination when combining darkleaved dahlias in a border or container. They re striking in a pot mixed with perennials like hostas and ornamental grasses. [ also sawa stunningcombination in a flowerbed planted with the purpleleaved Bishop of Llandaff and the creamy variegated foliage ofPhloxpaniculata Norah Leigh .
Dahlias will grow in neutral to slightly acid soil (6 to 6.5 pH) and require full sun. They need regular feeding; most sources recommend a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer applied weekly in early summer, then a liquid food rich in phosphorus applied weekly from midsummer to fall, but mine get by just fine with an application of compost at planting time. Dahlias are hardy only to Zone 7 or 8, so the tubers must be lifted from the ground after the first frost has blackened the leaves, and overwintered indoors®
PN FN PN PN PN PN N PN N ;. ;.\ LAS AN .: ;: == Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener and tireless TBG volunteer.
Dahlia 'Terracotta' is one of many dark-leaved dahlias available.
1 LOVE TREES & SHRUBS
shop TBG for botanically-inspired TG home accents and for the most B current and diverse selection shop TBG of horticultural and gardening books. 416-397-1357
Monday, Closed
Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. / Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
X Expertadvice from the MasterGardeners |
Q When is a good time to remove leaf mulch from garden beds to allow bulbs to grow?
A As long as the layer of mulch isn t too deep, the plants should be able to push their way through it. However, if you wish to help them along, watch for the early bulbs like the crocus to begin to bloom and then either remove all ofthe mulch or push it aside to allow the plants to emerge more easily.
well watered. Another strategy would be to limb up the tree by having an arborist prune away the lower branches, which will allow more light to reach the ground and encourage plants to grow.
QL1 live in Zone 6b and recently bought some trillium rhizomes from a nursery. The planting instructions are less than clear to me, even though I have planted lots of bulbs, corms and tubers in the past. The rhizomes appear to have white fleshy shoots that are quite long. Are these the roots? Call me daft but I just don t know which end is up. Also, when can they be safely planted out?
Vivien Jenkinson
lllustrations:
Q Wwhat can I grow under a Norway maple (Acerplatanoides)?
A There are several strategies for dealing with the dry shade under the canopy of a Norway maple. Geranium macrorrhizum, Baltic ivy (Hedera helix Baltica ) and periwinkle (Vinca minor) are groundcovers that will tolerate these conditions. To help retain moisture, add compost to the soil and keep it
Ivy and periwinkle will grow under maples
A The optimum time for planting trilliums is in the fall, but since you have the rhizomes in hand now, plant them as soon as the soil is workable. In appearance a trillium rhizome is husky, with many stringy roots. It is possible that warmth has stimulated growth and that the white shoots you see are chlorophyll-less new growth. Generally rhizomes generate new growth from a growing tip (think of irises). However, if you really can t tell what is what, | think | would prepare a wide hole so that the rhizome rests in the earth horizontally about five centimetres (two inches) below the surface of the soil. [/n colder regions plant 7.5 to 10 centimetres (three to four inches) deep. Ed.] Gently spread the parts that are extending from the rhizome around it. Theoretically, the parts that are roots will grow downwards, and the vegetative parts will find their way to the light.
For more information about growing trilliums, a Master Gardener Fact Sheet is available at www.factsheets.torontomastergardeners.ca.
Doyouhavea questionaboutgardening?Contactthe Toronto Master Gardeners Info Line at 416-3971345 or log on to www.torontomastergardeners.ca andAskaMasterGardener!
Edwards Lectures 2006
Bold and Brilliant: Speakers and Master Classes
SPEAKER: Gordon Hayward
Toric: Uses of Stone in the Garden
WHEN: Tuesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
STONE FURNISHES the framework, the structure and the sense ofpermanence that transforms gardens. Whether in the form of retaining or freestanding walls, terraces or walkways, as bold standing stones or as boulders at the edge of a small stream, stone lends focus and provides the perfect foil for plants. In this illustrated lecture based on his latest book, Stone in the Garden, Gordon Hayward will talk about the many creative as well as practical roles stones can play in giving a garden a feeling oftimelessness, structure and solidity. He will cover both the aesthetics of stone as well as the practical concerns about the proper way to lay and set stone.
Gordon Hayward is a garden designer, lecturer and writer. For the past 18 years he and his wife, Mary, have been creating a 0.6 hectare (1.5-acre) garden at their 200-year-old home in southern Vermont. Gordon has published over 50 articles in Horticulture and many other gardening magazines.
Free to TBG members; public $15. Limited seating; door sales only.
SPEAKER: Wim Snoeijer
Topric: Clematis: Hybridization of a New Generation
WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
CLEMATIS REMAINS one of the most popular genera of vines in gardens of all shapes and sizes. Growing in popularity are the diversifolia group; a cross between integrifolia, viticella and patens groups, these plants have smaller flowers but are vigorous and more disease-resistant,
making them resistant to the clematis wilt that sometimes afflicts the showy large-flowered hybrids. This group can be used very effectively in many design situations: scrambling through and over low shrubs and conifers, on pergolas and trellises in combination with climbing roses, in borders mixed with perennials and annuals and as cut flowers for floral arrangements. Don t miss this lecture with Wim Snoeijer, one of the world s top authorities on clematis, as he gives an overview of the clematis, especially the diversifolia group, new introductions and some insights into hybridization.
Wim Snoeijer was born in Gouda, The Netherlands, where he still resides. He began his career in 1985 as head gardener at the Division of Pharmacognosy of Leiden University. In the 1980s he became interested in clematis and started to research this genus, both scientifically and practically. Currently, Wim works as breeder at the clematis nursery ofJ. van Zoest B.V. in Boskoop, The Netherlands, which has introduced 15 of Wim s new cultivars. His monograph on the genus Agapanthus was published by Timber Press in 2004.
Free to TBG members; public $15. Limited seating; door sales only.
Master Classes
INSTRUCTOR: Gordon Hayward
Toric: Garden Design in Harmony with Your House
WHEN: Wednesday, March 29, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHETHER YOU ARE just beginning to design a garden, starting to work with a
designer, or have an existing garden that lacks coherence, this workshop will suit your needs. Gordon aims to help you develop a framework and select some of the major plantings for specific areas around your home. First and foremost, this is a workshop about garden framework, structure and organization of space. A slide-illustrated lecture will present ideas on how to design a garden in harmony with your house. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Gordon to develop your own design, which will be shared with the class for comment. Each participant should leave at the end of the day with a complete design. Gordon s books will be available for purchase, and he will be happy to personalize your copy during the workshop.
Public $280 / Member $250 (includes a boxed lunch and beverages)
A couple may register and work together on one design for $270 (includes 2 lunches) Limited registration: to register, call 416-397-1340
Toronto Botanical Garden
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Followed at 7:30 p.m. by the Edwards Lecture
Through the Garden Gate: Toronto Islands
Atour ofartists' and plantlovers' private gardens which have been created and maintained with great care expressing the character oftheir owners. This tour, now in its 19th year,journeys across the lake via ferry to reveal the hidden and original garden gems onthe Toronto Island. NEW! Admission this yearwill also include your ferry ride to the island and a shuttle to Ward s Island to visit The Franklin Children s Garden. Unique to this tour, each garden has a Toronto Master Gardener who is there to answer questions, share advice and point out areas ofinterest.
Sat. June 17 & Sun. June 18, 2006 11 a.m.to 4 p.m.
*PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME!
Public $40 / Members $35 On Sale as of February 18, 2006 Limited quantity available. Event hotline, 416-397-1371
THANKS TO ALL OFYOU who have taken the time to visit the Weston Family Library in its beautiful new space. And thank you for your patience as the library got up and running again, and as I gradually eased into my new position. I've already learneda lot, particularlywith the help of those of you who have offered good suggestions and advice. I am busy working on expanding our collection based on your book recommendations!
This spring s program roster is full of great courses, with particularly good offerings in botanical fine arts. To get your creative juices flowing, here s a selection ofbooks with gorgeous botanical illustrations perfect for browsing while waiting for the last snows ofwinter to melt away.
TheArt ofBotanicalPaintingby Margaret Stevens
TheArtoftheFlower:TheFloralStillLifefrom the 17th to the20th Century, edited by Hans-Michael Herzog
TheArt ofGarden Photographyby lan Adams
The CompleteBook of169RedoutéRoses by Frank J. Anderson
Book REVIEW
A Contemplation Upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth & Literature
This award-winning book (Quill & Trowel Award of the Garden Writers Association of America) by Bobby J. Ward, an environmental scientist and avid gardener, is an exploration into the cultural significance of our favourite flowers. Ward has selected over eighty varieties of ornamental garden plants and wildflowers and dedicates a short chapter to each. His research highlights recurring themes such as mythological tales, religious symbolism and poetic associations, including
An English Florilegium by Christopher Brickell, illustrated by Mary Grierson
Focus on Flowers:Discovering andPhotographing Beauty in Gardens and Wild Places by Allen Rokach & Anne Millman
Natural Watercolours: Paintingfrom Nature Made Easyby RichardTaylor
Portraits ofFlowers, engravings by G. Brender & Brandis, text by Patrick Lima
Printmaking in the Service ofBotany by Gavin D.R. Bridson & Donald E. Wendel
Reflections ofNature: Flowers in AmericanArt by Ella M. Foshay
Treasures oftheRoyalHorticulturalSociety: 150 Years ofBotanical Illustration by Brent Elliott
To reserve these and othergreatreads, call416-3971343 or e-mail library@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
fairy tales, love and the language offlowers. While most of his research focused on Western literature as he explains, it was difficult enough to sort out the historical irregularities of plant names in English and Latin alone! the stories he tells are drawn from both old favourites and nearly unknown authors. This is a treasure trove of references for the avid reader to pursue, and a great book to dip into on a blustery afternoon. Reviewed by Leanne Hindmarch
Other books by Bobby J. Ward available in the TBG s Weston Family Library: A Garden ofOne s Own: Writings ofElizabeth Lawrence (co-edited with Barbara Scott), on our shelves at 820 L136
The PlantHunter s Garden: The NewExplorers and TheirDiscoveries, on our shelves at 580 W11
¥ Enjoy the Garden Marketplace
Over 70,000 sq. ft. ofPlants, Bulbs & Hard-To-Find Tools! % Eseape Winter in the Paradise Gardens Mar(h I 6 > I9 Tour Beautifully Landscaped INTERNATIONAL CENTRE Feature Gardens! 6900 Airport Rd. & Help Kids Grow in the "Make-It &Take-It" Children 's Sponsored by: Garden! }@Rrampton
% Experience Perfect Plants & Flowers In the Ontario Horticultural Association's Plant & /< Floral CompetitionShowcase!
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS TIME BE SURE TO CHECK AHEAD.
CLASSIFIED ADS
Calling all Gardeners Marjorie Mason s
Personalised Garden Tours
July 1 to 13 2006 Discover with us the Bagatelle Rose Gardens in Paris and ChateauVillandry in the LoireValley. Tour Giverny, the Normandy Beaches and Bois des - Moutiers. Excite the senses at Hampton Court Flower Show, Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Wisley.These are just some tempting highlights planned for all gardening enthusiasts. $4289.00 per person double occupancy includes Air Canada direct flights. August 12-25 2006Highlands and Islands of Scotland Golf and Garden Tour to Loch Lomond, Islay, Mull, lona and Skye, Cawdor
Milne House Garden Club 6th Legacy Event, Tuesday, May 2, 2006 @ 12:15 p.m., Demonstration Tickets $25 per person Demonstration by International Designer ANDREAS VERHEIJEN in Floral Hall - Toronto Botanical Garden. Wednesday, May 3 - Morning and afternoon workshops @ $25 per workshop plus materials. Phone 416-292-4661
