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 environ~ment. Since its inception in 1958, the Toronto Botanical Garden, formerly The Civic Garden Centre, has encouraged, stimulated and educated
countless Canadian gardeners. Almost 50 years later, the Toronto Botanical Garden has expanded its vision and set a goal to become aself-sustaining urban oasis while making Toronto the most horticulturallyenlightenedcityintheworld.
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 horticultural library has over 8,000 books, periodicals, and a large collection of clippings, pamphlets,
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: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
shopTBG: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Library and shopTBG 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.questions.torontomastergardeners.ca
Children s Programs: 416-397-1355 childrensprograms@torontobotanicalgarden.ca shopTBG: 416-397-1357 shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Volunteer Co-ordinator: 416-397-4145 volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
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 manyuniquegifts, booksandgar- | dening 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 Toronto s favourite garden spots.
3% Patrons
HONORARY PATRON: Adrienne Clarkson
Brian Bixley, Awdrey Clarke, MarkCullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, LorraineJohnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3% Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Geoffrey Dyer
Marisa Bergagnini, Susan Burns, Dugald Cameron, Peter Cantley, Bob Crump, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Tony DiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater,James E. Eckenwalder, Ralph Fernando, Mary Fisher, Colomba B. Fuller,Janet Greyson, Bill Harding, Marjorie Harris,Janet Karn, Sonia Leslie, Rosemary Phelan,Jean Read, Roberta Roberts, Dawn Scott
3¢ Staff Members
Executive Director
Director, Communications
Program Co-ordinator
Special Events Supervisor
Special EventsAssistant
Director, Horticulture
Head Gardener
TaxonomicAssistant
Manager, shopTBG
Director of Development
Fundraising Assistant
Children s Programs Supervisor
Children s Programs Co-ordinator
Facility Sales Co-ordinator
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Officers
Volunteer Intern
Librarian
Receptionists
Accountant
Administrator
Margo Welch
Jenny Rhodenizer
Graham Curry
Stephanie Chiang
Joanna Verano
Cathie Cox
David Leeman
Amanda King
Brad Keeling
Melanie Gaertner
Sarah Durnan
Sandra Little
Carrie Anne Fisher
Kristin Campbell
Walter Morassutti
Alvin Allen
Jack Speranza
Tanya Ziat
Leanne Hindmarch
Nancy Kostoff
Tanya Ziat
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
II:(;rraine gunter (c(h;ir), )
rraine Flanigan (editor),
Marion Magee,
Jenny Rhodenizer
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 Jan./Feb. 2007, issue must be receivedbyNovember4,2006.
Opinions expressed in Trellis do notnecessarily reflect those of the TBG. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited
Fireplaces showcase the season s finery
Marjorie Harris and John Valleau reveal their favourite plants
= by Margo Welch ¢ EXecutive DIRECTOR
Our Gardens - A Gift to the City
his fall has been a whirlwind of activity Tand excitement. The opening of the gardens generated welcome media attention, which in turn motivated a new group of visitors to come and see just what this new botanical garden is all about. As well, many returning visitors to Edwards Gardens explored our site, enjoying the enhancements to their beloved park.
The response to our new gardens has been wonderful, and the enthusiasm shown by so many is very rewarding. It is particularly encouraging when the comments are from knowledgeable gardeners, such as our members, and professionals who truly appreciate the design detail and variety of plant material. However, even casual visitors seem as intrigued and ask lots of questions of the staff and volunteers working in the gardens. Some are curious about particular plants and want to know if they can take them home (no!); others want to know about the TBG, how we are funded and if we are part of the city; while still others are interested in certain gardens or the green roof.
The TBG is thefirst not-for-profit organization in Toronto to receive LEED certification.
I confess to being amazed at what we've accomplished whenI stroll around the gardens or walk through the light-filled building. Only a few years ago the project of creating a botanical garden was a mere idea dreamed about by a small group of individuals. Their vision and determination drew others to the cause and together this band of citizens created the Toronto Botanical Garden a gift to our city. The TBG s impact on gardening, horticulture and the environment will be significant, but the project is also a shining example of what can be accomplished when individuals come together, have a great sense of civic pride and work with a generosity of spirit to make it happen. It has been inspiring to work with such a group.
Sometimes the questions are unusual, requiring some very creative answers. For instance, head gardener David Leeman told one family group who couldn t understand the purpose of the Spiral Mound that he lives inside it. The children were delighted! With interpretive signage and most of the plant labels in place we have been able to provide basic information that satisfies most visitors. This comingyear, our goal is to develop more detailed information about the gardens and our plant collection and to make this available online as well as on site.
As proud as we are of these accomplishments, we re also pleased to announce that our building, The George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture, has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Canada Certification with a Silver rating. The TBG is the first not-for-profit organization in Toronto to receive LEED certification, and we are delighted to be able to demonstrate our commitment to environmental responsibility through this achievement.
In September we welcomed back the staff of Canada Blooms. After an absence of a number of years when they relocated their offices, the team that co-ordinates this popular spring event can now be found in the Moriyama wing of our building. We are pleased to have them back with us and look forward to exploring possible areas for collaboration and outreach.®
Friends of theToronto Botanical Garden
Thank you to the following Friends for providing generous support towards our programs and services. Our Friends are fundamental to theTBG s ability to educate and provide the community with the most valuable and up-to-date information on gardening and horticulture. The following individuals made donations to the Friends Program from July 1, 2006
to September 8, 2006.
DIRECTOR S CIRCLE
($2,500 +)
Barbara Mayer BENEFACTORS
($1,000 - $2,499)
Anonymous
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
($500 - $999)
Michael Cassels
Mary & Jim Fisher
Mary Hatch
Juke-Box of the Himalayas, Inc. FRIENDS
($140 - $299)
Anonymous (2)
Katy Anderson
Robert Armstrong
Carol Bairstow
Phyllis Bassett
Kathleen Belshaw
Lynn Bennett
Deborah Cloakey
Mr. & Mrs. PJ. Dalton
David Davidian
Florence Deacon
Ralph Fernando
Helen Galt
Nancy Garrow
Valerie M. Grant
Viive Kittask
Susan Leask
Greer Anne Ng
Toshi Oikawa
Mary Jean Potter
Joy Reddy
Vivian Rosen & Irving L. Rosen Foundation
Helen Skinner
Loretta & Stanley Skinner
Irene & David Soong
Nancy Sutherland
ToniVella
Gregory Williams
Elsa & JohnYoung
Milne House Garden Club
PRAECGHE NT S
CHRISTMAS WITH MILNE HOUSE WORKSHOPS
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Toronto Botanical Garden
Floral Hall
1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets $25, available from 416-449-3664
Taking Care of Nomenclature a Special Thanks to Tish Coombes
FLIP THROUGH THE PAGES of any issue of Trellis and you ll see the hard work of many behind-the-scenes experts who try to make the information in each article you read as inspiring, informative and accurate as possible.
One of these dedicated volunteers isTish Coombes. Since 2002 when she was a Toronto Master Gardener in Training, Tish has been our editorial assistant in charge of checking the horticultural facts of each story. If a plant is listed as hardy to Zone 5, you can be sureTish has checked it out with a host of authorities. In the ever-changing world of plant names, Tish has unswervingly tracked down the correct botanical name for each plant listed in a story, unravelling the mysteries of trade designations, series and group names, species and hybrids. After moving from Toronto to Picton two years ago,Tish remained committed to her volunteer duties at 7rellis (much to our relief!), but after careful consideration she has now decided to resign. As an editor, | hate to admit that words seem inadequate in expressing the gratitude of the Trellis Committee to such a dedicated and valuable volunteer. With heartfelt thanks, we wish her well in all her future endeavours.
Lorraine Flanigan
Chilign's Progeams
by Sandra Little ® CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS SUPERVISOR
Changing Seasons
THE TEACHING GARDEN is quieter now that our summer camps are finished. Campers and staff had a wonderful time. The Can You Dig It? participants unravelled the stolen pudding mystery, and many of them were able to see the turtle brought in by the Toronto Zoo s Adopt-APond initiative. As the seasons of the Children s Programs have changed, so has our staff. With former co-ordinator Caley Baker enrolled in journalism school at Dalhousie University and past supervisor Tobin Day back in her hometown of Owen Sound, there has been a complete change in staffin the children s programs department at the TBG.
As the new supervisor of Children s Programs, I d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. 'm a recent graduate of Teachers College at the University of Toronto with a lifelong interest in plants. I have studied mustard plants in the Yukon and algae in Churchill, Manitoba. I also completed my masters degree, which involved the study of natural methods for cleaning up contaminated soil.
Replacing Caley Baker as co-ordinator is Carrie Anne Fisher. Carrie completed her teachers education at York University and holds an undergraduate degree in environmental studies with a focus on community gardening and experiential education. She spent the spring and summer of 2005 and 2006 running children s gardening programs at High Park.
Carrie Anne and I have a lot of wonderful children s programming planned, such as Saturday morning family programs, details of
which are posted on the TBG Web site at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca. We have also begun a partnership with the Weston Family Library to offer a free children s story time at 11 a.m. on Wednesday mornings.
School visits start at our Allan Gardens facility on November 6, and we have lots of special events planned. At the Allan Gardens Children s Conservatory, the TBG, TD Bank Financial Group and the City of Toronto have collaborated to offer inner city schools free gardening programs over the winter months.
We are also offering the James Boyd Children s Centre at the TBG as a venue for children s birthday parties. Parties, which include a visit from the TBG s own Butterwort the Clown, may take place on Saturdays or Sundays and can be booked by contacting Sandra Little or Carrie Anne Fisher at 416-397-1355.
Both Carrie Anne and I are looking forward to meeting as many children and TBG members as possible, and we hope to bring our energy and enthusiasm to the upcoming children s programs.®
Sign up for our newsletter
The Children s Programs department is planning to produce a quarterly newsletter filled with details of upcoming events and activities. This newsletter will highlight the new program offerings and the dates and details for program registration. To be placed on the mailing list, send an e-mail to teachinggarden@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
1 Marjorie Harris our Editor-at-Large answers your gardening questions.
2 Ideas and Inspiration
Design solutions for condo terraces and backyards big and small plus easy-to-do garden projects
3 Information
5 Outdoor Decor Solutions
Learn
A Special Thank You to contributors and supporters of the 6th Annual TBG Golf Tournament
Event Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor JORY &
CONTEST AND CHALLENGE SPONSORS
Hole in OneAir Canada/National Post Hole-in-One Program
Men s LongestDrive Lakeshore Inc.
Women's Longest Drive Ernst &Young LLP
Men s Closestto the Pin Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Limited
Women s Closest to the Pin C.A. Delaney Capital Management Ltd.
Putting Contest Bousfields Inc./Dalton Engineering & Construction Limited
HOLE
SPONSORS
Aldershot Landscape Contractors Limited
ASB Greenworld Ltd.
Bradford Greenhouses Ltd.
Divine Homes Inc.
DonValley North Lexus
David & Margriet Dunlap
Golden Rose Canada Inc.
Heathbridge Capital Management Ltd.
ITML Horticultural Products Inc.
JVK Ltd.
Konkle Farm & Greenhouses Ltd.
Martin & Meredith Limited Real Estate Brokerage
Mehler Fashion Imports Inc.
Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
PMA Landscape Architects
Rosenswig McRaeThorpe LLP
Royal LePage Signature Realty
Sanwell Nurseries Limited
Scotia McLeod John McColl
Scotts Canada Ltd.
Smith, Nixon & Co. LLP Chartered Accountants
Thornhill Electric Services
Witzke s Greenhouses
SPECIAL GIFTS
Sue & Michael Burns, Ralph Fernando, David & Janet Greyson, Rosenswig McRae Thorpe LLP
GIFT-IN-KIND DONORS
Abbott, a la Carte Kitchen Inc., Alfi, Algoma Central Corporation, All Cover Portable Systems Inc., Amadeus Choir, AT Design, Beacon Hall, Biaggio, Sue & Michael Burns, Canadian Manda Group, CanadianTire (Sheppard & Leslie), CanStage, City ofToronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Heather Coulter, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Dalton Engineering & Construction Limited, Paul DeCorso, Design Directions, George & Heather Dickson, Dugald Cameron of Gardenimport.com, Eagles Nest Golf Club, Beth Edney, Firefly Books, Five O Seven Antiques, Gardening Life Magazine, George Sant & Sons Limited, Georgian Peaks Club, David & Janet Greyson, Janet Greyson, Maggie Greyson, Phil Hardy, Marjorie Harris, Hauser Company Stores, Heathbridge Capital Management Ltd, Hermes, Hofland, Horticultural Design, Jennifer Hough, Indoors & Out, Izakaya, JVK Ltd., Brad Keeling, LeeValleyTools, Loblaws, Marjorie Mason, Michael Kluthe Salon & Beauty Spa, NUVO Magazine, Oak Ridges Food Market, Ontario Gardener Magazine, Pao Tau Enterprises Inc., Penguin Group, Publishers Group Canada, Random House of Canada, Ridpath s Fine Furniture, Mary-Dawn Roberts, Angie Rowan, SCOREGolf Magazine, Shatzy s Trattoria, shopTBG, Simply Splendid Planning, Southbrook Winery, St. Joseph Media, Thomas Allen & Son Ltd., Toronto Botanical Garden, Torre &Tagus Designs,Troke-Gap Associates, Tutto Bene, Unilever Canada,ViaVerde
GOLF COMMITTEE
Peter Cantley (chair), Sue Burns (past chair), Rick Gosine, Janet Greyson, Donald Karn, Garian Sellors, Janice Turner King, Stephanie Chiang, Jenny Rhodenizer, Sarah Durnan, Melanie Gaertner, JoannaVerano
A Gala Event and a Great Opening Day for the TBG!
Susan Dyer, Marjorie Harris and Lindsay Dale-Harris
The Right Honourable Adrienne
George and Kathy Dembroski
~ Mark Cullen, Margo Welch
anet Kai'h, - Mayor Miller, . Midge Cooper
Holiday Decorating, Naturally
TBG instructor Linda Lee Purvisshares her tips for creatingfestive décor using the bounty ofnature.
A potpourri of pine cones, acorns, cinnamon sticks and dried fruit welcomes visitors for the holidays.
oliday decorating for the home needn t H be a chore or a puzzle. There are two essential decorating elements that outnumber all others, hands down. The first is an evergreen wreath that elegantly bedecks a wall, fireplace or door; the second is a table arrangement festooning a coffee or dining table. As well as these favourites, there are other effective ways to bring the virtues of the great outdoors into your home for the holiday season. Here are a few ideas for decorating with natural elements in a relaxed, yet elegant, style.
Tricks with evergreens
Fresh evergreens are an easy, effective and affordable filler. Beautiful, textural and fragrant, varieties that exude minimal sap are best. Balsam fir, hemlock and white pine are popular cut-green choices, not only because they are less sticky but also because they are long-lasting, and because they re soft and pliable and pleasant to handle. Augment these materials with the unique characteristics of eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, salal, pittisporum, myrtle and holly. These and other distinctive foliages can be
obtained through your florist. Peruse your own garden for seed heads, branches or pods and berries to broaden your options.
Evergreen boughs and sprigs can perform great decorating tricks all on their own. Tuck them amidst displayed dishes, canisters or other exposed wares on open shelves or Kkitchen counters. Place bits of green foliage on the buffet table, around serving platters or under the basket of keys on the front hall table. Make long runners of greens down the centre of your dining table, for example, and weave minilights through them, nestling in ornaments, fresh fruits or pine cones.
Gather a few boughs of evergreens mix and match different kinds and splay them into a gentle fan shape, securing the stems with wire to keep them together. Wrap the binding with ribbon or raffia, and you have an easy and inexpensive door swag in a matter of moments.
Seasonal harvest
For the mantel, combine the unique characteristics of fresh artichokes, pomegranates, limes and pine cones with lush fragrant evergreens. Selecting
the freshest produce available will yield longlasting results. Arrange the evergreens first to create a base. If the mantel is wide enough to safely support candles, display them within the greens in hurricane globes or glass holders, which make the candles burn better and look more attractive. Scatter casual groupings of the fresh artichokes, pomegranates and limes amongst the greenery, and balance the look with natural or gilded pine cones.
Scents of the season
Suffuse a room with the sumptuous aromas of the season with a big basket of hearthside potpourri. Unlike the little commercial bags of potpourri available for purchase this homemade version is large, chunky, fresh and custom blended not only to scent the room, but to provide a visual welcome to hearth or table. To make this pungent potpourri, position cut evergreen pieces, right side up, in a wide basket. Settle in pine cones, acorns, cinnamon sticks, oven-dried orange and apple slices, starfish, artichokes and other readily available goodies. Over the top, add drops of fragrance oil or pure essential oils of cinnamon, fir, pine, orange, nutmeg or others, alone or in combination. These oils may evaporate over the first few weeks. However, you can make a simple scent booster as follows: pour a teaspoon or so of the oil(s) into a spray bottle with 250 millilitres (one cup) ofwater. Add a drop of liquid soap (to emulsify the oil and water) and then spritz your aromatic cocktail over the basket contents as needed to keep it fully charged especially just before guests arrive.
Starfish ornaments
Starfish, available at craft or aquarium stores, are one of the most delightful treasures for holiday decorating. Their perfect star shape reflects the theme of the season, and they can be transformed into elegant ornaments in a matterofmoments.Justmake a loop with apiece ofthin gold cord about 20 centimetres
Holiday workshops
Linda Lee Purvis will be conducting two informative and materials-inclusive workshops at the TBG, designed to yield stunning results. On Sunday, November 26, Great Big Evergreen Wreath will show you how to assemble a long-lasting wreath from scratch. OnThursday, December 7, take part in EvergreenTable Arrangement to create a stunning holiday centrepiece. For information and registration, contact Graham Curry at 416-397-1362 or programs@torontobotanicalgarden.ca; or register online at torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
(eightinches) long, tyingtogether the two ends. Hot glue the knotted end onto the back of the starfish and the ornament is ready to hang. A Christmas tree decorated exclusively with starfish, dried orange slices, raffia bows, punched tin ornaments and lots of tiny white lights is a tree sure to illuminate a room with a simple, natural elegance.
Decorating for the holidays should be a joy in itself. Keep it simple. Be inspired by the rustic traditions of yesterday, spruce them up with modern morsels and witness the synergyofnature as it permeates your home with earthy magic. Then cue up the music, light the candles and welcome the season with festive panache!®
Linda Lee Purvis is a floral designer, teacher and artist who has operated her company, Magnolia s, for over 15years.
Nourished by the Past. Living in the Present. Providing for the Future.
Fran Moscallexplains how the Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance is helping to save our most remarkable trees.
any Canadians regret the loss and/or M lack of protection of our natural heritage, including individual trees, groves or arboreal remnants and, particularly in Northern Ontario, the large tracts of trees that make up our boreal forest. Such threats as commercial development, pollution, logging, neglect and insect infestation destroy and/or place at risk our old-growth trees.
The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) shares these concerns for the health, wellbeing and continued existence of these urban and rural forests. The OUFC is a volunteer organization that works in partnership with others on programs and projects that promote urban forest management. The OUFC, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Community Heritage Ontario, formed a heritage tree protection project called the Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance (OHTA), a volunteerbased organization whose mandate is to identify and conserve old and remarkable trees.
The OHTA works with communities and municipal governments to raise awareness of heritage trees and to provide tools for taking action to ensure the protection of these trees through legislation by all levels of government. The group also plans to develop (or modify) a user-friendly database to register trees designated as heritage by their communities.
To bequeath a forest legacy to future generations we need to formally recognize the historical, cultural and physical significance of heritage trees. Only then can we generate arguments to legally ensure their continued protection. To this end, the OHTA has developed a publication, Securing the Future of Heritage Trees: A Protection Toolkitfor Communities. The toolkit tells the stories of how a venerable bur oak moved a provincial highway one metre, an old white oak stimulated the interest of riders on a local bus, a stand of old-growth eastern white pine stunned foresters working for a pulp and paper company and a pristine stand of healthy
HERITAGE TREE WORKSHOP AT THE TBG
The OUFC and the OHTAare sponsoring an'edutatiohaiworkshopat theTBG on Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. to 3:30p.m. IomPauiAird andother heritage leaders to learn about the tools youneedto energize your communityintotakmgaction to protectyour heritage trees. For mformatmn and reg:stration 416 39 362or prog :ams@torontobotanicalgardenca; or regnster onlineattomntobatamcalgardenca
Ontario Heritage Tree Allianee
old-growth black ash was felled in a provincial historical park.
The toolkit includes information and resources to help communities identify, research, nominate, evaluate and designate trees having heritage value. To ensure integrity in assessing the heritage value of a tree, the OHTA adopted the definition of heritage tree develop by Paul Aird, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, and used it to produce the evaluation instruments. The definition recognizes the interconnection of our human cultural history and our natural heritage:
HERITAGE TREE: a notable specimen because of its size, form, shape, beauty, age, colour, rarity, genetic constitution, or other distinctive features; a living relic that displays evidence of cultural modification by Aboriginal or nonAboriginal people including strips of
Get involved!
Make a difference in your community. Become a volunteer ofthe Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance by contacting the project coordinator at hegilles@connection.com.
Toolkit
Copies of Securing theFuture of Heritage Treescan be purchased at workshops and conferences for $20 or by mail for $30 (includes postage and handling). Make cheques payable to Ontario Urban Forest Council, 1523 WardenAve., Units 23/25, Toronto M1R 4Z8. For further information, contact jradec@mountpleasantgroup.com. bark or knot-free wood removed, test hole cut to determine soundness, furrows cut to collect pitch or sap, or blazes to mark a trail; a prominent community landmark; a specimen associated with a historic person, place, event or period; a representative ofa crop grown by ancestors and their successors that is at risk of disappearing from cultivation; a tree associated with local folklore, myths, legends or traditions; a specimen identified by members of a community as deserving heritage recognition.
Some chapters in the toolkit describe strategies for the protection of heritage trees; costing and documentation of the protection process; a nomination form template and evaluation instruments to assist in assessing trees heritage value (e.g., rarity, size, age, form, aesthetics, historical and cultural significance, physical condition and expected longevity). Other chapters document Ontario s legislative tools, action plans, tree species guides and a sampling of Ontario s oldest trees. Finally the
toolkit includes a reading list, Internet resources and a handy pocket with maps of the location of heritage trees as well as various brochures.
To nurture our heritage trees, we need to look after the young and middle-aged ones. Their protectors might include individuals, organizations, municipalities, corporations, ethno-cultural groups, religious communities, First Nations peoples and provincial government agencies. Children and adolescents can play a part as well. The vigilance of these groups, by encompassing trees in all states of growth, from old through middle age and those just beginning their growth, becomes a past, present and future endeavour requiring a long-term commitment.®
Fran Moscall is Project Coordinator, Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance.
MANTEL MAGIC
Fireplaces showcase the season sfinery, says Michael Renaud, so don t be afraid to experiment and havefun!
THE FIREPLACE IS the heart of the home , a focal point and usually the dominant feature of the room. They are being installed in living rooms and dining rooms and also in bedrooms and bathrooms and on outdoor terraces. A fireplace and its mantel can be a design challenge, so here are a few basic tips to consider before tackling the job.
1. Followthe theme ofthe room. Whetherformal, traditional, ultra-modern or rustic, this should come into play when purchasing accessories.
2. Scale. Tall ceilings combined with a high, deep mantel will command larger details that won t get lost in all that space. Larger containers, sculpture, candles and other accessories will be needed to fit into the scheme and match the scale of the surrounding area.
3. More on scale. Narrow mantels with low ceilings look best with slender rectangular containers filled with hedge-like groupings of greenery or florals. Repetitive details also fit in beautifully.
4. No competition. Make sure that whatever is used on the mantel does not block the painting, mirror or sculpture above. It should appear to frame and complement the art, not to compete with it.
5. Tie it all together. Select containers of similar colours and textures to the material of the frame of the art work above. For example, if the frame is gilded, use a gold container. And let colours in the artwork guide your floral selections as well.
6. Mix it up. Instead of a balanced arrangement, try an asymmetrical combination. For example, mass a few objects on one side and balance them with a single large piece on the other.
7. Collections. Objects commonlyused on mantels include pillar candles, urns, topiary, antique clocks and framed photos but themed collections make a great alternative. Whatever you collect finials, pineapples, roosters or silver candlesticks display them on the mantel to give it a personal touch.
8. Keep it fresh. Use fresh materials that resist dryingout. Potted greens such as hollyand cypress
will last longer than a garland of cut evergreen boughs. If you are using freshly cut boughs, consider putting them in small containers of water which can be topped up to maintain freshness.
9. Faux finery. Artificial greenery, florals and berries have come a long way. They provide an excellent alternative to fresh materials because they can be arranged early in the season when you have more time to decorate. Embellish them with fresh flowers, such as roses, orchids, lilies and amaryllis as well as fragrant greens, pine, cedar and eucalyptus, for parties throughout the season.
10. Light it up. In non-working fireplaces, the hearth can be filled with pillar candles ofvarying heights to simulate the look of a real fire. Surround the base of the candles with pine cones and holly or, for a contemporary look, mass silver baubles to reflect the light and add sparkle.
OwnerofHorticulturalDesignInc., MichaelRenaud is afloristand designerofoutdoorlivingspaces.®
Around the Fireplace: Seasonal Mantels and Home Decorating for the Holidays
Tuesday, November 14, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Join Michael Renaud for a special presentation on garden inspired home décorfor the holidays. Members, $65, public $75 Register onlineatwww.torontobotanicalgarden.ca email programs@torontobotanicalgarden.ca or call 416-397-1340
& Plant-o-philes Marjorie Harris andJohn Valleau don t always see eye to eye about the plants that deserve a place in yourgarden.
Lorraine Flanigan interviewed both hort celebs to get the scoop on theirfavourites, and a sneak peek at what they ll be saying about them on November 4.
Every garden needs at least one expensive plant! So, run, don t walk, to your preferred financial institution cos you 'll need to rob a bank to afford one of the pricey new podophyllums (a.k.a. mayapples) that Marjorie says are essential items this season. And although this woodlander keeps to the shady spots of the garden, it knows how to get your attention. With names like Kaleidoscope and Spotty Dotty you can t ignore the colourful foliage of these bold plants.
Oh, and the heucheras I love Obsidian , Purple Petticoats and a new one called Sashay , sighs Marjorie. Heuchera Sashay is a vamp with curly-edged leaves frilly purple underskirts flash against black-veined green uppers that Marjorie says can be a bit difficult
to place, but once she s settled into the right spot, Sashay is a stunner who ll win your heart. It s all about foliage, asserts Marjorie. One of her favourite plant pictures is a grouping of fancy-leafed plants that look good even in the heat of the summer, and they aren t water gobblers either, she s quick to add. These wellbehaved (and gorgeous) plants include Colocasia esculenta Black Magic , Sambucus nigra Black Lace Eva and a golden form of St. John s wort (Hypericum androsaemum Tutsan ), and, just
for good measure, Marjorie tosses in a kale or two to complete the masterpiece.
Frantic about ferns, Marjorie s latest love is the curly-edged Athyrium filix-femina Frizelliae . This dainty specimen, says Marjorie, is a showstopper, even growing in the subtle-most of spots.
Channelling Debbie Travis, Marjorie can t say enough about /pomoea batatas Carolina Bronze . It s a great decorator plant that looks good in containers, she says, and it s easy to get along with too - its soft bronzy colour complements many others, making this annual a must-have plant for the upcoming season.
® He Says
Ya gotta be tough to make the grade in John Valleau s garden. Take Hydrangea paniculata Pink Diamond Interhydia , for example. It spends the winter in an oak half-barrel container with no protection and comes through the following spring in perfect condition! (Okay, so he gardens in balmy Zone 6b.) The flowers are white at first, very conical and open, almost lacy looking, he adds, and later in the season they fade to pinkish tones with sort of red speckles.
Check the flight manifest before your next trip. If you're sitting next to John, chances are you ll be sharing space with a plant like Canna Australia . He fell in love with it the moment he saw it about four years ago at the VanDusen Garden Show. I had to drag one home on the plane, he confesses. The leaves are the darkest of any Canna ['ve seen a stunning midnight burgundy, and the flowers are screaming orange. The only problem is that it seems to have weak stems that need staking.
Constantly on the lookout for new ways with plants, John was bowled over at the Montreal Botanical Garden with the orangey cinnamon tones of Sedona coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides Sedona ), planted in huge drifts in the shade garden. It really added a punch of colour, says John whose other favourite coleus is Freckles , which has foliage in a bizarre corn candy combination of orange and yellow. Plants in John s garden have to be able to
take the heat, and he s amazed at how well Perilla Magilla stands up to summer temperatures. At the start of the season, ...it starts out about the size of a coleus in a four-inch pot, but by the end of autumn it can grow into a bush three feet tall and two feet wide, and it just glows. It handles a lot of shade too!
Not just a substitute forAcanthus mollis for the zonally challenged, stresses John, A. hungaricus has great merit on its own. The flower spikes are every bit as good as A. mollis, if not better because they don t grow seven feet tall.
Of all the new Echinacea (and they're beginning to nudge the numbers ofHeuchera!), John s current favourite is E. x Sunrise , one of the Big Sky series. Why? Because the creamy yellow blooms are such a complete change. It seems to have good vigour too but might need to be staked, especially in part shade where it flops a little.
A Dbit hesitantly, John says he thinks he likes Coreopsis Créme Briilée Crembru . The colour is deeper than C. verticillata Moonbeam , the plants are more upright and a bit taller, perhaps even floppy in rich soil. But it seems robust and (touch wood) sofarseemstobe hardyinsouthern Ontario.
Oh, and one more annual he raves about: Euphorbia hypericifolia Diamond Frost Inneuphe . It won t bowl anybody over, but it s a long-blooming workhorse of a thing, looking a bit like a compact baby s breath. But it s still a bit hard to find for some reason.@
AN AFTERNOON OF PLANTS AND WINE TASTING
Local gardening celebrity Marjorie Harris and her guest, JohnValleau, divulge their favourite plants of all types during a relaxing and informative afternoon that also features a wine tasting presentation byTony Aspler. Open your eyes to a whole new world and have the confidence to choose the right plants and the proven winners.
Limited seating. Please call to reserve your seat or group table at 416-397-1340.
Saturday, November 4, 2 to 4 p.m.
Public $50 / Members $45
Traditions of aJapanese New Year
Shogatsu, explains Lorraine Hunter, is as big a holiday in herfamily as Christmas Day
xactly a week after E we celebrate Christmas with turkey, cranberry and all the fixings, my family sits down for another feast on New Year s Day. But the menu on this occasion includes sushi and many other dishes made with rice, cooked and served in a variety of ways.
This way we continue to maintain ties to both my heritage, which is British, and to my husband s, which is Japanese. Many Canadian families of Japanese background hold open house on Shogatsu, or New Year s Day. At one time, the men went calling and the women stayed home to entertain and serve the guests. For my husband s family, it s as big a holiday gathering as Christmas Day is for mine.
Preparations begin several days ahead as all of the cooking and preparation must be completed before midnight on New Year s Eve. Today, most of the traditional foods can be purchased at Japanese stores and restaurants, including the Japanese mandarin oranges that Canadians of all backgrounds now enjoy over the holidays.
Omochi, a glutinous rice, is prepared a few days beforehand, to be toasted and served in clear or bean paste soup on New Year s morning. Omochi is made by soaking the rice overnight and then pounding it with wooden mallets into a dough-like consistency. Today individuals and groups make it to sell or share with friends and relatives.
An assortment of dishes is served to guests on New Year s Day, most representing long life, good health, prosperity or happiness. Two large fish are traditionally baked together, belly to belly, and put out as a table centrepiece. They
represent the unity and harmony between husband and wife.
Specialfoods are traditionally served in a Jubako lacquer; ware box, which has several tiers. Each dish presented in the box has its own meaning: shrimps are served to mean happiness and good health until you are old and bent like them. Black beans, cooked until they become withered and wrinkled, also represent a wish for long life. Herring roe stands for fertility, small fish cooked in teriyaki sauce signify a good harvest and seaweed is served to represent happiness. @
Lorraine Hunter, a garden writer and chair of the Trellis Committee, is married to sports writerRickMatsumoto.
Japanese Culinary Demonstration and Tasting
Join Mayuko Ueda in a special presentation of authentic home-style Japanese dishes, many of which are not found on the menus of Japanese-Canadian restaurants. Come and watch as she prepares a traditional soup, salad, main dish and dessert and taste the flavours of Japan at this exciting event! Saturday, November 25, 1 to 4 p.m. Public $45/members $40. To register, call 416-397-1340 or logon to www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
It's the gift that keeps growing.
For that budding orexperienced gardenerwhohaseverything,a gift membership to theToronto Botanical Garden makesa wonderful holiday present. Call 416-397-1361 or completethisform.
I would liketo purchasea gift membershipfor
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_ The New Landscape i Friday, November 17, 2006 8pm
. kspend an evening with landscape - architectJanetRosenberg, addressingthe emerging trends, ~ technologies, methods and - environmenfal sustainability in ~foday s landscape design. sprincipal/founderoftheawardwinningfirm, Janet Rosenberg + AssociatesLandscapeArchitects, senberg s intuitive ion of therelationship
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Toronto Tree Portraits Calendar
A celebration of the city s unique heritage trees, the 2007 TorontoTree Portraits calendar features photographs by internationally renowned photographerVincenzo Pietropaolo with inspirational writing by Lorraine Johnson and a foreword by Roberta Bondar. $15. Proceeds from sales made at shopTBG sales will be donated to theToronto Botanical Garden.
Tuxedo Card Holders
Decorate the holiday table with these chic black and silver card holder mini-ornaments. Set of 6, $11.95
Have a Pampered Holiday
This Winter Essentials gift set from McBlooms includes lip balm, hand and body cream and extremely rich hand cream, packaged in a pretty gift bag. $17.95.
Toronto Parks ol ndation.
Sparkle Vase
Decorate in style with this silvery mosaic pedestal vase. $24.95
HolidayWish Candle
Light up the holidays with a readyto-go eight-hour candle. When it runs out, drop in a tea light. $13.95
Merry Christmas Hand - Puppet Board Book
This hand-held puppet show features five finger puppets and aMerry Christmas board book that you can read to kids and grandchildren. $16.99
Poinsettias
Make shopTBG your first stop for holiday poinsettias.You ll find a great assortment in a wide range of colours and sizes, priced from $4.99 to $24.99.
Festive Memo Cube
In bright red and green, this handy memo cube comes with 600 tear-off sheets and a candy-striped pen. Makes a great teacher s gift. $13.95
by Anna Leggatt
Callzcarpa beautyberry
AS THE DAYS SHORTEN and winter approaches, we can sometimes feel a bit depressed. But the garden can cheer us up as much in winter as in summer, especially ifwe grow plants such as Callicarpa whose berries shine like jewels under a dusting of snow.
Berries add another element to our winter landscape, and they also may attract birds, but usually only if there is little else around. (So far, they have not touched my white-berried beautyberry!) Berries borne on many plants in the winter are generally red. However, the purple or white fruits of Callicarpa, the beautyberry, are exceptions that make them some of my favourite plants.
There are about 140 species of Callicarpa indigenous to China, Japan, Australia, the southeastern United States and Central America. They are small evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and fortunately, while most are not hardy enough for our climate, the two species described in this article have been proven to survive in Toronto although they do die back to the ground over the winter.
Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii Profusion can grow up to two metres (six feet) tall and spreads almost as wide. It has mid-green, deciduous, opposite leaves, elliptical in shape with slightly toothed edges. The flowers that grow in clusters in the axils of the leaves are small, inconspicuous and pinkish lilac. However, they form wonderful purple-violet berries with a slight metallic sheen. These are the size of a pinhead, about three millimetres (.08 inches) across. After the leaves drop, the clusters make a great show that continues into winter. Because
this genus is somewhat selfsterile (not reliably self-pollinating) two or more plants give better berry-set.
Callicarpa dichotoma f. albifructa has been growing in my Toronto garden for at least ten years. Although it is similar to other species of the genus, its leaves are more of a yellow-green, and the delicate branches curve outward horizontally, displaying clusters of tiny flowers that develop white berries. These last until a severe frost turns them brown. A newer cultivar, C. d. Early Amethyst , bears berries from late August onwards. It grows to about only one metre (three feet) high and sets berries reliably without requiring a second plant.
Grow Callicarpa plants in a spot sheltered from the wind where you can easily see their berries in winter. These shrubs are not fussy about soil and will grow in sun or part shade. Mine receive sun only from noon onwards and produce lots of berries. However, water them well in the spring to encourage quick growth.
Beautyberry shrubs die down to the ground or to the snow line during most winters. But because they produce flowers on new wood, the berry crop remains unaffected by the dieback of the older wood as long as spring doesn t arrive too late for the plant to have time to produce berries. In spring, if branches have not died back, prune the old growth down to 10 to 20 centimetres (four to eight inches) from the base to improve the shape; otherwise theycan look stragglyB
Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener andtzreless volunteerat the TBG. :
X Expertadvice fromtheMasterGardeners |
Q1am in Zone 4 (outside Toronto). I planted purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum ) in a big pot and it has done well over the summer. Will I be able to store the pot in the garage over the winter? If so, do I have to cut back the grass now or bunch up all the foliage and cut it back in the spring?
To overwinter, cut back Pennisetum setaceum
A Purple fountain grass is hardy only to Zone 9 so it will not overwinter in an unheated garage where temperatures drop below freezing. A better place would be in a dark basement or a heated garage where the temperatures are cool, but not too warm (about 7°C/45°F). Before storing cut back the foliage to about eight to 10 centimetres (three to four inches). Keep the soil in the pot sparsely watered, but don t allow it to dry out completely. In spring, gradually move the container to a bright window in a warmer room and water well. When the weather warms, slowly acclimatize the grass to the outdoors, placing it outside for a few hours daily and increasing the exposure each day. If a late frost threatens once it s outdoors for the season, bring the plant indoors overnight.
Q How late can I plant tulip bulbs? What can [ do with them if it s too late?
A As long as you can dig a hole in the soil in November or December you can still plant the bulbs and they will flower in the garden in the spring.
If, however, the ground has frozen, you can force the bulbs now for spring blooms indoors. To force, place about five centimeters (two inches) of soil in the bottom of a clean pot. Place bulbs on top of the soil, spacing them fairly close together, and making sure that their noses are level with the rim of the pot. Fill the pot with soil, up to about 2.5 centimetres (one inch) from the top. Water well. Place in a refrigerator or garage where temperatures do not go below freezing for 12 weeks during which time the bulbs should develop roots. Then, move the pot into a warmer room (about 15°C/60°F) where the bulbs receive indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist. When shoots appear and grow to about 12 centimetres (five inches) high, move the pot into a bright sunny window in a warmer room (about 20°C/68°F) and continue to keep the soil moist. Flowers should appear two to three weeks after moving the bulbs into a warm environment.
TO FORCE TULIPS
1. Put a layer of soil in the bottom of the pot.
2. Place the bulbs on top, then add more soil.
Do you have a question about gardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardener s Info Line at 416-397-1345 or log on to www.questions.torontomastergardeners.ca and Ask a Master Gardener!
lllustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
by Leanne Hindmarch e Librarian
Five ways to have fun with your family
AS MEMBERS, you may be aware that the TBG s Weston Family Library has a Children s Collection. But haveyou broughtyour children or grandchildren in for a visit yet? Here are some of the exciting features in the children s area. Check them out!
1. CHILDREN S READINGAND ACTIVITYAREA
Child-sized tables and chairs are decked out with crayons and construction paper for colouring. You can also pull up a comfy chair and settle in to read with the kids. New books are added all the time.
2. WEDNESDAY STORY TIME
A new initiative is our weekly story time, a free drop-in program for parents and children. Join us in the Library at 11 a.m. each Wednesday when Children s Program staff will be reading stories for everyone s enjoyment. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
3. CHILDREN S DVDS
Thanks to a grant from the Royal Bank of Canada, the library has been able to purchase DVDs for the Children s Collection. They include both educational resources and fun movies, such as:
Plant Lifefor Children. A five-volume DVD set for children in grades K-4 that investigates
Web site REVIEW
THERE S
topics such as caring for plants, plant and animal interdependency, plant adaptation, pollination and growth.
The Secret Garden. A 1997 feature film version of the classic story.
The Magic SchoolBus. Various titles in this popular series are available.
Linnea in Monet's garden. An animated retelling of the popular children s book.
4. CHILDREN S COMPUTER SOFTWARE
The library now has a copy of the program Dirt: Explorations in Earth Science. This is the software our Children s Programs use as part of their indoor activities. Geared for children in grades 2 to 4, it features six kids and their pets as they explore the neighbourhood park and ways to improve it. Bring in your child to try it out at the library, or borrow it to take home on a one-week loan.
5. A HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA
Don' t let your friends and family miss out on the fun! This holiday season consider giving the gift of a family membership to those you know would enjoy the children s services at the TBG Library. It costs only $55 a year. For details, contact 416-397-1340.
Black Moon: Japanese Cooking www.theblackmoon.com/Jfood/food1.html
MORE TO JAPANESE FOOD
than raw fish and sushi. On the Black Moon site you will find soups, omelettes, seafood stews and even sweets, all nicely set out for you to try. The site is easy to read, gives a good idea ofwhat the dish is like and provides clear directions. Many of the dishes are basic everyday fare, quite common in my kitchen. As the Web site
says, historically, Japanese cuisine has been one of the great vegetarian cuisines of the world due to the influence of Buddhism, and the choices on the site reflect this, although egg, fish and seafood options are also offered. Ifyou ve always wanted to tryJapanese cooking, this is a good place to start.
Reviewed byKay Takaoka
Book REVIEWS
A Gardener s Wish List of Books
Whetheryou re buyingfor a gardening friend or on the receiving end ofa gift, shopTBG book buyer Heather Coulter has some great suggestions.
® The New Garden Paradise: GreatPrivate Gardens of the World
Dominique Browning W. W. Norton & Company 2005. $91.00
An enticing look at some of the great private gardens of the world, including those of Piet Oudolf, Christopher Lloyd and Penelope Hobhouse.
® The Essential Garden Maintenance Workbook
Rosemary Alexander Timber Press 2006. $43.50
A practical guide to establishing, improving and maintaining a garden.
® The Story ofFrogBelly RatBone
Timothy Basil Ering Candlewick Press 2003. $23.99
The title says it all an amusing children s book with wonderful illustrations.
® Natural Gardening in SmallSpaces
Noél Kingsbury
Timber Press 2006. $39.95
New in paperback, this book explores the ways to make your garden environmentally friendly.
® Garden Plants and Flowers: A-ZGuide to the BestPlantsfor Your Garden
Ian Spence, Canadian edition edited by Lorraine Johnson Dorling Kindersley 2006. $50.00
A terrific gift for new gardeners. (See full review in the September/ October 2006 issue of Trellis.)
® Shade: PlantingSolutionsfor Shady Gardens
Keith Wiley Timber Press 2006. $38.95
A very useful book for our shady Toronto gardens; full of solutions.
® Ornamental Bamboos
David Crompton
Timber Press, reprinted 2006. US$39.95
The author explains the characteristics that set bamboos apart and provides all the information needed to grow these plants successfully.
® Green RoofPlants
Edmund C. Snodgrass & Lucie L. Snodgrass Timber Press 2006. US$29.95
Concise, accurate and easy to use, this book is an indispensable reference for environmentally conscious home gardeners.
® Bonsai withJapanese Maples
Peter Adams Timber Press 2006. US$34.95
A forthright attempt to look at bonsai as art. [llustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.
® Seedheads in the Garden Noél Kingsbury Timber Press 2006. $37.50
An appreciation of one of the key components of the naturalistic garden in which every phase of a plant is enjoyed, from first shoot to final decay.
® Armitage s Native Plantsfor North America
Allan Armitage Timber Press 2006. $64.95
For people who are interested in native plants and their cultivars that are improved hardy performers.
® RHSPocketDiary2007
Royal Horticultural Society 2006. $12.95
A perennial bestseller in handy purse or pocket size.
TBG members receive a 10 per-cent discount on all books. To place your order, contact shopTBG at 416-397-1359 or books@torontobotanicalgarden.ca or shop in person, Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
by Cathie Cox ¢ Director, Horticulture
Shrubs and trees in winter
ONE OF THE PLEASURES of winter is to be able to see the bare bones of the garden. These include the shape and structure of trees and shrubs, and their bark and berries.
In each of the gardens at the TBG, the shrubs and trees that form some of the bones take many shapes and forms: the lines of hedging that make up the Knot [ Garden; the Spiral Mound and its winding path; the evergreen collection and the rows ofhedging in the Show Garden; and Piet Oudolf s living sculptures in the Entry Courtyard.
Many ofthe trees and shrubs that grow in our gardens have interesting bark, such as the paperbark maple (Acer griseun) that grows in the Entrance Garden and Courtyardwith its peeling, flaking bark and cinnamon-coloured underbark as well as the snake-bark maple (Acer davidii) that has attractive green and white striations. In the Floral Hall Courtyard, the Manchurian cherry (Prunus maackii) has shining, flaking golden brown bark.
The growth habit of some plants makes them interesting in winter too. For example, in the Demonstration Garden, a contorted or corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana Contorta ) and a curly willow (Salix Erythroflexuosa ) show off their twisted silhouettes. Still other plants hold their berries until late winter. The Show Garden features some of the best of these shrubs, includingAronia melanocarpa Hugin , a compact cultivar of the native black chokeberry that has persistent purple-black fruit, and A.m. Iroquois Beauty Morton , a more compact form of this shrub that has lustrous black fruit.
Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin Christom , a smaller form of the native arrowwood, also produces clusters of striking blue berries.
Winterberry (/lex verticillata) is another hardy native shrub offering winter interest. Like blue holly (7. x meserveae), it prefers acidic or neutral and moist soil. The Nana (syn. Red Sprite ) winterberry is an excellent shrub for the smaller garden because of its compact size and very large red berries. The berries on both winterberries and hollies persist well into the winter.
Snowberries (Symphoricarpos spp.) are shrubs with insignificant flowers, followed by persistent large white or pink berries. Most of these very hardy, shade-tolerant shrubs have an untidy growth habit, but pink snowberry (S. Amethyst ) is a superior cultivar with large vibrant hot pink berries and a tidy compact habit.
Many Euonymus species, though somewhat overused, produce showy persistent four-lobed pink fruit. Euonymus phellomanus, a larger Chinese species, and E. planipes (syn. E. sachalinensis) are somewhat showierwith masses of large berries and corkywinged branches.®
Wanted, your Christmas trees!
Evergreens and conifers come into their own in winter. ManyoftheevergreensintheTBGgardens are fragile and not yet established. To protect them over the winter, we will be wrapping some of them in burlap and placing Christmas trees between them. We would be grateful for any donationsofcut Christmas trees.
ilex verticillata
by Graham Curry
The fleur couture of Emily Mays
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT is in the air bringing warmth to our hearts. Although the flowers have disappeared from our gardens, we can fill our homes with fresh greenery, flowers, pine cones and tropical plants in celebration of the holiday season.
To find out the latest trends in floral design and home décor for the holidays, you need look no further than the TBG s inspiring programs.
One of these, Contemporary English Floral Designs, is conducted by Emily Mays. Emily spent time during the last two summers studying European floral design in London, England, first with Judith Blacklock, an accomplished designer who has arranged flowers at Kensington Palace, and this past summer with Paula Pryke, a trend-setting event florist who runs several London shops, has written ten books, and since 1994, has offered a limited number of courses at The Flower House in Islington, London, where Emily was a student this past summer.
Emily is intrigued by European design because it is quite different from that of North America. She is attracted by its newer and fresher design elements, which have moved away from the traditional triangle forms, carnations and baby s breath so prevalent in North America. Emily, who also teaches at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design, has noticed that her students and clients are demanding something new, which is why she believes it s important to travel to Europe to look for a fresh approach to floral design.
In Europe, designs differ from region to region, country to country, unlike in North America where traditional forms are used uniformly across the continent. Emily loves the abundant and colourful characteristics of English design. Last summer, when studying contemporary English design under Paula Pryke, she learned
how to keep these newer designs accessible and affordable. As in haute couture, fleur couture features exciting innovative designs that put on a good show on the runway . But the edginess and cost of runway floral fashion may be over the top for many clients. So Emily learned how to combine the new design forms with more traditional ones to work within a client s taste and budget.
In her TBG classes this season, Emily will share the design techniques she learned during her studies in England. These include the use of a wider range of colours for the holiday season, with a movement away from the traditional red and green. Contemporary design also incorporates glass and decorative wires as well as new textures and combinations, including organic materials and accents. Emily is excited about showing class participants these new possibilities. She feels that flowers are for everybody and everybody is welcome in her classes. @ 3% 5% 3% 3% 3% SR DR SR BT SR B B MK R For more information on EmilyMays classes or to registerfor one, call 416-397-1362 or e-mail programs@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
4
A Toast to the Garden
Conversations & Wine Tasting with Marjorie
Harris and guests John Valleau and Tony Aspler
Studios 2 & 3, 2 to 4 p.m.
Public $50/ members $45
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe
American Orchid Society
Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Open to the public
Information: www.soos.ca
5
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Speaker: Terry Kennedy
Topic: Thailand
Floral Hall, 1 p.m.; sale: noon
Information: www.soo0s.ca
12
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Richard Fraser
Topic: Orchids and other choice plants for the garden
Floral Hall, noon
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
13
Toronto Bonsai Society
Special program with Bill Valavanis
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.; www.torontobonsai.org
19
Ontario Water Garden Society
Meeting, Studio 1, noon
Information: www.onwatergarden.com
20
Mycological Society ofToronto
Speaker: Linda M. Kohn
Topic: The secret life of fungi
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.myctor.org
21
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Speaker: Keith Boa
Topic: Growing caudiciforms from seed
Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: torontocactus.tripod.com
26
Toronto Rhododendron Society
Speaker: Richard Dionne
Topic: The Leslie Hancock Garden
Studio 3, noon
Information: onrhodos.com
Toronto Branch Sogetsu Ikebana Meeting, Conference Room, 10 a.m.
DECEMBEHR 3
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Social & auction, Floral Hall, 1 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
5
Christmas with Milne House
Workshop, Floral Hall, 1:30 to 7 p.m.
Information: 416-449-3664
8
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Holiday dinner, Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.mumsanddahlias.com
10
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Meeting, Garden Hall, noon
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
Toronto Bonsai Society
Meeting & workshop
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
IN & AROUND TORONTO
NOVEMBER i1, 12
NIAGARA REGION ORCHID SHOW
St. Catharines
Information: www.niagaraorchidsociety.org
17
THE NEW LANDSCAPE WITH JANET ROSENBERG
Convocation Hall, University of Toronto 8 p.m., admission $20
Presented by Landscape Ontario with proceeds to the TBG Information: 416-397-1357
Do you recognize this tree?
It s one of the beautifully photographed tree portraits from theTorontoTree Portraits calendar, available from shopTBG this holiday season. The first five people to supply the correct botanical or common name of this tree and its location in Toronto will win a 2007TorontoTree Portrait calendar. To enter, send your responses to: Toronto Parks andTrees Foundation, TRELLIS CALENDAR CONTEST, 157 Adelaide St. W., Suite 123, Toronto M5H 4E7. Entries must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2006.
Black Creek Pioneer Village Information: 416-736-1773
DECEMBER
2,9, 16
CHRISTMAS BY LAMPLIGHT
Black Creek Pioneer Village Information: 416-736-1773
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS TIME BE SURETO CHECK AHEAD.
CLASSIFIED ADS
Chelsea Flower Show, Cotswolds and Cornwall Tour 2007. We invite you to join Marjorie Mason 21 May to 4 June, 2007 to visit these personally selected gardens. Hampton Court and Kew Gardens in London, Hidcote Manor and Kiftsgate in the Cotswolds, Eden
Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Trebah in Cornwall. Great Dixter, Sissinghurst and Wisley will complete this English garden celebration. Please visit www.gardenersworldtours.com for preview itinerary or contact Lorna atCarlson WagonlitTravel, 905-683-8411.
