TORONTO BOTANICALGARDEN
Iboutls
The Toronto Botanical Garden is a volunteer-based, charitable organizationlwhose purpose is to inspirepassion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthyenvironment. Since its inception in 1958, the Toronto Botanical Garden, formerly The Civic Garden Centre, has encouraged, stimulated and educated
_countless Can ac an garden
Almost 50 vyears 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
Communications: 416-397-1351 communication@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Courses: 416-397-1362; programs@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Donation Inquiries: 416-397-1483
annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Events: 416-397-1484 events@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Executive Director: 416-397-1346 director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Horticultural Services: 416-397-1358 horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Library: 416-397-1343; library@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Rentals: 416-397-1349; rentals@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 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 Toronto s favourite garden spots.
3 Patrons
HONORARY PATRON: Adrienne Clarkson
Brian Bixley, AwdreyClarke, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, Lorraine Johnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3¢ Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Geoffrey Dyer
Marisa Bergagnini, Susan Burns, Dugald Cameron, Peter Cantley, Bob Crump, LindsayDale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Tony DiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater,James E. Eckenwalder, Ralph Fernando, MaryFisher, Colomba B. Fuller,JanetGreyson, Marjorie Harris,Janet Karn, Sonia Leslie, Rosemary Phelan,Jean Read, Roberta Roberts, Dawn Scott
3¢ Staff Members
Executive Director
Margo Welch Director, Communications Jenny Rhodenizer Program Co-ordinator Graham Curry Director, Development
Stephanie Chiang
Special Events Co-ordinator Meagan Wilson Director, Horticulture Cathie Cox Manager, shopTBG
Fundraising Assistant
Children s Programs Co-ordinator
Children s Programs Co-ordinator
Facility Sales Supervisor
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Officer
Volunteer Intern
Librarian
Receptionists
Accountant
Administrator
Brad Keeling
Sarah Durnan
Liz Hood
Carrie Anne Fisher
Kristin Campbell
Walter Morassutti
Alvin Allen
Tanya Ziat
Leanne Hindmarch
Nancy Kostoff
Tanya Ziat
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
June Anderson
TRELLIS COMMITTEE
borraineHunter (chair),
JennyRhodenizer
Britt Silverthorne
VOLUNTEER
EDITORIALASSISTANT
M. Magee
VOLUNTEERPROOFREADERS
M. Bruce,J. Campbell, L. Hickey,J. McCluskey
Trellis is published six times a year asa members newsletter by
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 the first of the month to ensu publication eight weeks later. For example, material for the March/April 2007, issue must be received byJanuary 5, 2007.
Opinions expressed in 7rellis do not necessarily reflectthose of thef TBG. Submissions may be e for style and clarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.
Charitable business number: 119227486RR0001
Canada Publications MailP Sales Agreement#4001392 ISSN 0380-1470
Notes from the TBG
Looking forward to an exciting year Children s Programs
Partnerships that help our programs grow
Plant Portrait
Platycodon grandifiorus - balloon flower
QA
Expert advice from the Master Gardeners
Horticultural News
A tip of the trowel to our garden volunteers
Library News
Web Site Review
Greenthumbs at Sunnybrook Hospital Back at Get the Jump on Spring Plants that Work How plants make us less stressed
Killer Plants
Using poisonous plants with murder in mind
from the TBG
by Margo Welch e EXecuTiVE DIRECTOR
Looking forward to an exciting yea!
people, using the gardens as outdoor on classroomsand offeringa widerarray ofcoursesfora variety ofaudiences.
of audiences. We hope to build the publicity we have received with more marketing communications to help increase our visibility in the city. While we want people to visit us here, we alsowantto reachouttoaudiences and find opportunities off-site. Partnerships with George Brown College and the City ofToronto will grow if possible, and new programs on water efficiency, pesticide use and beautifying orphaned spaces willbe offered. Ourpopularcourses,lectures and tours will continue but watch your program guide for some new initiatives.
he"ljomfnto.Botanic;. Garden s Lookin2 ahead Lz.)oking a'lhead to 2907 we are Revitalization Project came to 2007we are particularly interested in attracting to fruition in 2006 with the ; i more people, using the gardens as successful transformation of our Partzcularlyinterested outdoor classrooms and offering a organization. The year began with in attr:aCtmg more wider arrayofcourses for a variety the opening of the beautiful George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture and the welcoming back of TBG members and the public. A full roster of adult and children s programs and services was scheduled in the new James Boyd Children s Centre, sprucedup halls and studios, the expanded and renovated Weston Family Library and shopTBG. The building has been admired as both beautiful and functional and its merits were recognized by the City of Toronto, which bestowed upon it the top award of excellence in the green design category.
While manyofus dedicatedourselves to expanding our programs and services this year, a crew of staff, contractors and volunteers finished the installation of our 12 themed gardens. After four months of planting, the gardens were celebrated inSeptember with our first Gala in the Garden, amagical evening and a sold-out fundraiser. Two days later the official opening, presided over by Mayor Miller, was shared with a few thousand visitors. Toronto s first botanical garden received rave reviews from the media, the horticultural community, gardeners, members and the public.
Approximately 24,000 plants and 16,800 bulbs were planted this year had we known the total number in advance I can t imagine that we would have proceeded! Thanks go to Cathie Cox and her team for their tremendous efforts, and congratulations to the Revitalization Committee, the Garden Committee and the Development Committee for their vision and work in bringing the project to such a successful conclusion.
In February a number of special events are planned to satisfythe restless gardener, including two lectures: Keith Wiley on Shade: Planting Solutions for Shady Gardens and Lee Reich on Fearless Pruning (see page 29). On Saturday, February 17, 2007, Get the Jump on Spring, our annual horticultural event, will feature information and products, demonstrations, mini-lectures and children s activities. Dozens of societies, groups and associations will be on hand to provide expert advice, plants and products. It s a wonderful day for looking forward to spring, and of course it s free!
Thanks to all ofyou for your support of the TBG and for helpingto make 2006 so successful. Please tell others about the organization and encourage them to visit and to get involved. I also invite you to let us know ofany programs or services thatyou would like us to offer or if there are other things you think we can do to expand our audience.
[ wish you all a healthy and happy New Year and hope to see you soon.®d
Thank you to the following Friends for providing generous support towards our programs and services. Our Friends are fundamental to the TBG 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 September 9, 2006, to October 31, 2006.
PRESIDENT S CIRCLE
($5,000 +)
Sue Burns
DIRECTOR S CIRCLE
Mary Louise Dickson |
Ellen Farrelly i i o
Joy & Peter Gray-Donald W
Peter & Judy Hatcher
($2,500 - $4,999) Jean Johnson
Susan & Geoffrey Dyer
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
($500 - $999)
Marjorie Harrls
Connie Hunter
Susanne Law
June Knudsen
Sonja & Michael Koerner
Anna Leggatt
Julie Medland
Saturday, June 16 & Sunday, June 17, 2007
Catherine Peer IIa.m. to 4 p.m.
Southern Ontario
Sonia & Alan Leslie Orchid Society One DayPass:
FRIENDS
Ken Sundquist Public $40 / TBG Members $35
($140 - $499) Martha Wilder Tickets willbeonsale in2007
Virginia & James Baxter
Neil & Myra Wiener . ; :
Topsy-Turvy Tweets
UNSUSPECTING VISITORS walking past the Demonstration Gardens on the northeastern side of the TBG have been stopping dead in their tracks. Watch them closely and you'll notice heads turned quizzically to one side, trying to understand what this upside-down garden shed is all about. It can t have landed from Oz since no witchy legs lie twitching underneath. But judging by the birds flocking to the feeders soaring from the open-to-the-sky roof , it soon becomes clear that this is one very unusual birdhouse.
In fact, it s an art installation called A Chirp that Noel Harding created for the Nature in the Garage exhibits placed throughout the city this past summer. It is one of Harding s many thoughtprovoking installations which include the Elevated Wetlands sculptures that look like giant teeth planted along the Don Valley Parkway. Like his other works, this one examines the plight of nature in our twenty-first-century urban environment. Next time you visit the TBG, pause and ponder A Chirp , which is on loan untilJune 2007.
by Sandra Little ®
PROGRAMS SUPERVISOR
{ Partnerships That Help Our Programs Grow
THETEACHING GARDEN began as apartnership between the Civic Garden Centre, the Garden Club of Toronto and the City of Toronto and through all the changes of the past eight years, it has remained a wonderful place for children to come together and learn.
This summer the Teaching Garden produced over 100 bushels of fresh lettuce, radishes, Swiss chard, tomatoes and many other vegetables, which were donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank. The opportunity to educate our campers and school groups about eating locally and helping the less fortunate was invaluable. If you are interested in donating the produce from your garden in the 2007 season, please visit the Plant a Row, Grow a Row website at Www.growarow.org.
Over the years various people have contributed to the children s programs. This past summer we welcomed a group of 10 youths from Serve!. a program that engages young people aged 19 to 24 who live in inner-city communities in experiential education that connects them with the community and seeks to have a positive impact on both. These youths worked with both the gardening and the Teaching Garden staff, helping to garden in the Teaching Garden and to assist with activities in the summer camps. By the end of the summer, through the patience and expertise of head gardener David Leeman, the youths were weeding like pros. Many of them also enjoyed gaining some experience working with children. The staff supervising this group also learned a lot about mentoring inner-city youth to help them reach their full potential. For more information on this program please visit the Serve! Web site at www.servecanada.org.
For those who attended our Halloween Howl on October 27, the scavenger hunt was a
wonderful activity for both parents and children. Our intern from Trent University s teacher education program created many of the activities. The Teaching Garden has welcomed many interns from faculties of education, including those of Queen s, the University of Toronto, and Trent. Our Allan Gardens program for high-needs elementary school children is benefitting from the contributions of practicum students from Ryerson s Early Childhood Education program and York University s Faculty of Education. Children s Programs Co-ordinator Carrie Anne Fisher and I enjoy helping new teachers gain an appreciation of outdoor experiential education and, in turn, they are invaluable for infusing our programs with new perspectives and ideas.
We can never forget our wonderful yearround volunteers who assist in supervising summer camps, decorate for special events, help children complete activities during events such as the TBG opening and Get the Jump on Spring, and even lend a hand to repair some of the structures in the Teaching Garden. The programs at the Teaching Garden have grown by leaps and bounds over the past three years and we want to take this opportunity to say how much these partnerships improve the TBG s programs and help the community. @
George & Kathy Dembroski
Patrick & Barbara Keenan
MIDDLEFIELD
SPECIAL GIFTS
Karen & Ross Abbott, Sandra Beech, Frederick & Priscilla Brooks-Hill, Michael & Sue Burns, Robert Chafee, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Daniels Corporation, Ernst &Young LLP, Donnie & Gene Farley, Grace & Roger Inglis, Mary Kay Kelly, Nancy Kennedy, Peter Lewis, Anne Lindsay, Stephens B. Lowden, Kenneth Maiden, Sandra & Norman Munn, Susan Pielsticker, Constance & Geoffrey Pottow, Donald & Gretchen Ross, lan & Judy Saville, Rosemary Scott, Tom Sparling, Amy Stewart, Jane Wilton
GIFT-IN-KIND DONORS
a la Carte Kitchen Inc., Ashley Hayes of Alfi, Steve Barber, Pierre & Carolyn Barthes, Albert Graves of Bloemen Décor, Michael & Sue Burns, Kelvin Browne, Bymark, Canada Blooms, Chair-man Mills Inc., Christine sTouch Gardening Ltd., Churchill Cellars Wines & Spirits, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Camilla Dalglish, George & Kathy Dembroski, Craig Gruzd of DesigningTrendz Inc., Diageo Canada Inc., David & Suzanne Drinkwater, Nicky Eaton, Emblem, Rupert Field-Marsham, Fleurever Inc., Four Seasons Hotel New York, Fresh Home & Garden, Colomba Fuller, Gardenimport.com, George Sant & Sons Limited, GrandTouring Automobiles, Janet Greyson, H.& H. Furniture Inc., Dee Dee Hannah, Hermes Canada, Hofland, Holt Renfrew, Derrick Foss of Just Me Floral Design, Christine Kennedy, Loblaw Companies Limited, Mark McEwan, Mark Hartley Landscape Architects, Medcan Health Management Inc., Myles Mindham, NewYork Botanical Garden, Scott Nisbet, NUVO Magazine, Ontario Flower Growers, The Paisley Garden, Parterre Flowers, Barbara Rosensweig, Solid Stone Natural Stone Products, Solar Aquatic Systems Inc, TA Appliance Warehouse, Taylor Fladgate, Thomas Sparling Inc., Thriving Metropolis Flowers, Tiffany & Co., Toronto International Film Festival Group
THANK YOU
City ofToronto,The Honourable James K. Bartleman, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, ThompsonThompson Egbo-Egbo, Flying Dutch Flowers, Hambly & Woolley Inc., Hal Hannaford, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Roger Macklin, Mayor David Miller, Minuteman Press, Mark J. Mooney, Neo-Image Candlelight, Parterre Flowers, ShadowlandTheatre, Regal Tent Productions, Regent Park School of Music, Robert Lowrey s Piano Experts, Sheldrick s Deco Inc., shopTBG, Walter Samek, Visual FX Inc.
lllustration byTom Sparling
GALA IN THE GARDEN COMMITTEE
Chair: Kathy Dembroski
Co-Chairs: Lindsay Dale-Harris, Janet Greyson
Committee Chairs: Alice Adelkind, Sue Burns, Colomba Fuller, Janet Karn, Louise Sugar Committee: Karen Abbott, Kim Abell, Diva Anderson, Margie Barr, Janet Belknap, Marisa Bergagnini, Joann Brown, Gillian Cosgrove, Pat Dalton, Andrea Davidson, Heather Dickson, Heather Fuller, Judy Gage, Joy Gray-Donald, Dee Dee Hannah, Ann Kerwin, Floy Leach, Rosemary Phelan, Rosemary Rathgeb, Penny Richards, JaniceTurner King, Anne Ullman
Sincere thanks to the many TBG volunteers andstaffwho made this eveningpossible.
! Beneficial Biowalls
Carol Gardnerlooks into a remedyfor sick building syndrome that has experts
climbing the walls. )
emember when builders touted airtight Rbuildings as a good thing? Now that we're all cozily sealed up, we ve learned that insufficient ventilation is responsible for nasty things such as encouraging mould and creating a breeding ground for contaminants. Gases (known as volatile organic compounds ) from synthetic fibres, carpet glue, foam, paints, plastics, household appliances, electronic equipment and sundry other items are released into the air and have nowhere to go.
The result is sick building syndrome that hard-to-pinpoint problem defined by symptoms such as fatigue, burning eyes, headache, dry cough and itchy skin. Scientists around the world have been working on this puzzle for decades. They have even come up with a word to describe their research Baubiologie a term coined at the Institute fiir Baubiologie und Okologie in Neubeuern, Germany, and used to mean how buildings impact life .
One of the many outcomes of this research is the use of plants to filter the air by installing
biofilter walls , living walls or green walls . Call them what you will, they re basically walls covered in plants thatabsorb airborne contaminants (such as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene and trichloroethylene) and deliver them to the beneficial microbes that reside in their roots. The microbes break down the toxins and convert them into water and carbon dioxide.
The bones of the wall are usually made of a synthetic polyester weave and the plants are watered using vertical hydroponics (water from a reservoir is pumped up to the plants). To be an effective filter, the general rule of thumb for a typical office space is that you need one square metre of biowall for every 100 square metres of floor space. If, however, you were installing a biowall in something like a paint factory, you would have to change the ratio to deal with the higher level ofcontaminants that would likely be in the air. Plant walls have been around for a long time as an aesthetic element, but a true biowall must be integrated with the building s air conditioning, heating and filtration systems.
Photos courtesy University of Guelph
The biowall at the Humber Building, University of Guelph
Plants are chosen according to their ability to thrive in the particular building (with its unique lighting and temperature extremes) and in a vertical space. The really good news for Canadians is that the plants most often used are tropical ones (which also increase humidity levels) such as orchids, fuchsia and hibiscus plants that we generally lust after only in our hearts.
Not surprisingly, there is much dissension among the emerging experts, particularly as it relates to plant choices, growing medium and the variety of elements that are necessary to replicate an ecosystem. Some say that any plants used (other than those on the ground) should be epiphytes (air plants) because no growing medium can maintain sufficient nutrients to offer continuing support to terrestrial plants. Others disagree. Some insist that plants be totally washed of their original soil before being installed; others think it s unnecessary. Does a biofilter need a complete ecosystem, including fish, frogs and all manner of creatures to function properly? Yes, or, noyou see the problem.
The experts, however, do agree on a few things. Biofilter walls are not as expensive as they sound, and they pay for themselves quickly by significantly reducing demands on air conditioning and heating systems. Preliminary tests show that buildings with biowalls have air that is as clean as outside air. Some might question whether this is an improvement, but studies bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency show that indoor air is often ten times worse than outside air.
A lot of companies are getting on the biowall bandwagon, and there is an unseemly rush internationally to trademark some of the terms used to define these walls. This considerably muddies the waters, as the terms are often used to describe very different things. Breathing wall , for example, can be used to describe walls made of a wide variety of materials, with or without the addition of plants.
So far, most of the buildings in Canada using this technology are commercial and public ones. The University ofGuelph, with research funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as well as other private and public sponsors, has installed a four-storeybiofilter wall in the $45-million Guelph-Humber building on Humber College s north campus in Toronto. Last year, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada awarded the building and its architects, Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc./RHL Architects, a medal for innovation in architecture. Other Ontario universities, including Queen s, the University ofWaterloo and the University of Toronto, are now installing biofilter walls of their own.
Commercial buildings are getting on board too. In 2002, new owners decided to restore the Robertson Building, a historic Edwardian factory/warehouse at 215 Spadina Avenue (at Queen) in Toronto. They added a green roofand, in the lobby, a biofilter wall. When you enter the building, you realize another advantage of the technology the lobby smells good! Let s face it, most old office buildings smell like a combination of old socks and despair, but this one smells leafy, fresh and, overall, pretty wonderful. It s not quite as amazing as your garden smells after a gentle summer rain, but it s pretty darn close! How good is that for a country that spends so many months covered in snow?
Don t rush out to get yourself a biofilter wall just yet; there s research to be done before the walls are practical and cost-efficient for residential use. But you maywant to think before throwing out that tatty poinsettia; it may not be the looker it once was, but it s still working hard to absorb the formaldehyde produced by a number of common household cleaners.®
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writerand member ofthe Trellis Committee.
| I The Gardens of Kunming
<In an exclusive reportfrom China Dan Cooperoffers a glimpse ofthe botanical wonders ofYunnan's capital city.)
ost people visit Kunming to see the M fabulous natural landscape of the Stone Forest and for a taste ofthe cultural life of the city s 28 ethnic groups, with their colourful costumes, folkdances and cuisine. ButKunmingalso boasts two gardens worth visiting, the Kunming Botanical Garden and the World Horti-Expo Garden.
More than 80 per cent of Yunnan province is mountainous, and the change in elevation is dramatic, from 6,714 to 76 metres (about 249 to 22,027 feet) above sea level. This wide range means the province offers great diversity in plant life, from alpine to tropical and everything in between, including lotus, bananas, fern palms, larch, tea shrubs and blue poppies. Kunming is a showcase for many of these plants.
Known as the City of Eternal Spring because of its moderate year-round climate, Kunming boasts an average temperature of 13°C (55°F), and it receives no frost. At 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) above sea level the city s climate is ideal for growing a wide range of plants.
KUNMING BOTANICAL GARDEN
Located 11 kilometres (nine miles) north of downtown, the Kunming Botanical Garden, which is linked to the Chinese Academy of
Sciences, was created in 1938. Its 44 hectares (just over 100 acres) are home to 4,000 taxa, 13 specialized gardens and a modern exhibition centre with lovely photos whose accompanying text is, unfortunately, only in Chinese although the botanical names are provided. Yunnan province is noted for eight native flowering plants: Rhododendron, Camellia, Magnolia, Primula, Lilium (eight species, and the two-metre tall Cardiocrimum giganticum, a related genus that s part of the Liliaceae family), Gentiana (6 species), Meconopsis (6 species) and a host of orchids. Mostofthese plants can be seen on the grounds of the botanical garden, and they appear in a comprehensive book published by the garden, which is available in both English and Chinese.
When our group visited in early October, the lotus flowers were just finishing and the leaves on the larch were starting to turn yellow in sharp contrast to the pink begonias that were growing in the rich red loam of the garden beds. The entrance pathway is lined with ginkgo trees and leads to a laneway called Sweetgum Avenue which opens onto the medicinal plant gardens, which we thoroughly enjoyed visiting.
Spring is the best time to visit the gardens, although different species of rhododendrons and
Azalea and banana plants growing in Kunming Botanical Garden among the karst rock typical of the area.
azaleas are in bloom in all four seasons. December to January is best for magnolias, January to February for camellias, April to May for lilies. A brief introductory pamphlet with a map of the gardens is available for 1 yuan (about 15 cents).
WORLD HORTI-EXPO GARDEN
Located northeast ofthe downtown area, the World Horti-Expo Garden, which opened in 1999, looks a little tired. If you plan to visit, don t be put off by the kitschy Disneyland-like entrance and the huge China Hall filled with tacky shops. Walk through these and head straight for the Domestic Chinese Gardens. You'll be rewarded with a display of well-designed gardens representative of every region of China. Each garden has plants native to its area and is complemented by local architectural
and geographical features, from pagodas to towering mountains . It s like a huge outdoor Canada Blooms but with plants that bloom in their proper season instead of being forced for an early display. Another section of the garden showcases less interesting, smaller international gardens. The garden representing Canada features
poem bya famous a wall in a garden at
Japanese maples but little else that would be found in a typical Canadian garden. Admission to the World Horti-Expo Garden is 100 yuan (about $15).
Plan on spending at least half a day at each of these gardens. It s a great way to recover from the crowds of tourists at the Stone Forest. Kunming s popularity with backpackers makes it a relatively easy city to reach, with international flights from Bangkok and Singapore and domestic flights from several cities in China.®
Dan Cooperis aMaster Gardener,freelance writer and photographer. Dan and his wife are touring China visiting botanicalgardens. He is also trying to arrange a seed exchange between these gardens and the TBG.
! The Greenthumbs at Sunnybrook Hospital
( Gay Thompson invites us to visit the Greenthumbs at thisyear s Get the Jump on Spring. )
Hospital set up a booth at the TBG s Get the Jump on Spring event. We sold everything we had brought, from large baskets to simple pots of flowering bulbs. We returned in 2006 and expanded to a second booth in the Floral Hall. It was another successful day for the Greenthumbs so much so that we had to send a delegate back to the greenhouse to replenish our supply of potted daffodils!
In 2004 the Greenthumbs at Sunnybrook labour were donated by many other companies. The 1990/91 season saw the group fully functional. Volunteers canvassed for donations of bulbs from suppliers late in the season, planted them, wintered them in the root cellar and brought them out for sale in the early spring. Greenthumbs now numbers approximately 40 volunteers. We have followed the tradition of saving bulbs from the compost heap and recycling as much as possible. Many of our friends bring us baskets and pots (clean please). We have regularWednesdaysales atthree locations within the hospital. We grow many annuals from seed, including over 1,000 geraniums, and more annuals that we grow from plug flats donated by the Parks Department.
Greenthumbs is a program of the Sunnybrook Volunteer Association (SVA). All profits are donated to Sunnybrook Hospital for the benefit of patient care. Our program was born in May 1988 when founding members, Jack Boynton and Dudley Wilcox, retirees from Shell Canada Ltd., saw hospital groundskeepers pitching tulip bulbs into the compost to make way for annuals. They rescued the bulbs to sell to the hospital community, raising $1,300 for the SVA. Then, the Toronto Parks and Recreation Department began donating bulbs and plants for our sales, and they have remained staunch supporters of our program ever since.
At one point, plans were afoot to pull down the greenhouse on the McLean House estate and to fill in the crumbling root cellar. However, in June 1990 hospital authorities gave the Greenthumbs permission to restore the derelict greenhouse and root cellar. The restoration was kick-started by a $3,000 donation from the Shell Canada Community Service Fund, and parts and
We re preparing for another successful Get the Jump on Spring event, and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday, February 17!®
Gay Thompson is a Greenthumb volunteer. [zo et i s e e s s S e s e R R el
Visit the Greenthumbs Greenhouse
Visit the Greenthumbs greenhouse, which is open from 10 a.m.to noonweekday mornings year-round except July and August. Please call ahead for a tour, especially for large groups. The greenhouse is located at the north side of the McLean House parking lot on the grounds of Sunnybrook Hospital. Telephone 416-480-6100x2444for information.
Plants That Work
(Plants make us healthier, less stressed and more productive)
AS STRESS RISES in modern working and living environments, the incidence and expense of stress-related disorders increases. But, according to The American Education Campaign, Plants at Work, and its European sister organization, Healthy Plants in the Workplace, plants in the workplace cut down on health problems and stress. This is reflected in a significant reduction in absence due to illness and an improvement in the performance and productivity of staff across several studies.
Working with plants has been used as a therapy to relieve stress since the earliest times. Simply viewing plants has been shown to reduce stress. Numerous studies indicate that people working in plant settings demonstrate more positive emotions such as happiness, friendliness and assertiveness and fewer negative emotions such as sadness or fear.
A 1977 study by Dr. Virginia Lohr created a simulated office setting using a computer laboratory with 27 computer workstations and a specially designed computer program to test productivity and induce stress which incorporated one hundred symbols and time-measured readings of participants reactions. Blood pressure readings recorded while using the program confirmed that it was effective in inducing stress. Emotional states and pulses were measured. Plants present and plants not present were the only variables that participants experienced. When present, plants were positioned to be in the peripheral view of the subject at a computer terminal but not to interfere with the subject s activity. Participants working in the presence of plants were 12 per cent more productive and showed less stress as well as demonstrating significant increases in post-task attentiveness.
Strategically placed, plants also reduce noise. The positive contribution of interior plants to sound absorption has been well documented: for example, a small indoor hedge around a work-
Studies indicate that people working in plant settings demonstrate more positive emotions.
space reduces noise by five decibels. Although it would be difficult to measure the cost of productivity loss due to office noise pollution, almost everyone who works in an office can recount being annoyed, distracted, or even forced to take a break, by the common noises of a busy office. Tree walls and other innovative plant groupings are now being used to reduce this costly decibel distraction factor.
Research shows that plant-filled rooms contain 50 to 60 per cent fewer airborne moulds and bacteria than rooms without plants and can be particularly helpful in dealing with sick building syndrome . Dr. Billy C. Wolverton, a leader in innovative research employing natural biological processes for air purification, found that plants can act as the lungs and kidneys of these buildings . The plants clean contaminated office air by absorbing office pollutants into their leaves and transmitting the toxins to their roots where they are transformed into a source offood for the plant. Wolverton suggests that everyone have a plantwithin what he calls the personal breathing zone , the area of six to eight cubic feet in which you spend most of your working day
For further details about the extensive studies supporting these conclusions and for information about how to implement a Seven Steps to a Healthier, More Productive Workplace program, visit www.plantsatwork.org.@
Excerpted and reprinted with permission from Plantsat Work www.plantsatwork.org
'KILLER PLANTS
(Since ancient times, writes Carol Gardner, poisonous plants have been used with murder in mind. )
hould you ever decide to assist some S annoying relative to shuffle off this mortal coil, being a gardener should be a distinct advantage. Since the beginning of recorded time, plant-based poisons have been the weapon ofchoice for those with murderous inclinations. It s not surprising that many mystery writers have made their fortunes thinking up homicidal uses for poisonous plants; this may be one case, however, when truth really is stranger than fiction.
There is some evidence that poisoning was common as far back as 4500 B.C.E., and it has been reported that Menes, the legendary first king of Egypt, cultivated, studied and wrote about poisonous plants. It was the Egyptians who learned how to distil cyanide from peach pits. They say that Cleopatra tried out a number ofplant-based poisons on her servants but found thatthe results were unattractive and chose suicide by poisonous snake instead.
The ancient Greeks used poison hemlock (Conium maculatumn) to kill political prisoners; Socrates is said to have imbibed the juice. Belladonna (Atropa belladonna), or deadly nightshade, was the poison of choice of the Roman poisoner Locusta (supposedlythe first documented serial killer). The berries, leaves and roots of this herb are highly toxic. Locustawas also fond ofthe death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) whose juice is thought to have been used to kill the Emperor Claudius at the instigation of his wife (and Nero s mother), Agrippina. Despite its poisonous properties, however, belladonna was the cosmetic of choice for women in mediaeval times who wanted rosy cheeks and bright eyes. That s what you call dying to look beautiful, eh?
Thankfully, modern gardens seldom harbour poison hemlock or belladonna, but they do contain any number of plants that are dangerous if brought to the dinner table. In 1994, four wealthy elderly men in San Francisco were
believed to have been murdered by an overdose of the drug digitalis. San Francisco police assigned the case the name Foxglove. Monkshood (Aconitum sp.) is highly toxic; last year a young Nova Scotia man died after finding one in the wild and mistaking it for fennel. Even the ubiquitous yew (7axus baccata) contains a powerful toxin; taxine has been a favourite weapon of authors, including England s Agatha Christie, who killed offone ofher hapless characters with yew in A Pocketful ofRye.
One of the most famous toxins is found in the castor bean (Ricinus communis) ricin. In 1978, writer and Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, was killed by a poke with an umbrella concealing a gun thatinjected himwith pellets containingricin, atoxin that destroys the body s enzyme system. Markovwas dead within four days. A similar poison can be found in the seed, bark and leaves of the beautiful black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia).
The list goes on, but the good news is that many of these same plants show great promise as healing agents. Aconite, Taxol (from yews) and even ricin are being tested as anti-cancer agents. Indeed, plant-based remedies are being examined for just about every malady known to man.
So don t chew on tree bark, eat belladonna berries or strange-looking mushrooms, and everything should be just fine.®
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writerand member ofthe Trellis Committee.
SEED EXCHANGE 2007
NEW THIS YEAR are seeds from the TBG gardens (marked TBG). And thanks to our other generous donors, Katy Anderson ANDE, Dawn Bell BELL, Daryl Bessell BESS, Merle Burston BURS, Sonia Day DAY, Susan Dolbey DOLB, Jean Gardiner GARD, Eleanor Heinz HEIN, Anna Leggatt LEGG, Brian Rowe ROWE, Karen Silvera SILV, Doreen Stegmuller STEG.
Each alphabetically listed name includes the plant type coded as follows: AN annual, BI biennial, BU bulb, HERB herb, PER perennial
1. Actaea racemosasyn. Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) PER white 1.4m; July-Aug, plant immediately LEGG
2. Aconitum lvorine (Monkshood) PER cream 90cm; early DOLB
3. Agastache mexicana (Mexican giant hyssop) AN 60cm; nice winter show, seeds for birds, spreader STEG
4. Alceaficifolia (Hollyhock) Bl white 1.5-2m x 30-40cm; JulySeptember BELL
5. Alcea rosea (Hollyhock) PER black 1.5m DOLB
6. Alcea rosea (Hollyhock) PER yellow 1.5m DOLB
7. Allium Purple Sensation (Ornamental onion) BU purple 1m; 15 spheres, deadhead BURS
8. Allium cristophii(Omamental onion) BU lavender 60-80cm; large iridescent globe ofstarryflowers, drieswell BURS
9. Alliumflavam (Ornamental onion) BU yellow 30cm; summer LEGG
10. Allium stellatum (Prairie onion) BU pink 30cm; long-lived, of simple grace, late summer-autumn ANDE
11. Althaea officinalis(Marsh mallow) PER white 1.6-1.8m; July SILV
12. Amaranthus cruentus (Red amaranth) AN 2m; sun, stunning height STEG
13. Ammi visnaga Green Mist (Toothpick chervil) AN green/white; cut flower TBG
14. Anethumgraveolens(Dill)AN/HERB 1.2m;June-SeptSILV
15. Antennaria dioica (Pussy-toes) PER pink 10cm DOLB
16. Aquilegia cultivar (Columbine) PER white w/pale mauve 30cm; floriferous, easy GARD
17. Aquilegia saximontana (Rocky Mountain columbine) PER white/blue 15¢m; reliable DOLB
18. Arisaema heterophyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit) BU striped 1m; large bright red seedhead BURS
19. Arum italicumsubsp. italicum Marmoratum syn. A. italicum pictum (Lordsand ladies) BU green 25¢m; white-marked foliage in winter LEGG
20. Asclepiasincarnata(Swampmilkweed) PER/NA3m TBG
21. Asterxfrikartii Monch (Monk s aster) PER lavender 45cm; June-Sept TBG
GR grass, NA North American native, SH shrub, TR tree VEG vegetable and VI vine. Flower colour, height and distinguishing characteristics as supplied by the donors follow.
We cannot guarantee that all seeds are true to name. Only limited quantities of some selections are available.
Please keep this list for reference when you order as seed packets will be numbered but not named.
22. Asternovi-belgii ProfessorAnton Kippenberg (Michaelmas daisy) PER blue 30-45¢m; Aug-Oct TBG
23. Astilbe chinensisvar. taquetii(Chinese false spirea) PER purple-pink Im TBG
24, Astrantia Buckland (Masterwort) PER pink 70cm; June-Aug TBG
25. Astrantia major Roma (Masterwort) PER pink 45¢m; JuneAug TBG
206. Aurinia corymbosaPER yellow 20cm; greyfoliage DOLB
27. Baptisia australis(Plains false indigo) PER blue 1.5m; pea-like flowers DOLB
28. Belamcanda chinensis(Blackberry lily) PE orange 1-1.5m; spotted lily-like flowers, shiny black seeds BURS
29. Brassica oleracea (Redbor kale) AN 50-150cm; spectacular curly red leaves in fall BURS
30. Calaminthagrandiflora (Calamint) PER rose 20cm; May-July, fragrant TBG
31. Calendula officinalis(Pot marigold) AN yellow/orange 25cm; edible flowers, sun STEG
32. Callicarpa dichotoma (Beautyberry) SH white 2m; long sprays, white berry clusters LEGG
33. Callicarpa dichotoma Issai (Beautyberry) SH pinkish 1.5m; lilac/purple berries LEGG
34. Camassia leichtlinii Alba Plena (Quamash) BU white 40cm; spikes of starry flowers LEGG
35. Campanula autraniana (Bellflower) PER blue 40cm; long racemes of blue bells DOLB
36. Campanula latifolia (Bellflower) PER blue 80cm; dark blue centre LEGG
37. Campanula latifoliavar. alba (Bellflower) PER white 80cm; dark blue centre LEGG
38. Campanula latifoliavar. macrantha (Bellflower) PER blue 1.2m DOLB
39. Campanula sarmatica (Bellflower) PER blue 30cm; steel blue flowers, leaves grey-green DOLB
40. Capsicum annum Black Pearl (Ornamental pepper) AN 45cm; very red/black fruit, black foliage, sun TBG
41. Cardiospermumhalicacabum (Loveina puff) AN/VI1.8m;sun STEG
42. Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern sea oats) PER/GR green 80+cm; shade tolerant TBG
43. Chionanthus virginicus(Fringe tree)TR white 3-6m LEGG
44, Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum (Purple plume thistle) PER purple 1m; June TBG
45, Cladrastis kentukeasyn. C. lutea (Yellowood)TR white to 12m; panicles of down-hanging flowers LEGG
46. Clematis Abundance (Clematis)VI fuchsia 2-3m; abundant blooms for long period BURS
47. Clematis Mrs Robert Brydon (Clematis) PER pale blue 75+ cm; shrubby, bell-shaped flowers late summer TBG
48. Clematis x fargesioides Summer Snow (Clematis)VI white 8m,; free-flowering, vigorous, cut back to 75cm in spring BESS
49. Clematis ligusticifolia(Prairie traveller s joy clematis)VI white 30-50cm,; tiny flowers, Aug onward, very hardy BESS
50. Clematis recta Purpurea (Purple-leaved clematis) PER white 1-1.5m; clusters of starry flowers, scented, Zones 3-9, easy GARD
51. Clematis tibetana subsp. tangutica (Clematis)VI yellow 5m; vigorous, bell-shaped flowers BESS
52. Clematis viorna (Clematis)VI pink 2m; urn-shaped w/thick petals, cream inside LEGG
53. Clematis viticella(Clematis)VI purple 3m; delicate down-facing bells LEGG
54. Cleome spinosa (Spider flower) AN deep pink 1.5m; looks best in groups, self-seeds BURS
55. Cleomespinosa (Spiderflower) AN pink 1.5m; looks best in groups, self-seeds BURS
56. Codonopsis clematidea PER green/blue 1.5m; climber, late summer, bell-shaped flowers, needs support ANDE
57. Consolida ajacissyn. C. ambigua (Larkspur) AN blue 1m; self-seeds, brilliant blue DOLB
58. Convolvulus tricolor(Dwarfmorning glory) AN blue 25m; white margin, yellow throat, July-Sept BESS
59. Cortusa matthioli(Bear s ear sanicle) PER blue 30cm; primrose-like flowers & leaves DOLB
60. Crocosmia Lucifer (Montbretia) PER red 1.2 m; late summer, elegant upward-facing flowers ANDE
61. Cryptotaeniajaponica Atropurpurea (Japanese parsley)VEG white 45¢m; black leaves, Aug-Oct TBG
62. Cucumis melovar. conomon Oshiro uri (Japanese pickling melon)VEG/AN/VINE 15-30+cm spread TBG
63. Cucumissativus Sooyow Nishiki (Japanese cucumber) VEG/AN/VINE 15-30+cm spread TBG
64. Delphinium Pagan Purples (New Millennium delphinium) PER dark blue/purple, 2m; June-July TBG
65. Dianthuscultivar PER pink 25¢cm; matte blue/greenfoliage LEGG
60. Dianthus barbatus nigrescensSooty (Sweet William) BI/PER purple/black 50cm LEGG
67. Dianthus carthusianorum (Carthusian pink) PER pink 40cm; tall stemsfrom rosette, self-seeds, all summer ANDE
68. Dictamnus albus(Gas plant) PER white 70cm; good structure, attractive flowers & seed DOLB
69. Dictamnus albus Purpureus (Gas plant) PER purple 70cm; good structure, attractive flowers & seed DOLB
70. Digitalis lanata (Grecian foxglove) BI brown/white 75cm LEGG
71. Echinacea Vintage Wine (Purple coneflower) PER red/purple 90cm; July-Sept TBG
72. Echinacea pallida (Purple coneflower) PER soft mauve
75-120cm x 45-60cm; July-Oct BELL
73. Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower) PER mauve/purple 75-110cm x 45-60cm; July-Oct BELL
74. Echinopssphaerocephalus Arctic Glow (Globe thistle) PER white 1.2m; June-Aug TBG
75. Eremuruscultivar (Foxtail lily) BU coppery 1Im LEGG
76. Eryngiumgiganteum (MissWillmott s ghost) PER silvery blue 80cm,; self-seeds LEGG
77. Eryngiumyuccifolium (Rattlesnake-master) PER creamy white 1.5m; mid/late summer TBG
78. Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) PER/NA white 1.5m TBG
79. Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye weed) PER/NA lavenderpink 2m TBG
80. Eupatorium purpureumsubsp. maculatum Gateway (Joe Pye weed) PER wine red 1.5m; Aug-Oct TBG
81. Eupatorium rugosum (White snakeroot) PER white 1.5m TBG
82. Foeniculum vulgarecultivar (Bronzefennel) PER/HERByellow 1.2m; full sun/part shade, use leaves& seedsfortea ANDE
83. Foeniculum vulgare Purpureum (Bronze fennel) PER/HERB yellow 2m; July-October, architectural, easy GARD
84. Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket flower) PER yellow/red 90cm; yellow ray florets w/red at bases, all summer ANDE
85. Gaillardiaxgrandifiora Goblin (Blanket flower) PER red/yellow 30cm; long-blooming, yellow-tipped florets w/red at bases ANDE
80. Globularia incanescens(Glove daisy) PER blue 40cm DOLB
87. Clarkia amoena Rembrandt syn. Godetia amoena Rembrandt (Satinflower) AN pink/white 45cm; like azaleas DAY
88. Hamamelis x intermedia Jelena (Witch hazel) SH copper 3m; may flower in January LEGG
89. Hamamelis Arnold Promise (Witch hazel) SH yellow 3m; may flower in January LEGG
90. Helenium Chelsey (Sneezeweed) PER mix orange/yellow/red 80cm; July-Aug TBG
91. Helenium Rubinzwerg (Sneezeweed) PER red 80cm; late summer/fall TBG
92. Helianthus divaricatus(Woodland sunflower) PER/NA 30-180cm; July-Oct TBG
93. Helianthus maximiliani(Maximilian sunflower) PER/NA yellow 2.5m DAY
94. Heliopsissp. (Ox eye daisy) PER yellow Im DOLB
95. Heliopsis helianthoides(Ox eye daisy) PER gold/yellow 80-110cm x 50-75cm; June-Sept BELL
96. Hemerocallissp. (Daylily) PER mix 30-90cm; some Stella de Oro , some bi-coloured cream/orange ANDE
97. Heuchera micranthavar. diversifolia (Coral bells) PER white 60cm; June-July TBG
98. Hibiscus esculentum (Burgundy okra) AN/VEG 45¢m STEG
99. Hibiscus muscheutos(Rose mallow) PER pink 1-2 m; mid-Aug on, late to emerge ROWE
100. Hibiscusmuscheutos White River II (Rose mallow) PER white 1-2m; mid-Aug on, late to emerge ROWE
101. Hosta FrancesWilliams (Plantain lily) PER 50cm; thick bluegreen leaves w/gold-yellow edges LEGG
102. Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) SH cream 3m; deciduous holly found near Acton ON LEGG
103. Indigoferasp. SH pink 60cm; pea family, surprisingly hardy inToronto LEGG
104. Inula ensifolia (Swordleaf inula) PER yellow 15¢m; compact, bushy plant, lots of daisies DOLB
105. Inula helenium (Elecampane) PER yellow 1.6¢cm; architectural, late July-Aug DOLB, SILV
106. Ipomoea purpurea (Morning glory) ANVI mauve 4m; deep pink streak, June-Sept SILV
107. Ipomoea purpurea (Morning glory) ANVI mix 4m; pink/white, blue HEIN
108. Ipomoeapurpurea StarofYelta (Morning glory) ANVI purple 3m; tricoloured, pink star, white centre ROWE
109. Ipomoea quamoclit(Star glory) AN/VI red 4m; summer HEIN
110. Ipomopsis rubra (Standing cypress) Bl red 1+m; small ferny clumps over winter, well-drained soil, attracts hummers LEGG
111. Isatistinctoria(Woad) AN yellow50-60cm;June-July, seff-seeds SILV
112. Kalimeris incisa Blue Star (Japanese aster) PER lav/blue 45¢m; July-Sept TBG
113. Kitaibela vitifoliaPER white 1.5m; good tall plant DOLB
114.Lagurusovatus (Bunniestails)AN/GR8cm;sun,excellentinborder STEG
115. Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial sweet pea)VI pink 2m; heavy blooming, deadhead BESS, BURS, DOLB
116. Lathyrus vernus Alboroseus (Spring vetchling) PER pink/white 25cm; spring, tidy DOLB
117. Lavandula angustifolia Munstead (Lavender) PER purple 35cm; hardy in Muskoka, prefers sun ANDE
118. Liatrisspicata (Gayfeather) PER pink 60-100cm; excellent cut/dried flowers, dense flower spikes LEGG
119. Ligularia sibirica(Siberian ligularia) PER yellow 1.5m; daisies, green leaves DOLB
120. Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) AN pale blue 45¢m TBG
121. Lobelia siphilitica(Great blue lobelia) PER blue 60-90cm; midsummer-fall, easy from seed GARD
122. Lunaria annuavar. albiflora AlbaVariegata (Honesty) Bl white 80cm; variegated leaves in 2nd year LEGG
123. Lycopersicum esculentum Green Zebra (Heirloom tomato) VEG; mid-size, light green w/darker green stripe SILV
124. Lysimachia atropurpurea (Burgundy gooseneck loosestrife) PER purple 45cm SILV
125. Lysimachia cletfiroides (Gooseneck loosestrife) PER white 45cm SILV
126. Magnoliax loebneri Leonard Messel (Magnolia)TR pink 30-60m; hybrid TBG
127. Microserisringens Girandole PERyellow30cm; afloriferous dandelion DOLB
128. Mirabilisjalapa(Four-0'dock;marvelofPeru)ANyellow60cm BELL
129. Mirabilisjalapa(Four-o'clock; marvel of Peru) AN red 60cm; well-drained dry soil, low maintenance, Aug-Sept HEIN
130. Mirabilis jalapa (Four-0 dock;marvelofPeru)ANwhite60cm BELL
131. Mitella caulescens(Bishop scap) PERyellow/purple25cm DOLB
132. Moluccella laevis(BellsofIreland)AN green60cm; cutflower TBG
133. Momordica charantia(Japanese bitter melon)
VEG/AN/VINE 5m TBG
134. Monarda punctata (Spotted beebalm) AN, Bl or PER pink 30 cm; rich well-drained soil, sun DOLB
135. Muscari botryoides Superstar (Grape hyacinth) BU blue 15-20cm; soft blue w/light blue trim BURS
136. Nicotiana langsdorffii Cream Splash (Tobacco plant) AN lime green 75¢m; cream-splashed foliage, long-lasting flowers BURS
137. Nicotiana sylvestris(Flowering tobacco) AN white 2m DAY
138. Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) Bl yellow 60cm TBG
139. Onopordumsp. (Scotch thistle) Bl 2.5m; tall & dramatic, grey foliage DOLB
140. Paeonia mascula subsp. mascula (Peony) PER rose 6070cm; single deep rose, early & beautiful, light shade tolerant BURS
141. Paeonia peregrina (Peony) PER red 50cm; germinate warm till root appears then in fridge LEGG
142. Papaverrhoeas(Flanders poppy) AN red 50cm; double, long bloom time BURS
143. Papaver rhoeas (Flanders poppy) AN red50cm;single,direct sow BURS
144. Papaversomniferum (Poppy) PER yellow 60-80cm; blue/green foliage ROWE
145. Papaversomniferum (Opium poppy) AN deep pink 50-100 cm; blue/green foliage BURS
146. Papaversomniferum(Opium poppy)AN pink50-100cm BURS
147. Pennisetumglaucum(Ornamental millet) AN/GR 1.5cm; golden-leaved form of#148 LEGG
148. Pennisetumglaucum Purple Majesty (Ornamental millet) AN/GR purple 1.5m; purple all over LEGG
149. Penstemonsp. (Penstemon) PER lilac 30cm HEIN
150. Penstemon barbatus(Beardlip penstemon) PER pink 60cm; well-drained soil LEGG
151. Penstemon hirsutus(Penstemon) PER mauve/cream 40cm; well-drained soil LEGG
152. Physalis ixocarpa (Tomatillo)VEG green 90-100cm; lots of sun, late SILV
153. Platycodongrandiflorus(Balloon flower) PER blue 25¢m; flowers same as tall types LEGG
154. Platycodongrandiflorus(Balloonflower) PER blue 60-80cm; double, summer ROWE
155. Platycodongrandiflorus(Balloonflower) PER blue80cm BURS
156. Platycodongrandiflorus (Balloon flower) PER white 80cm; double w/delicate blue tinges BURS
157. Platycodongrandiflorus Fuji Pink (Balloon flower) PER pink 80cm ROWE
158. Platycodon grandiflorusApoyama Group Fairy Snow (Balloon flower) PER white 30-40cm ROWE
159. Platycodongrandifloruspumilus(Balloon flower) PER blue 60-80cm ROWE
160. Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan mayapple) PER pink 60-80cm; red fruit, shade BURS
161. Polemonium pauciflorumsubsp. hinckleyi syn. P. ambervicsii (Hinckley s Jacob s ladder) PER yellow 30cm DOLB
162. Primulajaponica (Candelabra primrose) PER pink 60-90cm; florets in tiers, March-May, sun/part shade, Zone 5 GARD
163. Pulsatilla vulgarisRode Klokke (Pasque flower) PER red 20cm; vivid flowers before leaves early spring, ferny BURS
164. Ratibida columnifera Red Midget (Mexican hats) AN dark red/yellow 30cm; sun STEG
165. RehmanniaPER pink80cm; tender,foxglove-like blooms BURS
166. Rosaglaucasyn. R. rubrifolia(Red-leaved rose) SH pink 2.5m; reddish foliage LEGG
167. Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-eyed Susan) Bl yellow 1.2m; 3cm flowers, bushy plant LEGG
168. Rutagraveolens(Rue) PERyellow75cm; aromatic DOLB
169.Saipiglossis(Paintedtongue)ANmix30cm;erectcompactform,sun TBG
170. Salviasp.(Sage)PERpurple45cm; longbloomingifdeadheaded ANDE
171. Salvia coccinea (Texas sage) PER red 60cm; tender, bushy showy sun lover TBG
172. Salvia coccinea Lady in Red (Texas sage)AN red 60cm; long blooming, summer-fall, slender, open terminal spikes ANDE, HEIN
173. Salvia transsylvanica(Sage) PER blue 60cm; all summer, one of the best LEGG
174. Scabiosa (Pincushion flower) AN mix 1m; cutflower TBG
175. Scabiosajaponicavar. alpina (Pincushion flower) PER blue 10cm; rock garden, flowers till fall if deadheaded BURS
176. Stachys officinalis(Common betony) PER pink 50cm; spikes DOLB
177. Talinum paniculatum (Jewels of Opar fame flower) AN pink 45-60cm; unusual flowers TBG
178. Talinumpaniculatum(JewelsofOparfameflower)AN magenta 40cm; magenta starsturn red, black bead seedheads,airy&delicate GARD
179. Telekia speciosa(Heartleaf ox eye) PER yellow 1.5¢m; daisy, sun/part shade DOLB
180. Tellimagrandiflora (Fringe cups) PER cream 80cm; good for shade, wispy racemes of tiny greenish bells DOLB
181. Thiaspi montanum (Mountain pennycress) PER white 15cm; very early DOLB
182. Tiarellasp. (Foam flower) PER white 30cm; large glossy leaves, some vein marking DOLB
183. Tiarella Iron Butterfly (Foam flower) PER white 30cm; good markings on leaves DOLB
184. Tulipa sylvestris(Wild tulip) BU yellow 30 cm LEGG
185. Verbascum chaixii(Nettle-leaved mullein) BI white 1.5m; spikes become bushy if deadheaded, till frost, self-seeds LEGG
186. Verbena hastata (Blue vervain) PER/NA blue/purple 75+cm; July-Sept TBG
187. VeronicaGilesvan Hees'(Speedwell) PERpink15cm;June-Aug TBG
188. Veronica schmidtiana (Speedwell) PER blue 10cm; dainty DOLB
189. Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver s root) PER white 1.5m; upright, late summer DOLB
190. Wisteria Boskoop (Wisteria)VI lilac 6m LEGG
191. Yuccafilamentosa (Yucca) PER cream 1m; dark green sword-like leaves, large flowers on spike BURS
192. Yuccaflaccida Golden Sword (Yucca) PER cream 2m; goldstriped leaves, large flowers on spike LEGG
193. Zinnia (Zinnia) AN purple-red 1-1.5m; summer-fall HEIN
2007 SEED EXCHANGE ORDER FORM
Orders are filled in the order received, with donors getting first choice.You may order
ADDRESS
NAME (PLEASE PRINT) up to 20 packets of seed. Please write the numbers clearly in the boxes at left in ascending numerical order. To have the seeds shipped, send the form along with a SASElargeenoughto holdyourorderanda $6cheque(payabletotheTorontoBotanical Garden) for handling. Ifyou plan to pick up your seeds, send the form with a selfaddressed envelope large enough to hold yourorderand a $6 chequefor handling.
by Anna Leggatt
\ Platycodon grandiflorus - balloon flower
SURPRISINGLY, I ONLY discovered balloon flowers about 30 years ago when my family moved to our present house where [ saw them combined with double Shasta daisies.
Platycodon is a monotypic genus (having only one species) native to the Far East. These easy-to-grow perennials are members of the Campanulaceae, or bellflower, family. Dwarf plants are excellent for adding colour to the summer rock garden. I like to combine them with short blue fescue grasses (Festuca glauca) and the smaller forms of vyellow Allium flavam. Balloonflowers also look good in a cottage garden and give an old-fashioned touch to a mixed perennial border. P. grandiflorus roseus is a pink cultivar that I've combined with a pink rose and a pink Clematis integrifolia. Felt-like grey lambs ears (Stachys byzantina) covered the ground below these plants, until they were shaded out by other plants.
Balloon flowers grow in neat clumps, up to 60 centimetres (24 inches) high with alternate oval leaves about five centimetres (two inches) long. Sometimes the leaves have a silvery blue sheen. The terminal flowers develop as fat inflated buds, or balloons. My children tried to pop them by pinching them with their fingers! In August and September, the flowers open into saucershaped, outward-facing five-pointed stars which are about four to five centimetres (about two inches) across. Blue is the most common colour, ranging from pale to mid-blue. A slightly darker cultivar, P. grandiflorus Hakone Blue , has semidouble flowers that feature two layers of petals.
Pg. Mother-of-Pearl Perlmutterschale and others such as Pg. roseus are pink. Several cultivars are white, including P. Fuji White . Double balloon flowers are really semidoubles with two whorls of petals. (The stamens of true doubles are reduced in size, or replaced by petals.)
Pg. Apoyama Group, one of several dwarf types, grows about 20 centimetres (eight inches) high. Despite their short stature dwarf specimens bear full-sized flowers.
Platycodon Sentimental Blue is a 15-centimetre (six-inch) F1 hybrid form that blooms four months from sowing seed and continues all summer long. It can be used in pots or for bedding out in the garden.
Balloon flowers are hardy to Zone 4 and grow well in any good, moistwell-drained soil. Although they prefer full sun, they will also grow in partial shade. They dislike being moved as they have long taproots and smaller secondary roots, which can be damaged when dug up. Because they emerge late in the spring, it s a good idea to mark the spot so you don' t plant over them.
Balloon flowers can easily be propagated from seed. Start them indoors in January or February, sowing seed in pots of sterile soilless mix such as Promix. Or sow seed in pots outdoors over the winter. They should germinate in the spring once temperatures reach 21°C (70°F). If you have a particularly good form of balloon flower that you want to propagate, sometimes they can be successfullyrooted from side shoots removed from the plant when they emerge in the early spring.
Nowis a good time to trygrowingballoon flowers: there are several in the Seed Exchange this year, including a white-flowering Pg. Apoyama Group Fairy Snow , Pg. Fuji Pink and several blue forms. See page 20 and place your order! @
Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener and tireless Toronto Botanical Garden volunteer.
Expert advice from the Master Gardeners |
Q 1 have many sumacs on my property in Erin, Ontario. In July they get long candle-like cream-coloured buds that die. Our neighbours have sumacs that are beautiful with stunning red candles that last well into winter. | am wondering if there is a difference (e.g., male vs. female) and if there is anything I can do to get the red candles.
A The creamy candles that you mention are the flowers. They bloom in July and then fade.The fruit that develops in the fall produces the red candle-like drupes that you see on your neighbours plants. Sumacs have both male and female plants but only the female plant produces the red fruit. Usually male and female plants are grouped together in a thicket but you may have an unusual situation where you only have male plants. Since these plants sucker very easily your neighbours may be willing to share a female plant with you so that you can establish a grouping of them that will provide fruit. (7o ensure theformation of fruit, considerplanting thefemale cultivar, Rhus typhina Dissecta Ed.)
Q Could you please let me know if I should take my pond pump out for the winter? I drained most of the water out of the pond but I'm not sure what to do with the pump.
A Yes, you should. Disconnect and thoroughly clean all equipment in your pond (the pump, filter systems, UV sterilizers, etc.) However, there are two schools of thought on how to overwinter the pump once it has been cleaned. The first is to allow it to air-dry before storing it in a frost-free location. The second is to place the pump in a pail of water for the winter where it will not dry out orfreeze.To be safe, it is always best to follow the recommendations of the manufacturer on the specific product purchased.
QY purchased an llex verticillata Southern Gentleman and will be planting it with a female for berries. How far apart should the mates be planted so that they produce berries?
Disconnect and clean pond pumps.
lllustrations: Vivien Jenkinson
llex verticillata
Southern Gentleman
A Southern Gentleman is a male winterberry that will pollinate late-blooming female cultivars such as Winter Red and Sparkleberry . The recommended planting distance is between 1.2 and 1.5 metres (four and five feet). One male will pollinate up to six female plants. Winterberries are deciduous hollies whose leaves drop in the autumn, exposing the beautiful red berries. Plants are hardy to Zone 4.
Do you have a question about gardening? Contact the Toronto Master Gardeners Info Line at 416-397-1345 or log on to www. questions.torontomastergardeners.ca and Ask a Master Gardener!
by Cathie Cox e Director, Horticulture
| A Tip of the Trowel to Our Garden Volunteers!
LOOKING BACK over the first year in our gardens, a few special things come to mind, not least of which is the tremendous contribution of our volunteers. They have planted, weeded, watered, mulched, deadheaded and weeded again. Their drive, enthusiasm and dedication have literally helped the TBG to grow.
In the wet chill of April, contractors from Landscape Ontario s Toronto Chapter under the direction of executive director Tony DiGiovanni planted trees and shrubs. Later, in the sweltering heat of summer, the staff of Landscape Ontario planted more trees and shrubs in the Knot Garden and on top of the Terrace Garden.
Volunteers were recruited from schools, horticultural societies, garden clubs, garden centres and from among the long-time volunteers at the TBG, and members of the Garden Club ofToronto came out in force to plant the perennials in the Entry Garden.
Many volunteers worked above and beyond expectations: Jean Johnson arrived whenever she had a few hours to spare or, I suspect, when we looked stressed, while Midge Cooper worked three or four days a week all season. Midge frequently remained late into the evening, and I have memories of the two of us wearily but happily planting in the fading evening light.
Our volunteers answered a million questions, fended off those who wanted to take plants, flowers, seeds or vegetables and patiently listened to those few who wanted to gripe. A sense of humour was a definite asset after the hundredth person asked what was on top or inside the Spiral Mound and how did we mow it?
In the extreme heat and humidity of summer, which was followed by heavy rain, truckloads of plants arrived regularly and had to be planted quickly. Hens and chicks were tucked into
impossibly small spaces in the Terrace Garden while thousands of plugs of creeping thyme were planted at a near vertical angle. By the end, I 'm sure some of our volunteers never wanted to see another sedum, thyme or euonymus!
And just when we thought we had finished, 1,600 spring-flowering bulbs arrived!
Throughout, our volunteers were professional and upbeat; they even seemed to enjoy themselves. As [ write this in November, they are battling cold, wind and snow flurries to ensure that every tree and shrub at risk over the winter is protected with burlap, tree wrap and mulch. They have renamed the TBG the BBG - the Burlap Botanical Garden!
I thank all of our volunteers for their hard work and commitment during this groundbreaking year. For those physically able who want to join us next year, gardening experience and knowledge is an asset but not a requirement. Next season, TBG gardening staff will be giving demonstrations or workshops for regular, committed garden volunteers who would like to improve their gardening skills so, come out, have fun and keep fit!®
- Wanted: Xmas Trees
~To protect the plants in the Garden Hall - Courtyard overthewinter,wewould appreciate donations ofChristmas trees, garlands, boughs and wreaths. Please drop off evergreens at the entrance to the courtyard at the west side of the building anytime between January 2 and 5, 2007. Volunteers interested in helping to place them in thegarden on January 10 will betreated to pizza! To volunteer, contact Cathie Cox at horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca or ~ 416-397-1358.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Come join us for the Toronto Botanical Garden's annual horticultural open house. This event will showcase horticultural societies, garden clubs, environmental organizations, nurseries, and garden stores from all over Ontario. There will be mini-lectures scheduled throughout the day with well-known garden experts and the Toronto Master Gardeners will be available for consultation during the event as well.
by Leanne Hindmarch e Librarian
Curl up with a great garden novel
THERE S ALWAYS something new at the Library. Just in time to while away the wintry days, we've added a collection of gardening fiction, including Ann Ripley s Death at the Spring Plant Sale. Louise Eldridge is the horticultural heroine in Ann Ripley s popular series of gardening mysteries. Host of a PBS gardening show, Louise finds herself in all manner of plantfilled situations where intrigue is never far away. In this instalment, she has travelled to a spring plant sale in Bethesda, MD, to shoot footage for her show, Gardening with Nature. When the garden club president is shot in her own driveway, the plants take a back seat while Louise tracks down a murderer. This book will take your mind off the cold weather and get you thinking of spring plants!
Check out our collection
The Blue Rose: An English Garden Mystery by Anthony Eglin
OrchidFever: A Horticultural Tale ofLove, Lust, andLunacy by Eric Hansen
A DeadlyBouquetandReap a WickedHarvest byJanis Harrison
Tomorrow s Garden by Harriet Hudson
The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys
A Lovesome Thing by Prue Leith
Web site REVIEW
The DancingFloor by Barbara Michaels
The Christmas Garden Affair, The Garden Tour AffairandHarvest ofMurder by Ann Ripley Night Gardening: A Novel by E.L. Swann
Contact the library at 416-397-1343 or library@torontobotanicalgarden.ca to reserve any of these books or to suggest other titles. Better yet, ifyou have any gardening novels that you d be willing to donate to the Library, we d be thrilled to add them to our growing collection! Happy New Year!
Ontario Rock Garden Society Seed Germination Guide (www.onrockgarden.com/guide/seedguide.htm)
THIS SITE OFFERS a great database of information on germination requirements for over 4,600 plants. Advice is provided on the time seeds need for germination, their temperature and light requirements, and other tidbits such as whether they need to be
pre-soaked, scarified or subjected to cold temperatures. This resource is a big help, whether you re starting to grow something new or just want to check out your current sowing practices.
Reviewed byKay Takaoka
= Edwards Lectures 2007
SPEAKER: Keith Wiley
Toric: Planting Solutions for Shady Gardens
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7, 7:30 p.m. WHERE FLORAL HALL
HOW MANY TIMES
do we complain that I can t grow anything! My garden is in shade . This lecture will put the lie to that assertion and teach you about plants that can make your shady garden the talk of the town. Colour, texture, dazzling plants and innovative solutions awaityou. Shade will be examined in different situations: in gardens both large and small, next to barriers such as hedges and near vertical elements such as pergolas and arches. The characteristics of shade-loving foliage and flowering plants will be explored and inspirational plant combinations suggested. Mr. Wiley will also discuss the practicalities ofpreparing, planting and maintaining a shade garden.
Celebrated horticulturist Keith Wiley is known for his audacious and dazzlingly innovative planting schemes inspired by natural landscapes. Under his direction, The Garden House in Devon, England, is the setting for some of the most original gardening currently taking place in Britain. Mr. Wiley owns and operates a nursery in the United Kingdom and is awell-known lecturer and author of several books, including On the Wild Side: Experiments in New Naturalism and his latest book, Planting Solutions for Shady Gardens. A book signing will follow the lecture. Free to TBG members, public $15 Door sales only; limited seating.
SPEAKER: Lee Reich
Topric: Fearless Pruning
WHEN: Tuesday, February 27, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
IF YOU RE USED to doing your pruning with bated breath, a whispered prayer and crossed
fingers, this is the lecture foryou. Lee Reich, author of The Pruning Book will take the mystery out of pruning trees, shrubs and roses, and give you the confidence to pick up those tools with confidence and determination! The benefits of pruning will be explained as well as how specific plants respond to different types ofpruningcuts. The lecture will also cover the correct tools and how to use them. This is pruning for the real world, and the how, whyand when of pruning will be revealed.
Lee Reich is an avid gardener who has spent a decade in plant and soil research with the United States Department of Agriculture and Cornell University. Most recently, Mr. Reich has concentrated on writing, lecturing, teaching and consulting. He is author of many books, including The Pruning Book and Weedless Gardening.
Free to TBG members, public $15
Door sales only; limited seating.
Master Class
Topic: Pruning: Ornamental & Advanced Techniques
INSTRUCTOR: Lee Reich
WHEN: February 27, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
THISMASTERCLASS is forthe advanced gardener, garden designer or other professional looking to improve theirskills in special and ornamental pruning techniques. Comprised of visual presentations and outdoor hands-on pruningdemonstrations, Lee Reichwill share his expertise on all pruningmethods including pleaching, pollarding, and creating standards and espaliers. Please note: For the professional or experienced gardener, if you'd like to learn more about general pruning techniques, please attend Reich s evening lecture, Fearless Pruning. Breakfast refreshments will be provided. TBG members $40, public $45
EvesGalendar
JANUARY
6
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Open to the public.
Information: www.s00s.ca
7/
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.so0s.ca
8
Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting, Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
9
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Speaker: Ashok Grover
Topic: How to Photograph a Garden Studios 1-3, 8 p.m.
Information: 416-488-3368
Southern Ontario Orchid SocietyNewcomers
Topic: Cattleya, Dendrobium Boardroom, 7 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
14
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Chris Graham
Topic: Twiners, Stickers, Clingers and Hookers
Floral Hall, noon
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
16
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Annual general meeting followed by slide show or videos
Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: torontocactus.tripod.com
21
Ontario Water Garden Society Meeting, Studio 1, noon to 4 p.m.
Information: www.onwatergarden.com
26
Toronto Region Rhododendron Society Meeting, Studio 3, noon
Information: www.onrhodos.com
28
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
FEBRUARY 3
TorontoJudging Centre ofthe American Orchid Society Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Open to the public.
Information: www.soos.ca
4
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Anna Leggatt
Topic: Flora of New Zealand & South America Floral Hall, noon
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
Ontario Hosta Society Meeting, Garden Hall, noon
Information: www.ontariohostasociety.com
Geranium, Pelargonium & Fuchsia Society Meeting, Studios 1-3, noon to 4 p.m.
Information: 416-462-4729
7
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Keith Wiley
Topic: Planting solutions for shady gardens
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
TBG members free; public $15
10-11
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Annual show & sale
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: Www.s00s.ca/Show2007/Show2007.htm
12
Toronto Bonsai Society
Meeting & workshop
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
13
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Speaker: Wayne Hingston
Topic: Successfully growing orchids Studios 1-3, 8 p.m.
Information: 416-488-3368
RYERSON UNIVERSITY AT THE TBG
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Engineering, Architecture and Science Certificate Program in Landscape Design. CKLA 707 Graphics Fundamentals; Enza Schembre. A graphics methodology to provide the tools to support the design process.The course content concentrates on the use of line drawing and includes plan, section, elevation, and paraline projections. This is delivered in a lecture/studio format.
Wednesdays, January 10 through April 11, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Fee: $492 (14 weeks)
To register please visit ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce/default.asp.
17
Get the Jump on Spring 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information: www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca
19
Mycological Society of Toronto Meeting, Garden Hall, 7:45 p.m.
Information: www.myctor.org
25
Ontario Water Garden Society Meeting, Studio 1, noon
Information: www.onwatergarden.com
27
Edwards Lecture
Lee Reich: Fearless Pruning Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
TBG members free; public $15
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS TIME BE SURETO CHECK AHEA
Contact Margery Winkler for more information: mwinkler@ryerson.ca or 416-979-5000 x6490. presents 7t Annual ACYEvent
A floral dembn {trati;n & workshop by Per Benjamin
Swedish National"Champion & World Cup winning floral artist
Floral Demonstration & Workshop in the Floral Hall Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. Toronto al Demonstrati
Workshop $75 pp (plusmaterials) = incl. Lunch Wed. May 2" 2007 - 9.30to 3.30pm
Information & Tickets 416 292 4661
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
andTrebah in Cornwall; Great Dixter, Sissinghurst and Wisley will complete this English Gardens celebration. Cost per person on a twin-share basis $4,119 includes British Airways direct flights to London Heathrow. Detailed itinerary at www.gardenersworldtours.com or call Lorna at 905-683- 8411 e-mail lorna@cwtajax.com