IlThe Toronto Botanical Garden isa volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural land~scape and a healthy environment. Since its inceptionin 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 5 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
nursery and seed catalogues as well as a great selection of children s gardening books. Horticultural Information Services offers free gardening information yearrtound, and shop TBG has many unique gifts, books and gardening supplies for sale. The TeachingGarden 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, Mark Cullen, Camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, LorraineJohnson, Michele Landsberg, Susan Macauley, Helen Skinner
3¢ Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Geoffrey Dyer
Susan Burns, Dugald Cameron, Peter Cantley, Lindsay Dale-Harris, Kathy Dembroski, Tony DiGiovanni, Heather Dickson, Suzanne Drinkwater,James E. Eckenwalder, Ralph Fernando, Mary Fisher, Colomba B. Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, Janet Greyson, Marjorie Harris, Janet Karn, Sonia Leslie, Rosemary Phelan, Jean Read, Roberta Roberts, Dawn Scott, Elaine Solway
3¢ Staff Members
Executive Director
Director, Communications
Program Co-ordinator
Director, Development
Special Events Co-ordinator
Director, Horticulture
Head Gardener
Database Co-ordinator
Manager, shopTBG
Fundraising Assistant
Children s Programs Co-ordinator
Facility Sales Supervisor
Margo Welch
Jenny Rhodenizer
Graham Curry
Stephanie Chiang
Meagan Wilson
Cathie Cox
David Leeman
Nauveen Qaiyyum
Brad Keeling
Sarah Durnan
Liz Hood/Carrie Fisher
Kristin Campbell
Facility SalesAssistant Jenny Beard
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Officers
Volunteer Intern/Receptionist
Librarian
Receptionists
Accountant
Administrator
Walter Morassutti
Alvin Allen, Ken Ko
Tanya Ziat
Leanne Hindmarch
Nancy Kostoff
Tanya Ziat
Joe Sabatino
Shirley Lyons
Lorraine ;l m
Lorraine Flani
CarolGardner,
Marion Magee,
Jenny Rhodenizer
BrittSilverthorne
M. Bruce,J.Campbell,
L. Hickey, J. McChrskey,
manuscripts andadvertising material must be received by the first of the month to ensure publication eight weeks later. For example, material for the September/October 2007, issue must be received byJuly6,2007. Opinions expressed in 7rellis do not necessarily reflectthose of the TBG. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity.
rights reserved in whole or in without
by Margo Welch ¢ EXEcuTIVE DIRECTOR
Our role in the greening of Toronto
2007: Making Big Things Happen, hosted by the Toronto City Summit Alliance, brought together business, civic I n February, Toronto Summit
The TBG is ideally positioned to offer practical solutions for improving
air quality, managing storm water runoff and reducing energy consumption ...
audience. Here are some of the goals and initiatives we are considering:
®Bring more people to our demonstration gardens, and not-for-profit leaders to address some of the issues facing our city such as transportation, the development of the waterfront and Toronto s cultural renaissance. Together with the TBG s president, Geoffrey Dyer, I was invited to attend this event where one of the main topics for discussion and action was A Green Toronto.
The Green Toronto plenary session asked whether we should aim to be the Greenest Big City in North America by 2015, and, if so, what do we need to do to achieve this goal? Louise Comeau, noted expert on sustainable communities and global warming, stressed the need to focus on reducing energy consumption and to strive for energy self-sufficiency. Keynote speaker Amory Lovins, another internationally recognized environmentalist, stated that it is cheaper to save energy than to purchase it, and many business examples demonstrate that climate protection can be profitable.
With concern for the environment at record levels, the TBG is ideally positioned to offer practical solutions for improving air quality, managing storm water runoffand reducing energy consumption through gardening and the preservation of the landscape. The TBG has the expertise and experience to mobilize citizens to plant trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials creating effective, sustainable green spaces.
To truly make a difference in the greening of Toronto the TGG needs to reach a wider
which were designed to showcase the diversity of plant material that can be grown in this region and to stimulate and educate people to become responsible gardeners and stewards of our natural landscape.
®Offer hands-on courses to more people, provide greater interpretation in the gardens and ensure that information on responsible gardening is available on our Web site.
®Expand our partnerships with the city and likeminded organizations to enable us to reach the classrooms, neighbourhoods and community centres where the interest and need for information on sustainable gardening lie. (Currently, we do not have the capacity to respond to the requests for assistance that we receive and we expect demand to increase substantially.)
®Make our curriculum-based programs available to more high-needs schools and work with all schools in Toronto to give each child in grade three the experience of growing a plant.
To accomplish these goals we need additional resources. Funding requests have been submitted to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and we continue to work with our various partners to expand our reach.
We are excited about the TBG s potential.
I encourage you as members, friends and associates to continue your support and to speak to your government representatives and business leaders to help us make a difference.®
FRIENDS OF THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN
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 January 1, 2007 to February 28, 2007.
DIRECTOR S CIRCLE
($2,500-$4,999)
Ruedi & Erika Hofer
BENEFACTOR ($1,000$2,499)
Mary & Jim Fisher
Donald & Janet Karn
Don & Marjorie Lenz
Robert Nowe
Philip & Gayle Olsson
Doryne Peace
FRIENDS ($140-$499)
Marilyn Creighton
Kate Freiman
Michael McClelland
SUSTALHIFESSRMERRS: - |eAessgh
MASTER GARDENER y HONOURS
Congratulations to thefollowing Toronto Master Gardeners
Graduates Jacqui Dixon
Daryl Bessell Sue Gulley
Jane Bridgeman Nicole Leaper
Patricia Garriock Alan Millikin
Wanda Oprea
Catherine Pogue
Karen Silvera 10Years Service
Shari-Lyn Safir Dan Cooper
Evelyn Smith
Nancy Croil
Ruthanne Stiles Ida Harding
Pat deValence Jolanta Hickey
DeborahVitale Jane McCulloch ($500-$999)
Mai-Liis Miller 5 :
Jeanne Banka & Nickolas Lyn Rasmussen
Kamula
Roger Barton
Myint & Jay Gillespie
Edwin Rowse
David & Elizabeth Sisam
Sally Somers
5 Years Service 15 Years Service
Janet Ballantyne Joan Beattie
Alice Birks
Margaret Nevett
Earthworms, our underground friends
EARTHWORMS are one of the most interesting and important creatures found in a garden. Without earthworms our soil would be unhealthy and plants would have trouble growing.
Earthworms have two main jobs in the garden. The first is to create tunnels. As they wiggle through the soil the mucus their bodies secrete coats the tunnel walls, making them as sturdy as concrete so they last for years! The tunnels allow water and air to enter the soil so that the roots of plants have space to grow and water to drink. The second job is to make fresh soil. Worms eat organic materials that are found on the ground such as dead leaves, roots and plants. These materials pass through their body and change into soil. An earthworm s poop is called castings . These castings are full of leftover nutrients from the organic materials the earthworms eat.
Grgeents
MEET AN EARTHWORM
To meet these creatures close up, sign up for one of the Toronto Botanical Garden summer programs. Children aged 4 to 11 will have the chance to explore worms and seeds and enjoy other garden-related activities. For information and to register, contact Children s Programs at 416-397-1355 or on-line at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
Earthworms may look like simple creatures but underneath their almost translucent skin is a very complex system. Unlike humans, worms do not have lungs but breathe through their skin! Worms need to stay moist and slimy in order for air to pass back and forth. You would never see a worm suntanning. If these creatures stay in the light, their bodies dry up and they are unable to breath.
Although earthworms do not have eyes, they can still sense light. They have special cells covering their body that tell them when the environment becomes too bright. Instead of legs, earthworms move around using tiny bristles that are found around their body. These bristles are
called setae and are very strong. Have you seen a robin tugging an earthworm from the soil? These setae grab the ground so tightly that birds have trouble pulling the worms from their tunnels. Earthworms are hungry things they can eat three times their weight in one day! Instead of teeth, they have gizzards that grind up all the delicious leaves and dirt they munch on. Next time you see an earthworm in the soil or on a sidewalk, say a quick thank you to it for being a fascinating and helpful creature.
The Toronto Botanical Garden offers gardeningbased school and summer programs. Check out our new Junior Naturalist Camp for 7- and 8-year-olds. Children will spend their mornings learning about and meeting creatures that are helpful in the garden. For more information visit www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca or call 416-397-1355.
by Cathie Cox e Director, Horticulture
A Caribbean Kitchen Garden
EACH YEAR, the Toronto Botanical Garden works in partnership with one of the cultural or ethnic groups that make up the diverse population of Toronto. Together we plan and plant in the Kitchen Garden with the traditional and typical vegetables and herbs of that community. In 2006, the Japanese vegetables were extremely successful and productive. The associated cooking class invoked a great amount of interest too, and the remainder of the crop was donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank.
This year, the focus will be on the Caribbean community. An advisory group from the Nutrition Program of Toronto s Public Health Department, including Vita Stephens, Angela Forsythe and Heather St. Bernard John, gave us the scoop on traditional vegetables and herbs, their nutritional value and how some of them are prepared and cooked. For instance, there are many kinds of sweet potatoes (lpomoea batatas); thewhite-fleshed types are richer in iron while the more orange the flesh the more beta carotene they contain.
Vegetables and Herbs of the Caribbean Kitchen Garden
® Broad white beans
e Callaloo leaves (amaranth, dasheen)
e Pumpkin
e Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers
e Chives e Sweet potatoes
e Dasheen (taro, eddo, e Table squash malanga) Thyme
e Eggplant
e Ginger
* Tomatoes
e Watermelon
e Okra eYams
e Pigeon and blackeyed peas
A complete list of herbs and vegetables grown in the Kitchen Garden will be available June 1 at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
o0 s
Among the islands of the Caribbean, there are, not surprisingly, some differences in the ways food is prepared and in the popularity of various traditional vegetables. Human migrations have led to a blending of different cultures and their foods. Europeans brought wheat, garlic and onions and also deliberately introduced limes, mangoes and sugar cane. Africans brought okra and various forms of callaloo while Asians brought rice. The forced migration of West African peoples in the 16th century had an important influence on the Caribbean cuisine with the introduction of cornmeal, ackee, plantain, bananas and yams. Indigenous staple vegetables included sweet potatoes and cassava.
The food of the Caribbean bears little resemblance to that of the Europeans who once colonized these islands. Caribbean cuisine is varied, frequently spicy, hot, exotic and unique. Our modern barbeque originated here, where it is known as a barbacoa, a grate made of thin green sticks upon which thin strips of meat were slowly roasted.
Again this year, the vegetable garden will be maintained by volunteers from the TBG and the Caribbean community. The harvest will be used in Caribbean cooking classes and surplus produce will be donated to the food bank. Visit the Kitchen Garden over the summer to learn more about growing these vegetables. If you would like to become a garden volunteer, please contact me at 416-397-1358 or horticulture @torontobotanicalgarden.ca.@
aasliopThG
Madison Contemporary Planter
Lightweight fibreglass resin makes this handsome container practical, too. Rust, granite, caviar black and old bronze finishes. 36 ¢m (14") $59; 40.5 cm (16") $79; 51 cm (20") $119
Finishing Touches
Give your containers a professional look. Choose from our selection of mosses, river rocks and other decorative mulches. From $3 to $16.95
Hella Classic Container
UV and frost-resistant, this lightweigh fiberglass indoor/outdoor planter is available in sleek black. 32 ¢cm (12.5") $59; 38 cm (15") $79
GIMME FIVE!
- Mention you saw these items in Trellis and Citta Pots ~ you ll receive an extra These rustic terra cotta pots are ideal for 5 per cent discount on planting up the season s hottest plants - the purchase ofany of _ the containers featured echiverias and other succulents. 13 c¢m (5") N on this page $4.95; 17 cm (7") $7.95
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
Thisyear s garden tour, says Carol Gardner, explores a unique arts and crafts neighbourhood in the heart ofToronto.
his year s extraordinary Through the TGarden Gate tour will take place in Wychwood Park and Davenport Ridge. The neighbourhood, bordered by St. Clair Avenue West, Davenport, Spadina and Bathurst, is one of Toronto s best-kept secrets a historic enclave of magnificent homes and gardens built during the arts and crafts period, when architects, writers, artists and designers like John Ruskin, William Morris, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll were highly influential in architecture, landscaping and the decorative arts. The movement began in Europe and found its way to North America, often through the emigration of its proponents.
One such immigrant was Eden Smith, a British architect who designed several of the first homes in this area. His splendid homes featured natural materials, low-pitched gabled roofs, decorative leaded windows and stained glass. When Smith teamed up with landscape painter Marmaduke Matthews (another British expatriate), it was a marriage made in heaven. The two not only shared the same design sensibility, they ended up as neighbours, at numbers 5 and 6 Wychwood Park.
Matthews had arrived in Canada in 1860 and became an official artist for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Thirteen years after his arrival, he bought ten acres of land north of Davenport Rd. and built a house on top of the Davenport Ridge, naming it Wychwood after a forest near his boyhood home in Oxfordshire. In 1877, with his friend, businessman Alexander Jardine, he purchased another 12 acres to the west. Jardine built his home at number 22 Wychwood, calling it Braemore Gardens. Imagining the area as a future artists colony, the two registered a plan of subdivision (later revised) with the city of Toronto in 1891.
The centre of the subdivision was a private park for residents through which a creek flowed
that was thought to be a tributary of Taddle Creek at one time one of Toronto s major waterways and the only creek that ran through the heart of downtown. In the 1800s, however, most of the creek was buried as it was considered an obstacle to construction of ground transportation and a breeding ground for typhus and cholera. Now, the only remaining section of Taddle Creek that flows above ground is Wychwood Creek.
In 1866, James Austin, later founder and president of the Dominion Bank and president of Consumers Gas, bought the Baldwin estate and Spadina House which was on the ridge just to the east of Wychwood. Here he built a new Spadina House conceived in the grand Victorian style and surrounded by gardens and sweeping lawns. Successive generations of Austins added to the house until Austin s granddaughter, Anna Kathleen Thompson, deeded the house and property to the city of Toronto to be used as a museum. It opened to the public in 1984. The six acres of gardens on this heritage property, which were restored by the Garden Club of Toronto, contain 300 varieties of flowers and vegetables.
The neighbourhood also boasts Casa Loma, built by financier Sir Henry Pellatt who worked with architect E.J. Lennox to create his "castle on the hill". The castle a romantic mediaevalstyle structure was begun in 1911 and the Pellatts took up residence in 1914. Nine years later, however, Pellatt s latest business venture went into bankruptcy and he was forced to move. Over the next dozen years, the castle attracted a number of dreamers and schemers whose plans fell through, until the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto bought it as a tourist attraction in 1936. It is now owned by the city of Toronto and is still run by the Kiwanis.
More than 100 years after its inception, this area of Toronto continues to attract artists, writers, filmmakers and broadcasters. There are now 60 homes in Wychwood Park, which are
listed on the Toronto Historical Board s inventory of heritage properties. Many of the homes on nearby streets Hillcrest, Wells Hill, Turner and Lyndhurst are also heritage homes with fascinating stories to tell. Writer Ernest Hemingway once lived at 152 Lyndhurst Avenue (now the location of Lyndhurst Lodge) in a house owned by a friend ofthe Hemingway family Ralph Connable. Itwas Connable who introduced Hemingway to the Toronto Star s Greg Clark; soon afterwards Hemingway was writing for that newspaper.
True to arts and crafts principles, the gardens of the area are in perfect tune with the houses.
Because of the unusual way some of the plots are divided, many of the houses have multiple gardens herb gardens near the kitchen and formal geometrical beds in the more prominent areas. The beds are filled with plants that were featured in William Morris prints fruit trees, cabbage roses, poppies, lilies, iris, clematis and honeysuckle. The gardens bloom from early spring to late fall, with colour schemes that reflect the paintings ofthe French Impressionists. Although many of the grounds are too large to maintain without extra help, most of the residents are ardent gardeners whose passion is reflected in their beloved gardens.
A visit to this lovely part of the city is like a return, for just a day, to a world where art and design reigned supreme, no detail was too small to overlook and the skill and creativity of expert craftspeople was celebrated. Gertrude Jekyll would approve.®
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writer and member ofthe Trellis Committee.
Through the Garden Gate
Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 ¢ 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
ONE-DAY PASS includes access to over 20 beautiful private gardens, a comprehensive garden guide and complimentary shuttle service throughout the day, with stops at the St. Clair West and Dupont subway stations, tour headquarters (located at Spadina House) and the gardens.
Cost: $40 for the public; $35 for TBG members
Tickets are often sold out before the event, so purchase your tickets early and call ahead to check availability.
NOTE: Some gardens are not wheelchair accessible. Bicycles and strollers are not permitted in the gardens. Tour headquarters, located at Spadina House, 285 Spadina Road, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the event. For more information, call 416-397-1340.
A Basic Tool Shed
Master Gardener MargaretNevettrecommends six types oftools everygardenershouldhave.
hether kept in a rustic wooden shed or a bucket on the back stairway, every gardener needs some basic tools. Using the right tool makes the job much easier to accomplish. Well-made, versatile tools can perform several tasks, from digging, planting, weeding and cultivating to pruning, deadheading and harvesting. Good tools seldom become obsolete and, with care, they can remain efficient and reliable for a long time. Top quality is usually reflected in the price, but construction and materials factor into the decision, too these are features that make tools function well. Buy the best you can afford, keep them sharp and clean and your tools should last a lifetime!
1. Gloves
Your most important tools are your hands. Gloves that fit well will protect you from blisters, thorns and ground-in dirt. Glove sizes range from kids sizes to XXL. Snugfitting leather gloves can become a second skin, protecting your hands from wear and tear. Latex rubber gloves with a soft cotton lining will keep your hands dry and provide a good non-slip grip. Stretchy, nylon and lycra gloves keep your hands clean, provide light protection and allow for dexterity. Brightly coloured ones are much easier to find when you put them down!
2. Long-Handled Tools
To be efficient, tools should be solid, sharp and just heavy enough to do the job. The working end of a digging tool should be strong and made of long-lasting forged steel (not stamped out of sheet metal). Stainless steel is also strong and great to work with because it doesn t rust and is easy to keep clean and sharp. The head and socket for the handle should be of a one-piece construction, not welded together. A hardwood handle is much better than a plastic one because
Ergonomii designs kxeepyoli and*wrist in a neutral posi
it will absorb shock as you dig, which makes the work much easier on your arms. And a D-grip handle allows you to get a firm grip with both hands as you push down to dig.
e SPADE Used for working the soil, digging holes, edging beds and slicing through sod, spades are relatively flat with a rectangular blade. A foot tread on the top edge of the blade will protect your foot. Use an axe file to sharpen the front edge of the blade.
e SHOVEL (round-pointed, scooped blade). Great for moving soil, compost, gravel or mulch. One with a long wooden handle is more versatile and gives better leverage.
e FORK (heavy, flat tines) The perfect tool for loosening heavy soil, breaking up clumps, digging out roots and dividing perennials, a fork will also help dig out large weeds while leaving the soil in place.
¢ RAKE (solid, short, steel teeth) Use this type of rake to contour or level out areas or rake off stones and debris to prepare beds for seeding or planting.
e LEAF RAKE (fan-shaped metal or bamboo) This type of rake is best for lawns and collecting leaves or debris.
3. Hand Tools
Select durable, lightweight hand tools made of stainless steel, cast aluminum or a nylon fibreglass composite. Foam or rubberized handles provide a cushioned grip. Innovative designs with pistol grips allow you to work with your
Photo
courtesy Margaret Nevett
hand and wrist in a comfortable, neutral position. Buy tools made in bright colours or paint the handles blue so they are easy to find any time of the year.
* TROWEL Perfect for digging small holes, planting and backfilling holes, trowels can also be used for mixing, weeding and cultivating.
e TRANSPLANTING/BULB TROWEL (narrow blade for smaller holes) Just the right size for planting cell-pack plants and working in containers, this type of trowel can be marked with depth measurements on the blade which makes it useful for bulb planting too.
4. Weeding and Cultivating Tools
No other garden tools come in more shapes and sizes than hoes and weeders. They are available as hand tools or with long and telescopic handles for working in a standing position.
e A CHOP AND PULL HOE (sharp, angled blade) is used for chopping weeds, moving soil, hilling up around plants or to make a furrow for planting seeds. These are great for digging out and attacking large weeds. Turns up soil in clumps.
e A SCUFFLE OR DUTCH HOE (many shapes square, circle or a simple loop blade) cuts off weeds at the root level without disturbing the soil, which can expose more weed seeds. It allows you to weed close to plants without displacing the soil as you work.
e OTHER WEEDERS Claws, forks, knives, winged, pointy, hooked, long or short, it s hard to choose! Pick one that feels good in your hands and hope it can do many different jobs.
5. Cutting Tools
Cutting tools are needed for pruning, deadheading and harvesting. There are two types of cutting heads available bypass and anvil. Bypass types cutlike a scissor the blades move past each other to make one smooth, clean cut that heals quickly. In the anvil, one blade cuts down onto a platform like a guillotine. Some have a ratcheting feature that allows several small cuts through the wood to provide increased strength and cutting power. The latter are best used for cuttingup old or deadwood.
e PRUNING SHEARS OR SECATEURS A hand pruner will cut most soft plants or woody
branches of about two centimetres (.75 inches) in diameter. To select a pruner that fits your hand, grasp it to see if you can control it when the blades are fully open. Can you reach the closing lock with your thumb? Handles come in various sizes and some have rotating lower handles to help prevent repetitive motion strain. A loop handle is comfortable for a small hand. Quality pruning shears have replaceable parts and are available for lefthanded gardeners.
e LOPPERS Longer handles provide leverage for strength and a larger cutting head makes it possible to cut through wood that is up to four centimetres (1.5 inches) in diameter.
e PRUNING SAW For cutting branches larger than four centimetres (1.5 inches) in diameter, use a pruning saw. These special saws come in various sizes and are designed to cut as you pull the saw towards you.
* GRASS SHEARS For trimming the edges of the lawn or in areas where a mower can t reach, use hand grass shears or long-handled ones with angled blades.
e HEDGE SHEARS These have long blades for hand trimming and shaping hedges (not shrubs) and cutting back perennials.
6. Tote Bag, Bucket, and Knee Savers
Collect your tools and other necessities in a sturdy bag or bucket. When you need to garden on your knees, protect them with knee pads. If you find it hard to get up again, try a kneeler bench with arms that help you brace yourself as you push up.
Good quality tools, from hand pruners to spades, will make the job easier if they are clean, sharpened and lightly oiled to prevent rusting. Using the right tool will help you get the job done well. Look for ways to make gardening easier and safer so that you can keep on gardening for life! @
Margaret Nevett is a horticultural therapist and MasterGardener. Hercompanygardeningforlife.ca, is dedicated to helpinggardeners ofall abilities to keep on GardeningforLife.
Lorraine Huntertalks to the experts about a gardening style that s enjoying a revival.
lanting a tiny garden in an old trough, a cast-off sink or even on a slab of porous rock is a modern trend with an ancient history. Miniature rock gardens, constructed in hand-hewn troughs or on rock slabs, were first used over a thousand years ago in Asia. In the 1820s and 1830s they were introduced into English gardens. A century later when farmers started tossing their stone troughs aside and replacing them with steel ones, the long-time English custom of recycling stone feeding and water troughs once used for farm animals into beautiful container gardens took hold.
Trough gardening is undergoing a revival today, and you can learn all about it at four courses being held this spring at the Toronto Botanical Garden, with instructors Barrie Porteous, Harvey Wrightman, Jeff Mason and Nikola
Warnock. The TBG will also be constructing several large troughs (up to five feet, or 1.5 metres in length) in the gardens this year.
Barrie Porteus, project adviser to the TBG on how to build its troughs, says the main attraction of trough gardening is the ability to produce specific conditions in which rare and beautiful plants can be grown to perfection. Many ofthese come from alpine regions around the world and building a trough allows the gardener to recreate, on a much smaller scale, the conditions under which the plants can thrive, even in the somewhat hostile climate of Southern Ontario .
Porteus became intrigued with the process as a result of visiting many private and public gardens in the United Kingdom where he first recognized the advantages of container gardening. While raised beds can be constructed in
courlesy
Lomaine
Hunter
Four Chances to Learn about Troughs
Monday, April 23
Build Big AlpineTroughs
Barrie Porteous will give his presentation in Studio 3, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 5
A Natural-Style Hypertufa Trough
A workshop with Nikola Warnock, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Garden Hall
Saturday, May 10
Trough Planting
Harvey Wrightman, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jeff Mason, 2 to 5 p.m.
Studio 3 & near TBG demonstration garden
Saturday, June 9
The Classical LeafTrough
A workshop with Nikola Warnock, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the studios
several different ways, troughs are the easiest to manage and, when properly built, can be visually attractive, he says.
Harvey Wrightman thinks trough gardens are enjoying a huge revival today because they are small and can be set up and maintained without demanding physical labour. I think the use of stone is what attracts many people at first, he says. The gardens become sculpture and can be manipulated. The miniaturized details draw one in to inspect, and the tactile nature of the plant material (flowers really are a bonus) invites touch.
Wrightman, owner of Wrightman Alpines Nursery in Kerwood, Ontario, claims to have come to trough gardening through the backdoor. I had a rock garden and really didn t want anything to do with troughs. However, on a visit to the Czech Republic in 1994 I became fascinated with what was being grown in them there.
The creative aspect of trough gardening is the big draw, says Wrightman. Most people don t have physically creative jobs today and this is a
tremendous outlet for them. Also, with so many people gardening in small spaces today, troughs are a natural, allowing you to have a little rock garden on your back porch or patio.
This is not a gardening hobby for everyone, though, maintains Porteus. You probably wouldn t want to do it if you were happy just growing marigolds and petunias. But if you feel that gardening is about advancing experience and taking on horticultural challenges, then building and planting troughs can be a fascinating way to increase knowledge, grow unusual, attractive plants and achieve a great deal of personal satisfaction.
Trough gardens can be made from old ceramic or carved stone sinks as well as hypertufa or aged stone. Tufa rock is a lightweight, porous limestone. Alpine plants grow well in tufa as they benefit from the nutrients it contains.
Low maintenance, drought tolerant and much lighter than the stone versions ofthe past, modern troughs can be used to growjust about anything. Trendy and fun, most trough gardens are planted with alpines, but you don t need to limit yourself to these miniature plants. Annuals, herbs, hostas, moss, ferns and even smaller or dwarf perennials can be planted in troughs. A whole world of plant life, as well as interesting rocks, can be combined to create a captivating miniature landscape.®
Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer and chair of the Trellis Committee.
A Survivor s Guide to Garden Upheavals
When construction threatened, MaryFran McQuade launched a plant rescue mission.
SMALL CITY GARDENS are prey to all kinds of upheavals. A neighbour builds a new fence, a new addition goes up next door or horrors! the sewer pipe breaks and the whole thing has to be dug up. That s what happened to me last year, right at the start of the growing season.
Dealing with the drain problem was bad enough, but what reallyworried me was the fate of my beloved roses, herbs and heritage peony. These plants and others were in the line of fire (or should I say, shovel).
I know plants can be replaced, but the ones under threat in my garden were all well-grown specimens several years old [ didn t want to start all over again with babies. Nor did I want to miss a season s worth of flowers and herbs. Many of these plants also had sentimental value; they were cherished gifts from friends who have since moved away. And finally, since they were all on our property, not the city s portion, I'd have to foot the bill to replace everything.
beloved lavender and sage found homes in twogallon containers left over from plant purchases years ago. Siberian irises and daylilies were divided and stuffed into various other cast-off containers. (It pays to be a pack-rat gardener.)
The poor things would be in shock, I reasoned, so every one of them was packed off to the shady porch and patio for a rest. Though these plants usually grow in a hot sunny bed, that exposure would fry roots protected only by a skinny layer of plastic.
I intended to replant as soon as the drain work was finished (about a week later), but summer came early. | didn t think it wise to put my longsuffering friends back into their hot west-facing home, so I decided to wait for a cool spell.
Many ofthe plants had sentimental value; they were cherished giftsfrom friends who have since moved away.
For all these reasons, as soon as we knew the danger, my husband and I launched Operation Flower Rescue. Step 1: Gather all the cast-off plastic tubs, basins and large flowerpots we could find in shed and garage. Step 2: Persuade the benign Ukrainian giant who would be digging up the drain to lend a hand lifting some of the larger plants. (My husband s and my arthritic bones can only take so much punishment.) Step 3: Find a temporary home for the green refugees.
Amazingly, this mad scheme worked. The groundcover rose and the peony were shifted into bushel-basket-sized cheapie plastic tubs with holes punched in the bottom. The chives went into a plastic basin, also with holes. My
I waited. And I waited. Meanwhile, the plants flourished in their makeshift containers. The peony bloomed on the shady patio. The groundcover rose produced bunches of dainty pink flowers. The chives shot up wildly and I had plenty for summer salads. Even the lavender flowered profusely, scenting the front porch from its shelter behind a big wicker chair.
Of course, we had plenty of watering to do. My arms grew a couple of inches from all the buckets I toted. But when fall came, I had happy healthy plants to replant in their beds. There was even a bonus: the new layout is much better than the previous haphazard placement.
So if an uprooting disaster strikes, don t despair and hang on to those old buckets, basins and gallon containers! @
Mary Fran McQuade gardens on a sandy hill in the Beach. The drain that caused all the trouble was almost 100years old.
PLANT SALE 2007 [13/ 38 {0\ B
In part Il ofher sneak preview, Cathie Coxhighlights some gardenworthyand unusualplants.
Echinacea * Sunrise
Oudolf perennials
A limited selection of perennials developed or used by Piet Oudolf who designed the planting plan for the Entrance Garden Walkway will be available for sale. Tested by Piet himself in the Netherlands and sourced from Europe, these are vigorous plants thathave donewellinour gardens.
Great geraniums
The hardy Rozanne geranium (Geranium Gerwat ) should be a must for sunny sites. Its continuous display of purple-blue flowers lasts from June to late October and the blooms don t require deadheading. This one, and the more compact G. Jolly Bee , are ideal groundcovers for lowmaintenance gardens.
Late-season bloomers
Echinaceas will also be available: Vintage Wine , with its sultry deep burgundy flowers, the Big Sky series with their sturdy stems that include the golden orange Harvest (E. Matthew Saul ), creamy vyellow Sunrise and electric orange Sunset and the long-blooming Green Eyes with magenta flowers and prominent orange cone.
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Little Spire ) was a stunning addition to the TBG gardens last fall, with its masses of lavendercoloured blooms. Red switch grass (Panicum virgatum Shenandoah ) is a mid-sized ornamental grass used extensively in the Entry Garden. It has red flowers and leaf tips in summer that turn to red-purple come fall. Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha), a midsized shade-tolerant grass with very large pale pinkish showy plumes, and the more compact purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis), with clouds of delicate airy mauve flowers in late summer, are two more stars of the late summer and fall garden.
Kitchen Garden favourites
One of the plants in our gardens this past season which generated a great deal of interest was Malabar or Indian spinach (Basella rubra), a redstemmed tropical vine with glossy edible spinach-like foliage that covered much of the fence in the Kitchen Garden. A close second was the variegated basil (Ocimum x citriodorum Pesto Perpetuo ) that proved to be a very bushy disease- and pest-free 90-centimetre (three-foot)
Diamond Frost - euphorbia
Photos: Proven Winners
giant! With its olive green and white variegation, this plant looks great, tastes good and does not flower, so can be used for cooking right up until hard frost.
Colourful container plants
A fabulous assortment of unusual and hard-tofind annuals for containers will be featured. Diamond Frost euphorbia (E. hypericifolia Inneuphe ) with its clouds of white tiny flowers and exceptional drought tolerance is a perfect "filler" while the succulent clover-like foliage of Oxalis succulenta is bound to attract second glances. Alocasias, or elephant s ear, will be available in a range of sizes, colours and textures. These lush dramatic tropical plants are easy to grow if kept moist. Another excellent foliage plant with fascinating toothed and ridged blue or purple foliage is Melianthus major. One is enough to fill a container and make a big splash. We ll have some stunning dahlias, including Vancouver with double 20-centimetre (eight-inch) purple-pink flowers and Babylon Bronze with huge double 22-centimetre (nineinch) rich orange blooms, as well as some with black foliage.
Shade lovers
Ferns have returned to popularity and there will be a huge variety. Among the most exciting new introductions is Adiantum aleuticum Miss Sharples , a yellow-green maidenhair fern. Shade-loving plants are essential to many urban gardeners whether they are flowering or foliage plants. Aconitum hemsleyanum is a climbing
monkshood, hardyto Zone 4 with violet flowers held in drooping clusters. There are a variety ofJack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema) from Asia and Japan, including Arisaema aff. serrata, a vigorous, 90-centimetre (three-foot) species with brown striped flowers and A. tosaense with a pale green and white striped spathe and mottled
stems. Brunneras have flowers and beautiful foliage, and B. macrophylla Looking Glass and B.m. Dawson s White with wide irregular creamy white margined leaves will be available. Other woodlanders include Hepatica nobilis var. asiatica, H. transsilvanica Blue Jewel and the native H. americana.
Crazy about clematis
There will be a limited selection ofclematis with the emphasis on new, smaller flowering cultivars such as the viticellas that produce more flowers and are less prone to disease. Clematis viticella Emilia Plater , a two-toned blue, late flowering introduction bred in Poland, won an award from the British Clematis Society. Clematis Inspiration Zoin is a pink version of C. x integrifolia introduced by Wim Snoeijer. Clematis macropetala Purple Spider has nodding double purple-black flowers from May to June, followed by prominent seed heads. Large-flowered varieties include something completely different: Tie Dye with bright purple flowers and pale lavender to white marbling and Piilu with deep pink petals that sport a pale, broad central stripe.
Although we will endeavour to have as many of these choice plants as possible during our plant sale from May 8 through May 11, they are subject to availability and many will be on sale in limited quantities. A partial list of sale plants and a pre-sale order form are available at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.®
Wid Ginger
Native Plant Nursery
Wholesale contracts « Retail Sales Grasses, Wildflowers, Shrubs and Trees
FROM THE GREENEST church in Canada to a revitalized 1913 industrial buildingwith a green roof and a living breathing plant wall, several of the buildings in this year s Doors Open Toronto event reflect the growing trend to new and retrofit green, sustainable buildings in the city.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, at least 20 of the buildings on this year s roster of 150 that open their doors to visitors will be green. This special focus on green, sustainable buildings was developed in conjunction with the Clean Air Partnership (CAP). The public is generally unaware of the expanded inventory of green buildings in Toronto and what goes into designing, constructing and operating a green building, says Eva Ligeti, executive director of CAP. Each building that is constructed with higher green standards using renewable energy, green roofs or non-toxic materials creates a healthier living environment for Toronto residents.
Don t miss these green venues
Bloorview Kids Rehab: a new building in which nature and technology combine to make it one of Canada s greenest health-care facilities
St. Gabriel s Passionist Church: Canada s greenest church features a solar glass wall in the sanctuary facing a naturalized garden and a living wall that purifies the interior air.
Robertson Building: a fine example of Toronto s best practices in adapting an old building to address sustainability issues. Visitors may tour the green roof planted with native wildflowers.
SAS Building: demonstrates how a progressive green office space is good for both business and its employees. Natural and indirect energyefficient lighting fills the workplace. Non-toxic
and recycled materials are used for offices and meeting rooms.
Hours vary but most buildings are open on one or both days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For event information and to confirm opening times for each venue call 416-338-3888, or log on to www.toronto.ca/doorsopen.
DOORS OPEN
May 26 & 27, 2007
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Presentations on the building s and gardens award-winning green design features by architect David Sisam and lead landscape architect Jim Melvin take place at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
e Self-guided tours of the building and 12 outdoor themed gardens
e Expert gardeners and guides available to answer questions and point out the unique features
® Artist Noel Harding answers questions about his outdoor art installation, A Chirp, an upside down garden shed converted into an urban bird feeder
e Kids are invited to exploreThe James Boyd Children s Centre while taking part in hands-on activities
Greater Toronto Rose and Garden Horticultural Society
President Shari-Lyn Safir is excited about the upcoming program oflectures, flower shows and communityprojects
ETHEL MERMAN first belted out Everything s Coming Up Roses on Broadway in 1959. Today, Id say, sing it one more time, but in French, in honour of Odile Masquelier, an internationally renowned rose expert who will be speaking this fall under the sponsorship of the Greater Toronto Rose and Garden Horticultural Society.
This is just one of the many exciting events and activities the society supports. In addition to bringing in international speakers, we are very proud of our charitable and environmental contributions. Currently we have three projects underway. The first is with Sprint, a non-profit organization that provides services for seniors. Our society will be planting new roses in the Sprint garden, located in North Toronto, and helping to maintain it. The second project involves Evergreen at the Don Valley Brick Works, an exciting endeavour still in its growing stages that we re proud to be part of. The third reaches beyond our own garden gates to New Orleans where we are working with the botanical garden to help lift the spirits of a community that sorely needs it and what better way than with roses?
Our annual rose show and fair will be held on June 24 (please call for location & hours). This public display of more than 1,700 judged roses is a wonderful way to learn about rose varieties and to see first-hand, bloom size, shape and true colour before deciding which might look best in your own garden. The day includes floral arranging demonstrations and planting and pruning lectures. Rosarians will also be on hand to answer questions.
Odile Masquelier Lectures
0ld Garden Roses, September 23, 2 p.m. Shrubs, Birds and Roses in My Garden, September 24, dinner, 6:30 p.m.; lecture 7:30 p.m.
RENOWNED ROSARIAN Odile Masquelier grows 850 different roses in her garden, La Bonne Maison, south of Lyon in France. It has been featuredin Peter Beales Visions ofRoses and in Mirabel Osler sSecret Gardens ofFrance. A well-known international speaker, Ms Masquelier has recently lectured in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the United States.
September 23 lecture, $10 non-members September 24, dinner & lecture, $30 nonmembers; lecture only, $10 non-members.
For more information and to reserve, contact Shari-Lyn Safir at 416-789-4922.
Whether you see us at our flower show, lectures or special projects, you can learn more about the Greater Toronto Rose and Garden Horticultural Society by visiting our Web site at www.gardenontario.org/site.php/rosegarden, by contacting Christine Moore at 416-485-5907 or GTRoses@aol.com or by attending one of our meetings, held monthly at the TBG from March to June and September to November. Come to a meeting we d love to share our love of roses with you!@
Shari-Lyn Safir is president of the Greater Toronto Rose and Garden HorticulturalSociety, a member ofthe TBG and a Master Gardener.
by Anna Leggatt
Heirloom Tomatoes
TOMATOES, like roses, are red, aren t they? But just as roses come in many colours so do tomatoes especially heirloom or heritage ones. Generally, heirlooms are varieties from long ago, often introduced by immigrants to North America who brought seeds of their favourite vegetables and flowers, unsure ofwhat theywould find in their new land. Unlike many modern hybrids, heirloom varieties breed true from seed. Some have been reintroduced into cultivation after being discovered in abandoned gardens, others were found growing in the fields of indigenous people from around the world, and a few are sports recently spotted by savvy plantspeople. It s not often that we find heritage varieties in supermarkets. That s because it makes economic sense for today s commercial farmer to produce a big crop all at once. Also, small, evenly shaped tomatoes fit better in a box square is best if you re a packer! Moreover, the skins need to be strong enough to stand up without blemish to jostles during transportation.
Alternatively, the home gardener looks for tomatoeswith excellentflavour andwants to savour that sun-ripened smell the flavour is the thing. Here are some tips on how to grow tomatoes. Plant out seedlings in full sun when night temperatures remain reliably above 16°C (60°F), hardening them off by gradually introducing them to the outdoors. Neutral to slightly acid soil is best, with good fertility and even moisture. To prevent cutworms from slicing through the young stems, protect them with a collar made from a bottomless paper cup or a toilet paper tube. Mulch to help keep the soil moist, which will prevent a disease called blossom end rot. About once a month, scatter a handful of 5-10-5 fertilizer around each plant, or water with compost tea.
With information from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalogue
Anna Leggatt is a Master Gardener and tireless TBG volunteer.
LOOK FORTHESEVARIETIESATTHETBG PLANT
white Old Ivory Egg chicken-eqg size; sweet rich taste; from Sweden 70 to 75
green Aunt Ruby s German Green large green beefsteak; neon-green flesh; 85 tastier than many red tomatoes; from Germany
green Green Zebra chartreuse skin with lime-green stripes; 75 rich-tasting flesh with a sharp bite
pink Brandywine pink a popular heirloom variety; large fruit are 80 somewhat lumpy; superb flavour; dates from 1885
pink Arkansas Traveler medium size; good flavour; tolerant of heat, 80 humidity and cracking; disease resistant
purple Black Prince blackish, chocolate-brown colour; rich flavour 69 to 80 that s great for salads; from Siberia, so should do well here; produces a large, early crop
yellow Roman Candle a new variety that s a natural sport 85 from Speckled Roman; banana-shaped orange Nebraska Wedding round, orange-skinned, meaty flesh; needs staking 85 to 90 bi-coloured Tigerella bright red with orange stripes; originated 55to 75 in England; high yields, even in cool summers
red Sicilian Saucer , Oxheart such wonderfully descriptive names! Various Mortgage Lifter , Park s Bush Whopper , Box Car Willie
*Subject to availability
THORNE & CO. invites you
September 24 to October 8, 2007
The tourwill visit some of the finest gardens in France, beginning in Paris and ending in Nice. We will travel by first-class coach through the Loire Valley, the Dordogne, and Provence en route to Nice. Highlights include visits to Giverny, Versailles, the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, and tours of private gardens in the South of France. Where provided, guided tours of the gardens have been arranged, and accommodation has been chosen to enhance the experience. This is a small group tour so space is limited.
For details, please contact Linda Thorne at (613) 232-9028 or at: thorneandco@netscape.ca
Return to a world I 0th annual self-guided walking wbereart anddeszgn ¢ tour highlights the private gardens -k of Wychwood Park, Davenport Ridge and the Spadina House Historic Garden.
Saturday, June 16 and ! Sunday, June 17, 2007 1M a.m.to 4 p.m.
One Day Pass: Public $40 / TBG Members $35 (tickets are limited, advance purchase recommended)
Headquarters located at Spadina House, 285 Spadina Road
EZ%%g HGKI}FE . Tickets now available at shopTBG and online at \Sg/cehnwé%??Reggke & - torontobotanicalgarden.ca il
Saturday, June 16 & @
More information: Sunday, June 17, 2007 om0 416-397-1340 11 a.m.to 4 p.m.
nfo@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Unusual, bard tofind and recently introducedplants! annuals - perennials - alpines - dwarfevergreens conzferssbrubs - 70ses -dndplants that can be sday May 8 through Friday May 11, 2007 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Q
"X Expert advice from the Master Gardeners |
Last year, about a month after planting Clematis Will Goodwin , the plant was accidentally cut about an inch above the soil level. I left it, hoping that itwould come back but didn t see any change or improvement last year, and [ have yet to see any signs of growth this spring. I gave the bit sticking out a tug this evening and it seems firmly in place. Should I give up now or wait before pulling it out and starting again?
Will Goodwin
Prune to strong buds in early spring.
A If your clematis was planted early in the season last year and did not respond after losing its stem and live buds it may not have had time to store enough energy to produce new growth this year. | have, however, seen clematis vines that have been cut down to the ground later in the season reappearthefollowing spring. How early you would expect to see new growth depends on where your plant is situated. In a sheltered sunny site in Zone 5 there may still be hope this early in the season. If the ground is dry, water deeply. Assuming your Will Goodwin does start to grow, for pruning purposes it belongs to Group 2 (flowers on old wood formed the previous season and blooms in early summer). Once established, pruning for this group is light and limited to cleaning out the dead stems. For mature vines, early in the spring once new growth is evident, start at the top of each stem and cut back dead wood to just above the first healthy buds you reach.
Now would be a great time to plant Clematis tangutica next to Will Goodwin for late summer and autumn blooms. For more information on growing clematis, check the Toronto Master Gardeners Factsheet at www.factsheets.torontomastergardeners.ca.
Q@ When and where should I use bone meal and blood meal? Also what is leaf mould?
A The primary nutrient in blood meal is nitrogen. Use blood meal to give plants a quick dose of organic nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen found in blood meal promotes vigorous growth and healthy green foliage. Trees, shrubs and grass benefit by an application of blood meal, although it is usually too expensive to use in large quantities. The primary nutrient in bone meal is phosphorus, which promotes strong root growth and aids in the development of flowers. Bone meal is used for planting bulbs, seedlings, new trees, or for any plant that needs a boost in root growth. Neither blood meal nor bone meal contains potassium, the third important nutrient required by plants, so you may need another supplement, and that could be in the form of leaf mould: the dark, crumbly organic material created by decomposed leaves. It is valued as a soil amendment because it holds moisture and is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. And, unlike commercial fertilizers, it s usually delivered free of charge from trees!
Sprinkle blood meal around plants to boost growth.
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!
Clematis
Vivien Jenkinson
Trends and Tours
Style Series 2007
WHAT BETTERWAY to learn about the hottest new trends in floral design and outdoor entertaining than from the editorial staff of two of the most popular gardening and home décor magazines in Canada.
In partnership with Style at Home magazine we are bringing you a very special Mother s Day event and floral demonstration with Tamara Robbins, associate design editor of the magazine. Tamara will show you and your mom chic designer arrangements and inspiring tips on how to arrange flowers. Tamara worked for several years as a floral designer and wedding consultant before entering theworld ofmagazines where she creates the exquisite floral arrangements for the stories on feature homes and floral design in Style at Home. Relax in grand style with high tea served in the Garden Hall overlooking the gardens. There will be fabulous door prizes, and every mother will leave with a special gift.
In June, Aldona Satterthwaite will dazzle you with the newest trends in outdoor entertaining. Editor-in-chief of Canadian Gardening, Canada s most popular gardening magazine, Aldona is a familiar face at the Toronto Botanical Garden where she is completing her training as a Master Gardener. Previously she studied journalism in London and worked in New York as director of writing services at the Museum of Modern Art. Aldona will share her insider s expertise on the hottest trends in summer garden party styles and the latest in decorative accessories, outdoor lighting and party favours. This evening affair begins with a stylish cocktail party on the outdoor terrace of the Floral Hall.
Garden Tour Day Trips
OUR EXCLUSIVE SUMMER tours include the private gardens of Mono Township and Mulmur Hills as well as those of the Niagara-on-the-Lake
region. Our expert tour leaders, Frank Kershaw and Theresa Forte, will guide you through these beautiful gardens, chosen for their excellent qualities and unique features. A gourmet lunch is included.
For more details about our garden tours and for information on the dates, times, fees and registration for all these events, see the Program Guide insert in this issue of 7rellis.
Web site REVIEW
THIS COMPREHENSIVE WEB SITE, created by an avid rose gardener and a computer software engineer from Pennsylvania, is chock full of all kinds of information on roses. The primary feature is its database of rose varieties that can be searched or browsed by name, class, colour, introduction year, and more. Looking at the detailed display for a particular rose, you may find information on its name, lineage, bloom characteristics, habit, growth requirements, awards, and rating, as well as one or more photographs. The site allows users to register (for free) and create a page describing their own garden, creating links to the roses they are growing; this provides a potential forum for avid rose growers to communicate with one another about the roses they all grow. The site also lists nurseries, rose societies and breeders and provides references to articles and publications mentioning specific types of roses. While the site is American, there is significant Canadian content. Highly recommended.
Reviewed byLeanne Hindmarch
Lilary News
by Leanne Hindmarch e Librarian
Resources for Rose Lovers
THE LAST FEW YEARS have been excellent ones for new books on roses. Here is an overview of what the library has to offer on the topic.
e FEATURED NEW BOOK
Roses Revealed: Find YourPerfectRoses
by Dermot O Neill
" I'OSQS
This new book by wellknown Irish gardening personality Dermot O Neill is a popular addition to the library. O Neill has chosen 200 top roses, many of which are widely available and can be grown here in Canada. Each has been selected based on the combination of qualities it offers, such as exquisite scent, a long flowering period and good disease resistance.
Five great rose books
Best Rose Guide: A Comprehensive Selection by Roger Phillips & Martyn Rix PassionforRoses by Peter Beales
Book REVIEW
How to Make a Garden:
The 7Essential Stepsfor the Canadian Gardener
By Marjorie Harris
Toronto: Random House Canada, 2007; 176 pages, $29.95
A UNIQUE AND PRACTICAL step-by-step guide to creating your masterpiece garden, laid out by noted gardener and author Marjorie Harris, this book is full of gardening tips geared to all types of gardens tiny urban plots, barren suburban tracts, overgrown meadows or condos, roofs and balconies.
The English Roses: Classic Favorites & New Selections by David Austin
Reliable Roses: Easy-to-Grow Roses That Won' t Let You Down by Philip Harkness
Rosesfor Ontario by Liz Klose & Laura Peters
Multi-media resources
Botanica s Roses: The Encyclopedia ofRoses (CD-ROM)
Gardens ofthe World with AudreyHepburn:
Roses & Rose Gardens (video)
How to Grow Roses by leff Ball (video)
Modern Roses XI: The World Encyclopedia ofRoses, American Rose Society (CD-ROM)
A FINAL NOTE Thank you for your patience over the last few months as we transitioned to an on-line book sign-out system. It has been a great learning experience and we re working hard to take your feedback into account in making the system as convenient as possible. I'd like to thank all of our wonderful library volunteers for their hard work and willingness to learn this challenging new system!
The author insists on the importance of following a series of pre-gardening steps which she has gleaned from 25 years of experience. Since gardening is all about balance, she then outlines how to create the right soil foundation, how to determine your gardening style, how to make a garden map and how to make the perfect plant list. The final sections of the book contain instructions on planting, care and maintenance.
How to Make a Garden is inspiring and indispensible reading for both novices and experienced gardeners.
Reviewed byMadge Bruce
Edwards Lectures 2007
An outstanding line-up ofinternationally acclaimed horticultural experts
SPEAKER: Colston Burrell
Toric: Ferns: Wild Things Make a Comeback
WHEN: Wednesday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
THIS LECTURE EXPLORES the unrivalled beauty and mystery of an underutilized group of plants. Ferns impart a cool grace to gardens and provide verdant colour and an interestingvariety of forms and textures. Learn how to design with these garden treasures and discover the many different ferns available today. This lecture will cover fern anatomy, life cycle, growth forms, cultivation requirements and design ideas.
Colston Burrell is an avid and lifelong gardener, garden designer, award-winning author, photographer, naturalist and teacher. His garden is in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia, but he has gardened in Zone 4.
Free to TBG members; public $15 (door sales only)
Limited seating; doors open at 6:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Liz Klose
Toric: Best Garden Plants for Ontario
WHEN: Wednesday, May 30, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
HAVE YOU EVER been unsure about which plants best suit the conditions in your garden? This practical lecture will help to take the guesswork out of choosing the right plants. Learn which plants grow well in our climate and offer the best features for a variety of garden situations.
Liz Klose is the superintendent of the prestigious Niagara Parks School of Horticulture.
She is also curator of the rose, vegetable and herb gardens at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. An author and frequent speaker, Liz spends any spare time she has in her own garden.
Free to TBG members; public $15 (door sales only)
Limited seating; doors open at 6:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Ed Lawrence
Topic: Garden Challenges and Solutions
WHEN: Tuesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Floral Hall
POPULAR RADIO PHONE-IN personality Ed Lawrence will make a 20-minute presentation on the official gardens of Ottawa. A 40-minute question and answer session will follow, where Ed Lawrence will help you with your garden challenges, problems and concerns. A great promoter ofusing native wildflowers as an alternative to ornamental plants, and he will also provide advice about good plant choices.
The former head gardener for six Canadian governors general and prime ministers, Ed Lawrence has been the phone-in gardening guru for CBC Radio s Ontario Today for more than two decades. Following the lecture, Ed Lawrence will be signing his new book, Gardening Grief & Glory: Ed Lawrence Answers Your Gardening Questions. Free to TBG members; public $15 (door sales only)
Limited seating; doors open at 6:30 p.m.
IS P
What's on atthe Toronto Botanical Garden|
MAY
1
Milne House Garden Club
7th Annual Legacy Event
Floral demonstration: Per Benjamin Floral Hall, 12:15 p.m.; $25; information & tickets 416-292-4661/416-449-3664
2
Milne House Garden Club
7th Annual Legacy Event
Floral demonstration & workshop: Per Benjamin Floral Hall, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
$75; information & tickets 416-292-4661/ 416-449-3664
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society
Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Open to the public; Information: www.soos.ca
6
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Speaker: Bill Mathis
Topic: Native orchids
Floral Hall, 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
Society of Ontario Nut Growers
Spring Auction & Meeting; Garden Hall, 1 p.m.
Visitors welcome
Information: www.songonline.ca
Greater Toronto Rose and Garden
Horticultural Society
Speaker: Jim Anderson
Topic: Showing your roses; Studio 3, 2 p.m.
Information: 416-485-9507; GTRoses@aol.com
8
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Meeting, Garage Sale & Plant Sale
Studios 1, 2, 3, 7 p.m.
Topic: Entertaining Ideas
Speaker: Jim Edwards
Information: 416-488-3368
8-11
TBG Collectible Plant Sale
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Floral hall
9
Container Planting Demonstration
Marjorie Mason designs stunning creations and combinations featuring plants available at the sale. 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Members $35; public $45
13
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Speaker: Colston Burrell
Topic: Nature meets zonal denial: a tale of two gardens
Floral Hall
Plant Sale, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m
Speaker, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Information: www.onrockgarden.com
Mother s Day Floral Workshop & Afternoon Tea
Speaker: Tamara Robbins
1to4 p.m.
$75 members; $85 public
14
Toronto Bonsai Society
Azalea presentation by Bob Patterson
Austrian pine workshop
Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
15
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Speaker: Dave Naylor
Topic: Grafting succulents
Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: torontocactus.tripod.com
16
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Colston Burrell
Topic: Ferns: wild things make a comeback
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
TBG members free; public $15
20, 21
Toronto Bonsai Society
Show & Sale, Floral Hall
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
29
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Workshop, Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: 416-488-3368
30
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Liz Klose
Topic: Best garden plants for Ontario
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m. TBG members free; public $15 J UNE
2
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society
Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.
Open to the public; Information: www.soos.ca
3
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Speaker: Joe Kunisch of Bloomfield Orchids
Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
Toronto Region Iris Society
Show, Studio 1, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Free admission; Information: 416-285-0131
5
Edwards Lecture
Speaker: Ed Lawrence
Topic: Garden Challenges & Solutions
Floral Hall, 7:30 p.m.
TBG members free; public $15
6
ecoCHIC
An evening in support of TBG
Cocktails: 6:30 p,m.; fashion show 7:30 p.m.
Information: 416-397-1340; $200
11
Toronto Bonsai Society
Accent plant presentation & workshop
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.
Information: www.torontobonsai.org
12
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Topic: Lavender in the Home & Garden
Speaker: Christine Moore
Studios 1, 2, 3, 8 p.m.
Information: 416-488-3368
16, 17
Through the Garden Gate
Wychwood Park and Davenport Ridge
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; TBG members $35; public $40
Information: 416-397-1340
Tickets: on-line at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca and at selected locations (see page 11)
17
Sogetsu Ikebana
Meeting, Studio 3, 10 a.m.
Information: highpark35@rogers.com
19
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Speaker: Ben Nogueira
Topic: Naturally occurring bonsais
Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: torontocactus.tripod.com
21
Passion for Parties
Aldona Satterthwaite
7 to 9:30 p.m.; TBG members $75; public $85
23
Greater Toronto Rose and Garden
Horticultural Society
Topic: Lighting your garden
Studio 3, 2 to 4 p.m.
Information: 416-485-9507; GTRoses@aol.com
28
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting, Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: www.mumsanddahlias.com
BU LY
7
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society
Judging, Studio 1, 1 p.m.; Open to the public Information: www.soos.ca
29
Sogetsu Ikebana
Meeting, Studio 3, 10 a.m.
Information: highpark35@rogers.com
AUGUST
5
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Information: www.soos.ca
12
Geranium, Pelargonium & Fuchsia Society
Annual flower show & sale; Floral Hall, 2 p.m.
Information: raitz3729@rogers.com
Toronto Region Iris Society
Auction & sale; 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Information: 416-285-0131; Free Admission
23
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting, Studio 1, 7 p.m.
Information: www.mumsanddahlias.com
26
Sogetsu Ikebana Meeting, Studio 3, 10 a.m.
Information: highpark35@rogers.com
IN & AROUND TORONTO
AprrIL 28, 29; JUNE 2,3; JuLy 14,15
JARVIE OPEN GARDEN
37 Thornheights Rd., Thornhill 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine
Plants available for sale
May 12; June 9; Jury 7, 15
MERLIN S HOLLOW OPEN GARDEN
181 Centre Crescent, Aurora 10. a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine
Plants available for sale
JUNE (SELECTED DATES)
OPEN GARDENS TORONTO
20 private gardens
$3 entrance fee (all gardens for $25) donated to Canadian Women' s Foundation
Information, dates and times: www.opengardenstoronto.com
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS|
Botanical Garden
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Monday, September 10, 2007
Scarboro Golf and Country Club
CLASSIFIED ADS
Maureen and Brian Bixley's Lilactree Farm garden will be open on five Sundays in 2007: April 29 (yes, really, one needs to be brave, but it's astonishing what is normally in flower then); May 20 (flowering trees and shrubs, early peonies, rock garden and woodland plants); June 24 (peonies, including peony hedges, martagon lilies); July 15
(perennials, clematis) and September 23 (colchicums, cyclamen, fall-colouring trees), all set in spectacular Niagara escarpment scenery. Some unusual plants for sale. Members and their friends warmly invited. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information and directions, call 519-925-5577 or email: lilactree@sympatico.ca
Trellis Takes a Summer Break!
The May/June issue of 7rellis is chock full of TBG events that take place this spring and through the summer. In the next issue, September/October, Trellis returns with a full lineup of exciting fall events and feature stories.
