Trellis is published as a members’ newsletter by the toronto Botanical Garden at Edwards Gardens
777 Lawrence Avenue East, toronto ontario, M3C 1P2, 416-397-1340
Trellis welcomes queries for story ideas, which should be submitted for consideration by the trellis Committee to the editor at least four months in advance of publication dates.
opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the tBG. submissions may be edited for style and clarity.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.
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Canada Publications
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IssN 0380-1470
CoVER Photo:
Magnolia x soulangeana
kAshtALIAN LIuDMyLA IstoCkPhoto
to do Features News
4 on the go
Who’s talking Lecturers kevin Lamb and Don shadow goings on newcomer Paul zammit Yours, mine & ours Volunteers
5 from the tBg tBg Kids Get ready for spring green Community Everdale from the Editor our new spring issue
15 thanks to our friends
6 the high-impact, low-Care garden tracy disabato-Aust discusses impressive plants for low-maintenance gardens
10 sowing goodness
Jack staub takes us down the not-sostraight path to creating a beautiful vegetable garden
12 trade secret
Just ask the master gardeners top 10 spring plants in our gardens learning the lingo
13 name that plant in Your garden spring checklist anna’s plant pick trumpet gentian sandra’s snippets
14 Events Calendar
The new look of Trellis is made possible Through a generous donaTion from The ToronTo masTer gardeners.
HARDY PLANT
Printed by harmony Printing
TBGNews
on the go
march 15 to 17
canadian Gardens & tourism conference gardensandtourism conference.com
march 18 to 22 canada Blooms canadablooms.com
apriL 24 to 26 Green living show greenlivingonline.com/ torontoshow
Who’s Talking
Lecturer: Kevin Lamb
When: Wednesday, may 13, 7:30 p.m.
Kevin Lamb, director of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, will discuss the challenges, growth and development of this fascinating and unique garden dedicated to research, conservation and biodiversity. The garden contains, among other things, the largest single-span glasshouse in the world, an organic farm incorporating native wild plants and a botanical theatre. The National Botanic Garden of Wales: Developing a 21st-Century Garden: Wednesday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.; public $15, members free.
Also visiting the TBG: Don Shadow, owner of Tennesseebased Shadow Nursery, which specializes in deciduous shrubs and trees, flowering dogwoods, native and hard-to-find plant material, will be highlighting New and Useful Plants from Around the World on Tuesday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.
Yours, Mine & Ours Volun T eers
long-time tbg volunteers Joy reddy and trudy stacey have joined carol gardner as the tbg’s volunteer co-ordinators. and Heather coulter, our former book buyer, has just joined our ranks. our goal is to staff the volunteer office daily from Monday to Friday. Meanwhile, we’re in the midst of developing a new volunteer orientation package, enhancing ties to horticultural society volunteers and involving tbg volunteers in many new committees. if you’re interested in participating in any of these initiatives, give trudy, Joy, Heather or carol a call at 416-397-4145.
paul Zammit Director of Horticulture
Welcome to paul Zammit who joins the tBG as director of horticulture on march 2, 2009. paul is a wellknown, passionate plantsman with almost 20 years’ experience in the industry. most recently, he was the perennials department manager at plant World, and he is a frequent lecturer throughout north America. His garden and container plantings have been featured on television and in canadian gardening magazines. paul is extremely excited about his new role at the tBG.
goings on
•celebrate earth day on sunday, april 26. Meet members of local horticultural societies, learn about greener gardening and eating locally from Canadian Gardening expert stephen westcottgratton and the toronto Master gardeners, take a nature walk. Free, no registration required.
•on mother ’s day, May 10, from 1 to 4 p.m, enjoy champagne cocktails and hors d’oeuvres along with an inspiring flowerarranging demonstration by Canadian Home & Country’s ann Marie Favot. public $55, members $45. pre-registration required: 416-397-1341 or torontobotanical garden.ca.
•doors open toronto at the tbg takes place May 23 and 24. explore the gardens and learn how to create the perfect library with style expert samantha pynn from Style at Home
•through the g arden g ate: beyond the bridle path will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on saturday, June 20 and sunday, June 21, with a selfguided tour of 14 private gardens. one-day pass: public $40, members $35; visit www.toronto botanicalgarden.ca.
canada blooms the Flower and garden Festival
From left, carol, Joy and trudy
From The TBG
Judy WiLLmott Acting executive Director
Is the tumultuous economic turmoil of 2008 behind us? We don’t know. What we do know is that more than ever we need financial and volunteer support from you — our donors, members, friends and sponsors. We also count on you to support our events and programs.
This year’s exciting calendar of events opened with our unique Owl Prowl, followed by Toronto’s horticultural bellwether, Get the Jump on Spring. Join us in June for a spectacular Through the Garden Gate tour of exclusive gardens of the Bridle Path and beyond, as well as our inaugural “it’s for the birds” fundraiser in our own gardens. Check out our great programs and enrol on-line at torontobotanicalgarden.ca/programs/overview.htm. And, plan to attend our exciting Edwards Lectures (see page 14). Better yet — bring a friend! Without your participation we can’t continue to offer these wonderful opportunities for lifelong learning and growth.
Get ready for SprinG!
spring is an exciting time for kids at the tBG. march break camps (march 16 to 20) offer fun and interactive programs to help children learn about plants, animals and art. From march 18 to 22 our teachers will be at the natural playground at canada blooms, so drop by and say hi. on tbg earth day, april 26, Go local – take a family walk to nibble wild edibles or help your kids learn how to grow their own sprouts.
go to
Green Community everdale: a tbg green partner
Thanks to a new partnership with Everdale Organic Farm & Environmental Learning Centre, the TBG was able to launch an exciting new series of workshops focusing on sustainable and ecologically friendly construction projects. The third workshop in the series takes place on Saturday, March 28,
From The ediTor
Awhen landscape architect Janna Levitt and Terry McGlade, owner of Gardens in the Sky, will show you how to create a green roof or roof garden on new and existing buildings. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public $85, members $80. Pre-registration is required: 416-397-1341 or torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
With our new spring issue, Trellis blossoms into full colour
s eagerly as gardeners await the start of a new season, the Trellis Committee has anticipated the launch of this fresh new look of Trellis . Long recognized as the benefit most valued by TBG members, with many articles written by volunteer garden writers, Trellis has served us well for more than 15 years. But just as the TBG has grown and expanded, so Trellis must evolve to better reflect our revitalized organization.
This new full-colour magazine features the same authoritative content, but with enhancements that present the information in more engaging ways. For example, TBG News highlights special events, staff appointments, volunteer achievements and outreach activities while In Season provides timely gardening advice from TBG gardeners and the Master Gardeners.
With all these changes, we haven’t forgotten our commitment to the environment. Trellis is printed with vegetablebased inks on recycled paper and soon will be enclosed in a biodegradable plastic bag when mailed with special inserts. Nor have we forgotten our fiscal responsibilities. A solid business plan forms the foundation of Trellis magazine, making this important member benefit more self-sustainable.
But the new look of Trellis would not have been possible without the contributions of several important groups and individuals. Thanks go to our very creative art director, June Anderson, for an exciting new design; to the talented members of the Trellis Committee who contributed the ideas for our new format; and to the Toronto Master Gardeners whose generous donation made our dream of a dynamic new Trellis come true. Thank you all for your passion and commitment.
Lorraine FLanigan • Trellis editor
TheHIgH-IMPACT Low-Care
Garden
In these excerpts from her latest book, Tracy diSabato-Aust discusses impressive plants for low-maintenance gardens.
HIGH-IMPACT TRAITS
• Multiseason interest
• Colorful foliage
• Long-lasting bloom
• Outstanding texture
• Architectural form
LOW-CARE TRAITS
• Long-lived — a life span of five or more years
• Tolerant of heat and humidity
• Cold-hardy
• Deer-resistant
• Resistant to insects and disease
• Requires minimal or no deadheading
• Prospers without heavy fertilizing
• Doesn’t require staking
• Infrequent or no division required for four or more years
• Infrequent or no pruning required to maintain decent habit, appearance, or best flowering
• Non-invasive
• Drought-tolerant
I’m constantly rethinking areas of my garden and seeking beautiful yet tough plants to replace demanding ones. I refer to them affectionately as indomitable – not easily defeated, resolute, unconquerable, determined, and strong. These plants should not only be easy to care for but they should bring passion and excitement into our lives with their colors, textures, shapes, and scents. It’s great if a plant is easy to grow, but if it’s of minimal ornamental value, who really cares? With plants, like all things in our lives, we want to have our cake and eat it too. We want beautiful, wonderful things but we don’t want to devote countless hours to them because we don’t have countless hours.
What makes a plant high impact? It should make a statement in multiple seasons because of its long-lasting bloom, its color, texture, form, or even fragrance. Better yet, it should possess all or most of these characteristics. On top of that it would be nice if it was somewhat theatrical and had a flair for the dramatic.
So, first and foremost, a plant considered high-impact needs to provide interest in several if not all seasons. For example, a multiseason plant may have beautiful flowers in the spring followed by foliage that has an interesting texture in the summer
and then goes out with a bang of gorgeous autumn color.
Color can be provided by longlasting flowers, or by striking foliage, bark, or fruit. Several plants have been selected [for this book] because of their yellow foliage. Yellow is a dominant color, acting like a magnet for the eyes – think about the draw of a candle flame. Many plants have been chosen for their interesting and unusual texture or for their architectural forms, which create living art in the garden. If we rely on plants in our gardens that provide a demanding architectural presence and outstanding texture and foliage, we can keep the integrity of the design together without as much care as if we rely on plants that solely provide fleeting flowers.
All right, so it’s not enough for a plant just to be dynamic – it must also be easy to grow. I like to choose my battles when it comes to maintenance, so I consider the specific chores a plant requires. For example, I’m more tolerant of plants that need pruning to look their best than I am of ones that demand frequent division or can be affected by pests. You should consider what does and does not work for you.
Excerpted with permission from 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants (Timber Press 2008). Come and hear Tracy diSabato-Aust talk at the TBG on April 15 (see page 14).
10 Plants for Toronto Gardens
1. Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ fernleaf fullmoon maple
The Plant: shrub/small tree; red fruit; reddish flowers blooming in april; autumn mix of red, orange and yellow leaves.
Hardiness: Zones 5-7
Height & spread: 8-10 ft. x 10 ft.
[2.5-3 m x 3 m]
Sun & shade needs: part shade
Combines well with dwarf yellow bamboo, golden variegated sweet flag, ‘all gold’ hakone grass.
2. Amsonia hubrichtii Arkansas amsonia
The Plant: perennial; very pale light blue, star-shaped flowers blooming May-June; mid-green, threadlike leaves clear yellow in autumn.
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Height & spread: 2-3 ft. x 3 ft.
[60-90 cm x 90 cm]
Sun & shade needs: sun to part shade
Combines well with Japanese anemone, ‘black Jack’ sedum, ‘dallas blues’ switchgrass, ‘blue billow’ hydrangea, Virginia sweet spire, smooth witherod viburnum.
10. Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus-draconis’ dragon’s-eye pine
The Plant: shrub; yellow-banded green needles; reddish brown flaky bark.
Hardiness: Zones 3-7
Height & spread: 8-10 ft x 8-10 ft. [2.5-3 m x 2.5-3 m]
Sun & shade needs: sun
Combines well with ‘lauren’s grape’ poppy, ‘saphirsprudel’ blue oat grass, and bowles’ golden sedge.
classifieds
Late Spring Toronto Island Garden Tour May 30 & 31, 1 - 5 p.m. ward’s Island ferry departs foot of bay st. on hour and half hour. Follow signs to 5 ojibway for tickets and maps. adults $10, seniors $8, children $2. Info: 416203-0968 or www.torontoisland.org or annekotyk@yahoo.ca.
Exclusive Garden Tours with Frank Kershaw grand gardens in wV, pa, & nY — June 15-19/09 includes: Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, award winning all american display gardens — spectacular private gardens & more! also many exquisite garden daytripping adventures you won’t want to miss! call for brochure.
Mary Morton tours (416) 488-2674, marymortontours1@aol.com. t I co reg# 04488722
Highlights of British Isles Garden Tour 05 July – 19 July 2009 featuring the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show with Marjorie Mason of Mason Hogue Gardens in Uxbridge our g arden discovery tour begins in the south-east corner of england with visits to wisley, beth chatto’s garden and a special day at the rhs hampton court Flower show. the national botanical garden of wales will highlight our touring in wales with david austin rose garden nursery visit en route. dublin, Ireland — here we explore the city, plus a private visit to the renowned helen dillon garden and selected private gardens. the rugged coastline of northern Ireland, beckons us to the fabulous giants causeway plus Mount stewart garden and rowallane are included in the belfast area. Finally 4 days of touring the scottish highlands and lochs from our historic stirling h ighland h otel visiting royal deeside, balmoral, crathes castle and pitlochry cost per person. double occupancy air included $4889.00. Southern Ireland Tour 25 Jun – 06 July will precede our main event. contact lorna for both detailed itineraries and register now for another Marjorie annual “mirabilis” garden adventure. c onta ct l orna at 905-432-8411 e-mail lorna@cwtajax.com website www.gardenersworldtours.com.
Mother’s Day: Floral Demonstration with Champagne Reception
s un D ay, May 10, 2009, 1:00 t o 4:00 p. M.
Invite your mother to join you for an afternoon in the garden. Enjoy an inspiring flower-arranging demonstration with Ann Marie Favot from Canadian Home & Country magazine accompanied by champagne cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a leisurely stroll through the contemporary themed gardens.
Members $45 / p ublic $55. p re- r egistration required: 416-397-1341, info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Lecture and Master cLass
Learn more about ornamental vegetable gardens at Jack Staub’s talk on Wednesday, April 1, or attend a Master Class on Designing with Edibles on Thursday, April 2. Jack Staub will be available to sign books following his lectures.
Sowing
Goodness
Jack
staub takes us down the not-so-straight path to creating a beautiful vegetable garden.
Photogra P hy by Jack Staub
We all know that growing at least some of what we eat or, at minimum, purchasing our produce from local farm sources will result in fresher, healthier, better food on our tables. But the goodness derived from these simple acts goes far beyond that easy equation. Keeping an edible garden or purchasing locally is not only good for you, it’s also good for your local farm economy and, most importantly, vital to the survival of our planet.
The writer Michael Pollan estimates that “the way we feed ourselves … accounts for about a fifth of the greenhouse gas for which each of us is responsible”. And the fossil fuel loads necessary to keep the food chain in motion are considerable. For instance, transporting a single calorie’s worth of fruits or vegetables from
California to New York consumes eighty-seven calories’ worth of energy. It also costs three energy calories for every calorie of processed and packaged food produced. Weigh that against the miracle of spending $1.50 on a packet of seeds and cultivating a season’s worth of lettuce or tomatoes, which costs our earth nothing and, in fact, re-nourishes it.
However, the idea of keeping an edible garden seems to be a stumbling block for even the most avid decorative gardeners. I believe this stems from that age-old vision of legions of vegetables grown in rows, sprouting from endless acres of soil, back-breakingly tilled by mule and plough. Erase that un-pretty labour-intensive picture from your mind. Instead, conjure up the artful symmetry of intimate plots of raised beds arranged in patterns and planted with a pleasing mixture of herbs, vegetables, fruit trees and flowers. Consider creating this type of garden an exercise in decorative, multiple parterre planting within a fenced or walled space. When you do, the doors open to a more pleasurable experience: a garden that’s more beautiful and easier to work in.
Early gardeners, from the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan and the Egyptians to the earliest Swiss and Roman settlements, found that a bed raised even a scant 15 centimetres (six inches) above ground level provided infinitely better
drainage than one situated on the soil surface – and it heated up faster in the spring too. Also, beds built no broader than 1.2 to 1.5 metres (four or five feet) across and separated by paths made it easier to reach into the middle to do chores such as weeding and watering. Another advantage the ancients discovered was that working with feet planted on a nice clean path instead of in the vegetable garden meant the soil didn’t get compacted or the plants crushed underfoot.
Design your potager just as you would a decorative border or flowerbed. Before selecting what to grow in your potager, think about what you like to eat. There are literally thousands of different vegetables from all corners of the globe. They come in every shape, colour and flavour imaginable. Then, consider plant height and texture, leaf form and foliage colour. Also consider juxtaposing contrasting characteristics and using vegetables with beautiful flowers.
There is no right mix, and every year provides a new opportunity to test an award-winning new cultivar or try another combination. And each year offers another chance to discover the incredible goodness that can result from so simple and rewarding an endeavour. For surely, if you plant, we will all of us reap.
Jack Staub is a leading expert on edible plants and vegetable garden design. He has written frequently for leading gardening publications and is the author of 75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden, 75 Remarkable Fruits for Your Garden and 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden. His gardens at Hortulus Farm Nursery and Gardens in Pennsylvania have been featured in many publications.
in season To Do
techniques a dvice
trade seCret
each region has its overused plants. Take for example the screaming powder blue of most common selections of Colorado spruce, Picea pungens as a giant landscape specimen, the tree dominates home and garden. Why not choose a smaller blue selection, such as a tento fifteen-foot ‘Sester Dwarf’, and combine it with a few of the greener cultivars? From Plant-Driven Design by Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden (Timber Press 2008). Don’t miss their lecture on March 4. See page 14 for details.
JuSt aSK
When should onion bulbs and seeds be planted in toronto?
globe or cooking onions can be started from seed indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost date in spring (May 9), then transplanted outdoors as soon as a month later. the seeds of bunching onions can be sown outdoors from early to late spring. (be sure to cover them with a thin layer
10top SPring PL antS
Watch for these flowering plants in the TBG gardens.
of soil as exposure to light retards germination.) some gardeners have success sowing onions just before the ground freezes in the fall, but this is riskier than spring sowing. (Mulching the seedlings helps them overwinter.) Onion sets (i.e., little bulbs) are generally planted in the spring.
Gardens
Vegetables From Ukraine in oUr
Every year, the Kitchen Garden is planted with vegetables and herbs from one of the many cultural communities that make up Toronto. In 2009 we’ll be growing a variety of vegetables commonly used in Ukrainian dishes. As in past years, members, volunteers and participants will experience the entire process, from planting seeds and harvesting to cooking up recipes. So stop by and visit.
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) Zone 4 & C. canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (‘Forest Pansy’ eastern redbud) Zone 5
x hybridus (Hybrid lenten rose) Zone 4
mas (Cornelian cherry) Zone 4
Erythronium americanum (trout lily) Zone 3
Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) Zone 3 & G. elwesi (greater snowdrop) Zone 4
Hepatica americana (american liverwort) Zone 3
Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry tree), A. laevis (smooth serviceberry) & A. lamarckii (Juneberry) Zone 4
Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel) Zone 5
Magnolia ‘elizabeth’ Zone 5 & M. x soulangeana Zone 6
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite) Zone 3
Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) Zone 3 & H.
Cornus
ulbs
Perenn I als
t rees & sH rubs
t rees & sH rubs
naME ThAT PLAnT
From the Following clues, identiFy this mystery plant.
Anna’s Plant Pick
trumpet Gentian Gentiana acaulis Group
True blue flowers are favourites in most gardens. The Gentiana acaulis Group features plump, upright, blue trumpet flowers that smother mounds of foliage in springtime. Members of the group include the species G. acaulis, alpina, clusii, dinarica, ligustica and occidentalis.
For best results, grow these alpines in fertile welldrained soil in full sun or only a little bit of shade. Locations that allow water to run away from the crown of the plant, such as the top of a low wall or a mounded rock garden, help prevent rot and make good spots from which to admire these natives of European alps. Unlike many rock garden plants, which generally do well in lean soils, gentians benefit from a richer mix; so add some compost to the planting hole. Many people will tell you how easy it is to grow gentians; however, if your plant doesn’t flower, try moving it – even only a metre away can make a difference. Also, plants may decline after several years. When this happens, dig them up and divide them in the early spring, then replant in soil amended with compost.
Enjoy the blues!
– Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener
1. a harbinger of spring, the blooms of this hairy perennial begin to peek through the snow in late march or early april, when only isolated patches of snow remain on the warming soil.
2. i t grows about 20 centimetres (eight inches) high, producing feathery leaves and large bell-shaped flowers, ranging in colour from lilac to purple, red, rosy pink and white, with distinctive bright yellow anthers.
3. flowers develop into showy, feathery seed heads.
To find out the name of this lovely spring beauty, see page 14.
sandra’s sniPPets
early spring is the perfect time to begin removing burlap and other coverings, including unhilling roses, to allow plants to acclimatize gradually to warmer weather.
— Sandra Pella, Gardener
sPrIng
MarCH
Clear leaf mulch from the crowns of perennials
Cut back dead stems of perennials
Plant bare-root plants once soil is workable
Press back perennials heaved by frost
remove protective plant coverings, such as burlap & evergreen boughs
Top-dress beds with compost once the ground thaws
aPrIl
Cut back summerblooming shrubs
Divide summer- and fallblooming perennials
Plant perennials, trees & shrubs
Prune vines such as wisteria & climbing roses
Weed
May
Deadhead springflowering perennials
Divide spring-flowering perennials
Prune lavender when leaf buds break
Prune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after they bloom
remove unwanted perennial seedlings
Watch for pests such as aphids
Toron ToboTani C algar
events What’s on at the t oronto Bo tanical Garden
MARCH
1
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, noon, soos.ca
9
Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting, Garden Hall, 7 p.m., torontobonsai.org
10
North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting, Studios 1, 2 & 3, 7 p.m., 416-488-3368
Greg Thorn: Mushrooms in the city Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m., myctor.org
17
North American Native Plant Society
Ken Parker: GREEN gardening Garden Hall, 7 p.m., nanps.org
26
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting, Studio 1, 7 p.m. mumsanddahlias.com
29
Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society Meeting, Studio 3, 2 p.m., onrhodos.com
APRIL
4
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society Judging, Studios 1 & 2, 9 a.m.
5 Seeds of Diversity
Meeting, Garden Hall & Studios 1, 2 & 3, 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m., seeds.ca
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, noon, soos.ca
12
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Josef Halda: Alpines of China & Burma Floral Hall, noon, onrockgarden.com
13
Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting, Garden Hall, 7 p.m., torontobonsai.org
14
North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting, Studios 1, 2 & 3, 7 p.m., 416-488-3368
18
Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society
Plant sale, Garden Hall, 2 to 5 p.m. onrhodos.com
19
Toronto African Violet Society
Annual show & sale, Floral Hall, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. bluejasper.com/tavs
Geranium, Pelargonium & Fuchsia
Society of Ontario
Plant show & sale, Garden Hall noon to 4:30 p.m., 905-986-4307
Ontario Water Garden Society Meeting, Studio 3, noon onwatergarden.com
20
Mycological Society of Toronto
Annual general meeting Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m., myctor.org
21
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club Meeting, Studio 3, 7 p.m. torontocactus.tripod.com
23
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting, Studio 1, 7 p.m. mumsanddahlias.com
25
Ontario Horticultural Society
Meeting, Floral Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. gardenontario.org
26
Earth Day Celebrations
Noon to 4 p.m., FREE., No registration required.
Ohara School of Ikebana, Toronto Chapter Ikebana show, Floral Hall
Opening ceremony, Japanese Consul-General, 1:30 p.m., Ikebana demonstrations, noon to 5 p.m., Admission: $15, ikebana-toronto.com
MAY
2
Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society
Judging, Studios 1 & 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., soos.ca
3
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Meeting, Floral Hall, noon, soos.ca
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Plant sale, Garden Hall, noon to 5 p.m. onrockgarden.com
5
TBG Plant Preview & Shopping Day
Friends breakfast and shopping preview, 10 a.m. to noon, Members only shopping, noon to 8 p.m.
(Membership card required for entry) 6-9
TBG Plant Sale
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
10 per cent off for TBG members
9
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Plant sale, Garden Hall
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., mumsanddahlias.com
10
Mother’s Day Floral Demonstration & Champagne Reception
Ann Marie Favot: Flower arranging Studios 1, 2 & 3, 1 to 4 p.m., Pre-registration required: 416-397-1341, Public $55, members $45 Society of Ontario Nut Growers Tree auction, Garden Hall, 1 to 4 p.m. songonline.ca
Ontario Rock Garden Society
Diana Pooke: Grasses and companion plants Meeting & plant sale, Floral Hall noon to 5 p.m., onrockgarden.com 11
Toronto Bonsai Society Meeting, Garden Hall, 7 p.m., torontobonsai.org 12
North Toronto Horticultural Society Meeting, Studios 1, 2 & 3; 7 p.m., 416-488-3368 17-18
Toronto Bonsai Society Show & sale, Floral Hall, Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. Monday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , torontobonsai.org 19
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club Meeting, Studio 1, 7:30 p.m. torontocactus.tripod.com 20
Milne House Garden Club
Legacy Event: Mark Pampling, Floral Hall, 12:15 p.m.; $35, 416-292-4661 or 416-481-4873 21
Milne House Garden Club
Legacy Event Workshop: Mark Pampling, Floral Hall, 9 a.m., Workshop, $175, audit, $75. 416-292-4661 or 416-481-4873
Doors Open Toronto, May 23-24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 28
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society Meeting, Studio 1, 7 p.m., mumsanddahlias.com 31
Ontario Water Garden Society Meeting, Garden Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. onwatergarden.com
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS TIME– BE SURE TO CHECK AHEAD
Milne House Legacy Event: Mark Pampling
EDWARDS LECTURES
March 4
Scott Ogden & Lauren Springer Ogden Plant-driven design
The Ogdens show how starting with plants creates enduringly beautiful, ecologically intelligent gardens.
April 1
Jack Staub: Sowing goodness Celebrated horticulturist and author
Jack Staub pays tribute to the virtues of keeping a home vegetable garden.
Discover dynamic, artistic and outstanding plants that demand less of your time. AGM, 7 p.m. Lecture, 7:30 p.m.
May 13
Kevin Lamb: The National Botanic Garden of Wales (Helen Flegg/ Edwards Lecture)
Director Kevin Lamb will discuss the development of this unique garden.
May 26
Don Shadow: New and useful plants from around the world
The founder of Shadow Nurseries tracks down rare and unusual plants for the urban landscape.
all lectures take place in the Floral hall at 7:30 p.m.
Public $15, members free. door sales only, limited seating. 416-397-1340
aB out t he toronto Botanical Garden
the toronto Botanical Garden (tBG) is a volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthy environment. the tBG raises over 90 per cent of its operating funds through membership, facility rentals, retail enterprises, program fees and donations. the organization relies on the generosity and financial commitment of individuals, foundations and corporations to help maintain the gardens and support the many horticultural and environmental services we provide to our community.
G eneral hours and admission
Gardens: Free admission, dawn to dusk a dministrati V e oFF ices: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. t he Weston Family l i B rary: Call 416-397-1340 or check www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca for hours of operation. m aster Gardeners’ i n Fo l ine: noon to 3 p.m. 416-397-1345 (April & July, Tuesday to Saturday; May & June, daily; August through March, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday) or www.questions.torontomastergardeners.ca
siGn uP For Garden e-neWs!
Receive the latest horticultural news and information on events, workshops, lectures and other horticultural happenings. Free registration at torontobotanicalgarden.ca/e_newsletter.asp
F riends o F the toronto B otanical G arden
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 november 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
($5,000 +)
George & Kathy Dembroski
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
($2 ,500- $4,999)
Lindsay Dale-Harris & Rupert Field-Marsham
B arbara Mayer
Vivienne & Michael Wiggan
B ENEFACTORS ($1,000$2,499)
Janet Davis
Edith Jewett
Mr. & Mrs. John O’Neill
Gray & Margaret Taylor
Mary Grace Wright
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
($500 - $999)
Karen Ann Barnett
Vern Campbell
Mark & Mary Cullen
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Dolbey
Elsie Howell
Susan Loube
Catherine Peer
Helen Skinner
FRIENDS ($140 - $499)
Alice Adelkind
Mickey Alexander
Gonda & Hamish Angus
Jane Avery
Mr. & Mrs. James Baxter
Don Beard
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Bixley
Janeen Bowes
Kelvin Browne
M. Jane Clark
Patricia Crawford
Nancy Dengler
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Galt
Patrons
h onorary Patron: adrienne clarkson
Brian Bixley, mark cullen, camilla dalglish, sondra Gotlieb, marjorie harris, lorraine Johnson, michele landsberg, susan macauley, helen skinner
B oard o F directors
leslie denier (president); dugald cameron, kathy dembroski, nancy G. dengler, tony diGiovanni, suzanne drinkwater, Geoffrey dyer, James eckenwalder, mary Fisher, colomba Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, Peter Gray-donald, lynn Grogan, Janet karn, catherine Peer, rosemary Phelan, Penny richards, dawn scott, Judy sherriff, claudette smith, tom sparling, margaret taylor
777 l awrence a venue e as t, toron to, o n tario m 3 c 1P2 , c anada 4 16-397-1340; fax: 416-397-1354 info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca
sta FF directory
The Flower and Garden Fes T ival
March 18-22, 2009 MeTro ToronTo convenTion cenTre, souTh
wednesday-saTurday 10 aM-9 pM
sunday 10 aM-6 pM
explore acres of spectacular gardens, shop ‘til you drop in our Marketplace and meet canada’s horticultural and gardening experts. enjoy our st. patrick’s opening night party, The home depot inspired living centre, the Miracle-Gro window porches, the Floral superstars and much more.
