TBGNews
goings on on the go
MARCh 17 to 21 visit the tBG’s edible summer booth at canada Blooms! take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Floral Design competition on march 17, 8:30 to 10 a.m. (public $40 / members $35, including show admission. call 416-3971341 to reserve.) And, don’t miss two presentations by paul Zammit: edibles in a city Garden, march 17, 12:30 p.m. and choice plants not to be Without, march 20, 12:30 p.m.
APRiL 23 to 25 green Living show, Direct energy centre, exhibition place. greenlivingonline.com/ torontoshow.
Who’s Ta Lk Ing
LeCtUReR: LYnDen MiLLeR
toPiC: PARKs, PLAnts AnD PeoPLe: BeAUtiFYing the URBAn LAnDsCAPe
When: WeDnesDAY, APRiL 14, 7:30 P.M.
Lynden Miller is an internationally renowned public garden designer and a passionate spokesperson for public parks. Her career began in 1982 when she rescued and restored the Conservatory Garden in New York City’s Central Park. She believes that public open spaces with good plantings can change city life by providing a connection with nature in neighbourhoods both rich and poor. Her lecture will be based on her latest book, Parks, Plants, and People. Public $20, students (with valid ID) $15, members free. Limited seating. Door sales only.
The TBG Annual general Meeting (members only) precedes this lecture at 6:30 p.m. Find out what the TBG has been working on this past year and hear about future plans. Meet members of the Board of Directors and new inductees. Refreshments.
FUndraiser
On March 8, dine with Thrifty author, Marjorie Harris, and help support the TBG. Tickets include dinner with wine (all taxes and gratuities included) at grano, 2035 Yonge St., a copy of Thrifty Tips and a $35 donation to the Toronto Botanical Garden. Tickets, $100, may be purchased at Ben McNally Books (www.benmcnallybooks.com). Tickets will be entered into a raffle for a special prize of dinner for four at Marjorie’s table. Cocktails 6 p.m.; dinner 7 p.m.
Yours, Mine & Ours Volun
T eers
Behind the Scenes at Jump on Spring
Volunteers are a big part of what makes the Toronto Botanical Garden a magnet for gardening enthusiasts, and the volunteer committee behind the success of Get the Jump on Spring is no exception. Committee chair Trudy Stacey, one of the TBG’s volunteer coordinators of volunteers, heads up a diverse group of volunteers who help make it all happen: Malcolm Geast is past director of the Ontario Horticultural Association District 5 and his computer skills are invaluable; Gloria Broks is in charge of speakers; Lisa Renner and Monika Queisser sign up the
• Connect with nature on earth Day, April 17
Take a wild edibles family walk and create your own foodie fun in the children’s centre. And be sure to drop by the gardening and nature Book sale early enough to snap up the best of these bargain-priced, gently used volumes.
• The Floral Hall will be filled with exciting new introductions and reliable tried and true plants for the annual tBg Plant sale
Members-only shopping from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5. Public sale, May 6 to 9, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mother’s Day Floral Demonstration and Champagne Reception with Paul Zammit, Sunday, May 9 , 1 to 4 p.m. Pre-registration required: 416-397-1341; Public $55 / members $45.
• Doors open toronto. Come and explore the TBG gardens on May 29 and 30.
vendors; Tena van Andel organizes the Toronto Master Gardeners; current OHA director Nancy Serrick acquires the prizes; Victoria Stevens is in charge of publicity and the flower design competition; Patricia Landry from the City of Toronto helps get the word out; and the TBG’s Director of Horticulture, Paul Zammit, provides support and assistance.
“They’re all so generous with their time and talent,” says Trudy. “It’s a great partnership between the TBG and OHA and it’s always a fun event.” – Victoria Stevens
From The TBG
JennY RhoDenizeR, DiReCtoR oF CoMMUniCAtions & PAUL zAMMit, DiReCtoR oF hoRtiCULtURe
This summer the Toronto Botanical Garden will be celebrating local food and growing your own in a summer-long outdoor exhibition: Edible Summer. We begin with this special issue of Trellis. Then it’s on to our new hands-on Urban Vegetable Gardening Series, which starts Saturday, March 27. These workshops will take you through the stages of successful and sustainable gardening – from planning your garden to harvesting and preparing for the next growing season. Throughout the summer months, we celebrate “A Taste of Italy” in our Kitchen Garden, redesigned by Citytv gardening personality Frankie Flowers. We’ll also have a display of designer birdhouses in shopTBG with information on building habitat to feed the birds. And we will have a series of edible herb containers in the Demonstration Courtyard to inspire urban newbie gardeners. On three Thursdays throughout the summer come and participate in our local culinary series, “A Taste of the Garden”, which includes a guided walk through the gardens and dining en plein air with à la Carte Kitchen Chef Simon Kattar and special guests.
Announcements
the toronto Botanical Garden Board of Directors has announced the resignation of e xecutive Director JUDY WiLLMott. Judy was an active board member in 2007-2008 and held the position of e xecutive Director for fourteen months. We thank Judy for her many contributions to the organization and wish her well in her future endeavours. While a search for her replacement is underway, paul Zammit, Director of Horticulture, and Jenny rhodenizer, Director of communications, will manage day-to-day operations with the support of the Board of Directors.
take a Break
celebrate the return of spring at the toronto Botanical Garden! the tBG’s march Break camps offer five exciting programs that explore art and nature for kids six to 10 years old. create a sculpture in 3-D camp, an indoor garden at plant camp or even a delicious meal at Food camp.
march 15 to 19. public $65, members $55 per day two-, three- and five-day discounted packages are available.
Don’t forget to visit us at canada Blooms which is Free to children 12 and under. march 17 to 21.
Green
Community Urban Vegetable Gardening for the New Enthusiast
In partnership with the Toronto Master Gardeners, and with the generous support of the McLean Foundation, the TBG offers a series of hands-on workshops to introduce urban veggie gardening neophytes to the joys of successful and sustainable gardening. These full-day courses take place on five Saturdays over the months of March, April, May, August and September and are suited to both small spaces and large properties. The series covers the spectrum from planning your garden to harvesting and preparing for the next growing season. Each course: $70 members; $75 public. Special rates for multiple courses. Pre-registration required: torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ programs/registration.htm or 416-397-1341.
LesLie DenieR has decided to retire from her position as president and chair of the Board of Directors a few months ahead of the scheduled expiry of her term in April 2010. leslie has a remarkable history of contributions to the tBG. A member of the Garden club of toronto, she served on the board for many years and chaired the revitalization committee. Few have served the tBG so effectively and generously as she has. As an interim measure, the board has appointed suzanne Drinkwater and Geoffrey Dyer to the office of the president as co-chairs of the Board until the Annual General meeting in April 2010.
— Toronto Botanical Garden Board of Directors
in season To Do
TradE sECrET
soak your begonias mid-February to late april is the optimal time for starting tuberous begonias. to help them perform their best, sprout the tubers before planting by soaking them in a 43°c (110˚F) bath for 15 minutes. to help control mildew, add bleach to the water (5 ml bleach to 1 litre water/1 tsp bleach to 4.5 cups water).
– Dugald Cameron, gardenimport.com
in our Gardens
ViVa iTalia!
this year, the tBg’s Kitchen garden features “a taste of italy.” Designed by Citytv gardening personality Frankie Flowers, the garden features vegetables and herbs used in italian cooking and a kid-friendly Pizza garden.
Just Ask
A number of my perennials are much too large for the space they occupy. Would it be possible to separate these plants once they have flowered?
Most multi-stemmed perennials need to be divided when they have overgrown their space, not just for aesthetic reasons, but to reduce the roots’ competition for nutrients. For most perennials, that means dividing every three years or so. The blooming period determines the time to divide. Generally, plants that bloom in spring or early summer can be divided in the early fall and those that bloom in late summer or fall are divided in the spring. For details, see Dividing Perennials, a Toronto Master Gardener Factsheet available at www.factsheets.torontomastergardeners.ca.
10
Top
This spring, our Show Garden highlights these and other exciting introductions from leading plant breeders. Thank you to Proven Winners, Terra Nova Nurseries Mori Star Perennials and Heritage Perennials for their generous support of this program.
Calibrachoa superbells lavender (superbells lavender calibrachoa)
Graceful
annuals
annuals
Petunia x supertunia Pretty Much Picasso (supertunia Pretty Much Picasso petunia)
Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘inneuphe’ (diamond Frost euphorbia)
Solenostemon scutellarioides
ColorBlaze dipt in Wine (Coleus ColorBlaze dipt in Wine)
Lobularia ‘Inlbusnopr’ (snow Princess alyssum)
Ipomoea batatas ( illusion Emerald lace sweet potato vine)
Hydrangea arborescens invincibelle spirit (invincibelle spirit smooth hydrangea)
Buddleja davidii ‘Blue Chip’ (lo & Behold butterfly bush)
Cyperus papyrus
Grasses King Tut (Graceful Grasses King Tut Egyptian papyrus)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘King’s ransom’ (‘King’s ransom’ siberian bugloss)
container crazy
sPrinGTiME FrEsh
When creating a spring planter, try combining spring-flowering bulbs with cold-tolerant perennials, evergreens or small shrubs. (Be sure to acclimatize them to the cool weather first.) Select daffodils (Narcissus) and grape hyacinths (Muscari) which can be planted out later to naturalize in the garden. re-use the other plants in summer and/or fall containers. – Paul Zammit
Anna’s Plant Pick
Witch alder
Fothergilla spp. and cvs.
Fothergilla belongs to the witch hazel family and has two species, both of which are native to north america. the dwarf F. gardenii grows in the wild in poor, sandy, peaty, acidic soils. it reaches less than a metre (three feet) in height and often forms suckers. in early spring, before the leaves unfurl, fragrant white, upright, bottlebrush flowers appear, about three centimetres (one inch) long with separate male and female flowers on the same “brush.” the stamens actually lend the colour, with their ivory filaments and yellow anthers. the bluish leaves turn a brilliant colour in the fall. (note: colour quality varies from plant to plant.) this species does not grow well in dry, clay, alkaline soils. F. g. ‘Blue Mist’ is a common cultivar, but i find that it’s not vigorous and the fall colour is disappointing.
‘Mount
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Fothergilla major is similar to F. g. it also suckers and will reach up to six metres (20 feet), although in cultivation it rarely exceeds three metres (10 feet). its flowers are longer and it’s hardier than F. g. and easier to grow. it prefers acid soils but will grow in slightly alkaline ones.
Fothergilla x intermedia is a hybrid developed from open-pollinated seed. it began appearing in nurseries 30 years ago. these plants are compact, rarely reaching over 1.5 metres (five feet), and will grow in a variety of soils. all its cultivars – including ‘Mount airy’ which is one of the best – have fragrant spring-blooming flowers, good blue-green summer foliage and wonderful fall colour. But as good as all of these may be, i want ‘Blue Shadow’. this is a sport of ‘Mount airy’ that’s been proclaimed one of the most promising new shrubs of this century. the new leaves are green, but then turn an intense powder blue before becoming brilliant orange and red in the fall. – Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener
sandra’s sniPPETs
March is never too early to cut back clematis that belong to pruning Group Three – probably the least complicated group. These cultivars, which flower on the current year’s growth, respond exceptionally well to hard pruning. Cut back the top growth to a healthy pair of buds – as low as 45 centimetres above ground. (yes, that’s a foot and a half!) drastic equals more flowers for this group of vines!
— Sandra Pella Head Gardener
in your Garden
JoBs To do
Early sPrinG (MarCh) stretch and exercise to prepare for outdoor gardening.
shear ornamental grasses (except most Festuca and Carex and other evergreen grasses) to a few inches off the ground before new growth begins.
carefully rake, top-dress and re-seed damaged areas of the lawn. Fertilize. remove weeds as they appear.
Mid-sPrinG (aPril) edge garden beds.
Hard-prune hybrid tea roses.
sPrinG (May) in the garden, start cold season crops such as peas, spinach, radish, beets, chard, lettuce and onions.
Fill planters with fresh potting mix.
regularly deadhead spring bloomers such as pansies and violas.
begin to harden off indoor seedlings once fluctuating outdoor temperatures begin to stabilize.
go to torontobotanical garden.ca/trellis f or more spring gardening ta sks
airy’
events What’s on at the t oronto Bo tanical Garden
15
Mycological Society of Toronto
Studios 1, 2 & 3, 7:45 p.m.; myctor.org
16
Toronto African Violet Society
Studio 2, 7:30 p.m.; bluejasper.com/tavs
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Studio 3, 7:30 p.m.; torontocactus.tripod.com
25
Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Studio 1, 6:30 p.m.
28
Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society
Studio 1, 1 p.m.; onrhodos.com
ApRil
4
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Floral Hall, noon; soos.ca
Greater Toronto Rose & Garden
Horticultural Society
Studio 1, 2 p.m. gardenontario.org./site.php/rosegarden
6
Toronto African Violet Society
Studio 3, 7:30 p.m.; bluejasper.com/tavs
7
North American Native plant Society
Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m.; nanps.org
10 & 11
Toronto African Violet Society
Spring show & sale
Garden Hall & Studios 1, 2 & 3
Saturday: noon to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. bluejasper.com/tavs
11
Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy plant Society
Speaker: Wayne Mezitt
Floral Hall, 12:30 p.m.; onrockgarden.com
12
Toronto Bonsai Society
Garden Hall, 7 p.m.; torontobonsai.org
13
North Toronto Horticultural Society
Studios 1-3, 7:30 p.m. gardenontario.org/site.php/northtoronto
17
Earth Day Celebrations at TBG Noon to 4 p.m.; free
18
Ontario Water Garden Society
Studio 3, noon; onwatergarden.com
Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society
Annual plant sale; Garden Hall, 2 p.m. onrhodos.com
19
Mycological Society of Toronto
Annual general meeting
Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m.; myctor.org
20
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Studio 3, 7:30 p.m.; torontocactus.tripod.com
24
Ontario Horticultural Association District 5
Annual general meeting
Floral Hall, 8:30 a.m. beachgs.ca
25
Sogetsu ikebana
Studio 1, 12:30 p.m.; highpark35@rogers.com
MAy
2
Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy plant Society
Mega plant sale, Floral Hall, noon to 4 p.m. onrockgarden.com
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Garden Hall, noon; soos.ca
Society of Ontario Nut Growers
Tree auction, Moriyama Foyer, 1 p.m. songonline.ca
Greater Toronto Rose & Garden Horticultural Society
Studio 1, 2 p.m. gardenontario.org/site.php/rosegarden
8
Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Studio 1, 9:30 a.m.
5-9
TBG plant Sale (annuals & perennials)
Wednesday: Members shopping, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9
Mother’s Day Floral Demonstration & Champagne Reception with paul Zammit 1-4 p.m.; pre-registration required Public $55 / members $45; 416-397-1341
Toronto Bonsai Society
Studios 1-3, 7 p.m.; torontobonsai.org
North Toronto Horticultural Society Studios 1-3, 7:30 p.m. gardenontario.org/site.php/northtoronto
16
Toronto Gesneriad Society
Vincent Woo: Columnea & hanging plants Studios 1 & 2, noon torontogesneriadsociety.org
Toronto Region iris Society Iris show; Studio 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. torontoirissociety.com
EDWARDS l ECTURES
March 30 • Marjorie Harris
Re-Envisioning your Garden
Marjorie talks about the evolution of her own garden, including how to make landscape changes while preserving the parts of the garden that “work”.
April 14 • Lynden B. Miller parks, p lants and p eople: Beautifying the Urban l andscape
An internationally renowned public garden designer, Lynden Miller believes that public spaces with good plantings can change city life.
May 26 • Tony Avent p erennials: What’s New and Exciting Tony Avent fans our plant lust with the best new perennials for this spring.
lectures take place in the Floral Hall at 7:30 p.m. Public $20, students (with ID) $15, members free. Door sales only, limited seating. 416-397-1340
18
Toronto African Violet Society
Studio 2, 7:30 p.m.; bluejasper.com/tavs
Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club
Studio 3, 7:30 p.m.; torontocactus.tripod.com
19
Milne House Garden Club
Legacy Event: Hitomi Gilliam; auction follows Floral Hall, 1 p.m.; $35; 416-292-4661
21
Milne House Garden Club
Legacy Event Workshop: Hitomi Gilliam Floral Hall, 9:30 a.m.; $175; 416-292-4661
23
Sogetsu ikebana
Studio 3, 12:30 p.m.; highpark35@rogers.com
23 & 24
Toronto Bonsai Society
Show & sale, Floral Hall; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Monday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; torontobonsai.org
29 & 30
Doors Open Toronto at TBG 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
30
Ontario Water Garden Society
Plant sale; Garden Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. onwatergarden.com
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. Weston Family l i B rary: Call 416-397-1343 or check www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca for hours of operation. shop t BG: Call 416-397-1357 • shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca t BG c afé: 416-392-6190 (closed until spring) 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
GiFt memBership: $40 single, $55 family. call 416-397-1341 or sign up online at torontobotanicalgarden.ca/membership
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, 2009 to December 24, 2009.
DiRECTOR’S CiRClE
($2,500 - $4,999)
Michael & Vivienne Wiggan
BENEFACTORS
($1,000 - $2,499)
Mark & Mary Cullen
Janet Davis
Peter & Joy Gray-Donald
Mary Hatch
Donald & Janet Karn
Shelagh O’Neill
Wayne Squibb
SUSTAiNiNG MEMBERS
($500 - $999)
Karen Ann Barnett
Vern Campbell
Susan & Mike Dolbey
Jim Harbell
Penny & Robert Richards
Helen Skinner
Phillip & Maureen Tingley
Jane & Donald Wright
FrIenDs ($140 - $499)
Mr. & Mrs. James Baxter
Don Beard
Kelvin Browne
Nancy Dengler
Mary Louise Dickson
Irene Gish
Beverley Harrison
Mr. & Mrs. Martin Hubbes
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
suzanne drinkwater, Geoffrey dyer (co-chairs); kathy dembroski, nancy G. dengler, James eckenwalder, mary Fisher, colomba Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, peter Gray-donald, lynn Grogan, Janet karn, allan kling, catherine peer, rosemary phelan, penny richards, dawn scott, Judy sherriff, claudette smith, tom sparling, margaret taylor, anne ullman
administration executive director director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1346
accounting, carmeli Banci accounting@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1352
Facility sales supervisor, Jenny Beard rentals@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1324
Facility sales coordinator, sherri Johnson rentalassist@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1349
maintenance supervisor, Walter morassutti maintenance@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1344
Volunteer office volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-4145
communications department communications director, Jenny rhodenizer communication@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1351
Trellis editor editor@torontobotanicalgarden.ca deVelopment department director of development development@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1372
Donalda Kelk
C. M. Kruitwagen
Anna Leggatt
Sonia & Alan Leslie
Anne Lindsay
Karen Lockwood
Virginia McLaughlin
Otto Muller
Sylvia Pivko
Gisele Quesnel-Oke
Wendy Rebanks
Flavia Redelmeier
Beverly Stager
Kris Vikmanis
Anonymous (3)
development officer, alyssa mccauley annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1483
database coordinator, naureen Qaiyyum database@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1371
horticultural department
director of horticulture, paul Zammit horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1358
head Gardener, sandra pella gardener@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1289
children’s programs supervisor, liz hood childrensprograms@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1355
adult programs coordinator, rebecca Golding programs@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1362
children’s programs coordinator, natalie harder allangardens@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1288
Birthday party coordinator, alyshia Goldblatt birthdayparty@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1380
shoptBG
shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1357
tBG caFÉ 416-392-6190
Weston Family liBrary library@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1343
taxonomic assistant, toni Vella taxonomy@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
777 l awrence a venue e as t, toron to, o n tario m 3 c 1 p 2 , c anada 4 16-397-1340; fax: 416-397-1354 info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca
sta FF directory
