MakE a FaLL FLoraL dEsign Page 9 thE Big sLurP souPaLicious at thE tBg Page 10 PLantEr chic drEss uP BLack with siLvEr Page 12 JacquELinE van dEr kLoEt has a Natural Way
Gardeners World Tours Presents:
Discover Prince Edward CountyOct 26, 2010. –Garden and Wine Tour
We will offer 2 night’s Bed and Breakfast or winery accommodations in Bloomfield area, including a wine tasting. Our visit will include Presque Isle Point, Sandbanks beaches, and the bountiful harvests of fresh apples, pumpkins, cheeses and the wines. $499.00 per person based on double occupancy. Limited Single Occupancy available.
Rose Bowl Parade-: California New Year's Getaway featuring the Tournament of Roses Parade & the Crystal Cathedral. Departing: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Springtime in Italy-April 2011 - Join us for this exciting tour of Italian Gardens and Winery’s. A Truly unforgettable experience, the perfect time to visit all the exciting “Highlights of Italy”
Truly Scotland-Edinburgh Tattoo August 2011 – Marjorie Mason invites gardeners, golfers, history buffs, dancers, music and birders to experience rugged Scottish Islands, Highlands and Lowlands, Castles and Lochs, follow the whisky trail with us for 2 weeks of Scottish hospitality.
South Africa October 2011 - Marjorie will be visiting “Spectacular South Africa” including the Garden Route “Culture and Nature in Harmony” Search for the Big 5 during your included open-air safari game drives! Visit the oldest working ostrich farm in South Africa and learn about these fascinating animals! See the breathtaking Drakensburg Mountains, the highest mountains in Southern Africa, as you travel along the Panoramic Route.
Floriade 2012 – thinking ahead – Marjorie will be again taking us to Holland and the Floriade which occurs every 10 years. We will be including Bruges (Venice of the North) and Piet Oudolf’s garden.
Kindly register your interest or for further information contact Gardeners World Tours Lorna at 905 683 2838 or Heather at 905 492 0503 or by email at: Lorna@gardenersworldtours.com www.gardenersworldtours.com
Editor
lorraiNe FlaNigaN
dEsign
JuNe aNdersoN
trEllis CommittEE
lorraiNe huNter (Chair)
lorraiNe FlaNigaN (editor)
Carol gardNer
marioN magee
gweN rattle
VoluntEEr
Editorial assistants m magee, m. NeVett
VoluntEEr graphiC artist Pablo herNaNdeZ
VoluntEEr proofrEadErs
e. brais, J. CamPbell, l hiCkey, J. mCCluskey, d. Puder, m magee, l. & s skiNNer aNd l uyeNo
adVErtising
416-397-1371
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 to the editor for consideration by the trellis Committee 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.
Charitable business number 119227486rr0001
Canada Publications mail Product sales agreement #40013928
issN 0380-1470
CoVer Photo: Netherla N d s Flower b ulb i NF ormatio N Ce N ter
Printed
to do Features News
Basic gardening knowledge entrance exam September 20
Personal interviews September 27-29
Course start January 2011
To register or for info: jgardin609@rogers.com
4 tribute a long-time friend
Who’s talking douglas tallamy goings on in and about the tbg green Community toronto islands water Filtration Plant garden
5 from the tBg a changing tapestry
tBgKids harvest day adventures & halloween hijinks
Yours, mine & ours a horticultural book story
Welcome Carrie shibinsky
6 a natural Way with Bulbs Jacqueline van der kloet’s gardening style
9 fall floral fantasy design a contemporary autumn arrangement
10 the Big slurp Celebrate soupalicious at the tbg
12 trade secret Planting bulbs for impact
Container Crazy tips for fall containers top 10 plants for fall Colour in our gardens New plants preview! learning the lingo
13 a good read in Your garden Jobs to do anna’s plant pick oakleaf hydrangea sandra’s snippets ornamental grasses
14 Events Calendar what’s on at the tbg
TBGNews
Tribute
A LONG-TIME FRIEND
Ken Duncan, a friend of many tBG volunteers, died on June 6 at the age of 89. in 1971, Ken began the Rhododendron society of canada, and he was a constant presence in edwards Gardens, wearing his signature battered hat and taking care of his beloved rhodos, azaleas and magnolias. over the years he received a number of awards including a canada Day Achievement Award in 2001 and the toronto clean and Beautiful Award in 2005. His contribution is memorialized in a plaque in edwards Gardens: “Ken Duncan’s Rhododendron Dell”. — Carol Gardner
Who’s TALk ING
LECTURER: DOUGLAS TALLAMY
TOPIC: BRINGING NATURE HOME
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 7:30 P.M.
As a child, Douglas Tallamy enjoyed watching pollywogs in a small pond near his home. Suddenly one day, they were no more: a bulldozer had destroyed the pond to create a housing development. That incident was the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to preserving the ecosystem. In this very personal lecture, Tallamy will discuss the important ecological roles of the plants in our landscapes, emphasize the benefits of designing gardens with these roles in mind and explore the consequences of failing to do so. Professor Tallamy is chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Following the lecture, he will sign copies of his book, Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens (2007).
Lecture presented in partnership with the North American Native Plant Society.
Public $20, students (with valid ID) $15, NANPS members $10, TBG members free. Limited seating. Door sales only.
Green Community: new Garden at the toronto island Water Filtration plant
The Toronto Botanical Garden has helped to green six of Toronto’s water filtration plants. The newest garden, in a planting program begun in 2008 with the establishment of a garden at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, was installed over the summer at the Island Water Treatment Plant, located on Centre Island near Gibraltar Point. The TBG’s Head Gardener, Sandra Pella, designed the beds and planting plan and, with the able assistance of volunteer Midge Cooper, planted, watered and weeded the new garden, which can be seen by passersby on the road that leads to the Gibraltar Point lighthouse.
GOINGS ON
• bring your flock to the Flocktail Party, September 15. Proceeds support the establishment of the woodland walk & bird Habitat. order tickets online at torontobotanical garden.ca/birds or call 416-397-1340. early bird special $150 per ticket before august 15; $175 after august 15. buy a flock of 5, get a sixth free.
• dutch landscape architect Jacqueline van der Kloet gives a special breakfast lecture, Artistry with Bulbs . September 16 from 8:15 a.m. $15, tbg members only. Preregistration required. call 416-397-1362
• Harvest Day fun for all ages, September 25. Join the kids in harvesting the teaching garden. Support Soupalicious by purchasing a bowl of soup made by top chefs; buy pumpkins and pre-made outdoor urns; enjoy a beer and people-watching in the beer garden. events take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tea Tasting with tea sommelier and journalist nora gubins, october 21, 7 to 9 p.m. Public $50, members $45.14 (plus HSt). Preregistration required.
From The TBG
ALDONA SATTERTHWAITE executive Director
A changing tapestry
On a sultry and smoggy July day, lunchtime found me wandering around the Entry Walk Garden. Designed by Piet Oudolf, its incredible textures and colour never cease to inspire me. Today it was the brilliant magenta blooms of a massive clump of Monarda ‘Aquarius’ and the stately waving spires of a particularly tall, lavendercoloured Veronicastrum that made my heart beat faster. But in general, it’s not the individual plants but the knitting together of all of them in a gorgeous and cohesive whole that makes this garden so successful year-round.
Harvest Day Adventures
Saturday, September 25
DiscoverAbility joins forces with TBGKids programmers in the Teaching Garden area from noon to 4 p.m. doing various performances and demonstrations. Children of all ages and their families can enjoy a strawberry preserve demonstration, Stone Soup storytelling, Suddenly Art painting, musical performances and an interactive dramatic production. Free admission, no registration required.
Halloween Hijinks • saturday, october 23
· Meet bat expert Dr. Brock Fenton and find out how you can attract more of these cool critters to your neighbourhood. Great for adults and youth 13 and up. 10 a.m. to noon. Registration required. Public $30.09, members $23.01.
And that’s how we’re approaching the future of the Toronto Botanical Garden — working together as a closeknit team to create a fresh and exciting tapestry of educational and inspirational experiences for you, our members, to enjoy. We’re replacing that tired old refrain “we’ve always done things this way” with “how can we improve that?” — a much more rousing anthem, if you ask me.
One of the areas we’re concentrating on is membership. We’re looking at refurbishing all the categories and adding news ones — for example, corporate membership. The reason is simple: once we had a membership base of 5,000, but in recent years, that number has eroded. And, of course, a strong membership base means more revenues and a stronger TBG.
So here’s where you can help: this fall, we’re launching a membership drive. Won’t you please encourage the gardeners in your life to join the TBG and think of a TBG membership when purchasing gifts for garden-loving friends? And if you have some suggestions on what would make your TBG membership even better, I’d love to hear them. Please e-mail me at director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
· Do lunch with a lizard and have a quick bite with an alligator! Don’t miss Reptilia’s this show featuring an amazing array of creatures that would make any witch jealous! Enjoy a family-friendly barbecue lunch during the show. Perfect for kids 6 and up. Noon to 1 p.m. Tickets available at the door.
· Bring your littlest ghouls and boys to this two-hour guided program, from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn more about Halloween’s creepiest creatures through fun games and activities. Ideal for children 2 to 8 years old. Adult accompaniment and registration required. Fee per child: public $10, members $7.
Carrie Shibinsky Interim Director of Marketing and Communications
carrie really “gets the word out” and has already garnered terrific media coverage for the tBG (not surprising, as she was senior publicist at the Art Gallery of ontario for 20 years). A keen gardener, she and her photographer husband, Glen Reichwein, devised ingenious hammock-type slings for growing vegetables on their balcony. Ask her about them when you stop by to say hi!
Patrons of the Weston Family Library will be seeing new books on the shelves, thanks to a successful book sale last April. Teams of volunteers spent months evaluating and pricing book donations and soon the circulation desk and library workroom resembled a warehouse.
We would like to thank the Toronto Master Gardeners, Gardening Life, Canadian Gardening, Terry McGlade and Marion Magee and the Friends of the Trinity Library for their major contributions, and the Milne House Garden Club and Weston Family Library volunteers for organizing the sale. As well, thank you to everyone who donated their treasures. The funds raised will be used to add ecologically focussed information to our collection. — Joy Reddy
A Natural Way with Bulbs
tbg members are in for a treat, says carol Gardner, when garden designer and landscape architect Jacqueline van der Kloet speaks at the tbg about the evolution of her gardening style.
Artistry with BulBs
ExclusivE MEMBErs lEcturE
Jacqueline van der Kloet will talk about her natural bulb planting style on thursday, september 16, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. continental breakfast will be served. tickets ($15) are available to tBG members only. For tickets or further information, phone 416-397-1362 or e-mail info@torontobotanicalgarden. ca. lecture sponsored by the Netherlands Flower Bulb information center.
Jacqueline Van der Kloet has always been drawn to the creative side of landscaping. In 1992, she was asked to work on the bulb display at Floriade, the international exhibition of flowers that is held every ten years in the Netherlands. These days, she can be found designing both public and private gardens at home and around the world, including stints in Germany, Japan, Sweden, Kuwait and China.
Jacqueline’s planting style is very natural — an integration of bulbs, perennials, shrubs and trees that take into consideration shape and height as well as colour. She is not a fan of large clumps of similarly coloured bulbs but
does believe that “flower bulbs let you make infinite combinations.” When she originally introduced her planting concept, many of the more traditional designers were not amused. Now, her unconventional style is much in demand for both residential and public gardens, and she is known for the creativity of her plant combinations.
Those who have been fortunate enough to attend Keukenhof, the bulb and flower showcase in Holland, may be familiar with Jacqueline’s work. In 2004, she redesigned 2.5 acres of the park to create seven small themed gardens to inspire homeowners to use more bulbs. These Gardens of
Inspiration, which change every year, feature ways to combine spring-flowering bulbs with small shrubs, perennials and biennials.
Jacqueline has also worked extensively with Piet Oudolf, the prominent Dutch landscape designer who collaborated with Toronto’s Martin Wade Landscape Architects Ltd. to design the TBG’s Entry Garden Walk. Oudolf’s New Wave gardening style works perfectly with Jacqueline’s naturalistic bulb design. The two first worked together in 2002 at Floriade (watch for the TBG Floriade tour in 2012). They have since collaborated on three other projects: Manhattan’s
Battery Park, the New York Botanical Garden’s Seasonal Walk and the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Following Jacqueline’s visit in September, there will be a bulb planting in the TBG’s perennial beds in October (TBG garden volunteers — we need you!). Thanks to Dutch grower Jac. Uittenbogaard, Tradewinds International and Landscape Ontario for generously donating 10,000 bulbs.
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writer and member of the Trellis Committee.
Tips for Planting Bulbs
choose a planting area with good drainage so the bulbs won’t rot.
• Plant bulbs to a depth that’s three times their height. whether small or large, plant in drifts rather than in single rows, spacing bulbs according to package directions.
• cover bulbs with soil, then water to give the roots a kick-start.
• Plant bulbs as soon as halloween is over, except for daffodils which can be planted as early as possible in the fall so that they can establish strong root systems before the frost sets in.
• there is no surefire way to protect the bulbs from marauding creatures, but covering bulbs in the hole with chicken wire seems to be one of the more effective solutions. after the bulbs are planted, clean up the area and tamp down the soil so that critters won’t be able to sniff out the bulbs so easily. many bulbs, such as Fritillaria and Narcissus, are not tempting to squirrels, rabbits or deer.
• after the bulbs have bloomed in the spring, deadhead them but leave the leaves standing until they turn brown. d uring this time, the sun will turn oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into food that will be stored in the bulb for next year’s growth.
Jacqueline uses landscape ribbon to designate bulb planting areas.
Plant bulbs three times their height.
A natural planting of tulips in New york’s Battery Park
classifieds
Emily Mays AiFD, cFD is pleased to be offering a new series of workshops in floral design. learn about form, technique & current trends using inspirational blooms. experience your own fresh creation! space is limited. for instructor profile, class descriptions and information regarding day or evening registration, please visit www.emilymays.com
trellis, CDN
Perennial Seed.Beautiful. Useful.Native...
To the Planet.
Bloom Timetable
tulip bulbs can bloom in early, middle and late spring (see packaging for bloom times). here’s the timing in the gta for other bulbs:
late winter/Early spring
• Anemone blanda winter windflower
• Chionodoxa glory of the snow
• Crocus spp. and cvs. spring crocus
• Eranthis hyemalis winter aconite
• Galanthus nivalis snowdrop
• Iris spp. bulbous irises
Mid- to late spring
• Fritillaria imperialis crown imperial
• Hyacinthoides hispanica spanish bluebell
• Leucojum aestivum summer snowflake
• Hyacinthus hyacinth
• Muscari armeniacum grape hyacinth
• Narcissus spp. and cvs. daffodil (timing dependent on variety)
• Erythronium dog’s-tooth violet
late spring/Early summer
Production · Breeding · Seed Technology USA Office: Jelitto Perennial Seeds ·125 Chenoweth Ln. Suite 301· Louisville, KY40207 Phone (502) 895-0807 · Fax (502) 895-3934 · www.jelitto.com · maryv@jelitto.com
• Allium ornamental onion (timing dependent on variety)
• Camassia quamash camas
• Narcissus spp. and cvs. daffodil (timing dependent on variety)
Mid-summer
• Lilium spp. and cvs. lily
late summer/Fall
• Crocus sativus & C. speciosus autumn crocus
TBG SEED EXCHANGE
Collect and Send Seeds by October 29, 2010
(Select seed from the TBG will also be available for order)
Labelled envelopes should include:
• Plant name (common and botanical) and cultivar
• Plant type (e.g. annual, perennial, bulb, vine, etc.)
• Flower colour
• Height (centimeters)
• Comments (bloom time, attracts birds, etc.)
For tips on submission forms and seed collecting, see torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Mail or deliver seeds to:
Paul Zammit, Director of Horticulture
Toronto Botanical Garden
777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto M3C 1P2
FAll FlorAl fantasy
follow Margaret taylor ’s step-by-step design for this contemporary autumn arrangement.
PhotograPhy by trish symons.
Visit her Passionate gardener blog at www.orangeVille.com/community/blogs/655778
1. Tape oasis ball to mouth of vase, crisscrossing florist’s tape over the top of the ball and securing the ends of each piece to the lip of the vase. Wrap another length of tape around the mouth and over the ends of the other two pieces to help hold them in place.
2. Arrange roses in a graceful upward arc, fitting stems firmly into oasis.
wANt to lEArN MorE ABout FlorAl DEsiGN?
the toronto botanical garden offers a variety of courses in creative floral design. they are intended both for those who just want to know more and for those who are interested in obtaining the tbg’s floral design certificate.
Modern Floral Design with margaret taylor & Judy James, wednesdays, september 29 through october 20 (4 sessions)
introduction to Floral Design with sue clarkson & Janet marsh frosst, thursdays, september 30
3. Position protea beside the roses, fitting stems into place in the oasis.
4. Break off fibrous begonias, leaving stems as long as possible and tuck them into the opposite side of the arc of roses.
5. Wrap each aspidistra leaf as shown, slipping the tip of the stem through the leaf once, and then twisting the leaf to puncture the leaf again.
6. Arrange each twisted leaf firmly into the right side of the arrangement to visually balance the protea on the opposite side.
7. Divide the Flexi Grass into three groups of three strands. Tape the strands of each group together at both ends. Then, to complete the arrangement, tuck each group of strands into the oasis ball to form three orbital sprays of grass around the entire design. Water as required.
through october 21 (4 sessions); with celia roberts, thursdays, april 7 through 28, 2011 (4 sessions) introduction to ikebana with Jean liao, thursdays, november 4 through 25 (4 sessions)
Basic Floral Design with trish symons, mondays, January 10 through 31, 2011 (4 sessions)
to enquire about the certificate requirements or to sign up for individual courses, call 416-397-1341 or visit torontobotanicalgarden.ca/programs.
slurp the big
Celebrate
soupalicious during harvest day, september 25, at the tbg
Try a bowl of yummy soup during TBG’s Harvest Day celebrations when local chefs will be cooking with veggies from the TBG “soup garden”. The TBG is one of many gardens across Toronto taking part in Soupalicious, a harvest celebration that takes place October 8 and 9 at Heritage Court, Exhibition Place. Veggies grown in the TBG soup garden this season — some in raised gardens and containers — include garlic, onions, carrots, Yukon Gold potatoes, red bell peppers, celery and leeks along with herbs such as marjoram, lovage, flat-leaf parsley, bay laurel, thyme, rosemary, basil and oregano.
From produce harvested from the Kitchen and Teaching Gardens, the TBG donates 700 pounds of vegetables annually to the North York Harvest Food Bank.
— Lorraine Hunter
Handy HarvEST HinTS
There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh vegetables right from the garden. For best results harvest vegetables the day you plan to eat or preserve them, preferably early in the morning. Sprinkle them with water and store them in a cool place until you are ready to prepare them.
Vegetable When to harVest
Broccoli when heads form tight firm dark green clusters
Cabbage when they have formed tight firm heads
Sweet corn when kernels are fat, juice is milky and the silk brown
Cucumbers while young and light green, before seeds fully develop
Eggplant when almost fully grown, the skin springs back when pressed and colour is bright and shiny
Leeks when the bulbs are 2.5 centimetres (one inch) in diameter and before they flower
Onions when tops fall over and leaves start to brown at tips
Peppers when fruits are full size and firm; for red peppers, leave fruit on plant until it turns red
Tomatoes when the colour deepens
Zucchini when they are no longer than 15 to 18 centimetres (6 to 7 inches)
Soup’s On!
h omemade soups are an easy way to preserve the bounty of the harvest. e at them right away or freeze them to enjoy later this fall or winter.
COCOnuT Curry SquaSH SOuP ingrEdiEnTS
4 butternut squash
2 onions
60 mL (1/4 cup) vegetable oil
28 grams (1 ounce) green curry powder
1 litre (4.25 cups) pure 100% coconut milk
3 litres (3 quarts) vegetable stock
1/4 bunch fresh coriander salt & pepper
METHOd
Peel, seed and chop the squash into 5-centimetre (2-inch) cubes. Using half the amount of vegetable oil, toss the squash in a bowl to coat evenly; lightly season with salt and pepper and place on baking sheets. Preheat oven to 350°f (175˚C) and roast the squash for about 30 to 40 minutes until lightly brown.
Roughly dice onions. in a large stock pot, heat remaining vegetable oil, add onions and sauté on medium heat for two to three minutes until soft and translucent. add curry powder to onions and continue to sauté on medium to medium-low heat until onions are golden brown. Careful not to burn!
add vegetable stock, coconut milk and cooked squash to onions and simmer on low to medium heat for 30 minutes or until all ingredients are cooked through and very soft. Remove from heat.
Using a food processor or hand mixer, purée soup until smooth. season with salt and pepper as desired. garnish with fresh coriander and serve.
Yield: Approximately 8 large bowls.
— Courtesy Hall’s Kitchen (www.hallskitchen.ca)
season
trade Secret
planting Bulbs for impact
Start simply with a combination of three bulbs that work well together in terms of colour, height and flowering period. that way, you can order in larger numbers, which will make for more impact. for example, combine Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink giant’, Tulipa ‘new design’ and Narcissus ‘thalia’
— Jacqueline van der Kloet
in
our Gardens
new plantS preview!
What’s the next must-have plant? each year, the President’s Choice Show garden features an assortment of plants so new you may not find them in the nurseries yet. Some of this season’s standouts include Sedum ‘Chocolate Drop’ and two annuals: Calibrachoa Superbells Blackberry Punch and C. Superbells Coralberry Punch. Come and see a preview of next year’s introductions!
container crazy
tipS for fall containerS
When selecting plants, consider both the container and where it will go. in this fall planter, the combination of coldtolerant plants echoes the white, silver and black hues in both the container and the birch tree behind the planter. Stems of twisted birch repeat the shape of the black mondo grass and add a little whimsy.
plants: Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ (‘Black Scallop’ bugleweed), Ophiopogon planiscapus ' n igr escens' (black mondo grass). Silver plants: Calocephalus ‘Silver Sand’ (‘Silver Sand’ silver bush), Senecio cineraria (dusty miller). w hite and gr een plants: ivy and kale.
PlAnts FOR FAll cOlOuR
Sedum sieboldii (october daphne)
Beta vulgaris var. cicla (Swiss chard)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (leadwort)
Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass)
Fothergilla major (Bottlebrush)
Hamamelis (witch hazel)
Shru BS & t ree S
Acer griseum (paper bark maple)
Euonymus alatus (Burning bush)
p erennial S
Amelanchier canadensis (canadian serviceberry)
Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura)
Shru BS & t ree S
Black
a good read
In the Garden and In the Snow Story and illustrations by peggy collins applesauce press, 2009, 40 pages/38 pages, $15.95 each
Peggy collins is an amateur gardener who enjoys gardening with her young son, the inspiration for the stories in these two books. in In the Garden, he eagerly plants vegetable and flower seeds, learns about nature’s creatures and also enjoys the fruits of his labour. as he watches his plants, we see him mature as well.
collins uses her family’s snow adventures to continue the story in In the Snow. She
shares in the fun while her son plays in the snow and builds a big snowman. the boy also follows the tracks of animals and scatters birdseed.
these charming books are illustrated with the author’s colourful artwork and perfectly capture a child’s excitement about the world around him in both summer and winter.
— Madge Bruce Weston Family Library Volunteer
Anna’s plant pick
oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
Hydrangea quercifolia is a medium-sized shrub with textured leaves shaped like large oak leaves. hence the common name. the attractive foliage comes into its own in the fall when it turns a spectacular redpurple colour, which usually lasts for weeks. the leaves then turn brown and often persist into winter.
Oakleaf hydrangea grows two metres (six feet) tall and equally wide. Older plants have interesting peeling bark. Books say this hydrangea suckers, but this has not happened in my garden yet.
the flowers are held in large conical trusses, up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, of smallish creamy white florets that turn pinkish as they age. the weight of the clusters often makes them droop, especially on plants grown in deciduous shade (under these conditions, the stems grow longer and are a little weaker).
My favourite cultivar is ‘Snowflake’ (a so-called double because of the multiple florets). the yellow-leaved ‘Little honey’ has died over the winter in my garden, so if you want one i would advise buying a large plant to help it overwinter successfully and growing it in an extra-protected place.
grow oakleaf hydrangeas in sun or shade and in well-drained (they hate wet feet!), slightly acidic soil. they should be hardy in a protected spot to Zone 4 but may occasionally be killed back in a very cold winter
— Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener
in your Garden
JoBS to do
late Summer & early fall
collect, shred and bag leaves; spread them over garden beds once the ground freezes.
don’t depend on mother nature for moisture; continue to water well into late fall, especially broadleaf evergreens and conifers.
“ One of the great charms of the fall season is its sweet disorder.”
— allen Lacy
freeze or dry herbs, make batches of pesto or freeze basil leaves in ice cube trays to use in winter.
Plan and plant bulbs for spring colour. if plagued by squirrels, plant Narcissus, Allium and Camassia
Plant fall-blooming autumn crocus and colchicum.
refresh summer planters with fall plants.
Sow a late batch of greens such as arugula, as well as beets and radishes for a fresh treat from the fall garden.
although most ornamental grasses can be left standing over the winter, several groups benefit from being cut back. Calamagrostis brachytricha can be sheared to eight to 10 centimetres (3 to 4 inches) in late autumn or winter. also, some varieties of Deschampsia are easier to prune and tidy at this time of year than in the spring.
— Sandra Pella Head Gardener
Spread compost. for composters open to the ground, dig a pit 30 centimetres (12 inches) below the base for extra space to fill, especially during winter.
take advantage of warm soil and fall moisture to reposition plants in the garden.
events What’s on at the t oronto Bo tanical Garden
Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society
Studio 1, 1 p.m.; onrhodos.com
EDWARDS LECTURES
September 22 • Helen Dillon
Dig It Up!
If you’re thinking of making a garden change, this lecture is not to be missed.
October 14 • John Mitchell
Horticultural Travels in Iran
A travelogue from Tehran, through the desert and to the Zagros Mountains.
October 27 • Douglas Tallamy Bringing Nature Home
Discover the important ecological roles plants play in our landscapes.
November 16 • David Culp
A Sense of Place: Site-Specific Design Designing a space in tune with its natural surroundings.
November 30 • James E. Eckenwalder Conifers: Terrific Non-Seasonal Plants
Learn about the great variety of these beautiful specimens.
lectures take place in the Floral hall at 7:30 p.m. Public $20, students (with valid id) $15, tBG members free. door sales only, limited seating. 416-397-1340
DECEMBER
3
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society
Studios 1-3, 6 p.m.; mumsanddahlias.com
4
TJCAOS
Studios 2 & 3, 9 a.m.; soos.ca/AOS
5
Southern Ontario Orchid Society Floral Hall, noon; soos.ca
7
Toronto African Violet Society
Studio 3, 7:30 p.m.; tavs.ca
12
Toronto Gesneriad Society
Studios 1 & 2, noon; torontogesneriadsociety.org
Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society
Paul Zammit: Elements of great gardens
Floral Hall, 1 p.m.; onrockgarden.com
13
Toronto Bonsai Society
Garden Hall, 7:30 p.m.; torontobonsai.org
SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE AFTER PRESS TIME– BE SURE TO CHECK AHEAD
aB o U t 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 ho U rs and ad M ission
Gardens: Free admission, dawn to dusk a d M inistrative oFF ices: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weston Fa M ily 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 • Weekdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Master 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 March 27, 2010, to June 30, 2010.
BENEFACTORS
($1 ,000 - $2,499)
Mary & Jim Fisher
Grace Patterson
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
($500 - $999)
Janet Ballantyne
Frances Brown
Judith Conacher
Tony DiGiovanni & Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Rose Feikes
Carol & Paul Gardner
Barbara Goldring
Janet & David Greyson
Carolyn Kearns & Bob Hutchison
Sonia & Michael Koerner
Don & Marjorie Lenz
Mary Grace Wright
Anonymous (1)
FRIENDS ($140 - $499)
Katy Anderson
Alexander R. Armstrong
Brian & Maureen Bixley
Elizabeth Bolton
Linda Boyko & Jens Carl
Michele Bussieres
Dorothy & John Cartmell
Nancy Croil
Ellen Farrelly
Ralph Fernando
Barbara & David Fleming
Louise Golding
Valerie M. Grant
Patricia & William Harris
E. Jane Jeffrey
Frances & Julia Johnson
Joyce & Stephen E. Johnson
Mr & Mrs Fred Kennedy
Cindy Knoll
C.M. Kruitwagen
Nicole & Robert Leaper
Mary Lee Lang
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
Geoffrey dyer, Mary Fisher (co-chairs); nancy G. dengler, suzanne drinkwater, James eckenwalder, colomba Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, Peter Gray-donald, lynn Grogan, allan kling, Joan lenczner, Penny richards, dawn scott, Judy shirriff, tom sparling, Margaret taylor, Pat Ware, anne Ullman, Barbara yager
executive director, aldona satterthwaite director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1346
BUsiness and Finance director of Business initiatives and Finance rebecca Golding business@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1484
777 l awrence a venue e as t, toron to, o n tario M3 c 1P2 , c anada 4 16-397-1340; fax: 416-397-1354 info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca
