e. Brais, m. Bruce, J. camPBell, l hickey m maGee, J mcclusky, a siDsworth, l. & s skinner anD l uyeno
adVErtising
416-397-4145
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.
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Doreen wynJa For monroVia
to do Features News
4 goings on summer happenings at the tBG Who’s talking the changing world of floral design with Judith Blacklock on the go summer tours!
Welcome head librarian Zachary osborne
5 from the tBg Full of the joys of summer tBgKids summer camps and growing potatoes
Volunteers Donna Fenice members news Free admission to national trust Gardens
6 Climbing new Heights there’s more to vines than clematis, roses and wisteria.
8 a taste of China the kitchen Garden is featuring a cornucopia of asian vegetables.
10 serving up nasturtiums nasturtiums are good enough to eat!
12 trade secret Floral arrangement tips Just ask master Gardeners answer your questions my favourite Bug a close-up look at garden spiders in our gardens new plants on show learning the lingo Porcelain berry vine
13 garden gear logo terra cotta a good read Thrifty Gardening in Your garden Jobs to do in the veggie garden around the garden with Head gardener sandra Pella anna’s Plant Pick katsura tree
14 sEEdEX 2013 Weston family library
Printed by harmony Printing
TBGNews
goings on
• organic farmers’ Market organic produce, demos and garden tours. thursdays, 3 to 7 p.m., may 24 through october 4.
• Woman to Woman Luncheon in the garden Fashions, music, garden boutiques and silent auction. Prizes for the most creative hats. thursday, June 7, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tickets $100: 416-397-1483.
• through the garden gate: Resplendent Rosedale saturday, June 9 and sunday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. one-day pass: public $40, members $35; twoday pass: public $52.50, members $47.50; prices subject to applicable taxes. tickets, 416-3971341 or torontobotanical garden.ca.
• dance in the garden with mm2 outdoor performance by modern dance company, mm2. saturday, June 23, 7 p.m. tickets: public $10, members and students $7. tickets: 416-397-1341.
• edwards summer Music series: gardens of song bring your own chair or rent a stool. thursdays, July 5 through august 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public $2, members free. door sales only. general seating. generously supported by the edwards charitable Foundation. For a list of upcoming artists visit torontobotanicalgarden. ca/gardensofsong.
goto
torontobotanical garden.ca/enjoy/ special-events
Who’s Ta Lk InG
LeCtUReR: JUdith BLaCkLoCk
toPiC: the Changing WoRLd of fLoRaL design
When: thURsday, May 31, 7:30 P.M.
Light pre-Lecture Dinner anD fLoraL exhibits, from 6 p.m.
If you think floral design is as simple as putting some flowers in a vase, think again! Join us for an evening that pays tribute to fresh and exciting contemporary floral designs. Judith Blacklock is a renowned British floral designer, bestselling author, popular floral design consultant and principal of the Judith Blacklock Flower School in London, England – she even has a rose named after her!
Starting at 6 p.m., check out the Spring Floral Frenzy, a floral design competition featuring contemporary designs by our very own Floral Design Certificate students. Grab a light dinner, explore the floral design offerings in shopTBG and the Weston Family Library and then settle in for the lecture. Bonus: contemporary designs by six local floral designers will be featured.
Public $20, students (with valid ID) $15, TBG members free. Door sales only. Limited seating.
Welcome
Zachary osborne h ead Librarian
on the go
• free guided garden tours. tBg and edwards gardens may through september, tuesdays at 10 a.m. and thursdays at 6 p.m. toronto Music garden Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
• guided public garden group tours looking for a memorable outing with your friends or horticultural group?
Knowledgeable tbg guides will give you an insider’s perspective on toronto’s public gardens. nominal fee applies, two weeks’ notice required. call 416-397-4145 to book.
• new! deepest Parkdale Private tour organize your group for a private visit to the garden of plantsman barry Parker. tour includes local architecture, an edwardian mews and discounted shopping. available only from may through september! call 416397-4145 to book.
torontobotanical garden.ca/ explore/tours goto
While studying history at Acadia university, Zack worked at the Harriet irving Botanical Gardens where he developed a fondness for gardening and horticultural education. After completing a master of information studies at the university of toronto, he worked with special libraries at the Royal ontario museum and the centre for international Governance innovation (ciGi). Jumping into his role as Head librarian of the Weston Family library, Zack has begun offering Gardening on the Web classes, talking Books drop-ins and special visits with our valued horticultural members. We are delighted to welcome Zack aboard!
From The TBG
aLdona satteRthWaite executive Director
Full of the joys of summer
“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.”
— L. M. Montgomery
There’s something magical about our gardens right now which temporarily seems to blot out all the world’s ills. At home, I patrol my property daily in search of miracles and wonder, and I do the same thing at work. I am a lucky woman to have not one but two (well, actually 18) gardens to admire and love. Of course, while I walk, I also ruminate about new plants I’d like to add to my patch and what needs to come out to make room for them. It’s a happy conundrum.
sign up for summer Camps
Join us during our summer camps to learn more about gardening, animals and bugs, science and even cooking straight from the garden. garden camp is a great way for little ones to learn how to plant, care for and harvest the garden. fun with spuds
try out a cool gardening project at home. growing your own potatoes is fun and easy for kids. Here’s how:
1. start with a big bucket or other large container with drainage holes in the bottom.
2. buy seed potatoes or use organic potatoes from the grocery store and let them sprout.
Here at the TBG, we are doubly joyous because by the time you read this, the construction of the eco-friendly City parking lot, which had hampered our activities since last September, will be completed. Its reopening will have unleashed floodgates of fun. From our plant sale, to spring’s final Edwards Lecture, to the Woman to Woman Luncheon in the Garden, to our organic farmers’ market, to the 25th anniversary edition of Through the Garden Gate, to a contemporary dance performance in the garden, I can promise you that early summer will be hopping. And thanks to the continuing generosity of the Edwards Charitable Foundation, members can once again look forward to free admission to the Edwards Summer Music Series: Gardens of Song on eight consecutive Thursday evenings beginning July 5. That’s just for starters, and the gardens are looking spectacular, too.
Yes, there’s nothing like the joys of summer at the TBG, so I hope you visit often and make the most of every moment.
Members News
f ree admission to n ational trust gardens — and more!
tbg members are now eligible for a 30-per-cent discount on Heritage canada Foundation (HcF) membership. HcF member benefits include a subscription to Hēritage magazine, free admission to national trust properties in the united Kingdom, australia and the united states and free admission to historic sites in canada. Quote promotion code “Heritagetbg” to obtain the discount. For information or to join, visit HcF online at www.heritagecanada.org or call toll-free: 1-866-964-1066.
3. Put about 10 to 15 centimetres of loose organic soil and a few pieces of sprouted potato in the bottom of the container. cover with about 15 centimetres of soil.
4. once your potatoes have grown to about 15 centimetres, hill them up by adding more soil to cover the stems.
5. continue covering the growing stems with soil until you have reached the top of the container, keeping the soil damp but not overwatered.
6. When the leaves turn yellow and die back, harvest the potatoes by dumping the entire container onto a piece of plastic and let the kids go for a potato scavenger hunt!
Yours, Mine & Ours
Volun T eers
Donna Fenice has been an active tour guide for almost a year. In that year she has certainly made her mark, including conducting one of the first pilot curriculumrelated tours for a group of Grade 11 botany students. Donna is also working on some virtual tours of both Allan Gardens and the TBG theme gardens. When she is not helping others discover the wonders of our gardens, Donna shares her love of Provence and Italy by giving presentations on the gardens in the land of “la dolce vita”. Donna lists her camera and her passport among her favourite things, and she makes superb use of both. We are a fortunate beneficiary of Donna’s talents.
Climbing New Heights
there’s more to vines, says sandra Pella, than clematis, roses and wisteria.
What is a vine? Did you know that some vines are considered shrubs? While herbaceous vines are classified as perennials, the woody plants are considered shrubs. Herbaceous vines possess fleshy soft tissue, which dies to the ground in winter: these include bush clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) and hops (Humulus spp.). Woody vines are those that maintain above-ground woody parts, such as honeysuckles, wisteria and climbing hydrangea.
Vines can climb upward, trail along a fence, cover the ground or be tied and trained to grow up a structure. Others have a natural shrubby growth unless tied and trained to a support. Vines do everything from creep and crawl to twine and tangle; some need support while others are self-clinging. I dare to write that the most popular ones are clematis, roses and wisteria. So I’ll discuss a few other options here — but I can’t resist naming one rose!
Good self-clinGers
The self-clinging climbers, such as the climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris), adhere to a supporting surface by means of adventitious roots or suction-cup-like rootlets that grow from their stems. I
cannot say enough good things about climbing hydrangea. It does take time for the root system to become established — a solid three years — but after that the growth rate increases by leaps and bounds. By no means is it overly vigorous or invasive, but with time it will cover a wall or other support with its branches of brown peeling and exfoliating bark. Climbing hydrangea is easily maintained and over time it will grow 18 to 24 metres. It can even grow in the open, against a post or up a pyramidal structure, such as an obelisk. Best of all, it flowers in full sun or full shade. However, it does require fairly rich, well-drained soil. Pests and disease? None that I can think of. The lovely white flowers bloom in late June to July, remaining fresh on the vine for at least two weeks. The dried flower heads will last through winter, too.
no-Goodniks
Not all self-clinging vines have the desirable qualities of climbing hydrangea. The common ivy (Hedera helix) produces tendrils that flatten upon contact with a solid object, forming discs or pads to cling tightly to surfaces. Besides being extremely vigorous growers, to the point of being invasive
in many regions (Hedera helix is on the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s garden escapee list), this habit may damage brick walls, particularly the mortar of buildings where the masonry is not structurally sound.
According to the Ontario Invasive Plant Council there are a number of vigorous vines to avoid at all costs: these include Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and Chinese or Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). These evergreen to semi-evergreen vines are very vigorous growers and can reach lengths of 9 and 18 metres, respectively. They easily cover other vegetation as well as the ground. In fact, Japanese honeysuckle can kill trees, bringing them down due to the vine’s weight. They out-compete native species for habitat, sunlight and nutrients.
A quick screen
Not all vines are invasive; there are some terrific ones out there, such as our very own native Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla). This old-fashioned favourite is grown for its large overlapping heart-shaped leaves. It’s a vigorous climber, growing up to 10 metres and spreading to six metres, and can cover a structure in a single season. If you are looking for a plant to provide a quick screen, this is it! Although not showy, the unusual yellow-green-purple flowers that give the vine its name are shaped like a Dutchman’s pipe. This plant prefers rich moist soil, similar to what you would find in the woods and stream banks of its native eastern American landscape. The leaves may wilt during droughts, but the plant tolerates full sun or partial shade.
coverinG Ground
A number of vines double as excellent groundcovers. Fiveleaf akebia or chocolate vine (Akebia quinata ‘Silver Bells’), which grows in the Herb Garden at the TBG, is a good example. While
fiveleaf akebia
‘William Baffin’ rose
climbing hydrangea
dutchman’s pipe
it prefers well-drained soil, it’s highly adaptable. This vigorous spreader has a fast growth rate, covering four by four metres in a single season. ‘Silver Bells’ has the largest leaves of all the cultivars, with an abundance of light pink and reddish-purple flowers that bloom in May, and as a bonus they’re fragrant! Occasionally, if grown near another akebia vine, fiveleaf akebia will produce odd-looking fruit (I can’t help but think they belong in Sonia Day’s latest book, about 10 centimetres long with pink or blue skin. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and is deciduous in Ontario gardens. Prune severely in late winter every year. If left to run on the ground, its stems will root wherever they touch the soil, establishing itself as an attractive groundcover.
A fAst Gro
Threeleaf akebia ( another vigorous climber with attrac tive palmate or trifoliate leaves. In full sun to part shade and moist welldrained soil, this plant will grow to 12 metres. However, it resists having its roots disturbed so be sure to site it well to begin with. The foliage is terrific. Almost the reverse of what we are used to seeing in most other plants, it has bronze leaves in spring followed by fresh green foliage by summer and through the fall. Prune after flowering.
the nAme of I promised to mention only one rose, but I’m getting around this by mention ing a particular series. First developed in the 1960s by Agriculture Canada for northern gardeners, the Explorer Series of roses are far and above some of the best — if not the best — climbing roses for Ontario gardens. I particularly like Rosa ‘William Baffin’. This Explorer rose will reach three metres and is among the hardiest of all — to – 40ºC! It boasts abundant, bright pink, semidouble season-long flowers.
There is a host of great vines at the TBG. Drop by and visit!
Sandra Pella is Head Gardener at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Visit her What’s In Bloom blog at torontobotanical garden.ca/inbloom.
800.975.2357
www.serendipitytraveler.com
nova scotia & summer
A TAsTE Of
CHINA
this season, says Lorraine Hunter, the kitchen garden features a cornucopia of asian vegetables.
A ceLebrAtion of cHinese cuLture
Many activities have been planned to tie in with the chinese theme of the Kitchen Garden. Here’s your chance to learn about Asian culture and cuisine!
taste of the Garden
Paul Zammit will give tips on growing chinese veggies while leading a tour of tbG’s Kitchen Garden, then sample Asian greens from the gardens and have an Asian/fusion dinner followed by ViP seating at the George Gao outdoor concert. thursday, August 16, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Public $55; Members $50.
tai chi this six-week course takes place in the gardens on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m., June 13 to July 18. Public $62, Members $50; or try a drop-in class on June 13 for $10. the class will be conducted by an accredited taoist tai chi instructor.
Bok choy, daikon, gai lan may sound exotic to some but these Asian vegetables can be found in grocery stores all over Toronto, and now you can grow them in your own backyard. To show you how, the Toronto Botanical Garden will be featuring them in the Kitchen Garden this season.
The TBG has been growing vegetables from different countries around the world for the past several years, including Japan, the Caribbean, India, Ukraine, Ireland, Italy and India. Each year the culture and cuisine of a particular country or geographical area is featured with carefully planted combinations of vegetables and herbs common to the chosen area.
“We hope to appeal to the demography that is Toronto today,” explains Paul Zammit, Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture. “In addition to introducing these vegetables, now readily available to people across the city, it’s our way of making overtures to Canadians from different cultures, to let them know that this is their garden, too.” “We chose Chinese this year,” he says, “because many of our weekend visitors are Chinese.”
The TBG’s Kitchen Garden is a diverse space that demonstrates a variety of methods for growing vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs in a sustainable, organic and aesthetically pleasing manner. Organic gardening techniques,
crop rotation and companion planting are practised here for plant health and maximum food production.
The vegetables will be planted in various locations, including the garden’s new raised beds. They will include a mixture of early, mid- and late season crops such as bok choy, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, chrysanthemum greens (or Garland chrysanthemum Leucanthemum coronarium), daikon long white radishes, Ceylon spinach, snow peas and Chinese varieties of broccoli, cabbage, chilis, coriander, cucumber, garlic, kale, leeks, shallots and more. seeds have been purchased from local Chinese supermarkets, says Zammit.
“We will also be doing some revisions to the existing herb garden, thanks to a donation from the Toronto Herb society, and we will be including some Chinese herbs,” he adds. The garden will be maintained by volunteers under the supervision of Paul Zammit and Head Gardener sandra Pella. The Kitchen Garden is generously supported by funds donated by a Keeper of the Garden (a veteran volunteer) and from the launch of Marjorie Harris’ book Thrifty. Vegetables harvested from the garden will be donated to the North York Harvest food Bank.
Lorraine Hunter is a garden writer, Master Gardener in Training and chair of the Trellis Committee.
enHAnce your MeALs WitH cHinese VeGetAbLes many chinese vegetables can be used as tasty additions to the dishes of other cuisines. here’s a sampling.
1. bok choy has white stems and dark green leaves. it has a light sweet flavour and crisp texture and can enhance just about anything from soups to stir-fries.
2. ceylon spinach, a.k.a. Malabar spinach or vine spinach (Basella alba) is a soft-stemmed, fast-growing vine often used to thicken soups. it
has many chinese names including saan choy and mong toi.
3. chinese broccoli (gai lan) is a leafy green plant with small white flowers. it has a slightly bittersweet flavour and can be used in any dish calling for regular broccoli.
4. chinese cabbage (a.k.a. napa in Japanese or sui choy in chinese) is often put into soups as well as stirfries because of its delicate flavour.
5. chinese garlic chives have a strong garlicky taste and add flavour to soups, stews and other slowcooked dishes. flowering chives are often used in stir-fries.
6. chinese white radish, commonly known by its japanese name, daikon, has many names in chinese including mooli and lo bok. it has a stronger taste than small red radishes. in china it is often used in stir-fries and slowcooked dishes. it is also pickled in both china and japan where it is most often eaten raw, mainly with fish.
Woman Womtoan
7. snow peas are flat pods with tiny seeds. they are easy to prepare and can be enjoyed au naturel, added to salads, served raw with any kind of dip or sautéed and buttered. before using snow peas, rinse them in water, then grab or cut the tip of each snow pea and pull out the tough string that runs along its side. boil, grill or stir-fry for no more than one to three minutes.
LUNCHEON IN THE GARDEN
A moveable feast amid flowers, fashions, music, boutiques and an enticing silent auction LUNCH IN THE GARDEN
Toronto Botanical Garden 777 Lawrence Avenue East
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Flaunt your Garden Party Chic Hats, fascinators, and spring finery Exclusive prizes for the most creative head pieces
TICKETS $100 per person
For more information please contact Jessica at 416-397-1483 or visit torontobotanicalgarden.ca. Limited number of tickets available.
Serving up Nasturtiums
not just another pretty flower, nasturtiums are good enough to eat!
the flowersthe capersthe salad
In the TBG Trial Gardens this season, we’re growing edible flowers. The pretty petals of pansies, chamomile, dianthus and even roses can be eaten when grown organically. Flavours range from delicate to tangy, and blossoms can be used in a variety of recipes, from lavender honey to candied violets and salads. One of the most versatile edible plants is the nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Just about every part of this colourful annual can be eaten, including the flowers and leaves — and even the seed pods. For a real treat, make your own nasturtium capers and use them in this appetizer recipe.
To make nasTurTium capers
We tend to think that capers are found in small jars in food stores and come from France or Sicily where the buds of the trailing shrub Capparis spinosa are harvested to make this condiment. However as long ago as the early nineteenth century Canadian cookery books offered recipes for a nasturtium pickle that can be used in the same way. Here’s how to do it. Pick the green nasturtium pods when they are fresh (young and soft like green peas) and pop them into salted water right away. When you have a goodly number, remove them from the salted water, cover them with cider vinegar and add a little vegetable oil and salt and pepper. Bottle and store in the refrigerator for several weeks before using.
— Mary Williamson, culinary historian and TBG member
piTa wedges wiTh goaT cheese and smoked salmon
6 7-inch (18-cm) pita breads
1/4 cup (50ml) melted butter or vegetable oil
8 oz (225g) herbed goat cheese at room temperature
4 tsp (20ml) cream
1-1/2 tsp (7ml) lemon juice
3 tbsp (45ml) capers, chopped
3 tbsp (45ml) finely chopped dill
8 oz (225g) smoked salmon, sliced thin
• cut each pita into eight triangular wedges. Brush both sides of wedges with butter or oil and place on a foillined baking sheet or sheets. Bake in a 450˚F (230˚c) oven for five to six minutes or until slightly crisp.
• meanwhile, in a bowl, lightly beat goat cheese with a fork. Blend in cream, then lemon juice. add capers and dill and mix thoroughly.
• spread a spoonful of cheese mixture on each pita wedge. Top with smoked salmon cut in triangles or rolled-up strips. garnish with a sprig of dill.
The full recipe makes 48 pieces but it is easy to halve the recipe.
— Marion Magee, Trellis Committee
EXCLUSIVE GARDEN TOURS
THE BIG APPLE GARDEN TOUR Summer 2012 Uptown, downtown and all around town, visiting the parks and gardens of New York City
FLORIADE September 2012 Visit Holland and Belgium with two days in Venlo for Floriade
TROPICAL GARDENS of THAILAND February 2013
Explore the exotic gardens of Thailand and Singapore
GULF STREAM GARDENS Spring 2013 Enjoy the gardens of Cornwall,, England, Guernsey, Channel Islands and Brittany, France
KEUKENHOF GARDENS Spring 2013 Take in the annual Keukenhof Spring Bulb Festival, the Aalsmeer Flower Market and much more
GARDEN SHOW EXTRAVAGANZA May 2013
Transatlantic crossing on the elegant Queen Mary to England, the Chelsea Flower Show plus gardens in France and Germany
NEW ZEALAND October 2013 See the beautiful gardens of the North & South Islands plus a stop in Fiji
Pre-register today for information on one or more of these exciting itineraries by calling CRUISENET TOURS & TRAVEL Inc • 905-829-0111 Ont Reg #4146882
200 – 2904 South Sheridan Way Oakville ON L6J 7L7 • www.cruisenet.ca/garden-tours/aspx • sales@cruisenet.ca
in season To Do
JuST ASk TRade secReT
For floral arrangements, flowers from the garden should be cut early in the morning when their water content is highest. cut the stems on a diagonal for greater water absorption and give them a drink in tepid water immediately. remove any leaves that are under water to prevent bacterial growth and use a commercial preservative to lengthen the life of your flowers.
— Margaret Taylor, instructor Floral Design Certificate program
in our Gardens
NeW PlaNTs oN shoW
Be sure to visit the President’s Choice Show garden this summer on display is a selection of new annuals and perennials that we’re testing for their garden performance. these include Agastache ‘Blue Boa’, Crocosmia twilight Fairy Crimson, Heucherella ‘Sunrise Falls’, Kniphofia ‘red hot Popsicle’, Leucanthemum ‘Bridal Bouquet’ and Tradescantia ‘Lucky Charm’.
The leaves of my Swiss chard turn brown and rot. What should I do?
The brown rotting leaves are signs of a fungal problem. Warm, rainy weather favours outbreaks of fungal disease. Be sure your plants are well spaced and have good air circulation. Remove affected leaves right away and destroy (do not compost). Try to leave the growing crown intact so that more leaves will grow. Grow the crop in another area of the garden next year.
My Favourite Bug
in this first of a series of four articles about good garden bugs, Bug Lady Jean Godawa takes a close-up look at the garden spider.
the first time you encounter a garden spider (Argiope aurantia) you may feel you have been transported to an exotic tropical locale. this orb-weaver species looks nothing like the typical spiders we see in and around our homes. the female is 19 to 28 millimetres long, which is up to three times larger than the male. She has a bulging oval abdomen with bright yellow and black markings and long black legs with orange or yellow stripes. She spends hours in sunny windless spots spinning her complicated web between tall grasses, shrubs or garden structures. the web has a diameter of more than 60 centimetres with thick zigzag stripes, called stabilimenta, spanning the silken threads. throughout the summer, you can find her poised downwards, pairing her eight legs together to appear as if there are only four. alerted by the
vibration of a flying insect hitting the web, the spider injects her prey with venom, subduing it while she consumes its insides. Prey size doesn’t matter to the garden spider. any flying insect is a potential meal including grasshoppers, aphids, wasps, bees and butterflies. Males build small webs nearby and cautiously court their potential mates. it is a desperate task, however, because the act of copulation kills the male. after mating, the female lays hundreds of eggs in a brown papery cocoon carefully hidden at the edge of her web or in nearby foliage. the spiderlings hatch in late summer but remain inside the cocoon until spring.
taxonomically, spiders are not bugs, they’re arachnids. We still consider them beneficial “bugs”, as they help manage pest insects even though they occasionally eat a helpful pollinator. encourage a visit from garden spiders by providing suitable habitats. Mulch provides protection and moisture, and plants that attract insects ensure a steady food supply tall plants offer web anchors. avoid cutting back plant stalks at the end of the season so spiderlings have a place to overwinter.
Lingo
Garden spider
Garden Gear
loGo TeRRa coTTa
ShoptBg is pleased to offer an exclusive collection of terra cotta pots imprinted with the tBg logo. Made by talented local potter Paul Kaye of night & Day Studio, these beautifully handmade and frost-proof pots make a wonderful addition to your garden. available in three styles, from $19.99 to $34.99. Limited quantities.
Anna’s Plant Pick
Cercidiphyllum japonicum katsura tree
an ideal low-maintenance tree for a variety of gardens, the katsura is native to China and Japan and will eventually grow to a height of about 15 metres with a corresponding spread. the globe to pyramidal shape is attractive, as are the heart-shaped leaves. these look like small redbud leaves (Cercis) as the botanical name would suggest: “Cercis”, referring to the redbud and “phyllum”, a variation of the greek “phyllon” meaning “leaf”. Spring leaf colour is reddish purple, becoming a medium green in the summer, then turning to a lovely gold, orange or red in the fall when the leaves develop a spicy burnt sugar scent. the flowers are greenish and inconspicuous. the male and female inflorescences are on separate trees (dioeceous). Clusters of two-centimetre-long green pods will develop if a female tree is wind pollinated. Cercidiphyllum prefers moist well-drained soils with plenty of humus and full sun to part shade. it will tolerate clay avoid strong winds and afternoon sun, particularly with young trees. it is hardy to Zone 5. various cultivars are available, including ‘aureum’ (the purplish green spring leaves become yellow in the summer), ‘heronswood globe’ (dwarf, to five metres tall) and the weeping cultivars, C. japonicum f. pendulum, ‘amazing grace’ and ‘tidal Wave’. ‘rotfuchs’ (syn. red Fox) has spectacular purple-green leaves that look almost black in the distance and a narrow upright form, resembling a fox’s tail. it’s my favourite. Look for pods on ‘rotfuchs’ in the gardens at the tBg
— Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener Emeritus
a Good Read
Thrifty Gardening: From the Ground Up by Marjorie harris house of anansi Press, 2012, 264 pages, $19.95, paper also available as an e-book this slim volume is packed with frugal and realistic suggestions. topics range from producing plants from seed by propagation to downsizing a garden as one grows older. Written in marjorie’s usual lively style, it is well worth reading.
— Jean McCluskey Weston Family Library
around the Garden with head
Gardener sandra Pella
summer-flowering perennials that produce basal foliage, including shasta daisies, veronicas, salvias, yarrow and many geranium species, benefit from two types of pruning. First, deadhead immediately after flowering down to a lateral bud, flower or leaf. This encourages prolonged flowering. Then, as new basal foliage develops, cut back or prune the old foliage and all flowering stems down to newly emerging basal foliage.
your Garden
JoBs To do
IN The veGGIe GaRdeN
grow a summer crop of bok choy, endive and lettuce in the shade cast by pole beans.
as warmer weather arrives, harvest and replace cool-season crops with heat-loving vegetables such as peppers, cucumbers and beans.
mound soil along the stems of squash, pumpkins and cucumbers to reduce the threat of damage from vine borers.
Pick the flowers of plants grown for their edible petals frequently to encourage more blossoms for salads and summer drinks.
on fruit trees thin out any overabundance of developing fruit; this will allow the remaining fruit to mature fully.
allow runners of young strawberry plants to root naturally at their tips so they will develop new plants.
When harvesting summer cabbage, leave the stalk and some basal leaves intact; smaller heads will form from the leaf axils.
goTo
torontobotanical garden.ca/events to sign up for URBaN locavoRe. Join lorraine Johnson, Wednesday, June 20, for an exploration of the many creative ways that people are bringing food closer to home.
happEninGs
Collect seeds for the 2013 Seedex
remember to collect seeds during the summer and autumn to donate to the 2013 seed exchange! it’s a great way to share your favourite plants with other tbG members, acquire new plants and learn about growing plants from seed. the list, which will include seeds from special plants in the tbG gardens, will be posted on our Web site in January 2013 and orders will be shipped in early February. (Donor’s orders are filled first!) help us make this year the best seed exchange yet!
goTo
torontobotanical garden.ca For tipS on ColleCting and Storing SeedS
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” — Cicero
With many new program offerings and events, and the arrival of librarian Zachary Osborne, the Weston Family Library is flourishing with renewed vitality.
• Kids BooK CluB
Every Monday from June to August at 2 p.m., the Kids Book Club promises to be a fun and friendly way for budding book lovers to get excited about reading. Each week, kids meet in the Weston Family Library to choose books for their reading list, chat about their favourite stories and win prizes when they reach their reading goals.
• HortiCulTuRE salon sERiEs
This intimate monthly speaker series asks, “Where do horticulture and culture intersect?” Breaking away from the traditional lecture format, the series features local authors, community movers and shakers and engaging discussions on various horticultural themes. Join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18 for The Sacred Bee by Oliver Couto, and on Wednesday, August 15, when Alison Syme talks about The Wondrous Willow.
• aRT in ThE liBRaRy
More exciting news! The TBG Art Gallery has found a new home in the Library. The Art Gallery has previously known several locations throughout the TBG building, most recently the Boardroom. The Library will be a great fit for the gallery because of its public nature and accessible location. The work of various artists will be featured on a rotating bimonthly basis, so visit the Library often to observe these diverse and changing installations.
GETTinG Rid of youR
GaRdEninG BooKs?
The Weston Family Library accepts donations in the form of new resources as well as books from your home collection. If you’re getting rid of gardening books, please let us know, as we’d love to take them off your hands. Please contact the Library for more information.
GARDENS of TAHITI with DAVID TARRANT
Oct 10 – 20, 2012 Cruise on the luxurious m/s Paul Gauguin Roundtrip from Papeete, Tahiti. Includes visits on Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea & Taha’a
Experience the wonders of French Polynesia from a horticultural perspective. Exclusive garden seminars & excursions hosted by David Tarrant
Please contact Linda Sim at Renshaw Travel for more information Toll free 1-800-317-0464 or email LSIM@RenshawTravel.com
A
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 more than 95 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. charitable business number 119227486rr001.
GENE r A l H our S AND ADM i S S io N
G A r DENS : Free admission, dawn to dusk
A DM i N i StrAtiv E oFF ic ES : Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. W ESto N FAM ily l i B rA ry: Call 416-397-1343 or check www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca for hours of operation.
t BG G A r DEN cAFE : Open daily to October 31. For hours check torontobotanicalgarden.ca
shop t BG: Call 416-397-1357 • shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
M ASt E r G A r DENE r S’ iNFo l i NE : noon to 3 p.m. 416-397-1345 (April & July, Tuesday to Saturday; May & June, daily; August through March, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday) www.questions.torontomastergardeners.ca
MEMBErSHip: $45 single, $65 family. call 416-397-1483 or sign up on line at torontobotanicalgarden.ca/join
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
F ri ENDS o F t HE toro N to B otAN ic A l GA r DEN
the toronto Botanical garden (tBg) is deeply grateful to its Friends for providing continued and generous support towards programs and services. our Friends enable tBg to educate and provide the community with information on horticulture, gardening and environmental issues through lectures, courses and events.
the following individuals made their contribution to the Friends program between december 17, 2011 and march 28, 2012.
Director’s circle
Geoffrey & Susan Dyer
Benefactors
Mary & Jim Fisher
Mary & Robert Gore
Rosamond Ivey & John Macfarlane
Marjorie & Donald Lenz
Anne & James McLeod
Helen & John Shaw
Michael & Vivienne Wiggan
sustaining MeMBers
Karen Ann A. Barnett
Vern Campbell
Mary Lou Carter & J. Wesley
Jay & Myint Gillespie
Carolyn Kearns & Bob Hutchison
Sonia & Alan Leslie
Robert C. Nowe
Penny & Robert Richards
Karen F. Trotter & John Carlisle frienDs
Alexander R. & Irene Armstrong
Joan Avery
Brian & Maureen Bixley
Janeen E. Bowes
Linda & William Brown
Veronica Callinan
Joanne & Bruce B. Campbell
Ellen & Brian R. Carr
Christopher Clayton Yvonne Cunnington
Jennifer Ferguson
Barbara & David W. Fleming
Scott & Ellen Hand
Patricia & William Harris
Elaine H. & John E. Hill
David Hogarth Smith
Mary Janigan & Tom Kierans
pAtro NS
Ho N orA ry pAtro N : ADriENNE clArKSoN
Brian Bixley, Mark cullen, camilla Dalglish, Sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie Harris, lorraine Johnson, Michele landsberg, Susan Macaulay, Helen Skinner
B oA r D o F D ir Ector S
tom Sparling, Mary Fisher (co-chairs); Suzanne Drinkwater, Geoffrey Dyer, colomba Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, Steven Heuchert, Janet Kennish, Allan Kling, Joan lenczner, penny richards, Dawn Scott, Judy Shirriff, pat Ware, Barbara yager
StAFF D ir Ectory
ExEcutivE DirEctor
Aldona Satterthwaite director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1346
BuSiNESS AND FiNANcE Director of Business initiatives and Finance
coMMuNicAtioNS DEpArtMENt Director of Marketing & communications carrie Shibinsky media@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1351
creative Director, Jenny rhodenizer communication@torontobotanicalgarden.ca trellis Editor editor@torontobotanicalgarden.ca DEvElopMENt DEpArtMENt Director of Development, claudia Zuccato ria development@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1372
Development officer, Jessica reese annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1483
Jasmine Green childrensed@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1288
children’s Education coordinator
Karen Mann childrensed@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-5209
Adult Education coordinator Anna-liza B adaloo adulted@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1362
tour Guide coordinator Sue Hills tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1366
WEStoN FAMily liBrAry
Zack osborne, Head librarian 416-397-1375 librarian@torontobotanicalgarden.ca HorticulturAl DEpArtMENt Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture paul Zammit horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1358
Head Gardener, Sandra pella gardener@torontobotanicalgarden.ca taxonomic Assistant, toni vella taxonomy@torontobotanicalgarden.ca shoptBG Supervisor, Heidi Hobday shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1357
EDucAtioN DEpArtMENt Director of Education, liz Hood education@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1355
MAiNtENANcE SupErviSor Walter Morassutti maintenance@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1344
HEAD, voluNtEEr SErvicES
Sue Hills tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-4145
777 l a wrence Avenue East, toron to, o n tario M3 c 1 p 2 , c anada 4 16-397-1340; fax: 416-397-1354 info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca @ t BG_ c anada
