TROPICAL GARDENS OF THAILAND • Feb 2013 A 14 day tour visiting Bangkok’s Grand Palace, Chiang Mai’s Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, and the amazing Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens! Cook up some classic Thai dishes, ride an elephant and visit a floating market too! PLUS an optional journey on the Eastern & Orient Express luxury train from Bangkok to Singapore to see the unique Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay.
HOLLAND BELGIUM & FRANCE • Apr 2013 A 14 day tour visiting Keukenhof Gardens, Aalsmeer Flower Market and numerous public and private gardens in Holland, Belgium and France including Maizicourt, Sericourt, Giverny and the Planted Promenade to mention just a few!
Pre-register today For detailed itineraries and information on these exciting tours!
Join hosts and Master Gardeners Lorraine Flanigan and Sara Katz for insider tours of some of the world’s most spectacular gardens! CRUISENET TOURS & TRAVEL Inc • 905-829-0111 Ont Reg #4146882
GULF STREAM GARDENS • May 2013 Enjoy the gardens of Southwest England then travel to Guernsey for an exclusive tour of the Raymond Evison Clematis Nursery, then on to Brittany, France PLUS celebrate the centenary of the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show.
THE BIG APPLE GARDEN TOUR • Sep 2013 Uptown, downtown and all around town, visit The High Line, Brooklyn Botanical Garden and many more stunning parks and gardens of New York City with time out for shopping and theatre-going too!
NEW ZEALAND • Oct 27 – Nov 24, 2013 Enjoy springtime down under on this 29 day tour visiting 30+ public and private gardens including city gardens, country estate as well as botanical and native plant garden PLUS the famous Taranaki Garden Spectacular!
Editor
lorraiNe FlaNigaN
dEsign
JuNe aNdersoN
trEllis CommittEE
lorraiNe huNter (Chair)
lorraiNe FlaNigaN (editor)
Carol gardNer
liZ hood
marioN magee
ZaChary osborNe
JeNNy rhodeNiZer
Paul Zammit
VoluntEEr
Editorial assistant m magee
VoluntEEr ProofrEadErs
e brais, m bruCe, J. CamPbell, m magee, J. mCClusKey
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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CoVer Photo: Paul Zammit
to do Features News
4 Who’s talking on the wildside with Keith Wiley Hort Happenings supertrees, bees and fashionable foliage
5 from the tBg taking stock tBgKids harvest day and storytime green Community discoverability
Welcome stefan Weber
6 Perfect Plant Partners the task of combining plants is easier when you follow some tried and true rules.
9 good soil Fall is a great time to prepare the soil for springtime growth.
12 trade secret hemlock mulch
Just ask toronto master gardeners answer your questions my favourite Bug Praying mantis in our gardens Fall is for planting! learning the lingo mycorrhiza
13 Container Crazy Vintage vogue garden gear two can tango! in Your garden Jobs to do around the garden with Head gardener sandra Pella anna’s Plant Pick Camassia indian hyacinth
14 2013 sEEdEX submit your seeds! goings on tBg lecture series Blogwatch
Printed by harmony Printing
TBGNewsnews
hort happenings
soLar sUpertrees of singapore in June, Singapore’s gardens by the bay unveiled its highly anticipated Supertrees — 7- to 25-metre tall vertical gardens, each with its own large canopy of photovoltaic cells which harvest solar energy. at night, these Supertrees emanate light and sounds. the 18 Supertrees feature more than 162,900 plants, and over 200 species of flowering climbers, orchids and ferns.
Who’s Ta Lk InG
LeCtUrer: Keith WiLey
topiC: on the WiLdside
When: thUrsday, september 20, 7:30 p.m.
Light pre-Lecture dinner avaiLabLe from 6 p.m.
Keith Wiley is one of the most innovative and original designers in Britain. Formerly head gardener at The Garden House of Buckland Abbey in Devon, England, he took on a new challenge in 2004 by creating Wildside Garden and Nursery. Keith turned a bare field into a dream canvas for his radical gardening ideas, using inspiration from the wildflower meadows of South Africa, Crete and beyond. In his lecture, “On the Wildside: Taking Naturalistic Planting to a New Level”, he’ll take us on his journey of creation to highlight what he and his wife and painter, Ros, do to keep the garden at its best every month of the year.
Public $20, students (with valid ID) $15, TBG members free. Door sales only. Limited seating.
— Compiled by Zachary Osborne, Weston Family Library
bees need to get a grip
a fascinating study on the behaviour of bees found that the cone-shaped cells located in flower petals act as miniature Velcro-like surfaces for pollination. in tests using petunias with conical cells and petunias with flatter “mutant” cells, bees preferred the conical cells in the presence of simulated wind, as they enable
bees to grip the flower’s petals without being blown away. future research will determine whether other pollinators, such as moths or hummingbirds, have the same preference for conical cells.
fashionabLe foLiage egle Čekanavičiute, a Paris-based designer, has fashioned a line of clothes
(called Seed) from organic fabrics such as potato sacks and canvas which allow for plants, such as Tilia cordata, to grow from pockets and seams while the clothes are worn. What does all this mean? “any human creation is helpless against the power of nature.” to view the runway slideshow, goto eglecekanaviciute.com/ look2011
From The TBG
aLdona satterthWaite executive Director
Taking Stock
I’m writing this on Canada Day, and I must admit it’s hard to focus on autumn thoughts when the summer has just begun and I can hear fireworks going off in the nearby park!
As this is our “how to” issue, I started my note to you by listing the jobs that I know I will be doing come fall. These include amending the nutrientpoor, sandy soil in my garden with yet more compost (the fabulous “anytime” food), piling on the leaves for mulch and watering in all the woodies as well.
fun-filled fall!
Join us on September 29 from noon to 4 p.m. for our annual Harvest day celebration. Pick vegetables from our garden for the food bank, meet our worms, plant garlic, sip cider and take part in creative garden activities with discoverability free
Listen, Listen
But then I realized that most important thing that I need to do — and maybe you do, too — is to take stock. How has the garden fared throughout the season and what adjustments need to be made? Which plants earned their keep and which plants should be divided or removed altogether? Where are the gaps/ungraceful sections that could do with a bit of rethinking? Where can I plant another tree? How can I do things better/smarter?
The same holds true for our work here at the TBG. We have an excellent staff and a strong roster of committed volunteers, and I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in our gardens and with our programs. But that’s not to say that there’s no room for improvement and no need for change — same old, same old isn’t our mantra. And so we are including a questionnaire with this issue of Trellis to find out how we may better serve our members and our community. Would you please take the time to fill it in and get it back to us? Your opinions are important. Thank you.
Green Community DiscoverAbility
Since 2010, the TBG has been partnering with fellow charitable organization DiscoverAbility Inc., which brings a dynamic and exciting menu of innovative arts and recreation programs to our Harvest Day celebrations in the Teaching Garden. We love that DiscoverAbility is powered by mentoring professionals who guide university students, who guide high school students, who guide elementary students. Whether it’s groups of young actors performing their rendition of Stone Soup, a cooking demonstration under the trees or the powerful pull of a drum circle, DiscoverAbility has brought new sounds, tastes, faces and fun to our fall offerings.
WWW.disCoverabiLity.Com t0 Learn more. goto
Listen, Listen is a Storytime favourite by Phillis gershator. it encourages children to listen to the sounds of the changing seasons. Storytime is held in the Weston family library and features weekly nature-themed stories and simple activities recommened for ages 1 to 3. Mondays, 11 a.m. free
Welcome
the tbG is pleased to welcome stefan weber to the team. He comes to us with a background ranging from greenhouse propagation to botanical illustration, and he recently spent three seasons studying pollination in carolinian plant communities. stefan grew up near long point, ontario, where he returns often to manage his family’s unruly garden. when he’s not in the swamp, you can find stefan in the kitchen Mastering the Art of French Cooking. while at the tbG, stefan deftly smooths the way for nancy eaton Director of Horticulture paul Zammit and Adult education coordinator Anna-liza badaloo
Stefan Weber • administrative a ssistant
How to Choose perfect plant partners
the task of combining plants, says Victoria stevens, is easier when you follow some tried and true rules.
p hotos by paul zammit
Our garden plants, placed without due consideration or definite intention, cannot show what they can best do for us — Gertrude Jekyll 1905
One of the most challenging aspects of gardening, besides the never ending battle with squirrels and raccoons, is to come up with plant combinations that really work. We all want a pleasing succession of blooms so that there is always something of interest throughout the seasons, but how to achieve it? How to choose plants that complement or contrast with each other in pleasing ways? Plants that come into leaf or bloom just as others finish? The problem is compounded by the vast amount of plant material available in every size, shape and colour. It can make even an experienced gardener’s head spin.
Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that provide a few tried and true rules that can make the job simpler. Master these and you can begin to add your own unique touches to make your garden the work of art you imagine.
First steps
First and most obvious, analyze your site. You will need to choose plants that have similar requirements for light, water and soil.
Next, decide what you want the overall effect to be, whether “bright and cheerful, cool and restrained, neat and tidy or informal and naturalistic,” advises Tony Lord in his comprehensive and useful Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations.
Once you are clear about the look you want and what you’ve got to work with, you can compile a list of plants that suit your conditions and your goals. Once you’ve completed your research, chances are you’ll end up with a very long list. Whittling it down to a manage-
interplant spring bulbs with grasses, which will hide the fading bulb foliage as they mature.
Contrasting colours of chartreuse, orange and purples pack a punch in the flower border at the toronto Botanical Garden.
perfect plant partners Anastasia Jakubasz, sandra pella and paul Zammit among the alliums.
able number of plants is where the real design work begins. This is where you assess plants based on colour, size, shape, texture and bloom time.
Choose plants not just for their flowers, but also for their foliage, varying between bold and fine, making sure not to put two of the same side by side. A good pairing in a shady spot is the feathery leaves of Japanese maple with the large beefy leaves of hostas, suggests Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture, Paul Zammit.
For colour choices, pick complementary colours at opposite ends of the colour wheel (blue and orange, purple and yellow, red and green) or, for more subtle effects, select colours that are close to each other on the colour wheel (blues with hints of red, for example) or, for real drama, choose a monochrome palette (all white, for instance).
Timing is another crucial consideration. “Think about emergence time: late versus early spring; take advantage of the light under deciduous trees and shrubs that haven’t leafed out yet to plant early spring bulbs,” advises Zammit. “The key is in knowing your garden and when things come up; this allows you to maximize the space and use something early like species crocus along with a Japanese forest grass that emerges later and will fill in where the crocuses were growing. In a deep border,” says Zammit, “it’s okay to have bulbs way at the back (where you can see them in early spring) before other plants grow up in front of them and hide the maturing foliage.”
Ornamental grasses can add colour and form and can complement and contrast with the blooms of flowers, but they can also hide their faded blooms. “Interplant alliums with Miscanthus [maiden grass],”suggests Jeff Mason of Mason House Gardens in Uxbridge, “and when the alliums come into bloom, the Miscanthus is at the perfect height to hide the fading bulb foliage.”
top ComBos From the experts
Landscape designers and nursery operators have had lots of experience in creating stunning plant combinations. Here are some excellent suggestions from local experts that will help turn your garden
into a showplace with something interesting happening all season long.
• Spring bulbs interplanted with native switch grass ( Panicum virgatum ) put on an early show and by the time they fade, the grasses will have grown tall enough to cover the yellowing bulb foliage. Later in the season, the blooms of coneflowers (Echinacea) and summer phlox (Phlox paniculata) can peek through ornamental grasses such as giant silver grass (Miscanthus x giganteus). Grasses can also mask the spindly stems and foliage of daylilies so that only their blooms are visible — and through a trick of the eye, the grasses appear to be blooming!
— Jeff Mason, Mason House Gardens
• Red or purple-toned foliage brings out the softer tones of pinks and blues and makes them sparkle. For example, in semi-shade, snakeroot (Actaea simplex [Atropurpurea Group] ‘Brunette’) behind astilbes gives a border some depth. — Victoria Lister Carley, landscape architect
• Contrast dark purple or red foliage with golds, such as a red waterfall Japanese maple underplanted with miniature daffodils. Or, ‘All Gold’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’) paired with a purple smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria). Or ‘Plum Pudding’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’) with a golden smoke bush (such as Cotinus Golden Spirit ‘Ancot’).
— Sara Katz, Wild at Heart Design
help From the liBrAry ColleCtion
The Encyclopedia of Plant Combinations, which is available as a reference book in the Weston Family Library, is a treasure trove of advice and ideas with over 400 pages of full-colour illustrations on every plant combination imaginable.
For shrubs and small trees, author Tony Lord suggests that shrubs can act as highlights in a complex composition such as yellow locust tree ( Robinia pseudoacacia ) and mock orange (Philadelphus) framed by the reds and blues of anchusas, alliums
Bring Summer To Your Winter
e rule” combines plants just fading (alliums in the foreground), with ones in full bloom (orange yarrow) and those just waiting for their
Add variety with the contrasting forms of rattlesnake-master (Eryngium yuccifolium) and russian sage (Perovskia) which can be seen in the entryway Garden at the tBG.
bronze to complement the sedum late in the growing season.
and cranesbills, or they can blend into a monochrome canvas with yellow azaleas. Lord’s other recommendations include spikes of white-flowered foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora) that contrast in form with Abutilon vitifolium ‘Album’; the feathery leaves of Japanese maples with black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’); and the filigree silvery grey leaves of wormwood (Artemisia arborescens ‘Powis Castle’) with flowers in cool colours, such as blues and purples, in front of roses.
The possibilities are endless, but by following a few basic design rules you can create a satisfying tableau in your garden.
Victoria Stevens is a retired journalist who volunteers at the Toronto Botanical Garden.
at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
Cotswold Village Gardens/Antiques and malvern Flower show 21 sep 01 oct 2012 $2,289. Join alan’s personalised mini-coach tour, staying in the saxon Village of Winchcombe.$2,289. Chelsea Flower show and national trust Gardens 18-30 may 2013- “have canadian heritage pass- will travel” – superb gardener’s itinerary max 15 participants- $3,889. hampton Court Flower show, Devon, Cornwall, Bath, isle of Wight, 30 Jun - 14 July-2013 $3,989 eden project; lost gardens of heligan; osborne house; highgrove (maybe); rhs Wisley: Kew gardens. Website for mini- coach itineraries and summer newsletter www.gardenersworldtours.com 905-683-2838 carlson Wagonlit travel source reg #1090873 1-800-265-2817 Karen@cwttravelsource.com or lorna@gardenersworldtours.com
WAtCh hoW it’s Done planting bulbs around established perennials can be tricky, says paul Zammit. he shows us how to do it in a video
WHAT GETS plANTS ExCITEd? Good Soil.
Soil. let’S face it, it’s not the most scintillating of subjects. However, to a plant, good soil is the circus, New Year’s Eve and winning the lottery, all rolled into one. So if your soil isn’t perfect (and whose is?), fall is an excellent time to amend it. Working organic matter lightly into your perennial beds at this time of year will get the microbes and worms working earlier, and, because most organic fertilizers release their nutrients over several months, the timing will be perfect for those much-anticipated spring plants.
Measuring up on the ph scale
A good start before amending your soil is to test for the pH level, pH being the measure of soil acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 1 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. A number below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. It’s important
fall is a great time, says carol gardner, to prepare the soil for springtime growth.
to know a soil’s pH because certain plants need a specific pH range to thrive. If your soil is too acidic, you can amend it with the application of crushed limestone or dolomitic lime, and if it is too alkaline, aluminum sulphate or iron sulphate can be added. Most nurseries sell inexpensive pH testing kits. A much more thorough test that will also tell you about the nutrient content of your soil is available through the University of Guelph or other accredited soil testing laboratories. For a complete list, check out www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/ resource/soillabs.htm.
At the TBG, the rhododendrons haven’t doing well, so a soil test was done. Turns out that the beds were very alkaline, and rhododendrons need acidic soil. Crushed leaves and pine needles have been added to give
Top Soil Amendments and What They Do
Blood meal Adds nitrogen.
Bone meal Adds phosphorus and some nitrogen.
Compost Helps soil retain nutrients; loosens soil particles so roots can spread; neutralizes both acid and alkaline soils; makes soil easier to work.
Composted manure Adds some nutrients and mineral content, improves drainage and moisture retention.
dolomite lime Adds calcium and magnesium.
Fish Fertilizer Adds nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements.
Gypsum Adds calcium and sulphur.
seaweed (kelp) Adds nitrogen, some phosphorus and trace elements.
worm CastinGs Contains plant nutrients that are water-soluble; has a neutral pH; contains trace elements, enzymes and beneficial micro-organisms.
the shrubs the maximum opportunity to thrive.
Sometimes you have to be a bit of a detective to figure out your soil type. Jasmine Green, the Children’s Education Supervisor, uses that premise with the grade three students who come to the TBG on school trips. After the kids have learned the basics about what makes up good soil, they go to the Teaching Garden to hunt for the culprit who stole nuts from a complaining chipmunk by analyzing soil samples taken from the tails of three squirrels. For more information on this and other amazing children’s programs, see torontobotanicalgarden.ca/learn/school.
Weeds can often be helpful (sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?) in identifying whether your soil is acid or alkaline. Alkaline soil provides a happy home to chickweed, spotted spurge and Queen Anne’s lace, whereas acidic soil frequently hosts wild strawberries, dock and cinquefoil. Bindweed seems to be an equal opportunity invader. However, don’t judge the pH on the basis of weeds alone; they are notoriously untrustworthy. So, if you suspect a deficiency, get a soil test.
getting the essential eleMents right
Other than to adjust the pH, we amend soil to increase its capacity to hold nutrients and to improve aeration and water retention. Fourteen out of 17 plant nutrients should come from the soil. The other three — oxygen, carbon and hydrogen — are absorbed from the air.
The three most important soil nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
Volunteers sift compost to use in the tBg gardens.
Improving Soil Texture
another consideration when amending your soil is texture. there are many types of soil textures, but, for our purposes, we’ll discuss the most common: clay and its opposite, sand, as well as the silty soil that everyone wants to have. here’s a snapshot of each type and which amendments work best.
a mendment s
(you see them printed as numbers representing percentage of N-p-K of fertilizer packaging). The secondary nutrients are sulphur, magnesium and calcium. The micronutrients — iron, boron, chlorine, manganese, zinc, copper and molybdenum — are seldom a major problem.
plant leaves can be good indicators of nutrient deficiency in your soil. Specifically, plants suffer from two problems: chlorosis (a yellowing of leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll) and necrosis (dying of plant cells or tissues). We’re basically talking about plant leaves yellowing and curling. I don’t know about you, but one yellow curling leaf looks much like another to me. However, there is a terrific Web site by Wade Berry from the University of California, los Angeles, with pictures of plants lacking specific nutrients: 5e.plantphys.net/article. php?ch=t&id=289.
In the horticultural world, there’s a debate going on between the proponents and opponents of using sphagnum peat moss to increase the soil’s acidity and ability to retain water. peat moss has been a favoured amend-
small soil particles that feel sticky when wet; high water retention and low permeability.
organic matter such as coarse compost or aged manure. gypsum will help break up compaction.
irregularly shaped, small soil particles; can have problems with compaction; considered the most fertile of soils.
large particles, granular; the opposite of clay soil in that it is high in water permeability and low in moisture retention.
ment of gardeners for eons because peat can hold up to twelve times its weight in water. The concern is that peat bogs have disappeared so fast in Europe that they are now protected by a directive of the European Union. Opponents of peat use claim that Canada’s peat bogs are also rapidly declining; however, a report produced under the auspices of Environment Canada and the Canadian Sphagnum peat Moss Association says that “the volume of peat harvested each year is small in comparison to the estimated 70 million tonnes or more of peat that accumulates naturally in Canada.”
Coir, the fibrous husk of a coconut, can be used as an alternative to peat. Again, there are two schools of thought. Opponents point out that coir has high salinity, an extremely high phosphorus component, but very low calcium, so that gardeners using it must also apply gypsum. proponents point out that it is less acidic than peat moss, is antifungal and lasts three times longer than peat moss in the soil. If you can’t make up your mind, there’s always good old compost, which seems to be beloved by everyone.
add compost to enrich.
Well-rotted manure or compost helps retain water.
applying a fall Mulch
Okay, enough about soil. The second thing you have to consider in the fall is the application of mulch. Fall mulching is different from mulching during the growing season. In the spring, we mulch to suppress weeds, retain moisture and nourish the soil.
We mulch in winter to protect plant roots from a cycle of freezing and thawing so that they stay dormant all winter. In other words, in spring you’re feeding and in the fall you’re protecting. A winter mulch also helps conserve whatever water is already in the soil. So before you mulch, water, water, water! And, weeding before mulching will ensure that you’re controlling, not coddling, the little devils.
In our climate, winter mulching should be done only after the ground freezes; doing it too early can warm the plants and encourage them to put out new growth, not to mention making cozy winter homes for unwanted critters such as mice. Shredded bark, manure, pine needles, shredded leaves or evergreen boughs make good winter mulches. After the last hard frost in the spring, remove the mulch so that
plants have room to breathe and the ground can warm up faster. So there you are — nothing to it. It may seem a lot of work, but you’re going to have months and months of examining plant catalogues, wishing you could be in your garden, so enjoy the invigorating fall air and amend, amend, amend!
Carol Gardner is an award-winning garden writer and member of the Trellis Committee.
perennials, shruBs anD trees that thriVe in aciD or alkaline soils
plants for acid soil
Ajuga bugleweed
Aster aster
Astilbe false spirea
Bergenia bergenia
Calluna and Erica heather
Dicentra bleeding heart
Digitalis foxglove
Hydrangea hydrangea
Juniperus Juniper
Magnolia magnolia
Phlox Phlox
Picea spruce
Pinus Pine
Rhododendron azalea and rhododendron
plants for alkaline soils
Achillea yarrow
Aconitum monkshood
Brunnera siberian bugloss
Buxus boxwood
Clematis clematis
Cotoneaster cotoneaster
Delphinium delphinium
Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower
Geranium cranesbills
Heuchera coral bells
Paeonia Peony
Papaver Poppy
Pulsatilla Pasque flower
Salvia sage
Taxus yew
Best of the British isles garden tour Join me , marjorie mason, for an exciting garden tour to south Wales and england—June 28-July12,2013—including Powis castle and gardens, the picturesque village of Usk for their open garden day, Prince charles’ garden at highgroVe, hidcote, st. ives and land’s end, the lost gardens of heligan, Wildside, Keith Wiley’s garden, the isle of Wight, great dixter, a day in london and the hamPton coUrt floWer shoW—all this and much more! cost- $4,500.00 double occupancy-includes airfare, luxury coach, breakfasts and dinners daily and all entrances. info@ masonhousegardens.com or 905-649-3532.
Join margaret for the philaDelphia floWer shoW – march 3 to 6, 2013.this fabulous holiday not only includes the flower show, but much coveted and scarce tickets to the new barnes foundation – the largest private collection of french impressionists in the world. another highlight is the orchid extravaganza at longwood g ardens. early BirD pricing is only $ 669. pp/ dble. don’t miss your opportunity to join margaret as she uncovers many of the secrets of historic Philadelphia. be aware – this tour sells out early. sUmmer 2013: london/cotswolds and the gardens of Kent and sussex. call 416-746-7199 or e-mail:margaret@hnatravels.com for more information. heatherington & assoc.
in season To Do
Just Ask TrAde secreT
landscape designer Joel loblaw says, “i’ve become a fan of threeyear-old hemlock mulch, a very fine mixture of hemlock, compost and sand. it breaks down beautifully and smells like a salad!”
— www.joelloblaw.com
in our Gardens
fAll is for plAnTing!
our terrific volunteers have been hard at work planting the Woodland Walk and Bird habitat. they have also been adding drifts of spring-flowering bulbs throughout the gardens, including in an exciting new area in the Westview terrace, made possible by the greater toronto Bulb Society. a revamp of the herb garden will also start this fall thanks in part to the generous support of the toronto herb Society.
“Soil bacteria and fungi are like small bags of fertilizer, retaining in their bodies nitrogen and other nutrients…”
Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis, Teaming
with Microbes
Is
it safe to spread a winter mulch directly over perennials once they’ve died?
The general rule for mulching perennials is to mulch after the ground has frozen. The object is to prevent the freeze-thaw cycle that can heave plants out of the ground. You can spread the mulch right over top of perennials — most will grow right through it come spring. As the soil thaws in spring, move the mulch away from the crowns of the plants gradually but do not to remove it completely until the ground has thawed.
My Favourite Bug
Praying Mantis
Bug Lady Jean Godawa examines an insect worthy of our protection.
the arrival of a non-native insect species into a new habitat is rarely a happy occasion; think of the gypsy moth or the Japanese beetle. however, one insect, accidentally introduced into north america, is the exception. in 1899, the european praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) hitched a ride across the atlantic in a shipment of nursery stock and spread into ontario and Quebec. this predator was instantly recognized as a natural pest control agent. the Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) has also been a welcome settler from overseas. More than 100 years after their arrival, there have been no negative impacts associated with the introduction of praying mantises. the mantis is a large insect, up to 10 centimetres in length, with pale green or light brown colouring. its raptorial front, its spiny legs, its large eyes and its ability
to rotate its head 180 degrees make it an efficient and lethal predator of caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets and other insect pests.
in early fall, the female lays her eggs in a brown, frothy casing called an ootheca, which she attaches to a plant stalk or garden structure. each case contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch the following June. newly hatched mantises resemble adults but are tiny and wingless. By early summer these beneficial bugs will be feeding on your unwanted garden pests.
at the end of the summer, the fullgrown mantis is ready for mating. Female mantises have a reputation for deadly mating behaviour, biting the heads off their mates, but this only occurs under stressful conditions. usually, the male has plenty of time to leave. Shortly after mating, the female lays her eggs and soon dies.
if you find a mantis egg case in your garden or in nearby scrub this fall, you can protect it to ensure you have some helpful predators for next season. Cut the stalk with the ootheca attached and keep it in an unheated garage or shed over the winter.
MAnTis egg cAse
prAYing
MAnTis
container crazy
VinTAge Vogue
the cool temperatures of autumn bring out the rich colour of oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), which is here combined in a weathered vintage copper boiling pot with Heuchera ‘georgia Peach’ and colourful mini-cabbages. an antique owl andiron adds a touch of whimsy.
— Paul Zammit, Nancy Eaton Director of Horticulture
Anna’s plant pick
Camassia indian hyacinth
an underused hardy bulb, Camassia, also known as Camas lily, indian hyacinth or Quamash, is native to western north america, from British Columbia to northern California and east to utah. it is rarely seen in ontario gardens even though it is a common spring flowering bulb in england.
Camassias have spikes of starry flowers that grow from grasslike basal leaves in late spring. the colours range from pale blue to deep blue and white.
Several different species are available from specialist nurseries. Camassia quamash grows from 30 to 60 centimetres and blooms in a mid- to deep blue colour, often forming sheets of colour in grasslands in the wild. ‘Blue Melody’ has dark blue flowers with variegated foliage. Camassia leichtlinii, which is occasionally available, is taller, up to one metre in height, with 2.5-centimetre wide leaves and blue and double-flowered cream blooms. C. l. alba — a white form — is more readily available and looks great in a mixed border. Camassia cusickii has larger bulbs with pale blue flowers. grow camassias in humus-rich, well-drained soil with a more or less neutral ph and average moisture. Bulbs naturalize well and should be planted in groups in the open sun or in light shade. the leaves die down in early July, so interplant hostas or other perennials with large leaves so they cover the area. Camassias tolerate dry summer conditions and are hardy to Zone 3. they make good cut flowers, too. the bulbs were considered food by aboriginal people. apparently they taste good. however, avoid a plant with similar-looking bulbs, the death camas, Zigadenus, which is not edible.
— Anna Leggatt,
Toronto Master Gardener Emerita
Garden Gear
Two cAn TAngo!
Daffodils and tulips make great partners, so snap up our two Can tango combo package of vibrant yellow and orange daffodil and tulip bulbs for a splash of colour next spring. $9.99
around the Garden with head
Gardener
sandra Pella
september is the month for pruning herbaceous perennials. in particular, cut back to the ground any spring- and early summer blooming plants that were not cut back after flowering. deadhead mid- to late summer flowering perennials, or leave them to stand through the winter to provide seeds for the birds — they look terrific, too!
Jobs To do
BuLB BAsICs
review photos of your spring garden to see where bulbs planted this fall can add splashes of colour next season.
for a succession of colour, select and combine early, midseason and late blooming bulbs.
to ensure good drainage, amend your planting sites with organic matter.
don’t forget edible bulbs: plant local ontario-grown garlic in late summer or early fall.
Water the entire garden well, right up until the ground freezes.
Mulch with shredded leaves after the ground freezes.
before planting, store bulbs in a cool, dry frost-free area.
add a pinch of bone meal to planting holes.
Watch the video at torontobotanical garden.ca as Paul Zammit shows you how to plant bulbs.
torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ trellis for more tips on planting bulbs.
Happenings
TBG LECTURE S ER i ES
LECTURER: KEiTh WiLEy
TOPiC: On ThE WiLDSiDE: TAKinG nATURALiSTiC PLAnTinG TO A nEW LEVEL
WhEn: ThURSDAy, SEPTEmbER 20
LECTURER: TERRy mCGLADE
TOPiC: ADVEnTURES AbOVE ThE GROUnD: CREATinG A ROOfTOP GARDEn
WhEn: ThURSDAy, OCTObER 11
Lectures take place in the Floral Hall at 7:30 p.m. Public $25, students (with valid ID) $15, TBG members free. Door sales only, limited seating. 416-397-1340.
Blogwatch
Look who’s writing on our Web site: Check out these monthly features at torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
• Veronica Sliva, a passionate garden journalist with a lust for travel, writes about destinations that feature public or private gardens.
• Landscape designer Sara Katz gives new life to urban landscapes through her tips on great garden design.
• Avid plantsman Dugald Cameron tantalizes Canadian gardeners with stunning images and information on plants and bulbs from the world’s best growers and hybridizers.
What’s on at the tBG
FOR A MOnTH-By-MOnTH ROunDuP OF THE LATEST HORTICuLTuRAL HAPPEnInGS
TAkInG PLACE AT THE TBG, BE SuRE TO CHECk OuR WEB SITE
goTo
Let’s take our relationship to the next level!
Send uS your SeedS!
The TBG Seed Exchange is in full swing. After collecting the seeds you wish to donate, follow these steps to package and submit them to the TBG 2013 SEEDEX.
• The TBG Web site will feature videos on how to collect and clean seed (but don’t worry, we will clean your seed). To collect, simply cut off the spent flower heads complete with seeds, and drop them directly into a paper bag or envelope.
• It’s important to package and store your seed in paper envelopes or bags, clearly labelled with the botanical name and date collected, both on the outside of the package and on a piece of paper inside. Also include the source for your plant, such as the name of the garden centre or plant sale where you purchased it.
goings on
• Art Gallery Opening, Thursday, September 27, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Come celebrate the inaugural exhibition in the newly refurbished Weston Family Library. Meet Penelope Stewart and Jean Johnson, the distinguished botanical artist and Order of Canada recipient. Their works will be on display this fall. Rotating art exhibits by some of Canada’s most inspiring botanical artists will be showcased in the library throughout the year. FREE.
Penelope Stewart’s Apian Screen series is formed from beeswax tiles.
Like us on facebook at facebook.com/ TorontobotanicalGarden
follow us on Twitter @TbG_Canada
find us on flickr www.flickr.com/photos/tbg_canada
See us on youTube www.youtube.com/user/tobotanical
Pin us on Pinterest pinterest.com/tbgcanada
Visit our Web site at torontobotanicalgarden.ca
• Store your seed packages in a cool, dry place or in the fridge until you can drop them off at the TBG. They can be dropped off any time in September and October at Reception, addressed to Head Gardener, Horticulture.
Over the winter, our volunteer team will clean, sort and repackage your donated seeds. In February watch the TBG Web site and Garden e-news for information on how you can order from the 2013 SEEDEX list.
Thank you for your SupporT of The TBG!
• At halloween howl, Saturday, October 27, 1 to 3 p.m., learn about creepy crawlers, do a spooky scavenger hunt and plant a spider plant to take home. Adult accompaniment and child registration required. Public $10 / members $7.
• holiday Open house, Thursday, november 29, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Start your holiday shopping early and enjoy a bonus discount of 20 per cent at shopTBG (members only) for one night only. Join in the fun of the “Winter Container-Off” with the TBG’s Paul Zammit, nicole north of Petals, Stems & Leaves and gardening personality Denis Flanagan. Enjoy the festivities with some hot cider, savoury shortbread or a light dinner while you pick up your seasonal greens and décor items. Free gift wrapping.
aB out t he toronto Botanical Gar D en
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.
G eneral hours an D a DM ission
Gar D ens: Free admission, dawn to dusk aDM 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.
t BG Gar D en c a F e: Open daily to October 31. For hours check torontobotanicalgarden.ca
shop t BG: Call 416-397-1357 • shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Master Gar D eners’ i n Fo l ine: noon to 3 p.m. 416-397-1345 (April & July, Monday to Thursday, Saturday; May & June, daily; August through March, Monday, 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 rien D s o F the toronto B otanical G ar D en
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 march 29 and June 29, 2012.
DiRECToR’S CiRCLE
Patricia & Robert Martin
SUSTaininG MEMBERS
Shari & John Ezyk
Carol & Paul Gardner
Allan Kling & Tecca
Crosby
Elaine M. Le Feuvre
Geoffrey Vernon
FRiEnDS
Elizabeth & Keith Bolton
Linda Boyko & Jens Carl
Dorothy & John Cartmell
Heather Craigie
Barbara Goldring
Kathy Harvey
Marion Hill
Elaine Johnson
Georgie & Fred Kennedy
Mary Lee Laing & Warren Laing
Peter & Joyce Lewis
Mary McDougall Maude & Philip Maude
Mundy McLaughlin
Marion E. Magee
Maria & Constantine
Maingot-Douketis
Susan Martin June Murdoch
Doryne & Andy Peace
Cathy Rand
Lois Rowland
Beverly Stager
Valerie & Brian Story
Nancy Theimer
Barbara Thurber
Keilhauer
Kristine Vikmanis
Marion & Gilbert Warburton
Joan M. Wright
Karen Wynnychuk
patrons
h onorary patron: aDrienne clarKson
Brian Bixley, Mark cullen, camilla Dalglish, sondra Gotlieb, Marjorie harris, lorraine Johnson, Michele landsberg, susan Macaulay, helen skinner
B oar D o F D irectors
Mary Fisher, President and Co-Chair; Allan Kling, Co-Chair. Ellen Carr, Heather Cullen, Colomba B. Fuller, Jim Gardhouse, rebecca Golding, steven heuchert, elaine le Feuvre, Joan lenczner, penny richards, Judy shirriff, nancy tong, Barbara yager, David young
executive Director
aldona s atterthwaite director@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1346
Business anD Finance Director of Business initiatives and Finance
Margaret chasins business@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1484
administrative assistant, stefan Weber assistant@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1321
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, andrew McKay annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1483
Facility s ales coordinator, emily chow rentals@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1349
eDucation DepartMent Director of education, liz hood education@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1355
777 l awrence a venue e as t, 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 • @TBG_Canada
sta FF D irectory By ttc : From e glint on subway station take the 51, 54 or 54 a bus t o Lawrence Avenue East and Leslie Street. The TBG is on the southwest corner.
children’s education supervisor
Jasmine Green childrensed@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1288
children’s education coordinator
Karen Mann tbgkids@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 Zachary 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, s andra pella gardener@torontobotanicalgarden.ca taxonomic assistant, toni vella taxonomy@torontobotanicalgarden.ca seasonal Gardener, anastasia Jakubasz shoptBG supervisor, heidi hobday shop@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1357
Maintenance
Maintenance Manager, Walter Morassutti Maintenance officers, alvin allen, Jonas Kweko-teye, Marcos tawfik maintenance@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-1344
heaD, volunteer services sue hills volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca 416-397-4145
