Trellis - Spring 2022 by Toronto Botanical Garden

SPRING 2022 • VOL 51

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | POLLINATORS | WILD NEIGHBOURS

VICTORIAN LODGE New York, USA

Discover the secret of Hartley Botanic by calling 781 933 1993 or visit www.hartley-botanic.com

NOTHING ELSE IS A HARTLEY TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA 2 SPRING 2022 by the RHS The only aluminium Glasshouses and Greenhouses endorsed ® The Royal Horticultural Society. The Royal Horticultural Society, and its logo, are trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) and used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited.

inside COVER PHOTO: SASAN BENI. IRIS RETICULATA ‘EYE CATCHER’ IS A HARDY DWARF IRIS THAT BLOOMS IN EARLY SPRING IN THE WESTVIEW TERRACE AT THE TBG.

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Great Blue Heron. Photo by Sasan Beni

[4] FROM THE TBG

Welcome back to the Garden [5] EXPANSION UPDATE We will soon be able to share final design concept with members [6] UNLOCKING THE PUZZLE Meet Stephanie Jutila [8] FROM THE GARDEN Native ninebark to replace invasive Japanese barberry [9] A TALE OF TWO OAK TREES [10] ADULT EDUCATION Spring lectures and courses

[13] TBG NEWS

Hearts and Flowers thanks donors [14] OUR WILD NEIGHBOURS Sightings soar during pandemic [18] THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS Why do we mark various holidays with different flowers? [19] TRIAL GARDENS RETURN FOR 2022 [23] ATTRACTING POLLINATORS TO YOUR GARDEN How to combine native and non-native plants

[26] GARDENS UNDER

GLASS If spring is still out of reach… [28] BOOK SHELF Four great garden books to ring in spring [31] PUZZLE PIECES Challenge-level reviews for jigsaw enthusiasts [32] RESILIENT RHUBARB Growing and cooking with this spring plant [34] RECIPE CORNER Stewed Rhubarb & Custard and Rhubarb, Strawberry & Rose Fool

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

[37] WINTER PHOTO CONTEST WINNER [38] HOUSEPLANT PROFILE Chinese Money Plant has many common names [39] THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE Major fundraiser returns June 11 & 12 [40] PEOPLE, PLACES & PLANTS Goings on at the TBG [42] CRAFT CORNER Chive blossoms make tasty infused vinegar

FRO M t h e TB G

THE PROMISE OF SPRING is upon us. Year after year I am filled with wonder at a garden’s ability to emerge from a long winter with new vigour and meaning. As a gardener this is my favourite time of year. And the same is true for arriving to embrace a new Garden, team and stakeholders in the depths of a snowy Toronto winter. With each passing day more Toronto Botanical Garden champions and supporters have come forward to share what the Garden means to each of you. Thank you for your commitment to support the Garden as we emerge with new strength and purpose. This spring has added hope. Not only are we going through transitions in leadership, but we are also coming out of the extended restrictions of the pandemic. The Toronto Botanical Garden team is excited to welcome you back to the Garden. We are moving ahead with plans for the Toronto Botanical Garden Plant Sale in May to entice you with the latest and greatest plants for your garden and the Through the Garden Gate tour June 11 and 12. We are also focused on bringing new

offerings to activate the site and engage an ever-growing audience in our mission. We want to give all of you, our steadfast supporters, a sneak peek at the pollinator friendly annuals that will be featured in the 2022 Ball Horticulture’s Trial Gardens. And if you adore pollinators as much as we do read on to learn more about Attracting Pollinators to your Garden by landscape designer Leanne Burkholder. Our very own Director of Horticulture, Roger Gettig discusses replacing a dying English oak tree in the Garden with a sustainable alternative. And be sure to savour our Seasonal Horticulturist Sasan Beni’s account of increased bird and animal sightings during the pandemic. We are so excited for the start of a new season as the Garden awakens with new energy and resilience. Thank you for your continued support and inspiration. The Garden is vibrant because you are a part of its past and its future.

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Stephanie Jutila Executive Director

SPRING 2022

PHOTO: JANET DAVIS

WELCOME BACK TO THE GARDEN, SAYS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEPHANIE JUTILA

EXPANSION UPDATE We will soon be able to share final design concept with members By Harry Jongerden

PHOTO: JUNE ANDERSON

e have spent the past glorious year envisioning the new garden with our landscape architects, PMA, and their multi-disciplinary team – architects, garden designers and more. We also now have the contributions of our new Executive Director, Stephanie Jutila, and new Director of Horticulture, Roger Gettig, with their talents, experience and fresh eyes. I must admit, this is the fun part! TBG’s expansion committee has delegated a smaller ‘project working group’ that now meets weekly with the design team to develop schematic options that will go to the Board for approval this spring. We have our marching orders to create a worldclass botanical garden that serves our mission and vision, while delivering revenue-generating opportunities. Easy, right? Hah! The easy part, and perhaps the only easy part, is that we have City approval to do this. City of Toronto’s key support and partnership underpins everything we’re engaged in. The consultation with multiple stakeholders, and the synthesis of that consultation into a brilliant plan, is the hard part. The PMA team has talked to staff, board, donors, members, City, Indigenous representatives and more. We’re also working from the approved Master Plan that was developed after three public engagement sessions. This is too important to too many people to avoid a good deal of talk, talk, talk. The consultation never ends in a process like this, but at some point, we say, OK, and now we’re recommending this design. We are at that point now. The proposed garden design concepts are resolving two very different present-day garden designs—that of TBG and of Edwards Gardens—into a brilliant and holistic landscape. You will no longer be

crossing a line into a different garden world. The site’s heritage buildings are also being redesigned to serve multiple mission-based and revenue-generating purposes. Our project architects, Gow-Hastings, have played a significant role in the design process. And wait until you see what our garden designers, Phyto, have proposed. I expect you will be as thrilled as we are! Board approval will launch the next phase of detailed design that

produces construction drawings, firm cost estimates and formal site plan approval. While the City has already approved our expansion plan, there are a number of formal hoops to jump through, and we won’t get to the end of the design and approvals process until towards the end of 2023. Look for a notice this spring of a presentation by TBG and our design team for the benefit of members. You’ve been very patient, and now we can’t wait to show you what’s coming.

Edwards Gardens in spring.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

“2021 WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEARS EVER IN HORTICULTURE WITH PEOPLE THRONGING TO PUBLIC GARDENS. WE NEED TO CULTIVATE THAT.”

UNLOCKING THE PUZZLE

STEPHANIE JUTILA LOVES A GOOD PUZZLE. THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN COMPARES MANAGING ALL ASPECTS OF RUNNING AN EXPANDING BOTANICAL GARDEN TO PUTTING THE PIECES OF A JIGSAW PUZZLE INTO THE RIGHT PLACES. make it whole. Everyone has to work together for the future and be part of the whole.” Jutila comes to Toronto at an exciting time when the Garden with City of Toronto support is poised to expand from four to 35 acres. Her work background—connecting communities with nature and building sustainable non-profits— and education will stand her in good stead for

Relationships, teamwork and inclusiveness are her keys to successfully unlocking the puzzle. “This is a very delicate time,” she says. “A time to take care and nurture. And to see the future through different viewpoints. There is not one of us who can see the whole picture. We can, however, paint it together. We need each others’ voices, inspiration and talents to TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

PHOTOS: JANET DAVIS (PORTRAIT), SASAN BENI (SARGENT’S CHERRY BLOSSOMS)

Meet Stephanie Jutila, the TBG’s new Executive Director By Lorraine Hunter

the task ahead. Her career spans more than 23 years in non-profit and cultural organizations and includes extensive experience in public/private partnerships. During her nine-year tenure as the first President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, in Des Moines, Iowa, Jutila guided the non-profit to increase its operating budget 15-fold, more than double its annual visitation, and invest more than USD $23 million in capital projects. Jutila received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from the University of Minnesota where she also studied non-profit management and museum studies. She is a member of several professional organizations including the American Public Garden Association and notes that “2021 was one of the most successful years ever in horticulture with people thronging to public gardens. We need to cultivate that,” she notes. In addition to having visitors learning about the TBG’s future plans, she wants them “to see the Garden in its current state and enjoy it with great pride and joy.”

did her research before committing to the big move. “I explored lots of jobs and places. I was attracted to Toronto, as it is a city that cares deeply for the world. The more I looked at Toronto and learned about TBG’s ambitions for the future, I knew that I had met my match. I chose the TBG and the TBG chose me.” The family will move here this summer. “We are prepared to put down roots and be inspired by our new community.” Growing up just 20 miles from the shores of Lake Superior in Cloquet, Minnesota, Jutila has had a lifelong love and respect for the Great Lakes and is happy to be living near the shore of a Great Lake once again. “Unless

Ontario and we enjoyed products from Canada like Hershey’s Oh Henry Bars, Maple Crème Sandwich Cookies and drinks from The Pop Shoppe.” It’s no wonder that Jutila’s love of nature led her to a career that embraces it. “To know the power of nature as a public garden professional comes with the responsibility to share the power of nature abundantly with all humankind,” she says. “One of the most important jobs for today’s public gardens is to continue to break down the barriers to create equitable access to healthy and inspiring natural environments. Equitable access to healthy and inspiring environments will create thriving communities.” TREASURES RELATIONSHIPS

In addition to enjoying nature and spending time outdoors, Jutila treasures her relationships with other people. She gardens, does yoga and loves to cook and entertain. “My husband is my partner in entertaining. We enjoy bringing people to our home to share a meal and one another’s company.” She is excited to learn EXCITING more about Toronto’s Ravine OPPORTUNITY Strategy as the TBG is part Moving her family includof the Wilket Creek ravine ing son Henry, 14, daughter Stephanie Jutila, right, with her son Henry, system. “Botanic gardens,” Agnes, 7, and husband Tom husband Tom and daughter Agnes. she says, “have an essential Seltz, an insurance compliance role in the modern world analyst, not only to another and a profound opportunity to guide city, but to a different country, has been you live near the magnificent Great Lakes, most North Americans don’t future conversations focused on a challenge for Jutila but she sees it as human and planetary well-being. At an exciting opportunity and was thrilled know much about them,” she says. Jutila’s paternal grandparents were the very core, the conversation is when Henry texted her following a Finnish immigrants who settled in about plants, people and science.” short family exploration trip in snowy the Minnesota lumber town where Right now, her number one focus January to say “I’m glad we’re moving her grandfather became foreman of is that “while the pandemic is not here! I love you.” the lumber yard for Diamond Brands going away, we can and will keep the “We want the Garden and the match company. She grew up on a Garden alive in people’s lives.” community to welcome us. I want Jutila is looking forward to meeting my family to be excited to explore our wooded hillside with lots of birch and oak trees and remembers her maternal TBG members and volunteers. “I want new city and join me in this advengrandfather tapping the maple trees. people to know my name and face, ture,” she said during an interview. “I am in awe to realize how much to find me friendly and approachable. Jutila describes herself as “a citizen Send me an email,” she invites. “Tell me of the world,”regularly challenging her- Canada influenced my early years,” she said. “We were just a three-andabout your connection to the Garden. self and the teams she leads to view a-half-hour drive from Thunder Bay, Share what the Garden means to you.” things from a global perspective. She TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

FRO M

THE GARDEN Native ninebark is a good substitute for invasive Japanese barberry says Horticultural Director Roger Gettig

apanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a commonly available and popular deciduous shrub. It is used as both a specimen and a hedge at TBG. It is also listed as an invasive species in many parts of North America, including Toronto.(See Invasive Alien Plants in Canada Technical Report https://publications.gc.ca/ collections/collection_2008/inspection/A104-74-2008E.pdf and in the United States https://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/ Species/subject.cfm?sub=3010) As such, we need to start removing these shrubs and replacing them with non-invasive landscape alternatives. If we also want to maintain the original intent of the garden design, we need to choose plants that have similar ornamental traits. In the TBG President’s Choice Show Garden, Japanese barberry with purple foliage is used as a contrast to the wide variety of evergreen conifers. The size of these Japanese barberry cultivars ranges from 0.5 to almost 2 metres. A good substitute would be the shrub called ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) which is native to Eastern North America and has a number of new cultivars that have either purple or yellow foliage from which to choose. The cultivars come in a variety of different heights and leaf sizes. Unfortunately, some are more susceptible to powdery mildew than others but in general the purple foliage choices are more resistant than the ones with yellow leaves. Here are three choices in a variety of sizes that we are considering for use at TBG.

‘SUMMER WINE’® (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Seward’) is a medium sized shrub (1.5 m x 1.5 m) with fine textured, dark foliage requiring little pruning and has very good resistance to powdery mildew.

‘LITTLE DEVIL’™ (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’) is one of the shortest (1 m x 1 m) and has more of an upright habit so may be one of the best candidates as a substitute for the smaller barberry specimens. It is also one of the better choices for resisting powdery mildew. This spring we hope to replace all the Japanese barberry specimens in this section of the garden with a variety of purple-foliage ninebarks. Stop by to take a look, and consider making the change in your landscape as well. TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

PHOTOS: BAILEY NURSERIES

‘DIABLO’® (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’) ninebark has deep purple foliage and can be used where you need a large specimen as this cultivar can easily grow over 2.5 m high and wide. And, it has reasonably good resistance to powdery mildew.

A TALE OF TWO OAK TREES One thrived. The other will be replaced by something “similar but better” By Roger Gettig

English oak tree that thrived on left and the one that didn’t on right.

NCE UPON A TIME a pair of identical upright English oaks (Quercus robur f. ‘Fastigiata’) were planted near the entrance to the TBG. One thrived, the other dived (only barely alive). This variety of oak is widely used because it has a number of positive attributes. Its narrow growth habit is useful in urban areas or around buildings and it is very hardy. However, it has some drawbacks, too. The leaves get powdery mildew in summer, and it holds its brown leaves into late winter. Furthermore, it is fairly common, and we would like to experiment with one of the hybrids available. The plan is to remove the mostly dead oak and replace it with something similar but better, so we can compare it over time with the columnar English oak next to it. There are some interesting hybrids between oak species native to the region and the upright English oak. It’s nice to have options, so let’s take a look.

Streetspire® oak

PHOTOS: ROGER GETTIG; J. FRANK SCHMIDT & SON

3 OPTIONS FOR REPLACMENT Genus

Species

Name

Fall Colour

Mildew Resistant

Notes

Quercus

robur x alba

Streetspire

13.5 m

rusty red

Quercus

robur x bicolor

Kindred Spirit

yellow/brown

drops leaves in fall drought resistant

Quercus

robur x bicolor

Chimney Fire

15 m

rusty red

leaf drop

*Estimated height and width after 20 years 1. Streetspire® oak (Quercus x bimundorum ‘JFS-KW1QX’) is a hybrid with the native white oak (Q. alba). It is narrow, the fall colour is a nice red, and it does not hold its leaves through winter.

2. Kindred Spirit® oak (Quercus robur x bicolor ‘Nadler’ PP 17604) is a very narrow hybrid with swamp white oak. It is very drought tolerant, bland fall colour and very narrow.

The English oak, white oak and swamp oak are good larval food for a number of native insects, including the giant silk moth polyphemus (Antheraea polyphemus) and the pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), among others. So, I am going to assume they, as well as other native species, will also feed on these hybrids. I am fully confident that squirrels will eat the acorns

3. Chimney Fire oak (Quercus x warei ‘Chimney Fire’) is also a hybrid with swamp white oak, but this one has excellent fall colour. I do not know if it drops its leaves in fall or late winter.

these oaks produce, as well, although I haven’t asked them. Yet. As we move forward in developing the Garden’s plant collections, we look to introduce more diversity as well as demonstrating sustainable choices for the Greater Toronto Area. We will plant the new one as soon as we get the old one removed. This time, I choose Streetspire®.

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SPRING 2022

TBG LEARN NEWS

ADULT EDUCATION Exciting spring lectures and courses online and in person Darryl Cheng

Bees are a critical part of our ecosystems and our lives.

TBG LECTURE SERIES ONLINE An Engineer’s Approach to Houseplant Care, Darryl Cheng Thursday, March 31, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public - $15 (plus fees + HST), TBG Member or Volunteer - FREE

If you follow traditional houseplant advice, you’ll be left with disappointment because your plant is no longer “perfect”. Darryl’s approach breaks down the barriers to true, longlasting enjoyment of houseplants. When you understand how plants work, you can gain a deeper appreciation for their character and more acceptance of how they’ll grow. It’s a healthy dose of practical science and realistic expectations! Living in the Wild: My House, Larry Weaner Thursday, April 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public - $15 (plus fees + HST), TBG Member or Volunteer – FREE

Experiencing wild nature needn’t be limited to the remotest regions of the world. It can happen in even the smallest backyard garden. Learn

how noted landscape designer Larry Weaner interacts with and responds to ecological processes to create an ever-evolving wild yet still ornamental garden in his small property outside Philadelphia. Learn how this brains-over-brawn approach goes beyond simple editing of what occurs naturally and incorporates natural processes and plants’ reproductive abilities to achieve common aesthetic and functional goals. And perhaps most importantly, discover how loosening the reins can bring new found mystery and discovery to even the smallest garden.

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IN-PERSON PROGRAMS TBG Presents: Health and Wellness: The Plant-Nature Connection, Pat Crocker Thursday, April 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public - $20, TBG Member or Volunteer - $16 (plus fees + HST)

According to the global wellness summit, mental wellness will be the single, most important and the biggest future trend. Wellness goes deeper than simply being healthy. Wellness embraces positivity, relaxation and selfcare. Pat Crocker looks at how plants connect humans to a passionate love of life and a love of all that is alive.

SPRING 2022

systems and our lives. From coffee, fruits and vegetables to candles, wax artworks, cotton and so much more, bees play an important role in modern life. More importantly, they are responsible for a third of the food we consume on a regular basis. With changes to our climate, our interdependent relationship is coming into sharper focus. Join Prafulla Prabhu in this two-night workshop to learn about this keystone species.

Attendees will come away with an understanding of the role of plants and nature in shifting humans towards hope and compassion and away from stress, separation, and anger. Hopefully, participants will see that through their own gardens and/or the public gardens they enjoy, they are part of a vital positive step towards global change.

Each week will feature indoor classroom learning and outdoor practice.

Spring Fitness, Tena van Andel Tuesdays, May 3 through June 7, 10 to 11 a.m. Public - $90, TBG Member or Volunteer - $72 (plus fees + HST)

Native Bee Discovery Series, Prafulla Prabhu Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19, 7 to 8 p.m. Public - $40, TBG Member or Volunteer - $32 (plus fees + HST)

Enjoy the beauty of spring blossoms while building a stronger, healthier you. You will practice standing movements designed to increase balance, agility, alignment and strength. These exercises are gentle and thoughtful, focusing on whole body movement to prevent pain, falls and all-around creakiness. You will feel great after an hour of a little moving, a little stretching, a little weight work and a whole lot of fun!

Week 1: Understanding the Basics of a Camera Week 2: Exposure Week 3: Composition Week 4: Practice and Review

Please bring your own camera and/ or smart phone. A small sampling of cameras will be provided for practice.

Bees are a critical part of our eco-

Fundamentals of Botanical Drawing, Michael Spillane Saturday, June 4 & Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public - $180, TBG Member or Volunteer - $144 (plus fees + HST)

This workshop is ideal for those wishing to learn a range of skills relating to drawing magnificent plants and flowers. Students will be given step-by-step instructions on how to establish realistic botanical drawings in graphite. The drawing process will be discussed in detail, along with exercises on gesture, contour drawing and blending techniques with graphite to produce three-dimensional form. The workshop is best suited to students with some drawing experience and an interest in botanical art.

Introduction to Photography at TBG, Ousama Farag Saturdays, May 7 through 28, 1 to 3 p.m. Public - $160, TBG Member or Volunteer - $128 (plus fees + HST)

In this four-week program using the beauty of the garden as your muse, you’ll learn the basics of photography.

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have a tremendously important role in advancing our understanding of our monarch butterflies in Canada, the United States and Mexico. We all have skills to develop our support and knowledge about the life of monarchs whether it is in the garden, in the field or at your desk. Join Betty McCulloch to discover what you can do to help the monarch from becoming extinct, and gain appreciation for this small but mighty butterfly.

Forest Bathing at TBG, Emma Rooney Saturday, June 11, 1 to 4 p.m. Public - $50, TBG Member or Volunteer - $40 (plus fees + HST)

Welcome the first signs of spring and join us for a unique forest bathing experience on-site at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Certified Forest Therapy Guide Emma Rooney will lead you on a guided opportunity to stretch your sensory awareness while deepening your connection with nature. Accessibility: The walk will be a slow pace throughout, following designated pathways and trails but

sometimes covering uneven terrain. Total walk distance over the three hours is approximately 2 km. ONLINE PROGRAMS Native Bee Discovery Series, Prafulla Prabhu Mondays, April 4 and 11, 7 to 8 p.m. Public - $40, TBG Member or Volunteer - $32 (plus fees + HST)

Bees are a critical part of our ecosystems and our lives. From coffee, fruits and vegetables to candles, wax artworks, cotton and so much more, bees play an important role in modern life. More importantly they are responsible for a third of the food we consume on a regular basis. With changes to our climate, our interdependent relationship is coming into sharper focus. Join Prafulla Prabhu in this two-night workshop to learn about this keystone species. Monarch Butterflies: You can be a Citizen Scientist, Betty McCulloch Monday, April 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public - $15, TBG Member or Volunteer - $12 (plus fees + HST)

Botanical Watercolour Alicia Spence Wednesdays, May 18 through June 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public - $100, TBG Member or Volunteer - $80 (plus fees + HST)

Learn to paint fuzzy bumblebees, colourful butterflies and your favourite florals over four weeks of live online watercolour classes. Enjoy a different theme each week: Wednesday, May 18: Bumble Bees 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25: Flowers 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 1: Butterflies 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8: Bees, Butterflies & Botanicals 7 to 8:30 p.m.

All you need are watercolour paints, watercolour paper, a palette and brushes to follow along with the live classes. A recommended supplies list will be sent to you on registration. NOTE: All skill levels welcome.

Everyone is a Citizen Scientist. Which skills do you have to offer? Monarch butterflies are essential in contributing to the health of our planet, but climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use are threatening our important friend. Citizen Scientists

Stay tuned for more exciting in-person and online programming this spring! Learn about small space and container gardening, cultivate a pollinator-friendly space, discover the beauty of floral design and celebrate the importance of birds.

Visit www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/learn/ to register online! TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

TBG NEWS

HEARTS AND FLOWERS UPDATE A Big Thank You to our Generous Donors ONCE AGAIN Toronto All 2021 donors will be Botanical Garden donors, have listed and thanked in the risen to the challenge and made Garden’s annual report due the annual Hearts and Flowers out later this spring. Campaign a success. “In addition to all of our “The campaign raised generous donors, I would like $134,754 from 311 donors,” to thank Honorary Chair of the reports Alison Kenn, Director Hearts and Flowers of Development. “We had an Campaign Dianne Azzarello and exceptional Giving Tuesday former Executive Director Harry (a global day of giving) on Jongerden, both current TBG November 30, 2021 which board members, for their help raised $67,000 including with the campaign,” said Kenn. matching donations of $25,000 She encourages members to from Landscape Ontario and watch for upcoming fundraisan anonymous donor. That ing events such as Through The False shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) more than doubled the amount Garden Gate, June 11 and 12 in raised on Giving Tuesday 2020. the Wychwood neighbourhood The actual number of gifts increased with multiple of Toronto. Staff came up with more than 100 ideas to bring donors giving more that once.” people back to the Garden during a brainstorming session in The Hearts and Flowers Campaign, however, is only January, all of which are being evaluated and considered. part of the revenue generating that goes on all year at the “With our new Executive Director Stephanie Jutila, we Garden, taking in more than $1 million or roughly half can look forward to exciting things happening this year,” said of the Garden’s operation budget of $2 million. “We Kenn. The Garden also received government relief grants have other campaigns throughout the year but Hearts because of the pandemic that are not regularly available. and Flowers in November and December is important There are many ways to donate to the Garden: by givbecause the Garden’s earned cash flow is lower then. ing a personal amount, stock dividends, matching gifts The prime garden season has finished and there are not with participating employers, by purchasing a Tribute a lot of events in January,” said Kenn. Tree in a loved one’s name or by planned giving. For There will be a Gifts to the Gardens Campaign where example, one donor recently left $32,000 to the Gardens donations go directly to the gardens for tools, plants and in her will. For more information call 416-397-1483 other garden-related things. or contact annualgiving@torontobotanicalgarden.ca –LH

Not a Member? Join Today! Individual memberships to the Garden are $45 per year and include the following benefits

• • FREE admission to the TBG Lecture Series (sign up for three and your membership has paid for itself!) • Reduced rates on educational programs • 10 per cent discount at the TBG Garden Shop • 10 per cent discount at the TBG Bloom Cafe (Reopening April 2022) • Borrowing privileges from the Weston Family Library • FREE PARKING at the Gardens

Exclusive offers and reciprocal privileges at more than 250 botanical gardens and arboreta across North America. TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

Red-tailed Hawk

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OUR WILD NEIGH BOURS Cardinal chicks

Golden Crowned Kinglet

PHOTOS: SASAN BENI

Bird and animal sightings soar during the pandemic By Sasan Beni

HOPE YOU ALL had a safe and happy winter season. Hard to believe that we have now entered our third spring in this fog of pandemic... Shortly before the arrival of COVID-19 in January of 2020, I decided to devote as much time as I could to nature, to learn as much as I could about our wild neighbours and document their comings and goings. I have always been fascinated by wildlife, constantly on the lookout for animals and, as with many other people, such sightings tend to make me smile. I resolved that 2020 would be my year. My log of urban

species observed would reach completion, or, at least, double in size. My leisurely bird-watching that began in college had quickly become a priority, my mission in life. Then, the virus arrived and turned our world upside-down, but it didn’t hinder my plans. In fact, that initial lockdown in the spring of 2020… when the entire world was hushed and all contrails vanished from the skies…proved to be a blessing for birds. While we were in our homes, in anxious isolation, birds covered more sky and ground. Their songs became the prominent sound on our roads as they were able to com-

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American Tree Sparrow

municate with each other across greater distances. Our absence made it so. And as the human world continued to grapple with the new normal, I couldn’t help but feel just a little grateful for COVID, for its arrival, for helping the birds and other animals. And, well, it also helped my log of observations. I consider myself lucky when it comes to wildlife sightings. In the past two years I have almost tripled my list of species observed within Toronto (239 so far). I kept my word and spent as much time as I could in the ravines of our city. I got into wildlife photography to enhance my log of observations. And my luck goes even further than

Red Fox in the snow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

that; being a seasonal horticulturist at the Toronto Botanical Garden means that I am even connecting with wildlife while at work. Last year I witnessed our resident cardinal couple raise three successful broods. I saw the red fox who seemed to have an affinity for the grasses in the parking lot, hunting in the early mornings. I watched an Eastern Kingbird chase away a Red-tailed Hawk and for a moment landed on the raptor’s back and pulled a feather souvenir, steps away from my colleague while we worked in the entry garden. I have seen first-hand the variety of wildlife in our metropolis. Wilket Creek Ravine, like all other fragmented old-growth forests of Toronto, is a haven for numerous species, year-round. Last year, I got to put my passion to the test by leading a few bird-watching tours at TBG, through Edwards Gardens and the ravine. It was an incredible honour for me, not only to share my passion with TBG members and visitors, but to meet other nature lovers, whose curiosity had been stoked by the pandemic; who, like me, smiled when birds sang. Some tour participants had recently purchased their first pair of binoculars. Some named their favourite birds and wished to see them again. One lady, “new to birding,” she said, had brought a list of birds she had identified and asked if we would see anything that wasn’t already on it. I believe she added three more that day: Redbellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrow and Turkey Vulture. I recognized all too well the excitement with which she jotted those names down… With eyes, ears, hearts to the wild, we were all grateful to be there. And I am grateful still for my growing TBG community, as I am for our wild neighbours.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

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Seed Pop $9.99 SPRING 2022

DID YOU EVER WONDER WHY we mark various holidays with different plants or flowers? Why do shamrocks symbolize St. Patrick’s Day, lilies mean Easter or carnations represent Mother’s Day? The universal answer seems to be that different flowers have specific meanings. Roses symbolize romantic love. Snapdragons mean I’m sorry. And then there are the special plants we buy to celebrate special days during the year. By Lorraine Hunter

◗ The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland symbolizing the rebirth of spring. By the 17th century it had come to represent emerging Irish nationalism and as the English began to seize Irish land and institute laws against the use of the Irish language and Catholicism, many people in Ireland began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of pride in their heritage. Shamrock or seamróg is the Irish word for young clover. It is said that St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover to explain the concept of the holy trinity to the pagan Irish in the 5th Century. Since then, other plants have come to represent the shamrock including white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifolium pretense), wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) and false shamrock (Oxalis triangularis). Oxalis is commonly grown as a houseplant all over the world and is usually available in time for March 17.

◗ These pure white lilies symbolize purity and hope and thus represent the resurrection of Christ. According to legend, the first lilies appeared when Eve shed tears of repentance when cast out of the Garden of Eden. Other stories claim that lilies sprang up when Jesus shed drops of sweat upon the earth during his crucifixion. However, because Easter is celebrated in the spring many other flowers are now included in Easter bouquets such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, daisies and irises.

◗ Mother’s Day became a national holiday in North America in 1912 after a woman named Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to her local church for the mothers in attendance. Carnations have since come to signify purity, faith, love, beauty and charity—all traits representing the virtues of motherhood. Pink carnations, considered the most significant flowers for Mother’s Day symbolize pure love and affection. Red carnations mean deep admiration and love. And, white carnations are often used to remember a mother who has passed away. TO LEARN MORE on how to choose the right flower for every occasion see the book Flowerpaedia 1000 flowers and their meanings by Cheralyn Darcey. An A to Z reference guide, this comprehensive dictionary includes correct botanical names, meanings and lots of interesting flower facts. (Rockpool). TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

Z TRIAL GARDENS RETURN FOR 2022 Expanded beds to feature colourful new pollinator magnets By Veronica Sliva

PHOTOS: BALL HORTICULTUTRAL

Namid Biden Red and Yellow Eye

LAST SUMMER’S TRIAL Gardens at the Toronto Botanical Garden were a huge success, delighting visitors as well as birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Thanks to a continued partnership with Ball Horticultural, Tanya Carvalho, Ball’s Territory Manager and Horticultural Specialist for Canada says, “2022 will be an exciting year at the TBG for the trial gardens. We have a newly expanded area (adjacent to the parking lot) as well as the four beds across from the greenhouse and the dahlia bed in front of the greenhouse from last year. We will also be incorporating some perennials from our sister company Darwin Perennials (https://www.darwinperennials.com). Much of the focus on the plant material will be pollinator-friendly varieties.” Tanya points out that feedback from visitors is very valuable in developing new varieties. “Last year being our first year doing the trial varieties at the TBG I learned a lot and took away some valuable feedback from members and visitors I spoke to on my many visits,” she said. TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

Z Annual Varieties in New Trial Beds

Some annual varieties in the new bed area, planned for Ball Horticultural’s official launch in 2023, are:

ColorRush Petunia Pink Star

Violet AngelDance Angelonia

SureShot Petunia Blueberries and Cream

1. AngelDance Angelonia, a beautiful landscape variety of Angelonia in two bicolours, Fuchsia and Violet with large blooms and outstanding garden performance right into the fall. 2. ColorRush Petunia Pink Star, a floriferous landscape petunia with a mounding trailing habit.

3. SureShot Petunia series, a brand-new series to the marketplace. Ball will be showcasing two colours this year, Blueberries and Cream and Blue. This is a mixed container or garden petunia with a mounded medium vigour habit.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

Along the Greenhouse Path

Along the greenhouse path where last year’s trial beds were located, the focus will again be on salvia varieties that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Some new for 2023 varieties planned for these beds are:

Appleblossom Glimmer Double Impatiens

Blue Chill Salvia

Venti Dahlia Mango

1. Blue Chill Salvia, a beautiful two-toned lighter blue landscape variety salvia with great heat tolerance that blooms from spring till fall. 2. Glimmer Double Impatiens. Last year Ball featured the Beacon impatiens series, the first impa-

tiens series to the market resistant to downy mildew. This year it will showcase the first-to-market Double impatiens series resistant to downy mildew and will show three colours from the series, Appleblossom, Hot Pink and Salmon.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

3. Venti Dahlia Mango, a beautiful mango coloured landscape dahlia, will be featured in front of the greenhouse. “This bed was a hit last year especially with the bees and this new colour is a great variety to add to the bed,” said Tanya.

SPRING 2022

Z In the Raised Bed Area

In the raised bed area where the trellised potato vines were located in 2021, we will have some new Coleus introductions for 2023 in front of the trellis including:

Trailblazer Road Trip Coleus

Amped Up and Fire & Spice

1. Trailblaze Road Trip and Glory Road, two mounding and spreading coleus introductions with vibrant shades of red and pink that will fill these raised beds and cascade over the wall.

2. Amped Up and Fire & Spice, two mixed coleus concepts featuring some of Bell’s best-selling varieties with bold reds, greens and chocolate browns.

New Introductions for 2023 with a Pollinator-Friendly Theme

Some of the mixed containers placed around the TBG will feature a variety of new introductions that are pollinator-friendly including: 1. Cuphea - Cherry Bells and Sugar Bells, Namid Biden Red + Yellow Eye and 2. Shamrock Lantana Butterscotch Glow.

Cuphea Cherry Bells

Shamrock Lantana Butterscotch Glow TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

ATTRACTING POLLINATORS T O YO U R G A R D E N

Landscape designer Leanne Burkholder explains how she combines native and non-native plants

’M A SUBVERSIVE landscape designer – I always sneak at least one or two native plants into my garden designs. But I am happy to report that my gig is up. More clients now see these plants as beautiful and easier to maintain; key selling points. There is also more awareness of the importance of native plants for the environment and native pollinators. However, confusion and some reluctance remain about native plants. And, I am often asked, “Does this mean I shouldn’t use non-native plants?” Let’s start with a common definition: native plants are those plants that were in Ontario before European contact. These plants evolved here, which means they have longstanding relationships with the soil, the climate and local pollinators – native bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles and birds. Because they ‘grew up’ here, these plants establish more easily, requiring less maintenance.

Lamb’s ear and wild geranium

TIPS The Native Plant Society of North America is a great source of information https://nanps.org/.

Foam flower (Tiarella)

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There are more than 300 species of native bees in Toronto; 600 in Ontario and 800 across Canada.

What Happened with Native Plants?

As we became more urbanized and industrial, more habitats with native plants were destroyed. Ongoing development and climate change have significantly exacerbated these losses. In addition, native plants became less popular than non-native plants for aesthetic reasons. For instance, many of my clients prefer hydrangea instead of viburnum or dogwood (Cornus). Other clients think native plants, such as hyssop, (Agastache foeniculum) look like weeds (sigh). People really like the look and thick coverage of English ivy (Hedera helix) or periwinkle (Vinca major) but don’t realize that these are invasive and will choke out native perennial plants. What Can I Do?

Native plants, pollinators, non-native plants, invasive plants and creating a beautiful garden – how does this all work? Like many things, lots of small actions can help, and here is what I have done. Following the rule of “right plant, right place”, I have added more native plants in my gardens each year, beside my existing non-native plants. To ensure they are truly native, I source them from native plant nurseries in southern Ontario. Along the edges of my south facing front garden, I have hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), New England aster

(Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). The latter, while not native to Ontario, grows well in hot conditions. Different plants flower at different times of the season, providing consistent pollinator and food sources. In the early summer, I love how the wild geranium contrasts with my lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) and snowin-summer (Cerastium tomentosum). Aster compliments lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ ). The goldenrod and aster look beautiful in the late summer. I have seen more pollinators – bees, monarch butterflies, chickadees, juncos and cardinals eat the seed heads in the winter. My backyard is very shaded, so I introduced foamflowers (Tiarella cordifolia), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) and ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris). All of these are food sources, larval hosts or shelter for native pollinators, birds and wildlife. They contrast beautifully with nonnative Annabelle hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens), hostas and astilbe. Solomon’s seal and ostrich ferns look fantastic with the hostas beside my pond. The hosta leaves provide excellent coverage, the Solomon’s seal provide height, and ostrich ferns texture. Because of boxwood moth, I swapped out boxwood (Buxus) for inkberry (Ilex glabra). This is an experiment.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

PHOTOS: LEANNE BURKHOLDER, UNSPLASH

Solomon’s Seal

Inkberry in the snow

TIPS Need to plant a tree? Consider an oak. Native oak trees support more wildlife and insects than any other tree genus.

Inkberry is not native to Ontario; it is native in the Maritimes. It has different soil and water needs than boxwood. And, owing to its rarity, it is more expensive. But I love the look and hope it will be an alternative to boxwood. I will add more foamflowers and ostrich ferns this spring to increase ground coverage. These will also correct the errors I made years ago by installing two invasive plants – creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) and goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria). I am winning against those two beasts, but it is an ongoing battle. They are two good examples of what NOT to plant. Finally, a trick I am learning is that native plants require more density. Density allows them to support one another; it also provides better coverage, which can address the ‘weedy’ looking issue. As an example, while my wild geranium looks beautiful, there are many bare spots. I will fill those spots with more geranium this spring. Moreover, more density means more pollen sources. Remember: Lots of Small Steps

Incorporating more native plants over time with your non-native (non-invasive) plants can help you attain a beautiful garden that meets not just your aesthetic and maintenance goals but can also help support biodiversity. With careful planning, you can take steps to introduce these plants to your garden, I’ve just touched lightly on the topic of native plants and pollinators. For more sources of information, see:

Foamflower in winter

TIPS Don’t forget to leave the leaves! Leaving the leaves, stems, even old branches on your garden beds, can provide shelter for overwintering pollinators like native bees. Don’t clear the leaves in the spring until the temperature is consistently about 10 degrees C.

• City of Toronto https://www.toronto.ca/servicespayments/water-environment/live-green-toronto/ tips-to-create-a-pollinator-friendly-garden/ • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority https://trca.ca/ • Leaf https://www.yourleaf.org/ • CanPlant https://can-plant.ca/ • Pollinator Partnership Canada | P2C https://pollinatorpartnership.ca • David Suzuki Foundation https://davidsuzuki.org/project/pollinators/

TIPS

Ostrich ferns and astilbe

A great source for ideas on native plants to replace invasives is the Ontario Invasive Plant Council booklet Grow Me Instead which you can download from https:// www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/

Centennial Park

The north wing features floral displays and contains a collection of local trees and shrubs. Seasonal flower shows change with the seasons are held each year in spring, Easter, summer, fall and during the festive Christmas holidays. Centennial Park Conservatory is located at 151 Elmcrest Rd, Toronto. It is accessible by public transport. Entrance and parking are free.

Allan Gardens

GARDENS

UNDER GLASS

If spring is still out of reach… Allan Gardens

Allen Gardens

Centennial Park

t may still feel like winter outside, but a visit to Centennial Park Conservatory or Allan Gardens Conservatory are sure to lift your spirits. The scent of spring is always there to greet you in these City of Toronto run greenhouses where lush greenery and floral displays take you to warmer climates. Centennial Park Conservatory

LOCATED WITHIN Centennial Park in Etobicoke, the 120,000 sq. ft Centennial Park Conservatory was built in 1969 as part of the federal government’s plan to commemorate Canada’s 100th birthday.

Centennial Park

The main greenhouse is home to tropical plants including palms, crotons, gingers, hibiscus, orchids and bromeliads. You will find fruit trees such as citrus, bananas, soursop and papaya also growing here. For those interested in cacti and succulents, the south wing is an arid house and home to a large collection of unusual species including agave, opuntia, aloe and many others.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

with its historic Edwardian-era glassdomed Palm House, has been a downtown Toronto landmark for over 100 years. Within the glass domes, the conservatory features six interconnected sections, the Palm House, Cool Temperate House, Tropical Landscape House, Arid House, another two tropical houses as well as a children’s conservatory. The Palm House features majestic palm trees, bamboo and tropical vines interspersed with seasonal blooms. As the name suggests, the Arid House is filled with cacti and succulents. The Tropical Landscape House features hanging orchids and epiphytes (they take their moisture and nutrients from the air, rather than soil). The sound of trickling water leads you over a bridge to a water feature with a water wheel with turtles lounging on the rocks below. Seasonal floral displays are featured throughout the year. Allan Gardens is located at 19 Horticultural Ave and is open yearround with free admission. Parking is limited onsite. Street parking is available nearby on Carlton and Gerrard streets…VS

SPRING 2022

Allan Gardens

PHOTOS: VERONICA SLIVA

Allan Gardens Conservatory

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT IN THE GARDEN WEDDINGS, SOCIAL & CORPORATE torontobotanicalgarden.ca/bookyourevent 416-397-1324, events@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

BOOK SHELF

The Well-Gardened Mind

The Restorative Power of Nature

Reviewed by Rose Roberts

IKE MANY GARDENERS, I’ve experienced how gardening and being in nature can both calm and energize. But Sue Stuart-Smith, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and dedicated U.K. gardener digs deeper. In her book The Well-Gardened Mind – The Restorative Power of Nature, she investigates how and why a strong connection to gardens can profoundly change our health and sense of well-being. With a deft hand, Stuart-Smith weaves together psychology, neuroscience, literature and social history with her personal and professional insights. Given the broad scope of her explorations, you might wonder if you’ll be diving into 300 pages of dense material. You needn’t worry. This balanced blend of moving anecdotes and compelling research will appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Chapter after chapter, Stuart-Smith illustrates her underlying message: as we cultivate our garden, we also cultivate our mind. She once thought of gardening as yet “another chore.” But her perspective

shifted when she and her husband, celebrated garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith, created Barn Garden in Hertfordshire. She experienced firsthand gardening’s therapeutic benefits to body, mind and spirit. A garden “… gives you quiet, so you can hear your own thoughts,” she says, “…it feels as if alongside all the physical activity, I am also gardening my mind.” Stuart-Smith is a wonderful storyteller. Interviews and research become portraits of hope and transformation. From her grandfather’s recovery after the torments of war, to luminaries like William Wordsworth and Sigmund Freud, to therapeutic gardening programs in hospitals, care facilities and prisons, we read about people struggling with depression, addiction and trauma who experience the healing power of horticulture. This timely book is as informative as it is inspiring. And so I give Stuart-Smith the final words: “…a garden can become an attitude toward life…. In a world that is increasingly dominated by technology and consumption, gardening puts us in a direct relationship with the reality of how life is generated and sustained and how fragile and fleeting it can be.” The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith (Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc. New York, 2020)

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

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Four totally different garden books to ring in spring

the round red orbs themselves. If so inclined, you can even order a “sakura” flavoured sandwich at McDonalds outlets, dished up in a pink bun. (I think I might pass on that one, though.) Cherry is part of a series of books about flowers and fruits published by Reaktion Books. A neat gift for a cherry lover like that librarian I met. Sonia Day is a former gardening columnist for the Toronto Star. Her second novel, The Mexico Lunch Party, A Sisters of the Soil Novel With Recipes is being published this year by Olympia Books. More at soniaday.com

Unearthing the Secret Garden

The Plants & Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett Reviewed by Veronica Sliva

Cherry

An astonishing array of facts on this seductive fruit

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Reviewed by Sonia Day

TORONTO LIBRARIAN ONCE told me that her favourite time of year was the beginning of July. “That’s when the Bing cherries go on sale at my supermarket. I can’t resist them,” she confessed. “I buy a big bag for myself, head to the park with a book and pig out.” Who hasn’t acted that way with cherries? I plead guilty, too. Every summer, I rarely stop at just a handful, even if my innards are protesting—and scientists say there is a subconscious reason for our gluttony. “Human beings are attracted to bright, shiny objects. We equate ‘shiny’ with ‘pretty’. But we’re also drawn to objects that serve our innate needs and shiny reminds us of water. And the colour red both warns and attracts us,” write Constance L. Kirker and Mary Newman, the co-authors of Cherry. In their charming little book, the two women have amassed an astonishing array of facts and esoteric stuff about this most seductive of fruits. In fact, they reveal that the “cherry connection” is everywhere–in history, the natural world, cultural traditions around the globe, food, furniture, art, sex. The list seems endless. The Japanese—no surprise—are the biggest fans. They treat cherry trees with such extraordinary reverence that, during flowering season in Japan, many products are repackaged in special wrap with cherry blossom designs. The gentle pink of the petals is also incorporated into their cuisine. Some of these sweet treats appear in the book and they look as mouth-watering as

ARDEN HISTORIAN MARTA McDowell’s Unearthing the Secret Garden: The Plants & Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett is a book that takes you into the world of Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849 -1924), author of The Secret Garden originally published in 1911, never out of print and still one of the most beloved novels of all time. McDowell details Burnett’s love of plants and gardening (though Burnett did not start gardening until age 50) and the making of her three gardens, Maytham Hall, Kent, England (The Secret Garden is based on this property), Plandome Park, Long Island, New York and Clifton Heights, Bermuda.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens A garden tourist’s global checklist

Reviewed by Georgie Kennedy

F I RECEIVED a box wrapped in plain paper and labelled “Candy Recipes” I would never imagine that inside was a divine collection of exquisitely decorated bonbons, each wrapped in a glittery paper containing the fascinating story of its origin and fabrication.

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens is that plain paper box filled with unexpected treasures. Dr. Linda A. Chisholm is a master gardener and popular lecturer who teaches at the New York Botanical Garden. Her fascination for the evolution of style breathes life into and sheds understanding on each of her chosen places. The author deftly achieves her mission of taking us beyond flowers and plants to appreciate the artistic visions of built outdoor spaces, whether intended for gatherings or for privacy, estates and parks so famous that their names conjure up familiar images: Kew, Alhambra, Giverny, Great Dixter, Ryoan-ji and the New York High Line. Generously sized photographs, layout plans, and just the right amount of explanatory text allow us to bask in the renowned genius of Capability Brown, Roberto Burle Marx, Christopher Lloyd, Vita Sackville West…. The author explores the flow of European, Asian and African design that has influenced our perceptions of beauty through the ages. Traditional landscaping arose from a desire to master the environment and improve on nature. Modern planners are trending towards a more organic process of choosing native flora, of being among the plants instead of ruling them. There’s growing awareness of the environmental benefits of using less hardscape and allowing the Earth to breathe. 100 Gardens is simply organized and easy to navigate, from the artistically arranged double-spread contents page to Sources and Further Reading and detailed Index. It’s a perfect escape for anyone who dreams of roaming the globe to touch and feel what has given pleasure to millions across the centuries. You can think of it as a garden tourist’s global checklist. The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens by Dr. Linda A. Chisholm (Timber Press)

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McDowell divides the book into four parts: Part One is about Burnett’s life before she became a garden maker and how she was influenced by the plants and flowers around her. Part Two is “A Gardener’s Guide to The Secret Garden” taking you through the seasons of the year at the fictional Misselthwaite Manor, Yorkshire, where Burnett weaves her story about the secret garden and the people who lived there. Part Three takes us to Burnett’s garden at Plandome Park, New York (1909 – 1920) and to Clifton Heights, Bermuda where she spent her winters (1912 -1920). Part Four, my favourite section, offers “Further Garden Writings of Frances Hodgson Burnett”. Of note is the plant list in which McDowell provides a detailed list of what Burnett grew in her gardens including botanical names, type (perennial, annual, vine or shrub) and which garden they grew in. Generously accompanied by full-colour vintage illustrations and photos, along with elegant and knowledgeable garden writing, this book will make you want to be a gardener if you are not already, by the time you finish reading it. I found it a delightful read and savoured every word. Unearthing the Secret Garden: The Plants & Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett by Marta McDowell (Timber Press)

P U

Z Z L E PIECES

Challenge-level reviews for jigsaw enthusiasts

Cultivated

Lost in the Garden

Plant Shelfie

Reviewed by Walter Sliva

Reviewed by Lorraine Hunter

Reviewed by Sue Hills

Complicated with many almost identical pieces

A beautiful picture of medium difficulty

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eautiful picture, but MANY almost identical, tiny pieces in shades of three or four colours. Very complicated, with so many almost identical pieces, this 1,000-piece puzzle took me approximately 30 hours to complete with lots of trial and error. It was quite an endurance challenge to stick with it to the end. The last 50 black pieces were almost identical. I positioned them all in the same way, on the table, then tried one after another until I found the correct piece for each spot. This could have been very discouraging to a beginner. I recommend Cultivated for experienced jigsaw enthusiasts, looking for a challenge. TIP: Start with the border and then locate and separate all pieces with similar colours and patterns. Construct that area, then go to the next one! If you can’t find all the pieces for that missing edge of colour, give yourself a break and go to another area!

Finished product satisfying, fun to construct

fell in love with the bold colours, overlaid patterns, shapes, geometric design and floral design of Lost in the Garden, a 500-piece puzzle, and since the pieces are larger than those of most 1,000-piece puzzles, I mistakenly assumed it would be a cinch to complete. Wrong! I started by separating the straight-edged pieces and forming the frame, divided the rest into colour groups and eventually manoeuvred them all to fit together. Although described as being at the medium difficulty level, because of its blended colours and ribbon-cut pieces, this puzzle presented plenty of challenge for me. This 20- by 20-inch piece from Galison features the colourful artwork of Nigerian-born, UK-based artist Kitty McCall. I look forward to trying another puzzle from this vibrant artist.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

n enticing variety of plant items and accessories neatly presented on shelving make this 1,000-piece puzzle too tempting to resist! Indeed, the finished product is as visually satisfying as it is fun to construct. Getting started is best approached by building the jigsaw from inside out, either by picking a shelf to complete or placing the items in order. The accompanying picture really helps. Once this main body is in place the otherwise intimidating uniformly matte all-white edge pieces find their spots with relative ease (variation in shape helps).

SPRING 2022

resilient Rhubarb

Growing and cooking with this spring plant brings back memories By Veronica Sliva

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

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HEN I WAS a kid everyone in the neighbourhood had a big patch of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) growing in the back corner of their yard. My mother deemed the plant not pretty enough for her flower borders. Hence, with its large, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive red stems, it was tucked out of the way and forgotten for most of the year. Come early spring, however, when the plant’s stems were 25 to 30 centimetres (10 to 12 in) tall, my Mom always sent me down the garden to “pull” some rhubarb. That meant a dessert of sweetened stewed rhubarb with custard would soon be on the table. A week later, there might be rhubarb crisp and by mid June when it was strawberry time, rhubarb/strawberry pies were guaranteed. My mother didn’t think rhubarb belonged in her flower garden, but like fashion design, times change and with its ruby stems and umbrella-like leaves, rhubarb can make a real statement in the garden, bringing height and structure as well as a splash of colour that returns year after year…and you get dessert, too! Botanically, rhubarb is not a fruit, but a hardy perennial in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), native to southern Siberia. It got its name from the Russians who grew it along the Rha River (now the Volga). In ancient China it was used as a medicinal herb and for centuries was traded alongside tea as a cure for stomach aches and fevers. In the 17th century the English were the first to eat rhubarb, but they started with the leaves, which look a little like chard…not a good idea. Rhubarb leaves contain a toxic amount of oxalic acid and are poisonous, causing cramps, nausea and sometimes death. By the late 18th century Europeans discovered that the tart stalks were quite edible when sweetened with sugar and perfect for pies. Hence rhubarb was nicknamed “Pie Plant”. Early settlers brought rhubarb to North America. 32

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Growing Rhubarb THOUGH YOU CAN grow rhubarb from seed, most gardeners either get a division from another gardener or purchase rhubarb ‘crowns’ from a garden centre or online. • Plant in fall or spring when crowns are still dormant or just leafing out. • Choose a site with rich, fertile soil and good drainage. • Space crowns so the eyes are about 7 cm (3 in) below the soil surface with buds facing upward, about 60 to 120 cm (2 to 4 ft) apart and 90 to 120 cm (3 to 4 ft) between rows. • Water well at the time of planting. • Rhubarb should not be harvested the first year so as to allow the plant to focus on root development. Growing Conditions

• Grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. • Rhubarb is a heavy feeder benefiting from lots of compost and organic matter. • Does best where the average temperature falls below 4°C (40ºF) in the winter and below 24°C (75ºF) in the summer. • Water regularly, keeping the soil moist, but not wet. • Mulch generously (straw is a good mulch) to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Maintaining Rhubarb Plants

• In spring, apply fertilizer (10-10-10) when the ground is thawing. • Rhubarb needs sufficient moisture, especially during the hot, dry days of summer. Water well and consistently. • Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear so the plant’s energy goes to root development. • Divide rhubarb roots every three to four years when plants are dormant in early spring. Be sure each division has at least one healthy bud. Pests/Diseases

• Pests and diseases are rarely an issue with rhubarb, but they may TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

be affected by crown rot and a beetle called Rhubarb curculio (Rhubarb weevil). Named Varieties to Look For

• ‘Canada Red’ produces shorter, more slender stalks than other varieties but is tender and very sweet with good red colour. It tends to produce only a few seed heads. • ‘Cherry Red’ (also known as ‘Cherry’ or ‘Early Cherry’) has long, thick stalks that are a rich red inside and out. • ‘Crimson Red’ (also called ‘Crimson’, ‘Crimson Cherry’ or ‘Crimson Wine’) produces tall, plump, brightly coloured red stalks. • ‘MacDonald’ has tender skin on the brilliant red stalks. • ‘Valentine’ has broad, deep red stalks with a good rosy colour when cooked. It produces few or no seed heads. • ‘Victoria’ is a speckled type that produces medium-sized stalks of excellent quality and good flavour. The light green stalks develop pink speckling, especially at the bottom of the stalk. Harvesting

• Choose firm stalks 20 to 38 cm (8 to 15 in) long. To harvest, grab the base of the stalk and pull it away from the plant with a twist. If this doesn’t work, you can cut the stalk at the base with a sharp knife. Cut off the leaf and dispose. • With young plants, harvest only in the spring allowing the plant to grow on to regenerate for next year’s growth. • Avoid harvesting more than a third of the leaves in a year to keep the plant going strong. Storing Rhubarb

Store unwashed and trimmed stalks in a mesh bag or loose plastic in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Wash only before using it. To freeze wash and cut the rhubarb stalks into 2.5 cm (1-in) chunks and seal in an airtight bag.

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RECIPE CORNER

PHOTOS: UNSPLASH

Two sweet rhubarb dishes to celebrate spring!

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MY MO M’S ST E W E D R HUBARB AND C U STARD IN OUR HOUSE stewed rhubarb and custard meant spring had arrived. We celebrated with this rhubarb treat. Though my mother is not with us anymore, I make it every year and it brings back some lovely (and delicious) memories. By Veronica Sliva Ingredients

6 cups chopped rhubarb 1 cup granulated sugar (or to taste) 2 tablespoons water

For the Rhubarb 1 In a large saucepan, combine rhubarb, sugar and water. The method is the same for fresh or frozen rhubarb. 2 Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. 3 Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes or until rhubarb is “cooked down” and thickened to your liking. Let cool. 4 Refrigerate stewed rhubarb up to five days.

For the Custard My Mom used Bird’s Custard powder mix (a brand name for an egg-free imitation custard). This British product is based on corn starch (corn flour in the UK) and thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated. It is readily available in grocery stores, or you can use your own custard recipe. Prepare the custard and pour over the stewed rhubarb. Enjoy warm or cold.

TO PREPARE RHUBARB trim and remove the leaves first. Never eat the leaves of rhubarb, as they have toxic levels of oxalic acid and should not be eaten! Check the rhubarb for any blemishes and use a vegetable peeler to remove them. Cut rhubarb into 1/2 cm ( 1/4 in) pieces in preparation for a sauce or pie recipe.

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R H U BA R B, ST R AWB ER RY & R OSE FO O L HERE IS ANOTHER great rhubarb recipe. From the book Home-Grown Harvest delicious ways to enjoy your seasonal fruit and vegetables (Ryland, Peters & Small).

Slice the rhubarb and put it in a saucepan with the sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Put a lid on the pan and heat over low heat until the fruit comes to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 7-10 minutes until the fruit is soft. Tip the fruit into a sieve over a bowl and drain off the juice. Hull the strawberries, put 225 g/8 oz. of them in a food processor and whizz until smooth. Add the drained rhubarb and 1 tablespoon rose syrup or 2 teaspoons rosewater with 1 tablespoon caster sugar and whizz again. Tip the puree into a bowl and leave to cool. Tip the yogurt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until just holding its shape and sweeten to taste with rose syrup or rosewater and sugar. Fold half the cream into the yogurt. Fold half the pureed strawberry and rhubarb into the yogurt and cream mixture then lightly mix the remaining cream and the rest of the rhubarb and strawberry puree to create a marbled effect. Spoon the fool into individual glasses and chill until ready to serve. Slice the remaining strawberries and sprinkle with a few drops of rose syrup or a little sugar. Use the strawberry slices to decorate the top of each glass.

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PHOTO: HOME-GROWN HARVEST

400 g/14 oz fresh rhubarb 3 tablespoons sugar 225 g/11½ oz fresh, ripe strawberries, plus a few extra to garnish 2-3 tablespoons rose syrup or rosewater and extra sugar 300 g/1¼ cups Greek yogurt 284 ml/1¼ cups carton whipping cream Serves 6

2022 WINTER GARDEN PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS WINNER •

TANYA DOYLE

for her icy design. She will receive a one-year Family Membership to the Garden.

HONORABLE MENTION

• SMITA CHANDARIA for her winter scene in the ravine. DIANE BOND for her portrait of the winter sky taken from the Garden.

Judges were looking for striking digital images of winter at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos.

YEAR OF THE GARDEN

2022 has been named Year of the Garden by the Canadian Garden Council, marking the centennial of Canada’s horticultural sector. TBG members and the public are invited to celebrate this special time with a visit to Toronto Botanical Garden! TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

CHINESE MONEY PLANT This popular plant has many common names By Georgie Kennedy ADORABLE IMAGES OF the Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) are splashed all over Instagram and Facebook. According to Wing-Hong Tse, owner of Kim’s Nature in Markham, this native of the lower Himalayas in the Yunnan Province of China rose from obscurity in 2018 when young social

media influencers began promoting it. Mainstream greenhouse growers scrambled to bring enough plants to mature size in order to meet the sudden heavy demand. People bartered and scrounged to get one. For those with deep pockets, single tiny plantlets were available online at Etsy and Pinterest at a price point of $50 to $80.

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Today, a fellow foliage freak is likely to give you that same baby for free. Known as the Chinese Money Plant because it is said to bring prosperity and also because its leaves look like green coins, this plant goes by many other common names around the world including Friendship Plant, Sharing Plant, UFO Plant, Missionary Plant, Pass It On Plant, Pancake Plant and more. It came to my attention during a Darryl Cheng workshop. It has pride of place on the cover of his indoor gardening guide, The Plant Parent. I soon understood its popularity; the cheerful leaf faces seem to welcome me in the same way a child rushes up for a heartfelt hug. It’s not just a cool acquisition. My late walking partner, Josie Franch, was fond of saying that the plants she chose to keep around her had to give something in exchange for her tender care. The Chinese Money Plant provides tremendous mental and emotional satisfaction in return for very little maintenance. The dark stem can grow as tall as 30 centimetres (12 inches), but most only notice the foliage: stiff round green leaves that grow to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. Attached like umbrellas to red petioles, the surprisingly velvety leaves appear to float and wave in unpredictable directions. As the oldest one eventually withers and falls off, a pattern like that found on palm trees is etched into the central stem. This houseplant wins the prize for Easiest to Propagate. You can try stem cuttings in water, but why bother? It constantly produces pups, the actual term for the mini plants popping up on a regular basis. It is as simple as cutting the new plantlet’s roots from the mother’s and carefully placing it in its own pot. Everyone can use a dose of happiness in this time of pandemic so take home a Chinese Money Plant for yourself and one for a neighbour. It could bring you both good luck!

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PHOTOS: PEXEL

Houseplant Profile

Tips for keeping Pilea strong and vibrant:

• Place plant in a location near a window. If it’s too far away, it will become leggy reaching for the sky. However, prolonged direct summer sunlight can burn the leaves. See page 10 for Darryl Chang TBG Lecture March 31. • Because of positive phototropism, the Pilea stem grows towards the sun. Rotate regularly to encourage leafage all around the pot or it will become lopsided. • Use ordinary indoor potting mix. The container must have drainage holes so it never gets swampy. Pilea is susceptible to root rot. • Water weekly in summer, less often in winter. Allow it to dry out thoroughly between waterings. • Most experts recommend a monthly application of all-purpose fertilizer at half strength during the warmer months. Gardening guru Veronica Sliva says any indoor fertilizer will work, even the excess from your Aerogarden system. • For scientifically specific readers, I suggest you check out Darryl Cheng’s photo journal story on page 153 of The Plant Parent comparing how the plant developed with grow lights compared to natural light.

More Plant Info

Looking for unusual houseplants and design ideas? Find these and more on Instagram: #houseplantjournal #thepottedjungle #crazy__plant__lady #arcticgardener #happy_houseplants #kims_nature #houseplant.decor #plantslover1990 References: Darryl Cheng, The Plant Parent, 2019, Abrams, New York. Anders Røyneberg, Green Home, 2021, Hardie Grant, London.

THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE Major TBG fund raiser returns June 11 & 12 By Leanne Burkholder

THE TORONTO BOTANICAL Garden is looking forward to the return of Through the Garden Gate this June in Toronto’s unique and beautiful neighbourhood of Wychwood. The annual June event was put on hold in both 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19. Located in mid-town Toronto, Wychwood is known for its Arts and Crafts architecture, artistic and entrepreneurial residents and some pretty amazing gardeners! The area’s woodland ravine setting is the background to 20 exceptional gardens, which include native plant collections, kitchen/vegetable gardens, fruit trees, creative hardscaping examples, children’s play areas, numerous garden décor features and of course Arts and Crafts styled gardens. Through the Garden Gate is Toronto’s longest running tour of private gardens. This self-guided garden tour has showcased beautiful private gardens for over 30 years. It is organized by a dedicated volunteer committee in partnership with the Toronto Master Gardeners for the benefit of the Toronto Botanical Garden. The tour is generously supported by Cullen’s Foods and a grant from Toronto’s Show Love TO program.

Toronto History What is Wychwood? ORIGINALLY, A FIRST Nations portage trail passed by what is now Davenport Avenue near Spadina. This trail enabled Indigenous people to travel between the Humber and Don rivers to arrive at hunting and fishing grounds. That history is honoured by a group who formed ‘Davenportage’ some hardy souls who portage the trail one day each year. Wychwood began with Wychwood Park estate, developed in

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1907 by landscape artist Marmaduke Matthews and businessman Alexander Jardine, who envisioned it as an artists’ retreat. Most of the original houses were designed in the English Arts & Craft style by well-known architect Eden Smith, the designer of many Toronto churches and Upper Canada College. In 1913, the Wychwood car barns were built as a streetcar maintenance facility; they are the

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oldest surviving TTC buildings kept in their original form. Today the barns are a popular community centre that hosts artsrelated enterprises and a thriving Saturday morning market. The Wychwood Park area was designated as an Ontario Heritage Conservation District in 1985. Wychwood is bordered by Davenport Road to the south, Bathurst to the east, St. Clair to the north and Dovercourt Road to the west.

The TBG Bloom Café served up hot beverages and lite bites for preand post-shopping noshing.

people, places & plants Goings On at the TBG

Holiday Market and Open House felt “almost normal”

It felt wonderful, almost normal, to have our members, supporters and neighbours gathering in our building once again for our annual Holiday Market and Open House, Dec. 4 and 5. The market was the first in-person community event hosted at the Garden since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. For the safety of all, visitors

ages 12+ were required to present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to enter the market. Members enjoyed exclusive timed entry to the VIP lounge, filled with good cheer and holiday treats courtesy of The Food Dudes. Our Garden Shop greatly benefited from the influx of shoppers looking to support the gardens and check off a few items from their holiday lists.

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More than 40 local artisans, many new to the event, showcased their nature-inspired, eco-friendly and botanically themed products in the Floral Hall and Lobby. A popular and new addition was the Re/Upcycle Marketplace that helped find new homes for previously loved furniture and fixtures as well as clearing and creating needed storage space in our building. -Jenny Rhodenizer, Director of Marketing & Communications

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PHOTOS: SVP MEDIA

In the Weston Family Library, artwork by Nicole Tamie was on display.

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CLASSIFIED

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A Big Thanks to TBG Volunteers

Despite another challenging year TBG Volunteers were there to keep us going. Just under 150 great folks volunteered their time and talent making a positive difference to all areas of our operation. They contributed in so many ways, working from home serving on committees and virtual volunteering roles with our online Adult Education offerings, to public facing roles in our shop, and library; leading tours (both virtually and in person) all season long, writing articles for Trellis, and, of course, the stalwart team maintaining our gardens every week from April to as late as November. Also ensuring we ended the year with a successful special event with volunteer teams out in force handling a variety of roles at the Holiday Market and Open House. How to thank them? With gifts of treats (courtesy of the wonderful folks at TBG Bloom Café), $25 gift certificates from the Shop, of experience (tours with Roger Gettig, Director of Horticulture, Abdullah Hamidi, TBG Board Member, and Julie Kent, Library Manager.) And, from our bees, a pot of TBG honey! Small gifts for a big contribution with huge gratitude from TBG. Thank you! -Sue Hills, Volunteer Coordinator

Garden Obelisks Make use of vertical space in your garden with a 4 or 6-foot obelisk. Made in Toronto exclusively for the Toronto Botanical Garden, these obelisks are superb structures for showcasing and supporting vines and vegetables. Black, powdercoated steel ensures that these towers remain rust-resistant and durable for many years to come. Available throughout the year at the Garden Shop. Available in two sizes: 4 ft $99.99; 6 ft $124.99.

Sales Representative, ABR, SRES HALL OF FAME AWARD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TORONTO MASTER GARDENER RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE

PHOTOS: JENNY RHODENIZER, PIXABEY

Direct 416.564.9450

Visitors generously contributed to our food drive by donating non-perishable food items to the North York Harvest Food Bank.

@JoseeCoutureTorontoRealEstate

- TREE & SHRUB PRUNING -INSECT & DISEASE CONTROL - PLANTING & TRANSPLANTING - TREE & STUMP REMOVAL - DEEP ROOT FERTILIZING

AUTHENTIC

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I.S.A. Certified Arborist #ON-0129A

TREE CARE INC.

DYI CRAFT CORNER Let chives blossom in your garden to make tasty infused vinegar By Jenny Rhodenizer Director of Marketing & Communications

CHIVES ARE VERY easy to grow both in the garden or in a container. I regularly snip and use my chives throughout the growing season which encourages new growth and provides me with a seemingly endless supply. I also let some clumps of chives go to flower. Their pinky-purple, fluffy blossoms are beautiful, attractive to pollinators and edible, too. They can be used whole or pulled apart and added to a salad or made into a flavourful herb-infused vinegar. How to Grow Chives

How to Harvest and Make Chive Blossom Vinegar

• To harvest the blossom, clip the flowering stem at the base, and then cut the flower head off just beneath the bloom. Compost the stem and wash/shake off the blossom. • Loosely fill a 1-pint Mason jar with chive blossoms leaving a bit of room at the top of the jar. Pour white wine vinegar into the jar covering all the blossoms. • Tightly screw the lid onto the jar, date and label, and place in a cool, dark location for about two weeks. • Strain the gorgeous pink vinegar infusion into a new jar or vessel and adorn with an attractive label. • Use this garden-infused vinegar to make a flavourful salad vinaigrette or share it as a gift for your family, neighbours or friends.

TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA

SPRING 2022

PHOTOS: JENNY RHODENIZER, PIXABEY

Their pinky-purple, fluffy blossoms are beautiful, attractive to pollinators and edible, too.

Chives prefer full sun, rich soil and lots of water. Propagate by seeds or root division. A small plant will soon grow and should be divided every few years. They will also do well in containers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Chair: Gordon Ashworth. Members: Barb Anie, Dianne Azzarello, Michele Chandler, Adeline Cheng, Ben Cullen, Tony DiGiovanni, Lisa Ellis, Margareth Lobo Gault, Sue Grundy, Abdullah Hamidi, Harry Jongerden, Nicole Leaper, Michael Schreiner, Janice Winton. Ex Officiate: Christina Iacovino (City of Toronto), Marg Wilkinson (Garden Club of Toronto), Ingrid Smith (Milne House Garden Club).

ABOUT THE TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Trellis - Spring 2022

Articles inside

Meet Stephanie Jutila

The Language of Flowers