MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
by Gordon D. Wick, Exec. Dir.
The board of the CGC has begun implementation of a full scale committee system and your participation in many areas as volunteers is currently being sought.
The CGC Executive committee has just completed a performance analysis on my work at CGC this past year. I am now being challenged to change my priorities. Special emphasis is to be placed on making major further gains in memberships (this year s new goal is 25%) and in enlisting, training and effectively utilizing a substantially larger contingent of volunteers.
Our membership has grown from 2400 (Dec. 82) to the current level of approximately 3000 (May 85) (up 16% over 1984 levels). To reach the 26% increase the Executive has set as a performance goal, we ll require a major effort by our new Promotion and membership committee - manning of membership tables at outside events, presentations to user group meetings, talks at outside service clubs, exhibits in malls around Metro are all possibilities but will require manpower.
We have come a long way in the past 22 years in addressing many varied needs. If you would like to help one of our new committees or if you are prepared to act as one of the executive
Cont. p. 2
GARDEN TOUR
David and Dierdre Tomlinson invite members and their friends to visit their English flower garden, Merlin s Hollow, 181 Centre Crescent, Aurora on Sat. 6th July or Sun. 14th July 1985.
The 3/4 acre garden contains an extensive collection of over 700 hardy flowering plants, including both native Canadian flowers and many other wild flowers and rare cultivated plants from the temperate areas of the world.
The garden has been developed over the last 5 years. The plants have been arranged in wide curving herbaceous borders, in bold colour groups with richly textured foliage patterns.
The garden will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and there is no charge. For further enquiries call 727-8979, let it ring, we may be in the garden!
The garden is located at the east end of Aurora, turn north off Wellington Street East onto Industrial Parkway North, then take the first left on to Centre Street. Centre Crescent is the first road on the right.
PLEASE PARK on Centre Street or Industrial Parkway North and walk down to the garden as it is difficult to park or turn round on our road.
Message to Members
of a new C.G.C. Volunteers Assocation please let either Dorothy Whiteman or myself know of your interest and any special resources or areas of expertise you could provide.
Over the summer, we will once again be undergoing renovation work; Metro Parks are going to be expanding the washrooms adjacent to the floral hall.
I hope you will support us by taking part in our first summer show in many years. You can participate as an exhibitor of specimen sweet peas, as a flower arranger, or manning our CGC membership table, serving as exhibit monitors (security). Participants in the Decorative design class who need additional sweet peas to allow them to predominate may call ahead to reserve blooms (12 stems per entrant max.).
It would be helpful exhibitors could call us by if all design Friday July 19th to help us gauge the amount of table space to allow.
GREAT GARDENING CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER
15, 16,17, 1985
| Trellis readers have had an opportunity to sign up for this once in a lifetime occasion; some tickets have gone very quickly, there are still some left so
HURRY HURRY HURRY
Send your cheque
Members $75. Non-members $85. for the 2 days Saturday 9:30 to 4:30 and Sunday 9:30 to 4:30 to the Civic Garden Centre right away. If you would like to attend the 2 dinners Friday at the Bayview Country Club, Saturday at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club please enclose a further $25. for each dinner.
The speakers from England, the United States and Canada are sure to be provocative and stimulating.
Keep watching Trellis for information.
further
The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
1985 PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
July 9 Basic Flower Arranging - 5 week course at 1:30 p.m.
10 Ikebana International meeting 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
17 Renovating Old Gardens - 3 week course at 7:30 pm - this course covers gardens in run-down condition with attention to lawns, trees & shrubs, fruit trees, perennial beds, fertilizing, pests & disease control
July 20,21 SWEET PEA SHOW - sponsored by the Civic Garden Centre Entries 9 - 11 Judging at 11 a.m.
Open to public Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m.
July 25 Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Soc. meeting 8 p.m.
Aug. 10,11 HORTICULTURAL SHOW - North Toronto Horticultural Society Saturday 2:30 - 9 pm, Sunday 12 noon to 6 pm Admission $1.00
17 IRIS SALE & AUCTION - Can. Iris Society - sale & preview at 1 p.m. Auction at 2 p.m. 22 Canadian Chrysanthemum Society meeting 8 p.m. 27 Blood Donor Clinic - 2 - 4 p.m. and 5:30 - 8:15 p.m.
Sept. 3 Mens Garden Club meeting 8 p.m. 4 Garden Therapy Group meeting 12:30 pm for handicapped people 8 Toronto Gesneriad Society meeting 2 - 4 p.m. 9 Toronto Bonsai Society meeting 7 p.m. 10 North Toronto Horticultural Society meeting 8 p.m. 14 Green Thumbs (Junior Garden Club) 9:30 am to noon 15 Geranium & Pelargonium Society of Ontario meeting 8 p.m. 15 ROSE SHOW - York Rose & Garden Club Show 12 -5 pm
MEMBERS NIGHTS
Save these dates in the Fall
Sept. 18 A Perennial Garden - a slide presentation by David Tomlinson
Oct. 10 Edwards Memorial Lecture by Roy Lancaster The famous plant explorer
Nov. 15,16 and 17 - The Great Gardening Conference Have you registered yet?
COMING EVENTS AT THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Art at the Centre
In the Link Gallery:
July 3 - July 16 - Nancy De Boni oils, flowers & plants
July 17 - July 30 Mary Catherine O Brien mixed media, landscapes, still life and abstracts
Aug 1 - Aug 13 - Lana Kasak feather art
Aug 14 - Aug. 28 - Lisa Figueroa & Ed Ritchie watercolours, florals & landscapes
Aug. 29 - Sept. 11 - York Artists Guild mixed media
Sept. 12 - Sept. 23 - Lynda Bryden & Barbara Pinkham watercolours, florals & landscapes
SUMMER HOURS
from July 1st to September 3rd
Treilis Shop and Library
Open 7 days a week noon to 5 pm except CLOSED Civic Holiday Monday AUG. 5th
General Information
Volume 12, No. 6 ISSN 0380-1470
Editor: Gordon D. Wick, Exec. Dir. Assistant Editor: Grace Tughan
Advertising Inform. (416) 445-1552
Trellis is published ten times per year as a member s newsletter, by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Telephone (416)445-1552
The Centre is located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie St. and Lawrence Avenue East, at the geographical centre of Metropolitan Toronto. It is a non-profit, volunteer based, gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. Printed by Munns Press Ltd., Whitby, Ont.
COURSES STARTING SOON
July 9 Basic Flower Arranging5 week course at 1:30 pm a good time of year to take this course when flowers are plentiful.
July 17 Renovating Old Gardensa 3 week course at 7:30 pm which covers gardens in rundown conditions re lawns. trees, shrubs & flowers.
PRESS-OUTS
The Flower Garden Planner
Now available in the Trellis shop, The Flower Garden Planner , the unique book, with 140 press-outs, that shows you how to plan your flower garden, patio or window box and how they will really look.
Hard cover $9.95
JUST PERENNIALS GARDENS BY KAY
OLD GARDENS REVIVED
NEW GARDENS DESIGNED AND PLANTED
COLOUR PLAN WITH BLOOMING TIMES
OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH PERENNIALS
ROCK & ALPINE
SHADE & WILDFLOWER
SMALL OR LARGE PERENNIAL GARDENS
IE INTERESTED: PLEASE CALL 769 2681
Book Review
Lee Bailey s Country Flowers by
Lee Bailey
$29.95 cloth
This personal book of flowers that beats Lee Bailey s special touch. Fabulous colour photographs taken by Mr. Bailey himself, and simple gardening and bouquet-making ideas make this seasonal look at flowers a unique gift book and a treasure.
From the first daffodils of April to the last marigolds of September, Lee Bailey s Country Flowers is a weekby-week diary of his Long Island garden, which hehas been passionately cultivating for more than twenty years. In his relaxed, readable style, Lee Bailey inspires experienced and. beginner gardeners alike to create distinctive yet simple gardens and casual but lovely country bouquets.
The Point here , he says in his introduction, is really flowersgorgeous and abundant flowers, and how I like to use them in and out of the garden .
GROWING DAHLIAS
by Philip Damp
Features practical advice on growing dahlias, from rooting cuttings to selecting and transporting blooms, including hints for feeding, staking, stopping and disbudding. Offers valuable information on preparing for shows, as well as tips on presentation and recommended show varieties. The author covers different types of dahlias, including the most recent ones, so that you can grow anything from the tiny pompom dahlias to the giant-flowered Cactus blossoms. available in hard cover $12.95
Trellis Garden, Gift and Book Shop
Toronto area s best source for BOOKS ON GARDENING
Over 900 Titles in stock
VOLUNTEER NOTICEBOARD
Dear Volunteer:
Summer is here again and, of course, what would summer be without the Canadian National Exhibition?
This year, as usual, we will have our information booth in the Horticultural Building. This year though we are hoping to add to this by having the various horticultural & floral societies put in unmanned exhibits with each society taking a few days of the show.
As usual, I am calling upon you to man our booth, but this year more than ever, since I must be away from the 16th of August until the 3rd of September.
The exhibition starts on August 14th and runs through to Labour Day, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. In the past four hour shifts have worked well and for that reason, I have made the schedule with three shifts daily 10-2, 2 -6 and 6 - 10 pm. An entrance pass will be provided so you could man our exhibit and maybe see some of the other exhibits before or after your shift.
Please call me as soon as you can the schedule is made I just need your name on it.
If you have a chance come over on the 20th or 21st of July and take a look at our first Sweet Pea Show. On August 10th & 11th is the North Toronto Horticultural Society s Show and on Aug. 17th the Canadian Iris Society s Sale and Auction.
All of these events will be well worth seeing so do try to come.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Dorothy
WILD FLOWER GARDENING
by David Tomlinson
Most people, when one refers to wild flowers, always think of the flowers which grow wild in their own country; but our gardens are full of wild flowers from all over the temperate world.
Such well loved plants as Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) which grows wild in Japan, Maltese Cross (Lychnis chacedonica) which comes from Russia, Valerian (Valerian officinalis) comes from the Caucasus or Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) which is a native of North America;in fact all garden plants;originated as wild plants. Most of our present well-known plants are the result of gardeners selecting, cross breeding and hybridizing them over many years until the resulting plant often no longer remotely resembles the original parent plants.
Some, however, are the result of naturally occurring hybridizing or by
nature throwing up chance sports such as the double form of the white trillium or bloodroot.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in the cultivation of Canadian wild flowers. My garden has several indiginous species growing amongst my general collection of herbaceous plants. These are not planted in ideal locations and I have to keep a careful eye on them to ensure their survival in the flower borders, although some do remarkably well. I have a fine plant of Showy Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) which I planted some three years ago in semi shade at the base of my boundary cedar hedge. This plant has thrived in this location and has gradually increased in size and produces 3 or 4 flower spikes each year, the only special attention it gets is a good watering in very dry weather and an annual fall mulching of peat moss.
Where Great Gardens
At your closest Sheridan Garden Centre you will find thefinest selection of nursery stock in Canada, _mcludlng more than 750 varieties of plants and trees grown on Sheridan 's own farms. MISSISSAUGA
And Sheridan's nursery stock is guaranteed for one full year. At Sheridan Garden Centres you will also find qualified nurserymen who will be pleased to help you in any way they can.
WILD FLOWER GARDENING
Last spring, I decided to rectify this situation, so I bought several tons of natural limestone blocks so that I could build a raised woodland bed round the base of a large silver maple at the back of the house. All summer long the heap of stones sat on the driveway.
Finally in the fall my niece came over to Canada for a holiday and I quickly commandeered her husband and between us, with much effort, we moved the heap and constructed an 18 high wall of uncemented stones round the base of the tree. Finally, I managed before the snow came to back fill the bed with a mixture of black peat soil and leaf mould. I will add a few square yards of sand to the mixture in Spring, then it will be ready to transplant into it all the various Canadian woodland species I have scattered all over the garden, together with a few unusual woodland species I have from other parts of the world, which I have managed to grow from seed.
This bed should particularly suit the Common White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora), the Red Trillium (7. erectum) and the Painted Trillium (T. undulatum), the latter prefers an acid soil so it should do well. This also applies to the Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule). I will also move some of my Yellow Lady Slippers (C. cacleolus) but I feel that these will do better in the alkaline clay soil of the open border. My double and single Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Round Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana) and the various species of violet should also grow well, and these together with Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Large Flowered Bell Flower (Uvularia grandiflora), Corn Lily (Clintonia borealis), False Solomon s Seal (Smilacina racemosa) and Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) will form the beginning of
my collection of Canadian woodland plants. All these plants, except the Painted Trillium and Double Bloodroot,were collected from woodlots on the sites of new housing developments or within road widening lines. The Yellow Lady Slipper came from a subdivision site where they were extremely common. A friend and I removed as many as we could; they were growing in scattered clumps in dense patches of poison ivy, which made the job quite tricky as neither of us had brought gloves. When we went back a few weeks later the remaining plants had been destroyed by the bulldozers excavating the road foundations.
New subdivisions and other major construction sites are valuable sources of wild flowers, but you should obtain the owner s permission before you remove any plants, particularly if there are rare or uncommon plants present, as it is possible that arrangements might have been made by the planning authority to have the plants removed to safety. If you do get permission and have to move them yourself then it is most important that you carefully observe the natural environment and soil growing conditions or the plants will probably die.
Next year,I hope to add to my collection of native plants by building a raised dry bed in which I will grow prairie wild flowers. These I will have to raise from seed as it is a little far to collect them from subdivision sites.
After spending several months out west,I became very fond of prairie wild flowers, many of which are extremely colourful. They do require exceptionally good drainage if they are to survive in the east. Future projects also include the construction of a small bog garden for wetland plants, but I cannot expect my niece s husband to come over and work for me every year so this project will have to wait for a while. cont. p. 15
A FOUNDATION PLANTING IN SHADE
by J. Punnett
Our house faces east and has trees planted close to it, so the foundation planting at the front receives little sunlight. In winter, it is in shade for half the day. In summer, it gets light shade from the trees in the morning, a couple of hours of direct sunlight in the middle of the day and then dense shade from the house in the afternoon. Also, because of the overhang of the eaves, the ground is often dry.
We were dissatisfied with the planting that we inherited on moving into the house in the winter of 1981. Two large bushes to the left of the front door turned out to be Forsythia.
After their brief floral display they became boring blobs of green that required cutting back regularly. The bushes on the other side turned out to be Golden-leaved Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius aureus), which are attractive for most of the summer as the lime-green leaves contrast well with the orangey-red brick of the house. However, all these bushes block light from the windows in summer and become ugly skeletons in the winter. There were a few starved and stunted tulips (in clashing colors of orange and pink) among the bushes, and some yellow trumpet daffodils and white narcissus near the front door. A splendid peony at the southern corner of the house hangs its deep red blooms over the lawn, but I haven t the heart to move it.
I felt that some evergreens were needed, and the first addition to the planting was a naturally columnar Yew (Taxus x media Hicksii ) to the left of the front door. This Yew may eventually grow too tall for our onestorey home, but in three years has required no clipping. To brighten-up
the shade and contrast with the dark green Yew, I planted at its foot the white-variegated, evergreen Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety . This bush has not required clipping either. There was just enough space between these bushes and the Forsythias to squeeze in a couple of perennials, so I planted a hardy fern and some Coral Bells (Heuchera). The latter has rounded, hairy leaves which are attractively marbled and persist all year. The airy sprays of coral-pink bells first appear in early summer and then for some months after.
~my favourite plants.
To the right of the front door I planted Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). It loves the shade and its gracefully arching shape, ferny leaves and pink-and-white pendant hearts in spring combine to make this one of It dies down at the end of summer. Next to the Bleeding Heart and almost underneath a Mock Orange bush, I planted a Bergenia (probably B. cordifolia). This large-leaved perennial is evergreen and its low stature suits it to edging borders. It produces pink flowerspikes in April or May, and for the rest of the year the healthy clump of rounded leaves remains interesting.
On the far side of the Mock Oranges, I weeded out some thistles and replaced them with 2 Day Lilies (Hemerocallis) - one called Purple Sage (a rather awful concoction of brownish-purple and yellow) and the other is the lovely greeny-yellow Hyperion whose flowers have a natural grace that is rarely found in the newer, thickpetalled varieties.
In late August, I planted bulbs of an Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Violet Queen ) behind both the Peony and the Bleeding Heart,. Colchicum blooms
in September, and the leaves only appear in the Spring.
The following year,I was busy developing the back garden and paid little attention to the front; apart from periodically cutting back the bushes. I did push in a few cuttings of blueflowered Periwinkle (Vinca minor), donated by a friend who had armfuls of this fast-spreading ground-cover to give away. It flowers more prolifically in sun, but is extremely tolerant of shade.
Last summer saw some real changes. The basement window behind the Forsythias needed replacing, so with great rejoicing we cut them down and dug out the roots. After the window was finished, I received instructions to plant some ground-cover at once to stop dirt from splashing up onto the glass when it rained. Bearing in mind my dislike of pruning and shearing, I chose the dwarf Dense Yew (Taxus x media Densiformis ) to replace the Forsythias, and I left room in front of them for some perennials. I had long ago ordered from Garden Import Inc. a delightful white-flowered form of Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis Alba ), which I placed between the Hick s Yew and one of the Dense Yews. Woodland Nurseries in Mississauga provided me with their sturdy evergreen Euonymus Woodland and the dwarf, bush Potentilla Abbottswood . Neither of these should need pruning. The Potentilla nas small, white flowers and is rarely out of bloom all summer.
I decided to get some more Coral Bells in different colors. At Keith Squires nursery (on Steeles Ave. West, east of Mississauga Rd.) I found pale pink Heuchera Brandon Pink and white H. Snowflake . 1 could not resist also
buying a white-flowered form of the hardy Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum alba) and a grey-leaved Anaphalis triplinervis. Most grey-leaved plants prefer full sun, but Anaphalis is an exception. Its silver-white flowers are produced in late summer. To cover the ground between the clumps of plants and to conserve ground moisture, I spread a layer of rough bark-chippings.
Although I feared that the soil might be too dry, I chanced planting the glaucus-leaved Plantain Lily (Hosta sieboldiana Elegans ). It has survived but something regularly eats holes in its handsome foliage. At the end of the bed that receives most sunlight I decided to plant some small bulbs as an experiment. I had read that Grape Hyacinth would grow in woodland conditions, so I planted blue (Muscari Blue Spike ) and white (Muscari botryoides alba). They flowered this spring, and the blue lasted nearly the whole month of May.
I riskily planted a Crocus, the large, pure white Joan of Arc . Its flowers were late and soon over, and the foliage has grown long and limp, so I do not think it relishes the lack of sun. Gambling again, I planted two Lilies, Firecracker and Juliana , which should be cherry-red and creamy-white respectively, but as they have not flowered at time of writing I can say no more.
By now there is not much space to plant anything else, but I recently found room for a rarity discovered at Keith Squires nursery, a form of Solomon s Seal with cream stripes on its leaves (Polygonatum odoratum variegatum). I 'm looking forward to the time when the other basement window needs to be replaced, so that I can evict the Mock Orange bushes and start planting again.
HUMBER ARBORETUM WILDFLOWER WOODS
by Helen Skinner
If you asked the members of the Wildflower Project Committee what they liked most about their Garden Club work in the past five years I'm pretty sure that all fourteen would say The Wildflower Woods at Humber Arboretum.
We have watched it grow from a neglected woodlot littered with fallen elms, overgrown with raspberry canes and crisscrossed with ragged paths pitted by horses hooves to a lovely woodland area. It beguiles the visitor with smooth discreet paths and boardwalks, charms with beautiful native flowers and encourages tranquillity and enjoyment with natural benches and sheltering gazebos.
You might want to congratulate the committee on their hard work but you 19971 0] ISbecause they ve hardly put hand to spade! New entrances, paths and boardwalks have been designed and executed by both students and professionals. Clearing and pruning has been carried out by students learning on the job, still more students have inventoried and photographed. Finally plants have been collected, donated and bought by the staff. What is more a natural meadow has been incorporated and acid beds for orchids, azaleas & rhododendrons have been added as if by magic the magic of an energetic, creative director.
Over the past five years the committee has caused $71,244. dollars of the Garden Club s project fund to be given to the Wildflower Project and with Mini Rose Nursery
almost no effort on our part $46,244. dollars of that sum was given to the Club for the project. With absolutely no work on our part that amount was almost tripled for Humber by monies from Wintario and labour supplied by the sponsoring agencies Etobicoke Parks, Metropolitan Toronto Parks & Property and Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The Arboretum staff has also explored every possible avenue for labour grants and assistance.
Each time we visit the Wildflower Woods something new greets us a new bench appears just where you want to sit and look at the drift of Spring Beauties; trilliums that were once single specimens are now clumps of nine or ten and the snapping turtle young have survived yet another class of grade fours and have even grown a little! cont.
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And that brings us to what delights us the most. The woods are filled not just with plants and animals but with people, in wheelchairs and on foot.
Hundreds of them are young and, with their teachers and Humber s own nature interpreters, are learning first hand about their natural heritage. The woods are solidly booked with classes and daycamps throughout the growing season and frequently in the winter too.
Although the committee has done a little work in publishing a Wildflower Postcard and a small booklet on Growing Wildflowers, they merely sat back this spring and enjoyed a first for Canada a very successful wildflower symposium presented by some of the most knowledgeable people in wildflower studies and sponsored by Humber and the Garden Club. A tour of the Wildflower Woods was a feature of this day-long symposium.
The Trellis Shop
Many of you will be on your way to cottages during the next few weeks. When you are making preparations we hope you will keep in mind the picnic and patio items in the Trellis Shop.
There is a good selection of paper plates & napkins, pretty plastic trays, only $5.95 with matching mugs and napkins, acrylic wine glasses, brightly coloured mugs attached to their own colourful thermos, patio candles and terra cotta pots in many sizes all for your own use or inexpensive hostess gifts.
For those of you who will be bringing your out-of-town house guests to Edwards Gardens and the Trellis Shop we have many small useful items, easily packed, for souvenir gifts e.g.
The fulfillment of our hopes of helping to create a Wildflower Woods was easily seen as we toured the whole area on the Garden Club s special day (this spring), but the particular dream of helping the young understand the importance of the natural world came true for us when a teacher explained how she brings her grade-two classes to the woods three times a year first in the fall so that they can see how plants and creatures prepare for winter, then in the winter so they can walk on the snow blanket protecting the plants and skate over the hibernating frogs in the ponds, and finally in the spring so they can marvel at the new growth in trees and flowers and the wonderful revival of those sleeping frogs and their hundreds of pollywog children.
We come and go but the land is always here and the people who understand it are the people to whom it belongs. . ..for a little while.
the attractive Pimpernal placemats and coasters which include those in the Bartlett prints of Canadian scenes, and coasters imprinted with Ontario scenes $£9.95.
New, are attractive photo cards of Edwards Gardens and the Centre, by photographer Kenneth Hill.
For bird watchers, we have a great selection of humming bird feeders at competitive prices, as well as the beautifully hand carved unpainted wooden birds by L Oisellerie, Port Joli, Quebec.
Just arrived one of our most sought after items the Canadian Wildflower Calendar (1986) more beautiful than ever and gift boxed for $9.95. This combined with a package of Aimers Wildflower seeds an interesting gift.
Happy holidays!
GARDENING NOTEBOOK
By Ruta Stancikas
JULY
This month gardens reach their peak in performance a glorious riot of colour that you should make a point of enjoying. Most of the hard work has een done but there are some jobs necessary in order to keep up appearances. Deadheading must be done daily or your plants will stop flowering and go to seed. This is particularly the case with annuals.
All plants will benefit from a liquid feeding and established roses will also enjoy a boost.
Why not consider collecting seeds for next spring s home sowing? Good choices include marigold, nicotiana and portulaca. Remember to collect seeds from the best plant of the variety.
Ed. Note: but don t expect the new plants to come true to form if the parents are hybrid varieties (and most modern annuals are hybrids).
GARDEN FLOWERS
Begonias, ivy geraniums and fuschias in hanging baskets will require a feeding by the first of the month, and then regularly thereafter at 2 week periods with 2 strength, high phosphorous fertilizers.
Perennials that show signs of toppling should be staked. Feed your dahlias mid-month being careful to keep fertilizer away from the top roots to avoid burn.
Chinese lantern plants are prone to attacks by the cucumber beetle, so dust or spray with rotenone or with malathion paying particular attention to the undersides of leaves.
Petunias tend to become quite straggly by mid-July. When this happens cut the plants back to 2 above ground. This will completely rejuvenate the plants, encouraging new growth and flowers. A good feeding of liquid fertilizer will help in the rejuvenation process.
SHRUBS AND TREES
Prune back summer flowering shrubs following bloom to keep them in check. Established deciduous hedges should be clipped mid-month to induce branching and evergreens should be checked and sprayed for red spider mites. These pests flourish in the hot dry spells of July.
Keep an eye on your roses. In this month s hot temperatures they demand the equivalent of 1 inch of watering weekly, preferably in one soaking. Clematis vines can be propagated towards the end of the month by pegging down shoots in pots of peaty compost.
VEGETABLES
July is the month to celebrate the first crop of home-grown tomatoes something I look forward to with great
e @ountry Squireo @arden"
PERENNIAL PLANT SPECIALISTS
Steeles Ave. W. (2 miles west of Highway 10) R.R. 10 Brampton L6V 3N2
Knowledgeable staff
Open 7 days a week from April 13 Oct. 19
Over 2000 different hardy plants, al}lines, dwarf conifers and shrubs, Hardy ferns, vines, groundcovers and native wildflowers
Send $1. for a plant list by mail to above address
impatience each year! Be sure to continue fertilizing the plants to ensure crop production throughout the season and remember to prune suckers. Keep an eye out for tomato hornworms which show up in July on the leaves and pick them off as they appear.
Early potatoes can be harvested when flowers form on plants. In later varieties the yellowing and dying of vines indicates the tubers have reached full maturity. Until then, continue spraying against potato blight, paying special attention to the undersides of leaves.
Vegetable plants should be side dressed with a well-balanced fertilizer and raked well into the soil. Bush bean pods should be picked regularly once they reach a 3 inch length every two to three days. The more faithful you are about frequent picking, the longer the plants will yield. The pepper harvest usually begins in July. Once picked, they must be eaten since they don t store very well, so harvest only what you can eat. Squash plants are relatively trouble free with the exception of the squash vine borer which usually makes its presence known early in July. To avoid this nuisance, vines should be sprayed with rotenone when the runners are one foot in length and continue to do so once a week for the remainder of the month.
FRUIT
Grass clippings free of weed seed heads make an excellent mulch for the small fruit garden but should be spread thinly to avoid overheating. Young raspberry canes should be cut back to two and half feet. Plum and pear trees should be thinned to sustain the tree s vigour.
LAWN
Always immediately clean up fallen fruit an ideal breeding ground for pests and disease.
Lawn growth tends to slow down a bit in July so to compensate for this you should raise the cutting height of your mower to 2 inches. A word about grass clippings. . . Grass clippings are a valuable source of nitrogen for your lawn and their removal increases the lawn s fertilizer requirements! Unless clippings threaten to smother the lawn (and they shouldn t if you ve been mowing regularly) leave them. They also help keep the soil from drying out. This is particularly of help during this province s invariable July drought!
If you re in doubt whether you ve watered the lawn enough, place an empty can in the area you are watering and when it contains 2 inches of water you know you can move the sprinkler to a new location.
AUGUST
This is a beautiful month in the garden with the phlox, lilies and hollyhocks in full bloom. August means delightful daily trips through the vegetable garden harvesting tender, fresh vegetables.
Keep a watchful eye on the indoor plants that are summering outdoors, making sure they are well watered and fertilized.
GARDEN FLOWERS
August is the month to start taking cuttings of geraniums, coleus and impatiens. You ll be glad you did when they brighten winter s dreary windowsills.
Autumn flowering crocus should be planted as soon as they arrive. Phlox, sweet william and foxglove seed heads should be kept clipped and hollyhocks should be cut down to the ground after flowering. If this is the second season in a row that peonies haven t flowered then the end of the monthis a good time to divide and replant them.
AUGUST
If your irises have become overcrowded dig them up the first of the month and divide each clump into several sections, trim off old and decayed ends of rhizomes, trim foliage to a fan shape and replant them.
Choose a sunny location and loose well-drained soil and water the transplants regularly until they are established.
SHRUBS
Cuttings of many evergreen shrubs can be taken the end of the month and rooted in a sand-vermiculite mixture.
Ontario s rose growers can take some extra steps to help their roses make it through our rough winters. Feeding should ideally be stopped by the middle of the month. Eliminate fall pruning as this will encourage new growth which will only be killed by the first fall frost. Allow the flowers to form hips. This seed producing process encourages the slowing down of the rose s growth in the fall by spending excess energy on rose hip production. (This column will cover further rose protection as the time draws nearer.)
VEGETABLES
Continue Kkeeping peas and beans regularly watered and mulched. Onions grown from sets will be ready to be lifted by the end of this month.
LAWN
A final weedkiller application can be given this month and keep up the good work mowing and watering.
GENERAL
August is a good time to begin drying flowers, seed pods and ormamental grasses. These should be gathered mid-morning when the dew has dried.
Tie the stems in bunches and hang them upside down in a dry, dark location that has some amount of circulation. Good choices of plants for drying include Chinese lantern, Silver dollar (lunaria), Hydrangea and Baby s breath. Straw flowers, grown by most gardeners specifically for dried flower arrangements should be cut when their buds are half open.
For many, August is vacation month and gardeners are reluctant to leave the garden untended. If you can t find someone to look after it while you re away, pick off flowers and buds to prevent seed pods from forming.
Check ties and stakes and give roses a spray against sneak attacks by aphids, black spot and mildew.
Have a good summer holiday and we ll see you in September!
Ruta Stancikas is a Toronto journalist.
WONDERLAND OF BULBS
Send $1.00 for our new catalogues, refundable on first order.
The multitude of rare and interesting bulbs listed, over 700 varieties, many difficult to obtain elsewhere, will prove to be a revelation. By far the most complete bulb catalogue in Canada.
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Canada s Leading Bulb Specialists
1015 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto M4P 2M1 488-8292
WILD FLOWER GARDENING
If you are interested in reading more about the cultivation of wild flowers, the following books can be borrowed from the Civic Garden Centre Library.
Wild Flowers and How to Grow Them, by Edwin Steffek, Crown Publishers
Pioneering with Wild Flowers, G.C. Aiken, 1968
Field Guide to North American Wild Flowers, Audubon Society
Wild Flowers Across F. R. Vance, 1984 the Prairies,
Growing Woodland Plants, Clarence and Eleanor Birdseye, 1951
There are also some 75 other books available on wild flowers.
The Canadian Wild Flower Society also produces an excellent magazine. The Society was founded in 1984. If growing wild flowers is one of your horticultural interest, then join this worthwhile society by sending a $15.00 cheque payable to Wild Flower % Jim French, 35 Bauer Crescent, Unionville, Ont. L3H 4H3.
CORNUCOPIA VOLUNTEER WORKSHOPS
We would like to remind the members to save their pine cones, fruit pits, etc.
The workshops will be held on the following days from 9:30 to 2 pm at the Civic Garden Centre June 26, July 10, 24, Aug. 7, 21, Sept. 18, Oct./ 216 and 30th:
For any further information phone Barbara Burns - 493-7069
Growers and distributors
CRAFT AND NURSERIES
CIVIC V4
CENTRE
President Mrs. Camilla Dalglish Ist Vice - President Mr. Donald McLaren
Treasurer - r. Charles Coffey
Board of Directors:
For 1985: Mr. Brian Bixley, Mr. Charles Coffey, Mrs. Rae Fowler, Mr. Peter Hand, Mrs. Hazel Lyonde, Mr. Howard Stensson, Mr. Monte Watler.
For 1985, & 1986: Mr. Art Drysdale, Mr. Albert Fisher, Mrs. Sue Macaulay, Mrs. Katie May McCarthy, Mr. Donald G. McLaren, Mr. David Tomlinson, Mr. Harold Wakefield.
For 1985, 1986, & 1987: Mr. Wm. R. Aimers, Mrs. Camilla Dalglish, Mrs. Margaret Elliott, Mr. Andrew Osyany, Mrs. June Punnett, Mr. Robert Saunders, Mr. Peter Thomas, Mr. Robert G. Bundy.
Receipts issued for tax deductions for all but the basic annual $10. members fee (Charitable Registration No. 0228114-56-13)
The
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