The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE Garden Topics & Events Newsletter
GOOD LUCK GORDON
In January 1983 Gordon Wick joined the Civic Garden Centre as Executive Director following in the footsteps of Tommy Thompson and Clive Goodwin.
He wused his boundless energy and enthusiasm to expand the many potential horizons of the Centre. The Trellis magazine, edited by Gordon, became an in-house publication. A bookkeeping machine was installed with computer print-outs. Also at Gordon s instigation, the Centre became the umbrella organization at the Garden Festival for many of our Horticultural groups and other specialty societies. = The Plant Sale was greatly expanded with, a wider selection of plants and memberships in the Centre rose considerably.
The financial picture improved considerably, aided by increased rentals and other events.
Our Civic Garden Centre has never been busier or more active. The growth over the past three years has been astounding. The active, deeply involved Board Committees, Gordon, and his dedicated staff worked together to develop the potential of the Centre.
Gordon, after many problems with ill health, feels he needs a prolonged period of rest. We wish him a speedy recovery, and great success and happiness in his next endeavor.
THE GARDEN CLUB OF TORONTO FLOWER SHOW
40 YEARS AND STILL. GREEN
To celebrate our 40th Birthday, The Garden Club of Toronto ispresenting Let Us Entertain You . on MARCH 5th, 6th & 7th, 1986 at the Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Ave. E. Don Mills.
The hours are 10 AMto4 PM $5.00.
For 3 days the CivicGarden Centre will be bursting with activity, with the Hall of Ideas displaying exciting innovative suggestions for decorating and entertaining in your home and garden.
There will be many fabulous flower arrangements in the decorated vignettes, on flreplaces and table settings.
A wedding scene will be featured on the stage and plantings will demonstrate new ideas for your garden & patio.
The Boutique will bechock full of entertaining items to buy.
For information about tickets contact The Garden Club of Tor. 447-5218 or Mrs. D. Hargraft at 923-9261.
VOLUNTEER NOTICEBOARD
Dear Volunteer,
I 'm hoping that the post office is good to us this month and rushes this February issue to your house because Garden Festival '86 starts February 8 and Ireally need your help.
The Centre will not be taking the shop to the Festival, however we will have an information area where we will be promoting our membership and courses.
As well as the information area we will again, with the help of the clubs and societies, be co-ordinating a large educational exhibit including a fifty seat theatreto show slides.
I will, as usual, provide entrance passes to the show and I'm glad to say that at the International Centre the parking is free. As an alternative to driving, Go Transit stops right at thedoor.
As this is a nine day show and a major event for the Centre please, please do trv to keep some time aside. Just give me a call and I'll have passes and detailed information off to you right away.
No sooner will we settle back into the Centre after Garden Festival than we ll be turning around to take an exhibit to Scarborough Town Centre. This will be February 24 toMarch Ist. We have been given a large space in the mall where we hope to put on demonstrations and maybe slideshows as well, of course, an area to take memberships and course registrations. Again we can t do these major outside events without your help so please give me a call.
I hope that you enjoyed the holidays and I wish ayou all the best for 1986.
Dorothy
SHERIDAN
LIMITED Where Great Gardens
At your closestSheridan Garden Centre you will find the finest selection of nursery stock in Canada, including more than 750 varieties of plants and trees grown on Sheridan's own farms.
MISSISSAUGA NORTH-CENTRAL 606 Southdown Rd., 2827 Yonge St Mississauga L5J 2ya Toronto MA4N 2J4
Tel. 822-0251
Tel. 481-6429
Begin. And Sheridan 's nursery stock is guaranteed for one full year. At Sheridan Garden Centres you will also find qualified nursery- menwho willbe pleased to help you in any way they can.
AGINCOURT ETOBICOKE 3444 Sheppard Ave E, 700 Evans Ave,, Toronto M1T 3K4 Etobicoke M9C 1A1
LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT: Metropolitan Toronto, Markham, Mississauga and Oak ville 822-7575.
Tel.743-4146
The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
2 Geranium and Pelargonium Society meeting 2 p.m.
John Young will talk on Photographic Plants both Indoors and Out
2 S. Ontario Orchid Society meeting 1 - 5 p.m. ;
4 Mens Garden Club meeting 8 p.m. Talk Gardening Among Members
9 Toronto Gesneriad Society meeting 2 p.m. Program on Episcia by Betty Tapping
9 Ontario Rock Garden Society meeting 2p.m. Jorge Leiss on Dwarf Evergreens
10 Toronto Bonsai Society meefing. 7 p.m. Silent Auction and Wine and Cheese Party
11 North Toronto Horticultural Society meeting 8 p.m. Kay McGregor will present Wildflowers Far and Near 11 Renovating Old Gardens - 3week course startingat 7:30 p.m. 12 Ikebana International meeting 7p.m. 12 Intermediate Ikenobo Ikebana Flower Arranging course from
10 - 3 p.m.
Garden Therapy Group meeting 1:00 p.m. for handicapped people
Basic Corsage one day workshop 10 am to 3 pm
York Rose and Garden Society meeting 2 - 4 p.m. will feature Flower Arranging including Roses by Lilian Holmes 16 MEMBERS AFTERNOON 2 p.m. PETER RICE of the
Royal Botanical Garden, Hamilton will speak on TheRBG THINGS NEW & DIFFERENT
Miniature Workshop - one day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Intermediate Corsage - one day workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Green Thumbs (Junior Garden Club ) 9:30 a.m.
Rhododendron Society of Canada 2 - 4 p.m.
Hobby Greenhouse meeting 8 p.m.
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society meeting 8 p.m. -7 GARDEN CLUB OF TORONTO FLOWER SHOW
40 Yearsand Still Green celebrating their 40th Birthday Theme Let UsEntertain You 10 a.m. to4 p.m. Adm. $5.00
Ontario Rock Garden Society meeting 2 p.m. Teri Yamada on Japanese Gardens
S. Ontario Orchid Society meeting 1 - 5 p.m.
Toronto Gesneriad Society meeting 2 p.m. African Violet Species
Toronto Bonsai Society meeting 7 p.m. lecture on Collecting Trees from the Wilds by Terry Lund
North Toronto Horticultural Society meeting 8 p.m. a slide presentation by Barrie Porteous on The Rockgarden
Feb. 13 Corsage workshop for Beginners10 am - 3 pm
(Registration deadline Feb. 10)
Feb. 17 Miniatureworkshop
One day 10 am - 3 pm
(Registration deadline Feb. 13)
Feb. 20 Intermediate Corsage workshop 10 am - 3 pm
(Registration deadline Feb.17)
Mar. 12 Basic Flower Arranging
5 week course at 9:45, 1:30 or 8pm
(Registration deadline Mar. 5)
Mar. 15 Basic Outdoor Gardening
5 week course at 10 a.m.
(Registration deadline Mar. 10)
Specializes in dried and silk flower arrangements.
Arrangements for sale in TheTrellisShop or Cometo theCentre Mon. or Tues. 9.30 to 2 p.m.
Bring your favourite container or try one of ours, and give us your colour scheme and size requirements.
SNIPPY TIPS
Two new revised editions of Snippy Tips are now available in the Trellis Shop. No. 1 Care of Cut Flowers and Plant Material and No. 2 Drying and Preserving Plant Material . $2.00 each
CGC OPERATING HOURS
WINTER HOURS from Nov. 12th to April 30th Trellis Shop and Library Mon. to Fri. 9:30 - 4 pm,Sat.Sun.12-4
General Information
Volume 13 No.1 ISSN 0380-1470
Assistant Editor: Grace Tughan
Advertising Inform. (416) 445-1552
Trellis is published ten times per year s a member s newsletter, by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Telephone (416)345-1552
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.
MEMBERS PROGRAMME
in the Floral Hall
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, at 2:00 p.m. | PETER RICE
As51stantDirector Conservation Royal Botanical Garden, Hamilton i w1ll speak on THE RBG THINGS NEW AND DIFFERENT
ALL MEMBERS WELCOME 'GUESTS $1.00
THURSDAY, MARCH 13th, at 7:»30 ;p.m~.
LARRY SHERK
Chief Horticulturist Sheridan Nurjs'veriés w111speak on NURSERY PRODUCTION ON A LARGE SCALE
ALL MEMBERS WELCOME e GUESTS $1.00
Weall & Cullen Nurseries Ltd. Landscape Design Service
$30.00 landscape design fee for a front or a back yard, design is totally refundedwhen you purchase $200 or more of Weall & Cullen nursery stock. A $30 fee applies at the time you receive your plan. (860 for both front & back yard, refunded with $400 nursery stock purchase.)
SOVO 10% If your order is received befere March 31, 1986 We | offer a 10% discount off the regular price of your entire order- peat moss, manure, fertilizers included. (Saleitems not included). Orders must be accompanied by a 25% deposit at the me your order is placed.
NEW COURSE
4034 MING TREE CLASSES (Crafts of the 80 s)
Want to be creativeand innovative try making MING TREES with the help of beautiful beads and materials.
This is a good opportunity to make that special gift unique Ming Trees todelight yourself and friends.
6 week course for Beginners on WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 12, 19, 26, APRIL 2, 9 and 16th, 1986
TIME: 1:30 - 3:3_0pm a_f_ternoon or 7-9 p.m. evening FEE: $20.00 members $25.00 non-members
FIRST LESSON PLEASE BRING
Small flat nose plyers, needle nose plyers, wire cutters, old scissors, pencil, ruler, 1/2 masking tape.
The kit for the first day $5.00 for a small tree to be purchased at first class. As classes are limited - Bookings are made as received with fee andare subject to cancellation if not sufficient registration by d_egdlin e. Fees are not refundable after the registration deadline. E s e . o g >
I would like to take advantage of reduced ratesoffered members and enclose $10. for my annual fee (add $2.50 for each additional familymember $....................... Csedit Card Users Only
Fees are not refundable after the registration deadline. o 1 O A T B awm(; /e::EEED
HORT HAPPENINGS
by Anne Maric Van Nest
FEBRUARY GARDEN SEEDS
Finally at long last the sun has once again appeared from behind that white snow cloud. February also signals the time to start planning for next Mayas it is time to order your seeds, if you have not already. The earlier that you do the better the selection that is available.
New, this year, on the seed market is Cosmos bipinnatus Sunny Red an All American Selection for 1986. This dwarf annual is red and semi-double, a real eye catcher. For early blooms this plant should be sown indoors around March 15, so start planning your garden now. Another All American Selection this year is Dwarf White Okra,Abelmoschus esculentus Blondy This new spineless Okra is early maturing and ideal for the edible ornamental garden. Starting your plants from seed is a very fulfilling way to obtain your plants in addition to also having the greatest selection right at your fingertips.
There are a great number of new introductions well worth growing this year to add new colour and improved qualities to your garden. When you are buying your 1986 seeds make sure that you are dealing with a reputable seed company that will guarantee the finest quality and also include the germination rate percentage and the year that the seed is packaged for sale. When choosing your seed it it also important to pick seeds that have been specially treated or untreated in the case of organic growers with beans or corn. Treated seeds should be a priority on the list for the rest of us. These various treatments help to destroy disease causing organisms on
or in the seeds and help to protect your seeds from destruction after planting. The most important treatment is by hot water for the following vegetables only cabbage, cauliflower and related plants, celery, eggplants, peppers and tomatoes. This is done by immersing the seed in hot water at 122 deg. F. (50 C) for 15 to 25 minutes. The seed companies usually do this or the exact directions can be obtained here at the Horticulture information area. Chemical treatments involve putting a very thin layer of fungicide on the seed to protect it from fungi on the seed and after planting. This is usually Captan or Thiram which reduce the damage caused by Pythium of Damping-off. Once your seedlings emerge through the soil they have outgrown this initial protection and other measures must be taken such as usingsterilized flats and soil.
CUCUMBERS & LETTUCE
chosen.
When choosing your cucumbers it is better to keep in mind that plants that are resistant to the following will produce greater yields, angular leaf spot, anthracnose, cucumber mosaic virus, down mildew, powdery mildew, target leaf spot and scab. Cucumbers that are tolerant to the greatest number of these diseases should be Lettuce should be chosen that has been mosaic indexed to prevent damage from the virus.
Catalogue available on request e Dwarf Evergreens e ® Heathers ®Japanese Maples ® e Rhododendrons ® VINELAND NURSERIES (416) 562-4836
P.O. Box 98 ® Martin Road
Vineland Station, Ont. LOR 2E0Q
HORT HAPPENINGS cont.
TOMATOES
Tomatoes are another vegetable that have been bred to be tolerant to a number of common diseases. You should look for types that are shown to be tolerant to verticillium, fusarium, nematodes and tobacco mosaic. Also be aware that tomatoes come in two types, staking and non-staking (determinate and indeterminate) and should be spaced accordingly in your garden. Remember to choose your seeds carefully and do plan toplant a succession of crops. It is such a waste to have an empty section of your garden where the beans or lettuce were.
Once you have received your seeds, with little delay, it is also important that the seeds are stored in a location that will provide a cool and dry environment that will keep them from loosing viability. The ideal location forthe storage of your seeds is in the refrigerator in a sealed glass jar. This jar should be kept sealed in the refrigeratorat all timesand will work even better if a desiccant material is added to the bottom of the jar. Any heat or moisture that the seeds are subject to, no matter how short, will cause them to loose viability slightly.
SALT DAMAGE
SOIL TESTING
Before you plant your vegetable garden this spring, why not plan to have your soil tested at The Civic Garden Centre? Instruction forms are available in the horticulture information area for all soils whether it is to start your seeds or grow your houseplants. There is also a 75 cent charge per sample payable upon completion.
It is not too late to prevent salt damage to your trees and shrubs that face the roads or walks. The greater the traffic volume and speed the more likely that salt drift will travel to your neighbouring plants and cause damage. Salt run offfrom sidewalks can also be a problem. Adjacent shrubs, especially Cornus racemosa - Gray Dogwood, Cornus stolonifera - Red osier Dogwood, as well as European CranberryViburnum opulus or Bumalda SpireaSpiraea x bumalda are greatly affected. Conifers that are very susceptible to salt spray damage are Tsuga canadensis Hemlock, Pinus strobus White Pine, Thuja occidentalis White Cedar or Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine. Care should be taken to protect these plants by providing a barrier of burlap to stop the drift. To get an added bonus while you melt winters snow and ice the garden centres have a product called Urea that will help provide nitrogen for your lawn and shrubsand not harm nearby turf.
Pine Ridge Nurseries
has asuper... CHRISTMAS GIFTIDEA (sent anywhere in Canada)
.. For the plant lover on your list! A collection of 10 unusual geraniums from our unique collection of 300 varieties * scented * fancy leaf * miniatures * jvies * regals
We ll send a gift card atChristmas, and * zonals the plants will follow in April. only $29.95 plus tax Order by phone: 683-5952 or drop in for avisit to our Christmas store. HWY12 1 mile ~ TORONTO 401 683?5952
BROCK RD. N., PICKERING
Trellis Shop
by Jackie Brisby
A POTENTIAL HAZARD We have been informed that the ROOM SCENTER sold in the shop before Christmas has been recalled by the manufacturer. There have been instances of the candle which burns in the base of the Room Scenter causing an excessive carbon buildup. This build up can result in extreme heat being generated in the base of the unit, causing all the liquid wax to ignite. The occurrences of this incident . have been rare but the manufacturer has decided to recall this item. Please RETURN this item to the Trellis Shop for refund.
On a lighter note our seeds are expected momentarily. All the supplies required for starting the seedlings will be available in the shop. Included among these are planting media, plastic planting trays, peat pellets and peat pots, No-Damp fungicide, markingpens & markers.
To help you plan your vegetable garden we have The Planting Board a new vegetable garden planning system. Itis a fully integrated system of information and planning tools which enables the gardener to plan a garden where every inch is put to use throughout the season, and where continuous harvests are planned to correspond to household tastes and requirements.
Planning the vegetable garden has now become an enjoyable family pastime, a creative way for the whole family to participate in deciding what to grow and how to lay it out. With a pot of hot chocolate, your favourite seed catalogue and The Planting Board at hand, a gloomy winters day can be an occasion for looking forward to the first days of spring. $19.95.
cont. pg. 11
°Book Review
by Margaret Austin
THE FINE ART OF SALAD GARDENING by
E. Annie Proulx
Rodale Press, 1985 (soft cover) $12.95
The new seed catalogues are out, and many of us are already planning this summer s vegetable garden.
The Fine Art of Salad Gardening is aptly named it tells you how to grow wonderfully varied and unusual salad plants. Recipes show you how to use these ingredients in traditional and new ways. As a bonus, you ll also learn about the history and folklore of salad plants. As well, the author includes a list of sources for seeds. This book is a wonderful source of information for the gourmet salad gardener.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS: COMPANION PLANTING FOR GARDENERS
by
Anna Carr.
Rodale, 1985 - (hardcover) $24.95
You have probably heard lots of companion planting suggestions. Do you plant marigolds around beans to keep the beetles away? Did you read somewhere that tomatoes taste better when planted next to basil?
These are familiar companion planting traditions. But do they really work? Good Neighbours: Companion Planting for Gardeners offers both the traditional practices and the most upto-date research on which plants go together. To help you design your garden, there are tips on spacing arrangements, how to incorporate flowers, wild-flowers and herbs into the vegetable garden, and how to use edible and flowering plants in avariety of ways....written by a devoted organic gardener who has been practicing companion planting for years.
Both of these selections from Rodale Press are printed on recycled paper.
CHINESE TREES AND SHRUBS
by J. Punnett
when most sensible
In mid-Winter, persons are either in Florida or thinking of going there, I am in Toronto dreaming of Northern China. My burning interest in that part of the world began as a spark lit by Roy Lancaster s excellent illustrated talk on Plants of the Great Wall whichI attended at the Civic Garden Centre last year. The flames of enthusiasm were further fanned by Trevor Cole s lecture on Woody Plants during the C.G.C. s Great Garden Conference. It seems that although the plant hunters who travelled in Northern China sent back to Europe the seeds of many beautiful trees and shrubs, not all the plants succeeded in cultivation because of differences in climate. North-western Europe cannot provide a hot enough Summer to fully ripen the wood, and the early Spring fools plants into growth too soon only to be put back by frost. However, the Southern Ontario climate turns out to be fine for many Northern Chinese plants.
A large number of Chinese shrubs already grace our gardens, including the Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabitis), Buddleia, Deutzia, Forsythia, many species of Lilac, Peashrub (Caragana arborescans), some Potentillas, many Spireas, the popular Weigela and the hardy Euonymus fortunei. I would love to try growing some of the less common trees and shrubs which are native to the same area as these wellknown ones.
For ideas, I turned to the acknowledged great textbooks on cultivated plants, namely Hillier s Manual of Trees and Shrubs , Bean s Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles and the American Hortus Third . Another useful book is Agriculture Canada s Trees and Shrubs of the Dominion Arboretum , which I hope one day someone will be kind enough to brmg up to date, as anything hardy in Ottawa ought to be hardy in Toronto. All these books are in the C.G.C. s reference library.
I ended up with an enormous list of plants, ranging from gigantic forest trees to dwarf shrublets, so my next task was to try and select those plants which sounded the most attractive in terms of flower, leaf and habit. As I have not personally seen the plants growing, but have been guided by their pictures and botanists descriptions, I hope you will forgive any errors.
Starting with an evergreen tree, we have the Lace-bark Pine (Pinus bungeanus), which was discovered in a temple garden near Peking by Dr. Bunge in 1831. A medium-sized tree, it branches near the base forming many trunks on which the flaking bark makes a patchwork effect in shades of white, yellow, purple and green. The trunks become whiter with age.
cont. pg. 14
Victorian Flower Garden Workshop
Saturday, March 22, 1986 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Pleasance Crawford & Jean Harding THE %3, An introduction to the flowers and flower gardens of the Victorian Period in Canada
The Gibson House, 5172 Yonge Street, 225-0146
$5.00 per person, space is limited so boaok early
IBSON HOUSE e
TRELLIS SHOP
cont.
Our bird feeder section is well stocked at this time with a good variety of feeders and several different kinds of bird feed. One of our most popular feeders is the Round Seed Silo with seed catcher. This is made of Lexan tubing with an 8" seed catcher & may be post mounted or hung-$21.95.
Many new giftware items will be arriving in February and March. We welcome all our members and friends.
NOTICE
A Search Committee to find a new Director for The Centre has been set up by the Board. The Committee consists of Helen Skinner, Art Drysdale, Colin Ferrington, Albert Fisher and Brian Bixley (chairman) to whom comments and enquiries should be
Announcing
GardenFfestin
Bigger . ina grectnew location!
Flower & Garden Show
ool & Spa Show
February 8th-16th, 1986 addressed. and now longer .
International Centre, Toronto
Five inter-connecting halls bring it all together the Flower & Garden Show, the Pool & Spa Show, lawn and gardening equipment, the Horticultural Marketplace, an expanded section of garden and pool-related crafts . 240,000 square feet of attractions fo dazzle and delight you!
Adults $5.00, children 10 and under free, studenis (age 14-48] $3.00 and senior citizens $4.00 & i ? Southex exhibitions
THREE NORTHEASTERN AMERICAN GARDENS
by David Tomlinson
If you enjoy visiting gardens in the U.S.A.and haveseen the concentration of fine gardens around Philadelphia & prefernot to travel furthersouth, then I wouldsuggest that you plan a visit to Massachusetts where 3 ofmy favourite American gardensarelocated.
Cross the border at Niagara and take the New York state throughway (Highway 90) to Utica where we normally spend our first night. My wife and I are not compatible with regards to accommodation as I like an anonymous motel with bed and shower and Dierdre, my wife, likes atmosphere irregardless of comfort
We compromise by each choosing a place on alternate nights. In Utica there is a small and old hotel with beautifully panelled walls and carved staircase where we had the master bedroom with adjoining bathroom tiled with delicate flower tiles accented with goldleafon floor, walls & ceiling. I leave you to guess whose choice that was. It was also the cheapest wefound throughout the trip. If you do stay there, it is well worth making a visit to the Art Gallery, well funded by the local brewery. It has a very good collection of American paintings, including several by such well known modern artists as Jackson Pollack, Mark Tobey and Mark Rothko.
Next day continue to follow Highway 90 East. About 12 miles beyond the New York State Massachusetts state line is the old town of Stockbridge,
which is very similar in character to Naagara on the Lake. It has a fine old inn, The Red Lion, where you can .stay the night, or ]ust callin for a meal or a quiet drink. There are also many quaint old guest houses, several excellent restaurants and a good selection ofantique and gift shops.
While you are in Stockbridge you should pay a visit to the Norman Rockwell Art Gallery. Rockwell was, for several years, a resident of Stockbridge and many of the characters illustrated on his magazine covers were (and some still are) residents of the town. The gallery contains many of his best and most loved pictures.
Stockbridge is also the nearest town to two of the three gardens,The Berkshire Garden Centre and Naumkeag. Both are well signposted from the centre of the town and are easy to locate.
The Berkshire Garden Centre is about two miles west of the town on Route 102. This interesting garden of about 15 acres consists of a series of linked individual gardens and horticultural features and has been developed by its members over several years. It is very much the child of the hobby gardener containing something of interest for everyone. It has strong emphasis on horticultural education and the conservation of natural resources. Attached to the 200 year old building, which is used as a visitor centre is a small enclosed garden known as the Procter Garden. Here the plants are arranged in colour grouping mainly in soft pastel shades.
Knowledgeable staff w - ;
PERENNIAL i @ountry Squireo @arden PLANT SPECIALISTS
Steeles Ave. W. (2 miles west of Highway 10) R.R. 10 Brampton L6V 3N2
Open 7 days a week from April 13 Oct. 19
Over 2000 different hardy plants, alpines, dwarf conifers andshrubs, Hardy ferns, vines, groundcovers and native wildflowers
Send $1. for a plant list by mail to above address
Three Northeastern American Gardens - cont.
This garden and the adjoining area contain some of the most unusual plants in the garden. I was particularly impressed with the drifts of Hylomecon japonicum which I don t think has a common name. It has large fresh green lobed leaves and large delicate four petalled yellow flowers.
border.
A lovely informal herb garden tumbles down an adjoining slope with over ninety varieties of herbs planted behind rocky retaining walls. Many are scented and you are encouraged to gently rub the leaves to get the full aroma. The pleasant little formal rose garden contains mostly species and shrub roses which do not produce the same flush of bloom as hybrid tea and polyantha roses. They make up for their shorter flowering period by their delicious fragrance, hardiness and the splendid display of hips in the fall. An extensive collection of perennial plants is displayed in three large island beds in the modern style pioneered by Adrian Bloom, rather thanin the more traditional settmg of the herbaceous These beds are at their best during July and August but there are always some plants in bloom from ~early spring to fall. One of the outstandmg features of the garden during May and early June is the delightful primrose walk. When wevisited it was a carpet of multi-coloured polyanthas including some new red varieties. This walk reminded me of an old photograph I saw of the primrose walk in Gertrude Jekyll s garden at Munstead Wood. There is also a wild garden, which she would have appreciated, which surrounds a small pond. This features moisture loving plants such as Japanese Primrose (Primula japonica), Astilbe, Siberian Iris (Iris siberica) and Globe Flower (Trollius europacus). Later in the summer the surface of the pond is covered with waterlily flowers. Day Lilies are also a major feature and several long, narrow beds in the lawn
contain over 200 varieties rangingfrom pale yellow to the deepest mauve.
Natural moss and lichen covered outcrops of rocks are scattered throughout the centre and these have been developed as small rock gardens with alpines and low growing annuals. Being keen on alpine plants I feel that more could have been made of these features, but I am sure that many visitors enjoy themasthey are.
Close to the main road is a cluster of several small display greenhouses including one heated with passive solar energy which is used to grow vegetables and salads through the winter. An interesting feature in the greenhouse is a display of plant windows. Some of these are of commercial design- others are home made. Each of the twelve windows contain a collection of flowering or foliage plants arranged for artistic effect. My favourite feature, however, is the raised vegetable garden. This garden has a board walk down the centrewith waist high window boses on each side filled with easy to pick culinary herbs. The low raised beds on each side are filled with neat rows of traditional as well as new and unusual vegetables. This garden is certainly a very good design solution if you have poor soil or wish to grow your vegetables organically.
The garden generally contains many ideas which are useful to the home gardener and like the Civic Garden Centre it organizes lectures, courses & horticultural events which are much appreciated by gardeners in the area.
The Visitor Centre is open from mid May to early October between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. but the grounds can be visited all year round. Admission is adults $2, senior citizens $1. and 50 cents for children.
There were so many good deciduous trees that Ihad a difficult time making - a selection. I couldn t leave out the handsome Chinese Horse-Chestnut (Aesculus chinensis), which grows 80 - 90 feet (25 - 28 m) with white flowers in long, cylindrical racemes. It was introduced to cultivation in 1912 by the Arnold Arboretum, who were sent seed from near Peking by William Purdom.
Making a much smaller tree is a Hornbean native to Northern China and Korea, Carpinus turczaniowii. It reaches 20 ft. (6m) and the foliage is bright red when young. In the Fall, it turns rich brown and orange.
Still among the small trees, we have a Chinese Hawthorn, the excellent Crataegus pinnatifida major. The Dominion Arboretum rate it as hardy to Zone 2b. It forms a dense, heavilyleafed head of branches. The leaves are lustrous green and the midribs, veins and young wood are tinged with red. The flowers, in early Spring, are white and it sets shiny, deep red fruits. Fall color is red.
Euonymus bungeanus, again commen- orating Dr. Bunge, forms a graceful large shrub or small tree of erect, thin habit. It has long, slender branches, attractive fruits, and Fall colors in soft lemon yellow, tinged pink.
Perhaps the best Chinese Rown, Sorbus pohuashanensis grows around 30 ft. (9m) with a dense head of spreading and ascending branches, white flowers in early Summer and plentiful red berries. It is rated hardy to Zone 3b by the Dominion Arbor- etum. Equally hardy is the Mongolian Linden, Tilia mongolica, with lobed leaves that are tinted red when young. It reaches around 35 ft. (10-11m).
GARDENING PANEL
The Civic Garden Centre, Toronto, is pleased to offer a question-and- answer gardening panel of two or three members to many horticultural societies within a 50 mile radius of Toronto.
Requests for a panel should be made to the Horticulturist, Anne Marie Van Nest, at the Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Ave., East, Don Mills M3C 1P2 or call Telephone 445-1559.
A fee of forty dollars, payable to the Centre is contemplated, Panel members are all volunteers.
Mini Rose Nursery
Collector of Miniature Roses
For list and map Write Florence Gahagan
VP.O. Box 873, Guelph, Ont. NIH 6M6
WONDERLAND OF BULBS
- Send $2.00 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.
C. A. CRUICKSHANK LTD.
Since 1925
Canada s Leading Bulb Specialists
1015 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto M4P 2M1 488-8292
-
23rd ANN AL FLO
i 1 <75:p2m i at the Civic Garden Centre
MEDITATIONS ON EACH SINGULAR BLOSSOM
Admission $2.50
Official opening 1:30 by ART DRYSDALE
Demonstrations at 1:45 & 3:30 by Professor SATOSHI TONOUCHI from Kyoto, Japan
Tea Room & containers for sale
MAR. 8-9 Royal Botanical Gardens ORCHID SHOW
- at RBG, 680 Plains Rd.W. Burlington Displays, judging & sale of Orchids Sat. noon 6 pm, Sun. 10 am - 5 pm
Geraniums, F. Yeo. Timber Press, 1985
s a definitive study of an often neglected perennial, useful in borders, woodland and for naturalizing. Although this British publication describes many species not hardy in our climate, it may encourage more widespread planting (Keith Squires lists over 30 varieties). Over half the book is devoted to the cultivated cranesbills. There are handsome colour plates and a wealth of information on history nomenclature and identification. Experienced gardeners are sure to enjoy this work. ;
Visit our Trellis Garden, Gift and Book Shop Toronto area s best source for BOOKS ON GARDENING Over 900 Titlesin stock
CIVIC + President Mrs. Camilla Dalglish
GARDEN
* 1st Vice - President Mr. Donald McLaren
% 2nd Vice - President Mr. Brian Bixley
CENTRE i
Boaru Directors:
* Secretary Mr. \;jo{d}on D. Wick
* Treasurer - Mr. Charles Coffey
* Executive Committee
For 7.'85: Mr. Bran Bixley, Mr. Charles Coffey, Mrs. Rae Fowler, * Mr. Peter Hand, Mrs. H: i ! Lyonde, Mr. Howard Stensson
For 178, & 1986: Mr. Art Drysdale, Mr. Albert Fisher, Mrs. Sue Macaulay, Mrs. Katie May .¢C 't y, Mr. Donald G. McLaren, Mr. David Tomlinson, Mr. Harold Wakefield.
Tor 1985, 1986, & 1987: Mr. Wm. R. Aimers, Mrs. Camilla Dalglish, Mrs. Margaret EL7 *, Mr. Andrew Osyany, Mrs. June Punnett, Mr. Robert Saunders, Mr. Peter Thomas, M .k bert G. Bundy
Rece puc 1ssued for tax deductions for all but the basic annual | At the Civic Garden 770. members fee (Charitable Registration No.0228114-56-13) | Centre you'll be among | friends, people who <\ THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE, | share the same interests 777 LAWRENCE AVENUE EAST (at Leslie), you do in gardening Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 : & horticultural things.
Additional family member 2.50 ilpdc b bty 5, 5/000 books.
I On regular priced mer- i | chandise over $2. you
Other Categories by annual subscription: | save 10% in our Shop.
Sustaining Member
$35.00 or more ) ryez;stf:trignd }; "x gfg
Contributing Member $50.00 or more ", enrolling in our classes. Supporting Member $100.00 or more e I Trellis newsletter will Donation to the Civic Garden Centre A be mailed to you 10 times per year.
I wish to become a member of the Civic Garden Centre in | el i the category marked. e Basic membership g Renewal[ ] l fee alone cannot meet
Enclosed is my cheque for §$.................. made out to the I our total operating Civic Garden Centre. | costs. lf you share our Please send my Trellis Newsletter to the following: | ? :::r}?:rr:licul(t?ucpwc:
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