The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE Garden Topics & Events Newsletter
THE GARDEN CLUB OF TORONTO presents LET US ENTERTAIN YOU
A special event to celebrate our 40th BIRTHDAY
MARCH 5, 6 & 7th, 1986
<iat the CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
777 Lawrence Ave. E. Don Mills
HOURS: 10AM - 4 PM Adm. $5.00
halls, for planning on the patio and midnight supper even a wedding! and displays showirn trends in flower arrangin bl
The Boutique === will offer crafts and new g items for decorating and v entertaining
For information about tickets contact Mrs. D. Hargraft at 923-9261 or the Garde n\Club of Toronto at 447-5218.
HORT HAPPENINGS
by Anne Marie Van Nest
SPRING SEEDING
Can you believe it? Spring is just around the corner at last. Many gardeners can accelerate the arrival of spring by planning and starting their garden indoors. It is as easy as counting backwards. First makea list of all the plants and vegetables that you wish to grow this year, taking important notice of the amount of space that is available in your garden plan, and the requirements of each plant. There is no use starting five pumpkin plants when one will fill the allotted area, unless you have plenty of gardening neighbours. The task of deciding how many plants are adequate for your vegetable garden is made so simple with The Planting Board . All that is needed is a measure of the size of your garden and the vegetable pieces that you would like to see in your garden. The pieces can be arranged and rearranged to suit many needs and the ideal garden created.
Now that you know exactly the number of plants that are required for your garden it is time to list them and note the date that they can be planted outside. For many annuals this date is the average last spring frost (L.S.F.). In Toronto this date is May 24. Cauli-
flower and potatoes can be planted near this date. L.S.F. minus 4 weeks is the time to plant lettuce and onions and L.S.F. plus 2 weeks is the time for tomatoes and peppers. The problem now is to start your plants at a time when they will not be leggy because they were started too soon or too small and tender and not strong enough to be hardened off. You must also consider the space you have to grow these vegetables and annuals.
Annuals to start now in March include the slow growing ones as well as the early transplanted ones. Pansies should be number one on your list as they should be started March 1st and need a period of pre-chilling for 24 hours at 35-40 deg.F. (24C). The seeds should be covered with a light dusting of sand and covered with newspaper or black plastic as the seeds need total darkness to germinate; Kkeep the soil
temperature at 70-75 deg. F. (21-24C) for 10 days for germination, and transplant your pansies four weeks later into a slightly acid soil.
Another annual that should be started in March is Impatiens which should not be covered because they need light to germinate. Also Lobelia which grow very slowly from seed and should be started before March 25. Cosmos should be started indoors around March 15, and Marigolds can be started indoors at the beginning of April, transplant them 25 days later. Other plants to start in March are Ageratum, Coleus, Cleome, Petunia and Snapdragon, so let s get busy. Starting seeds is made even easier by using Jiffy 7 s which can be bought in small round discs that expand to seven times their height and are a peat pellet enclosed in a plastic netting for easy seeding plus there is no soil to mix. They are available in the Trellis Shop at the Civic Garden Centre.
cont. pg. 6
SHERIDAN NURSERIES LIMITED Where Great
Gardens
At your closest Sheridan i And Sheridan s nu Garden Centre you will Be In i odfo find the finest selection of nur- gone fullsytgacr'.( ey i ol sery stock in Canada, including At Sheridan Garden Centres you more than 750 varieties of will also find qualified nursery- plants and trees grown on menwho will be pleased to %lp Sheridan 's own farms. You in any way they can.
The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $5.00
Ontario Rock Garden Society meeting 2 p.m. Teri Yamada on Japanese Gardens
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 Rock Garden
Basic Flower Arranging - 5 week course starts at 9:45 morning 1:30 afternoon and again 8 p.m. evening
Ming Tree course for beginners at 1:30 afternoon or 7 pm evening
Ikebana International meeting 7 p.m.
Garden Therapy Group meeting 1:00 pm for handicapped people
MEMBERS NIGHT 7:30 pm-Joerg Leiss-Production Superintendent at Sheridan Nurseries - talk on Nursery Production on a Large Scale
Green Thumbs (Junior Garden Club) 9:30 a.m.
Outdoor Gardening for Beginners - b week course at 10 a.m.
Rhododendron Society of Canada (Toronto Region) 2 -4 p.m. regular meeting Culture of Seedlings
York Rose and Garden Society meeting 2 p.m. Art Coles from Humber Arboretum on Landscaping Including Roses
23 IKENOBO IKEBANA SOCIETY SHOW -1 -5 pm Adm. $2.50
Canadian Rose Society Annual Meeting 2 p.m.
Hobby Greenhouse meeting 8 p.m.
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society meeting 8 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY Building Closed
Building Open as usual 12 - 4 p.m.
EASTER SUNDAY Building Closed
Mens Garden Club regular meeting 8 p.m. Reviving The Garden Landscape Techniques - 4 week course starting at 7:30 p.m.
Advanced Corsage workshop - one day from 10 am to 3 pm
S. Ont. Orchid Soc. meeting 1 - 5 pm Culture of Orchids Under Lights
New Trends in Flower Arranging - 2 day workshop 10 am to 3 pm
North Toronto Horticultural Society meeting 8 p.m. Canadian Birds by Hal Norris
Ikebana International meeting 7 p.m.
Garden Therapy Group meeting 1:00 pm for handicapped people
SOCIETY OF ONTARIO NUT GROWERS AUCTION 1:15 pm
Green Thumbs (Junior Garden Club) 9:30 a.m. 12 & 13 TORONTO GESNERIAD SOCIETY SHOW -1 -4 pmAdm.$1.00 14 14 How To Preserve & Dry Plant Material - one day workshop 10 - 3 pm
Toronto Bonsai Society meeting 7 p.m. - short lecture on group plantings workshop doing Japanese Maple Forest by Georse Reichert
From Hadrian s villa outside Rome to Bernard Berenson s I Tatti, this unusual 17 day tour, led by Dr. Douglas Chambers, explores over twenty gardens in central and northern Italy.
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.
MEMBERS PROGRAMME
in the Floral Hall
THURSDAY, MARCH 13th, at 7:30 p.m.
JOERG LEISS
Production Superintendent at Sheridan Nurseries will speak on
NURSERY PRODUCTION ON A LARGE SCALE
ALL MEMBERS WELCOME GUESTS $1.00
NOTICE OF THE CGC ANNUAL MEETING
7:30 p.m. - TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1986 in the Floral Hall Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Don Mills
0! IT COMES O ER MY MEMORY
(Memory - Lois Wilson Words - Helen Skinner)
IMPORTANT NOTICE
A GUIDED TOUR OF THE WILDFLOWER AREA at HUMBER ARBORETUM by Helen Skinner
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986
Bus leaving C.G.C. parking lot 9 A.M. and returning around 4:30 P.M.
Arrive Humber Arboretum 9:30-9:45 for muffins and coffee
Luncheon - Country Store Restaurant at Woodbridge 11:30 a.m.
Shopping in Market Square then on to Reeves Nursery (Florist & Nursery)
COST $20.00 per person for members $25.00 for a non-member
This will be a on a first-come basis so please fill out the form at the bottom and mail with cheque to The Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Don Mills M3C 1P2
PHONE - Home..i...iicoioonisiis
BUsIness..... . a
HORT HAPPENINGS
PRUNING TREES AND SHRUBS
The late winter and early spring months are the best times to prune your fruit trees. This is done when the trees are dormant and immediately before the buds swell and leaves appear. All pruning has a dwarfing effect but pruning at this time produces the most new growth whereas pruning in the summer produces the greatest dwarfing effect.
Some rules to remember when pruning your fruit trees or any other trees are as follows
1. Cut out any broken, dead, diseased branches,
2. When two branches closely parallel or overhang each other remove the least desirable one.
3. Pruning wounds should be flush with the branch that is to stay and as close to a bud as possible. Do not leave a stub or jagged edge which will delay healing.
4. Cover large wounds, those over 4 cm in diameter (1% in.) with a tree dressing.
5. Prune moderately. Very heavy pruning should be avoided as it leads to suckers.
6. Prune the part of the tree that needs more growth, especially with old trees. New growth will develop where the tree has been pruned.
Catalogue available on request e DywarfEvergreens e ® [{eathers ®Japanese Maples @ ® Rhododendrons e
VINELAND NURSERIES
(416) 562-4836
P.O. Box 98 ® Martin Road Vineland Station, Ont. LOR 2E0
7. Prune regularly. Trees that have been given attention each spring are easier to keep in good condition. 8. Do not prune any branches unless you have a very good reason to, reducing the leaf area will reduce the growth or fruitfulness if done excessively.
Do not prune trees in the spring that are heavy sap producers because they will bleed greatly. This includes the Maples and birches which should be pruned at other times of the year. The pruning of shrubs in the spring is recommended for those that DO NOT flower in the spring. If these are pruned now you are just cutting off your spring flower showing.
SPRING BULBS
Our shipment of spring bulbs has arrived with many of your favourites. Come give spring a head start by starting your shopping early for the best selection. New this year are the Giant Pendula Hanging Begonias from Belgium, Calla lilies in three different colours as well as the large decorative dinnerplate type Dahlias from Holland. These bulbs will be arriving just in time for the Garden Club of Toronto Let Us Entertain You March 5 - 7. I hope to see you here at the Civic Garden Centre.
NOTICE
Donald McLaren, 1st Vice-President of the Civic Garden Centre passed away on Wednesday, January 29th, 1986. For the last three years he has been actively involved in the finance and forward planning for our Centre. His ability, his support and particularly his kindness to all those with whom he associated will be missed. We extend our deepest sympathy to Mary and her family.
The CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
SPRING PLANT SALE
Pre-Orders - Wednesday MAY 14th, 1986 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
ANNUALS
Boxes @ $1.10
] Ageratum - Blue Blazer, 15 ¢cm
] Ageratum - White, Spindrift
] Alyssum - Snowcloth,white,10cm
] Alyssum - Midnight,violet10 cm
] Alyssum - Wonderland,rose 10cm
] Aster - Dwarf Queen mix, 30cm
] Aster - Powder puff mix, 61 cm
] Aster - Early Charm - mix. 45cm
] Browallia - Blue Troll 20 ¢cm
] Carnation-Enfant deNice,mix,35 cm
] Calendula-Fiesta Gitana,mix,30cm
] Celosia - Fiery Feather,red,31cm
] Celosia - Apricot Brandy, 40cm
] Cleome - H.Campbell,white 1.2m
] Cleome - Rose Queen, pink, 1m
] Coleus - Wizard mix, 25cm
] Coleus - Carefree mix,30 cm
] Coleus - Carefree red 30cm
] Cosmos - Sunny Red 30cm
]*Dabhlia - Rigoletto, mix 38cm
] Dianthus-Magic Charms mix,15cm
] Dusty Miller, Silverdust 20cm
] Kale - Flowering, red
] Kale - Flowering, white
] Lobelia - Blue Crystal, 15cm
] Lobelia - White Lady 15cm
] Lobelia-Rosamond-Cherry-red,15cm
] Lobelia - Pendula,violet/rose trail.
] Marigold - Janie,yellow,20cm
] Marigold - Janie,orange 20cm
] Marigold - Janie,flame-bicol.20cm
] Marigold-King Tut,yel./red,25cm
] Marigold-Scarlet Sophia,scarlet,31 cm
] Marigold-Tiger Eyes 31cm
]*Marigold,Inca,yellow 30cm
]*Marigold,Inca,orange 30cm
] Marigold-Diamond Jubilee,yel.50 cm
] Marigold - Climax,yell.75-90cm
] Nicotiana - Nicki Red, 40cm
] Nicotiana - Nicki Rose, 40cm
] Nicotiana - Nicki White, 40cm
] Phlox - Twinkle mix starshaped 15 cm
] Portulaca - Sundance mixed
Plants will be in plastic grower trays; those marked *4 per box,others 6/box
[ ] Salvia - Red Hot Sally 25cm
[ ] Salvia - Red Pillar, 35cm
[ ] Salvia - Splendens Tall,red,75cm
[ ] Salvia-Farinacea,Bl.Victoria 35cm
[ 1 Snapdragon - Kolibri,red, 20cm
[ ] Snapdragon-Little Darling,mix,30
[ ] Snapdragon - Carioca,mixed,51cm
[ 1 Snapndragon - Rocket.mixed.90cm
[ 1*Thunbergia Susie-orange trailer
[ | Verbena-Blaze bt.scarlet 25cm
[ ] Verbena - Amethyst,mid-blue 30
[ ] Verbena-Showtime,solid cl.mix 25
[ ] Verbena-Trinidad-pink, 22cm
[ 1*Vinca - Bright Eyes,white/red
[ 1*Vinca - Little Pinkie,rosy pink
[ ] Zinnia-Burpeeana,mixed,50cm
[ 1 Zinnia - Pulcino,mixed, 35cm
[ 1 Zinnia - State Fair mix, 90cm
PETUNIAS
Petunias-(Single flowered-Grandiflora)
[ ] Petunia - Red Flash
[ 1 Petunia - White Flash
[ ] Petunia - Pink Flash
[ 1 Petunia - Sugar Daddy lavender
[ 1 Petunia - Bridesmaid, coral
[ ] Petunia - California Girl,yellow
[ 1 Petunia - Burgundy,velvety wine
[ 1 Petunia - Blue Lace-deep blue/pur.
[ ] Petunia - Rose Cloud, deep rose
[ ] Petunia - Penny Candy-red/white
Petunia (Grandiflora Cascading)
[ 1 Petunia - White Cascade,
[ 1 Petunia-Chiffon Cascade,lt.mauve
[ ] Petunia - Pink Cascade
[ ] Petunia - Royal Cascade, purple
[ 1 Petunia - Red Cascade,deep red
Petunia <(Bicolour-Grandiflora )
[ 1 Petunia-Blue Frost,bl/wh edge
[ 1 Petunia-Cherry Frost,red/white
Petunia-(Picotee Grandiflora)
[ 1 Petunia - Red Picotee
[ 1 Petunia - Blue Picotee
[ 1 Petunia - Rose Picotee
Petunias-( Double Flowered)
[ 1*Petunia-Bridal Bouquet,white
[ 1*Petunia - Lyric, salmon pink
[ 1*Petunia - Red Bouquet,bright red
IMPATIENS: 4/box $1.25
[ Novette Red
{1 - Scarlett
i, - Orange
L1 e
e 0 - Pink
[l - Wild Rose
[k s - Salmon
el - Mixed
o - Violet
[ ] Showstopper - Pink
[ 1 Blitz Red,orange (taller)
FIBROUS
BEGONIAS
4/box $1.25
[ ]*Scarletta - bt.red, gr. foliage
[ 1*Viva - white, gr. foliage
[ ]*Linda - salmon/pink gr. foliage
[ ]*Vodka - scarlet, bronze fol.
[ 1*Gin, salmon/pink,bronze fol.
[ ]1*Whiskey- white - bronze fol.
GERANIUMS From From 4 pots Cuttings Seeds $1.69ea Red White Salmon-pink Pink Orange/red Cerise
[ ] Ivy-Sybil Holmes Dbl.pink $1.79
[ ] Ivy-Tavira Dbl. red 1.79
[ ] Ivy -Harvard Dbl.Burgundy 1.79
[ ] Cascading Balcon-sng.red 1.79
[ ] Cascading Balcon - sng. pink 1.79
Seedling Geraniums by the Flat
[ ] 8% Pintored -18per flat $20.00
[ 138% Pintopink » $20.00
[ ]1:3% Pinto white * $20.00
SPECIALTY BEDDING PLANTS
[ ] Dracaena-spikes 3% pots $1.50
[ 1 Dracaena-spikes 4 pots $1.99
[ 14 Non Stop Begonias-mix.$1.89
[ 14 Fuchsia - mixed $1.55
[ ]4% Canna Lilies - red $1.89
PERENNIALS $1.75 pot
[ ] Achillea, Gold (Yarrow)
] Achillea, The Pearl, white
] Achillea, Cerise Queen
] Alyssum saxatile, Gold Dust
] Anthemis, St.Johanms,gold/oran
] Aquilegia,Dragon Fly 18" mixed
] Arabis,Spring Charm - rose/purple
] Artemisia, Silver Mound
] Aster, Alpinus mixed
] Astilbe-red
] Astilbe-white
] Campanula- Bellflower
] Carnation, Pink
] Carnation, White
] Cheiranthus Siberian Wallfl.-Gold
] Delphinium
] Dianthus (Sweet William) mix
] Dianthus deltoides(FlashingLtsred
] Dicentra- Bleeding Heart - red
] Digitalis, Foxy (Foxglove)mixture
] Gaillardia, Burgundy
] Geum,Lady Stratheden(dbl.yel)
] Gypsophila, Double Snowflake
[ atprr s .yellow $1.89 Plants will be in Plastic Grower Trays: $1.49ea
4 Sweet 100,65 days (cherry) Tiny Tim, 45 days,Patio
PERENNIALS, Urgently Needed
!!!
The Civic Garden Centre would appreciate receiving any perennials that members would like to donate for the Spring Plant Sale. These should be delivered in pots (available, free at the Centre) 2 to 3 weeks prior to May 14.
ALSO any empty flats could be left at the Centre.
REMEMBER!!!
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS KEEP US GROWING
PRE-ORDERS WEDNESDAY, MAY 14th, 1986 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
PUBLIC SALE
THURSDAY, MAY 15th 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, MAY 16,17,18 & 19, 1986 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plants listed on this order form are nursery grown for the Civic Garden Centre. Take advantage of pre-order pick up offer to ensure the full range of materials.
PLEASE ORDER BEFORE APRIL 30th, 1986
Your selection is to be picked up Wednesday, May 14th from 1 to 8 pm ONLY.
Name Address
City Prov.
Postal Code
Phone ( )
A 10% member s discount will apply to advance orders only and only if order is received prior to APRIL 30th, 1986.
Orders charged to Mastercard or Visa accounts will receive 5% discount only.
FLOWER DECORATIONS:
Pamela MacKenzie, Librarian.
THE PERENNIAL GARDEN:
Color Harmonies Through The Season
by Jeff and Marilyn Cox Rodale Press, 1985
Interest in perennials has been growing in recent years, but good books about them for the North American gardener have been all too few. With its emphasis on planning for color harmony month by month, this book is a welcome addition to the library, both for the beginner and for the more experienced gardener.
A special feature is a comprehensive chart of some 155 genera, their species and cultivars. Each plant is described by its form and function, height, colour, season of bloom, soil and light requirements and hardiness. An added bonus is the 80 colour photographs.
Neall & Cullen Nurseries Ltd. Landscape Design Service
$30.00 landscape design fee for a front or a back yard, design is totally refunded when you purchase $200 or more of Weall & Cullen nursery stock. A $30 fee applies at the time you receive your plan. ($60 for both front & back yard, refunded with $400 nursery stock purchase.)
Save 1 0% If your order is received before March 31, 1986. We offer a 10% discount off the regular price of your entire order - peat moss, manure, fertilizers included. (Sale items not included). Orders must be accompanied by a 25% deposit at the time your order is placed.
A New Approach to Flower Arranging by Fleur Cowles. Villard Books, 1985
Fleur Cowles, writer and flower painter, has a cleverly informal approach to flower arrangement. With the help of stunning colour photographs she has written a stimulating book, a must for those looking for fresh ideas.
VOLUNTEER NOTICEBOARD
YOU
REALLY ARE THE BEST!!
As Trellis is preparing to go to press Garden Festival is closing for another year. At least as far as our Educational Exhibit is concerned, it would never have opened if it weren t for your generosity in donating your time.
And what more precious commodity is there?
Thank you Dorothy
Trellis Shop
by Jackie Brisby
Hopefully, many of you were inspired and stimulated by the recent Flower and Garden Show and that gardening is now foremost in your minds. We would like to remind you about one of our aids to beautiful gardens, the composter or Soilsaver stocked in our shop. The award winning architectural shape compliments a garden landscape and is attractive enough to be used near the back door. It is built to last, from tough resistant polyethelene that won t crack or rust.
To use, one just lifts off the lid to feed in organic waste such as fruit and vegetable trimmings, grass clippings, leaves and weeds from the garden. Micro organisms break down the material which is kept moist and well aerated within. Bacterial activity raises the temperature, destroying weed seeds and disease bearing organisms. Convenient doors are provided to remove the dark, sweet smelling compost whenever it is needed.
Price is $99.95
Visit our Trellis Garden, Gift and Book Shop Toronto area s best source for BOOKS ON GARDENING
Over 900 Titles in stock
SOILSRNER COMPOSTER
It has been a dreary winter not many sunny days and it is lovely to have the birds to brighten these days. We have received a new large shipment of bird feeders from $9.00 to $100..00 & a good variety of bird seed. Pigeons and starlings can be discouraged by using sunflower seeds only, in open sided feeders. Distlefink feeders filled with niger seed will attract the smaller birds such as redpoles, siskins and goldfinches. We hope you will come in to have a look at our selection
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
Canvert your garden and kitchen waste intoFREE, nutritious compost in weeks.
Unique thermal construction and complete ventilation system ensure complete rapid decomposition. Two easy access doors to remove compost. Designed to be seenforconvenientbackdoorcomposting.
THREE NORTHEASTERN AMERICAN GARDENS
by David Tomlinson
PART 2 cont. from Feb. Trellis NAUMKEAG
Naumkeag, the second garden on our itinerary, is located on Prospect Street a few minutes drive from the centre of Stockbridge. This garden presents a complete contrast in landscape terms to the rustic gardenesque character of the Berkshire Garden Centre. It is very much a garden which appeals to the intellect rather than the emotions. There are very few flowers, its beauty lies in the careful juxtaposition and detailed design of the many features which were carried out over a period of thirty years by the landscape architects, Nathaniel F. Barret and Fletcher Steele.
The garden is dominated by the Norman style summer mansion which I would advise you to visit also. It was designed by architect Stamford White for Ambassador Joseph Hodges Choate in 1886. The house has a very valuable collection of chinese antique furniture and pottery. All the rooms are furnished in the style of the late 1930%. I was particularly interested in the contrast between the comfortably furnished family rooms and the almost spartan furnishings of the servants quarters as I always thought that North America was a classless society, but the house reminded me very much of the large mansion in England where my mother and father worked when I was a small boy where the difference between upstairs and downstairs was just as marked.
The
To the south of the house lies the restful afternoon garden, a small formal knot garden with neatly trimmed, low box hedges, surrounded by rows of tall oak posts (originally dredged from Boston Harbour), these have been carved and. coloured to represent Venetian columns, draped on ropes between the columns are garlands of woodbine. In the centre is a small black mirror pool which reflects the open sky. Iron work benches, a pink Roman throne and a bronze statue of a winged Greek god complete the peaceful scene.
Below this garden a gentle slope leads to the Chinese pagoda, that enshrines the 300 year old sacred fingered rock which Miss Choate, the daughter of Joseph Choate, brought back from China. The pagoda is not genuine Chinese but was fashioned from a cast iron porch recovered from an old house in Washington D.C. The grape vine relief was painted and gilded by Miss Choate personally. Behind the pagoda a Linden Walk, which was planted by Miss Choate, beckons invitingly into the ferny wood. This long avenue is quite an unusual design feature as it is comparatively rare to see a formally planted avenue through the centre of an otherwise natural, informal woodland and the effect is arresting.
Another startling feature is the cascade which occupies the long slope in front of the house. A broad brick and stone stairway with water trickling down the
" @ountry Squires Garden
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 12 - Oct. 19
Over 2000 different hardy plants, alpines, dwarf conifers and shrubs, Hardy ferns, vines, groundcovers and native wildflowers
Send $1. for a plant list by mail to above address
centre leads from the upper terrace down a series of stairways which pass through a grove of silver birch trees on either side of four large shell-shaped founts. It is only when you have reached the bottom of the slope and look back that the full effect of this formation can be appreciated, the inside faces of the founts are coloured a brilliant blue which forms a dazzling contrast against the shimmering snow white trunks of the birches.
There are several other interesting features in this garden including a gravelled promenade between large dark green ovals of clipped cedar. A deceptively simply designed rose garden with a strong Art Nouveau influence occupies one of the lower terraces. This design is remarkable for its restrained use of plant material. The roses are sparsely distributed and are used as punctuation in a garden which is dominated by a linear flowing ground pattern of narrow contrasting bands of white marble chips and brilliant green closely mown strips of grass. This must have been a very daring piece of landscape design in the late 1930s.
Authentic Chinese gardens are quite rare in the west as they do not seem to have the same artistic appeal to westerners as Japanese gardens which are very popular. Generally they consist of Chinese objects set in what is fondly thought of as a Chinese landscape setting. This is not the case at Naumkeag which has one of the best interpretations of a Chinese garden I have seen. This is due to Miss Choate s close affinity with the Chinese and her understanding of Chinese religion and aesthetics. I was struck by the similarity between Naumkeag s Chinese garden & the Chinese Peoples Republic Garden at the recent Liverpool Inter. Garden Festival. Although the Festival garden was more grandiose the intrinsic elements were very similar.
She created her brick walled Chinese garden to bring together the stone figures and carvings which she collected in China in 1935. The mossy enclosure, which is entered through a twisting design to deceive the devil, is shaded with a mystic grove of nine ginko trees which were originally rediscovered in the grounds of a Chinese temple in 1754. Before this date they were thought to be extinct as they were only known from fossilized leaf shapes found in
A tiled roof temple presides over the garden and this is approached by the spirit walk which a tablet carved with the
buddhas, lions, dogs, pieces of coal. includes imperial dragon, over which only the Emperor could be carried for purification. The visitor returns to the front of the house through a round moon gate in the garden wall.
Naumkeag is open daily from late May to Labour Day, except on Mondsay from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. A separate fee is charged to visit the house and the garden.
PART 3 cont. in April Trellis
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
CHINESE TREES AND SHRUBS
by J. Punnett cont. from February Trellis
SHRUBS
Let us scale down to the shrubs, where we find some interesting items. I discovered that the Peking Hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla Bretschneideri ) has been grown at the Dominion Arboretum and rated hardy to Zone 3b. It forms a sturdy bush 8 - 10 ft. (3m) high and the older stems have chestnut-brown, peeling pbark. The broad, white, lace-cap type flowers are borne in July. This shrub was introduced to cultivation from the mountains about Peking in 1882 by Dr. Bretschneider.
One of the things I dislike about Lilacs is that apart from the flowers they are so dull. It was a surprise to learn of a Lilac with attractive leaves. Syringa oblata, found in a Shanghai garden in 1856 by Robert Fortune, in addition to its early flowers has leaves which are bronze-tinted when young and red in Fall.
How about a Weigela with yellow flowers? Hardy to Zone 4, Weigela middendorfiana forms a compact bush 3 - 5 ft. (1-1.5m) high, with sulphur-yellow, bell-shaped flowers in early Summer. I wonder what flower colors the hybridizers would come up with if they crossed this species with the red Weigela florida?
For those who garden on acid solil, there are North Chinese Rhododendrons, (R. dayrucyn) is deciduous, grows to 6 ft (2m), and has bright, rosy-purple flowers early in the year. R. schlippenbachii is also deciduous, but grows 10 - 15 ft. (3 - 4.5m) with exquisite white or soft rose flowers. In the wild it grows in sunny situations in not too-acid soil, which might tempt me to try it in the open on
neutral soil. Has anyone grown it under those conditions, I wonder?
There were a few shrubs that I could not determine the hardiness of, but they sounded too good not to try out. Two lime-tolerant, broadleaved evergreens that might succeed given Winter protection are Photina serrulata and Quercus phillyreoides. The young growth of Photina serrulata is bright, coppery-red and is reputed to be very frost-resistant. It flowers in Spring and has red fruits like Hawthorn, to which it is related. Quercus phillyreoides, an evergreen Oak, has shining green leaves on a rounded bush giving a well-clothed, choice appearance.
An ornamental Bramble with striking white stems, Rubus cockburnianus hails from Northern and Central China. It is strong-growing, to 10 ft. (3m) and the arching, purple stems are overlaid with a white bloom. The leaves are fern-like, and it sets black fruit. It sounds very similar to the Korean Bramble, Rubus coreanus, which is hardy to Zone 5.
Finding sources of supply for these trees and shrubs may be difficult, but not impossible. Some may be available locally, with a little perservance. Others may have to be imported. The Woody Plant Source List published by Agriculture Canada, is currently under revision and when the new edition is available (early this year) it should be of considerable assistance to all who crave to obtain something beyond what the local garden centres have to offer.
Finally, I would ask anyone who grows unusual or rare plants to write to Trellis and share their knowledge with us. There are so many plants that we could be growing, if we only knew about them!
COMING EVENTS
SOCIETY OF ONTARIO NUT GROWERS
SPRING AUCTION
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1986
at Civic Garden Centre 1:15 - 3:15 pm
The S.0.N.G. Auctions are famous for the variety of nursery trees, craft and miscellaneous nut lore which are brought forward for sale. Trees available will include: hazels, hazelberts, northern pecans, walnuts, filberts, and shagbark hickory, native and Chinese chestnuts, black walnuts, almonds, sweet kernel apricot seedlings, and many more. Also some rare ornamental trees and bushes.
Successful bidders will be asked to pay for items immediately after they have been declared SOLD! Please have small bills and change on hand for easy and quick transactions.
23rd ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW on MARCH 23rd, 1986 1-5p.m.
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
Mini Rose Nursery
Collector of Miniature Roses For list and map Write Florence Gahagan
NURSERIES
CIVIC
* President Mrs. Camilla Dalglish
* Ist Vice - President Mr. Donald McLaren GARDEN % 2nd Vice - President Mr. Brian Bixley
* Treasurer Mr. Charles Coffey
Board of Directors: * Executive Committee
For 1985: Mr. Brian Bixley, Mr. Charles Coffey, Mrs. Rae Fowler, * Mr. Peter Hand, Mrs. Hazel Lyonde, Mr. Howard Stensson
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.
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