" Let s start a growing friendship soon at a Sheridan Garden Centre.
You'll ind it 8 Sheridan
Ualue With comparable prices on the most extensive selection of high quality nursery stock in Canada. » B
b ltallty With over 1,200 types of hardy plants and trees, locally raised, fresh from the soil and Guaranteed to Grow".
VarletY With Canada s most comprehensive listing of nursery stock and garden accessories . . . the 74 Sheridan Garden Catalogue. Now available at any of the four Sheridan Garden Centres in Metro, Mississauga, Unionville, or Etobicoke, Sheridan can supply all of your gardening needs.
Uppermosl in the minds of all Milne House Garden Club members this time of the year is the annual fund raising project known this year as Fashions with Flowers.
To be held Wednesday, September 25, in the Minkler Auditorium of Seneca College (Finch and Woodbine avenues), Fashions with Flowers will feature Black and White, Mix and Match, The Cardigan, Pants without Cuffs, and the Long Gown all for the new autumn season from The Patricia White Shoppe, our fashion co-ordinators. Hats from Georgena Spearn will complement many of the ensembles; and, as in previous years, Cardish Furs will thrill us with an outstanding collection of fur fashions. This year we are incorporating men s fashions too, in order to help us keep that special man in our life as mod and fashionable as he wishes the woman in his life to be. Come and see our outstanding array of fashions and marvel at our very special models!
Milne House Garden Club s annual flower show, to be held in conjuction with the fashion show, will complement the theme Fashions with Flowers. The afternoon show, opening at 1:30 pm. will be devoted entirely to flowers and horticulture with films pertaining to the floral arts. The evening show, opening at 7:30 pm, will incorporate the flower show, fashion show and presentation of awards for the year. The presentations
Indoor Light GardeningSpecialists
o Terrarium lamps e Hobby greenhouses
e Wall & table o Humex models accessories
e Build-up mini- e Stewart gardengardens ware
Exotic, Miniature & Terrarium Plants at The Plant Room, Oakville, 878-4984
EQUIPMENT CONSULTANTS AND SALES
@ 2241 Dunwin Dr., Mississauga, Ont. LSL 1A3 Phone 828-5925
Milne House Garden Club presents
Fashions with Flowers at Minkler
Auditorium
will be made by well-known garden broadcaster and writer, John Bradshaw. Wine and cheese will be available at the afternoon show and a cash bar in the evening.
Classes for the flower show will feature such themes as, Warp and Woof a study in textures; Creative Stitchery a design to complement a piece of handwork done by the exhibitor; Basic and Black a study in black and white; Evening Elegance original table settings and floral arrangements; The Wet Look a water viewing for the novice class; The Bikini miniatures, of course; Nearly New dried arrangements useful for an entire season; and The Photograher a men s invitational class. We'll be looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 25.
Work on your shade trees done by competent, professional men with years of experience. Call us early for an estimate.
/ //w% me{&frr e v@g
1480 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto, Ont. M6E 1C7 (416) 654-7025
PEFFERLAW PEAT COMPOSTED MANURE/ PEAT MIX
The ideal soil mix correctly balanced to fill the needs of all growing plants indoors or out.
G. T. STRAIN & SON
Cannington, Ont. Phone (Toronto) 364-6068
Regular Features
Milne House Garden Club, 3; Volunteer activities, 8; Gardening Events Calendar, 12; Light Gardening Group, 14; Highrise Gardeners, 14; School of Floral Decoration, 14; Shop, 20; and Library, 21.
Other ltems of Interest This Month
American Garden Writers Award, 8; and Stop Insect Pests entering Home, 9.
The Front Cover
Beautiful James Gardens, in the valley ofthe Humber, captured in tranquil September scene. Photo by Art C. Drysdale.
Civic Garden Centre Board of Directors
Mrs. K. G. (Audrey) Allman; R. H. (Roy) Bainard; Mrs. J. H. (Betty) Billes; J. (Jack) Blair; J. E. (John) Bradshaw; Mrs. D. P. (Elizabeth) Bryce; G. P. (Geoff) Clarkson; E. A. (Ed) Endersby; R. A. (Reg) Mackenzie; G. A. (Gib) Milne; E. R. (Ernie) Pope; Mrs. E. (Flavia) Redelmeier (Chairman); Mrs. F. W. (Genevieve) Robertson; W. (Wilf) Sanders; L. C. (La ) Sherk; Mrs. R. (Helen) Skinner; T. W. (Tom) Thompson; D. H. (Dave) Yerex.
Staff for Civic Garden Centre and Trellis
George Sinclair, Executive Director; A. C. (Art) Drysdale, Associate Director and Editor; Mrs. J. W. (Awdrey) Clarke, Executive Secretary.
General Information
N, Trellis is published monthly (except July and August) by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue < East, Don Mills, Ontario, M3C 1P2. The Centre is located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, the geographical centre of Metropolitan Toronto. It is a non-profit gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Subscriptions to Trellis are only available through Centre membership (85 for 12 months). Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. This is Volume 1, Number 7.
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE Telephone 445-1552
- What it is
« A non-profit gardening and floral arts centre for the dissemination of information to amateur gardeners and flower-arrangers
« An open membership body with over 2,000 keen gardener-members (from rank amateurs to advanced professionals) who pay only $5 for 12 months
« Home of six gardening clubs or groups with specific gardening interests
« Meeting place for specialized plant societies from Bonsai to Roses
» Home of some of the best flower arrangers in North America (quoted from U.S.A. author and editor, Helen Van PeltWilson)
What it does
« Operates Canada s most complete public horticultural library
« Responds to over 3,000 gardening questions annually
o Organizes, in both spring and autumn, garden talks and demonstrations on a wide variety of subjects and atdifferent levels
» Teaches non-commercial flower arranging at various levels to over 300 persons annually and encourages their competition
« Carries on an extensive flower-drying program to extend garden beauty through into the winter months economically
« Operates a Speakers Panel Bureau which brings panels of experts on various subjects to groups desirous ofan informative program
« Publishes information booklets on various subjects; e.g. Preserving Beautiful Flowers
o Stages two flower shows each year and hosts numerous others
What members receive ($5 annual fee)
o Ten issues per year of Trellis
« Free borrowing privileges from the 3,000-volume library
« Ten per cent discount off all purchases of books and gardening and floral arts supplies bought from the Centre
« Opportunity to join one or more specialized member groups or clubs
« Discounts off all courses offered at the Centre
« Free admission to Members Nights held at least twice per year
177 Lawrence Ave. East (in Edwards Gardens), Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Trellis / 5
If this issue of Trellis reaches you as you are about to depart for Europe I hope you have already decided to visit WIG 74 the Vienna International Garden Show, which runs until October 14!
A 250-acre garden park of innovative design, WIG 74 offers amateur gardeners idea upon idea for planning and planting. With large tracts left in a natural form, the site also has intensively planted annual, rose, perennial and national gardens, in addition to a children s playground, thermal baths, restaurant, monorail ride around the site, and commercial exhibits of all that is new. The imaginative rose hill is particularly impressive and may be seen from many different angles at various points on the site.
Though the outdoor displays were stunning, I was most impressed by the two indoor exhibits I saw. The flower and vegetable show, June 20-24 showed the way to modern presentation ofboth flowers and vegetables. Some of the arrangements made strictly with vegetables were more beautiful in appearance than flower arrangements turned out in this country by florists! Then, when I thought the beauty ofthe flower and vegetable show could not be surpassed, I visited the rose show which ran from July 4 to 7. Here again were modern presentations of roses both in small and large arrangements and in landscape plantings with authentic settings. Over 70,000 sq. ft. of freshly cut roses in bloom!
Oddly enough, though the garden show is a spectacular highlight in Vienna, there is considerable antipathy toward WIG 74.
My first encounter with the public criticism came during my cab ride in from the airport the first day. The taxi driver, Johannes Cizek, once I told him
Vienna Intemo onul" Garden Show a Success to all but Viennese
Art C. Drysdale, Editor
I knew of WIG 74, alerted me that a great deal of public opinion in Vienna (stirred up by a hostile press as I was to learn) opposed the great expenditure of money in developing the WIG 74 site so far removed from the inner core of the city.
Alfred Auer, parks (garden) director for the City of Vienna, whose department has total responsibility for all of the outdoor aspects of WIG, defends the whole concept on the basis of the need for developed parkland in the outlying areas (30 minutes by streetcar from the core) as well as centrally downtown. He points to several smaller green areas in the central core, but emphasizes their incapability ofcontaining recreation facilities such as thermal baths, and others to be constructed in later years when the WIG show is over.
Criticism of WIG 74 seems generally to be limited to the Viennese, for in the smaller cities of Austria, little concern about the issue is evident. However, criticism is very prevalent in Vienna. The press continues a barrage of damning articles which have the citizens up in arms about the huge expenditure ($25,000,000 for the site not including the indoor display halls, but including roads, lights, plants, monorail, etc.) in one remote part of town .
Austrian federal government participation
Johannes Cizek, who was actually a university economics student, perhaps summed up the typical man on the street viewpoint when he said, *. . . all of that money, used within the heart of our town would have served many more (people) .
So fierce was the press criticism of WIG 74 that officials were forced to
6 / September 1974
lower the $1.25 admission cost by 25c. This was done by allowing a 25c¢ rebate off the admission price on presentation ofa streetcar fare receipt showing travel to the site on that particular day.
Alfred Auer s explanation, though, regarding the future multi-use of the site is an effective one, and I suspect that Viennese officials initially did a poor job of selling the concept to the public generally and the local press specifically.
Mrs. Grete Nehammer, who is in over-all charge of the indoor show aspects of WIG 74, offered a similar explanation of the adverse publicity the show is receiving. She thinks that their press relations were lacking from the very beginning .
It was interesting to learn that the entire outdoor WIG 74 show was, and is, being financed by the City of Vienna. That cost. $25.000,000 is not being augmented by the Austrian national government, although the costs of the six separate indoor shows ($50,000 for each show, except the opening extravaganza in April which came to $150,000) is being shared between Vienna (the city) and Austria (the nation).
Immediately below, a large flower arrangement featuring Allium and Eremurus shown during the indoor flower and vegetable show in late June. At bottom, part of a massive ''desert theme vegetable display at same show, which lasted four days.
Above, overview of four-day indoor rose show held beginning July 4. Note openingday crowds. Both indoor shows occupied a building of over 70,000 sq. ft. Inmediately below, part of secluded natural valley area which contrasted well with the intenselyplanted portions of the show such as that in the third photo the spectacular rose hill complete with night lighting. At bottom, portion of German national garden shows stunning arrangement of annual flowers through canvas summer-house. All photos by Art C. Drysdale.
Centre s Volunteers busy with Shows and Demonstrations
Eileen Brooks, Co-ordinator
Having waited impatiently for good picking weather , which finally commenced later than normal this year, our Centre s volunteers are now equally impatiently jumping ahead of the season to our autumn programmes.
Immediately after our participation at the Canadian National Exhibition, we will be part of the Family Day and Sports Fair at Cold Creek Conservation Area, on Sunday, September 8. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority in conjunction with the West Toronto Conservation Club, the Sports Fair will be yet another opportunity for our volunteers to introduce the Centre, and its activities to new clientele. Along with stock from the Centre s garden shop and bookshop, we will have a continuing demonstration and sale ofassorted dried plant material, and items crafted with some of this processed material. Then, on October 19, we will be partici-
Garden Writer s Award from AAN goes to Canadian for First Time
CFRB sgarden broadcasterandToronto Sun writer John Bradshaw received the
pating in an Arts and Crafts Show sponsored by the Lady Reading Chapter of the 1.O.D.E. This is being held at Islington and Cordova avenues in Etobicoke. Here we will demonstrate the making of fantasy flowers and offer for sale a number of these intriguing items.
October 26 and 27 have been set aside for our own Winter Bouquet Sale.The format this year will be somewhat different, for much of our saleable material will be pre-packaged in three sizes of window-lid boxes, plus a varied assortment of glycerined leaves and other loose material for a wider do-it-yourself selection. For those who prefer to buy the finished products beautiful arrangements of colourful flowers and foliage that will last all winter long there will be a small but select number ofdried flower arrangements. Additionally, we will have hand-crafted items (made by our own volunteers) incorporating pressed and dried flowers.
As in past years, we will be happy to provide our custom made winter bouquet service, with customers either providing their own container(s), or pre-selecting from our garden shop. Please call 445-1552 if you wish to place an order, and leave your name and phone number for me to contact you at the earliest opportunity.
16th annual American Association of Nurserymen Garden Writers Award Monday, July 15 at the keynote luncheon of the AAN convention at the Four Seasons Sheraton in Toronto.
Harold S. Crawford, president of the AAN, presented Bradshaw with the bronze plaque awarded * for outstanding garden writing which has contributed to the public s better understanding of the value of plants and gardening . Previous recipients of the award include journalists Tom Stevenson, June Hicks, Charles Potter, and Victor Ries. Bradshaw is the first Canadian to be honoured with the Garden Writers Award.
Harold Crawford (left), president of the American Association of Nurserymen, is seen presenting John Bradshaw with the association's Garden Writer's Award the first ever in 16 years, to be presented to a Canadian.
~ AUTUMN GARDENING COURSE
- Mondays, at 1:30 and 8:00 pm for six weeks excepting Thanksgiving Day, October 14. Telephone your registration to the Centre NOW.
September 9 Trees and Shrubs for Fall Planting
by Lawrence C. Sherk, Chief Horticulturist, Sheridan Nurseries Ltd.
September 16 Bulb Forcing Workshop for Indoor Beauty by Allan J. Higgs (aft.), General Superintendent, Etobicoke Parks and Dick Maier (eve.), Foreman, Edwards Gardens
Se?tember 23 Fall and Winter Pruning Made Eas!" by Tom van Ryn, Landscape Contracting Dept. Sheridan Nurseries Ltd.
Soatember 30 Preparing the Garden for Winter by W. E. (Bill) Hartnoll, The Old Garden Doctor , Garden Commentator
October7 Winter Propagationof Plants and Useof Lights by Ray E. Halward, Chief Propagator, Royal Botanical Gardens
October 21 House Plants and Terrariums for Your Home by Mrs. Leni Forsdike, Indoor Plant Consultant, The Plant Room, Hornby
Cost: $3 for each talk for non-members; $2.50 for members. Members may register for all six talks at a fee of only $11. Call us NOW.
S'op Insed Pes's Spraying a solution of chlordane four to six inches high around the foundation of your en'ering house, once in the fall and again in the spring, will help keep undesirable pests Your Home such as ants, spiders and roaches out. An average home requires about six gallons.
by Spraying Foundation
hen autumn arrives, the home gardener is usually hard pressed to complete all the chores that come with the end of another growing season.
Cleanup operations are important to the winter appearance ofyour garden as well as preparing the garden for a strong healthy start next spring. But one task that should not be neglected, is the preparation of your house s foundation to stop unwanted pests from entering your home. With the arrival of the first chill, insects are attracted by the heat radiated from the foundation of your home. The smallest crack in the foundation or doorway often becomes an expressway for insects seeking a warm winter home. Such pests spoil or damage clothing, food and furniture and are a decided nuisance.
Spray your home s foundation with a (Conclusion on page 20)
A new treatment for Dutch elm disease has been available to the general public on a limited experimental basis this summer. The treatment, which consists of a new chemical formulation (CFS1020) and root injection process, has shown some promise in stopping the spread of Dutch elm disease in certain elm trees.
Since 1971 the Canadian forestry service has been co-operating with a number ofother organizations in testing the new method for stopping this fatal disease of elm trees. Most of the tests have been conducted at Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa.
Equipment for inoculating an elm tree s roots with new fungicide being tried by Canadian forestry service researchers, in conjunction with private tree surgeons, in order to control Dutch elm disease.
Canadian Fungicidé for Dutch Elm Disease control being Tested among Public
This year the forestry service, with the co-operation of the Ontario Shade Tree Council, offered a course on the operation of the root injection process to a small number ofcertified tree service companies and to representatives of various city parks departments. Following the course, in July at Carleton University, the forestry service supplied each participant with enough chemical to treat 50 elm trees averaging 24 inches in diameter. The commercial operators made the treatment available to the public on a first-come first-served basis.
The cost of the new treatment is still considered to be expensive and therefore for use with high value elm trees only. However, the treatment cost per tree is considered to be in line with the cost of removing the same tree if it dies. The cost to the individual for the treatment depends upon the size of the tree (larger trees use more chemical) and the distance ofthe tree from the base ofoperations of the commercial operator.
The extension of research on the root injection process to the general public through certain commercial operators is designed to give the forestry service additional field information on the technique. If any difficulties encountered are overcome this year then wider commercial use may be possible next year.
Wider use of the new process will also depend upon the outcome of an application for registration of the new chemical for use by registered pest control officers and a patent application that has been made by Canadian Patent and Development Ltd., the crown corporation which holds the rights to the chemical.
Commercial operators making the treatment available are located in Ottawa, Roxboro (Montreal), Stouffville (Richmond Hill), and Cobourg, Ontario. Civic parks personnel participating are from Ottawa, Kingston, Hamilton, Niagara Falls and Orillia.
Orien a gardener reluctantly cuts down, or has a tree company cut down, a large tree on his property for one of several reasons. Generally the stump is left, and numerous suckers sprout from it, creating an ugly sight. The stump may be removed mechanically but this is a costly operation, and may be virtually impossible if the stump is located in a small back garden.
While it is sometimes possible to use a stump as the base for a patio table, if it is both the right height, and ideally placed these two requisites seldom occur together. Patio containers, planted with the usual fare, can be placed on flattened stumps, but this is not much more than a temporary measure for most gardeners.
On enquiring from neighbours and other gardeners, you may learn that the old solution to removing stumps involves placing saltpeter in the stump and burning it out of the ground. The problem is that the exact details of this treatment usually are not given, or are forgotten, and consequently when the treatment is attempted it fails to work entirely, or is only partially successful.
Since autumn is the ideal time to treat stumps prior to spring burning, Trellis suggests you retain the following information for future reference.
Saltpeter (Potassium nitrate) produces its own oxygen as it burns, and it therefore is capable of burning without the presence of ample air in almost any location including in the soil. It is for this reason that it is so successful in burning old stumps. The treatment is most effective on newly cut-down trees, but seems to work to some extent on any stump.
The best time of the year to start the treatment is the fall or, alternatively in
How to Banish that ugly Tree Stump
early winter, when holes should be drilled into the stump. The holes should be 12 to 2 inches in diameter, and should go at least 14 inches deep. The larger the stump the deeper the holes should be up to 18 inches deep and the more holes there should be. As an example, if the stump is 42 inches in diameter, five holes should be drilled. The holes should be filled to théir entire depth with granular Potassium nitrate, available at drug stores. The holes are then filled with water, which forms a solution with the chemical. The holes should then be plugged, preferably with dowling, or wedge-shaped plugs fashioned for the job beforehand. It is important to seal the holes well; the entire stump is then left alone until the following spring.
In spring the plugs are removed from all of the holes, and the holes filled with gasoline or similar inflammable liquid which is ignited. Generally the stump will smoulder for many days and will burn to the extremities of the roots quite often leaving only an empty outside shell.
The reason for the complete removal of stumps by this method is that Potassium nitrate in solution moves through the vascular system of the tree into the roots and once the tissue is ignited at the top, the flame follows the Potassium nitrate down to do a complete job of burning, creating its own needed oxygen as it goes. If a stump should go out before it is entirely burned, it is often possible to re-ignite it.
Main reason for failure of this system, if it should occur, is that the stump is an old one that does not have its water conducting vessels intact. For this reason, it is best to employ this stump removal system within the first year after the tree has been cut.
Events in blue held at Civic Garden Centre; more data from the Centre (445-1552) unless a specific phone number given. All other events (in black) held elsewhere; for data call phone number given. All events begin at 8:00 pm unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviations used as follows: H. = Horticultural; S. = Society; and G.C. = Garden Club. Note: Civic Garden Centre Shop and Library open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, plus additional hours listed below.
SEPTEMBER ] 2
Men 's Garden Club 3
Etobicoke H. Review of Members sum- 5255) mer gardening activi: ties
Southern Ontario Orchid S. Tour (759-1439)
Oshawa H.S. Dahlia Show (728Thornhill H.S. Annual Flower 8302) | Show (889-0231)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 | Library and Shop open 1 pm to 5:00 pm
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Dominion Budgerigar So- 8 Fall Gardening Course at 9 Highrise Gardeners of ]O Indoor Light | ciety Annual Show at 1:30 and 8:00 pm Toronto Group Noon
Westway H.S. Mystery Garden Tour (247-6093)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
Civic Garden Centre Au- ] 5 tumn Flower Show at 1:00 pm Featuring Bonsai and Children s exhibits
Toronto Bonsai S. (782-2403)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
Canadian Chrysanthe- 22 mum and Dahlia S. Show at 10:00 am and Auction of Blooms at 4:00 pm
Batik Art Show at 10:00 am
Georgina Brock H.S. (432-2592)
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Fall Gardening Course at ] 6 1:30 and 8:00 pm
Kingsway-Sunnylea H.S. Annual Show (239-9316)
Mount Albert H.S. (473-2120)
Newmarket H.S. (895-4145)
Stouffville H.S. (640-1922)
Westway H.S. (247-6093)
Woodbridge H.S. Dahlia Show (851-0300)
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Fall Gardening Course at 2 3 1:30 and 8:00 pm
Markham H.S. Late Summer Show (294-3267)
North York H.S. Autumn Show (221-2158)
Roseland H.S. (893-1288)
Gardeners and Florists Assoc. of Ontario regular monthly meeting (222-1275)
North Toronto H.S. Autumn Show (488-4749)
Richmond Hill H.S. Flower Show (884-2286)
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Aurora H.S. (727-6232)
Leaside G.C. Annual Show (481-0192)
17
Pickering H.S. Fall Show (2822441)
Toronto African Violet S. (6914450)
Unionville H.S. (297-1430)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
Batik Art Show at 10:00 am29
Southern Ontario Orchid S. Tour (759-1439)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Fall Gardening Course at 30 1:30 and 8:00 pm
Scarborough H.S. Chrysanthemum Show (282-8728)
Brampton H.S. (459-0119) 24 Lakeshore H.S. (2782517)
Lake Simcoe (Sutton) H.S. 4764087)
Schomberg H.S. (939-2146)
OCTOBER
Men's Garden Club regular monthly meeting
Uxbridge H.S. (852-6959)
Library open 7
Cloverleaf G. 3476)
Library open 7
Milne House Gz Fashions with Minkler Audito neca College & pm
Brooklin H.S. Show (655-3791
Swansea H.S. (762-1001)
Library open 7
E (742- 4
ardening ] l all Show Autumn Show
» 9:00 pm
(278- ] 8
Thurs Fri
12
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
East York G.C. Septem- ]9 ber Show (425-7496)
1 9:00 pm
fen Club 25 lowers", im, Se1:30 and 7:30 nrysanthemum
Lnnual Show
9:00 pm
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Canadian Chrysanthe- 26 mum and Dahlia S. (2232964)
Beaverton H.S. Vegetable Show at 3 and 7:00 pm (426-7878)
13
Dominion Budgerigar So- 7 ciety Annual Show at 1:00 pm
9:00 pm
20
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
Civic Garden Centre Autumn | 4 Flower Show at 1:00 pm Featuring Bonsai and Children's exhibits
Agincourt G.C. Annual Show (294-1701)
East Toronto H. & Dahlia S. (691-3665)
Riverdale H.S. Annual Show at 4:30 pm (466-4235)
Scarborough H.S. Annual Show at 3:00 pm (282-8728)
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00
Canadian Chrysanthe- 2 ] mum and Dahlia S. Show at 2:00 pm
Highrise Gardeners of Toronto Bus Tour at 1:00 pm
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 pm
27
Nobleton H.S. Flower 28 Show at 2:30 pm (8590808)
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Library and Shop open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Canadian Rose S. Annual 5 Meeting at 1:00 pm
Library open 7 to 9:00 pm
Library and Shop open 1 to 5:00 LPM
Gardening Under Lights Group to hear George Sinclair and visits Boston
The only Canadian chapter of the Indoor Light Gardening Society of America has a busy month coming up. First, they get back to a regular schedule of monthly meetings beginning on Wednesday, September 11 at 8:00 pm, when the Centre s new executive director, George Sinclair will address the group on some of the basics of growing plants indoors, under artificial light. George has a lifetime background in horticulture and gardening and is ably qualified to answer any and all questions from those attending.
Then, October 4-6 is the time of the first national meeting of the Indoor Light Gardening Society of America, and representatives from chapters in all parts of North America will be converging on the Copley Plaza hotel in Boston.
Interested Toronto members, or nonmembers, wishing to attend should contact the Centre (445-1552) as soon as possible, indicating whether they wish to drive, be driven, or fly. This will be an ideal opportunity to visit with others, advanced and just beginners, in light gardening and to bring back some of the rare plants that perform so well under artificial lights.
Highrise
Gardeners welcome Visitors on Bus Trip to Ben Veldhuis Ltd.
Highrise Gardeners of Toronto have two events coming up in September. On the second Tuesday (the regular meeting night), September 10 at 8:00 pm, Miss Martha Veldhuis will bring her knowledge, experience, charm and wit to us. She will talk about the many dif-
14 / September 1974
ferent house plants thatyou can grow in your apartment, and as a bonus, she ll have her whole collection for sale! Any one who has never heard Martha need only ask a member who has, and you will surely receive an enthusiastic endorsement of the entertaining and informative evening she provides.
Then, on Saturday, September 21, at 1:00 pm, a Highrise club group will leave from the Centre s parking lot for an afternoon bus tour to the greenhouses of Ben Veldhuis Ltd., in Dundas Ontario. This tour is open first to members, but if you are interested in going, and are not a member of the Highrise club, just telephone the Centre s office (445-1552) and leave your name. There will be quite a few spaces for interested parties, and we know you will enjoy the tour. Cost is only $3.50 per person.
Flower Arranging Classes begin again at Centre in Autumn
The Civic Garden Centre pioneered, with the Garden Club of Toronto, the organization of non-commercial flower arrangement courses for those interested in the floral arts. This was in 1960. Now, courses at three different levels are run during the fall, winter and spring seasons, and are ofsix weeks duration (four weeks for advanced level). Courses operate at various times, and it usually is possible to take the course of your choice either in the morning, afternoon or evening. Cost for the beginners course isjust $12 for the six lessons, plus a $5 membership in the Centre, for which you also receive ten issues of Trellis.
Course 1 will be operated on six consecutive Wednesdays beginning September 11, both at 1:30 in the afternoon with Mrs.Genevieve Robertson instructing, and at 8:00 in the evening with Mrs. Louise Brooks instructing. Course 2 will operate on six consecutive Thursdays beginning September 12 at 1:30, with Mrs. Dorothy Ross instructing, and also at 8:00 in the evening.
The title, A View from the Crow s Nest , seems appropriate because | thought you'd like to hear as all gardeners do what the view ofthe future is from the top ofthe mast. Now I'm no agile midshipman but with the help ofa number of agile-brained men and women all experts in their fields I've been able to gather some fascinating views of a few things that lie ahead to challenge all gardeners.
World weather
Dr. Tuzo Wilson, Canada s famed geophysicist, verifies recent news stories that world temperatures are changing. For the first half of this century, that is up to 1945, average world temperatures rose sharply. Since then they have steadily dropped about 2.7°F so far. England s growing season is now two weeks shorter than prior to 1950. Our own Peace River country will probably have to change from wheat to hay and oats because unripened wheat is useless but unripened hay and oats can still be used as food forcattle. Iceland s yield of hay per acre has, over the last few years, dropped by 25 percent. And all this because of yearly lower temperatures.
Polar ice caps are advancing and some scientists believe that we're heading into another major ice age similar to the one 20,000 years ago when where we are now was buried under a mile of ice. Most important for gardeners, therefore, is the research which Dr. Allan Chan, director of the ornamental research service of Agriculture Canada, tells me is going on in all federal research stations to find cold-hardier plants both for commercial and home garden use.
Dr. Wilson also tells me that the land is tilting. Toronto is gaining shoreline, Rochester, New York, is losing some
A View from the Gardener s Crow s Nest
Lois Wilson* -
and when I talked to him quite recently he had come back from a conference in Holland where the Dutch reported that the sea is rising yearly and the day could come when the dikes just won t be able to hold it back. You can imagine what could happen to our beloved Dutch tulips and daffodils ifthis occurs!
Edible plants
Another world note. Dr. Ib Nonnecke, chairman of the University of Guelph s horticultural science department, points out that there are about 250,000 edible plants growing on this earth but that only about 100,000 of them are in use anywhere and that only about 20 are actually widely used. He (Continuation on page 17)
Lois Wilson
* Lois Wilson is author of Chatelaine s Gardening Book, a Canadian best-seller. She is also garden broadcaster on CBC radio s Radio Noon' and former gardening editor for Chatelaine magazine. A former ber of the Centre s board of directors, Lois is now vice president of Meadowvale Botanical Gardens.
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Gardener s Crow s Nest
(Continuationfrompage 15)
suggests that we all should look for new plants to extend our lists. He says, for instance, that fuchsia seeds are edible and could be grown commercially like blueberries. The names and addresses of four prime seed sources for unusual vegetables are available from the Civic Garden Centre.
The secret life of plants
I know you all have green thumbs, but have you all got loving hearts for your plants?
More and more, from all over the world, we re hearing of scientists and amateurs observing evidence of what seems to be a miraculous pulse existing between plants and all living matter. Well there s a fascinating new book you'dall love to read. It tells about people who are trying to identify this magical pulse. It s called The Secret Life ofPlants. This is the kind of thing it reports: a Viennese biologist has actually measured the movement of a tendril of a climbing vine a plant like a clematis and found that it always sweeps a full circle in exactly 67 minutes, finds a perch, within 20 seconds starts to curve around it, and within an hour has wound itselfso firmly one can hardly tear it away. The tendril then curls itself like a corkscrew around its support and in so doing pulls the whole vine up.
And, an electronics expert in New Jersey has been able to demonstrate, before a TV audience, that by merely willing it to happen, he can command a Philodendron attached by an electric control to a toy electric train, to start it to run around its track, then to stop it and even to reverse itself. There is no connection between the man and the plant but his thought!
I promise you that you will find this book fascinating reading. You may order it from the library ofthe Civic Garden Centre. Cost is $10.30, with 45 cents more for mailing.
Air pollution and plants
We're all aware of the encroaching effects of air pollution. Plant damaging oxidantsin the air doubledin the nine years between 1961 and 1970 and in one year, it s reported, more than 110 million tons of pollutants are released over Canada and the United States, much of it damaging to plant life.
You can t now, for instance, grow a healthy lilac in downtown Philadelphia according to Dr. Russ Seibert, director of Longwood Gardens. The beautiful London plane trees planted around Toronto s new city hall did not survive because of fatal damage from air-borne pollutants, according to Earl Martin, one of Canada s leading arborists. The American Horticultural Society is presently making a study of plants that will survive under polluting conditions and they ve produced a little booklet called Environmentally Tolerant Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers Listed by Zones of Hardiness. Canada is included in this. Keister Evans, executive director of the society, tells me that they are extremely short of accurate information for such plants in Canada and he would appreciate your support in checking and verifying their lists.
The endangered species
Now to come to our own Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. In the Ontario Horticultural Association report for 1972, district 8 asked for support to have regulations passed to protect rare wild flowers like the showy lady slipper. Mr. F. A. Walden of the resources ministry tells me that regulations have already been passed to protect the peregrine falcon, bald eagle, blue racer snake and timber rattlesnake.
Now, although we have these regulations, so far there have been none written to protect wild flowers. This, because no one has been able to provide authentic proof of what an endangered wild flower is.
Such a study would entail recording the locations the specific wild flower grows in, its growth pattern over a number of years and proof that it is endan-
(Continuation on page 18)
Trellis / 17
the time orrcsoumsu denbelieves that am@re valuable way to save our rare wild owcrs and a quickerone is to teachpeople(young children in school,adults through the ; media) to cherish thesqtreasures and bl s noto deslroy them :
e Search for finenewplants
i Last April 1 talkedwithDr. Marc I3 Cathey, leader of ornamental investiment ofAgriculture. Hehasavery special challengefor allofus. Hebelieves that the legacy for tomorrow s landscape is our responsibility to-day and he urges us all to searchfor new plants among those we already have in our gardens, fields and woods. He says there s urgent need for individual plants to be found withfiner form and colour, with more tolerance to disease and insect attack and with extended plant hardiness, andthat the logical place to look for themis amongplants we have now.
Our own Royal Botanical Gardens in i Hamilton recognizes this in their present search for a fine native white dogwood and a native showy-flowering, autumn witch-hazel; they ask for your help. If you know where there is a fine specimen of either the white dogwood or the autumn witch-hazel, send them an exact description ofits whereabouts.
Community and allotment gardens
I see from the crow s nest, a continuing and increasing interest in community and allotment gardens. This year we have seen fantastic enthusiasm among people who live in apartments to have a plot of land to make a garden. And, whether highrise buildings continue to be built or not, we already have, in a big city like Toronto, more than 50 percent of our households locatedin thesegreat bare barracks.
A Gallup poll made:iu'st last year in the United States,estimated that 30 million more peopleinthatcountry would tremendous taskandf jpéop)ehavc oit.Mr. Wal- ; lcentagrgof thbs
gations for the United States Depart- from relatives,and69percent said th garden iftheyhad thelandand18milwere inthe 13'729@
figures this meansth t be million people who garden would likeon garden scheme!
Thepoll also surveye which beginning gardeners - help:79 percent saidthey le read about gardening inbooks a d magazines. Way down the list in 14th place, with onlyfour percent, were those who said they learnedabout gar ~ dening through adirectmembershipin a horticultural societyoragardenclub. Maybe it's time we checked up onourselves and our programmestohelpnew gardeners howmuchare we helpmg those new gardeners who perhapsdo have relatives to tumto" £
New spacing for vegetablegardens
Here are some new recommendahons for those of you who are vegetable gardening. Previous recommended spacings have been revised. Dr. Nonnecke of Guelph says and England s national vegetable research station gives measurements that forbest cropsyou should plant closerthanbefore. Recommended spacings now are 20 carrots per square foot, 5-8 beets, 4-6parsnips and all leafy crops should be spaced to form a closed canopy over the soxl when they mature. beb
Horticulture for the handieapped S P i
A hopeful view of the future is the newly created National Council for Therapy and Rehabilitationthrough Horticulture. This council has already gathered reportsverifying thathandicapped children, the chronicallyill,and aged folk all benefit from gardening. And,nght at the Royal BatamqalGar: et dens in Hamilton we have twomen Ray Halward andLynn Dmn o, are already makingstudi new0rkcanbestbc d % {
' _pfégra wme. funded by the outreach section of the Ontario Ministry ofUni~versity and Colleges, cultural division, thatis making it possible to study the - needs, set up programmes and issue ~ bulletins about gardening for the handi- ~ capped.
We have right now in our treatment and hospital centre for crippled - children in Toronto, a centre where 225 handicapped children from all over On- tario come for treatment every day a need for a garden therapy programme. - To do this on a year-round basis, they would need a specially designed greenhouse with aisles wide enough for wheelchairs and low benches at which ~ little people can work. Since this paper was delivered originally in June, a study of how such programme could best be set up has been initiated by the Ontario Horticultural Association in conjunction with the Ontario Society for Crippled Children treatment and hospital centre.
New plants and techniques for home gardeners
Now let s talk about what | see from my crow s nest for you and me in our own gardens. The Chipman Chemical Company here in Ontario are marketing what they call blister packs of insecticide and fungicide chemicals for fruit trees; and insecticide, fungicide and miticide chemicals for roses and other garden plants. They re water-soluble packets andare pre-measured for a gallon of spray. You use no spoons and your hands don t touch the chemicals. You simply drop the whole packet into the water and it completely dissolves. How would you like to grow a thinskinned little yellow potato called Fingerling ? One plant produces a vast number of 2-4 in. potatoes, only one inch in diameter. William Block, writing in Organic Gardening, says they are the best salad and frying potatoes he s ever eaten. I've checked with our plant protection office in Toronto to make sure that you could import the seed pieces without a special permit and you may.
anthemums that don tneed long peri~ ods of short days to bloom. There sa - long list,but his favourite is Waterton , aone-to-a-stem quill type flower and a lovely mauve-lilac colour. It savailable now from the Lacombe Nursery in Lacombe, Alberta.
Dr. Pat Harney, also at the University ofGuelph. is working with cobalt radiation to produce finer geraniums with better colour and longer lasting blooms. She has two ready to release, Aladdin a deep red and Bo Peep , a delightful pink.
The Federated Women s Institutes of Canada are sponsoring a new shrub rose called Adelaide Hoodless , honoring Adelaide Hunter Hoodless of Hamilton who, recognizing the need foreducation among rural women, organized in 1897, the women s institutes of Canada. The rose, a red floribunda, is vigorous, upright and grows about four feet tall with few spines. The best news of all, it blooms continuously and profusely from June through to fall. It s faintly fragrant and lasts well when cut. Sheridan Nurseries Ltd. hopes to have it next year. Since it was bred in Morden, Manitoba. I would expect it to be hardy for most of Ontario.
Leonard Butt ofgladiolus fame, has a new fragrant glad called Happy Talk , and Ray Halward, the Royal Botanical Gardens propagator of many skills, has registered a silver spirea to be called, appropriately, Halward s Silver . In a couple ofyears Ottawa s Dr. Chan is expecting to introduce some superb rhododendrons from the research station at Kentville, Nova Scotia, and in his houseplant division, work is just about finished on a smaller cyclamen that will stand up well to the change from greenhouse to the home atmosphere in winter.
And, last of all be alert for the intro-_ duction of the new university hybrid delphiniums from England. They're vibrant red, coral and yellow and are truly pretty enough to make even a colour blind crow come down out of his nest to gaze on them!
Centre s Shop now has stock of beautiful Miracle Bulb
Mrs. Doris Weir, Shop Director
Seplembcr brings with it increased gardening activity, and almost the same fever pitch at the Centre as is experienced in the spring. This year we are again busy at the Canadian National Exhibition horticultural building with a booth featuring gardening aids, small gifts, and flower arranging know-how and mechanics. Hopefully we will make many new friends for the Centre, and particularly for our shop, at this year s ENE,
Bought especially for the exhibition this year, our members, and other interested gardeners will be interested in the top-size colchicums we have available, both in the shop and at the Ex . The colchicum, or as it is sometimes (improperly) known, the fall crocus, is
really a miracle bulb. When you buy it, it looks like any other fall-planted bulb. But there the difference begins. You do NOT plant it outside. Instead, you just let it sit on a kitchen counter, windowsill, or on a saucer to decorate your living room. You don t even water it!
Soon the growing shoot will develop, and a flower bud will be evident. And, then the real beauty, the mauve-purple flower emerges and lasts for a week or more. All this without soil or water! Why not come in and get a supply now for your friends who are new to gardening, or for the kids to take to school. But do it soon, our supply is limited.
While talking about bulbs, I need hardly remind regular customers of our shop that we will again have a line of top-size Dutch tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and many unusual minor bulbs, but as is the case every year, come in early while the selection is at its best. The bulbs should be ready later in September. Phone me, and T'll let you know whether the whole consignment is ready.
As mentioned in the June issue, we have a good supply of Flora-Cure silica gel for preserving garden flowers in their state of beauty for the entire winter season. It s so easy, anyone can do it. A four pound jar that s re-useable as many times as you like, costs only $6.95. And, as for any purchase at our shop (over $2), if you are a member of the Centre, you are eligible for a ten per cent discount. Come in soon.
Stop Insect Pests
(Conclusionfrom page 9)
solution of chlordane, a mixture designed for soil pests and acknowledged by many garden experts as the best preventive material for this job. Apply the spray material once in early fall and once again in early spring to keep your home off limits to crawling insects such as ants, spiders, roaches and millipedes. It is suggested you pay particular attention to corners, door and basementwindow mouldings, and the visible cracks and mortar-chinks in the foundation when spraying. Patch these entryway holes in the foundation whenever possible.
Centre s Library and Bookshop gear up for Autumn Surge in Interest
Mrs. Wendy Hillier, Librarian
There always seems to be so much for a gardener to do in the autumn. Still, it is nice to be able to steal a few moments for a good book especially if one s knees and back ache.
Perennial gardens are where it s at these days after a brief fall from popularity. If you are one ofthose who are starting or refurbishing an herbaceous perennial border you.may find one of the following books useful: Time-Life, Perennials, at $7.95, or A. Bloom, Perennials for Trouble-Free Gardening, at $5.50. These, and all others mentioned are available in the Centre s library and may be purchased through our bookshop. Members receive a ten percent discount on purchases over $2. Books may be purchased by mail, but we ask that between 25 and 75¢ be added to the cheque you send to cover the postage and mailing depending on the size of the book.
Flower arrapging courses are beginning again and we should like to remind you ofour rule of only one flower arranging book on loan at a time per person. Books circulate faster this way, making a wider choice available for all. Christmas books, t0o, will fall under this restriction until the new year.
Amongst the new books on flower arranging are: A. Ascher, The Complete Flower Arranger, $11.50; B. Pearse, Step by Step Guide to Flower Arranging, $2.95; and F. Hillier, Basic Guide to Flower Arranging, $16.50.
The fall gardening series is also underway again this month and those determined to benefit most from the garden talks will want to supplement their notes with material from the library or bookshop. As well as hardcover books, visitors will find excellent Brooklyn Botanic Garden handbooks available on each of the subjects and at ~ only$1.50 each.
Ifyou visited the Centre s bookshop booth at the CNE, you will have noticed the Canadian Wildflower Datebook, at $4.95. This is only one ofthe 1975 calendars which have begun to arrive. Several new calendars and many favourites from last year are available.
Many people interested in flowers will want to preserve them for winter enjoyment either by drying, pressing, or by making potpourri. Much information to guide you is available in the library. For instance, have a look at: J. Heriteau, Potpourris and other Fragrant Delights, $5.75; E. MacDermott, The Art of Preserving Flowers, $4.95; and P. Bauzen, Flower Pressing, $3.95.
Member, Evva Yellowley, has supplied us with the following review of Plant Consciousness, Plant Care by Shirley Ross, which sells at $9.15.
What an amazing little book! Impersonal, objective, tightly written. Part one a straight-line historical tracing of man s 1) involvement with, 2) disregard for, and 3) apparent contemporary awakening to and appreciation of, the reality of plant life. Part two a rock-bottom basic course in plant care as good as any I've seen.
The decorators among us wouldn t have the patience for part one or the interest in part two. The hobbyist types would like it ifthey're relaxed enough to be thinking of all plants as friends rather than just their own plants as make-work projects.
A good percentage of our articles are already being enjoyed by gardeners in colder climate areas than southern Ontario for which Trellis is edited. For this reason, I reluctantly devote this page to what many will consider strictly a *Toronto matter .
The Yonge Street Mall, when it first opened in 1970, was recipient of superlatives from all across Canada. It was hailed as an example to be followed by other cities. Only the smaller city of Ottawa had preceded Toronto s move, with a summertime mall for several years, which eventually became a permanent mall. Now Toronto s mall has concluded its fifth season; innumerable versions, variations and lengths have been tried. At present, with the amount of bad publicity it has been receiving, there is every chance it will not be repeated next year.
Many Torontonians, for various reasons, will be pleased if the mall is never seen again! Some merchants state it suppresses their turnover of merchandise or services (others, ofcourse, experience a tremendous boom). Inner-city drivers curse the additional traffic problems it presents on adjacent streets. The establishment shun the type ofcrowd the mall supposedly attracts. The artsy people claim it is tacky and in bad taste. The parks and recreation department bemoan the loss of plant material through theft and vandalism. And, the police claim it acts as a magnet for all types of criminals.
Each of these groups has a good point. However, it is my contention that if the mall was made a permanent installation beginning next summer, some degree of each group s complaints would disappear. A number of mall proponents have stated that it is time for the city to consider seriously a permanent mall or drop the idea entirely. | suggest that a permanent mall be
And, may | now have the seventh Last Word ?
Art C. Drysdale,
Editor
planned to open next July between Dundas and King Streets. Then each year another section should be added say north to Gerrard in 1976, north to Carlton and College in 1977, south to Wellington in 1978, north to Wellesley in 1979, south to Front in 1980 (from which point it eventually could tie-in with the park development at Harbour Square and the federal government s Harbourfront project), and finally, north to Bloor in 1981.
The logical question is, If the temporary malls have presented problems, what is there to indicate that a permanent mall would ease the difficulties? .
Well first, for the disgruntled merchants, the experience in other cities (Ottawa, and major cities in other countries) indicates that once a city becomes adjusted to a permanent mall, business considerably exceeds the previous norm for all types of operations. This situation applies to traffic flow, in much the same way major road closures due to bridge repairs etc. are endured after an initiation period. As to the type of crowd , if you lived in Toronto during the early 1960s, you'll remember Yorkville as a hippie haven . Then gradually, they all went away over to Yonge Street and this was before the summertime malls!
The artsy people make a good point the temporary malls, by their very nature, are not pleasing but a permanent mall, could be well designed and this could substantially lower the vandalism and almost eliminate theft of plants. Finally, the criminal element obviously will not go away. but it will not be attracted (much of it from the U.S.A., which better immigration laws would control) by the few busy summer weeks of a temporary mall.
I'm for a permanent, partially heated in winter, mall for 1975!
22 / September 1974
JOHN BRADSHAW
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