Start a growing friendship soon at a Sheridan Garden Centre
At your closest Sheridan Garden Centre you will find the most (and best) of everything to start growing friendships .
You will find the finest selection of nursery stock in Canada. . . more than 1200 types of plants and trees locally raised, fresh from the soil and Guaranteed to Grow'.
And at your Sheridan Garden Centre you will also find expert nurserymen who are pleased to assist you in every way possible. They will help you select whatever you need and will answer any questions you may have.
Let s start a growing friendship soon.
April 18-October 19, 1975
Bundesgartenschau, the bi-annual German federal garden show. staged this year in two parks in Mannheim (just south of Frankfurt), Germany. Several indoor shows throughout the period. Contact: the Civic Garden Centre for information.
April 26-30, 1975
La Floralies de Ghent, the Belgian Floralies held in Ghent, Belgium. Contact: the Civic Garden Centre for information.,
May 20-23. 1975
Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society. at Chelsea Royal Hospital Grounds. London. England. And other shows held lhroughoul the year at the society s halls. Contact: the Civic Garden Centre.
Coming Events of International Gardening and Floral Arts Interest
May 16-17. 1974
International Lilac Society Convention, Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois. Contact: the arboretum at (312) 968-0074.
June 8. 1975
Canadian Iris Society Show, sponsored by the society at Royal Botanical Gardens. Headquarters. Burlington. Contact: the gardens at (416) 527-1158.
June 20-22. 1975
Ontario Horticultural Association Convention, at Barrie, Ontario. Contact: Russell F. Gomme (416) 965-1091.
October 8-13. 1975
American Horticultural Congress, sponsored by the American Horticultural Society at Honolulu, Hawaii, with tours to other islands. Contact: O. Keister Evans (703) 768-5700.
Introducung -
Kerigrow needs no mixing with water it s ready to use straight from the handy dispenser. Just squeeze six drops into the soil in the pot then water as usual. "Kerigrow contains the plant foods your houseplants need to stay healthy: Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash plus seaweed extract an added organic nutrient.
@AVAILABLE NOW AT GARDEN SUPPLY OUTLETS
This Month s Articles
Features
Coming Events of International Interest, 3; Speakers Panel Bu- : reau, 9; Gardening Events Calendar, 16; Bookshop, 24; and e Shop, 25.
Other Items of Interest This Month
Highrise Gardeners crowd in to view Balcony Accessories, 10.
The Front Cover
The gorgeous window box, photographed in Victoria, British Columbia, illustrates the possibilities of balcony gardening to which this issue is dedicated. Photo by A. 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; Mrs. J. A. (Edna) Gardner; R. A. (Reg) Mackenzie; G. A. (Giz) Milne; Mrs. M. A. (Chris) Okawara; I§ R. (Ernie) Pope; Mrs. E. (Flavia) Redelmeier (Chairman); Mrs. F. W. (Genevieve) Robertson; W. (Wilf) Sanders; L. C. (Larry) Sherk; Mrs. R. (Helen) Skinner; T. W. (Tom) Thompson; D. H. (Dave) Yerex; W. A. (Bill) Young.
Staff for Civic Garden Centre and Trellis
George Sinclair, Executive Director and Mrs. J. W. (Awdrey) Clarke, Executive Secretary. Art C. Drysdale, Editor and Adver- tising Director.
General Information
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 ($5 for 12 months). Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. This is Volume 2, Number 4
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
What it is
® A non-profit gardening and floral arts centre for the dissemination of information to amateur gardeners and flower-arrangers
e An open membership body with over 3,000 keen gardener-members (from rank amateurs to advanced professionals) who pay only $5 for 12 months
e Home of six gardening clubs or groups with specific gardening interests
e Meeting place for specialized plant societies from Bonsai to Roses
e Home of some of the best flower arrangers in North America (quoted from U.S.A. author and editor, Helen Van Pelt Wilson)
What it does
e Operates Canada 's most complete public horticultural library
e Responds to over 3,000 gardening questions annually
e Organizes, in both spring and autumn, garden talks and demonstrations on a wide variety of subjects and at different levels
e Teaches non-commercial flower arranging at various levels to over 300 persons annually and encourages their competition
e Carries on an extensive flower-drying programme to extend garden beauty through into the winter months economically
e Operates a Speakers Panel Bureau which brings panels of experts on various subjects to groups desirous of an informative programme
e Publishes information booklets on various subjects; e.g. Preserving Beautiful Flowers
e Stages two flower shows each year and hosts numerous others
What members receive ($5 annual fee)
e Ten issues per year of Trellis
e Free borrowing privileges from the 3,000-volume library
e Ten per cent discount off all purchases of books and gardening and floral arts supplies bought from the centre
e Opportunity to join one or more specialized member groups or clubs
e Discounts off all courses offered at the Centre
e Free admission to Members' Nights held at least twice per year
777 Lawrence Ave. East (in Edwards Gardens), Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
REQUIRES AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
This non-profit gardening and but not a prerequisite. Candidates floral arts centre is dedicated to must possess excellent managethe dissemination of information ment and inter-personal skills. to amateur gardeners. Located in The position holds particular Edwards Gardens, the geographic appeal for a career-conscious percentre of Metropolitan Toronto, son wishing to become involved the Centre is soon to embark on with a rapidly expanding organia building programme that will zation in the increasingly popular triple its facilities. gardening world. Salary is nego-
The new director will be responsible to an independent board of directors for the operation of the Centre and its educational programme, with staff of paid employees and volunteers.
Applications invited from those with administrative experience; a horticultural background an asset
tiable. Working hours are flexible because of an active evening programme. Qualified candidates should send (or deliver) a comprehensive résumé, including compensation level, to: Mrs. E. Redelmeier, The Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Don Mills, Ontario.
Trellis
New annual flowers, roses and vegetables receive a considerable amount of publicity as they are released, thanks to programmes such as the All American Selections, All America Rose Selections, etc. Other ornamentals, perennials and woody plants do not have the advantage ofsuch masses ofpublicity, nor does the public have the advantage of hearing about them. This is unfortunate because each year numerous new and most often improved selections of trees, evergreens, shrubs and perennials are made available to the gardening public, especially in the United States, but in Canada as well. The keen gardener must turn to the year s newest nursery catalogue and fend for him or herself. Some of these plants, as noted here,
New Evergreens, Shrubs, Herbaceous Perennials and Trees deserve greater Public Awareness
Lawrence C. Sherk* are available for the first time anywhere, others for the first time in Canada or eastern Canada; still others are well known plants such as the native white oak and Kentucky coffee tree that are now readily available commercially for the first time.
There are numerous, prostrate spreading junipers already available for use as ground covers and in foundation plantings. One would think it difficult to find a selection that is distinct, but two, not one, are available here in eastern Canada for the first time this season. Jade spreader juniper (Zones 4 to 9) is
USE Lawn and Garden
e Loosens tight, clay soils
o Fertilizes with soluble calcium and sulphur
o Promotes deep root growth
o Counteracts salt damage
o Promotes seed germination
o Fosters fast, durable blooms
GRAND PRIZE
Lawn & Garden Gypsum Distributed by HILLVIEW FARMS
* Mr. Sherk is author (with Arthur Buckley) of Ornamental Shrubs for Canada published by Agriculture Canada. He is presently chief horticulturist with Sheridan Nurseries Ltd. in Toronto, and a member of the board ofdirectors of the Civic Garden Centre,
from a California nursery and has a most distinctive jade-green colour and thickly set foliage that creates a heavy mat-like appearance. The plants are very low growing, spreading to cover about four feet eventually. The Prince of Wales juniper (Zones 2 to 9) has already attracted considerable attention in Western Canada where it originated several years ago. The blue-green needles are tufted in a most unusual manner that gives this juniper a most distinct texture. Plants are compact, and likewise spread eventually to four feet. Both ofthese junipers are ideal in sunny areas for use as ground covers, at the front of foundation plantings, in rock gardens or for Bonsai.
Putting a new yew on the market is a very slow process taking many years of evaluation and years to .produce plants of a saleable size in quantity. In 1951 Cottage Gardens of Long Island, New York, released the black yew, Taxus media Nigra (Zones 6 t0 9). It is just now being released in Canada. This is a slow growing yew, only slightly faster growing than the popular dwarf japanese yew. It is broader than tall with an ultimate spread offour feet. Foliage is a very dark green colour, thus its name. As with all yews it is ideal for use in completely shaded or sunny plantings.
Developing and putting new boxwood or box on the market is almost as slow a process as is the release of new
yews. Sheridan Nurseries has, over the years, led the way in establishing boxwood as an important landscape plant in Southern Ontario. From the first few seedlings grown in Oakville in 1930, thousands are now planted each year. Green mountain box is the latest in the expanded list of boxwood now available for use in Southern Ontario. It is the third selection to be named from a cross between the English and Korean box species. This selection, as the name suggests, is more upright, forming an attractive cone shape to 4/ feet with little or no trimming. Like the other Sheridan hybrid box, Green Gem and Green Velvet , this one also has consistent, very deep dark green foliage throughout the year with no bronzing during the winter months as is the case with Korean box. This selection will be particularly useful in shaded foundation plantings and in some cemetery plantings where more height is desired than that of the Green Gem box but where space may be more limited.
Skogholm Cotoneaster is a useful, aggressive evergreen ground cover plant. excellent for holding banks and keeping out weeds once established. Coral beauty cotoneaster is an improved selection with more prolific and more colourful red fruit. Maximum height, is 18 to 24 inches. The spring-flowering heaths, (Erica carnea) are gradually gaining the recognition they deserve
Mrs. Cornell Shasta Daisy, at left, blooms for an extended period in mid to late summer; photo by Sheridan Nurseries. At right, a huge old white oak, though slow growing, is an investment for the future; photo by Agriculture Canada.
here in eastern Canada. They can be easily grown if some peat moss and sand is added to the soil. Springwood pink heath, a highly rated, light-pink flowering selection is now available here. It flowers in early April as soon as the weather turns mild.
As mentioned, two more of Canada s native trees, the white oak, Quercus alba, (Zones 4 to 9) and the rare Kentucky coffee tree, Gymnocladus dioicus (Zones 5 to 9), are now available for general planting. Both are slow growing, long lived trees. The white oak is one of our most majestic trees with a broad, round head, wide spreading branches and glossy green leaves that turn a purplish red in autumn. The Kentucky coffee tree is a most picturesque tree particularly during the winter when its large, open branching habit and stubby twigs are shown to best advantage.
Princeton Sentry Ginkgo (Zones 6 to 9) is a unique tree combining the narrowness of the Lombardy poplar with
Work on your shade trees done by competent, professional men with years of experience. Call us early for an estimate.
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CodroattSapdeape Av/r_m/ 1480 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto, Ont. M6E 1C7 (416) 654-7025
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The ideal sterile mix for all your cuttings and seedlings. Avoid seedling diseases, use our proven mix as professionals do.
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Cannington, Ont.
Phone (Toronto) 364-6068
the long life and immunity to pests of the Ginkgo. This is a male form with a stout central trunk that does not require staking. Foliage is dark green turning a brilliant yellow in autumn. Here is an excellent tree for use in areas where space is restricted, especially in crowded urban locations where ginkgos have long grown so well.
Double-flowering crab apples have been receiving considerable attention the last few years and two more are now available here. These are: American Beauty with clear-red double flowers, and bronze-red young foliage that matures an attractive bronze-green. Cameron is a new selection from Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. The flower buds are deep purplish red, opening to bright and distinct two-toned flowers which are a clear pink that shades into a strong purplish red border. Its foliage is a lustrous bronze in spring, becoming dark green by mid-season. Both crab apples are rated as hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
Sheridan Nurseries is releasing two new herbaceous perennials in 1975 from its own ongoing program of plant development. These are the Mrs. Cornell shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum), a dependably hardy shasta daisy with semi-double clear white flowers on 30-inch stems in July-August, and Sherway gold coreopsis which has bright orange-yellow flowers throughout the summer on neat plants only 24 inches in height. Both of the perennials are ideal for massing in the perennial border in full sun. Both are also ideal for cut flowers.
Indoor Light GardeningSpecialists
e Terrarium lamps e Hobby greenhouses
e Wall & table e Humex' grhse. models accessories
e Build-up mini- e Stewart gardengardens ware Exotic, Miniature & Terrarium Plants at The Plant Room, Hornby, 878-4984
EQUIPMENT CONSULTANTS AND SALES
@n Dunwin Dr., Mississauga, Ont. L5L 1A3 Phone 828-5925
[ A visit to a reliable garden centre i within the next month will allow you to SPECIAL
GARDENING
inspect some of these new plants so that TALK you may plan to include appropriate | ones in your 1975 garden.
on
The Selection and Growing of Garden Lilies
D ish Id have f by S2%: on t you wish you could have flowers year 3 roundyand start your own flowers and vege- x John E: Bryan i tables from seed? You CAN, with the Vary Director, Strybing Arboretum Hogby Hou_?_% wlllliclgbwals designed f:l)r home
Golden Gate Park, : ardeners. The hobby house provides year : | El'ound enjoyment plus the p?ssilbilily cz{ San Francisco | rowing a much wider variety of plants an the opli )rtunity to experiment. Mypwife has a Thlll SdaY, M?Y 1 1975 10 b]y 2 ft. unit and has produced hundreds 8:00 p.m. Civic Garden ke ofplants such asorchids, pineapple, avocado, Cent all our annuals, cactuses and ferns. This win- entre ter we are experimenting with tomatoes and lettuce besides an in-ground formal garden. Mr. Bryan was formerly closely The hobby house incorporates many quality | involved in the growing and features found in the Vary ?Tmcrcial green- marketing of modern garden houses. It s completely modular in construc- one . . tion and the frame can be assembled using lilies with the firm of Oregon only a few hand tools. The frame is strong Bulb Farms leaders in the IS s fubeHoy-ohord - gt field. His talk will be of intersupplied 1s galvanze 0 prevent rust a H mgst in grcel%houses where humidity is high. est to novice and al.dvance. It is clad in weather-resistant corrugated _gardeners. Coloured slides wi fiberglas panels held in place with cedar pur- illustrate the 1975 and 1976 lins, and can be easily erected by the home- new introductions. owner at no cost. The unit comes complete AN withd sc(;f-s to .ngloalgxmigupi d'ol?r cfg d thel
Admission: $3 for non-memstandard size 1s y L. with additiona » . sections in multiples of 4 ft. lengths. All the bers; $2 for members; 31 for necessary options, such as ventilation and spouses. heating, can be supplied. The basic house re- H tails fogr $500. Forlt;")lrx nher information, please
Refreshments will be served. write or call: G. W. Mann, Canadian Green- For information: 445-1552. houses Inc.. Box 5000, Beamsville, Ontario, (416) 945-4745.
Notice of Annual Meeting
Please take notice that an Annual Meeting of the members of the Civic Garden Centre will be held at 8:00 p.m. on April 29, 1975,at the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ontario, for the purpose of: 1) Considering and approving the annual accounts of the Centre (which are available for inspection at the Centre's office); 2) The election of Directors; 3) The appointment of an auditor; and 4) Such other business as may come before the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Mrs. J. W. Clarke, Executive Secretary
The success of Highrise Gardeners first mini-exhibition ofoutdoor furnishings and accessories, March 11, apparently surprised everyone except the club s members. Part 1 of the Plan Now Plant Later segment of the 1974-75 programme attracted more than 500 people to the Civic Garden Centre auditorium within less than two hours. Exhibitors, the three-year-old club s directors, the Centre, and at least one newspaper would never admit to having been skeptical about a one night stand on the scale envisioned by Highrise programme chairman Mary Mahood, but they all reported amazement after the fact.
The event symbolized the highrise gardening phenomenon which is sweeping Metro and changing the marketplace profile as fast as apartment residents can make their distinctive needs clear to producers. The dozen manufacturer s agents who participated, discovered, less than two days after the Canadian Pool and Patio Show closed, that there is an entirely different audience in town. This one is turned on by words such as balcony, limited space and especially by windbreaks.
Ironically, three manufacturers invited to display items in that all-important last category, windbreaks important to most people who want to make any use of a balcony at all could not even comprehend its significance and chose not to participate. The combined experiences of the highrise membership have clarified the key attributes required of windbreaks about 50 per cent penetrability by wind, and in some cases transparency. Mrs. Mahood passed these on to makers of wood, bamboo and fiberglas products, and even offered her husband s services as a skilled carpenter if only they would supply raw materials. The invitations
/ April 1975
Highrise Gardeners crowd in to view Balcony Accessories
Evva J. Yellowley
were turned down, in one case at the last moment.
Despite this disappointment, and postal chaos which gave publicity chairman Shirley Love nightmares (and her business-executive husband a reputation as the fastest letter carrier in town), the show was a smash hit. Open to the public at no charge, it attracted people who had never seen the Centre and kept volunteers uncommonly busy in the library, book and gift shops. A newspaper photographer assigned alone took one look around the auditorium and called his editor to send a reporter for the full story.
The manufacturers agents appreciated the two-way communication. A paint company representative featured the rust preventive line house-proud apartment dwellers use on unsightly railings; he also learned a great deal about the colour range which interests people who deal with extreme glare on exposed balconies. Furniture exhibitors heard approvals of new lines which combine compactness and light appearance with heat-retarding fabrics and stability against wind, but went away with ideas for folding designs. Carpeting agents, too, said much and heard more about how their products stand up to extremes of wind and sun.
Gardening products were shown in versions adapted to the apartment market. The scale ofpackaging for additives and fertilizers is being reduced in proportion to limitations of space, and there now are tools which seem to be a result of cross-breeding between the utilitarian models a ground level gardener stores in a garage and the dainty gift sets designed as much for bookcase display as for puttering in a few pots on a window sill.
Apartment gardeners do, of course, carry on the window sill tradition, but
increasingly, summer and a balcony mean flowers and vegetables as proudly grown and harvested above the ground as in any garden, albeit in smaller quantities. On display at the Highrise show were containers for use on floors and walls and ceilings, some shown by a craftsman who makes them to individual specifications. Also shown, a unique Canadian-made spring-pole fitted with special brackets for hanging as many as five terra cotta clay pots. And, speaking of gardening above the ground, Trellis editor, Art Drysdale s new book on the subject was displayed as the first Canadian source of balcony gardening information.
No Highrise meeting would be complete without plants, and even on this occasion when attention supposedly was focussed only on the incidentals of gardening they almost stole the show. On loan from Metro Toronto Parks greenhouses was a wide range of foliage and flowering plants, some in their own containers, along with others in display items supplied by Highrise. And, hanging in a corner was a stunning basket of rose Rieger begonias which demonstrated what Plan Now Plant Later
This Whimsy planter, suspended from a Johnny pole, attracted much attention at the Highrise Gardeners display. All photos by A. C. Drysdale.
is really about. Part II of the programme, on April 8, featured David Crozier of Clargreen Gardens advising Highrise members about seed-sowing and how to plant window boxes and hanging baskets. The next meeting will be at the Centre on Tuesday, May 13, when the speaker will be Mrs. Joan McMullen on the subject, My Gosh What am I going to use for a Centrepiece? .
Patio furniture (top and bottom photos) were displayed by two manufacturers. In centre is part of National Garden Supply exhibit with a wide variety of specialist items.
Any introduction to the orchid family needs a few statistics in order that we understand why we must get started on the right foot.
The orchid family is the second largest of the plant families, having numbers of species exceeded only by the grass family. Think of it . . . some 15,000+ species alone, and the number of hybrids quite inestimable. More species are constantly being discovered and hybridizing adds thousands of possibilities each year.
As their natural habitats range from the far north to the most southerly land tips it can be readily appreciated that the majority of species must be eliminated for lack of a suitable environment. As we are going to assume that
So, You want to try Orchids too Here s a Basic Course on Under-light Growing
Walter Norman*
this article is primarily for the home grower whose chief asset is fluorescent lights or a window, let s begin where we should and approach the subject from the standpoint of what environment we have, or can provide, not what we wish we had. Let s choose our plants to fit our conditions, not try to fit the plants to our conditions.
On the assumption that the majority of persons will grow under lights in a house, apartment or basement, temperature will, in most cases, average 65 to 75 degrees, with a small drop of perhaps five degrees or more at night Many plant enthusiasts will probably
* Mr. Norman is editor of Orchid Happenings a monthly published by the Southern Ontario Orchid Society, of which his
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STEP2:APRIL MAY JUNE.
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If you are plagued with ants, June Bugs or other soil insects, use So-Green Bug Killer plus 10-5-10 fertilizer for your second feeding.
Super All Purpose: available in 33-1/3 Ib. plastic bags. Apply at rate of 7 Ibs. per 1000 sq. ft.
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So-Green Distribution Centre 20 Goodrich Road Etobicoke, Ontario
wife is secretary.
have had some experience growing house plants such as African violets, columneas, begonias etc. under lights. Generally speaking, four 48 in. fluorescent tubes will light a two by four ft. table or shelf. Cool white, Gro-Lux, Gro-Lux Wide Spectrum, Naturescent and various mixtures of tubes are all used by growers successfully. The pros and cons of scientific evaluation and personal preference require a separate article on lights and light use.
How long to leave the lights on and how much humidity
Many orchids require a variation in day length, or hours of light per day, in order to produce flowers. It is best to generalize and follow a light length pattern as follows: 16 hours oflight, March through August; 15 hours, January, February, September and October; and 14 hours, November and December. Actually it is not the number of hours of light that does the triggering to produce bloom, but rather the number of wuninterrupted hours of darkness.
Fifty to 75 per cent humidity is preferable, and if you have grown plants such as African violets, begonias etc. successfully, you should have little difficulty. If you are just starting, a reliable hygrometer to measure the air moisture (humidity) will be most useful.
Fertilizing and potting mediums
Orchids generally are light feeders and the use of a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20, or the organic types such as Whale oil or fish emulsion is fine. These may be applied every second watering, but only at about half the strength recommended by the manufacturer. One point I cannot stress too strongly: like humans, orchids will not suffer if they miss a meal or two now and then, but they will suffer if you overfeed!
Potting mediums, as with the choice of fluorescent tubes, are a large subject in themselves so mention is made only of the most common. Fir bark, and a mixture of fir bark with additives for water retention, are the most generally used. The additives for water retention include perlite, peat moss, palco wool, bone meal etc. Where bark or bark with additives is used, it is essential that a fertilizing programme be set and followed closely. Occasionally, plants will
be in osmunda fibre material from the roots of tree ferns. Where this is the case, feeding is not generally essential, and three or four light applications a year is ample.
Now that we have established roughly what conditions we should provide for orchids, the next concern is what kind of orchids to grow. I recommend only three types oforchids for the beginner basically because of their easy culture, availability, price, and long-lasting showy flowers. This in no way is intended to mean that these are the only recommended types and no others are suitable. There are literally hundreds of species and countless hybrids, but the following are my choice for the reasons mentioned.
What types of orchids to choose
My first choices are the Phalaenopsis types commonly in pinks and whites. These have long-lasting flowers born on arching spikes, and the plants are considered ideal for culture under artificial light. The hybrids are the best within this genera for beginners.
My second choices are the Paphiopedilum types. formerly known as Cypripedium. These are the east Indian or oriental counterparts of our North American cypripediums. While they do bear some resemblence, that is their only similarity. Whereas North American cypripediums die back and require a lengthy dormant period, oriental
Close-up of Phalaenopsis orchid in bud and in flower. Photo by A. C. Drysdale.
__For Killing weeds _and fertilizing lawns...
paphiopedilums do not and make really fine house-culture plants. The long-lasting flowers (up to two months) are usually born singly on upright stems in colours ofwhite, red, yellow, green and all combinations ofspots and stripes. Great variety of size and shape also occur within these genera.
My third choices for those with a little extra light in the growing area are the Catrleya types. These are the usually mauve or white orchids commonly seen in corsages, and the type that are most easily recognized as orchids by non-growers. These also have a great range of colour and size, ranging from two-to eight-inch blooms. Rarer and more expensive varieties are available in virtually all colours. I recommend you stay with the mauve and white in the beginning, and avoid the species in these genera as with the phalaenopsis. Since I have over 500 different cattleya hybrids in my collection, it is obviously one of my favourites!
Water heavily but not every day
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The watering techniques for the many different genera do vary somewhat, primarily because of the plants natural habitats and the difference in altitude and latitude. Even more important is whether the plants are terrestrial D (growing on the ground) or epiphytic (growing on host trees, etc.). Cypripediums do not like to be thoroughly dried out (as with African violets), and | water these twice a week. Cattleyas and phalaenopsis like to be dried out after each watering and these are watered once per week. Watering means thorough watering. None of the cup ofwater per pot whenever the surface of the soil looks dry . Water orchids until the water pours out of the bottom of the pot, and then give them a second drench a few minutes later. You will not give a plant too much water at any one watering. God puts no timer on rainstorms. It is when you water too often that harm is done.
The beginner should forget about starting plants from seeds, and purchase only mature plants that have flowered, are flowering at time of purchase, or will flower within a year of purchase. Likewise, do not buy plants in need of re-potting, or out ofthe pot (bare root is
The lawn and garden problem solvers.
the term used) because you still have to learn how to re-pot and re-establish these plants all of which is another story. Sure, when you have grown and bloomed a plant or two, go ahead get a few seedlings and try some other varieties, etc.
You will not likely want to consider starting plants from seed for quite some time as this is generally done only under the most sterile conditions. In any case, have you got the patience to wait an average of seven years for your first flowers on a plant from seed? Setting the seed pod on a plant alone takes from nine to eleven months to mature the pod. Think of that roughly three crops of tomatoes while you are waiting to get one mature seed pod!
If you are on vacation in a warmer climate, do not be tempted to bring back Vanda orchids from Florida, Cymbidiums from California, or Dendrobiums from Australia or Hawaii. Just because one or two you see growing are particularly appealing to you, as exotic and beautiful, does not mean they will grow well in your home. Remember, you did not see them growing under an artificial light set-up did you? I have known people who have collected 20 or 30 plants of which five or less ended up being suited to their home growing conditions. If the plants do not thrive and bloom, what use are they?
Orchids, because of their incredible variety and hybridizing possibilities, leave little to the imagination that cannot be accomplished. Just imagine a new cross with four or five species and a few hybrids in the genetic background what will it be like?
There are many excellent books available on growing plants under lights and some dealing with orchids in particular. Most of these are available for borrowing (by members) from the Civic Garden Centre library, or for sale in the Centre s bookshop. Out-of-town enthusiasts may obtain books from the bookshop by mail. Just write for a specialized list; and keep up to date on new books by reading the library and bookshop columns in Trellis.
The recommendations 1 have suggested are not hard and fast rules. They
are not intended (heaven forbid) to discourage or confuse you. They are just intended to eliminate all but the simplest essentials for the beginner. in order that you may avoid some of the most common rrors.
Above, a Paphiopedilum orchid shown growing under fluorescent light. Photo by A. C. Drysdale. Below, a Cattleya orchid plant showing habit of growth. Photo by W. Norman.
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
Sun Mon
APRIL 27
ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
11 am to 5 pm
Touch of Japan" Bonsai show at O.1.S.E. (782-2403)
Shops & Library open 11amto 5 pm
Southern Ontario Orchid 4 S. at1 pm (759-1439)
Shops & Library open 1 to 5 pm
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE SPRING FLOWER SHOW
11
Abbreviations used are as follows: H. = Horticultural, S. = Society; and G.C. = Garden Club. Note: Civic Garden Centre Shop, Bookshop and Library open 9 am to S 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, plus additional hours as indicated for dates below.
Tues
ADVANCED GARDENING 28
COURSE at 1:30 and 8:00 pm, Annual Flowers A Quick Way to Colour Your Garden
Ajax H.S. (942-0155)
Markham & District H.S. (2943267)
North York H.S. (221-2158)
Roseland H.S. (893-1288)
Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm
Georgina Brock H.S. Spring Show (432-2592) Oshawa H.S.-Spring Show (7288302)
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE 29
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING (See page 9)
Library& Shops open 110 5 pm
Batik Art Show at1 pm ]8 (822-8935)
Toronto Bonsai S. (782- ] 2 2403)
Agincourt G.C. Tulip Show (491- 4110) Cannington H.S. (432-2272)
Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm
Men's Garden Club 6
Speaker Gilbert Milne on Pyramid Culture
Shops & Library open 1 to 5 pm
Library & Shops open 7 to 9 pm
E. Toronto H. & Dahlia S. ] 9 Spring Show (691-3665) Newmarket H.S. Daffodil Show at 7:30 pm (895-4145) Stouffville H.S. Spring Show (640-1922)
Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm
Highrise Gardeners of ] 3
Toronto North Toronto H.S. Spring Show (489-5543) Pickering H.S. Plant Auction (839-2037) Richmond Hill H.S. (884-2286)
Library & Shops open 9 am to 5 pm
Library & Shops open 7 to 9 pm
Rhododendron £ ada Toronto Gn Auction at 7 Etobicoke H.S. ( Uxbridge H.S. (852-6959) Shops& Library
Gardening Und Group
Unionville H.S. Plant Sale (297-
Thornhill H.S. (889-0231) 20 Cloverleaf G. 3476)
Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm
Shops & Libran
Toronto African Violet 25 Ajax G.C. (942-0155) 26 Brampton H.S. (459-0119) 27 Brooklin H.S. (1 Society Annual Show, Kingsway-Sunnylea H.S. Lakeshore H.S. (278- Swansea H.S. ( Saint Who Saintpaulia at1 | (233-3849) 2517) pm (691-4450) Markham H.S. Spring Show | Lake Simcoe (Sutton) H.S. (476(294-3267) 3087) North York H.S. Spring Show | Pickering H.S. Spring Show (221-2158 (839-2037)
Shops & Library open 1 to 5 pm ) Roseland H.S. (893-1288) Scarborough H.S. Spring Show (282-8728) Westway H.S. (241-7028)
Schomberg H.S. (939-2146)
Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm
7
Thurs Fri
MAY 1
G.C. of London, Ontario Spring Flower Show at 10 am (4398012)
G.C. of London, Ontario Spring Flower Show at 10 am (439-8012)
Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia S. (2232964)
8
Riverdale H.S. Spring Show (466-4234)
2
3
9
Shops & Library open 10 amto § pm of Canup Plant '42-5255)
flam Auction
10
Shops& Library open 10 amto 5 pen7to9 pm Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm pm
r Lights ] 4
East York G.C. Spring ] 5
lower Show & 178) ? z_«.- / Show & Plant Sale (4257496)
Scarborough H.S. Plant Sale (282-8728)
Scarborough H.S. Plant ] 6
Aurora H.S. Tulip Show ] 7
Sale (282-8728) (727-6232)
Georgina Brock H.S. Spring Show (432-2592)
Library & Shops open 7 to 9 pm
L oers- 21 Canadian Chrysanthe- 22 mum & Dahlia S. Plant Sale (223-2964)
Beaverton H.S. Flower 23 Show & Plant Sale (4267878)
Brooklin H.S. Plant Sale (6553790)
Scarborough H.S. Plant Sale (282-8728) Shops & Library open 10 amto 5 pm
Brooklin H.S. Plant Sale 24 at 10 am (655-3790)
Mount Albert H.S. Spring Show & Plant Auction at 2:30 pm (4732166)
Newmarket H.S. Tulip Show at 2 pm (895-4145)
Oshawa G.C. Tulip Show (7828302)
Shops & Library open 10 am to 5 open 7 to 9 pm Shops & Library open 7 to 9 pm pm 15-3790) 28 Canadian Chr;nnlho- 29 African Violet S. of Can- 30 African Violet S. of Can- 3] 62-1001) mum & Dahlia S. Public ada Annual Show at ada Annual Show at L
open 7 to 9 pm Plant Sale (223-2964)
Library & Shops open 7 to 9 pm | Japanese Cdn. Cultural Centre (259-7158)
Japanese Cdn. Cultural Centre (259-7158)
pm
ENJOY GROWING FRESH VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS. GET THE JUMP ON MOTHER NATURE. WITH YOUR VERY OWN CONTROLLED GARDEN.
FEATURES
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GUTTERING : SLIDING DOOR
You get aluminum guttering as a standard Our sliding door moves smoothly and feature on the 8ft wide greenhouses. silently, at a touch. Set on nylon wheels and sealed within a weatherproof track, LOUVRE VENTILATORS ; Louvre ventilators are a very good idea, since they give improved ventilation to Phone or wn'te today your plant growing area. for complete pricing and optional features available.
Beiore the busy spring season starts, some mention should be made of the use of power tools in the small garden. Used properly, power tools may save you a tremendous lot of energy and a considerable amount of time. However, I have seen many people expending more energy and time starting a power mower than it would take to mow a whole lawn with a properly adjusted ball-bearing hand mower. I have also experienced the tremendous task of trying to work up soil in a 20 x 20 ft. vegetable garden using an over-sized rototiller. It all depends upon your garden requirements and your own interest in power tools whether or not you will find them worth the investment.
What kind of mower is for you?
First, the lawn mower. Of all power tools obviously this is the one most widely used and will save you much time and energy. Of the various types offered, there is no best type for all kinds of lawns, but only a best for your individual lawn. If you want to maintain a beautiful, smooth green sward the reel type is best, for it gives a nice close and clean cut. Ifyour lawn is uneven or rough, and you are not anxious to mow as frequently, the rotary type is the one to select.
When choosing a rotary-blade type mower, a major consideration must be the safety factors incorporated in the particular machine. Some of the electric mowers have retracting safety blades and are not so apt to disperse stones as missiles throughout the area. This safety precaution is also carried out now in many newer gasoline-type rotary mowers. If a rotary mower is chosen, remember to keep the blade sharp, for a blunt
* Mr. Buckley retired as | plant specialist with The Plant Research Insti now Or Is Res h Service, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, 20 months ago. He continues to write gardening inf i 1l for newspapers across Canada.
On choosing Power Tools for the Small Garden
Arthur R. Buckley*
one causes large brown tips on the grass blades by making bruising cuts.
Reel mowers shear the grass like scissors, but they will not cut tall grass. If they are roller driven, as most of them are, they will cut over the edges of the lawn much easier than the rotary mowers. All the power driven reel mowers | have tried are self-propelled. that is to say, no exertion is used, you merely adjust the throttle and gears to go back and forth. They are, however, the most expensive.
Electric mowers are easy to start, make little noise, and once you have worked out a system to avoid cutting the electric cable, they are excellent for a small lawn. There are expensive rechargeable-battery types which require no cable and consequently may be used anywhere.
Be careful when using all power tools; for example, keep hands and feet clear of the discharge chute when starting a power mower. Improper foot apparel, such as sandals worn here, is an invitation to mishap. Agriculture Canada photo.
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GREEN CROSS
Multipurpose power tools may be more of a nuisance
Power tools for edging lawns are time savers for large gardens but cannot surpass the long handled edging shears available for small lawns, especially if you install corrugated edging strips to keep the lawn from spreading into the beds and borders.
New power vacuums are the latest means for removing leaves and lawn clippings. They may also be useful for paved walks and driveways, and other areas such as patios. They can be used as blowers by removing the bag to allow the machine to blow the leaves into large piles for later collection.
Ifyou have a fast-growing hedge such as Siberian (Chinese) elm, invest in electric hedge trimmers and the expense will be fully justified, but for use on a slow growing hedge, such expense is seldom warranted. Ifyou do decide such a tool is necessary, rent one first to get the feel of it, and buy later. Likewise, when selecting power equipment for tilling your garden, it is best to rent first to find the one that suits your purpose. For instance, 1 have had much trouble using the type of garden cultivator that is driven by blades. For me this type tended to dig deeper and deeper into a sandy soil, and I sometimes found it necessary to dig the machine out with a shovel!
Select a rototiller that is powered by the wheels and not by the blades alone. There are small types on the market that may be a bit more expensive in the beginning but are well worth it in the long run.
Many firms produce multi-purpose power equipment for the small garden. They are supposed to perform several kinds of work such as digging, cutting the lawn and sawing logs. With one exception, of those I have tried all were useless except for their major intended use. The time taken in changing from one tool to another was usually too long and too difficult. The one exception was a power unit that could be unhitched at the press of a lever and inserted into the body of three or four other machines built for the purpose.
When considering various power
(Conclusion on page 25)
One
The lawn and garden problem solvers.
Worshipful Company of Gardeners dates back to 1605 in England
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Nathan*
It is not often one encounters a gardening organization with roots that go back 600 years! Such is the case ofthe Worshipful Company of Gardeners a reception staged bv whom I was honoured to attend in June 1973. In talking with the honourary members, I was intrigued by the group s history particularly their contribution to urban beautifuication in that one squaré mile that is the jmumial capital of Great Britain the City ofLondon. Some readers may have viewed, in 1973, the colourfilm, The Flowering City ofLondon, which depictedthe work ofbeautification in the most dense ofurban areas work encouraged, generatedandoften backedfinancially by the Worshipful Company. Herewith the story behind this historic association ofpersons interested in gardening. A.C.D.
The existence of a Gardeners Company (or more generally known in North America as a guild or association) in that square mile known as the City of London (ofwhich to tourists, St. Paul s Cathedral is the best known land mark) may sound incongruous. Yet in the heart of the Bank of England in the very centre of the City is a garden. This is symbolic. The Bank of England has grown from small beginnings into the world s banking house, but commercial grandeur has not been allowed to smother this relic of its past. The garden remains as a treasured reminder to soften the harsher outlines of material success.
As a chartered body, the Gardeners Company is not among the most ancient, but there are indications that the gardeners of London had some form of voluntary organization at least as early as the 14th century. The London of the middle ages certainly needed gardeners in quantity in order to maintain the grounds ofthe religious houses, the palaces and mansions of the nobility and the dwellings of great merchants. To judge from contemporary writers, London must once have been a garden city. Writing towards the end of the 12th century, Fitzstephen mentions that on all sides lie gardens of the citizens; and four hundred years later in the reign of Elizabeth 1. John Stow refers to the streets full offair garden plots and summer houses for pleasure. Surrounding
the walls also were market gardens for the supply of food to the City. It is in connection with garden produce that our earliest record of the gardeners is found. Outside the Church of St. Augustine s by St. Paul s it was customary for the gardeners to sell their produce. In 1345, however, complaint was made that the scurrility, clamour and nuisance of these vendors daily disturbed the priests and others at prayers. Thereupon the gardeners of the earls, barons, bishops and citizens of London petitioned the mayor and aldermen that they be not disturbed from their ancient usages. A compromise was reached and the garden market was moved to the south of St. Paul s. Little further is known of the gardeners from this period until they achieved the status of incorporation by royal charter granted on September 18, 1605. This was succeeded by a new charter in 1616 under which the company now operates.
Arrest for gardeners in contempt of the guild s charter ended in 1645
Each summer the master and wardens, with their learned clerk, attend upon the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House and there make to him a presentation of fruit and vegetables and flowers, the produce oftheir craft. This pres-
* Lord Nathan is a past master (pi ) of the Worshipful Company ofGlt*nn (l S&S )and this paperis adapted from one d d to the | I C on Roses in London, England, 1958.
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entation commemorates the action of Sir Edward Littleton, recorder of London, who, on June 29, 1632, by direction of Sir Nicholas Rainton, Lord Mayor, issued his warrant to all bailiffs, constables, headboroughs and all other the King s officers and ministers within the City of London and Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex, and every of them for the apprehension of any persons as do or shall work in the trade or mystery of gardening in the said City of London and Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex within six miles compass thereof in contempt of the company s royal charter of September 18, 1605, and November 9, 1616. This warrant, which recited that there are divers stubborn headstrong and wilful persons within the said City and limits aforesaid which do use the said trade craft and mystery of gardening, planting, setting, sewing, cutting, arbouring, rocking, mounting, covering, fencing and removing of plants, herbs, seeds, fruits, trees, stocks and sets . . . being therein ignorant and unskilful who do obstinately refuse to be ordered, guided and governed by the said master, wardens and assistants and do likewise forbear and refuse to come before the said master, wardens and assistants or to be subject to their rule and government, continued in force until the death of Sir Edward Littleton (then Baron Littleton, Lord Chancellor of England) in the year 1645, and greatly contributed to the prosperity of the company, and protected the interests of its freemen in carrying on their trade in the London markets.
The body which is directly responsible for administration is a court of assistants composed of the master, two wardens and 24 assistants. Formerly this court exercised wide powers over the craft. To attempt to control (in the words of the charter) the trade, crafte or misterie of gardening would now be profitless in this concrete City of ours. Instead, we, as City gardeners, try in other ways both to beautify the City and to encourage the art of gardening throughout the country. Bacon says that the garden is the greatest refreshment of the spirit of man; without which buildings and palaces are but gross
handyworks . Our company has played its part in embellishing the gross handyworks in this city. Through annual competitions we encourage the increasing window-box displays which now grace its buildings and delight the eyes of passers by. We are proud of our part in this venture. However urban a man may be, the perpetual presence of buildings unrelieved by nature must oppress the spirit. We believe that such relief to the severity of city life is as necessary as welfare in a factory. The sense of pride it gives and its effect on morale is immeasurable.
A similar concern for the sick immured in London hospitals has led us to conduct competitions for hospital gardens. In this connection we run a very well patronized competition for hospitals within ten miles of St. Paul s.
Presentation of the Queen s coronation bouquet and bridal bouquets
Incursion into landscape gardening in London is necessarily limited. We were, however, glad to have had the opportunity in the Festival year of 1951 to present the fountains for the commemorative garden by St. Paul s Cathedral close to the spot where our forerunners were in the habit of holding their garden market.
In the field of education, the company provides a scholarship at Wye College, the agricultural college of London University. Yet another scholarship, tenable for three years and providing for study both at home and abroad, is maintained in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society. Contributions are also made to the prize funds of some 30 local horticulatural societies within six miles of St. Paul's the radius prescribed by the company s 1616 charter as the sphere of its activities.
Among our treasured privileges is the provision of the Queen s bouquet at each coronation and on the marriage of a royal princess we have the honour to present the bridal bouquet. On each anniversary of the Coronation the company presents a replica to the Queen of Her Coronation bouquet, and 1 am proud to remember that during my
mastership, as well as from time to time before and since, Her Majesty was graciously pleased to receive this replica of the bouquet personally at Buckingham Palace from the hands ofthe master, accompanied by the wardens and the learned clerk.
Although the city is no more a garden city, the gardening interests of its workers are not neglected. For them the company maintains, at its own expense, a modern reference library of practical manuals on all aspects of horticulture. These are housed in the Guildhall Library and are freely available to all.
Thus after some 600 years of life, the Worshipful Company of Gardeners is still concerned for the prosperity of its craft but in terms of the present-day. Although it is conscious of its ancient traditions and rejoices in them, it does not dwell in the past but looks forward to a continuing usefulness in the future.
In the spring of 1973, Wisener & Partners, bankers, celebrated the opening of their London office by flying two Canadian sugar maples (Acer saccharum) from Montreal. They were planted by Mr. R. A. Wisener in the north east garden of St. Paul's Cathedral, City of London. In the centre here, agent general for the Province of Ontario, Mr. Ward Cornell looks on approvingly.
Books on Bulbs, Shrubs, and Spring Flowers; along with Encyclopedias to answer any question
Marilyn Waugh, Bookshop Director
Spring is here! Already many of you are enjoying the early results of your bulb planting last fall. If you are concerned about how to care for your bulbs and how to preserve them for use another year, or are wondering about additional varieties which might be incorporated into next year s garden, you would find the following books useful: Doerflinger s. The Bulb Book, John Baumgardt s Bulbs for Summer Bloom ($1.95), and the Brooklyn Botanical s Handbook on Bulbs ($1.50).
The first blooms on our flowering shrubs are another sure sign of spring. Throughout the growing season the many varieties of ornamental shrubs suitable to our area provide a background of colour for our gardens. Several books on the selection and care of this type of shrub are: 20! Garden Shrubs in Colour, J. Hage ($6.95), Ornamental Shrubs for Canada, Lawrence Sherk ($5.00), Guide to Garden Shrubs and Trees, Norman Taylor (85.35), Flowering Shrubs and Small Trees, J. Hersey (89.25), Dwarf Shrubs, Donald Wyman (87.95), Shrubsfor All Seasons, Arthur Hellyer (81.69), and Flowering Trees, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens ($1.50).
Gardening encyclopedias are always in great demand as a new gardening season approaches. Taylor s Encyclopedia of Gardening ($21.00), Wyman s Gardening Encyclopedia (319.95), and Wise Garden Encyclopedia ($14.95) have been favourites for many years and are available in both our bookshop and library. 10,000 Garden Questions has been revised and is again in demand at $12.95. The Complete Gardener by W. E. Shewell-Cooper, rev. ed. ($11.95) and Chatelaine s Gardening Book, Lois Wilson ($12.50) are both valuable guides to successful gardening. For those beginning a garden, Pictorial Gardening, C. A. Pearce (86.95) offers explicit help in all aspects of gardening.
Some of you may prefer to collect an encyclopedia in individual volumes. The Time-Life series at $8.95 each offers such an opportunity with books on Roses, Fruit and Vegetables, Lawns, Landscaping, and Flowering Shrubs.
Spring flowers are soon gone and we look to other plants which will provide colour and enjoyment throughout the months ahead. Xenia Field s Book of Garden Flowers ($6.95), 201 Summer Flowers in Colour, W. Oudshom (8.95), Arthur Hellyer s All Colour Gardening Book ($9.95), and Garden Flowers: Concise Guide, V. Vanek (83.50) might provide some ideas for your particular garden location. Mrs. D. Underwood s Grey and Silver Plants suggest plants which will provide a contrast with the bright blooms of summer. For those of you who enjoy preserving your spring and summer bloooms, the book. Plant it Now, Dry it Later, H. Floyd ($14.25), recently published. offers a fresh challenge. Now is the ideal time to plan to make use ofthe wide variety of fresh flowers available in your own garden in floral arrangements. Member, Dorothy E. Ross, has kindly provided us with a review ofJulia Clements book, Flower Arranging Month by Month ($8.75).
(Review on page 27)
Julia Clements autographs her book.
24 / April 1975
Wi April almost over. the 1975 gardening season is well with us. We still have a good supply of flower and vegetable seeds for direct sowing into your garden. We offer you a choice of Canadian seeds. or the famous Carters Tested Seeds from England. Ifyou have not made your selection yet, do come in before the end of the month. Additionally, we should have other new items by the time this issue reaches you readers. Why not drop by and see the new arrivals.
If the dry winter conditions have aided small insects on such plants as ivies on your windowsills, come in and get one of our indoor plant spray bombs. These are simple to use, and will rid your house plants of the little pests that are causing the foilage to yellow.
The pruning season is here. And, your garden shop is ready. As the accompanying photo shows, we have a stock of two of the most popular pruning shears or secateurs. The smaller Wilkinson Sword pruners are ideal for snipping roses for cut flower arrangements, while the larger Felco secateurs are world-famed and will last youa lifetime. We'll be pleased to show you a pair of either, and let you get the feel of them but you should get lots of that pruning back the shrubs and evergreens that are in need of pruning in the average back garden.
Flower arranging classes are still in
Power Tools
(Conclusion from page 20) equipment for the garden, carefully weigh the pros and cons of the various makes. Then visit the dealer and get a demonstration. If possible, try to arrange for a trial run in your own garden. Then before final purchase, decide whether or not you might after all need the exercise obtained by using the oldfashioned but effective hand tool.
Seeds, Pruners and Gifts along with Flower Arranging materials
for out-of-towners
Doris Streeter, Shop Director progress and those who are involved are frequent visitors to our shop for materials often not obtainable elswhere in Canada. For out-of-town readers, we do provide a service for flower arranging supplies by mail. It is best if you write to us first, outlining your requirements, and we shall advise on availability and cost. We have customers in many parts of Canada who buy these supplies from us on a regular basis.
Our selection of gift items, too, is expanded, and visitors to Edwards Gardens especially over the next month when the spring bulb displays will be at their best, should plan to spend some time at the Centre. There is bound to be something unusual to take home either for oneself, or as a gift. At least you'll want to send a beautiful colour post card of Edwards Gardens to your friends in other countries.
Speaking of other countries, if you are entertaining visitors or relatives from other lands this summer, do plan to spend an afternoon at Edwards Gardens, and include a visit to the Civic Garden Centre. We know that overseas visitors enjoy browsing through our shop, and like to look over the books in the bookshop and library as well.
With the conclusion of the National Home Show earlier this month, we ll not be displaying outside of our own building now until the Canadian National Exhibition in mid August. So, come see us soon and often!
Best quality pruning shears available now.
Photo by A. C. Drysdale.
DATURA PLANTS
Available now: Angel's Trumpet (Datura) all sizes 6 to 2 tall, some in full bloom (pink or white). $3 and up. Avalon Landscaping, 148 Hillview Dr., Richmond Hill, Ont. 884-9481.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
A five week course tailored to suit the registrants will be offered by the Civic Garden Centre beginning on May 13, at 7:30 pm for two hours. Instructor: John MacNeil. Fee: $20 for members; $23 for non-members. Call 4451552 now to register.
£-BONSAI
For Indoor Growing
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This helpful unit will be welcome to greenhousé owners everywhere. Entirely auto- matic, self-powered and utterly reliable, it ensures correct ventilation by adjusting the ventilators according to outside weather conditions and inside temperatures. A Ventmaster costs nothing to run, you can go away indefinitely, leaving it to adjust ventilation to the needs of the moment exactly without relying on others plants flourish, worries wilt with a Ventmaster! Thousands in use around the world. Send a cheque for $45.37 ($41+$2.87 0.S.T. & $1.50 postage & handling) to:
A large number ofcopies of this April issue of Trellis are being distributed to apartment dwellers, in the hopes of interesting them in having a balcony garden this year. Even our cover photograph is orientated toward container plantings, and Evva Yellowley, newsletter editor for the Highrise Gardeners of Toronto, has provided an interesting report on a recent open meeting of the club.
Since over half the population of Metropolitan Toronto, and doubtless many other major cities in Canada, live in apartment homes, I thought it was time a gardening book exclusively for balcony gardeners was written. And. | set about writing it. You may know about it already. or perhaps the advertisement at the bottom of page 28 may be the first you've heard about it. In any case, if you are interested in container gardening, 1 hope you ll look for it at the Civic Garden Centre bookshop, or in one of the major chain bookstores in your neighbourhood. Out-of-town orders may be placed with the Centre s bookshop postpaid cost is just $4.20. One of the most misunderstood elements of growing plants is that of feeding them the use of fertilizers. As a
Book Review
(Conclusionfrom page 24)
The title of this small text by the well known flower arranger tells the complete story. While it is a British publication and some of the plants are not generally available here, it does identify all plant material thereby expanding the knowledge of the arranger. It is a colourful and delightful book to pick up frequently the textural interest in the excellent colour plates and detailed line drawings make it worthwhile to have in a personal library or to give as a gift to anyone interested in the fascinating art of flower arranging.
And, may the Editor have the Last Word this month on His new Gardening Book
taster of Gardening Off the Ground, herewith the section entitled, Fertilizers A Simple Basic Course .
Plants, like human beings, need certain nutrients in order to thrive. The three basic elements used by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (or potash). By law, the containers ofall fertilizers sold in Canada and the United States must show on the front the percentages contained of each of these three elements. For example, a fertilizer with the ratio 4-12-8 on the container has 4 per cent nitrogen, 12 per cent phosphorus (in the form of phosphate), and 8 per cent potash. The remainder ofthe material in the container comprises the carrier on which those active ingredients are based, certain trace elements (such as sulphur) also used by the plants, and inert ingredients (those without any active property) to make the product easier to handle.
The nitrogen, phosphate, and potash are each useful to plants for different purposes, and once you understand these it will be relatively simple for you to choose the correct ratio for any particular plant. Nitrogen encourages the growth of foliage the more nitrogen that is available to a plant. the more luxuriant will be its foliage. Therefore, foliage plants such as philodendron should be given a fertilizer high in nitrogen for example, 25-15-20. Phosphate induces flower and fruit development and helps provide a strong and healthy root system. Thus, for flowering plants or for vegetables such as tomatoes, you should use a fertilizer such as 15-30-15 or the long-lasting 7-40-6 tablets now available that need only be mixed into the soil when the container is planted in order to feed the plants for the entire season. Potash. the third of the three major elements, fosters disease resistance and tissue hardiness in plants, and works along with the other two to keep plants healthy.
Throughout this book I suggest the use of liquid fertilizers (the ones that come in crystalline form ready to be dissolved in water) because they are so much easier to apply than the granular type. Most liquid fertilizers are more expensive than their granular counterparts, since all the chemicals they contain are instantly soluble, and more highly refined. The soluble fertilizers are ideal for fertilizing the comparatively small quantities ofsoil in your containers. Plants will absorb a small part of their needs instantly through the foliage, and the remainder more slowly through the roots after the plant food has dripped down from the leaves and soaked into the soil.
There are only a few other facts about fertilizers that the balcony gardener need know. First, a number of all-purpose liquid fertilizers are available, usually with an analysis 20-20-20. These may be used on any plant, though you will probably find that they are not quite as effective as the specific formulations I have suggested earlier in this section.
You should not give fertilizer of any
kind to a dry or wilting plant; its appearance indicates that it is in very poor condition, and the fertilizer may prove to be too much of a shock. First try to return the plant to normal by watering it, then apply the fertilizer. Also, to avoid causing shock, do not apply liquid fertilizer to the foliage of container plants while they are in direct and hot sun; wait until they are in the shade or, A if you are using movable containers, < move them. q
Finally, never mix more than the i recommended amount of fertilizer to = the gallon or quart ofwater. Ifyou have reason to believe that your plants needadditional fertilizer, perhaps because 3 they have not received any for six or 3 eight weeks, just water them for longer o than usual with the regular strength fer- % tervals. >
The prime focus of balcony plantingas anyone who has visited Europe can vouch is balcony railing boxes. : tilizer solution, or at more frequent in|
If you have a balcony, this book is for you! With only a small amount of money, a dash of imagination, and very little effort, you can now create and maintain the garden you've alwayswanted for your home off the ground .
All you need to know is here in this absorbing book by Trellis Editor, Art C. Drysdale, clearly and elegantly illustrated by Ron White.
$3.95
The chapter Fatten the Soil then P concludes with a section on establishing a balcony compost pile using plastic garbage pails! 4
This is what the book has to say on that subject.
Flower boxes are hardly a new planting device even in Canada. However, the variety of sizes and types now available to apartment dwellers not only makes a continuous garden along a balcony rail possible, but also brings such an arrangement within the reach of even a modest budget. When shopping for window boxes or, more properly speaking, balcony railing boxes, start early in the season and visit not only department stores but the larger hardware outlets, garden centres, and discount stores. Even if you live in the inner core of a city, try to go and see what is available at plazas and centres in the suburbs as well as in the downtown stores near your building.
Before making your final selection, remember to consider the method of hanging, the size, design, material, price and colour in that order. Colour is the least important consideration because the outside of the box may soon be covered by hanging plants such as ivy, cascading petunias, and spider plants. However, remember that dark-
coloured containers dry out much faster than the light-coloured ones. The method of hanging is the prime consideration in purchasing a balcony railing box. If it cannot easily be mounted on your railing or balcony enclosure, you could well find yourself paying out twice as much as the original investment in time and money before it is satisfactorily mounted.
Some high-rise buildings require that flower boxes on balcony railings be mounted on the inside of the railing, rather than on the outside. Not only is this method a safety measure to prevent the boxes from falling; it also stops dirty water from dripping onto the balconies beneath if the plants are overwatered or when there are rainstorms. If your management does not regulate balcony railing boxes in this way, you may wish to hang the boxes on the outside, anchoring them securely and being careful when watering. Boxes on the outside of railings not only give more space on the balcony itself, but give a more colourful view to people in the streets below or in nearby apartments and buildings.
The size ofyour window box is important; some are so small that the volume ofsoil they hold won t retain moisture for more than a day. Make sure that the inside depth is at least 8 inches, and the width (at the top of the box) 10 inches. In planting a box of this size, if you put an inch oflarge drainage material at the bottom and then fill it with soil reaching to an inch from the top of the box to facilitate watering, there will then be a soil depth ofonly 6 inches and that is considered to be the minimum.
There are three main features to consider in the design of your flower box. It may or may not have drainage holes; it may be slope-sided (the top wider than the bottom) or straightsided; it may or may not be lined with long-lasting material.
If drainage holes are included. the box will definitely drip water after heavy rainstorms or iftoo much water is applied artificially. Although this drainage is a necessity for the plants, water dripping from boxes that are hung on the outside of the railing may be a nuisance, particularly to apartments below yours. Boxes without holes should be made either of plastic or fiberglas, or if they are made of wood should be lined with galvanized metal to prevent them from rotting. When you are planting boxes without drainage holes, be certain to include about an inch of broken clay flower pots. large stones or gravel, or any other chunky rubble to provide drainage. In addition, add a small amount of charcoal most important to keep the soil from becoming sour. If the drainage material is extremely coarse, the soil on top may easily fall through it and fill the open spaces. To avoid that, place a piece of old wire screening, cheesecloth, or other porous material immediately above the drainage material to keep the soil out of the needed air space. It is important that boxes exposed to rainfall, particularly those on railings, be equipped with drainage holes, since one heavy rainstorm could waterlog the soil and thus kill the plants.
Generally speaking, slope-sided boxes are better than straight-sided, since less soil is required to achieve the same depth of soil and width of plant-
ing area at the top. Drainage is also more satisfactory in boxes with one or two slanting sides.
Wooden boxes still remain the most popular, particularly those of long-lasting wood such as red cedar. They are attractive, suit almost any decor, and, because they are now mass-produced. are not overly expensive. Boxes made of various rigid plastics and offiberglas are also available. These are light in weight and easier to handle than the wooden ones, but often require a greater number of supporting brackets to prevent stress or breakage, which may put up the cost of the complete unit.
In planning to purchase plastic or fiberglas boxes of a specific colour, remember that ifthese are exposed to full sun (west or south exposure) for a full season they may well fade to an unattractive pastel. Again, try to use lightcoloured boxes, which will keep the soil cooler on hot days.
While the soil may be left in most flower boxes over winter without causing damage, remember that at least half the previous year s soil should be removed each spring and replaced with fresh soil. This soil replenishment should be carried out even ifyou intend to fertilize the plants throughout the growing season. There is a tendency for the organic content of soil in a small box to be washed to the bottom, and for the soil to build up harmful acid deposits if it is not replenished regularly, though charcoal added to the drainage material does help to prevent the acid deposits.
The two subjects mentioned here fertilizing, and balcony railing boxes may well be old hat to long-time balcony gardeners but it is the thousands of new apartment dwellers and condominium owners with balconies at whom the book is primarily aimed. But, for the more advanced container garden aficionado, I have several chapters of particular interest as well. One of the areas on which I have provided considerable detail is the use of permanent plants (trees, shrubs, evergreens and perennials) on the balcony, and a rationale for choosing them. But, you'll have to get the book to find out about these!
John Bradshaw s Perfect Lawn Program
March-April
® As soon as snow melts, spread 2 Ib./100 sq.ft. CIL Golfgreen 12-4-8.
e It's balanced the way grass likes it.
e Based on UF nitrogen for safe and long-lasting greenup.
June-late August
® |f tough weeds are still showing, use CIL Weed & 3 Feed 12-4-8.
o |t kills all upright and B creeping weeds and feeds the grass.
e |f no weeds are showing J. use CIL Golfgreen 12-4-8 again.
Garden Tips
CIL Flower&Vegetable
Food 5-10-15
e Fertilize first thing in season with 3-51b./100 sq. ft. CIL Flower & | Vegetable 5-10-15.
April-May
e As soon as weeds begin to show but before lilac buds open, spread four-way action CIL Lawn Doctor® 12-4-8 at 2 1b./100 sq.ft.
e Stops crabgrass, kills all weeds and grubs and feeds the grass safely.
September-October = S
® To condition the lawn, trees and shrubs against winter-kill, snow-mold and bark-split, spread on 21b./100 sq.ft. CIL Winterizer® 3-6-12.
CIL SLIK®
e Controls sucking insects. Works both on the surface and systemically. Mix with waterand spray. On indoor plants use SLIK as adrench. A complete line of Lawn and Garden Fertilizers and Pest Control Products
Lawn & Garden Products
ENGLISH ALUMINIUM GREENHOUSES LTD.
presents
THE QIIAI.CAS'I' ALUMINIUM GREENHOUSE
Features available:
e Shading Panels
e Double Glazing Panels
e Electric or Propane Heaters
e Avutomatic Vent Openers
e Eave troughing 4 is standard on Model 86 8 5" x &' 5 on!y $459 all models
Here at last is the Aluminium Greenhouse you've been waiting for, offered in four popular sizes for home growers. This is not just another greenhouse all the best features in modern greenhouse design have been brought together in one design to make it the most up-to-date available. For example, the attractive booklet supplied with each not only contains a calendar of things to do in your greenhouse, but also helpful advice about plant culture.
Complete, detailed photos and instructions make assembly a simple and easy exercise; or, if you prefer, assembly services can be provided. All units come complete with Canadian Pittsburgh double strength glass.
Avdilable at Weall & Cullen Pool and Garden Centres, and at many other dealers across the country.
For further information, or the name of your nearest dealer phone or write our head office: ENGLISH ALUMINIUM GREENHOUSES
1201 - 12 Deerford Road, Willowdale, Ontario M2J 3J3
Telephone (416) 493-7773 Display units at dealers only