This fall, when all your plants are wilting outdoors, build up a collection ofindoorgreenery. Small trees and floweringplants in unusualpots and baskets make a lovely backdropforentertaining. And it s always great to have thatperfect little plant on hand when you receive an unexpected dinner invitation. Getyourcollection growing today at Clargreen.
This Month s Articles
Editorial /5
Rock gardening /6
Houseplantsin Canada /12
Trees with Ornamental Bark /16
Jim Boyd /19
Christmas giving /20
A New Product /21
Houseplants of the Month /22
The Front Cover Thanksgiving, Bancroft 1976
Photo by Sid Morris
Publication Committee for Trellis
Lawrence C. Sherk (Chairman), James Floyd, Richard Hook, Jerry Maccabe.
Editor Sid Morris
Graphics and Printing Drewmark Graphics, Toronto
General Information ISSN0380-1470
Trellisis publishedin the months ofJanuary, April, May, June, September and November and distributed on or about the 15th of the month previous by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2. The Centreis located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, the geographical centre of Metropolitan Toronto. Itis a non-profit gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Subscriptions to Trellis are only available through Centre membership ($10 per year). Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. This is Volume 4, Number 6.
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As a Civic Garden Centre member, you enjoy free borrowing privileges in the new Horticultural Library s over 3,000 gardening books. You save 10% on purchases in the new Garden and Book Shops, over $2. You enroll in members only special horticultural and flower arranging classes. You receive six issues of Trellis magazine mailed to your home each year.
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Editorial
As this editorial is being written the Centre has turned into a beehive of activity with people registering for the various courses, activities and shows associated with the Centre. Please keep posted on all the activities for the winter and spring months in the January issue of Trellis.
During my stint at the Canadian National Exhibition a great many members of the Civic Garden Centre identified themselves; it is always a pleasure to see you and to hear your opinions and suggestions. Some past members said they were disappointed that there wasn t a senior citizen s membership; others said they never go to the Centre and therefore were disappointed that books and floral supplies weren't at the Centre s booth at the Ex. Take these suggestions to your board of directors; they are the people that set policies.
| have been harbouring an idea for some time and I would like to try it out on a very small scale this
coming January. In the January Trellis I will list seven or eight native plants. The seeds of these plants will be available to members only, as the seeds will be in short supply. A member wanting any or all of the seeds will drop in to the Centre or mail in their choices along with their address and membership number. The seeds will be sent out in February. [ am using this seed distribution as a learning experience for senior students of horticulture at W.J. Fenton Secondary School. The students will be collecting and cleaning some of the seeds and they will then package them for distribution to members in February. | realize that in most cases the seeds will not be suitable for the apartment gardener, but perhaps they can have the satisfaction of starting an oak tree and then giving it to down on the earth gardener .
[ would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Good Gardening in 1978. Sid Morris Editor
ANOTHER JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING COURSE
NOW WEDNESDAYS, NOVEMBER 16, 23, 30, 1977
We are very pleased to announce a Second Series of Classes for Beginners in the art of Japanese Flower Arranging under the expert tutelage of Mrs. S. Kadoguchi, Renouned Sensei, of the [kenobo School. With the overwelcoming success of the first series and the enthusiastic interest in oriental design, we have been able to persuade Mrs. Kadoguchi to repeat the Beginners Course for us. Do not miss this opportunity if Japanese Design is new to you.
Single day Workshops are usually for the more advanced student. Registration forms are available at the office call 445-1552.
Co-ordinator For The School of Floral Design Genevieve Robertson
Rock Gardening
Edith L. Kenzie
Rock gardening is such a rewarding form of growing plants that it is somewhat surprising that we see relatively few such gardens in Southern Ontariowhere we have the hills, ravines and slopes so suitable for the purpose. Here may be grown the most dainty examples of flowering and non-flowering plants, many of them extremely hardy and ofeasy culture. It is that rock gardens are considered difficult? It is true that they must be meticulously kept free of invasive weeds. Apart from that they require comparatively little up-keep.
A landscape gardener can quickly create an elegant rock garden for you, bringing in choice rocks of whatever type you decide on; he ll provide and place the plants too if you wish. All this, of course, is expensive, and also limits your creative participation. Most gardeners prefer the fun of building their own, witha little help from well-muscled friends and family.
The Site
There are few properties which will not accommodate a rock garden of some size that will provide a suitable habitat for a few of the lowgrowing beauties which would be overhwelmed in other situations. Any slope or bank can be adapted for our purpose, and if no such area exists in your garden, one can be created by hauling in soil and building from scratch. It can be built to fit whatever space is available, from a couple of feet to hundreds. The ideal aspect is one running north and south and facing east.
Next choices would be south, west and north, in that order. If you can arrange a curve involving two or more aspects, all the better. In a due-south positionthelightshadeofa small-leaved tree would give some protection on hot summer days. A deeply-shadedarea, such as onthe north side of a wall, or under lowbranching trees, would present the severest limitations on the variety of plants that would thrive. Do not be discouraged if you do not have optimum conditions; not many gardeners have as they will all tell you!
The Soil
Soil for rock plantings is very important. Drainage must be superlative. Unless the subsoilisvery | sandy and quick-draining it should be dug out to a depth ofone foot and replaced with a rough mixture of broken stone or brick, coarse sand and gravel. Remember that most of your plants will have originated on mountain sides where their roots have never had to stand in water. It is easy to water a garden when it gets dry, but a long spell of wet weather could rot our your choicest plants if their roots become waterlogged.
For the planting, average good garden soil should be cut with at least an equal quantity of coarse sand, perhaps more. Depending on the basic soil, up toonepartofhumus may be added, consisting of leafmould (preferred), peatmoss, or partially-decayed compost. The soil should feel light and springy in the hand; it should be soil that will not
FRI a ==] = 2 BN Haddcick.77
The accompanying sketch was made from a reproduction that appeared many years ago in the Ladies Home Journal. The garden was the work of Marcel Le Piniec, a famous name inrock garden circles. The wall and pavement are ofpinky-brown sandstone, and as you can see, the whole design is exquisitely carried out. pack nor get muddy in heavy rain. Individual plants needing special soil conditions can be planted in a modified mix as required.
The Rocks
Any kind of rock may be used, but the favorite seems to be the weathered and beautifully contoured limestone which is found along the Niagara Escarpment and similar sites. Ontario has excellent sources of stone, among them the golden or warm brown sandstone of the Humber Valley, and the craggy granites and other igneous types of our nothern lake districts. Some limestones have split themselves into blocks, quite different from the curvaceous ones, but the blocks are also used effectively when set in the form of an outcrop. The least
attractive stones are the rounded boulders common on the lakeshore and in fields, but even these can be artistically managed by a gifted person.
Old brick makes a softly-coloured background for plants. In damp situations this brick attracts a covering of moss very beautiful.
Most of us hold cement in asort of love-hate relationship, yet of recent years some handsome things have been done with it. Even cement blockscanbeusedforaraisedgarden bed, in the expectation that they will quickly be covered with mats and sprays of foliage and flowers. Brick may be used in the same way, also railroad ties. Such raised beds create a rather formal effect, but the plants soon mellow any stiffness.
Tufa is sometimes used for rock gardens, asyoumayhaveobserved in
the display done by Metro Parks at the Exhibition this year. It is a porous volcanic rock which holds moisture like a sponge, and being extremely light in weight, is easy to handle. As it has to be imported, it is expensive, and actually is rather artificiallooking, requiring careful treatment.
You can collect your own rocks often they can be taken from the side of the road in remote areas. | hesitate to recommend this, however, as it may be that the local residents enjoy the presence of these rocks in their rural setting. And, of course, it is necessary to respect private property. Sometimes you will see an enormous pile of rocks in a farmer s field, and it may be that you could have them for the asking. understand it is illegal to remove rocks from river-beds, and also, of course, from parkland.
Many nurseries sell rocks of different kinds, and there are businesses which sell nothing but rock, both native and imported, in various shapes and colours.
The sizes of the rocks you use should be adapted to your ability to handle them. On the whole we would recommend that the bulk of your rocks be as large as possible, but there should be an assortment of sizes to give a natural appearance. Some quite small ones are useful for coveringjoins,toreducewashing-out of the soil, and also for tucking-in
March 1-5, 1978
Toronto Spring Flower and Garden Show
A Time for Flowers
sponsored by the Garden Club of Toronto at the Automotive Building, Exhibition Park, Toronto.
Tickets availableat theCivic GardenCentre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Don Mills, Ont. Tel. (416) 445-1552
the roots of plants until they are well-established.
When choosing your rocks, you will naturally pick out the most interesting. Only the weathered faces should be placed toward the viewer. The parts which have been in contact with the soil may be a different colour, and will not have the attractive surface texture of those which have been exposed to the weather for many years. They may have moss growing on themand although the moss may not survive, even the dark remains of the moss plants will contribute to the general effect.
Rocks with towers and turrets, deep indentations, and holes pierced right through are real treasures. Don t make the mistake of planting something in the hole, however, or completely obscuring the depressions and excrescences with over-hanging foliage, otherwise these features might as well not exist. Place plants beside these features to enhance the charm of both rock and plant. On the other hand, it doesn t do to place a large, battlemented fantastically carved rock, with a battlemented top and one or two windows , in the most obvious spot in your garden, as if to say look at me! Subtlety is of the essence. The Japanese, who are so good at this sort of thing, probably wouldn t place such a rock in the rock garden at all, but would display it separately where it could be enjoyed for itself alone, out of competition with flowers.
Construction
Before starting to build your garden it is a good idea to visit one or more natural outcroppings, such as might be found along the Niagara Escarpment, perhaps where it occurs in Hamilton or the Royal
Botanical Garden, or in Muskoka. Also study any rock gardens you have access to, privately owned, or the lovely ones in Edwards Gardens, High Park, and Royal Botanical Garden. The chief value of these gardens to the would-be rock gardener is as an example of the placement oftherocks. Unfortunately conditions in gardens open to the public do not encourage the planting of the more delicate and rare alpines which you will probably want to grow, because they just can t survive the rough treatment accorded to them by children and careless adults. The use of annuals and bedding plants is not recommended for the private rock garden. We want as natural an appearance as we can achieve.
The big rock gardens are made up on a grand scale, suited to their situations, and the rocks are correspondingly large. You will fit your rocks to the size ofyour area, as mentioned before. But even if your garden is to be a tiny one, don t keep to rocks so small that the effect will be spotty. It would look better to use just three large rocks rather than 20 small ones.
Now for placing the rocks. The subsoil has been prepared as instructed, and its level should be an inch or two lower than ground level. Over this spread a layer of the plantingmixandwashitinthoroughly with the hose. This will carry some
of the soil into the base area and help to prevent pockets. Roots of some of the plants are sure to find their way down into the lowest depths.
Lay an irregular row ofrocks,most ofthemin larger sizes, alongtheedge of the site, with little bays and promontories. Now dig them in, some nearly level with the ground, some almost sitting on the ground. They should slant toward the back to carry moisture to the roots and provide for stability. Some rocks may be touching, others not. No sharp points sticking up, please. A horizontal line a bit wavy perhaps is more natural. Fill in with agenerouslayerofsoilandwater well again.
Some inches further back (even a foot or more if you can manage it, on this beginning level) arrange another terrace in the same way, placing rocks over the separations between the rocks below, again to discourage rivulets from carrying off the soil. Carry out the same system of bays and promontories, allowing for little ravines and crevices, to avoid any suggestion of uniformity. Continue in this way until finished. The stepping-back can be steeper toward the top, but there should always be a good slant. After the final application ofsoil andwater, sprinkle the whole area generously with limestone chips, gravel or poultry grit, to help hold the soil.
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTSSHOWSALE
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The Civic Garden Centre, Edwards Gardens, 777 Lawrence Ave. E. at Leslie St. Toronto
Thursday, Dec. 1, 1977 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
A brand new Showsale embracing the wonderful world of antiques, crafts, books, flowers and plants a select Show of two dozen displays all designed to help you breeze through your Christmas shopping in a matter of hours!
Admission $2.00
A presentation of Mary Sutherland Productions Inc. 3464 Kingston Rd., Suite 206, Scarborough, Ontario MIM 1R5 (416) 264-3261
I have found that in a new planting it is helpful to put in more rocks than lintend to leave. This aids stability until everything has settled down. Surplus rocks can be removed later and perhaps can be replaced with a plant.
Should you be building a rock garden on flat ground, it is best placed against a wall or fence, or with a hedge as background. If it must be free-standing, it should be kept low, perhaps no higherthan 18 . [t can even be made up of only one layer of rocks. This can be very beautiful, but it demands even greater artistry, though less labour.
The Plants
The plants best suited to the beginner s garden are those which give a quick effect and are adaptable to a variety of conditions. These would include:
This is a very brief list of some of the most hardy and durable. These should be available at local nurseries, and if you know anyone with a rock garden, you can surely obtain some divisions and cuttings.
Most ofthese are spreaders,butas Minerva Castle used to put it, they spread nicely not rampantly. The less common rock garden plants may have to be ordered ask your nurseryman about them. Most can be raised from seed.
Do not ever plant Cerastium, known as Snow-in-Summer within a mile ofyour rock garden. It can be a real pest.
Low evergreens, the true dwarfs, "are lovely all year round, but be sure to ascertain their maximum height before buying them. You won't like want anything higher than 18 or 24 unless your garden is large, or you need shade.
Members of the American Rock Garden Society are eligible to buy donated seedatverylowprices. They offer more than 2500 items every year, although purchases are limited to 32 packets. Membership is $7.00 a year. Write to the Secretary, William T. Hirsch, 3 Salisbury Lane, Malvern, Pa., 19355.
It is late in the season to start any garden project, but at least you can start collecting or choosing rocks, visit gardens, make field trips, hunt our nurseries, books, magazines, make plans. If you would really like to have a rock garden, get going before the enthusiasm cools. If the weather happens to be co-operative, you might even start digging and get that all-important drainage base ready!
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Houseplants in Canada .....
Four years ago when | emigrated from Holland to Canada, the first thing [ noticed was that houseplants were very limited and were being sold at fairly high prices. Having come from a country where literally everyone has grown up with plants and where houseplants are so common that they are even on the weekly grocery list, [ became quite disturbed and asked myself the question Are houseplants in this land of golden opportunities considered a luxury? To me, the sad answer to that question was Yes! To find a home with plants in the window was like looking for a white elephant. . .
It is still not clear to me why it took Canadians so long to discover the fulfillment and satisfaction of growing houseplants. Fortunately though, ideas changed very rapidly and more people are discovering houseplants. People are becoming aware of what plants can do, as emphasized by the fact that you can now find plants in many homes, apartments and offices. With a little care and some knowledge, any and | emphasize the word any person can grow just about any plant in their own place. Even tropical, exotic plants are trained by growers to adapt easily to our environment.
[ would like to discuss some of the new Canadian houseplants. There is a good chance that you already have one of these in your collection of unusual plants.
Senecio Herreianus (string-ofpearls) is a succulent plant with
leaves like small green peas which, if hanging free, grow a couple of feet long. It is native to southeast Africa and the genus is Compositae. The plant prefers a place in the window where it will receive direct light and even some direct sun. In summer it produces small white flowers on a long stem. In summer it should be watered regularly and can go dry in between waterings. In the winter keep it on the dry side.
Another succulent plant is the Ceropegia Woodii (Rosary plant) which is closely related to the Hoya family. A native of the tropical regions of South Africa, southeast Asia and West China, it is even found on the islands of New Guinea and north Australia. You can easily grow this dainty plant from the little tubers found along the strands which, when planted in sandy soil, will soon form roots and give off new shoots. In summer put the Rosary plant in a bright, sunless window. It will thrive with little water. The small pink flowres which will show in summer resemble little bells.
A real water plant is the Cyperus Alternifolius (ideal to grow hydroponically). There are about 600 varieties, some low-growing, some growing very tall. In Holland it is called the Umbrella plant since the leaves look like an umbrella. This plant likes to be standing in water at all times and an aquarium or indoor pond is an ideal place for it. Native to tropical and subtropical regions, it is most often seen on the island of Madagascar. The Cyperus
will grow very easily in your home. It prefers indirect light (no sun!) and can be grown outdoors in the summer in a shady area. Propagation is done through root division or by a top cutting of about 5 centimeters in length: cut the leaves off the lower half of the stem and plant upside down in moist sandy soil or a glass jar. Soon new roots will form and you're off to a new plant! If you have alot of patience you can grow the Umbrella plant from seed.
Another plant I enjoy is the Abutilon (Flowering Maple), a fastgrowing, bushy plant. Some varieties have plain green leaves, others have variegated leaves, with mauve or orange bell-shaped flowers. The yellow-white spots on the leaves are caused by a virus which is not harmful to the plant. Because of its quick growth, the Abutilon requires constant watering and regular plant food. After a short
Jan. 6
time you will have to transplant a new plant to a large sized pot or tub. In summer this plant prefers a sunny spot out of doors. When you bring it indoors in the fall watch out for those white flies: they love the Abutilon!
Another plant to be on the lookout for is Anthurium (flamingo plant), a tropical plant that prefers a warm humid atmosphere and indirect light. The waxy red flowers which resemble a flamingo last for a long time even when cut off the plant and displayed in a vase or flower arrangement. The Anthurium is native to Middle and South American countries. Propagation can be done by division or from seed. This is a really beautiful houseplant which, if given a high humidity, will give you much pleasure.
Aspidistra, or cast-iron plant, is an ideal choice for the beginner because it will thrive in just about
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Fee: $32.00 members
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Nov. 25-26-27
A delightful assortment of natural and artificial material used in a variety of seasonal ways for interior or exterior decoration, PLUS our usual lovely dried flower gift items.
any environment. It can withstand neglect and will even grow in a dark corner.
Beloperone (shrimp plant) is an almost ever-blooming plant from Mexico. Put it right in the sunlight on your windowsill. It needs regular watering.
Campanula-Isophuylla (Star of Bethlehem), native to the Alps of Northern Italy, is a very popular houseplant in Holland. If you are fortunate enough to secure a plant or a cutting, treasure it, for this plant is hard to find. Put it in a cool, light place and keep it moist. Cut the plant back in winter and new growth will appear in the spring. Clivia (Kafir Lily) is a most interesting plant. The cluster of lily-like flowers appear between March and May and is a beauty to the eye. Water this plant well all summer and fall but give it a rest in winter by keeping it fairly dry and in a cool place. It prefers moderate daylight all year round. Cut the flowres off after it has died to prevent the formation of seeds which will weaken the plant. New off-shoots can be removed and potted individually.
Passiflora (Passion Flower), a beautiful climbing vine, has showy blue-purple flowers all through the summer. Native to tropical South America, it can be grown here in the summer against a wall or in front of the house. In the winter, though,
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it has to come indoors since it is not winter hardy. Give it a lot of light and keep it evenly moist. Since the Passion Flower needs a lot of room to climb, you can give it a trellis or wire for support. Unfortunately, the beautiful flowers only last one day, but they can be kept open by letting them float on water.
Pellaea Rotundifolia, here known as Cliffbrake fern or Button fern , is from New Zealand. A small fern, it is ideal for the terrarium as ground cover or just as a pot plant. This is an easy to look after plant as long as you keep the soil moist and give it a shower a couple of times a week. Keep it out of the direct sun.
Platycerium (Staghorn fern), an epiphyte with long fronds covered with white hairs which should never be washed off. it can stand a dry atmosphere (ideal for apartmentdwellers!) and grows nicely on a piece of bark attached to a ball of spagnum moss. Keep the moss moist by using a mister or by dunking the moss in lukewarm water. Add fertilizer about twice a month during the growing period.
Some of the more exotic tropical and subtropical flowering plants we see growing wild in Florida and the southern part of the States are also being grown in Canadian greenhouses. These include Acalypha Hispida (Foxtail plant), Allamanda Cathartica (Golden Trumpet), Callistemon (Bottlebrush), Calliandra (Powder Puff), Ixora (Flame-of-thewoods), Strelitzia Reginae (Bird of Paradise) and many more. Keep looking for them. They are becoming increasingly popular!
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Trees with Ornamental Bark
A. R. Buckley
When selecting trees for home gardens most people seem to forget that for many months of the year the characteristics they so much desire are absent. These include beauty of flower and leaf, shade potential and fruits.
Why not consider beauty of bark, which so many trees possess and which is displayed from the time the leaves fall until they clothe the trees again in late May and June?
Ideally, the best trees would give shade, flowers, and fruits in their season, and beauty of twig and bark in the winter. To assist you with your choice for winter appeal here are some good trees selected mainly from those in the Arboretum of the Plant Research Institute, where they now colour the winter landscape with their showy bark.
If you are looking for grey-barked trees, choose a red maple, shadbush or juneberry, yellowood, red oak, Korean mountain-ash or saucer magnolia.
The red maple (Acer rubrum) has a lot to offer; in early April, red flowers stand out conspicuously from its gray bark, beauty of leaf colour in the fall, and heavy foliage that gives dense shade in the summer.
The shadbushes or Juneberries (Amelanchier spp.) have, to add to their attractiveness, peculiar wavy white lines engraved in their gray bark. No other trees give such spectacular autumn coloration and, as well, provide flowers in spring and a meal for the birds in June.
The Yellowood (Cladrastis lutea) is admired mostly for its graceful racemes of creamy white flowers in summer. It has grayish bark that stands out luminously during winter.
The Korean mountain-ash (Sorbus alnifolia) has beautiful foliage and vivid deep-salmon fruits in fall. The saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana), if carefully planted, will provide tulip-like pink, rose or white flowers at the end of April or early in May.
The full beauty of white-barked trees is displayed better during spring, summer and fall against the greenness of our lawns. Still, a white birch against the light-blue winter s sky can stand out brilliantly.
So many native birches have been planted in suburban areas during recent years that little need be said to stimulate further interest. You should bear in mind that the European white birth (Betula pendula) is easier to obtain from nurseries, grows faster and is quite as effective as the plants so many people bring home from the native woods to plant (and mostly perish) in their gardens.
Two other silvery-barked trees are the white poplar (Populus alba) and the trembling aspen (Popular tremuloides), which unfortunately require more room than the average lot can give them and can be disastrous to badly constructed sewers.
Among the trees with reddish bark are the red and Scots pine, whose trunks show up all year against dark-green foliage. Brighter
red and reddish-brown bark is found in the little-known Chinese paper birch (Betula albo-sinensis), and the paper maple (Acergriseum).
Others are cherry-birch (Betula lenta) and the western birch (Betula occidentalis) both of which are hardy in most of Canada.
Those in favorable climates should try to obtain the Chinese paper birch for it stands out quite prominently in the landscape. It is hard to describe this tree s rich brownish-red colour, which is more noticeable in the winter against a background of snow. The leaves of the cherry or sweet birch have the best fall colour of all birches.
Sargent s cherry (Prunus sargentii) has cherry-like bark of a beautiful mahogany-brown colour, and the more common Japanese tree lilac (Syringa amurensis var. japonica) has a similar but darker brown bark. This tree also has
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A SPECIALTY also: INDUSTRIAL CATERING 85 JONESVILLE CR METRO-WIDE SERVICE
For more information call our representative at 755-5244 for an appointment to fill you in on details and give you a typed out estimate.
Distlefink Feeder
| BR (iste Finch from the Pennsylvania Dutch)
A feeder that will delight both amateur and professional ornithologists. Attracts droves of colorful goldfinches, purple finches, redpolls and saucy siskins! Especially cesigned to conserve seed because ££ it restricts birds to . picking out one seed at a time rather than scattering it on the ground. (A little bit of Thistle Seed goes a long way.) Wooden perches provide protection. Feeder and Thistle Seed available at Gift Shop, Civic Garden Centre. Distributed in Canada by YuleHyde Associates Ltd., 15 EImbank Rd., Thornhill, Ont. L4J 2B6.
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE
Trellis Shop
Located on Lower Mall
e Why not consider a gardening item for your special friend?
® Interesting variety of birdhouses, birdfeeders and seed.
® Visit us for exciting gifts for your Christmas shopping.
October 29, 30, 1977
The Toronto Japanese Garden Club 25th Anniversary
FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Drive, Don Mills.
Admission $2.00
bronzy seed pods, which remain on the tree long after Christmas.
The slender pendulous twigs of most willows are more showy in the winter than the bark oftheir larger limbs. The golden weeping willow (Salix alba Tristis ) has golden twigs; the red-stem willow (S. alba Chermesina ) has showy deep-red twigs; and the Wisconsin weeping willow (Salix blanda) has green twigs and is more upright.
Although the sycamore or buttonwood tree (Platanus occidentalis) always looks as though it has been in the middle of a battlefield and had withstood the onslaught of a thousand cannons, it does have attractive bark, which peels off in irregular patches and reveals a lighter orange colouring beneath. This species and its smaller relative, the London Plane, (Platanus acerifolia) grow too large for the average garden, however. ;
The cork trees (Phellodendron spp.) all have most interesting bark as well as a picturesque habit. The bark is corky, soft and deeply grooved. The Amur cork tree (Phillodendron amurense) is the best species for smaller gardens since it seldom grows more than 50 feet high and has a glowing soft-gray bark. The native moosewood or striped maple (Acerpennsylvanicum) has usually showy bark.
On branches two or more years old the bark is striped with conspicuous jagged blue-white lines. This tree seems to grow better with some shade and at least three of them should be planted close together to further ensure success.
PRUNING SPECIALIST
All Types OfShrubs & Trees Pruned . Properly
Removals Winter Rates
40 EVELYN AVE. BRIAN SINCLAIR TORONTO, ONT. 762-5828 EVNGS.
Jim Boyd
An old friend of the Centre, Jim Boyd, lost his battle with cancer in July last, leaving his honorary post of Director Emeritus sadly vacant.
Many members of the Civic Garden Centre will remember him during his active years as Executive Director from 1961 to 1974 when he guided with geniality the development of the Centre from embryo to an expanding organization devoted to horticulture and associated interests.
This was indeed his secondcareer. ThechallengeoftheCentre came just as he retired from Massey Ferguson for whom he had travelled to South America and Africa in the course of his duties.
He was a veteranof twoworldwars and his fund of stories about his
travels and experiences pointed up his wit and humour.
Jim was a man devoted to his family; his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He was interested in developing good gardeners of the future as well as the present and under his guidance the Junior Garden Clubs were formed. Since his retirement he planned vegetable plotgardeningfor them,takinga keen interest to the last in this project, which he visited in a wheelchairfrom the hospital shortly before he died.
[t seems particularly appropriate that his memory will be perpetuated by namingoneoftheteachingstudios the Jim Boyd Room and by giving a Junior Gardeners Award in his name at the Spring Flower Show.
Books for Christmas Giving
The Briar Patch Bookshop is well stocked with an excellent variety of interesting and informative books that would be ideal as Christmas presents. Here are three good suggestions, reviewed by Margaret Elliott, which would be perfect for those who are into arranging, pressing, drying and preserving flowers.
If there is a keen flower arranger and gardener on your list, Gardening forFlowerArrangement by Arno and Irene Nehrling ($3.50) is a book to consider. It is designed to help the gardener to select and care for plants and so give one s garden dollar twice as much value. [t gives advice on the initial planning of the garden as well as the completed flower arrangement. There is detailed information on the cultivation, cutting and conditioning of plant material. Plants that dry well and methods for their preservation are well covered. This is a book that those interested in economical gardening will be delighted to receive.
For your creative flower-loving friends The Art ofDried and Pressed Flowers, by Pamela Westland and Paula Critchley ($7.95), would be a welcome gift. This is a beautifully coloured illustrated book describing the making of lovely
CONTRACT INSTALLATIONS OF TROPICAL PLANTS
* Sell
* Hydroponics reenskeeper Inc.
39 ENTERPRISE RD., REXDALE, ONTARIO M9W 1C4
phone (416) 249-7114
creations from dried flowers. Crafts such as a greeting cards, dimensional pictures, garlands and miniatures are included. Excellent detailed instructions are given for making pomanders and both dry and moist methods of potpourri. The various techniques of drying, skeletonizing, glycerining, pressing and preserving are covered. And there is also an interesting section on making teas, vinegars, syrups, and candied flowers.
The Art ofPreservingFlowers: a guidefor Canadians, by Elizabeth MacDermot ($4.96 paper; $9.95 cloth), is a delightfully written complete guide for Canadians. This book is a perfect present for those interested in the drying and preservation of flowers. It covers the history of flowers, and contains simple to learn information covering all aspects from seeds to arrangements. Air drying, silica gel, glycerining, storage and drying times are all included.
If you are unable to come into the Civic Garden Centre and browse in the Briar Patch Bookshop, you may order any book by telephone or by mail. We will be pleased to send the invoice with the shipment. We look forward to being of service to you.
Marily M. Waugh, Manager
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
A New Product
in the Trellis Shop siamorris
[ recently did an interesting experiment with a new product that was given to me to try out. It will be or is now on the market but at the time [ first tried it, the product was not available in Canada. This product is a fertilizer, formulated and developed by a botanist, that incorporates all the trace elements. The botanist did some extensive research into the nutrient needs of African violets and came up with a formula that encourages these violets to flower.
[ tried out the solution of some African violets, which had healthy leaves but which hardly ever bloom, in the north window of my kitchen. Of my five plants all but one now have blooms or buds. I think
the colour of the flowers is more intense than they had been when I last saw the plant bloom a year and a half ago, or maybe it s my imagination.
This new product is called Granny s Bloomers (0-6-5). A companion plant food for foliage is Jungle Juice (2-5-4). This product hasn t been tried to the same extent by me, but it is suggested that it can be alternated with Granny s Bloomers.
If nothing else, the catchy names alone Granny s Bloomers and Jungle Juice which sound like a campus raid and a new drink will encourage your plants to flourish. Or is it that little extra loving care you give them in anticipation?
FLOWER ARRANGING COURSES
Basic Course 1 for beginners 6 weeks starting Wednesday, March 15, 1978 at 1:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Thursdays, March 16, 1978 at 1:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Course 2 (applicants must have completed Course 1)
Please call 445-1552 if interested, as course will take place only if sufficient interest is shown.
PAGE SIZE MAGNIFIER
Page Magnifier is handy for looking up telephone or map directory listings, stock market reports, etc. The whole page is magnified at one time. Wafer thin and measures 7 x 10 .
Briar Patch Book Shop Civic Garden Centre
Houseplants of the Month
Azaleas
(Rhododendron indicum)
The azalea is a shrubby evergreen sold commonly from Christmas through to Mother s Day. You buy them in white, pink, lavender or red flowers.
It is best to put the plant in an eastern window with a temperature of 12° to 16°C (55° to 60°F). In this location it should bloom for several weeks. The plants should never be allowed to dry out, so check the soil daily.
After the plant has flowered keep it growing; if any pruning is to be carried out, make sure you do it before June 15. After the danger of frost has passed put the plant outdoors in a shady location. Be sure to bring the plant indoors before frost and place in a bright location with a temperature of 6°C (45°F). Then in January place it where it will receive 16°C temperature so that it will bloom.
Poinsettia
(Euphorbia pulcherrina)
Each year the Civic Garden Centre is bombarded with questions on the poinsettia. The main question posed is how do you get the poinsettia to flower? Actually, the bright coloured petals are really bracts and the flowers are small and inconspicuous. They can be either red or white or cream, and a new variety is flecked with red and white.
Now to the question. First, poinsettias are a short day plant; this is, they like natural day with no added artificial lights. If a light is turned on
in the room you could be headed for a green poinsettia at Christmas or a colourful one at Valentine s Day.
The plant does best with good light and a temperature of 18°C (65°F). If it is subjected to temperatures cooler than 14°C (60°F) the plant s leaves will turn yellow and drop off. This same problem can occur if it is in a draft.
The propagation of the plant is by new-growth stem or leaf-node cuttings taken up to mid-August. Dip the cutting in hydrogen perodixe to cauterize the wound. Some rooting hormone should be placed on the cut surface. Place the cutting in sand in a warm partially shaded place. On very hot days, syringe the cuttings with water to prevent them from wilting. Once the cutting has rooted, plant it in a 3 pot with a general potting soil. As it grows increase the size of the flower pot.
Remember, no artificial light after September 15 or otherwise you will get no blooms for Christmas. If your old plant becomes straggly you can prune it in mid-August for a wellshaped plant.
CHRIS CATERING
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Serving Toronto, Scarorough, Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Brooklin and Vicinity Your Host: Chris
For Quality, Fair Prices visit a Sheridan Garden Centre
