Over 30 Unique Houseplant & Specialty Plant Vendors
Local Horticultural Groups | FREE Garden Demos
FREE Plant Swap | Borrowing Seed Library
Open Mic Plant Poetry | Outdoor Firepits
$2 DONATION APPRECIATED Saturday, February 22 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Winter 2025 • Vol 54
[4] FROM THE GARDEN tbg marks 20 years as a botanical garden
[6] HEARTS & FLOWERS thank you from all of us
[8] LIBRARY Winter interest books
[10] LEARNING
blooming opportunities meet flexible schedules
[12] WHAT’S ON
[13] GARDEN MAGIC
[13] NEW STAFF MEMBER
[14] HOGGS HOLLOW
Mark your calendar for ttgg 2025
[20] HISTORY OF GARDENING a tiptoe through the tulips
[22] VOLUNTEER DAY
Foresters Financial staff visit the garden
[24] BEAVERS ecosystem engineers in Wilket creek
[26] GOATSCAPING ancient remedy to cut grass, control weeds
[30] MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Front garden makeover
[34] SUSTAINABLE CORK used for much more than bottle stoppers
[38] HET LOO PALACE GARDENS Frozen in time
[46] RECIPE CORNER caribbean rum cake
[47] AUTHOR REVIEWS garden writers appraise each other’s books
[48] BOOK SHELF
[51] PUZZLE PIECES
[52] GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING
[56] DIY UPCYCLE Paper Mache garden globes
TBG marks 20 years as a B o Tanical G arden and 60 years as a chari T y wi T h a new c i T y mana G emen T a G reemen T
Iam delIghted to share that 2025 will begin under a new management agreement with the City of toronto.
I’m proud of the dedication of our board and staff in getting us to this point. tBg’s first management agreement was signed in late 2004, making 2025 our 20th year as a botanical garden!
and here it is, three years into my time with you, our toronto Botanical garden community. the deep cold and abundant snow of mid-January 2022 did not concern my family: it drew us closer to our newfound city, knowing that we were a good match for a city that embraces all seasons, and doesn’t shy away from winter.
For as long as I have been at tBg my attention has been dedicated to renewing our management agreement with the City of toronto. and also, to mapping the path for tBg to continue taking strategic steps to our desired future.
In the midst of reaching a renewed operating agreement, I have come to deeply appreciate the moments that have brought tBg to the present. Seventy years ago, Rupert edwards sold his property to metropolitan toronto, with the expectation to keep the property as essential green space for torontonians, with no admission fee. One could say that Rupert was the first philanthropist to support toronto Botanical garden, having sold his land below market value to the City of toronto for the benefit of our community. Sixty years ago, we became a non-profit under the name of Civic garden Centre.
and 50 years ago, through the support of City and civic leaders, including tommy thompson, the City’s first Parks Commissioner, the original Civic garden Centre was established. It was housed in the Civic garden Centre building, the portion of our current visitor centre designed by the late Raymond moriyama. and 20 years ago, we evolved from the Civic garden Centre to toronto Botanical garden. through all these years toronto Botanical garden has been the place for plant lovers and the plant curious to learn, experience nature’s beauty and be part of a dynamic community. In fact, with the opening of the Civic garden Centre, we also launched Trellis, our member publication, now 50 years strong, in sharing gardening tips and inspiration.
looking back, we have much to be thankful for what has brought us this far. and, we are reminded that the steps we take today toward our desired future will ripple for years to come.
2025 is a momentous moment in our history and a great reminder that we are called to continue in the footsteps of the visionaries and philanthropists who came before us, to set us on the path to make toronto Botanical garden a garden for all.
While there is a lot to celebrate and much work to continue mapping to our desired future, know that we wouldn’t be here without your support.
thank you for being a part of our vibrant community. together let’s continue building our desired future, while assuring that tBg continues to be an essential green space for generations to come.
Watch for future Trellis issues this year to learn more about our 60th anniversary.
happy 2025, Stephanie Jutila TBG CEo
Orders will be ready for in-person pickup on Saturday, April 5 in the Toronto Botanical Garden Floral Hall from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A selection of hellebores will also be available to purchase on the day of the sale. Quantities are limited so shop early for the best selection.
TBG CEO Stephanie Jutila supports Hearts & Flowers to help fund operational needs of the Garden to bring the community together.
Thank you T o all 290 generous donors who raised more than $269,000 in support of hearts & Flowers. this campaign supports our core operations, including gardenrelated experiences for the community, and care of the gardens themselves.
Natalie Harder, TBG Director of Learning, is an advocate for children’s environmental education to help them experience the benefits of nature.
givingtuesday was a hUge success! On december 3, tBg donors raised $48,333 from 44 generous donors, plus matching donations of $44,000 from our Board of directors. Our campaign ended strong this year, raising an additional $5,800 in
gifts made between december 27 and 31 — what an incredible display of generosity and kindness from our donors and community.
• What’s Next?
In addition to hearts & Flowers, tBg seeks community support to
Gino amboang, TBG Education Coordinator, supports Hearts & Flowers to sustain programs like Living Winter that bring children back to the garden.
You gave to the garden You love!
sustain beauty, a connection to nature and environmental-based programming throughout the year.
• Monthly Donation Spread your support out over 12 months, and support our horticultural activities and all-ages learning
programs throughout the year. Visit us online to sign up.
• Membership
Become a member to support the toronto Botanical garden, a one-ofa-kind experience, connecting plants to people.
FEaTurED HErE arE the staff, volunteers and other champions who participated in the 2024 hearts & Flowers campaign with personalized appeals. We thank them for their inspiring anecdotes describing the impact of your giving on the toronto botanical garden!
Paul Zammit, Niagara College lecturer and former TBG Director of Horticulture, advocates for the Horticulture Team to continue to nurture the gardens and educate people about climate change and biodiversity.
learn more about how you can support the toronto Botanical garden throughout the year at https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ development/support-the-garden/
There is much to marvel at in the winter garden. recommended By
Lee robbins TBG Library Manager
These gorgeous books focus on designing a garden with winter interest and beauty with hard landscaping, evergreens and plants. Please come visit the library and peruse our collection.
• Unlock your garden's winter potential and see the beauty and promise of the colder months with award-winning garden designer and author naomi Slade’s The Winter Garden: Celebrating the Forgotten Season. Slade is an author, gardening expert and award-winning garden designer. in 2022 she became the Practical Journalist of the Year at the prestigious garden Media guild awards, known as the 'gardening oscars’. Her book is a celebration of the coldest season, with stunning photography that captures the very best that winter has to offer. Sb439.5 Sla 2023
• in Winterland: Create a Beautiful Garden for Every Season by cathy rees, the author encourages us to think outside the box and to love and engage with our gardens all year round, especially during this sometimes quiet, forgotten season after putting our gardens to bed. Sb439.5 ree 2021
• cédric Pollet’s Winter Gardens: Reinventing the Season, translated from the French, is a stunningly beautiful book, full of gorgeous images of winter gardens in France and britain. More artist than gardener, Pollet’s enthusiasm for photography showcases the captivating gardens with stunning examples of how to combine different plant species using basic criteria of form, colour and especially, texture. bark never looked so beautiful! Sb439.5 Pol 2017, Sb 439.5 .Pol 2021
How flexible schedules and weekday programs are making space for creativity and calm at toronto botanical garden
By Natalie Harder TBG Director of Learning
Picture this: it’s a Tuesday morning, and instead of the usual commute, you’re strolling through sun-dappled gardens, sketchbook in hand, or breathing deeply to the calming hum of sound therapy. For many of us, the shift to flexible work schedules has opened up the
possibility of doing just that—carving out time during the week to step into nature and nurture our creative and wellness pursuits. Toronto Botanical Garden is embracing this new rhythm, rolling out a delightful array of weekday programs made for today’s new way of working and living.
It’s not just an individual trend. Businesses worldwide have begun to lean into flexibility, with many adopting hybrid working models that promise greater work-life harmony. A Harvard Business Review article * notes that companies are embracing this shift for three key reasons: it
ImagIne spendIng a quIet mornIng In the garden, lettIng the textures and colours around you InspIre your artwork.
boosts productivity, caters to employee demands, and, perhaps most importantly, supports a new era of work-life balance. And this flexibility is opening new doors for people to reconnect with their passions, midweek, just when a little creative escape or wellness break feels most needed.
The TBG has always been a sanctuary of green in the city, but now it’s blossoming into a place where weekday magic happens. New botanical art classes invite people to explore the natural world with pencil, brush, and mixed media. Imagine spending a quiet morning in the garden, letting the textures and colours around you inspire your artwork. It’s more than a class—it’s a reset, a chance to slow
down and truly notice the beauty right before your eyes.
But creativity is just one piece of the TBG’s weekday lineup. For those looking to recharge on a deeper level, new wellness programs offer gentle, mindful sessions in breathwork and sound therapy. Here, in the midst of a garden’s calm, people can immerse themselves in practices designed to ground and refresh. Imagine the feeling of each breath melting away stress, or the soothing tones of sound therapy helping you feel more connected to the world around you. It’s a midweek retreat that helps restore balance and bring a bit of peace back into our busy lives.
As more of us make time for these ‘life moments’ during the week, TBG’s programs are a joyful reminder that there’s room to be creative, connected and calm, even in the midst of our everyday lives. So, here’s to weekday mornings that start with a sketchbook instead of a laptop, and to afternoons where breathing in the garden becomes just as essential as meeting a deadline. It’s a new world—one that TBG is helping us explore with each beautiful step.
*The
Future of Flexibility at Work
An incredible hanging garden installation featuring hundreds of flowers and plants collected from the Garden and dried onsite. The perfect indoor winter refuge and new year selfie station.
Designed and installed by the TBG Horticulture team. Free Admission. Open daily.
Located in the link between the lobby and Garden Hall
The turn of the 17th century saw sweeping changes in music, among them the rise of virtuoso instrumentalists, and music written for them in the “modern style.” The music featured unfettered improvisations, dramatic contrasts, and the passionate give-and-take of friends in musical conversation.
Saturday, January 25, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
Public $24, TBG Members and Tafelmusik Subscribers $23
Visitors are invited to explore the many ways Torontonians appreciate and find connections with green spaces in the city — highlighting the interplay of urban living with nature, parks, and wildlife.
February 14 through April 22 Free admission. Open daily.
Visitor Centre lobby
Horticultural Open House with OVER 30 specialty plant and garden-related vendors and exhibitors including local horticultural societies, and garden clubs. Free Plant Swap, Seed Lending Library, Free Demonstrations, Plant Poetry, Outdoor Fire-pits and more.
Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Admission. $2 suggested donation.
Filled with a thoughtful selection of top-performing and ethically sourced plants from reliable growers. Enjoy a friendly and relaxed shopping experience surrounded by plants and the people who care for them.
Open to the Public
Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members Only Plant Preview and Shopping Day Friday, May 9, noon to 7 p.m.
Gardening enthusiasts filled the floral Hall on September 26 to hear Niagara College faculty member and former tbG Director of Horticulture Paul Zammit in conversation with tbG Lead Horticulturist Leslie Hockley on lessons they’ve learned working in public horticulture.
During the evening Paul put together a delightful planted fall container which was raffled off and taken home by winner eleanor Heinz.
Director of Development
◗ Melanie l overing is a Cfre-certified fundraising professional with 25 plus years of experience in all aspects of philanthropy from annual giving to multimillion-dollar capital campaigns.
a graduate of the University of Guelph (ba) and St. Mike’s at U of t (Certificate in Social responsibility), she began her career supporting grassroots charities and initiatives, including the Leacock Club/foundation, Charity Village and the afP (association of fundraising Professionals).
work with KCI/Ketchum, a leading fundraising consulting firm, helped her hone her expertise by providing support to non-profit clients in education, healthcare and social services looking to raise ever greater funds.
More recently, Melanie’s marketing and fundraising-related roles with Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Ooch) created opportunities for donors to give—helping children living with cancer access ‘heal through happiness’ via nature-based and other recreational opportunities. a long-standing love of nature and the opportunity to share its transformational gifts with donors is what brings Melanie to the toronto botanical Garden.
Mark your calendars for through the garden gate 2025
By Veronica Sliva
oronto Botanical Garden’s annual Through the Garden Gate is being held this year on the weekend of June 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Held in a different location each year, the tour moves to Toronto’s historic Hoggs Hollow community. The area is bounded by Yonge Street, York Mills Road, Highland Crescent and the Rosedale Golf Club with the western branch of the upper Don River flowing through the area. York Mills Valley Park meanders through the neighbourhood. Hoggs Hollow is easily accessed from the York Mills subway station a few minutes stroll away.
In 1856, John and william Hogg, sons of Scottish immigrant James Hogg, subdivided their father’s estate under the name ‘Hoggs Hollow’. with a large Scottish, Irish and English population, the homes built in the 1920s were influenced by the English. To this day, Hoggs Hollow is known for its English cottage style, Tudor and Georgian architecture. These days you will also find very contemporary architecture in the mix.
For this year’s tour, 14 special gardens have been selected. Some properties feature reverse woodland ravines, others are situated on the banks of the river. You will see both shady enclaves and sun loving gardens. whatever your taste, all of them are sure to inspire.
Hoggs Hollow is known for its EnglisH cottagE stylE, tudor and gEorgian arcHitEcturE
Thanks to the tour’s self-guided format, you can discover each garden at your own pace with a map and a guide that describes the features of each unique garden.
A complimentary shuttle bus service allows you to “hop on and hop off” along the route. Knowledgeable TBG volunteers and Toronto Master Gardeners will be in each garden, ready to answer any of your plant or garden design questions.
Through the Garden Gate annual tour, held in a different part of the city each year, is one of the TBG’s major fund raisers. For ticket information go to https:// www.torontoibotanicalgarden.ca
For photo galleries from previous years including Swansea in 2024, see https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ enjoy/special-events/through-the-garden-gate/.
a tiptoe through the tulips By Lee
Robbins TBG Library Manager
Ceramic dish from iznik, Turkey circa 1560-1600, depicting tulips. [The Tulip anthology]
Plants that gardeners now take for granted could once only be found in remote and hostile regions. A good example is the tulip. Tulips have their origins in the rugged mountainous regions of the Pamir and Tien Shan ranges of Central Asia, and the mountains stretching from southern Russia to Iran. These early tulips, vibrant in reds, yellows and oranges, thrived in the barren and windswept habitats.
For centuries, tulips remained relatively obscure until they caught the eye of traders and soldiers passing through the Ottoman Empire. The
tulip captivated the Persian and Ottoman courts, with its stylized likeness becoming a prominent symbol found in carpets, ceramics and even on the fuselage of Turkish Airlines planes to this day.
The tulip’s journey to Europe began in the 16th century. Swiss botanist Conrad Gesner documented it in 1559, but it was the efforts of Carolus Clusius (1526–1609) that truly cemented the tulip’s place in European horticulture. Clusius was instrumental in bringing these flowers to the Netherlands, creating an expansive catalogue of tulip varieties.
In the early 17th century, this fascination morphed into a financial and cultural frenzy known as Tulipmania. The Dutch became enthralled with certain tulip varieties, particularly those with extraordinary patterns and colours. It was the Tulip Breaking Virus that drove this passion to feverish heights. This virus, discovered to be the culprit behind the streaks and flame-like patterns, introduced spectacular yet unpredictable outcomes in tulip blooms, making them highly prized.
As the virus altered the tulip’s appearance, it enchanted the Dutch, who were willing to pay prodigious sums for these ‘broken’ tulips. The Semper Augustus tulip, in particular,
anonymous 17th-century watercolour of the Semper augustus, famous for being the most expensive tulip sold during the Tulipmania. [Wikipedia]
is infamous for achieving exorbitant prices. However, the frenzy was not as widespread or economically devastating as many tales suggest. Modern research has debunked the myth of a national financial collapse, indicating that the madness was relatively localized to the wealthy and was short-lived.
While once the source of a speculative bubble, broken tulips became the object of scientific inquiry. Clusius first documented these curious changes, but it was not until 1928 that British mycologist Dorothy Mary Cayley identified the viral cause of these captivating patterns.
Today, commercial tulip growers are wary of the Tulip Breaking Virus, now known as Mosaic Virus, due to its propensity to weaken plants while spreading easily among them. However, hybridization has led to virus-free, multi-coloured tulips— descendants of both uninfected and bulbous propagation methods. This secondary reproduction method, through bulb offshoots, has allowed for the incredible diversity of tulips we enjoy today. Tulips continued to captivate hearts over the centuries. Many famous artists like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Georgia O’Keefe
have been inspired by and painted tulips in their own unique styles.
Every spring, Ottawa-Gatineau comes alive with a dazzling display of colourful tulips. Close to one million flowers bloom in parks and gardens across the region that commemorates the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. The tulips are part of a tradition that dates back to the Second World War where Canadians played a significant role in the liberation of the Netherlands. In thanks, the Netherlands gifted 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada. It also, while in exile. commemorates Princess Juliane taking refuge here and giving birth to her third daughter, Princess Margriet.
Tulips’ historical impact and the ongoing discovery of new species, like the Tulipa toktogulica identified by University of Cambridge researchers in 2022 in Kyrgyzstan, ensure that tulips will remain embedded in our natural and cultural landscapes for years to come.
◗ The Tulip by Anna Pavord SB413.T9 Pav 1999
◗ Tulipomania by Mike Dash SB425.Das 1999
◗ The Tulip Anthology edited by Billie Lythberg QK495.L72 Don 2010
Tulipa toktogulica [University of Cambridge, department of Plant Sciences]
TBG GeTs To connecT wiTh people on Their firsT visiT and The visiTinG Group GeTs a rewardinG session GivinG Back To Their communiTy.
Every year we receive many requests from different companies and groups offering to volunteer with us. This is a win-win for both Toronto Botanical Garden and the volunteering group. TBG often gets to connect with people on their first visit and the visiting group gets a rewarding session giving back to their community.
By Leslie Hockley TBG lead horticulturist
A good example of how this works occurred last fall when we hosted Foresters Financial. The focus for employees was to get their hands dirty, learn about planting and what they can use to replace their own lawns. They engaged with our volunteer tour guides while taking a stroll through the gardens and
caught native pollinators with our educational team! Don’t worry, no pollinators were harmed during this activity. To increase quality interactions, we offered three activities in rotation:
◗ learning groups went into the garden to observe and catch pollinators. They caught a total of 59 over the course of two days and saw such insects as wasps, carpenter bees, flies and honeybees. They also made seed balls to take home to spread native seeds!
◗ Planting 800 plants were added to the garden, including 40 plant species. The new garden features plants for pollinators, for sun and for shade, and Japanese and Canadian plants inspired by our Moriyama building.
◗ touring time spent learning about the garden’s history and becoming familiar with the grounds and what we offer.
In preparation for this activity TBG’s horticultural team and seasonal garden volunteers worked diligently to remove roughly 8,000 square feet of lawn. Talk about sweat equity!
We are grateful to corporate volunteers and companies like Foresters Financial who invest in opportunities like these to give back to the community, and learn at the same time. Corporate groups interested in engaging their employees to give back to the garden are invited to contact our Director of Development, Melanie Lovering by calling 416-397-1372 or emailing development @torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
horticulturist
Beni plant a tree.
Corporate visitors learn about bees from our beekeepers.
bottom: Touring and learning about the garden’s history.
I don’t want to be a product of my envIronment. I want my envIronment to be a product of me.” North American beaver (Castor canadensis)
I’ve heard thIs saying for many years. At least, I think that I have. And recently, when I decided to write a story about my wintry encounter with the beavers in Wilket Creek, this quote came to mind… But before I could dive into my stream of thought, before I could join my semi-aquatic friends in their cozy lodge, I was curious to know where this saying originated.
A quick google search led me to Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film, The Departed, which I had seen, and remembered that it opened with a voice over of Jack Nicholson saying the line, and some other inconsequential things. Every link led me to the crime drama. Not sure what I was expecting to find, but it wasn’t that…something older perhaps, like a proverb, or faded drawing on a cave wall… The images that popped up were different: motivational posters with those words in bold, blood-red and some gangster smoking a cigar. With all due respect to the screenwriter, the legendary filmmaker and of course, Jack Nicholson, I think this saying is much older than gangsters and filmmakers altogether. I think the beavers said this long before us. They’re the ones who took this saying to heart.
The beaver is one of the only mammals, other than humans, that manufactures its own environment and, in doing so, greatly impacts the ecosystem as a whole. They open dense
woods by felling trees. They build dams to block the flow of rivers and streams, forming new lakes and flood plains in the process. A wide array of flora and fauna depend on these creations. This widespread influence on the ecosystem earns beavers the distinction of being a keystone species.
On that winter day, as I sauntered through Wilket Creek with my camera, I wasn’t actually looking for the beavers. I was dreaming of spring, of my return to the garden… Flocks of American robins and European starlings decorated a stand of staghorn sumacs in the light snowfall. Skunk cabbage blooms had begun to melt the world around them, in those vernal pools, with the beavers to thank for their existence.
Seeing the beavers in the creek that day was nothing short of magical. My blurry eyes, glossed over with daydreams of spring, could have easily looked past them, were it not for my ears. It was as if our resident beavers alerted me to their presence, or alerted each other to mine, by slapping the water with their tails.
One disappeared under the ripples–the deep pool of their own making–as soon as I peeked over the bridge. The other sat on a sheet of ice by the bank. I couldn’t believe my eyes–the second
largest rodent in the world–an emblem of Canada, older than the maple leaf. I had never had such a sighting of this keystone species. Usually, I see them skimming the water, or find evidence of their passing carpentry.
I walked down to the bank and sat in the snow. The beaver didn’t mind my presence–his eyes were glossed over with daydreams of his own. He had the expression of someone who knows that his species has had more impact on Canada’s history and exploration than any other plant or animal. He looked like he remembered the bloodshed, the near extinction, but had forgiven the fur trade, to keep on building.
I could bombard the page with facts about this iconic animal: how they are monogamous; how they build lodges out of branches and mud, with underwater entrances; how they even secrete an oil which they spread onto their fur to make it waterproof; their transparent eyelids; their orange teeth… But, in that moment, face-to-face with the ecosystem engineer, I remembered the birds that would be returning soon, and I thought about all the time I had spent by ponds and marshes and the other magical encounters I had had with wildlife in this city.
I, too, only had the beavers to thank.
“seeIng them In the creek that day was nothIng short of magIcal.” Sasan Beni
By Carol Gardner
Once, a lovely time ago, my husband and I, along with another couple, rented a farmhouse in the south of France. When we arrived, we found fresh eggs and a bottle of wine in the fridge. The landlady, an antique dealer, lived next door. The property was huge and beautifully cared for. The landlady told us that her grass maintenance secret was goats. She had a friend who was a wandering shepherd who brought her goats to them when they needed the grassy area cleared out. The goats chomped away until their work was done and then moved on to another landscape in need.
The goats, he says, “are just like us. Their families are important to them, and they bring their individual skills to work well in teams”.
I wanted her life - to keep chickens, drink lots of wine, sell antiques weekly at the local market, live in the south of France, and have a friend who was a wandering shepherd.
I really wished we had seen the goats in action. Imagine my surprise when I read that, in a pilot project in June 2024, 40 large ‘eco-goats’ had been brought into the Don Valley Brick Works to combat invasive phragmites (Phragmites australis)– an invasive perennial reed grass. They took only two and a half days to get the job done.
The Toronto goats came from Goats in the City, a sanctuary in King City that started in 2020. Ian Matthews, the owner, has loved goats for almost
all of his life. When he was six years old, his parents left Jamaica to build a new life in Canada. Ian was left in the care of his grandmother, a formidable woman who was also caring for seven other grandchildren. She owned land that was rented out to various people. One of the renters kept goats. Ian was instantly intrigued. He asked his grandmother if he could have one. She told him that, if he could go into the fenced goat area and make friends with one goat, he could take it home. All his young eyes could see was a field of horns, but he took a breath and went into the field, coming out with a small brown goat that he was allowed to keep. By the time he was
11, he had 50 goats and spent all his out-of-school time with them. He stayed with them until he came to Canada at the age of 25. By this time, he had also qualified as an accountant and a mortgage broker.
Ian’s father, now in his seventies, was still in Canada, tending to a herd of goats, but finding it increasingly difficult. Ian offered to take them over. That was the beginning of a dream. He wanted to use the goats for landscape maintenance, knowing they loved eating weeds. To the goats, munching on phragmites, buckthorn and garlic mustard was like going to
a four-star Michelin restaurant. Ian contacted similar businesses in the U.S. and joined on-line conversations which turned out to be invaluable. He began his business using both ancient and modern practices. When he goes to assess a site, he walks the ground, naturally, but he also uses drones to survey the land and, eventually, the results. He now has 94 goats; the herd doubles annually and his goal is to have a herd of 500 within three years. The goats do their jobs, and live a lovely life. Their milk isn’t sold, nor does Ian sell them for food. The goats, he says, “are just like us. Their families are important to them, and they bring their individual
skills to work well in teams”. It’s obvious they are family to him. Some of the goats even have individual profiles on his website (www.goatsinthecity.ca). Ian is now doing presentations for many agencies involved in conservation and wildlife preservation.
Toronto isn’t the only place to use this type of resource. Calgary has had an annual goat grazing program since 2016 as a way to control invasive species. Manitoba uses both sheep and goats in an effort to control the growth of the weeds because each animal has a ‘specialty’ – goats prefer taller vegetation whereas sheep prefer grass and weeds that are lower to the ground. In fact, multi-species grazing is being used more and more as we learn about the proclivities of grazing animals. Cattle, sheep and goats have been used to eliminate invasive plants for many years in Europe. The UK is now experimenting with Highland cattle and Konik ponies, a Polish horse breed; water buffalo are being used for clearing wetlands and pastures in England and Wales.
other anImals can play a role in weed suppression too, albeit in a smaller way. Ducks are very effective in getting rid of weeds and pests in ponds and wetlands. Although geese are not generally beloved, they are very talented at rooting out lawn weeds. Guess you have to balance that with their tendency to poop every 12 minutes! Hey, nothing’s perfect, but the idea of using animals for land management is a lot better than dousing it with toxic chemicals that will remain in the soil for generations and, for the animals, it’s a lot better than the alternative.
Well, I haven’t moved to France, kept chickens or sold antiques, but I do drink a lot of wine and I’ve finally made friends with a wandering shepherd. Progress!
Goats in the City – goatsinthecity@ gmail.com 1-855-410-4628
Some places in North America, desperate to get rid of weeds, use fire, flooding or harmful chemicals. Other places, including York Region, are using the larvae of two kinds of moths (Lenisa geminipuncta and Archanara neurica) to obliterate the invasive weed phragmites. The caterpillars attack phragmites, boring into the stems and eating them from the inside. They then lay their eggs in the area, providing for the next generation of phrag fighters. University of Waterloo biologists, in partnership with Agriculture, Agri-Food Canada and the University of Toronto, are working on a North American pilot program that uses moths as a management tool to control invasive plants threatening Canadian wetlands.
• Phragmites are the serial killers of the plant world.
• Their extended root systems can produce 200 stems per square yard.
• They release toxins into the soil to kill surrounding plants.
• For more information see Ontario’s Phragmites fact sheet at https: //www.ontario.ca/page/ phragmites-fact-sheet
Georgie Kennedy gives her front garden a long-considered makeover with colourful,maintain,easy-topollinator-attracting native plants
“We’ve been indoctrinated into the cult of perfectly shaved laW ns and W ell-managed flo W er beds full of colourful annuals, but the age of gardening for beauty and control may be coming to an end.”
Georgie Kennedy
spent most of the fall giving my enchanting front garden the first stage of a longconsidered makeover. It was a strenuous task to dig out the 20-year-old stand of waving Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’. Pulling up the underground webs of fleshy rhizomes created by day lilies and irises was less difficult. I needed help to cut down the Japanese barberry bush and yank its roots from the earth, but I had no problem lifting out all the peony roots.
1. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) previous page
2. Blue Rug Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’)
3. Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
4. Large-leafed Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)
5. Coral Bells (Heuchera americana and Tiarella cordifolia) of various colours and leaf shapes
6. Heavy metal Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’)
7. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
8. Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
FoR My GReATeR ToRonTo AReA CLAy-BASed SoiL THAT HAS Been AMended WiTH CoMPoST, i CHoSe: 2 3 4 5 7 6 8
Why did I go to the effort of removing so many plants? Because I needed to act for the health of our ecosystem. Most of us are aware of the grave danger our planet faces. Every day we hear of another species at risk or extinct, and we know that the main culprit is human overdevelopment.
From bees to spiders to dragonflies, our pollinators are dying because they cannot find places to eat, live, and nurture their young. Toads and salamanders, flycatchers, warblers, and owls are in danger. Their habitats are being paved over, dammed up, and planted with trees, shrubs and flowers that do not sustain them. These precious creatures rely on specific foods and places of shelter to survive. Meanwhile, homeowners and landscapers are leaf-blowing their hiding places into oblivion.
ompelled by the awareness that our planet is in an environmental crisis, I realized I could make a difference.
Although the plants I removed were not all directly harmful to our southern Ontario landscape, they were contributing to a shrinkage of the natural spaces required for our survival. We depend on biodiversity. Invasive plants like the grass and the barberry are dangerous because their seeds are dispersed by air and by birds; they can outcompete native trees, grasses and shrubs in our dwindling forests, wetlands and grasslands.
It’s understandable to want the front yard to be pleasing to the eye. We’ve been indoctrinated into the cult of perfectly shaved lawns and well managed flower beds full of colourful annuals. But the age of gardening for beauty and control may be coming to an end. So then, what can we plant in the front garden and even in the boulevard? What will have visual appeal and not be too messy for the neighbourhood’s approval? What will be colourful and easy to maintain? What will attract and support the creatures we need? In all decisions, I defer to the experts.
Maintenance is simple. The carpet of juniper makes an excellent groundcover, and a perfect hiding place for squirrels and rabbits. I like to divide my coral bells every few seasons as they tend to become leggy. The seedheads can be left to feed the birds; if you wish, cut them back in late spring to allow for any nesting pollinator eggs.
I’m happy I’ve started the switch to native plants. We can all reimagine our relationship to Nature. Let’s be part of the solution. In addition to the websites listed, there are books to guide you to plants that are ideal for your location. Also remember that you can find information and send native plant questions to the Toronto Master Gardeners https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/.
Bi B lio G raphy: Many of these books are available in the Weston Family Library.
• Trees of Ontario, Linda Kershaw, Lone Pine Publishing, 2001
• The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario, McClelland and Stewart, 2004
• Ontario Wildflowers, Linda Kershaw, Lone Pine Publishing, 2002
• Bringing Nature Home, douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, 2007
• The Northeast Native Plant Primer, Uli Lorimer, Timber Press, 2022
• Native Plants of the Northeast, donald J. Leopold, Timber Press, 2005
• The Living Landscape, Rick darke & doug Tallamy, Timber Press, 2014
• 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens, Lorraine Johnson, Random House of Canada, 1999.
• Ecological Gardening, Marjorie Harris, Random House of Canada, 1991.
• The Gardeners Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region, Rick Gray and Shaun Booth, Firefly, 2024
Notes
• At all times, I keep handy the booklet Grow Me instead, produced by: ontario invasive Plant Council (https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/), ontario’s invading Species Awareness Program (https://www.invading species.com/), ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (https://www.ofah.org/), and the Toronto Botanical Garden (https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/).
• For a discussion on nativars, see https:landscapeontario.com/nativars-yea-or-nay
• “Grow Me Instead” and A Garden for the RustyPatched Bumblebee, Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, douglas & Mcintyre, 2022. See also Bibliography
• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ endangered-animals
• https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/ resource-centre/featured-species/insects-and-spiders/
• https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-risk-ontario
a sustainable material used for much more than stopping wine bottles
By Lorraine Hunter Trellis Editor
Cork Can be made into hats, shoes, wallets, purses, golf bags, soccer balls, wall tiles, flooring – the list is endless.
On a recent visit to the Cork Observatory, built to promote cork oak as a valuable ecological niche, in Coruche, Portugal, I was intrigued to discover that cork is used in a variety of products from flooring and furniture to fashion products and more.
Sustainable, durable and versatile, cork is primarily grown in countries along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where there is lots of sunshine, low rainfall and high humidity. Portugal is the largest cork producer but cork oak trees are also cultivated in Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Cork oak (Quercus suber) is an evergreen oak tree with peeling bark and edible acorns, it is also the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses.
What makes cork sustainable is the fact that the cork oak trees are not cut down or damaged when the cork is harvested. They can be harvested every nine years for the lifetime of the tree (roughly 270 years). It is actually illegal to cut a cork oak tree down without a permit from the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture.
Cork expands when the weather is warmer, making it easier to harvest. Cork harvesting is typically done between May and September. No machines are used. The cork strippers (tiradors) work in pairs using hand held axes, one person on the ground and the other in the tree, They make cuts at the top and bottom of the trunk and then peel off the cork. This practice and knowledge has been passed down through generations.
The cork is left out in the sun for several months to dry and then
boiled for one hour and pressed to make it flatter, Boiling kills any bacteria or insects and pressing makes the cork into a more suitable shape for working.
The cork is then separated into branches, according to the quality and thickness of the pieces. The ideal piece of cork is dense, thick enough to be a wine bottle cork and has no holes.
Cork oak trees absorb significant amounts of CO2, helping to mitigate climate change. Their deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and maintain soil health. Cork oak forests play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle, improving water retention and quality.
Cork is actually made of water-resistant cells that separate the outer bark from the delicate inner bark. It has a unique set of properties not found in any other naturally existing material. It is lightweight, rot resistant, fire resistant, termite resistant, impermeable to gas and liquid, soft and buoyant.
Used as bottle stoppers for more than 400 years, it contains a natural waxy substance called suberin that makes cork impermeable to liquids and gas and prevents the cork from rotting. But today, modern designers are finding that it can be used for so much more.
“
At this time in history, complete domin A nce over n Ature wA s celebr Ated A nd the g A rdens of the er A were cre Ated to reflect the power A nd importA nce of the owner. ”
Frozen in time, these cultivated works of art make a grand statement
tVeronica Sliva
Story and Photos by
his past september I visited Het Loo (pronounced Het ‘Low’) Palace Gardens at Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. It had been 10 years since my last visit, and I wondered what had changed. Every gardener knows that gardens change and evolve as time goes by. I found that the gardens at Het Loo hadn’t changed much. In fact, it turned out they were same as they were over 300 years ago when they were commissioned by Willem III (aka William of Orange) and his wife Mary, the first residents of Het Loo. And this is by design.
A little history…
IN 1684 William and Mary acquired the medieval castle Het Loo with the intention of building a summer palace and hunting lodge. In 1689 William and Mary were crowned king and queen of England. That event spurred an expansion of the gardens at Het Loo.
At this time, complete dominance over nature was celebrated and the gardens of the era were created to reflect the power and importance of the owner. As it happened Louis the XIV’s palace and gardens at Versailles in France had recently been completed and William wanted to create something at Het Loo that made a similar grand statement.
Het Loo was planned and created as a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’, a German word meaning a “total work of art” that combines different art forms to
create a single cohesive whole. In this case the combining of a palace and a baroque garden.
A roque G A rden d esi G n
THE GArdEN was planned in the baroque style that is based on symmetry and the principle of imposing order on nature. The gardens were designed to be seen from a distance, especially from the rooms or terraces of the palace and were laid out in ‘rooms’ arranged geometrically and divided by gravel paths with meeting points featuring fountains or statues.
The flower beds bordered with low growing hedges and flowers formed exquisite embroidery-like designs. Larger shrubs and trees were sculpted into conical, or dome-like topiaries and trees were grouped in orderly clusters. Water was present in the form of long rectangular ponds, lined up with the terraces of the house, with circular ponds
and fountains adding interest and motion. The gardens when completed were wondrous and provided a glorious backdrop for Willim and Mary’s opulent royal life.
After William’s death in 1702 maintenance of the place became a problem for later generations. Over time Het Loo lost much of its splendour. Following the flight of William V in 1795, the garden fell into ruin.
todAy’s G A rdens
FA s T FO rWA rd about 200 years to the 1970s when the palace was converted to a museum. The buildings dating from the 19th and 20th centuries were removed and the palace and parts of the interior was restored to their 17th century condition. This work also included reconstruction of the garden.
By the mid-nineties Het Loo was restored and frozen back in time to about the year 1700 with a view to keeping it at that point in history. Today the gardens we see are pretty much as they were back then.
Located behind the palace, the private ‘Great Garden’ is often called the ‘Versailles of Holland’ because it adheres to the general baroque formula established by the French landscape architect André Le Nôtre: perfect symmetry, axial layout with radiating gravel walks, parterres with fountains, ponds and statues.
The main garden, with rectangular beds, is an enclosed space surrounded by raised walks, tucked into the woods. At its far end, a shaded crosswalk of trees disguises the central vista. Orange trees planted in large wooden boxes grace the garden during spring to fall and then are wintered in the orangery. It is said Mary made her own marmalade from the fruit.
To the west and east of the pavilion are low-lying gardens known as the King’s garden and the Queen’s garden: They are also divided symmetrically into parterres surrounded by paths with fountains and sculptures between them.
Each year the borders are planted with different varieties chosen from the wide range of garden plants which existed in the 17th century.
As was usual for that period, there is plenty of space and bare soil between plants so that all aspects of growth can be seen.
The focus of the lower garden is the fountain with its Venus sculpture and four swans. These many parterres are planted with complicated configurations surrounded by borders hedged by low level boxwood (Buxus). The borders are filled with flowering plants throughout the seasons.
From the raised terraces, there is a glorious view of the garden where you can see into the King’s and Queen’s gardens. On the walls are decorative white and blue ceramic pots modelled on historical 17th-century originals, filled with plants cultivated at Het Loo.
Espaliered on the south walls are a variety of fruit trees such as apple, pear, peach, apricot, nectarine, cherry and plum.
Branching arbour walks of hornbeam provide shade in the Queen’s garden. There are four small parterres
within these symmetrical colonnades, each with a fountain at its centre.
Visitors leaving the lower garden and crossing the avenue to enter the upper garden come upon the high jet of water rising from the King’s fountain.
A large variety of old scented roses are grown throughout the gardens with many shrubs, and in spring there is a beautiful bulb display.
The rooms of the palace are supplied with fresh bouquets weekly, assembled by its own craftsmen, partly with flowers from the Het Loo nursery garden. Het Loo is the
only museum in the Netherlands with a professional flower room. This baroque style of garden veers far from the current trends of today that allow nature to have its own way. It is truly a work of art contrived and controlled by man and meant to be appreciated much like a painting.
I loved wandering the paths and admiring the formal plantings, sculptures and architectural details. But I found it amusing that in the borders swiss chard and zinnias were planted together side by side…not what I expected.
Looking for a simple yet special dessert for Valentine’s, a special birthday or any other celebration? It is easy-to-make and delicious any time of year.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup milk
½ cup rum
2 tsp vanilla extract
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 10- to 12-cup bundt-style pan.
2. Beat together the butter and sugar, in a large bowl, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts alternately with the milk and rum, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in vanilla.
4. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until it starts to brown around the edges and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove cake from oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack and cool completely.
(Reprinted with permission from the book Hunters in Paradise… Tales of a Nassau Childhood)
garden writing gals with a shared past appraise each other’s books
Reviewed by Sonia Day
Life on a tropicaL island. Coconut palms swaying in the breeze, turquoise seas, living in shorts and T-shirts, never putting on winter boots again. It’s the kind of fantasy that many of us indulge in – particularly at this time of year –but usually don’t do anything about.
Yet for Lorraine and her sister Janice Hunter, it did happen. When Lorraine was 10 and Janice, seven, and living in Calgary in the late 1950s, their dad announced abruptly one day that he’d seen enough snow to last him a lifetime. So, he was taking the family off to Nassau, Bahamas, where he’d lived as a child with his grandmother.
What followed was a turbulent introduction to a radically different life. Lorraine caught mumps on the 10-day drive to Miami, capped with a wretched ferry ride over to Nassau. But the subsequent decade wound up providing her and younger sister Janice with a trove of such unforgettable tales, which they’ve encapsulated in a new memoir called: Hunters in Paradise: Tales of a Nassau Childhood.
“It was an innocent time, a magical place for two little girls who were used to cold winters in Canada,” they recall in the book’s introduction. “We had no TV and were not wealthy. We read a lot, made our own fun….”
That fun included getting their own ‘potcake’ (a dog), snorkeling for the first time and the thrill of Junkanoo, a Bahamian Christmas tradition when people dress up in crepe paper costumes and parade through the streets at dawn, shaking cowbells. In the food department, they got to taste bizarre tropical fruits like sapodillas, sour sop and gineps, and learned to love traditional island dishes like peas ‘n rice, conch salad and guava duff.
And - full disclosure - I know how magical (but also raw) it was for them, because I had a similar childhood. My British dad did much the same thing as Lorraine’s and hauled my sister, Mum and me off on a banana boat to live in Jamaica when I was 13. We subsequently moved to the Bahamas and I actually met Lorraine (now editor of Trellis) then, when we were cub reporters on rival daily newspapers in Nassau.
So, this charming little book brought back my own teen years. And even if you didn’t have a crazy dad like we did, their stories are entertaining and often hilarious. The recipes, all in full colour, look yummy too. So, I’m off to the kitchen now, to make my personal favourite, Bahamian Peas ‘n Rice.
Hunters in Paradise: Tales of a Nassau Childhood is available in the TBG Garden Shop.
tH e n ewfoundland l un CH Party
A Sisters of the Soil Novel With Recipes
Reviewed by Lorraine Hunter, Trellis Editor
Sonia Day’S book The Newfoundland Lunch Party, second of a trilogy featuring the Sisters of the Soil offers a look into the lives of four plant loving garden writer friends of a certain age and a look at life in a Newfoundland outpost known as Bay Roberts.
The “Sisters” all from different countries around the world, are four of eight such women who met and bonded in New York City for the blooming of a corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) at Brooklyn Botanical Garden. They have kept in touch ever since, meeting every so often at the home of one of them, ranging from Mexico (in the first book in the series The Mexican Lunch Party) to this one in Newfoundland.
Reconnecting for the first time in five years, (thanks to the COVID 19 worldwide pandemic) the friends include host Rhodo who owns an inherited saltbox house by the sea, Hannah from the UK, Parisian Nathalie and Abby, an American living in Ajijic, Mexico. We learn a little about each of them and their individual botanic interests and they all bring a recipe from their various homelands to prepare for the pivotal lunch party. The author provides all of the recipes – ranging from Potato Roses to Newfoundland Moose Stew to Sea Buckhorn Marmalade – at the back of the book.
As the women hike the rocky shore and explore the wild terrain, a mystery evolves around an old dog kennel in Rhodo’s neighbour’s yard which Hannah thinks could be worth a fortune. The Sisters proceed to dig around for the truth.
Canadian author, former Toronto Star garden columnist and painter, Sonia Day manages to bring the flavour of the area into her stories with details of local flora, the landscape, weather conditions, culture, history, food and even local colloquialisms with phrases like “Tanks. Don’t need nuttin.” Or “Where you ‘longs to?” She describes local people and weaves a profile of place as well as friendship into the story. A good read about plants, friends, food and a wild, beautiful part of Canada.
The Newfoundland Lunch Party, A Sisters of the Soil Novel With Recipes by Sonia Day is available in the TBG Garden Shop.
three informative plant reads for new and seasoned gardeners
Reviewed by Carol Gardner
If you’re looking for a comprehensive book on native plants, look no further than The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region a new book (2024) by Rick Gray and Shaun Booth. Gray has a fully native garden with over 300 species of native plants; Booth runs an ecological garden design company and a native plant nursery.
The book features over 150 native plants. The authors cover every question you might have about the featured plants, including: exposure, soil type, height and spread,
bloom period, fragrance or lack thereof, pests, wildlife value, hardiness zone and propagation. At the back are charts summarizing the findings. Unfortunately, the pictures are a bit gloomy. As there were many different photographers involved, I suspect that the pictures haven’t been enhanced by the type of paper chosen.
This is a book for someone who wants to get the facts right, rather than for someone who enjoys the romance and artistry provided by more whimsical gardening tomes. Published by Firefly Books, it’s available in book stores and online for approximately $45.00.
Reviewed by Carol Gardner
how many of us have dreamt of having a white garden after a visit to Vita Sackville-West’s white garden at Sissinghurst? White Gardens, Creating Magnificent Moonlit Spaces by Chicago based writer Nina Koziol is a real gem. Not only does the book contain an amazing list of white or nearly white annuals, perennials, bulbs, vines, shrubs, roses and even exotics, the pictures, especially of moonlight gardens, will definitely feed your fantasy.
Even if you don’t have the space, inclination or selfdiscipline for a white garden, this book works. The historical
references and advice on garden design, hardscaping, accessories and lighting would be of interest to any gardener.
This would be a superb gift to just about anyone interested in gardening, no matter what their experience. Published by Creative Homeowner in 2024, it can be found in many bookstores or online at a price between $31.99 and $45.00.
Reviewed by Veronica sliva
The first issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as U.S. president. Known for providing weather forecasts and gardening advice to farmers, as well as folklore, its popularity has continued to this day. In recent years the publisher has released a series of 3 gardening handbooks.
Vegetable Gardener’s h andbook
The Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook is divided into two sections. Part 1 includes a chart on frosts dates and the number of days in the growing season in both Canadian and U.S. cities. There is a section on getting started with information about gardening techniques, tools, soil, how to start seeds, composting and much more.
Part 2 covers step-by-step advice for success with more
than 30 vegetables along with full colour photos. The Growing Concerns section covers diseases and pests, watering needs, fertilizers, crop rotation and saving seeds.
At the end of each section there is a handy journal where the reader can record such information as seed starting details, soil test results, companion planting etc.
With luscious photography accompanied by expert advice on how to plan, plant and care for flowers, The Flower Gardener’s Handbook shows you how to grow 32 popular types with information on propagation, diseases, pests and harvesting. Every flower profile has a ‘Wit and Wisdom’ box that gives you folklore or interesting facts about the plant.
How-to advice on achieving colour in the garden throughout the season, information on natives vs non natives, composting, when to plant and much more makes this comprehensive book welcome in any gardener’s library.
The third book in the Old Farmer’s Almanac gardening series makes it easy for those who want to grow plants in containers. The book is filled with information on everything you need to know.
Part 1 focuses on container growing basics, how to make a self-watering container, information on potting mixes, sunlight and water requirements, and a special section on balcony, terrace and rooftop gardening.
The next section profiles the needs of individual edibles such as beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, peppers, potatoes, salad greens, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and herbs as well as fruit.
Part 2 is all about ornamentals and designing with them in containers. The attributes of individual plants are divided into categories called Singular Sensations, Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers to help you successfully put together a stunning arrangement. Hanging baskets are covered, as well as how to handle diseases and pests. As with the previous two handbooks, there are guided journal pages throughout the book to record your own observations and reminders.
The handbooks are laid out logically and written in plain English in a helpful no-nonsense style. A set of these handbooks would make a wonderful resource for any gardener at any stage from beginner to expert.
Reviewed by Lila
Yorke
Cherry Blossom Chickadees from Bits and Pieces, designed by Russell Cobane, is available in 1,000, 500 and 300 pieces. This review refers to the 500-piece, 46 x 61 cm (18 x 24 in) version which offers a satisfying challenge with small, intricate pieces.
The scene, a close-up view of two detailed chickadees perched on a pink and white cherry blossom tree branch, offers a hopeful view of the coming spring — a perfect project for a winter day.
I started with the outside frame and then concentrated on the birds and blossoms leaving the overlapping shades of the brown, beige and grey background for last.
Made from recycled material with random cut pieces, this puzzle when finished is attractive enough to frame.
Reviewed by Walter
Sliva
This is a lovely collage of 11 watercolour painted scenes, each depicting one or more birds in their springtime, mating plumage, posed among bird houses, nests, pollinators and various species of spring flowers. The colours and scenes are refreshing and cheerful, and each is beautiful enough to be its own work of art. This is one of a series of four Seasonal Bird puzzles by the artist, Jane Shasky.
Cobble Hill’s ‘Garden Birds in Spring’ is simply a pleasure to work on. Each scene has its own distinct array of colours, and the individual pictures are large enough that you can locate each piece on the included large-sized poster and determine exactly where it fits. Curiously, the species depicted cover both North American and European birds, so we’ll have to grant the artist some artistic freedom in placing them in the same collection!
Other than being a lovely picture, I particularly love this puzzle because of its large size with quite large
individual pieces. At 50.8 x 66.04 cm (20 X 26 in), it is a big as many 1,000piece puzzles. Many 500-piece puzzles are 50.8 x 50.8 cm (20 X 20 in) or smaller, with much smaller pieces that are more difficult to put together. One of my biggest complaints about puzzles is that the pieces can be so small, with the details so complex and on such a tiny scale, that it can be very difficult to look at a piece and have any idea how it fits. Not so with this one!
It would be a great gift for a naturelover who hasn’t worked on a lot of puzzles in the past, or who finds it too frustrating to do the larger, more challenging ones! I found it a relaxing pleasure to just sit quietly and watch the lovely scenes come together.
Nuit Blanche at the Garden our garden lit up once again for a magical nuit blanche! over 2,000 visitors joined us to explore two inspiring nighttime installations. Finding Roots Together led by indigenous knowledge keepers, alan colley and black Wolf Hart welcomed visitors into a ceremonial fire circle, where people gathered for hours, sharing stories, songs and deep conversations. nearby, artist and outdoor educator alexandra iorgu invited all to interact with a beautiful, temporary clay installation. in edwards g ardens, We Are All Made of Stars by Sarvenaz rayati formed a glowing spiral galaxy with hundreds of stars, each symbolizing connection and wonder. check out our online photo album>> https://flic.kr/s/aHbqjblnht
Fall Ravine Festival We brought the Fall ravine Festival to life, october 5, engaging 908 participants in a vibrant celebration of nature and community! Huge thanks to our amazing partners—artists’ Play, Pete Moss, toronto Public library, toronto Master gardeners, trca, Jacob rodenburg, Human nature Projects ontario, alan li, north York Harvest Food bank, toronto Wildlife centre and oliver couto—who all helped make this event a success. check out the online photo album >> https://flic.kr/s/aHbqjblUes
tours continued into november thanks to a brand new tbg tour offering: guided g arden and green roof tours. Some 40 attendees enjoyed this educational new tour which, while featuring our beautiful gardens, had a special focus on g reen roofs. Participants learned about the benefits and structure of green roofs and were shown the recent upgrades undertaken by tbg to our own green roofs. additional related topics included the Straw b ale Shed and tbg ’s parking lot (strategies for managing storm water runoff). these tours were made possible thanks to the generous sponsors of tbg’s green roof renovation: green communities canada and living cities canada.
It may have been chilly outside but the atmosphere was warm and friendly inside at the TBG’s Holiday Market November 22 through 24 and December 13 through 15. More than 60 local vendors showcased their plant-friendly, botanicallyinspired products.
the tbg took on a magical look just in time for the Holiday Market in late november, decorated with a ‘tunnel’ of beautifully arranged dried flowers, leaves and branches. all of the plants were harvested from the garden, dried, processed, painted and hung by the horticulture team and volunteers.
tbg team members attended the evergreen conference which gathered people across sectors committed to building better public spaces for people and planet. toronto botanical garden was showcased as a hub partner on the loop trail, a 72-kilometere circular trail connecting toronto’s ravines, hydro corridors and waterfront.
Below: tbg staff members natalie Harder, director of learning; Jenny rhodenizer, director of Marketing and audience engagement and gino amboang, education coordinator at ‘the loop’ launch
We celebrated our incredible volunteers at an unforgettable end-of-season Halloween bash! From a paparazzi ‘green’ carpet entrance to a delicious catered dinner, sweet treats from our staff, fun quizzes, costume awards and heartfelt thanks, it was a night of gratitude and community. thank you to everyone who makes what we do possible. c heck out the online photo album >> https://flic.kr/s/aH b qj b QF3 a
Upcycle Diy
By Jenny Rhodenizer Director of Marketing and Audience Engagement
Continue to enjoy pieces of your garden indoors with paper mache garden globe lanterns crafted from upcycled materials. this fun and ecofriendly project reuses household items, showcases pressed flowers and plants from your garden, and creates beautiful, glowing decor perfect for tablescaping.
What you’ll need
Before you get started, gather the following items:
• A balloon (to serve as your mould)
• Old craft paper, garden books or tissue paper (shredded or torn into strips)
• All-purpose flour or white glue (for paper mache paste)
• Water (for the paste)
• Pressed flowers, leaves or other thin, flat plant materials from your garden
• A small bowl or container to hold the balloon steady
• Paintbrush (optional)
• String lights, tea lights, or LED candles for illumination, scissors
• Clear varnish or Mod Podge (optional, for sealing and preserving)
Step by Step
1. Prepare Your Balloon Mould Blow up a balloon to your desired lantern size and tie it off. Place the balloon knot-side-down in a bowl or container to keep it steady as you work.
2. Make the Paper Mache Paste For a simple flour-based paste, mix 1 part flour with 2 parts water in a bowl until smooth. Alternatively, dilute white glue with a small amount of water.
3. Apply the First Layer
Dip paper strips into the paste, removing any excess by running the
strips between your fingers. Lay the strips flat across the balloon, overlapping slightly. Cover the entire balloon except for a small open area near the knot (this will be the opening for the light). Let this layer dry completely (approximately six to 24 hours).
4. Add Pressed Flowers and Plants o nce the first layer is dry, arrange your pressed flowers and leaves onto the lantern. Apply a thin layer of paste or glue to the back of each piece and press it gently onto the surface. Cover with another layer of paste to seal them in place.
5. Build Additional Layers Add another layer or two of paper strips to secure the flowers and give your lantern extra durability. Allow each layer to dry fully before adding the next.
6. Pop and Remove the Balloon When the paper mache is completely dry and firm, pop the balloon and carefully remove it from the lantern through the open end.
7. Trim and Finish trim the edges of the lantern opening if needed for a neat finish. For added durability and a subtle shine, brush a layer of clear varnish or Mod Podge over the entire surface.
8. Illuminate Your Globe insert string lights, a tea light, or a LED candle through the opening. Avoid using real candles to prevent a fire hazard.
Tony DiGiovanni, b oard Chair
Susan Grundy and Martin Ship, Vice Chairs
Doris Chee, s ecretary; Claudia Alvarenga, treasurer; Gordon Ashworth, p as t Chair
Barb Anie, Dianne Azzarello, Nicholas Brearton, Michele Chandler, Adeline Cheng, Ben Cullen, Lucie Gauvin e x o fficio: Christina Iacovino, City of Toronto; Deborah Maw, Garden Club of Toronto; Nancy Tong, Milne House Garden Club
Your support and engagement are essential in developing an inspired plant place, an engaging learning environment, and a dynamic community hub. We invite you to grow with us. mission
Toronto Botanical Garden connects people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning. V ision
Toronto Botanical Garden is a garden for all; a diverse community that recognizes the life-giving role of nature, working together for a more sustainable world.
CEO Stephanie Jutila sjutila@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
EDuCATIOn 416-397-1355 education@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
DEvELOpmEnT 416-397-1372 development@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
FACiLiTy REnTALS 416 397-1324 events@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
GARdEn ShOP 416-397-1357 retail@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
GARdEninG hELP LinE Toronto Master Gardeners 416-397-1345 torontomastergardeners.ca
GROuP TOuRS 416-397-4145 tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
hORTiCuLTuRE 416-397-1358 horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
AudiEnCE EnGAGEMEnT marketing@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
MEMBERShiP 416-397-1483 membership@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
eDitoR
loRRaine hUnteR
Design
JUne andeRson
tRellis committee
leanne BURkholdeR
sUe hills
GeoRGie kennedy
Jenny RhodenizeR
lee RoBBins
VeRonica sliVa
VolUnteeR
pRoofReaDeRs
Jackie caMPBell
lyn hickey
Jean McclUskey
MaRG anne MoRRison
Rose RoBeRts
aDVeRtising marketing@toronto botanicalgarden.ca
Trellis is published as a members’ newsletter by the toronto Botanical Garden at edwards Gardens 777 lawrence avenue east, toronto, ontario, M3c 1P2, 416-397-1341
Trellis welcomes queries for story ideas, which should be submitted to the editor for consideration by the trellis committee at least four months in advance of publication dates.
Visitor Centre: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Garden s hop: Open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Weston Family l ibrary: Weekdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekends, 12 to 4 p.m.
t he b loom Ca F é: (located in the historic barn) is closed for the winter. Will reopen in the spring.
parkin G : $4.00 per hour. $8.00 on event days. TBG Members, FREE.
TRELLiS MAGAzinE editor@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
VOLunTEER SERViCES 416-397-4145 tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
WESTOn FAMiLy LiBRARy 416-397-1343 librarydesk@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto Ontario M3C 1P2, Canada • 416-397-1341 fax: 416-397-1354 • info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca • @TBG_Canada
By TTC
From Eglinton subway station take the 51, 54, 54A or 162 bus from Lawrence Subway Station to Lawrence Avenue East and Leslie Street. The TBG is on the southwest corner.
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opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the tBG. submissions may be edited for style and clarity.
©2024 all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the toronto Botanical Garden.
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