SPRING 2018
LET’S GET GROWING Naturally, Proven Winners plants are pretty, but it’s the remarkable way they flourish from spring through fall that makes all the difference. So, when it’s time to dress up your front entrance to boost your home’s curb appeal or improve the view out your kitchen window, Proven Winners is at your service. We are honored that you’ve trusted us for over 20 years to enhance your garden with exquisite flowers and plants. Cheers to another amazing season!
Find Proven Winners at your local retailers. For a listing of retailers visit provenwinners.com
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CONTENTS
20
11
The Dirt On Dirt
12
Nature’s Nurture
14
Recipes
18
Gardening With The Kids
20
Queen of Vines
22
The Colour Purple - Garden Style
24
Look Good, Feel Great
28
Plight of the Pollinators
This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Crawfords Garden Centre. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the publication, however, the publisher will not be held accountable for omissions or errors. Note that products may vary between retailers and regions, and supplies may be limited. Pricing is subject to change and is not valid with any other offer. Home & Garden Showplace is a registered trademark for use by its members, of which the Garden Centre Group Co-Op is an alliance member. A selection of photos in this magazine provided by Proven WinnersÂŽ.
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A Bright Idea!
From the Owners
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t is that time of year where I sit down to write a welcome to you for our Magazine, and although you’re reading this in Springtime, I am writing it in January! I would like to start by thanking all of you for your patronage throughout this past year as we look forward to seeing you this coming season! As I write this letter we are just coming out of a prolonged cold snap which we have not seen for quite some time. This year was certainly a wake up call that we can still get a true Canadian winter! I always say a winter like this makes us think about plant hardiness when it comes to picking plants for our area. As always, we have many new and exciting plants and products for the coming year and will be showcasing them in this magazine. You can trust that they are tried and true for our area! We have spent the winter planting, growing and tending to our various crops. Our hanging baskets and containers are certainly our pride and joy, but we also produce and sell so
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much more! We hope that our locally grown, acclimatized product makes a good investment for you and your garden. This spring we will have a fantastic selection of the standards such as annuals, perennials, containers, herbs, veggies and flowering shrubs, as well as organic vegetable seeds, veggie starter plants and much more!
Not quite sure where to start with it all? Your first year with a garden, new to vegetables? Want some perennials that are sure to come back year after year? Come on in and ask! Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to help! Want a broader beginning or just want to create something and get your hands dirty? Join us with our seminars and workshops! Not only can you learn exciting tips and tricks in our seminars but our workshops also give you the space and instruction to create something beautiful to take home. We would love to have you join us. Check out our website, www.crawfords.ca under events for our most up to date calendar of events. From all of us at Crawfords, thank you for your continued support! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Chris, Sarah, Madeline & the crew at Crawfords
Schedule of Events
Check out www.crawfords.ca or find us on Facebook for our schedule of events and seminars.
905-878-0223
sarah@crawfords.ca 8689 #5 Sideroad, Milton, ON
WWW.CRAWFORDS.CA
SPRING 2018 • 5
Seasonal Decorating by Crawfords Design Team
Summer
Spring
Winter
Fall Planters are the perfect finishing touch to your outdoor space. What a great way to accessorize and add colour to your garden or commercial property! Let our Design Team do all the work and create these beautiful planters for every season. info@crawfords.ca 6 • CRAWFORDS GARDEN CENTRE - 905-878-0223 - CRAWFORDS.CA
Attracting Hummingbirds
Who doesn’t love the sight of a gorgeous hummingbird in their garden?
O
ne of the easiest ways to attract them to your garden is by using a hummingbird feeder. It is important to know that even though these feeders provide a nice supplement for the hummingbirds, they still need plants and trees for nectar, shelter and nesting sites. Hummingbirds will often make their nests in deciduous trees, and will also spend time hiding out in coniferous trees. Like most birds, hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell. They are much more attracted to plants based on the colour of the flower as well as the quality of the nectar. They are strongly attracted to shades of red. Although they are highly attracted to the colour red, they will feed off of other coloured flowers as long as the nectar source is strong.
Location?
The best location to plant your hummingbird-loving plants is in the full sun (at least 6 hours a day). They love the feeling of the hot sun and will be more guided to plants in this area. NOTES: Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see a swarm the first year. Once they know your garden is a good feeding ground they will come back with friends the next year. • Hummingbirds prefer single flowers rather then double flowers. Single flowers will generally have more nectar. • Keep pets away from this area if possible. They may scare the hummingbirds away. • Dreary weather will keep them away. • Once hummingbirds have found your garden to be filled with feeding sources, they will visit several times per day. • Make sure you fill your garden with annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that have staggered bloom times to make sure there is food all season long.
Plants that Attract Hummingbirds ANNUALS Cosmos Canna Lilies Nicotiana Fuchsia Calibrachoa Petunia Salvia Snapdragon
PERENNIALS
Agastache (Anise-Hyssop) Delphinium (Larkspur) Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) Fuchsia Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker) Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) Penstemon (Beard-Tongue) Salvia (Sage)
SHRUBS/VINES
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) Azaleas Rhododendrons Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) Weigela Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
NATIVE PLANTS
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Elderberry (Sambucus) Twinberry (Lonicera involucrate) Flowering Currant (Ribes)
SPRING 2018 • 7
Experience Crawfords Garden Centre! Annuals, Foliage & Flowers
Flowering Shrubs
Browse one of Halton Region’s largest selection of amazing colourful bedding and container plants. Grown in our own Greenhouses, we’re chock-full of great options!
For an outstanding selection of indoor plants for your home or office, you must check out Crawfords. We love our plants, and would be pleased to help you Tropical Plants, find the perfect one! Succulents & Cactus
Whether you want to add privacy, shade or beauty to your yard, Crawfords has a great selection to choose from… all for our Zone 5 Ontario climate.
Vegetables & Herbs
Experience the joys of growing your own food. We offer a full range of fragrant & flavourful herbs as well as fresh vegetable plants for your garden. You could win competitions with our large Tomatoes!
Choose from thousands of beautiful containers with endless colour combinations for any location, all grown in the greenhouses at Crawfords. Looking for something specific or one of a kind? We offer Patio Containers custom planting services - ask & Baskets us for details.
Soils & Mulches
$5 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
*Any purchase of $15 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
Crawfords offers you a full selection of soils and mulches. We’ve got our famed container mix, organic potting mix as well as black earth, triple mix and manure. Anything you could need to amend your soil. As well as mulch to keep those weeds down and moisture in!
$10 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
*Any purchase of $50 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
$5 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
JULY 1 - JULY 31, 2018
JULY
JUNE 1 - JUNE 30, 2018
JUNE
Gift & Home Decor
Whether you are looking for a unique gift or to spruce up your own home, our selection of products is always changing and current.
MAY 1 - MAY 31, 2018
MAY
APRIL
APRIL 1 - APRIL 30, 2018
$5 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
*Any purchase of $20 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 31, 2018
$5 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
*Any purchase of $20 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
8 • CRAWFORDS GARDEN CENTRE - 905-878-0223 - CRAWFORDS.CA
SEPTEMBER
*Any purchase of $25 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
AUGUST
Perennials
We love growing Perennials and it shows in our healthy, vigorous plants. Your perennial garden success starts at Crawfords!
SEPT. 1 - SEPT. 30, 2018
$5 OFF
*
on regular priced merchandise
*Any purchase of $25 or more! Limit of 1 coupon per visit.
New
PRO-MIX® ORGANIC MULTI-PURPOSE GARDEN FERTILIZER
PRO-MIX® ORGANIC TOMATOES, VEGETABLES & FRUITS GARDEN FERTILIZER
PRO-MIX® ORGANIC FLOWER BOOST GARDEN FERTILIZER
PRO-MIX® ROOT BOOSTER
PRO-MIX® GRANULAR GARDEN FERTILIZER
PRO-MIX® ROOT BOOSTER
• For 50 % more vegetables and fruits, 50 % bigger plants and 50 % larger bloom* • Organic Formulation and OMRI approved
• Ideal to encourage quick establishment of roots • For general garden use, vegetables and flowers 1 800 667-5366 VISIT PROMIXGARDENING.COM PRO-MIX® is a registered trademark of Premier Tech Ltd. or its affiliated companies © Premier Tech Ltd. All rights reserved. * When compared to unfertilized plants. For optimal results feed every 3-4 weeks. / En comparaison avec des plants non fertilisés. Pour des résultats optimaux, fertiliser toutes les 3-4 semaines.
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THE DIRT ON
DIRT By John DeGroot, DeGroot’s Nurseries, Sarnia, Ontario
W
hat can we add to soil to rejuvenate it? Let’s look at the most common soil amendments to get the scoop on healthy soil.
PEAT MOSS: Hands down, peat moss has always been every green thumber’s favourite soil amendment. Peat moss helps sandy soil hold moisture and loosens clay soil to improve drainage. Peat moss improves all important soil texture but does little to improve soil fertility. Use liberal amounts and mix thoroughly with your existing soil.
BONE MEAL: Use bone meal to build soil fertility. Bone meal contains lots of phosphorous for bigger bolder blooms and stronger roots. Bone meal improves all soils, and especially benefits roses, bulbs and blooming plants. Bone meal releases slowly and steadily, keeping your plants healthy over time.
BLOOD MEAL: High in nitrogen and fast acting, blood meal is a perfect complement to bone meal, which is why they are often mixed together in the same package. Use blood meal to give anemic plants an organic shot in the arm. Blood meal has the added benefit of repelling mice and other unwanted rodents.
MANURE: Like compost, manure improves the structure of soil while increasing its organic nutrient value. Mix manure up to 50/50 with your existing soil. And no, there is little difference between sheep, cow, horse and your neighbour’s manure. If you are a city slicker with a pickup truck you might be able to bum manure from a country farmer friend. If not, bagged manure is odour-free and more highly concentrated.
GREEN MANURE: Follow the advice of an old farmer and grow a green manure cover crop for a year. In the fall plough the crop into the soil and your garden will be grateful. Use alfalfa, sorghum, legumes, clover or any annual crop that will produce lots of vegetation. Green manure serves as a source of food and energy, stimulating valuable microbial activity in soil. Other benefits are a reduction of weeds in your garden patch and improvement in soil aeration.
GYPSUM:
To break up the heaviest clay soil, spread gypsum on the surface. Be generous and put down about 20 kilograms of gypsum for every 100 square metres of surface area. Repeat for three consecutive years. Gypsum contains calcium and sulfur, but will not boost general fertility.
LIME: My high school chemistry teacher taught that if soil is too acidic, plants are unable to use nutrients that probably already exist in the soil. The solution is to add lime in order to raise the pH and sweeten or neutralize the soil. Apply 10kg dolomitic lime per 100 square metres of surface area. The application of lime may also serve to reduce moss and mushroom formation. While lime is not a moss killer, it will neutralize highly acidic soil where moss often thrives.
“GARDENERS
COMPOST: Let’s define compost as anything organic that has sufficiently broken down to look like rich dark soil. Compost can include everything from egg shells to leaves, to grass clippings, to banana peels. Compost trumps most other soil amendments because it improves soil texture and is chock full of nutrients. Mix generous amounts of compost with your existing soil.
ALL
KNOW THE DIRT.” ...Tips and tricks to optimize your dirt.
MULCH: Good gardeners know that mulch is the ticket to healthy soil and strong plant growth. Mulch keeps weeds down, retains soil moisture, reduces temperature fluctuations and insulates soil to minimize winter injury. Like the forest floor, organic mulches break down over time, contributing to soil health. Top up once a year to refresh appearance and maintain a depth of 2 to 3 inches. SPRING 2018 • 11
Nature’s NURTURE! By Tanya Olsen Royal City Nursery, Guelph, Ontario
• Sunlight: Soaking up the sun provides an influx of vitamin D and the fresh air is good for your body and your soul! • Getting in touch with nature: While we may not have the time for a walk in the woods, gardening for even 20 minutes will help create the primal connection to nature lost with the pressures of daily life. • You create a space that is beautiful and restful. Our garden centre’s mission is to assist in the creation of your outdoor living space, to suit your lifestyle, as an extension of the indoor space.
W
ith an increasing awareness of the value of gardening as a means to reduce daily stress and anxiety, the therapeutic benefits of nature and cultivated horticulture have been sought after for generations. The Japanese have a medical practice called forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) which is literally a short leisurely trip to a forest. The theory is that “visiting a forest for relaxation and recreational purposes provides the opportunity to breathe in wood based essential oils like α-Pinene (a bronchodilator that increases air flow to the lungs) and limonene (antimicrobial volatile organic compounds) emitted from trees to protect them from rotting and insects.” http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/ forest-bathing In Canada, the profession and study of horticulture therapy is growing rapidly. Many hospitals, nursing homes and mental health facilities have established horticulture therapy programs as part of their mainstream practices. Study after study shows that if we take the therapeutic concepts that benefit patient, staff and visitor, and apply them on a smaller scale, we can bring the anti-stress benefits home.
• Reaping the rewards of the garden through wildlife and bird observation and a harvest of vegetables, fruits or cut flowers for your kitchen table.
When you start your healing garden experience, the active benefits include physical activity, cognitive stimulation and a sense of accomplishment. The more passive benefits include:
• The calming effects of being in the moment as you view your green space through the window. Simply put, we decrease our illness recovery time if we enjoy the view!
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In order to realize the benefits, we need to engage and connect with the landscape. Keep in mind that it is not so much gardening itself that is the key to stress reduction, so much as the way it is approached. Healing gardens can be gardens created for a single purpose or existing gardens renovated to include new ideas. Before you head to the garden centre to start creating a healing garden at your own home or office, here are a few recommendations:
1. Understand the available space you have. A healing garden does not need to be large. A collection of pots on the balcony can bring as much value as a fully landscaped backyard, if that is the space you have. Know how much sun or shade the space will receive so the plants can thrive properly.
2. Think about your overall maintenance requirements and be realistic about how much time and energy you will need. Your independent garden centre can help you plan for both available space and required efforts. Your landscape must suit your lifestyle. If the garden is at its best when you are not home, it is not functional. To reap the benefits of the experience you have to be in the space. When you come home after a long day, what better way to unwind than to sit on your patio and see the lights turn on one by one and reflect off the white edges of your favorite variegated plant, or watch the dusk blooming pond lilies and perennials come to life.
To make your garden effective:
1. Select plants that tickle all
Spring
five senses. How the garden sounds, Summer Photo courtesy of Proven Winners smells or feels - www.provenwinners.com. will transport you to another time. To harvest is to taste the garden. Winter When engaging your sense Fall of sight, don’t forget the views out your window during winter, as landscapes should be functional 365 days a year, both up close and from a distance.
2. Choose plants to signal the change of seasons and place them where you can see them from your window or as you enter the house. The blooms of a forsythia mean spring, the changing colours of a maple triggers memories of playing in
piles of leaves on a crisp fall day, while the dark green of a white spruce tree provides shelter in the winter. Sage, be it ornamental or edible, reminds everyone it is time to get into the summer BBQ season.
3. Bring the outdoors in with the use of a small greenhouse. If you don’t have room for a greenhouse structure, use a row cover on your vegetables to extend the season, or start seeds indoors with a mini greenhouse tray, available in the seed section of your independent garden centre.
Specific plants known to reduce stress… OUTDOORS Lavender – A fragrant Mediterranean perennial herb to reduce irritability and prompt relaxation. The essential oil can be consumed as tea or in a dried form. Chamomile – The dried flowers make a tasty tea, whose compounds assist in feeling calm. Lemon Balm – Used to reduce anxiety and help with sleep. It is also a magnet for pollinating insects. St John’s Wort – A small easy to grow shrub, hardy to Zone 5. Tablets can be found in health food stores to help treat depression and insomnia.
INDOORS Studies have reported many benefits to keeping plants indoors – not just for their psychological effects, but because many of our simple houseplants will help clean the air we breathe of chemicals and toxins. Use these sustainable solutions for improved air quality in both your home, your office or your dorm room or in a living wall! Spider Plant – One of the best for air exchange, as the daughter plants (plants produced by aerial roots) develop thick fleshy roots outside of the soil. These fleshy roots exchange gases and airborne nutrients quickly and easily. Peace Lily and English Ivy – Both have large volumes of leaves with porous openings on their undersides called stomata. These stomata release moisture into the air through transpiration, oozing humidity. Use these to help fight the dreaded winter cold and boost the overall humidity of a room by as much as 5%. Janet Craig Dracaena – With a high transpiration (gas exchange) rate, this plant will filter the local toxins and volatile organic compounds in the air. Whether you are just starting out with a raised vegetable garden, a pot overflowing with your grandmother’s favourite flowers or you are creating your first dynamic garden at your home, it is important to recognize that it is YOUR space. Go on, get your hands dirty! The benefits of your healing garden and your staycation are only a few short steps away! Happy planting! SPRING 2018 • 13
PERFECT FOR THE WEEKEND, EASY ENOUGH FOR A WEEKDAY.
Beer and Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 20 mins
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Cut chicken in small pieces, about 1 ½ inch cubes. 2. In a medium bowl whisk all the ingredients together. Add chicken. There should be enough marinade to cover the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge. Let it marinate for at least 2 hours to 24 hours.
Incredibly delicious Beer and Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers – Perfect for a weekend or even a busy week night. Just prepare the night before, let marinate overnight and grill when ready.
3. Fire up grill.
Servings: 6 Calories: 197 kcal per serving
5. Place chicken on grill and turn every couple minutes or so, at the same time brushing some of the leftover marinade over the chicken. Grill until chicken is cooked through.
INGREDIENTS 3 cloves minced garlic ¾ cup beer 1/3 cup honey 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp Dijon mustard ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 4 chicken breasts cut into small cubes cilantro for garnish 14
4. Thread chicken on skewers, about 5 pieces per skewer. Do not throw away leftover marinade.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve. RECIPE NOTES Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Healthy Kale Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette Prep Time: 10 mins This Kale Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette is fresh and delicious, loaded with good for you ingredients like kale, blueberries and apples then drizzled with a yummy blueberry vinaigrette! Servings: 6 Calories: 278 kcal
INGREDIENTS 8 cups curly kale leaves stems removed and finely chopped 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1 apple, cored and sliced 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tbsp sunflower seeds FOR BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE ½ cup fresh blueberries 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp honey 1 tsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp water salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large bowl add the kale, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss really well making sure that all the kale is covered in oil and lime juice. 2. Add the chopped apples, blueberries, avocado, feta cheese and sunflower seeds. 3. In a blender add all the vinaigrette ingredients and blend until smooth. 4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve. JO COOKS, JOANNA CISMARU Jo knows her readers so well they might as well be neighbours. She has a sixth sense for what they want to make on any given day, from warming comfort foods like chicken noodle soup to morning indulgences like iced cinnamon rolls. She also knows what’s in their cupboards (never calling for something that’s hard to find) and how much time they’ve got to cook. Add to that her spunky attitude, her endearing writing style and her love of food, and it’s clear why she’s so loved. www.jocooks.com
Available at select Garden Centres.
GREAT FOR SUMM ENTERTAINER ING!
1/2 package of mix Cup of mayo / cup of sour cream Great for veggies, potatoe chips, pretzals or bread sticks
Baked Parmesan Artichoke Dip ½ cup (4oz) cream cheese ½ cup (4oz) real mayonnaise 3 tbsp Dip Mix ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 can (13.75 oz) artichoke hearts (drained and chopped) 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional) Squeeze out excess liquid from artichokes. In a small bowl, combine dip blend, mayonnaise, cream cheese & grated Parmesan. Stir in artichoke hearts. Transfer to a heat-proof dish. Top with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake in a 180° C (350°F) oven until hot, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with crusty sourdough French bread, breadsticks, pita chips or crackers.
SPRING 2018 • 15
CROCS
GARDENING WITH THE
Kids
HOW TO SHARE
YOUR LOVE FOR NATURE By Bernie Whetter The Green Spot Home & Garden, Brandon, Manitoba
G
ardening is one of the most rewarding experiences we can share with our children. It is a chance to spend time together learning about the natural world, enjoying the outdoors, growing and harvesting food, and appreciating being in the moment. There is no greater way to pass on a respect for nature and a love for living things than teaching our children about gardening. Here are some ideas to help get your kids involved. During the winter months, do some research with your children to choose plants for the garden and help them learn the benefits of each, to allow them to think about questions such as: why are carrots good for your eyes? Do sunflowers make good wild bird food? How do marigolds keep pests away? What makes a zinnia attract a monarch butterfly? How can beans make nitrogen available to the soil? Does catnip really attract cats and repel aphids? If we plant basil beside a tomato, will the tomato taste better?
Once you have put together a list of candidates, have your child make the final selection and let the excitement for spring begin. Seeds are available at your local garden centre early in the new year, and frequent visits keep the kids interested in growing plants. It’s also a good time to collect child friendly garden tools with short handles and ergonomic grips. Tools that are brightly colored will add an element of fun.
"Grandpa, will you come to the garden with me?"
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It is important that the garden is a fun place to be, so create activities around the work. Kids love to play, they love to make things, and they are all about motion so make an “activity centre” right in the garden. Build a play structure or shelter to provide protection from the sun, rain, and wind, and that can house a small table, a couple of chairs and a small storage container
for paper, crayons, paints etc. Drafting a garden map is a good starter project making areas for vegetables, flowers, butterfly gardens and the activity centre. Incorporating an entrance gate and walking paths will make the space more interesting. Garden projects relating to nature will allow for learning opportunities. Pressed leaves and flowers provide a great lesson in botany and can be used to make cards. Have a picnic or a tea party and enjoy fresh produce from the garden for snacks. Draw and colour pictures of things you see in the garden like flowers, bugs, and birds. Children can make signs for each variety of plant in the garden on waterproof paper stapled to a short stake. With some soil, pots, and bedding plants, make a hanging basket or a planter that can be displayed in the garden or used on the patio. Ant farm kits can be purchased and once populated will capture the attention of children as the ants busily go about their daily chores in full view. Other additions to the garden will complement the experience. If a building is nearby, set up a rain barrel under a downspout. Not only will the kids have a source of water for the garden, but they will also learn about
conserving natural resources. Start a compost pile in the back corner. A rain gauge and a windsock or a wind spinner will make the kids aware of the earth’s elements. A bird house, lady bug house, and a mason bee house will provide living quarters to beneficial friends in the garden and provide interesting viewing. Add a bench for relaxation after the day’s hard work and a garden gnome for good luck. The biggest challenge is to create incentive to maintain the garden. Weeding can feel like a chore, even for adults, but if done frequently for short time periods, added to the compost pile and rewarded with a game or snack, it can become fun. By giving your child their own watering can, you can help them take ownership over keeping the plants well hydrated. On a hot day, get the hose and sprinkler out and combine watering the garden with water play. Even though harvest is some of the hardest work, digging potatoes and carrots, the fruits of their labour, just might be enough gratification to retain their interest. One of the most rewarding activities I had with my children was planting a tree. About the same time as my oldest began school, we planted a small tree. Every year, on the first day of school, we took a picture of her and later on, her brother. These became treasures as we watched both the children and the tree grow and flourish. Above all, let the children make the decisions (or at least feel like they are making the decisions). Keep it fun and always be willing to respond with a resounding YES! when asked “Grandpa, will you come to the garden with me?”
SPRING 2018 • 19
Queen of Vines By Brian Minter, Minter Country Garden, Chilliwack, British Columbia
C
lematis truly are the ‘queen of vines’ in terms of hardiness, resilience and massive colour over a significant part of the spring, summer and into the fall. Many new varieties debut every year, each bringing something unique to the vine table. One clematis family, however, is often overlooked, according to Rob Wein of Clearview Horticultural Products, one of the largest clematis growers in our country.
“When folks go into garden stores, the tendency is to buy the newest varieties and those in bloom,” says Wein. “There are so many beautiful early-bloomers out there, they are hard to resist. The ones not in bloom, however, tend to be passed over, and it’s a huge miss for our summer gardens.”
"The 'C group' is for charming. Beautiful Clematis to be enjoyed all summer every summer!"
According to Wein, what’s being overlooked are the summer-bloomers, otherwise know as ‘group C’ clematis. Their blossoms are not as large as some of the early-blooming stalwarts, but they produce in great profusion and over a long period of time (8-12 weeks) during the summer when you will enjoy them the most. Among the hardiest (zone 3) of the clematis family, they are also some of the most disease and pest resistant.
Wein says ‘group C’ varieties will grow almost anywhere in our country if they get some sunlight. In areas that have very hot summers, it may be best to plant them in a morning sun location with some protection or shade from the day’s most intense heat. Wein recommends planting a smaller shrub in front of the clematis to shade its roots in extreme heat situations. Some of Wein’s favourite group C varieties are: • “Jackmanii” and “Jackmanii Superba” are among the most well-known in this group, often blooming from June through September with 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) flowers. • “Ville de Lyon”, a striking red with a silver sheen, is another great one. Again, with 4 to 6-inch blooms (10-15cm).
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Jackmanii
Ville de Lyon
Huldine
Honora
Comtesse de Bouchard
• For a white, “Huldine” is one of the best performers. Its massive display of 3 to 4-inch (8-10cm) blooms is outstanding.
• “Polish Spirit” is a very strong flowering Polish introduction with small 3 to 4-inch (8-10 cm) deep purple flowers produced June through September.
• “Honora” has attractive velvety red-violet purple blooms and is a great performer.
• “Venosa Violacea” has streaked purple veins on a white background with six petaled 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) flowers.
• “Comtesse de Bouchard” is one of the better pinks, producing lots of 4 to 6-inch (10-15 cm) blooms. • “Perle d’Azur”, a distinctive purple, also features 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) blooms that fade to an attractive blue. • “Pink Fantasy”, one of the few bi-colours in this category, sports shell-pink blooms with rosy pink bars. • “Madame Julia Correvon” has 3 to 4-inch (8-10cm) deep wine-red flowers with twisted sepals. • “Rouge Cardinal” is a rich burgundy-crimson with attractive brown stamens that blooms from June till September with 4 to 6-inch (10-15cm) blossoms.
When planting clematis, make sure you prepare a planting hole about 18 inches deep. Then carefully set in the root ball and bury the stems about four inches below the top of the soil. Clematis are ‘stem rooting’ and if the top is broken, this will ensure a fast recovery from the root system. Be careful not to bend the stems when setting in the clematis roots. Water the clematis well to help get it established, but once growing, be sure not to overwater. Another nice thing about summer-blooming clematis is the ease of pruning. When they are beginning to decline at the end of summer, they can simply be pruned down to about 12 inches. Over time, as the stems become thicker, prune them back in stages, down to around 3 feet one year and down to 12 to 18 inches the next – this will lessen the shock to older plants. Any time the leaves look unsightly or get burnt in the sun, a simple haircut will clean them up, and they will soon grow back fresh leaves and blooms. Today, the emphasis is all about the new clematis varieties while the proven success stories are often passed over. So, when adding these wonderful vines to your garden, please consider these amazing summer-bloomers.
SPRING 2018 • 21
The Colour Purple GARDEN STYLE By Carla Hrycyna, St Marys Nursery and Garden Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
T
he colour purple. Some may think of the movie or a familiar song, but it is so much more than that! Purple is a secondary colour that ranges from the warm tones of red-violet magentas to the cooler side of violet blues and lavenders, and harmonizes well with yellow. The 2018 inspired Pantone “Ultra Violet” colour was described as a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.” Historical accounts show that for the Phoenicians the colour was valuable and rare due to the painstakingly difficult process of extracting the dye from sea snails. This shade was worn mostly by royalty and often associated with magic and religion. In Eastern cultures, and in Feng Shui, purple is associated with nobility, dignity and 22
abundance. The colour purple is viewed as peaceful, soothing and having spiritual qualities while also having a correlated reference to creativity and independence. Most recently, purple has taken on associations with contentment and passion and has come to symbolize success. In flowers, fruit and vegetables the pigment anthocyanin creates purples, reds and blues. The deep tones of these purple pigments protect the plant against harm from the sun while also acting as an attraction to pollinating insects. Purple fruits and vegetables also posssess medicinal qualities. Studies have shown that antioxidants produced by purple edibles can be effective in preventing diseases. Purple power foods can: • Reduce the risk of high blood pressure and lower cholesterol • Help prevent obesity and diabetes • Assist in lowering the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological diseases • Reduce inflammation and therefore chronic disease • Aid cognitive functions • Have properties which help prevent urinary tract infections, fight ulcers, and reduce liver damage and diseases which affect cell development
In a garden design, plants with intense dark purple foliage and blooms add a vibrant colour element. These standout plants punctuate the landscape, providing depth and contrast. They can bring focus to a design as either an opposing tone or as a strong complement to yellows and greens.
BLOOMERANG LILACS – This fragrant lilac blooms in spring, and again mid-summer. Its small form will fit nicely into most gardens. Can be used to obtain cut flowers.
Whether choosing annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, fruits or vegetables, opt for purple to celebrate health and happiness for 2018.
SUPERTUNIA BORDEAUX PETUNIA – A vigorous petunia with a slightly mounded habit that functions as both filler and spiller in containers. The medium to large sized flowers are excellent landscape plants.
Top Pick Purples PERENNIALS
FOREVER PURPLE HEUCHERA – A coral bell variety with dramatically fluted, glossy deep purple leaves dressed with short purple-pink flowers. This perennial performs well in part shade to full shade. HIDCOTE AND MUNSTEAD LAVENDER – Lavender is coveted for its oils and beautiful fragrance, which are used as stress relievers. It is a tough plant, and drought-resistant once established. Plant in a sunny location, in an area protected from harsh winter winds.
ANNUALS
FRAGRANT BLUE HELIOTROPE – Fragrant, long lasting flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. An easy care annual that is great for containers or in the garden. PERSIAN SHIELD – This easy to care for plant is heat tolerant and boasts beautiful iridescent leaves of purple, green and silver. HONOURABLE MENTIONS – Morning Glory, Viola, Annual Sage, Salvia, Alyssum, Sweet Pea.
EGGPLANT
ALLIUM
LILACS
HELIOTROPE
MILLENIUM ORNAMENTAL ALLIUM – This “Perennial of the Year” has bright, purple rounded flower clusters above a clump of glossy, green leaves. It is fragrant, late blooming and drought tolerant. HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Clematis, Bellflower, Dwarf Iris, Salvia, Verbena, Phlox, Veronica and Sage.
VEGGIES AND FRUIT FAIRY TALE EGGPLANT – A plant that produces mini 4” eggplants that are super tasty. Perfect for small gardens and patio pots. PURPLE BEAUTY PEPPER – The pepper this plant produces has a blocky full body with thick walls and a mild, sweet flavor. PURPLE RUFFLES BASIL – This plant has large and ruffled leaves, with a strong fragrance and flavour. It adds fantastic colour and flavour to herb vinegars. HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Blackberries, Blueberries, Purple Asparagus, Purple Cabbage, Purple Carrots, Purple Potatoes and Currants.
TREES AND SHRUBS ROYAL PURPLE SMOKEBUSH (COTINUS) – Its dramatic oval, deep purple leaves form masses with clouds of pink blooms. This compact, drought tolerant variety is a fantastic accent plant. Resists deer and rabbits. SPILLED WINE WEIGELA – A beautiful three foot purple foliage plant that produces bright pink blooms for the sunny garden. Easy to care for, grows wider than tall. Proven Winners Landscape plant of the year. Resists deer.
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com.
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies SPRING 2018 • 23
Look Good, FEEL GREAT By Donna Moss, Meadow Acres Garden Centre, Petersburg, ON
S
pring 2018 is all about comfort, femininity and natural fibres with an upscale flair that won’t stress your wallet.
Your must have this summer is a pair of embroidered denim jeans. Featured here is a pair of distressed butterfly jeans topped with a beautiful feminine silk blend top with a flared sleeve and tie detail. Combine bold floral cotton blend shirts for a punch of colour with your basic jeans to make a statement and show off your personal style. Bamboo, linen, silk and cotton blends are staples that should be in every woman’s closet. Cotton and linen have always been favourite summer fabrics with our customers and are now making a strong showing in fashion boutiques. Look for pieces that will continue to grace your closet for several years. Mixing and matching with new pieces of jewellery will freshen up your look and will keep everyone wondering, “Is that a new outfit?”
Bamboo, linen, silk and cotton blends are staples that should be in every woman’s closet.
If you haven’t tried bamboo, you must! Bamboo keeps you cool and dry on the warmest of days and will carry you into the evening with comfort. A wide range of bamboo fashion will become staples in your closet. From tanks to bras, underwear, leggings and tops you will be singing bamboo’s praises to all of your girlfriends. A girl can never have enough shoes, sandals or boots. Whether it is a sandal, flats or bootie, footwear is as important as the clothes above the ankles. Your choice of footwear can make or break an overall look. Take your time and choose wisely. However if you like more than one look, why not purchase them all! The same is true for your handbags. Choose the one that says “Yes this is ME”.
Courtesy of Orange Fashion Village
Style should reflect your personality and taste. Check your image in the mirror before leaving your home. There is nothing worse than a dropped hem, a stain or a frayed seam. Step out of your home and wear those clothes with confidence and grace and you will receive compliments that will make you smile and confirm your choices. Remember when you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you look GREAT!!
24
Courtesy of Papa Fashions
The Wonderful
Weigela Bush
A MUST HAVE in your garden!
O
ne of Crawford’s favourite deciduous shrubs is the “My Monet” Weigela plant. We simply love it’s beautiful, stunning pink flowers that are nested between silvery, green leaves. This specimen or border plant will add flair and colour to any spring garden, or as an accent piece in a planter container. This weigela is very easy to care for, as it has few problems with insects or disease. It is a hardy shrub, requires little maintenance, and will enhance your garden for many years.
“My Monet” Weigela blooms from April through to June, and the flowers can vary from lighter shades of pink (in shady area) to a more pink variegation when planted in full sun. Place in an area that has moist, well drained soil, and make sure to leave room around it for potential growth. It typically grows 18-24” wide, and 12-18” tall, which could take some time, as it is considered a slow growing shrub. When planting, be sure to use a root stimulator, such as bone meal, to help the roots get established in the soil. Other weigelas require heavy pruning after their flowering season, where the “My Monet” only requires a light prune, at any time, to maintain its shape. It is also deer resistant. In the fall, browning leaves will fall early as a result of the plant going into dormancy, as it prepares for the winter months. “My Monet” Weigela attracts birds and butterflies to its showy flowers and is relatively low maintenance, this is why it is a MUST HAVE shrub for any garden and one of Crawford’s favourite plants.
SPRING 2018 • 25
Plan, Plant, Enjoy! by Berta Briggs People are discovering the joy and satisfaction from growing and eating their own food. The freshness, quality and taste is the reward from a small investment of time and energy. Getting started is often the most difficult step. That first step is to PLAN. With pen in hand, and preferably sitting around the dinner table, engage the family in creating a list of favourite vegetables that can be grown in the first family garden. With so many wonderful choices, there is little point in growing beans if even one family member doesn’t care for them. With the potential list complete, draft a garden plan that works for the size of plot and the vegetable choices.
4ft x 4ft Square Foot Garden (credit to www.vegetablegardening-online.com)
Plant!
For the beginning gardener, it is best to start small and learn from the successes. Raised beds or a small plot that can be tended from all sides, with a size of about 4’ x 8’ using either the square foot or intensive planting methods, allow for easy care and good yield. Square foot gardens are very organized and clearly defined. Intensive gardens appear more randomly planted to contain good variety with plantings arranged mostly considering exposure to light - short plants to the south and taller to the back. Tips: • There are plant favourites that can be planted every other week for continuous harvest, or some plants, like lettuces, that can be cut above the root level and allowed to regrow. • Many plants can climb to conserve space – peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers. • Include pollinator plants within the garden plot or nearby for bees, butterflies and birds. • If a home garden is not an option, consider a good food box through a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) or a local Farmers Market.
Enjoy! As your garden grows, learn all the ways that the crops can be used right from sprouts to maturity. With all the nurturing your garden has received, explore ways to use the entire, nutritious plant, such as dicing the core of broccoli or cauliflower for soups, stews or in a stir-fry.
Dressing
Sometimes there is too much of a good thing. Last year Sarah found herself with far too many radishes. There are always wonderful different ways to use fresh produce. Here is a salad using just radishes: 2 tsp. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. canola oil
1 tsp. caraway seeds
2 tsp. chopped fresh dill or oregano
1 small clove garlic minced
1/2 tsp. sugar
½ tsp salt
Pepper to taste
26 • CRAWFORDS GARDEN CENTRE - 905-878-0223 - CRAWFORDS.CA
Pour dressing over 15 to 20 thinly sliced radishes at least an hour before serving. Tip: For a different texture I like to coarsely shred the radishes to create a slaw.
Natural Mosquito Repellents
By Lynn Baarschers
M
osquitoes are great food for bats and birds, but a nuisance to people. Why not try planting some of these plants and allow their natural fragrances to help repel mosquitoes while you are enjoying your outdoor space. Although not proven scientifically, crushing the leaves and rubbing them onto your skin might help in repelling those pesky insects.
Lavender
PERENNIAL Plant in pots or the landscape. Mosquitoes dislike the lavender scent.
Rosemary
TENDER PERENNIAL Plant in pots. It can be used in cooking as an herb as well.
Mint
PERENNIAL Plant in pots as it can be invasive. Mint can also be used to flavour beverages.
Lemon Grass
ANNUAL Plant in pots or the landscape. It can also be used in cooking.
Citronella
ANNUAL Plant in pots. A member of the geranium family.
Basil
All available at:
ANNUAL Plant in pots. Herb that has a pleasant aroma, and is easy to grow.
SPRING 2018 • 27
Plight of the
Pollinators
“Save the Bees!” “Bring Back the Butterflies!” No doubt you have heard these statements a hundred times. Threats to our insect pollinator populations have recently dominated the media. The message is clearly being heard and the home gardeners are responding. We rely on pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, for maintaining biodiversity in the natural environment and keeping our gardens bountiful for food production. Bees are responsible for pollinating approximately 80 per cent of flowering plants, including our favourite perennials and many staple agricultural food crops. Several factors are responsible for the decline and stress on pollinating insects, including our changing climate, pests and disease, the use and the improper use of pesticides, and most significantly, habitat loss and fragmentation.
“Bees are responsible for pollinating approximately
Bee Balm
Butterfly bush
Lavender
Salvia
80%
Gardeners are now creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces every day. These spaces provide crucial habitats for both foraging and nesting. Habitat loss and fragmentation has put enormous pressure on pollinators, especially native bees and butterflies. There are over 364 bee species which inhabit southern Ontario. Most are solitary, meaning they do not live in social hives, like honey bees and bumble bees. They cannot travel very far from their nests to forage for pollen and nectar. Most native bees nest in the ground in sandy soil; others nest in hollow reeds, or old insect tunnels in wood debris.
of flowering plants”
We can help by tweaking the types of plants we choose for garden designs.
1
Choose native plants or plants that will thrive in our climate without having to water and fertilize as frequently.
Lantana
Aster
2
Plan to have a continuous sequence of flowers in bloom from early spring to fall. Try to include flowering shrubs and plants, as they can provide a huge amount of pollen and nectar in the early spring when bees are emerging.
3
Plant specific host plants for butterflies. This is a great way to provide habitats, as each butterfly species lays eggs on specific host plants. Considering pollinator’s needs when performing property maintenance could also have a very positive impact. Choosing to fertilize with compost, leaving patches of bare soil or wood debris for nesting, choosing to weed manually instead of using chemicals, as well as deadheading and pruning regularly to encourage new growth are all easy ways to make a difference. 28 • CRAWFORDS GARDEN CENTRE - 905-878-0223 - CRAWFORDS.CA
A Look of the Tropics for your Garden By Lynn Baarschers
E
ach winter Crawford’s orders a large quantity of Florida tropical plants to sell at the nursery in the spring and summer. There are also many other tropical plants that we grow here at the nursery from bulbs – plants like Canna, Calla, and Caladium. The trend over the past few years has been to create a Tropical Paradise in the home garden. Many of us love the look of swaying palms, colourful foliage and flowers, and have a desire to move away from growing Petunias and Impatients. Tropical plants look amazing in pots and planters. I love to layer my pots together, starting with the largest focal plant and surrounding it with a selection of medium and smaller plants and pots. Planting directly in the ground will also offer amazing growth to your tropical plants. Try mixing them with some perennial or annual plants that also offer a taste of the tropics.
Annual Begonia Illumination
Perennial Japanese Forest Grass
Caladium bulbs in the landscape
Majesty Palms
Hibiscus
Croton SPRING 2018 • 29
Nematodes work hard, so you don’t have to. Nematodes are microscopic worms that seek out and kill lawn grubs in soil.
Kills Grubs Dead
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2018
Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, quantity of blooms, cold tolerance, foliage and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.
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