Eising Greenhouses & Garden Centre Spring 2018 by CR Creative Co. Ltd.

SPRING 2018

GARDEN

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HOME

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FASHION

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

CONTENTS

The Dirt On Dirt

Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nurture

Recipes

Gardening With The Kids

Queen of Vines

The Colour Purple - Garden Style

Look Good, Feel Great

The Sassyfras Ladies Boutique

This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and Eising Greenhouses & 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 OWNER

i, my name is Henry Eising…and I am an…uh… Enjoyaholic. I actually went to Wikipedia and typed in Enjoyaholic and it said it was a blank page and that I could create its meaning! I have a blank slate to make up whatever I want…perfect!! If I haven’t had enjoyment in something for about four minutes, it's game over for me. I’m doomed. If there isn’t a squirrel outside the window to look at, I’ll imagine one. This type of procrastination can be effective for me in the short term, but it doesn’t usually lead to much enjoyment. Frustration is inevitable, which is the opposite of enjoyment. Just like gardening, it can be enjoyable or potentially frustrating. None of us would be able to live or function without some degree of enjoyment, so ultimately, I think we are all Enjoyaholics to some extent. My job, as owner of an establishment, is to provide my staff with enjoyment in their work environment OR I will just end up providing them with frustration. So, I strive to play to their strengths. If an employee is good at something and enjoys it, I strive to equip them to do it to the best of their abilities. Conferences, co-operative education, and obtaining certificates are all encouraged and provided for. I invest in them heavily so that they enjoy their job and love coming to work. In January, the Eising’s staff enjoyed a 5-day break in Cuba with Marjolein

and myself, and it was an amazing experience for all of us. We built stronger relationships and just REALLY enjoyed taking a break together. I have the best staff in the world which is a magical combination with our reputation for great service & high quality plants! This is why everyone has kept coming to Eisings for the past 52 years. We strive to make sure that your shopping experience at Eising Garden Centre is enjoyable and that it will give you success in your gardening adventure, which means ENJOYMENT for everyone! God Bless,

Henry Eising

edibles We are excited to introduce our Eising Edibles Veggie Program. So many customers have commented that they only need 1 or 2 pepper plants or tomato plants… so now we offer you the choice to put in your garden only what you need! We have taken many of our old favourites & found some new varieties and put them into our Eising Edibles pots. We think that for $25 you will have a pretty fantastic veggie garden – specific to your needs!

$2.99 PER 4.5” POT

10 FOR $25! SPRING 2018 • 5

Common Thrift

Xeriscaping

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE Article by Fiona James

here has been a renewed interest in creating a sustainable landscape with plants that will survive dry periods on their own, without a heavy reliance on supplemental watering, fertilizer and other maintenance tasks. There is a way to make a garden more water-wise using the techniques of xeriscaping. A style practiced in and familiar to the American Southwest, this is the term used for creating landscapes that tolerate drought. Xeriscaping can be very complex, involving site surveys and drawings, but there are 5 areas identified that can make a big difference in water consumption that anyone can do.

If organics cannot be dug in, leaving an inch of space around the base of the plants open, cover any exposed soil with 2-3 inches of organic mulch (any of the above or commercially available woodchips) or inorganic (rocks or pebbles) will prevent wind erosion, conserve moisture, reduce weed growth and keep the soil surface cooler. Make sure it is at least 2 inches thick or the weeds can still germinate.

3| THE PLANTS Choosing the right plants is essential to xeriscaping. Plants that are adapted to living with little water may have large tap roots that seek and store water far below the surface. Some have fleshy leaves that store moisture; others have silver or grey leaves that reflect sunlight, woolly leaves that shade themselves, or waxy leaves to hold moisture in.

1| THE LAWN A lawn does an excellent job of setting a background for any plantings and gardens that surround a house. Keeping it green throughout the summer requires about 1 inch of water per week and without that, it will go dormant and brown as lawn grasses naturally do without rain. Cutting the lawn long, 3-4 inches high, helps shade the roots and prevent the soil surface from heating up and drying out as quickly. Titanium Tall Fescue is more drought resistant than many other lawn grasses such as the traditional Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass. Fescue roots that penetrate deeper into the soil are also more disease resistant and wear tolerant, making it ideal for heavy foot traffic areas and recreational areas. Replacing the variety of lawn grass could be accomplished by over-seeding.

Native plants are often at the top of the list for their drought tolerant capabilities. Black-eyed susan, coneflowers, blazing star, butterfly weed and yarrow are all essentials.

4| WATERING METHOD Overhead watering often sends water high into the air, wetting sidewalks and evaporating into the wind. In contrast, soaker hoses provide water directly to the roots and reduce the amount lost to evaporation.

For the energetic, consider replacing the lawn entirely!

2| THE SOIL

5| PLANTING METHOD

Adding organic matter to any soil type can dramatically improve its water retention capabilities. Compost, grass clippings, straw, manure, peat moss and/or shredded leaves are all good – and the “best” choice is whatever is readily available. They lighten the soil and reduce compaction so that plant roots can penetrate deeply. Residents can often obtain compost from municipal landfill sites.

6 • EISING GREENHOUSES & GARDEN CENTRE - 519-428-4607 - EISING.CA

Ensuring plants get the best start possible in important. Dig the hole for the new plant twice as wide as the pot. Mix the excavated soil with composted organic matter and fill the hole with water. This puts water right down where it is needed. After the water disappears, put in the plant, backfill the hole with the enriched soil, build a little ridge of soil around the edge of the hole so that when the plant is watered again it does not run away but makes a pond. Go back to it twice more to make sure that the water has settled the disturbed soil around the rootball.

Bluestem

Purple Coneflower

COMMON PLANTS USED IN XERISCAPING GRASSES Bluestem Little Bluestem Maiden Grass

Yarrow Sedge Tufted Hair Grass

PERENNIALS Alpine Sea Holly Black-eyed Susan Blazing Star Common Thrift False Sunflower Lamb’s Ear Poppies Purple Coneflower

Russian Sage Sea Lavender Spurge Stonecrop Thrift Verbascum Yarrow

SHRUBS

TREES

Bluebeard Butterfly Bush Mock Orange Ninebark Smoke Bush Sumac

Honeylocust Junipers Oaks

Black Eyed Susan

Blazing Star

Maiden Grass

Ninebark

Smoke Bush

SPRING 2018 • 7

MULCHING

ulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial practices you can do for your garden. Just by simply placing a protective layer of material over the bare soil you will achieve:

the Garden Mulches can either be organic, such as wood chips, straw, bark shreds, newspapers or grass clippings, where as inorganic materials could include stones, brick chips and plastic sheeting.

1. Erosion control 2. A reduction in compaction 3. The conservation of soil moisture thus reducing watering 4. A more even soil temperature 5. Prevention of weed growth 6. Keeping your fruits & vegetables cleaner 7. Also keeps your feet clean as you can tread in your garden after a rainfall 8. A finished look to your garden

An organic mulch such as Eising’s cedar bark mulches will benefit the soil as it decomposes, providing the much needed organic matter which improves root growth, the infiltration of water and the nutrient-holding capacity of the soil. Compost makes a wonderful mulch itself. While it suppresses the weed growth, it improves the soil structure and is an excellent source of plant nutrients. It also provides a home for very important soil organisms.

Spring Into Eising’s

OPEN HOUSE T H E D AT E ! S AV E

April 21, 2018 SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Our Open House showcases all the things that Eising’s has to offer: • Stunning Hanging Baskets • Gorgeous Tropicals • Amazing Perennials

• Shrubs & Trees – many in bloom! • Beautiful Home & Garden Accent Pieces • Unique Fashion Designs at reasonable prices…

…and so much more! 814 Cockshutt Road, Simcoe, ON

519-428-4607 | www.eising.ca 8 • EISING GREENHOUSES & GARDEN CENTRE - 519-428-4607 - EISING.CA

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.

THE DIRT ON

DIRT By John DeGroot, DeGroot’s Nurseries, Sarnia, Ontario

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.

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!

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

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?"

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

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).

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

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

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!!

Courtesy of Papa Fashions

we Love

GARDEN GIFTS 1.

5. 1. Gazing Ball - from $50.00 2. Lanterns - from $80.00 3. Metal Garden Art - from $80.00 (not exactly as shown) 4. Container on Wooden Legs - from $80.00 5. Welcome Mat - from $50.00 *Items may not be exactly as shown.

Available at

EISING GARDEN CENTRE www.eising.ca 519-428-4607 814 Cockshutt Road Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4K4 SPRING 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 25

LADIES FASHION

id you know? Have you heard? There is a beautiful ladies boutique located INSIDE the Eising Garden Centre! We are still amazed at the fact that so many people come into our Sassyfras Boutique and comment on how they didn’t know we are here! We have a beautiful little store that is unlike any other store you have ever been in, and that is on the word of our fashion vendors who have visited hundreds of boutiques around the province! We have been on a journey for the past three years, trying to find our unique place in the Norfolk fashion scene. We are excited about our vendors with whom we have built good relationships over the past few years – many of whom have given us exclusive rights to the territory. Exclusivity means that we have gone to great lengths to provide exclusive pieces and brands that you won’t find anywhere else in this area. We want to be your go-to place to shop! We are excited about our fashion offering! We have some really great, fashion-forward and casual-comfy names in our boutique! In response to feedback, we are keeping some of our much-loved brands, and are moving towards a casual, wear-anywhere type of style throughout the boutique. We have something for everybody!

TRIED & TRUE We welcome back our favourite CREAM – which is based out of Denmark. So, if you’re looking for some European fashion, Cream is what you’re looking for. The sister line to Cream is called Kaffe which we love and it has some great price points. We had an excellent response to Apricot last year, so we are bringing them back. Rounding out our returning selections are LNBF, a bamboo line and ICHI, which has a younger vibe.

NEW ARRIVALS We are excited to introduce casual-comfy Woolrich into our line-up. They are tried & true with a classic look, great lines & excellent price point. Tribal is fun and sporty, at price points that will put a smile on your face. Life is Good is a great casual-comfy T-shirt line with fun prints and sayings to brighten your day. Marvella is simply a treasure trove of fantasticallypriced “anytime, anywhere” fashion pieces. B.Young has a youthful vibe with classy overtones. Our newest and greatest find is a sassy clothing line from Dex Plus for the curvy woman! So EXCITING!

26 • EISING GREENHOUSES & GARDEN CENTRE - 519-428-4607 - EISING.CA

Woolrich Plaid

Apricot Floral Tank

ACCESSORIES We have Fitkicks coming in for the Spring! These are fun yoga/ water shoes that are great for exercising or running around on your boat, because they don’t SLIP! Awesome! And for the gardeners, or down-south travellers, we have some beautiful sunhats that roll up & travel with great ease.

JEWELLERY As always, we are proud to offer you the Kameleon Jewellery line. It is a sterling silver line that features “Jewel Pops”. All of the basic pieces – pendants, earrings, bracelets & rings – have the ability to change the jewel in the middle to coordinate with what you’re wearing. It’s a fantastic way to energize your jewellery collection and add colour & drama without a huge investment. Our favourite jewellery line comes from a Montreal designer, Christophe Poly. It is incredibly unique with great use of various metals & shapes. These pieces have been flying out the door & we think if you see it, you would love it too! Come visit us soon in the Sassyfras Boutique and we can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

BRING IN A NEW CUSTOMER TO

AND WE WILL

PAY THE TAX ON YOUR PURCHASE AND THEIRS!

... FAMILY OR FRIEND ...

Valid until 06/30/2018

SPRING 2018 • 27

From Simcoe to Varadero…

our days in the glorious sunshine, quietly sipping on mimosas & cervezas…Well, that’s not QUITE what happened…We had ONE day of sunshine and we made the best of the other few days we had! The fun times were rolling for the Eising Crew & some of their spouses down in Cuba. We laughed until our cheeks were hurting, some danced on coffee tables to the most amazing house band in the piano bar, we ate suppers together, we danced at the disco, and most importantly, we got to know each other so much better outside of our regular work environment. That was the best gift of all! All of our thanks goes to Henry & Marjolein for this crazy & fun adventure! Now let the good times continue to roll…

28 • EISING GREENHOUSES & GARDEN CENTRE - 519-428-4607 - EISING.CA

e d y s r e v i R T

he downtown Simcoe scene will soon be serving up friendship, with a little food on the side! An old space is being fully renovated to offer residents and visitors alike a new take on intentionally being neighbourly. The former LCBO building at 83 Sydenham Street will be repurposed into teaching and commercial kitchens, a café and marketplace, information hub and meeting rooms, all under the name Riversyde 83. Meet friends for coffee or a meal, take a food skills or other interest workshops, find out what’s happening locally, or just give back by volunteering to help make it all happen. This venture is Church Out Serving’s newest and largest initiative in their commitment to making a difference here in our community.

www.churchoutserving.org Eising’s is excited to partner with Riversyde this year in our communal fundraising efforts. We hope you will partner with us in this new venture to make Riversyde 83 a vital part of our community.

www.riversyde83.ca

SUCCULENTS Air Plants We are thrilled to offer you a huge variety of succulents & air plants! The trend in the last year has certainly headed in this direction…they are beautiful, simple to take care of, and make amazing gifts!

SPRING 2018 • 29

Nematodes work hard, so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to. Nematodes are microscopic worms that seek out and kill lawn grubs in soil.

Available at

$34.99

Kills Grubs Dead

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GARDENA®

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• Ideal for vines, roses and small branches • Stainless steel lower blade • 25 year warranty

GARDENA®

• High performance versatile saw • Harden chrome plated saw blade, made of quality spring steel, impulse-hardened toothing for staying sharp! • Non slip ergonomic handle • Great for a lifetime of yard work • 25 year warranty

• 6.7” teﬂon coated blade • Gel padding in handles absorbs shock from cutting action, reducing stress on forearms. • 25 year warranty

COLOURWAVE®

Classic Bypass Lopper

Garden Saw

9 Pattern Nozzle • • • •

Thumb control nozzle 9 position spray head Heavy duty hose nozzle Easy to use thumb control for ﬂow and shut oﬀ

Bypass Pruner

Hedge Trimmers

8 Pattern Telescopic Wand • Thumb control wand • Expandable to 60” • Reach to the back of the flower garden with 8 pattern nozzle head • Easy to use thumb control for flow and shut off

COLOURWAVE®

RAINWAVE®

• 6 pattern rotary sprinkler • Adjustable multi pattern gear drive sprinkler • Full or partial circular coverage up to 70’ diameter • 3,800 sq ft coverage

• 5/8” x 50’ long Superior all weather hose • Stays flexible in low temperature • No memory hose will lay flat and coil easily • Aircraft grade aluminum fittings • Drinking water safe

Rotary Sprinkler

Prem-A-Flex Hose

SHOW-OFF.

Fire Light® Hydrangea: DRAMATIC COLOR, HARDY, STRONG STEMS, LONG BLOOMING AND LOW MAINTENANCE

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.

provenwinners-shrubs.com