A22 - North Shore News - Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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Colourful plants add cheer to long winter From page 13
all organisms that live there. Accordingly, clean but don’t be obsessive about your cleanliness. Leave some organic matter (food) for soil and plants. If you cannot stand to leave anything then replenish the garden’s ecology by installing some mulch. When it comes to cutting back perennials, cut back all old foliage to the ground but leave attractive flower stalks standing for the winter to add interest in the garden. ■ Winter protection for tender plants: If you grow gunnera, lemon trees, fan palms or any other marginally hardy plant, now is the time to protect them before the real winter weather arrives. For gunnera, you have to cut off all the leaves and remove the long leaf-stems and then pile the leaves upside down on top of the large pink gunnera buds to protect them from freezing. For palm trees, lemon trees and other tender plants that are grown in the ground, a more elaborate winter protection system is needed. You can build a mini-greenhouse out of plastic and wood to prevent freeze damage. But those structures require regular venting to prevent moisture buildup and ensuing mould growth. Or you can wrap and cover the entire plant with straw, burlap and plastic. Some people install
Christmas lights inside of the plastic structure for heat, which can work as long as it does not get to hot or too humid inside the plastic. Either way, do it now, not later, because once those tender plants freeze, it’s game over. ■ Add plants with colour for winter: Lastly and most importantly, plant colourful plants to adorn the winter garden and cheer up your spirits through the long winter ahead. Plant many colourful winter pansies in the garden beds, along the driveway, in pots near the house or outside of that particular view window. Plant colourful foliage shrubs such as gold-leaved heathers, blue-leaved conifers or variegated broad-leaved shrubs to add colour by the house. And fall asters and chrysanthemums always brighten up and personalize the entry to the front door. At my house I regularly cut attractive foliage and seed heads from the garden and arrange them in a vase at the front door to greet my visitors during winter. If your garden doesn’t provide enough material to cut, visit the local florist or garden centre to find fresh cuts for the front door or kitchen table. Todd Major is a journeyman horticulturist and chief horticulture instructor at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden. For advice contact him at stmajor@shaw.ca.
Seasonal Delights Gift and Craft Fair
From page 19 Banff Court, North Vancouver. Meetings include speakers, workshops and field trips. Info: Elaine, 604-929-2928 or Chris, 604-924-1628. Donate Surplus Harvest: The North Shore Recycling program encourages gardeners to donate surplus harvest to local food banks and shelters. No donation is too small and donations are accepted year round. For a list of organizations accepting fresh produce visit nsrp.bc.ca. Edible Garden Project Volunteer Orientation Night takes place the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. Learn about the projects the Edible Garden Project is running and how to get involved. Location will be provided upon registration. Registration and info: ediblegardenproject. com or email volunteer@ ediblegardenproject.com. Free Eco-Tours: Study the rich heritage and unique natural resources of the West Coast. These walking tours, some available in Mandarin, are designed to educate and promote healthy living. Explore your own backyard with Joseph Lin. Info: 604-327-8693 or greenclub.bc.ca.
Saturday, November 24th, 2012 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Step inside our warm, inviting
Guided Walking Tours: VanDusen Botanical Garden at 5251 Oak St., Vancouver, offers tours daily at 2 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Meet at the information desk. Free for members or with garden admission. For more information: vandusengarden. org.
community and discover the kinds of gifts and crafts that make this fair a must-see for your holiday shopping. We’ll have gifts and crafts to suit every
Invasive Plants: Report invasive plants in B.C. communities by dialing 1888-WEEDSBC (1-888-9333722). The Invasive Species Council of B.C., in partnership with the Agriculture Environment and Wildlife Fund, operates the provincial toll-free hotline to help your community protect local resources. The hotline is part of
budget and taste, plus a tempting array of seasonal refreshments courtesy of
Eyes Across B.C., an outreach and awareness initiative. To find out more about invasive plants you can also visit invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca. The Invasive Species Council of British Columbia is a grassroots, non-profit society that provides workshops, activities, and events to educate the public and professionals. Membership is free and open to anyone willing to work collaboratively. Seed Collectors: Learn how to collect, clean and package seeds from plants, Tuesday or Sunday mornings at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver. Info: Judy Aird at 604-257-8674. The Upper Lonsdale Garden Club meets every second Thursday of the month, 7:309:30 p.m. in the basement of St. Martin’s Anglican Church, 195 East Windsor Rd., North Vancouver. New members are welcome. Info: Dianne, 604980-3025 or dkkennedy@ shaw.ca. West Coast Bonsai Society welcomes new members who are interested in the art of miniature trees. Meetings are every third Wednesday of the month, February through November, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Delbrook Community Centre, 600 West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. Info: 604-9226608. West Vancouver Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of every month from September to July with the exception of January, 7:30 p.m. at St. David’s United Church, 1525 Taylor Way, West Vancouver. Coffee and guest speakers. New members and guests welcome. Cost: $25 per year or $35 for a couple, drop-in, $5. Info: www.westvangardenclub. com. — compiled by Debbie Caldwell Email information for your North Shore non-profit, by donation or nominal fee event to listings@nsnews.com. To post to our online listings, go to nsnews. com scroll to Community Events and click on Add Your Event.
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