people, places & plants Goings On at the TBG
Cullen’s Foods new sponsor for Through The Garden Gate
The thought of a garden tour is enough to make our hearts cry out with joy during this especially hard winter. That’s why we’re busily planning our next tour – on June 12th and 13th 2021 in Wychwood. At this point, nobody can accurately predict the Covid-19 climate at that time, but, being optimists, we’re looking forward to an awesome tour. For more information, have a look at our website at https://toronto botanicalgarden.ca/ttgg There have been a lot of changes since we last planned this tour. Perhaps the biggest change is that some of the homeowners have decided to give more space to vegetable gardens, even expanding into their front gardens. The results are not only practical, but quite varied and lovely. Who knew? And speaking of vegetables – you may have noticed that our sponsor’s name has changed. In recent years, we have been sponsored by Mark’s Choice, but this year Mark’s son Ben will be sponsoring the tour. His business, Cullen’s Foods, produces a variety of beans that are Canadian grown and organic. His website https:// cullensfoods.com offers online shopping as well as a list of retail outlets. Cullen’s Foods has partnered with S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that promotes more sustainable food systems both at home and abroad. And so, as the world changes, gardeners adapt. As that great philosopher, Audrey Hepburn, once said, “to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”. —Carol Gardner
TBG Volunteers Rise to the Challenge
TBG VOLUNTEER SERVICES When the going gets tough…TBG volunteers get going. More than 90 volunteers rose to the challenge over the summer. Our gardens were looked after, the TBG Garden Shop reopened, weekend visitors were welcomed, over 130 visitors enjoyed guided tours and many behind-the-scenes committees and groups continued to meet and plan for 2021. Volunteer tour guide Leanne Burkholder leads a tour of the garden.
TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA
36
WINTER 2021
Tours were trending to sell out status by the end of September and by the end of October tour earnings totalled more than $2,000. Bee keeping students were assisted by seven TBG volunteers for the August honey harvest. Some 3,000 volunteer hours were contributed from July to the end of the year. TBG simply could not have reopened without this gift of time and talent. Thank you, TBG volunteers! —Sue Hills