PEOPLE, PLACES & PLANTS

TBG Volunteers Rise to the Challenge

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.

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

Happy gardeners at one of the Wychwood gardens on this year’s Through The Garden Gate tour in June.

Artichokes thrive in a Wychwood front garden.

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

Witch hazel (Hamamelis)

Watch for Winter Bloomers

Witch hazel (Hamamelis) aka Winterbloomer, is a medium to large shrub that actually blooms in winter anytime from late fall to early spring depending on the species and the weather. Its spider-like flowers with red centres cluster on leafless branches and unfurl their petals on mild days. This species is H x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’.

Maria Nikas

TBG Bloom Café gets a Facelift

Spring plants emerging in the TBG gardens are always sensational, and, this spring, there’ll be something else to look forward to – enjoying the newly renovated café. Over the winter, the TBG Bloom Café will be closed in order to get a facelift. In the words of new manager Maria Nikas, “I’m going to give it some love”. Maria knows something about love; she has been having a love affair with Edwards Gardens for over 40 years. She brought her children here regularly when they were young, and, once they were grown, she started regular weekly gatherings with friends in the TBG gardens. It has long been a dream of hers to ‘get her hands on’ the café. The new manager is an accomplished restaurateur with 25 years in the business, much of it as a working partner in the Wheat Sheaf Tavern, an iconic Toronto pub. Her plans for the café include changes to the menu as well as the décor. There will be a lot of food that can be eaten without knives and forks to cut down on unnecessary Maria Nikas waste, a variety of ice creams, ice cream and waffle sandwiches as well as “quite a few surprises”. Maria is looking forward to working in tandem with TBG special events, and to holding special days in the café to honour groups such as volunteers.

The spring café reopening date hasn’t yet been established, but you can be sure that Maria will be opening it as soon as it’s feasible. In the meantime, here’s to lovely dreams of spring and hopes for a very short, very warm winter! — Carol Gardner