An Educational Event for the town and country gardener, homeowner and apartment dweller. The novice and expert will learn from this day.
SUNDAY, APRIL 24th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Civic Garden Centre in Edwards Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 (416) 445-1552
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
President: Dr. Brian Bixley
1st Vice-President: Mr. Charles Coffey Treasurer: Mr. Robert Saunders
Mrs. Camilla Dalglish, Mr. Peter Hand, Mrs. Sue Macaulay, Mr. Peter Thomas.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
For 1987: Mrs. Camilla Dalglish, Mrs. Susan Macaulay, Mr. Andrew Osyany, Mr. Robert Saunders, Mr. Peter Thomas, Mrs. Betty Crosby, Mrs. Marian Lawson.
For 1987 & 1988: Dr. Brian Bixley, Mr. Charles Coffey, Mr. Mark Cullen, Mr. Peter Hand, Mrs. Margaret Killey, Mrs. Susan McCoy, Mr. Phillip Tingley.
For 1987, 1988 & 1989: Mrs. Anne Bawden, Mr. Klaus Bindhardt, Mrs. Eliane] Hooft, Mrs. Heather MacKinnon, Mrs. Gail Rhynard and Mr. Victor Portelli (Metropolitan Toronto Parks).
GENERAL INFORMATION
][ C @ a / ws Vol. 15, No. 3 ISSN 0380-1470
EDITOR: Pamela Stagg
ART: Carolyn Van Dijk
ADVERTISING INFO: 445-1552
TRELLIS is published ten times per year as a
380 KINGSTON ROAD EAST members newsletter by the CIVIC GARDEN AJAX, ONTARIO L1S 487
CENTRE, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ont. M3C 1P2. Tel. No.: (416) 445-1552. Manuscripts Highway 2, 1 mile east of Harwood Rd. submitted on a voluntary basis are gratefully received. s X No remuneration is possible. ALL EDITORIAL AND direct Toronto line: 686-2151 ADVERTISING -MATERIAL MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 1ST DAY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH OF @ Perennials e Annuals ISSUE. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily ® Nursery Stock e Supplies reflect those of the Centre.
Speuallzmg in
The Centre is located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East. It is a non-profit, | "EXOTIC TR0P|CALS volunteer-based gardening, floral arts and horticultural information organization with open membership.
* H * 1 AI OIdS' 5 Bonsai 3
* Bougainvillea * Bromeliads
* Cactus * Ficus
Printed by York Printing House Ltd.
SUMMER OPERATING HOURS
* Gesneriads * Hederae The Civic Garden Centre is open: * Hibiscus * Orchids from April 1st to October 31st. Open 7 days a week
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Weekends: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
My windowsill is overflowing with flowering plants now -- miniature daffodils, cyclamen, gardenias, hyacinths and amaryllis. It's a horticultural showcase, but | can t claim the credit. Most of the bulbs | bought; I'm far too impatient to force bulbs. | grew the amaryllis -- but they're quite idiot-proof. | can only take credit for the cyclamen, which | started from seed a year ago.
This month s Trellis is like my windowsill -- a wonderful tribute to others.
That s a real change from my early days on Trellis, when | often had to write several articles each month.
This month s articles reflect the different interests and attitudes of our readers. We welcome them all -- with a few caveats. For copyright reasons, we cannot publish quotes from books and magazines (exceptions for a book review or an historical book).
We prefer that articles fit on a double page spread. That means a maximum length of about 800 words. We love the page-long gems that some of you write.
One of our authors asked for more articles on gardening. My reply to him -and to you -- is simple. If you want articles on a special topic, write them!
And we'd love to receive illustrations to be published in the Trellis. Artists, the writers at the Centre are showing you up. Please send us your best.
Pamela Stagg Editor
IN THIS ISSUE
Features
Single Season plants
Longue Vue Gardens
The garden diary
Botanical illustration course
Education Consultant wanted
Perennial plant sale
Attention members
Annual Meeting
Private Garden tour
Garden by the St. Lawrence
Book review
Catch the Gardening Spirit
In every issue
Volunteer corner
Master Gardeners
Coming events
In the library
Art in the Link
Cornucopia planning
Cuttings
Classified ads
SINGLE SEASON PLANTS
by Anne Marie Van Nest
Whatever your garden interest is, annual flowers are the perfect addition. These are plants that beginners call guaranteed successes. Experienced gardeners will refer to this group of plants as Fillers , prized for their versatility. To all gardeners annuals are an important component each year. The extensive range of colours, shapes, heights, textures and uses allow these plants to solve many garden planning problems. Every garden has a special location for the right annual. They complement any portion of the garden. Marigolds and vegetable gardens have enjoyed a long association as companion plants. Trailing lobelia adapts well to a shady corner of the rock garden and verbena is an ideal border plant for rose beds, as the gardeners in Edwards Gardens planted last summer. Annuals can find a home in any garden.
The range of colours and heights ensures that the number of combinations are endless for the garden. Just glance at the listing for Marigolds. They are available in heights from 20 cm. (Janie Orange) to 90 cm. (Yellow Climax). The Marigolds are also guaranteed to flower from June to frost. The larger varieties will take a proportionally longer time to flower. The combinations available just with the 8 varieties offered at the Civic Garden Centre s Annual Plant Sale can be mixed into 28 combinations of pairs. Certainly this annual is a plant for all sunny locations.
Outstanding Annuals for the Garden
Hanging baskets, planters and window boxes are important means to add floral displays to areas that cannot accommodate them. Sunny locations are
2 TRELLIS April 1988
excellent for cascading Petunias (large flowers in many colours), Portulaca (showy multicoloured flowers), Ilvy Geraniums (glossy leaf with many flowers) and New Guinea Impatiens (huge flowers with varigated leaves). Shady areas require plants that can tolerate the lack of sunlight and still flower. Trailing Lobelia (tiny blue flowers), Browallia (blue or white floriferous plant), Fuchsia (exquisite pendulous flowers) and Impatiens (many colours of flowers) are suited for this location.
Shady gardeners will delight in the range of annuals that are tolerant to their conditions. While these plants prefer a semi shade location, they will create a satisfactory display of flowers throughout the summer. Coleus, Browallia, Tuberous Begonias and Fibrous Begonias are a few of the favourites that will tolerate a shady location. There is a limit to the obstacles that these plants will overcome. Plants that are competing with dense shade, slugs, tree roots, minimal water and no fertilizer have justifiable cause for not blooming profusely.
The preferred location for sun loving annual plants is a bed located right in the middle of the front lawn. Unfortunately, aesthetically speaking this is not the ideal. The annuals will therefore have
to cope with reduced air circulation and possibly, only limited directional light. Notwithstanding these limitations, there are many annuals that will fit most garden criteria. Among these, Dusty Miller adds an unusual effect of silver foliage for the garden. Cleome has a flower similar to none other and is sometimes called a spider flower. The flowering tobacco has showier blooms than the commercial tobacco and is much shorter. This makes it a more suitable garden plant. The dwarf forms can be found in red, rose and white colours. Similar to most annuals, Nicotiana, will flower from June to the first frost.
Geraniums are becoming very colourful recently. Hybridizers are now developing variations of every colour in the white, pink and scarlet range. New breeding has also created plants that are more
compact, flower longer and more often. The Fischer Geraniums are a good example of this new trend in Geraniums.
Annuals can be used in many ways to enhance your existing garden or to create beds of glorious colour. Window boxes and balcony planters would be disappointing without the continuous bloom of annuals.
For an extensive selection of annuals and perennials, visit the Civic Garden Centre s Annual Fund Raising Plant Sale, May 19th and 20th from 1-8pm.
Amnne Marie Van Nest, the Centre s resident Horticulturist, is ready to answer all your questions about annuals. Call ber at 445-1552.
SHERIDAN NURSERIES LIMITED
Where Great Gardens
At your closest Sheridan Garden Centre you will find the finest selection of nursery stock in Canada, including more than 750 varieties of plants and trees grown on Sheridan 's own farms.
UNIONVILLE OSHAWA 4077 Hwy. 7, Unionville 847 King St. W., Oshawa L3R1LS Tel. 728-9429 Tel. 477-2253
And Sheridan s nursery stock is guaranteed for one full year. At Sheridan Garden Centres you will also find qualified nursery- men who will be pleased to help you in any way they can. NORTH YORK ETOBICOKE 2375 Steeles Ave. W,, 700 Evans Ave., North York M3J 3A8 Etobicoke M9C 1A1 Tel. 736-8814 Tel. 621-9100 KITCHENER 100 Eimsdale Road, Kitchener Tel. 743-4146
Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to escape our Winter s dying blasts, brown lawns, dirty snow piles, mud, and in between seasons for some of the Old South s Springtime blossoms?
Blooms appear on Saucer Magnolias, Dogwoods, Redbuds, and Azaleas in Longue Vue Gardens at the mouth of the Mississippi River in New Orleans, peaking around March 21.
We make our way under a tunnel of evergreen Live Oaks to the gates of Longue Vue House and Gardens. A glimpse of the Greek Revival mansion can be seen through the spreading branches of more Live Oaks which have been pruned into a cathedral arch. Making our way through a portion of this meticulously maintained eight acre estate we arrive in front of the mansion where a delicate pristine marble fountain bubbles, amid a pink French tile court set off by the green grays of the Oak Alley vista.
Longue Vue is not an old Southern plantation. It was designed and built between 1939 and 1942 for Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Stern (Mr. Stern was a cotton broker and Mrs. Stern the heiress of the Sears fortune).
4 TRELLIS April 1988
The Pan Garden
In front of the house are the wide open fairways of New Orleans Golf and Country Club. To the side is the shaded Pan Garden with a statue of Pan on an Italian Renaissance fountain base, bordered by Philadelphus and the rare Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia) so aptly named for their deep purple blossoms which fade the next day to lavender, and finally white within its three day blooming span. Summer Snow floribunda roses are popular here and in the formal beds of the next garden, the Portico Garden.
The Spanish Garden
The Spanish Garden is the most outstanding feature of Longue Vue, its ( Milne House Garden Club presents
12,13,19688
broad square of Bermuda Grass lawn bordered by formal Boxwood hedges set off by French Tile walls, more fountains, vases, and planters containing Cleyera Japonica, Sweet Olive, Calamondin, FEuonymos and False Hollies. The arching jets of the 15th century marble dolphin fountain came from Spain. The whole area was copied after the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada Spain. Plumbago, Agapanthus in tubs, Allamanda in summer, can be found here. Attractive groupings of bulbs and annuals can be found fountainside throughout the year in pots. The same can be found in the adjacent long narrow Portugese Canal Garden especially lovely with potted azaleas.
The Walled Garden
The Walled Garden has more floribunda roses and Japanese Iris sunk around an old cast-iron sugar refining kettle. Azaleas, Bananas, Bird of Paradise frame this garden while an American Beech
overshadows the area. The Goldfish Pool Garden is beautiful with spring bulbs, Azaleas, and Dogwoods. Crape Myrtles bloom in reds, pinks, and whites, from June through September, while Oleanders bloom September through December.
The Wild Garden
The Wild Garden is the oldest, under the shadow of Cypress, Pine, Dogwoods and Southern Magnolias. Most of the plants here are indigenous to the south. Louisiana Swamp Iris blooms in April, the Camellia Walk ablaze in winter, while Kalmias (Mountain Laurel) Spiderwort, Columbine, Viburnums, Halesias (Silver Bell) Oak Leaf Hydrangeas, and wild Azaleas are arranged around a Mississippi sandstone pond.
Longue Vue was a delightful holiday from the Canadian winter.
Peter Iveson is a C.G.C. member with a special interest in preserving bistorical gardens.
WEALL & CULLEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICE
IN A WORD, QUALITY!
An affordable and professional Weall & Cullen Landscape Design for only $50. for a front or back yard® ($100. for both). The $50. fee is totally refunded with a minimum purchase of $300. worth of quality Weall & Cullen Landscape nursery stock. Weall & Cullen nursery stock carmries our famous one year GUARANTEE®**. An investment that is guorqrjteefd to grow.!
THE GARDEN DIARY
by Janet Davis
Tuesday, March 25. A gorgeous spring day. Everything sprouting and I'm rushing to remove last fall s leafmulch.
An annotated garden diary, faithfully completed from the day the first snowdrops poke their plump noses through March s numb landscape, to the sad November morning when the first hard frost lays waste the borders, can be a tool as invaluable as the trustiest pair of clippers. There are thousands of books to assist the gardener in understanding how to, where to, and why not, but the best way to develop a rule of thumb on when to, is charting nature s progress in your own back yard.
Developing a chronology of climatic milestones such as first frost, last frost, periods of drought and heavy rainfall can place a garden s performance in a framework of cause and effect that would otherwise be lost to the vagaries of memory. Recording the data can provide the organized gardener with an itinerary for scheduling regular tasks.
Wednesday, May 7. Windy and bright. Garden lovely. Azaleas not yet out but west border brilliant with orange and red tulips, wild blue phlox, doronicum, Virginia bluebells and grape hyacinths. In October, plant 20 more Tulip linifolia south offirst clump ofphlox.
Placing specific plants in the garden is made easier by mapping in a diary and relating their location to other garden elements. How many of us have dug into that empty space in the autumn, neatly slicing through forgotten bulbs. The diary provides a retroactive colour blueprint for cozy winter landscape planning.
Thursday, June 25. Great time for a garden party. Tawny daylilies, Regal lilies, Madonna lilies, lythrum, shasta daisies, bellflowers, yarrow, roses, veronica, allium, delphiniums, geraniums, coreopsis, astilbes, last of the foxgloves, first ofthephlox.
Surely the description, accompanied by a few photos taken on that auspicious summer day would be enough to dispel even the bleakest of winter blahs. My own diary happens to be a Metropolitan Museum of New York compendium of Van Gogh paintings, inspirational enough without any garden entries, but style of journal itself is unimportant. Those pocket diaries sent out as gifts make perfect garden journals. The first sign of spring in your own garden, duly recorded, will herald your new garden literacy.
Janet Davis is an amateur North Toronto Knowledgeable staif
PERENNIAL PLANT
Steeles Ave. W. (2 miles west of Highway 10) R.R. 10 Brampton L6V 3N2 7 days a week (9-5pm) mid-April-mid-Oct. Over 3000 dlfferent hardy plants, alpines, dwarf conifers and shrubs, Hardy ferns, vines, groundcovers and native wildflowers Gift Certificates$10. up (10-15-20 etc.{ by mail any time All Year Send $2.00 for NEW (No.10) PLANT L gardener, with a special interest in perennials.
ST by mail to above address
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BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION IN WATERCOLOUR
The Civic Garden Centre is indeed fortunate in securing a return teaching engagement with the highly accomplished English artist and popular instructor, Dorothy Bovey.
This five-day art course, for experienced art students, will allow for concentrated practice, reinforced by frequent critique from the instructor. Output is also much greater than in any other lesson format.
A materials list will be provided upon registration.
The instructor, Dorothy Bovey, is widely travelled and has served as botanical artist on expeditions in Africa, Australia and Asia.
She has received five gold medals from the Royal Horticultural Society of London for her paintings.
This course will run daily from 10 a.m. to. 1 ipm. and from 2 p.m. %o 5 p.m} here at the Civic Garden Centre.
BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION IN WATERCOLOUR
June 6th to 10th, 1988
Registration is limited to 18 students.
Please register by May 20th, 1988. Members: $100.; non-members $125.
HELP WANTED EDUCATION PROGRAMME CONSULTANT
The Civic Garden Centre has received funding from the Edwards Foundation to appoint a consultant to the Board of Directors on the future of educational programming at the Centre.
The responsibilities of the appointee will be to consider the widest mandate for the Centre, investigate the demand for horticulturally related educational programmes, and design an overall programme which permits the Centre to fulfill this mandate.
The appointee would be expected to prepare a report which would serve both as a guideline for future development, and as a suitable document for use in funding applications. It is anticipated that the appointment will be made no later than May 13, 1988.
Ideal qualifications would include a knowledge of the Centre, some familiarity with the horticultural world both locally and more widely, proven analytical skills, an interest in marketing strategies, and first-rate writing abilities. A record of accomplishment of fixedterm tasks would be particularly valuable.
Further details of the scope of the study, the expectations of the Board and the terms of appointment can be obtained from Mrs. Sally Sullivan, Executive Director.
Please submit a resume to the Executive Director by April 20.
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VOLUNTEER CORNER
by Carolyn Dalgarno
From the beginning of January to mid-March, our volunteers have given us a total of 2,080 hours. They kept the Centre running smoothly and manned the Trellis Shop at Casa Loma. Thank you all.
In the last four months, there have been many new faces at the Centre. We welcome the following to our group of volunteers and hope they enjoy their time spent with us: Irene Watchorn, Norma Keedwell, Pat Van Clieaf, Christina Gibson, Nuala Vermeiren, Ruth Beedham, Mary Cumming, Hilary Dobson, Dorothy McBride, Allison Cresswell, Eldred Mullen, Margarite McDonald, Sky Sigal, Gerri & Bill Whitely, Ruth Wild, Eleanor Clark, Stan Etchells, Joan Moss plus all the Master Gardeners who are now extremely busy answering the Hort. Hot Line".
April 1st to 10th is Garden Festival at The National Home Show. We require many volunteers to help us out at this time. If you can do a shift, please call me at 445-1552.
P O Box 98 ® Martin Road Vineland Station, Ont. LOR 2EOQ
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE MASTER GARDENERS
April is certainly the month to catch the Master Gardeners in action. They will be manning the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food/Ontario Horticultural Association booth at the Garden Festival for three days answering a multitude of gardening questions. At the same time they will be at the Centre manning the Hort. Hot Line during its extended hours from April 1st to 10th. If you have a question for the Master Gardeners why don t you call the hotline number 445-1552? The second annual Catch the Gardening Spirit will also have some of these enthusiastic volunteers at the Centre to deal with a wide range of garden topics, on Sunday, April 24th. Join in the celebration of National Garden Week by attending this informative event.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LEAD WALK IN THE PARK TOURS
Outgoing, friendly, nature enthusiasts are needed to participate in a training programme to learn about leading tours of Edwards Gardens and The Civic Garden Centre.
The Gardens are a popular attraction for Toronto s visitors, local school children and gardeners. The garden tours will begin on May 3rd and continue until September 29th each Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
For further information about the tour guide programme, please call Anne Marie Van Nest at 445-1552.
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE PRESENTS OUR ANNUAL FUND RAISING PLANT SALE
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COMING EVENTS AT THE CENTRE
APR 4
Landscape Technique (Regis. deadine: March 23) 7:30pm
Members $30., Non-members $35.
5 Mens Garden Club, Springtime in the Garden 8pm
9 & 10 Toronto Gesneriad Society, Plant Show, Sale & Conference lpm Judges School, Demonstrations, Educational Exhibits
8,9 & 10 Civic Garden Centre s PANSY SALE Noon
11
Sogetsu (Regis. deadline: April 7) 1pm
Members $25., Non-members $30.
Bonsai (Regis. Deadline: April 11) 7:30pm
Members $35., Non-members $40.
16 Society of Ontario Nut Growers, Auction 1pm 17 Geranium & Pelargonium Society, Ella Irving 2pm will demonstrate Flower Arranging with Geraniums
Society of
Designing and Planning Your Personal Garden Speakers Elizabeth Tschopp & Marion Moore, Landscape Architects
17 York Rose and Garden Society, June Laver Mini Roses 2pm 18-24 NATIONAL GARDENING WEEK
18 Mycological Society General Meeting, Speaker Dr. R.F. Fisher 7:30pm Mushrooms in the Niagara Peninsula
21 Continuing Watercolours (Regis. deadline: April 18) 10am
Members $50., Non-members $55.
24 CATCH THE GARDENING SPIRIT (Pre registration req d) 10am
25 Canadian Rose Society Sale 7pm
26 Civic Garden Centre s ANNUAL MEETING 7:30pm
Speaker Barrie Porteous on A Garden in Cottage Country
28 Canadian Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society 8pm
MAY 1 Canadian Wildflower Society Annual Meeting and Sale 9:30am
Speaker Fred Case Jr on Orchids & Trilliums of the Great Lakes Region
1 Southern Ontario Orchid Society General Meeting 1pm
2 Rhododendron Society of Canada - Plant Sale 7:30pm
3 Mens Garden Club - General 8pm
7 Southern Ontario Orchid Society Show, Adm. $3.00 Noon
8 Southern Ontario Orchid Society Show 9am
9 Toronto Bonsai Society General Meeting 7pm
10 North Toronto Horticultural Society General Meeting 8pm
11 Ikebana International General Meeting 6:30pm
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IN THE LIBRARY
by Pamela MacKenzie
The Red Books of Humphry Repton; ed. by Edward Malins. 4 vols. London, Basilisk Press, 1975.
The leading landscape gardener of his time, Humphry Repton (1752-1818) was an impoverished member of the minor landed gentry, who decided to take up the (then) novel profession in order to maintain his social position. Unlike Capability = Brown, whose natural successor he became, he had no training, other than an interest in botany and gardening, and a natural talent for painting. His first commission was in 1788 and within two years he was securely established. His work was often on a smaller scale than Brown's; some of his commissions were alterations to Brown s work. Later in his career he reintroduced the terrace surrounding the house, with steps, flowerbeds and trellises.
His method of working was to survey a property, and present his recommend-
ations to the client in the form of a hand-written text combined with watercolour illustrations, many of which had moveable flaps to show the client a before and after picture. The book was bound in red morocco. Repton prepared over 400 of these Red Books, of which about 200 remain.
Three of the famous Red Books were reproduced in 1975 in a limited facsimile edition, with an introduction by Edward Malins. The Civic Garden Centre is fortunate to have acquired these beautiful books.
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS
We would like to invite all members with sunny gardens and extra bedding space to grow, hang and dry special seedling plants, which will be provided in quarter (8-12 plants), half (20-24 plants) or full flats (48 plants) after the third week in May.
Complete instructions and samples will accompany the plants which are Gomphrena, Statice, Larkspur, Blue Salvia and Strawflowers.
Shop and at Cornucopia.
These will be used for dried flower arrangements to be sold in the Trellis If you are interested, please call the Civic Garden Centre Hort. Hot Line at 445-1552.
An illustration by Humphrey Repton
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PRIVATE GARDENS ON DISPLAY!
by Dorothy Whiteman
Whatever you're planning for July, keep the 17th and 18th open. That's when the Centre is sponsoring a tour of 16 private'gardens.
These gardens in Old Cabbagetown, Rosedale and Yorkville will be open from noon to 4 p.m. each day, with a Master Gardener present to assist you.
Also included is a tour of the Necropolis, Toronto s oldest cemetery, refreshments and a free bus service to expedite transportation.
Tickets will be available shortly for only $10.00 each, so mark you calendar and keep an eye on your May Trellis for further details.
HELP WANTED
Trellis Shop requires an assistant to work on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Enquiries to Mrs. Brisby 445-1552
FOUND - in Trellis Shop - gold pen Call Jackie Brisby at 445-1552
CORNUCOPIA 88
Plans are afoot for volunteer craftspeople to participate in Cornucopia '88. Projects, workshops and your talents will ensure exciting sales tables in the Fall. Look for workshop dates in the May Trellis. In the meantime, the Centre would be pleased to hear from members with saleable craft ideas that we could translate into workshops. A sample of your idea with your name and telephone number may be left at the information desk. Civic Garden Centre members who are savers and gatherers can help with providing materials; please bring to the Centre, wine bottle corks, grape-vine cuttings, and good, sorted cones from the following trees: alder, beech husks, fir, larch, pine (White), hemlock, spruce (White and Norway).
ART IN THE LINK
March 29 - April 11
Sheila Siegerman Mainly Botanicals'
April 12 - May 5 Watercolours
Hazel Harvey
April 26, 1988 7:30 p.m.
Barrie Porteous One of Ontario s Outstanding Gardeners
A Garden in Cottage Country
This will also be the CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE S ANNUAL MEETING refreshments served non-members $2.00
BOOK REVIEW
by Barbara E. Stevenson
Tottering in my Garden by
Midge Ellis Keeble
Published by Oxford University Press
This is a delightfully amusing, informal, chatty book, full of memories and garden wisdom, as she reminisces on her seven very different gardens.
Her first garden was on the site of an old farm, where everything grew bountifully, to her Don Mills garden where she battled clay. The other gardens are variously described as her sand garden in Rosedale, her Shady Garden, the Tired Garden, her Plastic Garden, and her Country Garden.
This is more than a gardening book. It is a memoir for family, friends, neighbours, and life's experiences. And it's a first book by one of our members.
| found the chapter on her favourite perennials interesting; If you love blue in the garden, Platycodon grandiflorus Apoyama is for you. Eighteen inches (45 cm.) is the correct height, though | have one that, for reasons of its own, grows as high as the Day Lily.behind it. Before the flower opens into a star shaped ball, the bud holds in the shape of an aerial balloon,
There is a good chapter on seed propagation and the book ends with a Canada-wide list of gardening sources.
Tottering In My Garden is available in the Trellis Shop for $15.95. If you would like the book mailed out, there s a $3.00 charge for postage and handling. No C.O.D. orders please!
White Rose
CRAFTAND NURSERIES
CUTTINGS
News from all over
Bill C-107 was introduced to the House of Commons on January 28, 1988. This Plant Breeders Rights Act would allow seed companies to patent seeds. Organizations which oppose exclusive monopoly patenting are: National Farmers Union, United Church of Canada, Canadian Organic Growers, Organic Crop Improvement Association and others. For background on this issue, see Trellis, February 1988.
Two very special people will be coming to the Civic Garden Centre in the fall. Garden historian Jane Brown will be
visiting September 26th-28th and prominent flower arranger Sheila Macqueen joins us October 19th-21st.
The Royal Botanical Garden is offering a Plant Study Trip to the Hudson Valley, May 16-20. Highlights of the tour are visits to George Landis Arboretum, the Beck Oriental Gardens at Millbrook and the Vanderbilt Estates at Hyde Park. The tour will be led by John Simkins, garden writer and peony grower. For information and reservations, call RBG toll-free at 1-800-263-8450.
NEW COURSES AT THE CENTRE
CONTINUING WATERCOLOURS 40104B
Registration deadline: April 18, 1988
Fee: $50.00 members, $55.00 non-members.
Instructor: Barbara Pinkham
Time: 10am-2pm
6 week course on Thursday, April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19 and 26.
An ongoing class for those with some previous watercolour experience.
INTERMEDIATE SOGETSU 40100
Registration deadline: April 7, 1988
Fee: $25.00 members, $30.00 non-members
4 week course on Mondays, April 11, 18, 25 and May 2.
Instructor: Greg Williams Time: 1-3pm
A modern Japanese flower arranging style known for its dramatic, free design.
HOW TO DRY AND PRESERVE PLANT MATERIAL 4048
Registration deadline: May 27, 1988
Fee: $15.00 members, $20.00 non-members
1 day workshop on Thursday, June 2nd.
Inst.: Anne Wilson
Time: 10am-2pm
This workshop illustrates the use of Silica Gel and glycerine. Will include what to plant and pick and how to wire. Please bring a notebook, pencil and your lunch.
I enclose my Cheque, payable to the Civic Garden Centre for:..........ccccceenuinninnnns
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GARDEN BY THE ST. LAWRENCE
by Bruce Nord
My favourite garden is situated at the unlikely latitude of 48 degrees 30 feet, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. That's further north than St. John's, Newfoundland or about as far north as White River, Ontario. If you are heading for the Maritimes by the Matapedia route, it is only a ten minute detour to the gardens -- you might find yourself lingering there for most of a day.
Now under the authority of the government of Quebec, Les Jardins de Metis was originally part of a salmon-fishing preserve held by George Stephen, first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1919 Stephen turned the property over to his niece, Elsie Reford, whose interests were more horticultural. Over a period of many years, Mrs. Reford transformed the estate into the delight which we enjoy today.
Due to the moderating influence of the St. Lawrence Estuary, certain plants such as Musk Saxifrage, Self-heal and Beauty Bush reach their northern limits in North America here. Plants which flower as much as two months apart in more southerly areas bloom together here. It is not curiosities of bio-geography nor even L'Allee Royale, a superbly satisfying mixed border in the English manner, which make this garden my favourite. It is rather the originality of subtlety of the garden which has been created in openings in the woods beside a clear rushing stream.
In the stream-side section, just enough clearing has been done to provide sufficient sunlight; mature trees provide Rhododendrons and Azaleas are featured but perhaps the outstanding plant is the Astilbe. The pathways curve around the
flowering crab trees that serve as focal points. Throughout, differences in elevation are used to great advantage and the stream provides a constantly unifying thread.
The path leads on through English borders to other attractions. The house, the former summer residence of the Stephens and the Refords, is open to the public and is full of historical interest.
The Michelin Guide for Canada rates the gardens as a two-star attraction, worth the detour . Garden-lovers may well decide that this is more of a three-star attraction -- worth the trip .
When Bruce Nord retired from teaching, be finally bad the time be wanted to devote to gardening.
A garden along the St. Lawrence. Photograph by Bruce Nord.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Your classified ad will reach 4,000 Civic Garden Centre members for just $.75 a word. Payment must accompany your ad. Sorry, we can't accept ads of a personal nature.
For sale: electric lawnmower, new patio furniture - table, umbrella & 2 chairs, lawn edger. Wanted: leaf shredder. Call 483-7234.
SUMMERS Landscaping
® pruning @ garden design e landscape maintenance Peter Summers 222-2154 (Even.)
Cactus enthusiasts interested in starting a club based in the eastern section of Toronto are encouraged to call Sinclair Hemingway at 444-0286.
Plant Problems?
Phone the Civic Garden Centre's Hort. Hot Line 445-1552 Answered by the Master Gardeners daily from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Bookkeeping and Accounting Services Financial Consulting
Visit the Trellis Shop for Toronto s best selection of gardening books and the city 's most extensive collection of flower-arranging supplies. You'll also find gifts for gardeners, fertilizers, garden and house plant supplies, bird feeders, floral stationery and film.
ARRIVING THIS MONTH
Goatskin gloves - comfortable, durable gloves containing lanolin for hand protection. Mens and womens sizes 7, 8, 9 and 10 at $16.75 a pair.
Needlepointer - Kinsan naoshi to fix your needlepoint holders. This little item will straighten bent pins and clean between the pins - only $6.85.
Mayfair cups- candle cups in black, white and silver, plastic and metal, to hold oasis and candle for candlestick flower arrangements - various prices.
Located in The Civic Garden Centre 777 Lawrence Avenue East Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Telephone: 445-1552
See inside front cover for the hours we re open.
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE OFFERS
CATCH THE GARDENING SPIRIT A DAY OF GARDENING AND DESIGN IDEAS
SUNDAY, APRIL 24th, 1988 AT
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE 777 LAWRENCE AVENUE EAST, DON MILLS
Before you pick up your spade and trowel this Spring, join us at the Civic Garden Centre for Catch the Gardening Spirit , an educational day featuring six speakers, all dedicated to help you make your garden the envy of the neighbourhood.
David Tomlinson, a Landscape Architect and Garden Designer, will lecture on the subject of Shrubs and Their Companion Plants . Trevor Ashbee will give you a step by step presentation on the popular subject, The Rockery from Scratch . The noted organic gardener, Mary Perlmutter, will share her secrets of Country Gardening, the Organic Way''. George Pagowski, Horticulturist with The Royal Botanical Gardens, will be demonstrating Gardening in Small Spaces , a must for city dwellers. June Stone s lecture on Garden Adornment reflects the changing look of gardens today.
Catch the Gardening Spirit is an educational event for the town and country gardener, the homeowner and the apartment dweller. There is information available for the novice and the expert. You will have an opportunity to listen to all six speakers or have your gardening questions answered by one of The Civic Garden Centre s Master Gardeners.
The fee is $30.00 (member) and $35.00 (non-member). Enroliment is limited and pre-registration is required. A buffet lunch will be available for an additional $8.00.
For further information call The Civic Garden Centre at 445-1552. Reserve your place now!
PLEASE REGISTER ME FOR CATCH THE GARDENING SPIRIT Limited Enrolment - Registration deadline: April 18, 1988
I ENCLOSE A CHEQUE FOR $30.00 (member), $35.00 (non-member) [ ] I HAVE ADDED $8.00 FOR MY BUFFET LUNCH [ |
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Please charge the fee to my Credit Card
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MAY WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US?
We at the Civic Garden Centre warmly welcome new members. Join us, and you will make friends who share the same interest in gardening, the floral arts and horticulture that you do. In addition to the many exciting classes, garden shows, speakers, clubs-within-the-Centre, etc., that will be available to you, our modest membership fee entitles you to the following:
* Free borrowing privileges from Canada s largest horticultural library with more than 6,000 titles currently available, plus journals.
* A 10% discount on regularly priced merchandise over $2 at the Trellis Shop.
* A discounted registration fee when enrolling in our classes.
* Special members discount for many special events.
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APPL|CATION
FOR MEMBERSH (P womn s s s 1
Mail to: THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE I I (in Edwards Gardens) 777 Lawrence Avenue East I Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2 Single membership $1500:- 5 === e I Family Membership $25:00 = R - o SRee l Gift Memberships == sy . s T il Donationto Civic Galllea Centre. -~ il - . I I FOTAE S sl oo Sl oaae
I ADDRESS. oy e s L e s e I Postal Code I Category ot Membershipi s o e R i s e s I (please enclose cheque, with form, payable to The Civic Garden Centre)
