Trellis Winter 2026

Winter 2026 • Vol 55

LIVING WINTER | Inspiring GARDENS | CANNAS

Many Hearts Beat at the TBG

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beautiful thing about public gardens is how they naturally bring people closer.

Whether it’s the laughter of kids in our learning centre, quiet conversations between friends on a peaceful afternoon walk or community members enjoying an event, there’s a constant pulse of people coming together at Toronto Botanical Garden.

It’s that daily rhythm, with moments big and small that give TBG its heartbeat, making it so much more than just a Garden. This year, Edwards Gardens celebrates its 70th year as a public park, and TBG its 20th anniversary as a botanical garden.

Last November, we launched our largest ever annual Hearts & Flowers campaign, with a goal to raise $275,000 before December 31st in support of our core mission to connect plants and people. We are happy to report that we achieved our goal, raising $275,000.

Two big moments occurred during the campaign. First, we kicked off the campaign with a $25,000 matching gift challenge from TBG Members, Patrick and Dorothy Smyth. A month later, on Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), our Board of Directors collectively issued a second matching challenge of $51,000 Both matches were achieved. We thank all matching gift donors for their leadership commitments to the campaign.

Overall, 341 donors participated in the campaign, joining a living, breathing network of people like the Smyths and our Board Members, who care deeply about nature and their community.

We thank them for their generosity.

If you have not yet given to TBG, know that we can accept gifts every day of the year at https:// torontobotanicalgarden.ca/donate-today/.

View our social media or read our Enewsletter for inspiration about other mini campaigns throughout the year, including our Celebration 70 summer Giving Campaign, on repeat this summer. Or, view our impact report here to see how your gifts can make a difference.

Melanie Lovering Director of Development

375 donors helped us reach our goal of

“Thanks to our community we are stepping into 2026 with strength & momentum.”

TBG Board of Directors & Stephanie Jutila, CEO

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inside Winter 2026 • Vol 55

[2] HEARTS & FLOWERS Many hearts beat at the TBG [4] FROM THE GARDEN TBG Prepares for a Monumental Moment [5] What’s On [6] WHERE DREAMS TAKE ROOT Garden Club vision grew into the Teaching Garden [8] MARK CULLEN Longtime TBG supporter [9] GROWING TOGETHER Simon and Edwards Gardens turn 70 [10] LIVING WINTER Free outdoor learning for Grade 4s [12] ONTARIO LIBRARY SPECIALISTS Tour TBG’s ‘Special Library’

[14] PARTY TIME Annual Volunteer Appreciation [16] TBG GARDEN SHOP Paintables DIY kits [16] WELCOME NEW TEAM MEMBER Giulia Mandel [17] BOTANICAL BODY BUTTER A nourishing cream for winter skin [18] LOOP TRAIL Connecting people to nature and each other [20] GARDEN OF ADRIENNE Sasan Beni meets a hero [26] NOSTALGIC GARDENS Touchstones to the Past

[28] CANNAS FROM SEED Harvest and grow your own [34] MARY IN THE GARDEN A soul soothing, living work of art [38] MUSIC TO PLANT

BY Songwriters inspired by gardens [46] LEGACY OF A FLOWER Dyeing with Marigolds [48] VIRGINIA OPOSSUM Gets a bad rap [50] HISTORY OF GARDENING The Blue Poppy [52] UNDERSTORY Unearth the Essence of the Garden

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[53] PLANT PROFILE Monstera deliciosa [54] RECIPE CORNER Dolmadakia perfect for chilly evenings [56] BOOK SHELF [58] TBG WELCOMES Official community partner [60] GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING [62] PUZZLE PIECES

Cover photo: First Snowfall, Nastasia Pappas-Kemps Above Photo: TBG Development Team garden gnomes: Director Melanie Lovering and Development Associates Aashish Thapaliya and Emily Armstrong.

fro m

t h e Ga r de n

TBG prepares for a monumental moment This year is dedicated to advancing the plans through Site Plan Approval, continuing to advance the designs for the next phase of development, and preparing Toronto Botanical Garden for increased operational capacity. We will keep you posted as we build toward more special moments like these, doubling down on the Garden’s capacity to be an inspiring plant place, engaging learning environment and dynamic community hub for current and future generations.

Stephanie Jutila TBG CEO

Dates to Remember 1955-1956 Transformation of Rupert Edwards home into a public park—Edwards Gardens 1964 The Civic Garden Centre, designed by the late architect Raymond Moriyama opens 1964 The Civic Garden Association, the original nonprofit partner bringing mission and programming to Edward Gardens, receives its charity status 1974 The first issue of Trellis magazine is published 1976 The addition to the east side of the Moriyama building, designed by architect Jerome Markson, opens 1998 The Teaching Garden, a three-way partnership with City of Toronto, Garden Club of Toronto and Civic Garden Association (see Where Dreams Take Root, page 6.)

2004-2006 The Civic Garden Association transforms into the Toronto Botanical Garden, complete with the opening of four acres of gardens, including Piet Oudolf’s first Canadian garden, one of his first landscapes in North America, and the opening of the George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture 2018 The City of Toronto and TBG establish a Master Plan for Edwards Gardens, which includes the vision of TBG expanding its footprint and leadership across the City park 2021 TBG’s Board engages PMA Landscape Architects, Phyto Studios and Gow Hastings Architects to advance the 2018 Site Master Plan through design development, in efforts to plan for the renewal of our existing footprint and expansion into Edwards Gardens 2026 70th anniversary of Edwards Gardens opening as a free public park

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Winter 2026

Photo: Nastasia Pappas-Kemps

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s the calendar turns to 2026, we are nearing the 70th anniversary of Edwards’ Gardens opening as a free public garden. To be precise, on June 23, 1956, Metropolitan Toronto celebrated the opening of Edwards Gardens, fulfilling the vision of Rupert Edwards for his once private estate “gardens to be maintained in their natural finery for present and future generations to come.”

And through Mr. Edwards’ awareness of how vital natural and community spaces would become as the city expanded outward, a spark was lit. From that point forward Mr. Edwards’ generosity and vision inspired generations of community members, leaders, philanthropists and elected officials to rally around Edwards Gardens and the Civic Garden Association (which grew up to become the Toronto Botanical Garden some 23 years ago.)

As a member and a patron of the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG), your presence keeps the spark lit, ensuring the Garden and its surrounding natural spaces stand the test of time. You see, the work of creating public gardens and community hubs is one of intention, collaboration and belief in the value of such places to current and future generations.

From time to time, we hear of a once in a generation leadership opportunity. Here at Edwards Gardens and Toronto Botanical Garden we have a multitude of such moments, several of which are highlighted here. And we will soon be on the cusp of a monumental occasion, as Toronto Botanical Garden and the City of Toronto work to advance the future of our beloved space.

Preparing for such a unique opportunity can take years of planning and lots of persistence. One year ago, I shared the great news of TBG having a new management agreement with the City of Toronto that accounts for future growth and increased responsibility in a phased environment.

what’s on FEB

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southern ontario orchid society show and sale

sat 12 to 5 p.m. sun 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Over 30,000 orchid blooms, with exclusive plant sales, specialty gift items, art and photography displays, and free seminars. Tickets available online or at the door.

get the jump on spring

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One-day garden extravaganza! Plant lovers, expert growers, horticultural societies & local eco-makers come together for an inspirational kickoff to spring. Free workshops, Early-Season Plants and Seeds, Free Plant & Seed Swap, and Free Family Fun Zone.

FREE Admission. $2 suggested minimum donation

hellebore sale

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pre-order from our stunning selection of this early-blooming flowering perennial. Pre-orders will be available for pick up at the Garden with additional plants available for onsite purchase.

tafelmusik at the garden: table for four

7 p.m.

A quartet of musicians offer a musical menu of presenting sponsor baroque delights for oboe, violin, cello, and harpsichord. Join us for an evening of music rich with playful dialogue and a soupçon of expressive beauty. Tickets available online or at the door.

Public $25, TBG Member/Tafelmusik Subscriber $23, Kids $12.50

SAVE THE DATE

MAY

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TBG Spring Plant Sale Members Preview

Not a member? Join today!

Open to the Public Free admission

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LEARNING

Where Dreams Take Root How the Garden Club of Toronto’s Vision Grew into the Teaching Garden

By Natalie Harder Director of Learning

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here’s a story I love to tell about Queen Anne’s Lace — how the tiny red dot at the centre of its white blossom is said to be a drop of the queen’s blood, pricked while she was making lace.

I’ve shared it with kids as we wander the path of the garden and ravine, watching their faces light up as they search for that single crimson speck.

Stories like this are where learning in the garden begins. They spark curiosity, imagination and the kind of wonder that helps our dreams grow.

I first came to the Toronto Botanical Garden in the summer of 2005.

I was in Teachers College, dreaming of spending my days outdoors, surrounded by plants and children.

I started as a summer camp counsellor — and quickly got hooked. There’s something magical about watching children realize that a garden isn’t just a place to look at flowers. It’s a world

The new outdoor pavilion at the TBG Teaching Garden

Queen Anne’s Lace

Nasturtiums sprinkled on a salad

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Winter 2026

TBG CEO Stephanie Jutila, left, with Elaine Solway, Mary Nesbitt, Janet Rowley, Marg Wilkinson, Joyce Johnson and Amy Cerre, all members of The Garden Club of Toronto in front of the new outdoor pavilion of the Teaching Garden.

A Game Changer

Outdoor teaching pavilion made possible through generous donations

to explore, a laboratory to investigate, and sometimes, even a restaurant.

One of my favourite memories is showing campers how to eat nasturtiums (those bright and spicy little flowers and leaves). We’d sprinkle them on salads and pretend we were at a fancy restaurant, laughing about how we should start a business selling them. Moments like that taught me that learning in the garden is playful, sensory and deeply memorable.

Photos: Nastasia Pappas-Kemps; Pixabey

The Garden’s History and Impact

The Teaching Garden opened in 1998 — a dream brought to life by the Garden Club of Toronto after years of planning, planting and perseverance.

Their vision was ambitious: to create a living classroom where children could learn about gardening, conservation and responsibility, while growing a lifelong connection to the outdoors.

They built it in phases, guided by what they called a “large dream,” a philosophy that still shapes the garden today. Thanks to their leadership and dedication, this once-empty patch of land has grown into one of the City’s most beloved spaces for outdoor learning.

Since then, the Teaching Garden has become a cornerstone of environmental education. Each year, more than 7,000 children take part in hands-on programs — from school visits to summer camps — and countless more explore it with their families. The produce grown here is donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank, connecting learning to giving. As Daffodil Davis, Community Connector at North York Harvest, shared, “It’s nice to have fresh vegetables from the garden! It just tastes better.”

For all of us who work here, the garden is a place of discovery — for the kids, for families and for ourselves.

Children’s Education Supervisor Gino Amboang reflects, “I love seeing kids try vegetables they’ve never eaten before or realizing that the potatoes they eat at dinner are actually treasures found in the soil.”

Healthy Roots: Outdoor Learning and Well-Being

Even during the pandemic, when programs were paused, the garden remained full of life. Families continued to wander its paths, explore its corners, and find calm among the flowers.

Those quiet years reminded us, as they

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Winter 2026

The TBG Teaching Garden’s new outdoor teaching pavilion was officially opened on a bright sunny day, last September. Members, donors and volunteers joined government officials, visitors and members of the Garden Club of Toronto who helped to create the Teaching Garden in 1998.

The weather-protected shelter, the first TBG structure to be built in 20 years, was made possible through generous donations including a $74,300 capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2023.

Designed to enhance year-round access to outdoor education, the new pavilion allows school groups, families and community groups to gather, learn, connect and explore nature in all seasons.

“Investments like this are so important, as they support innovative education programs and foster vibrant, healthy communities,” said Stephanie Bowman, MPP for Don Valley West. “Thank you TBG for your dedication to nurturing this beautiful natural environment for our community.”

The 61 sq. metres (657 sq. foot). pavilion is the newest feature of TBG’s Teaching Garden, where nature-based programming is offered to thousands of children annually.

“This new pavilion is a game-changer for our outdoor education program,” said Stephanie Jutila, TBG CEO. “Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support, we can now welcome more students to the Garden, providing an inclusive year-round space dedicated to hands-on learning in nature.”

reminded many, that time outdoors isn’t just enjoyable — it’s essential.

Nature is one of the most powerful tools we have for health and wellbeing. Initiatives like ParkRx remind us that time spent outside isn’t simply leisure; it’s medicine. Studies show that children who have regular opportunities for free, unstructured play outdoors are smarter, healthier and happier. I see it every day in the Garden: kids who arrive shy or hesitant quickly come alive as they climb, dig, observe and imagine.

The Garden heals, teaches and inspires — often all at once.

The Next Phase of the Dream

In 2025, a new outdoor teaching pavilion was completed beside the Garden, made possible through the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an anonymous donor, and the City of Toronto. It provides shelter, space, and the ability to welcome families year-round — a tangible sign that the Garden Club’s dream is still growing and inspiring new energy and giving.

This renewed sense of possibility could be felt throughout the season.

During the Fall Ravine Festival, we invited children to imagine what they’d like to see in the Teaching Garden’s future. Their ideas were as creative as the space itself — a giant wooden snake to climb on, a long net to crawl across, willow tunnels with runner beans to snack on mid-adventure.

Soon after, our community sponsor, Foresters Financial, reached out and asked, “How can we help?” Their team came to the Teaching Garden to rejuvenate an underused bed, filling it with sensory plants that children can smell, touch and even taste.

It’s a beautiful reminder that when communities come together, dreams don’t just take root — they flourish.

We’ll keep dreaming — with our staff, volunteers, the Garden Club of Toronto, and, of course, the children who make this space their second home.

Mark Cullen, left, son Ben and wife Mary attend the Teaching Pavilion’s official opening

Gardening at a young age helps to shape well-adjusted adults, says longtime TBG supporter

By Lorraine Hunter Trellis Editor The wonder of plants and insects is a marvel to children, Mark Cullen told those attending the official opening of the TBG Teaching Garden’s new outdoor weather-protected pavilion.

Gardening is our gateway to nature, said the longtime TBG supporter. “The experience of gardening at a young age helps to shape well-adjusted adults. Our first memories are often reflections of a plant in bloom, the sweet scent of a lilac or the swing that hung from a tree, in its cooling shade.”

This garden and permanent shelter is a gift to our children, said Mark. “More than learning where our food comes from and how seeds begin a virtuous circle of life, this garden will continue to be the first introduction of children to the world of nature.

From this experience will spring an appreciation for conservation.

“If the experience of gardening for a child can transform their thinking and motivation so profoundly: to make them want to care so intensely for nature that they want the best for its survival and future being, I say let’s do more of it. The wonder is not that kids will wonder at the miracles they experience here, but that we, as adults, don’t provide more of them.”

The Cullen family has been involved with Edwards Gardens and the TBG for three generations, beginning with Mark’s father Len Cullen of the former Weall & Cullen Nurseries Ltd who did work in Edwards Gardens in the early 1950s.

“Dad did a lot of landscaping, rockery and stonework. He built the stone foundation around the fountain in Edwards Gardens in front of the Moriyama Pavilion that still stands today.”

Mark was a member of the Board of Directors when the Toronto Botanical Garden was still known as the Civic Garden Centre in 1984 and 85. His daughter Heather was a board member for 10 years and his son Ben is a current member.

“I’ve always had a very special relationship with the Garden,” Mark says. “When I had a garden show on radio station CFRB I often broadcast from the TBG especially at events like Get the Jump on Spring in early March.”

Growing Together Simon Leibovitz and Edwards Gardens turn 70

By Aashish Thapaliya, Development Associate

The Garden helped raise him

Simon Leibovitz and the public park known as Edwards Gardens share a milestone year. Both turn 70, and have grown into themselves with time. When I learned of Simon’s long-standing engagement with the Garden, I wanted to hear his story.

Simon is a devoted monthly donor to Toronto Botanical Garden, and his reasons for supporting the Garden go back to a deep-rooted loyalty that began in childhood.

His story starts in North York. Summer evenings were hot, and the family didn’t have air conditioning, so they walked the paths of Edwards Gardens, crossed the bridge to the creek and cooled down under the trees. He remembers the mystery of bending paths, the sparkle of water and the freedom of grass under his feet.

Work took Simon to Guelph and Cambridge, and then back to Toronto. He brought his own children to the Garden because he wanted them to feel what he had felt as a child.

Later, when he remarried, his spouse’s artist eye drew him back again. She sketched by the creek, finding quiet corners to sit and relax. The Garden became a shared sanctuary, a place to nurture their love of nature together.

Today, Simon lives across the street from the Garden and gives back in many ways. Besides being a monthly donor, he is a member, volunteers at reception and contributes photography. He also supports the marketing team with social media. But the role he talks about most is greeting visitors.

He loves handing out a map, pointing to starting points,

and telling people not to try to see all 35 acres in one day.

He enjoys when a first visit turns into a promise to return.

Simon reflects that the Garden has matured alongside him. What was once a quiet place to stroll now feels more open and inclusive. There is a Visitor Centre, more plant varieties and richer displays. There are classes, guided walks and programs that help people connect with nature in practical ways. It is still a Garden, but also a place to learn and build community.

Music has always mattered to Simon, especially classical music. Hearing Tafelmusik at the Garden blends two passions at once. He describes stepping outside after a concert and feeling the music linger among the trees. He also loves jazz and the Edwards Summer Music Series, where melodies mingle with flowers and the hum of summer.

What stands out most is how naturally Simon includes others. He speaks of fellow volunteers with gratitude and respects the care that goes into horticulture. He knows how much the TBG depends on people who give their time and resources, and how much it gives back.

His photographs capture that spirit: a petal in morning light, a family on the lawn, a quiet bench in the shade.

At 70, Simon sees a community that continues to grow, visitors who will return with their children and new generations discovering beauty and welcome. The Garden helped raise him. He helped raise his children here. Now he helps welcome the next wave. That is the heart of this shared anniversary.

Simon helps welcome the next wave

Aashish Thapaliya first met Simon while he was volunteering at reception, and through their conversations, discovered that both Simon and Edwards Garden are turning 70 this year, a milestone that reflects shared growth and connection. torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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Winter 2026

Living Winter

When most people think of the Toronto Botanical Garden, they likely picture it abloom in the warm spring and summer sun. While winter doesn’t bring the same buzz of people and pollinators, there’s a special kind of beauty here in the colder months, and a privilege in witnessing the unique species that call it home year-round.

I work on the fundraising team at TBG, and part of my role involves writing grants to support our educational programs. Recently, I had the chance to step away from my desk and spend a day in the Garden with our education team to experience Living Winter firsthand, TBG’s curriculum connected outdoor free learning program for Grade 4 students.

Research consistently shows the benefits of outdoor and nature-based learning for children, yet access to these experiences is far from equal.

In Toronto, children in low-income and racialized neighbourhoods have less access to green space,

Providing free outdoor learning for Grade 4 students

By Emily Armstrong Development Associate

fewer trees and fewer safe outdoor environments, conditions that are critical for nature-based learning.

Many students in the city’s priority neighbourhoods live in high-density areas, disconnected from the parks and ravines that support biodiversity and wellbeing. Programs like Living Winter give children the chance to explore nature firsthand, building their physical health, confidence and connection to the natural world. ◗ No Child Left Behind Even when programs are free, barriers remain. Transportation costs alone can be insurmountable for some schools and in the winter, there’s an added challenge: not every child has access to warm, appropriate clothing, especially

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newcomers adjusting to Canadian winters. That’s where Living Winter makes such a difference. With care and dedication, TBG’s team works hand-in-hand with schools, teachers and students to ensure the program remains not only accessible, but also meaningful, inclusive and transformative with warm clothes, healthy snacks and transportation subsidies ensuring that no child gets left behind.

Despite the many statistics that demonstrate the need for outdoor education, after spending time in the program, I learned that real impact is found in moments you can’t measure—the way a child’s eyes light up when they spot a chickadee for the first time, or the excitement in discovering animal tracks in the snow.

For many of these students, opportunities like this do not come often.

As we move toward a future of climate uncertainty, it is moments like my day spent supporting Living Winter that give me hope for a brighter future.

Winter 2026

The children of today are growing up more divorced from the natural world than ever before, especially in urban environments such as Toronto, and the need for programs that bring them out into the city’s natural spaces is more pressing than ever. ◗ A Brighter Future The program doesn’t just stop at a single day, with resources provided to schools, including curriculum-aligned outdoor lesson plans. The experience extends into the classrooms and changes the way teachers and students alike engage with science topics. Because TBG is a free public green space, children are also encouraged to return with their families, ensuring that their access to quality natural environments and outdoor learning can continue even beyond the classroom. And by engaging with teacher candidates from York University, the program works with educators early in their careers, showing them the impact of outdoor learning and giving them the tools and expertise needed to incorporate nature-based education into their future classrooms.

I am honoured to be a part of the team making such an incredible opportunity available to the children who need it most. These free educational programs are made possible not only from the hard work and dedication of the educators who lead it, but also by support from donors.

This year’s Living Winter program was generously funded by TBG donors, TD Bank Group, Miziwe Biik, Ontario Wildlife Foundation and the Henry White Kinnear Foundation.

Interested in supporting Educational Programming at TBG through a donation or sponsorship opportunity?

Contact fundraising@toronto botanicalgarden.ca.

Emily Armstrong has a background in environmental science. She began her career in youth nature education and continues to champion nature-based learning and equitable access to green spaces through her work at TBG.

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Study shows link between poverty and limited outdoor activity

The Toronto District School Board’s Learning Opportunities Index highlights a clear link between socio-economic barriers and reduced access to enrichment opportunities like outdoor education, limiting children’s ability to see themselves as part of, and responsible for, nature.

Structural barriers, combined with the reality that many urban schools lack the time, staff or funding to provide curriculum-aligned outdoor learning, mean that countless children miss out on experiences their more affluent peers take for granted. TBG’s free Living Winter program bridges that opportunity gap. * https://www.utoronto.ca/ news/toronto-s-low-income-andracialized-communities-havefewer-trees-u-t-researchers

Winter 2026

Library

Ontario library specialists tour TBG’s ‘Special Library’

By Lee Robbins Manager, Weston Family Library, Laura Bincik, Vincci Ching and Colleen Thumlert Weston Family Library Volunteers Stephanie Jutila, TBG CEO, welcoming the OLA tour participants in the WFL.

Q A

They each house a ‘Special Library’ catering to the unique information needs of specific communities, providing support for research, development and professional growth.

This past fall, the Weston Family Library (WFL), at the TBG, hosted a tour for Ontario Library Association (OLA) Special Libraries members–librarians and information professionals operating outside traditional library workspaces.

The OLA group offers tours of Toronto’s special libraries. Recent tours have been held at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the University of Toronto’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Osgoode Hall, National Ballet of Canada and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. We felt honoured to be in such good company.

Library specialists attended the WFL tour from Ontario Historical Society, Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Toronto Public Library, Oakville Public Library, University of Toronto Library and Seneca Polytechnic.

The tour started with a warm welcome from Stephanie Jutila, TBG CEO, addressing the importance of libraries and the unique and crucial services they provide. It then featured three recent in-depth WFL projects.

Laura Bincik presented the WFL Seed Library: “It was a pleasure to do a ‘show and tell’ of the seed library cart with the OLA group,” she said. “Library specialists were impressed with the low-cost initiative, its popularity among TBG members and non-members and how the simple addition of ‘a library of things’ to our book collection can generate so much engagement and excitement that strengthens people’s connections to plants and community. Many OLA participants were happy to take home seeds harvested from the TBG gardens.”

Vincci Ching presented the Trellis project.

“As part of the Weston Family Library’s preservation efforts, Irish Bonon and I had the opportunity to work on the Trellis Digitization Project. In just over six weeks, we

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Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

What do the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), the National Ballet of Canada and Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) have in common?

members interested in researching and learning about TBG’s fascinating history.”

TBG’s WFL is one of the largest horticultural libraries in Canada and is widely used by new gardeners, master gardeners, horticultural students, budding artists, children and seniors.

The tour included a small WFL book display highlighting a few special texts from the historical collection: Canadian Wild Flowers by Catharine Parr Traill, a hidden treasure of a resource on wildflowers native to Canada, from 1868, and The Red Books of Humphry Repton (1752-1818).

There was a quick tour of the WFL workroom which houses the historical book collection, the TBG archive collection and the magazine collection.

And then it was time for tea, sweetened with TBG honey, and cookies, questions and social interactions.

We received a lovely note from the OLA organizer thanking us for showing the attendees such an informative and fun time and they would like to come back next year! We think it was a successful and good time had by all.

Photo: Lee Robbins

organized, scanned, optical character recognized (OCR’d) and catalogued the full run of Trellis magazines. That meant 5,000 pages scanned, 300 plus hours logged, 250 issues flipped cover to cover, 50 years of written history, by two Seneca Library & Information Technician students and one visionary librarian who wanted to make TBG’s legacy accessible in a digital format. Since its first issue published in 1974, Trellis has captured the life of TBG; its events, people, and ideas. Now, with the full run online, this rich history is preserved and ready for anyone to explore.”

Colleen Thumlert presented the Archive project: “I enjoyed sharing the background and process for TBG’s historical archive project, which includes items that range from newspaper clippings from the late 1950s, photographs, architectural drawings, a map of Edwards’ nine-hole golf course, the shovel used to break ground before building the Civic Garden Centre, a few postcards of the Civic Garden Centre and so much more. Once items, documents and photos are organized, filed and properly shelved, a finding aid will be created to assist

Group photo of the OLA tour participants and WFL staff and volunteers with Lee Robbins kneeling centre front.

Annual Appreciation event celebrates TBG Volunteers

By Elvin Valasco Volunteer Services Coordinator On a cold and chilly Wednesday in late October, we hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party to celebrate the dedication, commitment and care our volunteers provide Toronto Botanical Garden all year round. During this special time, we created a gathering space for TBG staff and volunteers to connect with one another, especially since most volunteer teams had yet to be formally introduced.

We have kept the long-established theme of Halloween whereby our volunteers embellish themselves in unique, awe-inspiring, witty costumes. It amazes me how many are so committed to dressing up and being creative.

Folks donned themselves in lovely floral garments on the theme of our beautiful garden to the polarity of invasive species that are also common in our space. Some came dressed in the spirit of rooting for our Toronto Blue Jays and others in traditional witch, ghoul and vampire outfits.

Some definite standouts included a sausage-dog walking clown, Bloody Caesar (pun welcomed) and my royal twin Queen Charlotte from the TV show Bridgerton. Staff were encouraged to dress up and they came well prepared to match the energy of our volunteers–dressing up as a heralding angel, Wednesday Adams, a cloud, pumpkin, trio of gnomes, Ikea wall art (our CEO), fairy, ladybug

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Winter 2026

Photos: Sasan Beni, Nastasia Pappas-Kemps

Party

Time and our two documenters as Wayne from Wayne’s World and a Trellis magazine photographer.

More so, it was beautiful being accepted, praised and supported by everyone as I shared a piece of my artistry and existence in drag. My drag name is Tita meaning Auntie in Tagalog (Filipino dialect) and I was quite nervous getting into drag for our 100 plus staff members and volunteers. This was such a silly thought, as I had shared this side of myself throughout the year, but still a valid, daunting one. Without a doubt, being dressed up as Tita dressed as a tiger lily with sparkly six-inch heels helped me to cast those fears aside and, in fact, I was showered with love and amazement. I hope to continue to share this living art piece to align with the TBG’s vision of a Garden for All, especially our LGBTQ+ community.

I had been the new Volunteer Services Coordinator

for over eight months, and this evening filled me with immense gratitude. I come to work everyday to be surrounded by nature, which is a privilege for someone living downtown in a concrete ecosystem. However, the main reason is to connect with our volunteer community (and of course my colleagues). Their stories, love, care and dedication to the Garden continue to pull on my heart strings because I get to witness radical care and joy in every interaction they have with our guests.

There are so many beautiful activities to which our volunteers dedicate their time, energy and hearts. I am immensely grateful, proud and continuously inspired by our volunteers at this magical place. I am excited to continue tending to our Garden—this special place to so many.

Maraming Salamat / Thank You Very Much

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Winter 2026

TBG Garden Shop

| Paintables by Beam Paints |

By Emma Worley Marketing & Audience Engagement Coordinator The Garden Shop is excited to offer Paintables by Beam Paints. These beautifully hand-illustrated watercolour cards invite you to slow down, paint, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making something by hand. Printed in-house at Beam on their Heidelberg Letterpress on beautiful Fabriano paper, these sets include a small palette of Beam’s handmade watercolour paints. Just add water, and vibrant, natural colours come to life on the page.

Beam Paints is an Indigenous-owned company based on Manitoulin Island.

Their paints are made using natural pigments, honey, and gum arabic, and are packaged without plastic. Every Paintable reflects their commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship and respect for the land.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or simply looking for a mindful activity, Paintables make it easy to connect with your creative side. These sets make great gifts for the creative nature lover in your life!

welcome New Team Member

◗ Giulia Mandel brings over 20 years of experience in operations, hospitality, performance and business management expertise to the Toronto Botanical Garden as its first Director of Guest Experience. Her career began in Toronto’s restaurant industry, where she spent over a decade managing beloved institutions such as The Harbord Room, Ursa and Caplansky’s Delicatessen. In 2018 she joined Tafelmusik, where she discovered a deep connection to the arts and nonprofit sector. She went on to serve as Director of Audience Services, leading ticketing, customer service and revenue support initiatives before moving to Hot Docs in 2023 as Director of Operations. There, she oversaw guest services and venue operations across multiple sites during one of the city’s largest cultural festivals and historic cinema programs.

Giulia is driven by the belief that gathering, culture and nature are essential to community wellbeing. She is excited to support the Garden in welcoming diverse audiences, elevating the visitor experience and fostering a truly inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

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Winter 2026

Diy Botanical Body Butter A Simple, Nourishing Cream for Winter Skin

By Jenny Rhodenizer Director of Marketing and Audience Engagement

When the cold months settle in, our skin often needs a little extra love. One of my favourite ways to practice self-care on dry hands, and rough elbows is with a homemade botanical body butter. Rich, fluffy, and customizable, this two-ingredient recipe is beginner-friendly.

Here is my go-to method using shea butter and hemp seed oil, along with some botanical add-ins to make it uniquely yours.

Ingredients

(Makes 30 g / 1 oz)

Boil it

Oil it

• 15 g (0.53 oz) raw, unrefined shea butter* • 15 g (0.53 oz) oil such as hemp seed oil* Optional: • ½ tsp arrowroot powder or corn flour (to reduce greasiness) Note: this could introduce bacteria if moisture gets into your container.

• 1 drop Vitamin E (natural antioxidant to extend shelf life) • 2 to 3 drops essential oils (I love lavender and vanilla) Shelf life: approximately 3 months Equipment

Photos: Jenny Rhodenizer

Chill it

Fluff it

• High-precision scale • Heat-safe bowl • Small stainless-steel saucepan • Tablespoon • Whisk (electric recommended, but a hand whisk or fork works too) • 30 g (1 oz) wide-mouthed jar (glass, an upcycled jar is even better) *Available at craft and health food stores or online.

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Winter 2026

Here’s How

1. Set up a gentle double boiler Fill your saucepan with a shallow layer of water, place your heat-safe bowl on top, and bring the water to a low simmer. This indirect heat prevents scorching the butter.

2. Melt the shea butter Weigh out 15 g of shea butter and warm it in the bowl until just melted—no need to overheat. Remove the bowl from the saucepan.

3. Add your chosen oil Stir in 15 g of hemp seed oil.

This is also the moment to add Vitamin E or essential oils, if using.

4. Chill to thicken Place the mixture in the fridge for about 30 minutes, until it becomes cloudy and has a jelly-like consistency.

This ensures it whips beautifully.

5. Whip it fluffy Using a whisk or electric mixer, whip the mixture for two to four minutes until it becomes light, creamy, and airy—similar to freshly whipped cream.

Tip: If you prefer a less oily finish, sprinkle in the arrowroot or corn flour while whipping.

6. Spoon and store Transfer your silky butter into a clean, dry 30 g jar. Add a cute, personalized label and keep it in a cool spot away from direct sunlight. It also makes a caring gift for family and friends.

Loop Trail

Top left: Keynote speaker Dr. Nadina Galle. Bottom left, TBG Director of Learning Natalie Harder welcomes attendees. Top right: Panelists Wendy Strickland, Lisa Turnbull and Stephanie Jutila.

Middle right: Martha Sweet, Special Events at reception. Bottom right: Joseph Pitawanakwat, Indigenous Plant Medicine Educator.

Photos: Nastasia Pappas-Kemps

Connecting the people of Toronto to nature and each other

Y

ou may or may not have heard of it, yet, but a vision for forming an 80 km Loop Trail in the ravines around the City of Toronto is quickly taking shape.

A panel discussion at the TBG’s annual Urban Ravine Summit on November 7 suggested that within ten years the trail will be a destination for tourists who will be keen to “do the Loop” when they visit the city and it will be to Toronto what the High Line is to New York City.

The project is being co-led by the City of Toronto, Evergreen Brickworks, the Toronto Foundation and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), working in collaboration with a growing network of partners including Toronto Botanical Garden.

“What does the Loop mean to you,” moderator Dr. Kate Mulligan asked each of the panelists.

“Ravines protect the city from floods, protect wildlife and support people,” said Lois Lindsay, Chief Program Officer, Evergreen. “It’s an easy way to access nature.”

Stephanie Jutila, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Botanical Garden, sees the trail as a “meeting space; a place to meet people that you otherwise wouldn’t.”

“I am a walker and a runner. I have found my space,” said Lisa Turnbull, torontobotanicalgarden.ca

Associate Director, Professional Services, TRCA. “The trail connects people to the land. It also gives lifelines to the gardens of Toronto.”

While the Loop Trail may well become a tourist attraction, “I also want it for everyday Torontonians,” said Wendy Strickland, Project Manager, Ravine Strategy, City of Toronto.

Now in the development stage, the trail will support residents and visitors to walk, cycle and run in the ravine corridors of the Don and Humber Valleys, the Finch Hydro Corridor and the Lake Ontario waterfront. The plan is to connect thriving natural systems, encourage active and healthy living and be accessible to all. It will bring together many existing trails with accessible new connections and opportunities for community organizations to offer programming such as seasonal festivals, nature walks, public art and children’s activities.

More than 200 people attending the conference took tours of Wilket Creek and participated in breakout sessions covering such topics as Anishinaabemowin Bird Names; Nordheimer Ravine Revitalization and Citizen Engagement; Health, Wellbeing & Equity through Greenspace Programs; Forest Bathing; Why are Invasive Plants Still Sold at Nurseries? and a Fireside Tree Talk. …Lorraine Hunter, Trellis Editor 19

Winter 2026

“I think of TBG members that I meet year after year at our spring plant sale. I somehow feel connected to their gardens.”Sasan Beni

Garden of Adrienne

w

inter always makes me nostalgic. It often takes me back to spring.

My mind hovers over the month of May—and believe it or not, it’s not the birds and blooms that appear first in my thoughts, but instead, TBG members that I meet year after year at our spring plant sale.

I somehow feel connected to their gardens, without ever having seen them. My colleagues and I work the floor, we assist our community of plant people in choosing plants, in building their gardens... sometimes, they tell us their vision, and we guide them down the aisle to a new cultivar that is calling their name... and then we watch wagons full of plants

Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

Beni meets a hero and impresses his mother-in-law

By Sasan Beni Horticulturist

Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

Adrienne Clarkson relaxes in her garden.

Adrienne Clarkson with TBG Horticulturist Sasan Beni.

leaving the Floral Hall, and we wave: “Bon voyage! Happy planting!”

Maybe I’m the only one who does this.

A while back, I had an idea for a Trellis story, something to satisfy my wintry nostalgia... I wanted to interview one of our longstanding members, to visit their garden and meet those same plants to which I had once watered and waved goodbye.

And I already knew who I wanted to interview: the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, the 26th Governor General of Canada. I meet her and her husband, John Ralston

Saul (whose work I studied in college) every year at TBG plant sales. And every year, when they grace the Floral Hall, I message my motherin-law: “Guess who’s here?” Adrienne Clarkson is one of her heroes.

Last April, at the TBG Hellebore Sale, I decided to approach Madame Clarkson to ask for a photo and tell her that my mother-in-law is a HUGE admirer.

And there you have it—the real reason why this story came to be: I guess, I just wanted to impress my mother-in-law. Her name is Gwen, and I thought to myself while posing

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for that photo: “It would be kind of cool if she got to meet her hero...”

A month later, I approached Madame Clarkson again to share my idea and ask for her time, and if I could visit her garden.

Wagons full of plants made their way around us in Floral Hall and she said: “Can you come to my garden now? You should see my Virginia bluebells ...”

In that moment, I wanted to run over to my supervisor to say that I was taking off for the rest of the day.

We decided instead to set a date for June, on the solstice to be exact.

Winter 2026

Photos: Sasan Beni; Gwen Lannaman

I had an idea for a Trellis story, something to satisfy my wintry nostalgia... I wanted to interview one of our longstanding members. Sasan Beni

Rock Installation

The night before our visit, I heard from Madame Clarkson’s assistant that there was a last-minute “rock installation” happening in their garden the next day. She was hopeful that it would be finished by the time we got there. I had no idea what awaited us.

I should note, I have never interviewed anyone before. I had some questions prepared, and a vague idea of the story I wanted to tell, but all that vanished as soon as we got there.

I was holding a bouquet my colleague had made for Adrienne, and her assistant led us to the backyard, where the subject of my story was waiting in her garden, radiant as ever, and a landscaping crew was hard at work, putting finishing touches on the rock installation.

“Thank you so much for meeting with us today,” I said, handing her the bouquet of purple and gold.

“How did you know I needed some flowers for my home?” said Adrienne.

“Madame Clarkson,” I said, “allow me to introduce my mother-in-law, Gwen.”

“An honour to meet you,” said Gwen. In that moment, I felt so proud of myself.

We all took a seat on the back deck, and Adrienne said: “John, look how the light is hitting it now…” and her husband John Ralston Saul emerged from inside the house as we all turned to look at the rock that looked like an ancient quartz boulder, with a ribbon of amethyst on its crown, emerging from the gravel path, down their winding garden.

“It looks like a snowy owl from here,” said John.

I glanced back at Adrienne, who was gazing intently at the stone, clearly enamored by the new addition to their garden. I opened my notebook to check on the questions I had jotted down, but the words smeared into a blur on the paper before me, and I turned my attention back down the gravel path to the rock.

The author’s mother-in-law Gwen Lannaman chats with Adrienne Clarkson.

“Madame Clarkson,”I said, “allow me to introduce my mother-in-law, Gwen.”

Adrienne, Beni and John admire the new rock installation.

The rock with a ribbon of amethyst on its crown.

Flows Like a River

“Your garden flows like a river,” I said.

“That’s how we intended it,” said John. “The river has a sunny side and a shady bank.”

“Our friend Walter,” said Adrienne, “found this wonderful rock for us.

I am sorry about all the work being done, but I kind of forgot you were coming today.”

I laughed and said: “I would’ve forgotten about me too.”

I closed my notebook. They told me they had been searching for a rock such as this for as long as they had

been in that house, for as long as their winding river had been flowing—going on 20 years—and now their search was over, thanks to their friend Walter.

“Have you met Walter Kehm?” asked John. I leaned back in my seat, and thought: “Why does that name sound so familiar?”

Turns out, the gentleman who was supervising the rock installation was none other than Walter H. Kehm, the award-winning landscape architect, author of Accidental Wilderness, credited with designing Tommy Thompson Park (TTP). When they

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called him over and I rose to shake his hand, all that came to mind were the countless hours I had spent at TTP, the species I had observed, the gratitude I had felt for its wildness...

I wanted to tell him all about it… I was kind of floating for a second, so I turned my attention back on the rock.

I felt so wildly unprepared. I wanted to follow the shady bank of their river, with its cascades of forest grass and blue flag irises, to greet the rock in person, to run my fingers over its amethyst crown... luckily for me, Gwen took the helm and led the interview.

This was her story after all. She was the one meeting her hero. She was the one who had watched Adrienne Clarkson on The Fifth Estate and had been inspired to study journalism. They spoke at length about those days.

“I had a brief stint as a journalist,” said Gwen, “but transitioned to PR. That’s where the money was.”

“Well, that’s how it goes,” said Adrienne.

They spoke about her time as Governor General, her travels and the stories she was compelled to hear, to tell.

Adrienne said: “When I first arrived at Rideau Hall, there were all these annual beds, and every year they would plant them with geraniums...so many geraniums. And they would rip them all out in the fall...it was very tiring to look at. So we turned them into perennials beds instead, filled them with roses and peonies. People thought it was a waste back then,” she shrugged.

Gardens are Always There

“The world needs more gardens,” I said, “more wild spaces, especially today. Sometimes, I worry about the world, but the garden is always there for me.”

“Ah, we’ll be alright,” she said, “I’m not worried. That’s what plants have taught me.”

Before long, all of us made our way down the riverbed. We huddled around the stone. I thought to myself: “What a thing it is to believe in something. What a thing when dreams come true.”

Winter 2026

The garden flows like a river.

“The world needs more gardens, more wild space, especially today. Sometimes, I worry about the world, but the garden is always there for me.” Sasan Beni

Sasan Beni and Adrienne Clarkson at the TBG’s Spring 2025 Hellebore Sale.

Nostalgic

Antique Statuary

Ornamental Fencing

Touchstones to the past that give us comfort in the present

By Carol Gardner

of sweetly scented air that drifted in.

Since then, my gardens have always contained lilacs; they aren’t as aromatic or bountiful as the original, but it doesn’t matter; they’re a touchstone to the past, and they give me comfort.

Over the past decade or so, we’ve gotten away from the traditional cottage garden look of our youth to embracing more modern landscapes—naturalistic gardens or their opposite—stark, architecturally themed gardens distinguished by structural plants and modern sculpture. Obviously, concerns about climate change and the environment have played a part in these changes.

But can I say something that will

W

hen both the present and the future seem frightening, where do you go? Apparently, you go backwards. It started slowly, with social media sites featuring what they called ‘granny chic’ (picture Martha Stewart in billowy pants and top walking on the beach), followed closely by ‘granny décor’ (maximalism displayed with a soupçon of eccentricity) and, the natural next step — nostalgic gardens.

What is a nostalgic garden? Well, the best description I can think of is one that evokes memories of your past—the vegetables enjoyed fresh from your aunt’s potager garden, the roses clambering up the brick wall of your grandmother’s house, the hollyhocks that flaunted themselves shamelessly in every nook and cranny they could find. I remember a lilac bush that was planted right under my bedroom window. In season, I would open the window and breathe in the wafts

Foxy Foxgloves

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Old Tower Top

Lovely Lavender

get me into trouble with some of you?

These gardens are not the kind of gardens that make memories. For that, I believe you need old-fashioned cottage gardens, with trees to climb, bird houses, a wild assortment of flowers and colours and porches instead of stark decks and patios.

Whenever I ask people what inspired their own gardens, they will point out a plant that was in their parents’ garden, the remembrance of a romantic garden seen in their travels or the memories of evenings sitting outside listening to the hum of conversation while breathing in the wonderful scent of the plants.

Winter 2026

gardens Salvaged Tiles

Ancient Artifacts

Nostalgic gardens remind us of happy childhoods and fearless futures.

Granted, life always seems much better in retrospect; perhaps that’s why we long for it.

You may want to start your own nostalgic garden, or to renovate your existing garden to incorporate some of its elements. There are no rules, other than the ones in your memory.

Start with plants that you remember fondly—roses, foxgloves, bee balm and peonies. Look for fragrant plants like old roses, lavender, lilacs, honeysuckle, sweet peas and freesia. If the plants you remember aren’t native, you can easily find similar ones by

Old Fashioned Roses

Wagon Wheels

Perennial Peonies

perusing the lists on websites like Nature Canada (naturecanada.ca).

It’s not just about the plants, of course. Antique elements can instantly deliver a nostalgic look—an old wooden bench perfectly positioned to see the sunset, trellises and arbours, ornamental iron artifacts— the list goes on and on. One of the best sources of repurposed items I’ve found is a place called Artefacts Salvage and Design (artefacts.ca) in the lovely town of St. Jacobs. They have a huge warehouse full of salvaged doors, ornamental fences, antique furniture and every possible thing you can use and, if you like, they

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will adapt it for you. From them, I’ve bought an ornamental Egyptian door re-imagined as a trellis and an elegant fireplace surround now attached to a garden wall, surrounding some favourite orange and red plants. Hey, a little whimsy never hurts! You may well find similar treasures closer to home—at flea markets or yard sales.

Before you wrinkle your nose, remember that many amazing finds have come from places like Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, the most famous of Paris’ flea markets. So, just let your imagination—and your heart—be your guide.

Who says you can’t go home again?

Winter 2026

Bee Balm (Monarda)

Photos: Veronica Sliva; Unsplash; Pixabey

Ripe canna seed pod contains hard black seeds

Harvest and grow your own–it’s fun, fascinating and free

By Veronica Sliva

cannas f r o m

s e e d

Big, bold and colourful,

cannas (sometimes called Indian Shot) make a grand statement. Many gardeners think they are old-fashioned and thus not worthy of a spot in the garden. Well, think again!

Our talented horticultural team at TBG featured them as the main event in the eye-catching planters at TBG’s entrance to the main building this past summer. They were showstoppers with patterned leaves that were lush and torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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Winter 2026

White roots develop once seeds have been chipped and soaked.

velvety early in the season. By midsummer, they sported blooms 12 cm (5 in) across in shades of pink, red, yellow and orange. Those containers became a regular subject for visiting photographers.

In our own gardens, I think they are overlooked and underused.

If you haven’t grown cannas in a while, read on. I am going to give you some good reasons to reintroduce them to your garden.

Typically, most gardeners start cannas in the spring, either as transplants or from rhizomes purchased at a garden centre ready to be planted out mid to late May. Last season, cannas were going for $20 to $30 per plant…not cheap.

Did you know you can grow cannas from seed, either by purchasing them commercially or by harvesting them yourself from mature plants?

Commercial Sources

The resulting blooms of seeds purchased commercially will be as pictured on the packet. Here are a few resources to try: • Gaia Organics https://gaiaorganics. ca/?s=Cannova&post_type=product • https://www.plant-world-seeds. com/store/flower_seed_categories/ CANNA_SEEDS • https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/ search?q=canna+lily You can also check the internet for other resources.

Seeds for Free

Rather than buying seed, why not try harvesting your own seed and have a little fun and save money too?

Many years ago, in the fall, I noticed that most of my canna plants produced seeds. Since I am somewhat addicted to harvesting seeds of any kind, I thought I’d give cannas a try.

I haven’t looked back.

I knew that my store-bought cannas were hybrids and that their seeds likely would not produce the same dazzling torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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Winter 2026

flowers as the mother plant. You never know exactly what you are going to get with seed that may have cross-pollinated.

It came as no surprise that the flowers from my harvested seed were usually not as showy as the mother plant. Instead, the blooms, though colourful, were often smaller and more delicate. I have never been disappointed, though. For me, it is mainly the leaves that I am after. I like to use these cannas in containers where their leaves in striking shades of green to burgundy soar above the fillers and thrillers, adding interest and drama to my arrangements.

Harvesting Canna Seed

• Once the flowers are finished, a cluster of seed pods develop. Initially, the pods are green or reddish, round structures that contain several seeds.

• Remove the pods from the plant when the pods are brown, papery and dry.

• Open the pod to reveal large, hard, black seeds.

You can easily squeeze them out.

• I store seeds in a paper envelope in a cool, dry place until I am ready to germinate them.

If you don’t have access to any seed, you may try the Seed Library at TBG’s Weston Family Library https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ weston-family-library/. Someone may have donated some canna seed.

Germinating the Seed

This is the fun part and easier than you think.

Here is my method… if you follow the steps, it works every time.

1

Chip a small opening in the hard canna seed coat. You don’t want to cut too deeply into the seed, just enough to allow moisture to reach the embryo. When you see a little white colour, that is enough. I use a Dremel tool to drill a tiny hole.

If you have a nail care kit with tools

Seed pods develop once the flowers have finished blooming.

Canna leaves soar above thrillers and spillers in container arrangements.

that are battery-operated, there is often a tool with a pointy end that does a great job. You can also use nail clippers, a sharp razor blade, a scalpel, or sandpaper to scratch a tiny opening in the seed’s outer covering.

But these tools are not as quick or easy (in my opinion).

2

Soak seeds in a bowl of water for 4 or 5 days. Change the water daily.

3

Put the seeds in a small plastic bag with a damp paper towel.

4

Place the bag in a warm spot.

After a few days, when you see a white root, it’s time to plant them.

5

Plant two to three seeds about 0.6 cm (¼ in) deep in three- to four-inch pots. Use a soilless mix that is moist but not soggy. After a week or so, you will see leaves emerge. Keep the soil dampish but not wet.

6

Plant the seedlings in individual pots when they are about 15 cm (6 in) high. You can continue to grow them under lights or in a sunny window.

7

Plant in the garden when all danger of frost is past.

And that is all there is to it. It’s fun, fascinating and free!

Cannas are not considered hardy in the Toronto area and are unlikely to return year after year. However, last year I had a few sprout up again in a protected area of my east Toronto garden. Mother Nature is full of surprises and you never know…

Orange canna (aka Indian shot) makes a grand statement.

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Winter 2026

Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

Mary In the Garden

Mary sniffs a bouquet of herbs she picked to make a pot of tea.

The front garden is a serene palette of green-on-green plantings.

A soul soothing, living work-of-art meant for sharing

By Lorraine Hunter

Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

Trellis Editor

Mary Gore paints with plants, using her one-acre north Beaches neighbourhood garden as her palette.

Her multi-coloured, textured borders are literally a moving, live canvas.

“How lucky am I that I get to play with art?” Mary asks as she happily tours visitors through her lavish garden, located at the top of a ravine.

Mary and her husband Bob, both accountants, bought the property in 2004. “The oak trees were here. All the rest have been planted by me,” says Mary. She waited four years after moving in before starting the garden.

“The idea of starting a new design from scratch was daunting,” she recalls. “What would I do with all of this space and all of this shade?”

Mary spent hours walking the site, watching how the light changed throughout the day, and reading garden magazines and catalogues. The key was to find an assortment of shade-loving plants with a long season of colour and interest.

The front garden is a serene palette of green-on-green plantings around a reflecting pool resplendent with

the hues and textures of surrounding shrubs and trees including more than a dozen of the property’s more than 250 Japanese maples.

Head down the pathway to the left of the house, through the garden gate, and you will come to the first of two more ponds in the backyard as well as a waterfall fashioned from leftover rocks used to rebuild the stone deck at the back of the house overlooking the swimming pool. You can hear the sound of water everywhere in this lush setting.

Perched on the ravine under the canopy of old oak trees, it looks like the inside of a cathedral when you look up. This garden has many more distinguishing features including a diverse collection of dwarf conifers and ginkgo trees, a vegetable garden tucked into a sunny hillside of the ravine as well as many raised containers of vegetables and herbs on the deck.

Filtered sunlight enhances the many Japanese maples, Japanese forest grass and hostas creating an eye-catching backdrop for an ever-changing floral show. Various plants such as Persian shield and coleus spill over each other

A shady sitting area.

Persian Shield

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in a harmony of colours, shapes and textures to fill the gently curving flowerbeds and borders that frame this park-like garden.

Should a bare spot emerge, Mary will immediately fill it with one of her many potted tropical plants that line the swimming pool as well as being integrated into the landscape. They are, of course, all taken inside each fall to be over-wintered. This collection includes banana trees, cannas, brugmansia and flowering ginger to name just a few of these sun-loving beauties.

Mary is delighted to share her garden with visitors and it has become a perfect outdoor setting for private music and dance concerts. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she started the nonprofit organization Joy of Music (JOM). By establishing scholarship programs and a joyful year-long concert series, JOM provides opportunities for talented classical musicians, dancers and composers to showcase their talents while supporting their artistic and professional development.

This past August, Joy of Music partnered with Toronto Botanical Garden to provide a very successful Edwards Winter 2026

Photos: Veronica Sliva; Lorraine Hunter

Tropical plants border the swimming pool.

An everchanging floral show.

“Sharing

has given the garden a purpose. ” –Mary Gore

Mary talks to her plants and hugs them.

Sun loving beauties

Gently curving flowerbeds frame this park-like garden.

Summer Music Series concert—Ballet at the Garden—a celebration of music and movement with professional musicians, singers and dancers from the National Ballet choreographed

by Peggy Baker. Joy of Music is already booked for the 2026 Edwards Summer Music Series.

“Sharing has given the garden a purpose,” says Mary. “When building a garden, I never imagined it would

one day be the setting for music and dancing. Who knew it would grow into something so beautiful,” she says in reference to the TBG concert.

“This is what all of it was leading up to.”

It’s no surprise to hear that Mary talks to her plants, hugs them and treats them like her children. The garden, she says, has brought her friends, given her a creative outlet and continues “to soothe my soul”.

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Winter 2026

When compiling the songs for this article, I wondered if my process for curation here was much like a gardener picking seeds to plant each spring. Carefully choosing which would complement the other while keeping the cohesion.

I was mindful to pick from a variety of genres, as my musical life has evolved over many years. Our own gardens, for many artists, are a huge source of inspiration. Much like the artistic process, aiding in the growth and flourishing of something green is also a time of self-reflection. Songwriting, for me at least, requires sunlight, watering and perfect conditions before it can bloom.

It wasn’t difficult to find lyricists and composers who have used gardens as metaphors for everything from love to self-worth, childbirth and even the Vietnam War. It was hard to narrow it down to these ten, when I could have filled an entire notebook with my favourites. Here are a few that have resonated with me, and hopefully will with you.

Songwriters are often inspired by gardens

By Nastasia Pappas-Kemps

music Songwriter

1

to plant by

Avant Gardener by Courtney Barnett Life’s getting hard in here so I do some gardening Anything to take my mind away from where it’s supposed to be

This song has always felt sarcastic to me, whether because of Barnett’s sardonic delivery, or the mess of screeching guitar undercutting a fairly simple beat. The song was written about a real-life experience Barnett had when she was in her garden and had some sort of anaphylactic reaction requiring an ambulance call.

Perhaps it’s the blasé reaction to a medical emergency, or the fact that she, too, struggles with pollen-related allergies, but I’ve always turned to this song when I’ve felt the kind of malaise that comes about when I haven’t seen the sky for too long. Very apropos in the winter.

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Winter 2026

Photos: Nastasia Pappas-Kemps; Martha Sweet

2 2. Vegetables

by The Beach Boys I love you most of all My favorite vegetable ‘Everything about this song is excellent. From Brian Wilson’s strange and whimsical lyrics, to a surprise cameo from Paul McCartney credited as crunching celery in the back of the room, it just works in its absurdity. The Beach Boys’ iconic sound is the only reason the song makes any sense, which is to say it makes no sense at all. It’s all part of the Beach Boy charm.

Frankly most carrots, upon hearing this song, would love it. Though I am not a carrot myself, I too enjoy it. It feels exactly as if a small garden of vegetables gained sentience and sang a little song before harvest.

No doubt in my mind this song belongs on the list.

3.Cattails by Big Thief Violet’s eyes, Violet plays Going back home to the Great Lakes Where the cattail sways I tend to connect to songs by New York City natives on our relationships to nature, having been born and raised in a big city myself. Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker wrote this song when the group was recording their third record U.F.O.F. in the middle of a pine forest in Washington. While grappling with feelings of grief, the trees answered and late one night the song came to her.

The way the song swells into a cacophony of crescendoing sounds reminds me of the end of a long car trip to a cottage when you finally step out onto the dirt outside the cabin, breathing in the fresh, crisp air. It’s a song encouraging us to consider all the nature around us, but also consider the nature within ourselves. With references to her great-grandmother Violet, the song is an exploration of the lines between life and death, and the natural cyclical nature of our lives.

There is nothing that reminds me more of my hands in garden soil than the lyric “You don’t need to know why when you cry.”

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Winter 2026

4. Cactus Tree by Joni Mitchell

5. Mother Nature’s Son by The Beatles

He has missed her in the forest While he showed her all the flowers And the branches sang the chorus As he climbed the scaly towers of a forest tree While she was somewhere being free

Swaying daisies, sing a lazy song Beneath the Sun

I feel like I could choose a thousand different Joni

Mitchell songs to include. However, Cactus Tree was the song that made me fall in love with Mitchell. She effortlessly blends these images of forests and mountains and greenery and flowers to harness them in such an elegant metaphor for womanhood.

In my late teens and early twenties, this song embodied my understanding of love. There are so many bewitching ways to see yourself mirrored in the nature around you, and Mitchell is able to do so with an ease that is truly unmatched.

Almost in opposition to the reasons I love Joni

Mitchell’s Cactus Tree, this song is such a simple musical embodiment and acknowledgement of what it means to find peace in the green around you. Written primarily by Paul McCartney, though credited to John Lennon as well, what elicits those same gardening feelings to me isn’t its lyrical content, but rather the ease with which it patters along.

If you listen closely, there are complex harmonies, an entire orchestral accompaniment and even timpani roaring softly in the background. Much like a well-constructed flower bed, on the surface it skips along seemingly simple, yet its depth and complexity come through upon closer inspection.

Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

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7. All I Want Is You

by Barry Louis Polisar And if I was tree growing tall and green All I’d want is you to shade me and be my leaves I first heard this song, as many people have,

6 6. Garden Song

by Phoebe Bridgers Everything’s growing in our garden You don’t have to know it’s haunted There is a quiet desperation in this song that perfectly encapsulates a yearning for growth both physically and metaphorically. Bridgers manages to capture the exact moment you realize how much you’ve grown.

Especially when you look back at your past self. It can be jarring The lyrics are another excellent example of seeing your garden full of rich imagery. There is so much to learn from a garden, and in self-reflection. Bridgers strikes a perfect balance, showing how even the most unpromising mounds of dirt can grow something beautiful.

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on the soundtrack to the film Juno and it captured my heart from the opening notes. It’s such a simple love song and the complete embodiment of the genre of freak folk.

The lyrics are delivered with such vulnerability and so earnestly that even with a basic melody and stripped-back instrumental the song is undeniably impactful. It’s simply a charming tune.

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9. Skylark

by Aretha Franklin Have you seen a valley green with spring Where my heart can go a-journeying?

This is simply a stunning jazz

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standard. I grew up listening to the Anita O’Day version. Ella Fitzgerald’s is also absolutely breathtaking. But I have to highlight Aretha Franklin’s for the delivery alone. Between her melodic choices, to the unmatched vocal control, it brings a drama to the song that truly leaves goosebumps on my arms every time I hear it.

The lyrics were written as an ode from Johnny Mercer to the woman he was having an affair with at the time: Judy Garland. The song quickly developed recognition for Hoagy Carmichael’s distinct melodic choices and it became a jazz standard and is even said to have inspired the name for the infamous Buick Skylark of the same name.

Much like the song Judy Garland is best known for, it considers a utopia that only the birds know.

Whether beyond the rainbow, or in the meadow through the mist, there is an element of this natural wonder that only blossoms and birds can provide.

Jazz and gardens have always been linked, and this is such a beautiful example.

8. Wildflowers by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris When a flower grows wild, it can always survive Wildflowers don’t care where they grow These three women on this tune make this song an anthem. Written by Parton in 1986 and released on the album Trio in 1988, the song uses the metaphor of Wildflowers being resilient to illustrate her own experience growing up as different in a religious household.

It’s no wonder Parton has become a huge icon and important public figure for the LGBTQ+ community, as her lyricism in this song and many others illustrate a love and affection for those who feel like they’re different. With these three powerful women on this album, and their support of one another, this song is another fantastic example of the rich imagery that can marry womanhood and gardening. torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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10. Robber by The Weather Station You never believed in the robber You thought a robber must hate you To wanna take from you The Weather Station’s Tamara Lindeman uses the opposite approach to all the other songwriters I’ve touched on. At first listen, this song may feel like the outcry of a scorned lover. However, Lindeman is an outspoken eco-activist and wrote the album Ignorance – on which Robber is the opening track – about climate grief. Though she does use some naturespecific metaphors to capture the themes she is exploring, she more often uses other striking images to speak about nature instead. This song is not a break up song at all, but rather uses similar language to illustrate how we treat our earth.

Lindeman’s music and melodies are complex and layer many different themes, both musically and lyrically, to weave rich tapestries on how we connect with our world, our earth and each other. I have yet to find more fruitful excavation than when dissecting her lyrics to find meaning.

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Photo: xxxxx xxxxxxx

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Winter 2026

legacy of a Flower

Dyeing with Marigolds is an easy and satisfying ancient art By Emma Worley Marketing & Audience Engagement Coordinator

Marigold field at Vibrant Acres Farm

For thousands of years, people around the world have used plants, minerals and insects to bring colour into their lives. From the indigo vats of India and West Africa to the cochineal reds of Mesoamerica and the madder roots of the Mediterranean, dyeing has always been both a practical craft and a form of cultural expression.

These colours carry stories of trade routes, local landscapes and the deep relationship between people and the natural world.

While studying textiles at Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU), I took a class on dyeing and was drawn to the process and character of natural dyes over synthetic. Unlike the precision of synthetic dyes, natural dyes have an element of unpredictability. It’s impossible to know the precise colour or quality of a natural dye.

No two plants are ever the same, and factors like soil, water and climate all influence the depth and tone of the colour. Natural dyeing is a practice of patience, curiosity, experimentation and surprise.

In 2019, my cousin Calvin and his partner Michelle left their city life in Montreal to pursue a more intentional, creative way of living in rural Nova Scotia. What started as a small balcony garden grew into Vibrant Acres Farm and a life rooted in seasonal rhythms, self-reliance, and hands-on learning. From homesteading and gardening to natural dyes and textile work, they embraced the challenges of country living and found fulfillment in creating, growing and connecting with their land and community.

Vibrant Acres was a season of their lives now coming to a close. As this page turns, we are fortunate to use the last of their harvested dye materials. Michelle and Calvin sent us marigolds, sumac, dyer’s chamomile and natural indigo. For our first natural dye experiment, I wanted to use a flower that grows here at the Toronto Botanical Garden, and decided to begin our exploration with marigolds.

Dyeing with marigolds has deep roots in traditional textile practices, especially in parts of South Asia and Latin America, where the flower holds cultural and spiritual significance. The petals, rich in carotenoids, yield warm yellows and soft oranges that have coloured fabrics for generations. As the flowers simmer in water, they release their pigment into the bath, creating a beautiful and biodegradable natural dye.

It was a joy to experience the beauty of dyeing with marigolds. Through this process, I am reminded that to work with natural dyes is to participate in a story much larger than our own, one spanning centuries and continents. It’s a collaboration between people and plants, and a reminder of the patience and reciprocity of this ancient craft.

DESCRIPTION FROM VIBRANT ACRES Marigold is one of the easiest and most satisfying plants with which to dye, creating a rich beautiful yellow with a relatively small amount of plant material and little effort of extraction. It is perfect for items that are worn indoors and/ or washed infrequently. If your garment does eventually fade, consider overdyeing to give it new life. Storing naturally dyed items in a dark drawer or closet can help to prolong their life.

Our petals are from a mix of French marigolds. We love to grow rows of these cheerful flowers between rows of taller, more gangly, dye plants. One of our favourite things to do on warm mid-summer nights is to sit with a favourite movie and clip marigold petals from flower heads harvested earlier in the day. Using only the flower petals creates an extremely concentrated dye source and very little plant material is needed to dye a strong shade. We have found that a super concentrated bath will tend to produce a greenish yellow.

Using a lighter concentration produces a lovely medium shade of rich, warm yellow.

◗ Marigold Natural Dye Instructions (with Alum Mordan)

Natural dyeing is only effective on natural fibres (cotton, linen, wool etc.) and is not effective on synthetics (polyester). Before dyeing you must weigh your material so the colour will bind properly. Start by weighing the clean, dry material that you are going to dye. This is your reference weight, commonly referred to as Weight of Fibre (WOF).

Create a mordant bath by dissolving alum powder* in hot water (about 10 to 15 per cent alum based on the WOF), then add enough warm water to fully submerge the material. Add your wet material and gently heat the pot, keeping it just below a simmer for about one hour. Stir occasionally for even coverage. Turn off the heat and let the fibre cool in the mordant bath, then rinse lightly and set aside.

To create the dye bath, use roughly the same weight of fresh marigold flowers as your WOF, or about half if the flowers are dried. Chop or lightly crush the flowers and place them in a pot with enough water to cover them. Slowly heat and let them simmer for about an hour, until the liquid turns a rich yellow or golden colour. Next, strain out the plant matter, keeping the dye liquid.

Wet your material and add it to the dye bath. Gently heat and let it dye for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a deeper shade, allow the fibre to cool and soak in the dye bath for several hours or overnight. When you’re happy with the colour, remove the material, rinse in cool water until it runs clear, and hang to dry out of direct sunlight. *Alum powder is available in many places including from Canadian dye supply company Maiwa https://maiwa.com/ collections/alum

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Winter 2026

Critters in the garden

Virginia Opossum

Only marsupial found in North America gets a bad rap

By Megan Blacquiere

◗ The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a fascinating

creature whose story of survival is inspiring. They are often seen as a nuisance in cities and are mistakenly labelled as aggressive.

These mammals, therefore, get a bad rap, which is much undeserved considering the many ecosystem benefits they provide.

Photo: Sasan Beni

Horticulturist

Habitat and Range

◗ Didelphis virginiana is the only marsupial found in North America. It is native from Costa Rica to Mexico, the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, and north into Ontario.

This species was also introduced to the west coast of the United States and British Columbia, and continues to expand northward with climate change. Their range is restricted by temperature and snow depth, as they are ill-equipped for extreme cold. In areas they inhabit, they survive the cold by relying on fat stores and their ability to thrive in human altered environments. They can be found in a variety of habitats and are often found in urban areas where they can survive due to their small body size, nocturnal habits and high reproductive output.

These marsupials are transient animals and will change their denning sites often, only remaining stationary while weaning their young. They nest in brush piles, hollow trees, drainage areas and abandoned dens of other animals. They do not hibernate but will create sleeping dens in tree cavities or logs, sheds, barns, piles of building materials or crevices in rocks, and will sometimes den in attics or under porches. Reports of starvation and frostbite are common for northern populations.

Description

◗ Opossums are not what you would

traditionally refer to as cute. With their long snout, beady eyes, large furless ears, and long hairless tails, they have a rat-like appearance. They have thick, robust bodies, short legs, sharp claws and 50 teeth (more than most other mammals). Their fur has a ragged look to it, with long guard hairs that protrude past their dense underfur. Virginia opossums are great climbers due in part to their prehensile tails that act as an additional limb in combination with their hairless feet with opposable hallux (thumbs) that help them grasp branches. The tails are also used for carrying nesting materials and hanging from

trees. Being marsupials, females have a pouch that is used to house the underdeveloped young and is located on the underside between the hind legs. It starts out small and not fully formed until the female’s first pregnancy, when it enlarges to prepare for birth.

Mating

◗ Virginia opossums are considered

polygynous; therefore, males will have multiple female partners during the mating season. Mating season begins in January and goes into September, depending on the climate.

This is the only time Virginia opossums display social behaviours; during all other periods of their life, they remain solitary. Opossums are sexually mature at six months for females and eight months for males. Females can have from one to three litters per year. Males attract a female with the sexually dimorphic scent gland on their chest, which releases a musky odour and stains their fur. Reproductive parts in both males and females are bifurcated, meaning the penis is pronged and the females have two uteri and two vaginal canals. Male sperm also pair up before insemination, which allows for stronger motility. The gestation period lasts 12 to 13 days, and litter size can vary between four and 25 babies.

After breeding, the female’s pouch becomes brownish orange in colour and the scent glands located within release a musky odour; this is believed to assist the young in finding the mother’s pouch. The young climb into their mother’s pouch after birth and remain for roughly two months until they are fully developed. Many young do not survive the trip to the pouch; in fact, roughly 60 per cent perish. On average, females may have eight young in their pouch per litter.

Weaning happens at 93 to 105 days old, and young can eat solid food before then, at about 85 days old.

After weaning, young are independent, but some will stay with their mom in the den until about 120 days old. There is about a 60 per cent

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mortality rate in the young after full independence.

Diet

◗ Virginia opossums are opportunis-

tic feeders and eat a variety of foods depending on the season, their habitat and range. They are omnivores with a diet consisting of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, eggs, insects, worms, plant material, fruits, seeds and carrion. They can even eat venomous snakes because they are immune to the venom! In urban environments, they will scavenge through garbage and also eat dog and cat food.

Because the majority of their foraging happens on the ground, they pick up a lot of ticks, which they consume when grooming, helping to reduce the spread of Lyme disease. They also help to eliminate diseases spread through carcasses and food waste.

Life Span and Behaviour

◗ Didelphis virginiana are nocturnal

mammals and considered terrestrial, although they do spend some of their time in trees. They have a very short life span of only one-and-a-half to two years in the wild. They are prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs, and great-horned owls. When threatened or scared, young opossums feign death, in a catatonic state often referred to as “going opossum”, during which they remain completely motionless. This can last from one minute up to six hours. This behaviour is not their most common form of defense, they are more likely to bare their teeth, hiss, screech or flee by running, climbing or swimming.

Though they have a short life span and many enemies, they do have some amazing advantages. Not only are they immune to venom, but also to honeybees, scorpions and toxins such as botulism. They are rarely found with rabies, due to their lower body temperature (34-36°C) making it difficult for the rabies virus to survive.

Opossums also have resistance to many other viruses, including parvovirus, distemper and feline hepatitis.

Winter 2026

History OF Gardening

The Blue Poppy

A striking perennial from the Silk Road By Lee Robbins Weston Family Library Manager

Himalayan Blue Poppy

Blue poppies at Les Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens, Québec

Photos: Premierseedsdirect.com; longwoodgardens.org; T.M. Glass

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he Silk Road was an ancient trade route spanning thousands of kilometres from modern-day Türkiye to China, facilitating the spread of religions, cultures plus artistic and architectural styles. In particular, the Silk Road proved an ideal route for the dissemination and spread of plants and flowers throughout Europe and Asia over the centuries and led to the floral diversity we enjoy today.

From tulips in Türkiye to peonies and chrysanthemums originally found in China, and the many species of roses like the Damask rose (Rosa damascena) from Syria, used in perfumes by Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, there are thousands of species with which we are now familiar in our garden centres that came to us via the Silk Road.

The Silk Road has been a subject of botanical exploration and documentation for hundreds of years with numerous expeditions and studies dedicated to cataloguing its floras in one of the most spectacular and diverse floral regions on Earth.

Poppies are indigenous to many areas along the Silk Road. A somewhat rare, and special poppy is the Himalayan Blue Poppy (genus Meconopsis), a striking, perennial plant known for its vibrant, sky-blue, cup-shaped flowers, often with a contrasting golden centre. In its natural habitat, the flower is found in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Tibet, and Myanmar at elevations of 2,000 to 5,000 metres.

First documented in Europe in 1886 by French Catholic missionary

J. M. Delavay, specimens of the poppy (but no seeds) were sent to Paris in 1889. In 1913, British Army Captain Frederick M. Bailey was doing research for the English Government in the high borders of China, Tibet and India, where he discovered the blue poppy. Upon his return to England, he brought home a pressed specimen of the plant. In Bailey’s honour, the plant was given the name Meconopsis betonicifolia ‘Baileyi’.

From the Reford Gardens exhibit Saving the Blue Poppy from Extinction

References

◗ Blue Heaven: Encounters with the Blue Poppy by Bill Terry, QK495.P22 Ter 2009 ◗ The Land of the Blue Poppy: Travels of a Naturalist in Eastern Tibet by Frank Kingdon-Ward, DS785 .Kin 1973

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In 1924, Frank Kingdon-Ward set out on an expedition to find new specimens for Kew Gardens in England. He had consulted with Bailey about the exact whereabouts of the poppies he found in Tibet and harvested seeds from the plants in the same location later that year.

These were sent to England in 1925 and eventually were successfully cultivated. The flowers were displayed at the 1926 Chelsea Flower Show where they caused a sensation.

Seeds were promptly distributed to 50 gardens in the country. One garden, Edinburgh Botanical Garden, sent seeds to Jennie Butchart who created Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. A few years later, Elsie Reford of Grand-Métis, Quebec, creator of Les Jardins De Metis/Reford Gardens, received hers.

The seeds were advertised in #11 ‘Catalogue of Seeds grown at Butchart Gardens in 1932-1933.

A centennial celebration exhibition on saving the blue poppy from extinction was recently held at Les Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens in Quebec (T. M. Glass https://tmglass. com/pages/saving-the-blue-poppy-fromextinction-a-centennial-celebration) The Himalayan Blue Poppy is at the top of many a plant-lover’s list: “the dream of every gardener,” as Vita Sackville- West (who created Sissinghurst Garden) put it. While beautiful, they can be challenging to cultivate outside their native habitat, making them a prized addition to any garden.

Winter 2026

underSTORY

Unearth the Essence of the Garden This Toronto Botanical Garden eco-exhibit located in the link between the lobby and Garden Hall was inspired by the wooded and decomposing landscape that weaves through our city and the neighbouring ravine system. Visitors are invited to slow down and connect with nature through the lens of our shared underSTORY — where rescued, repurposed and rehomed materials take on new life.

At the heart of the tunnel, the botanist’s writing desk complete with an antique typewriter, invites garden reflections and collective participation. Visitors are welcome to pause, write and share their thoughts and stories on what the Essence of the Garden means to them.

The installation was created by TBG staff with the generous support of volunteers, using materials gathered from the surrounding gardens — branches, vines, leaves and dried plants — as well as reclaimed material from the local community, including thrift stores, curbsides and online marketplaces.

Plant Profile Monstera Deliciosa in the TBG lobby.

Monstera deliciosa Split-leaved tropical makes a dramatic houseplant

By Leslie Hockley Lead Horticulturist Monstera deliciosa or swiss-cheese plant. The common name for this tropical plant, from Central and South America, refers to the characteristic fenestrations or holes in the leaves. Fenestrations mean to be windowed or provided with openings. These ‘holes’ are more commonly seen in larger and more mature specimens. They are not only found in this plant species, but other common houseplants that also showcase this characteristic are pothos and philodendrons.

The stunning heart-shaped leaves of a mature specimen can be up to three feet across. In nature these plants will use aerial roots to attach to trees and climb – up to 21 m (70 feet)! At home you can mimic this with a trellis or moss pole. Be warned that they can take up quite a lot of space as they grow and may require additional support at the base as they become top heavy.

At home make sure to provide plenty of bright indirect light for this plant. They can tolerate low light and dry air but if you are hoping to grow a large and showy specimen increasing the light and humidity will aid in this.

If you grow a plant into maturity, it will likely also produce the fruit for which it gets its Latin name from deliciosa.

All parts of the plant are toxic except for the ripe fruit.

This popular indoor plant can be found at most plant stores and is more commonly sold as a young plant that has little to no split-leaves or fenestrations.

At the Toronto Botanical Garden, we have one very large specimen in our collection that was generously donated in 2024.

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Winter 2026

Recipe Corner Dolmadakia a Traditional Greek dish perfect for a chilly winter night

By Nastasia Pappas-Kemps Graphic Design Associate

The author’s grandparents Taso and Maria Pappas making Dolmadakia

When sitting down with my Pappou (Greek name for grandfather), his excitement to share this recipe with me was so intense that he hopped out of his chair at the head of our dinner table to bring out his iPad and show me — critiquing heavily — nearly every image, recipe and webpage about dolmadakia on the internet.

In Greek culture, as with many immigrant cultures in Canada, we tend to pass along cultural recipes generation to generation through word of mouth. When trying to understand this recipe from my Yiayia (grandmother) a few years ago, she said “One cup” which I thought meant a standard cup size. She, in fact, meant a specific cup she used that was closer to ¾ cup. Unless she felt the rice was looking a little dry, then she would add 1 to 3 more cups of that same cup which, if I’m doing the math correctly, means the recipe calls for anywhere from ¾ to 3 standard cups of vegetable stock.

Which is to say, this recipe is not an exact science. The bones of it remain – most of the key ingredients and the general order of each of the steps are tried and true – but to get it right, you should truly measure with your heart, especially when it comes to salt, onion and lemon.

Much like many Vietnamese immigrants substitute sweeteners in their recipes with Coca Cola, my Pappou’s time here in Canada has shaped the way he approaches traditional dishes he grew up making, and Dolmadakia (also known as Dolmades, depending on who you ask) are no exception. Most recently, he started using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock since my cousin became vegetarian. Most Greek people I know have a variation of this recipe with their own substitutions. Their “One cup” is between ¾ and two standard cups and some use a variety of different seasonings like parsley, mint, or oregano in their rice mix, or even include meat.

The best part of this recipe though, in my opinion, is that it embodies the phrase “many hands make light work.”

I have memories growing up of eating rice with my fingers while my Yiayia, and my aunts rolled Dolmadakia in her Scarborough kitchen. To this day she’ll get furious with me for getting oil on her kalo trapezomantilo (good tablecloth) when I’m supposed to be using the vromiko pani (dirty rag) to roll on that she set down next to it.

Both are in pristine condition and always appear identical.

These are a huge hit around the holidays. They keep well for a week, they’re vegan, and are a perfect dish to bring to potluck events, or as part of an appetizer table. And for an event centered around family, rolling grape leaves with my grandparents is a tradition I love to carry with me, making it the perfect group activity for a chilly winter’s night.

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Nastasia at seven years old with her Yiayia.

Winter 2026

Dolmadakia | (Stuffed Grape Leaves) | Ingredients 1 or more large jars of Krinos Grape Leaves 2 cups basmati rice ¾ cup olive oil 1 white onion 2 bunches of green onions 1 bunch of dill ½ to cups lemon juice (approx 2.5 lemons) Salt & pepper to taste 1 cup vegetable stock Method 1. Dice all the onions and sauté in a large sauté pan over low to medium heat with some olive oil until soft.

2. Add the rice and vegetable stock, salt and pepper and half the lemon juice. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the rice absorbs the liquid.

Note: your rice shouldn’t be entirely cooked yet and should still have some hardness to it. Pappou calls this “half-cooked” rizi (rice).

3. Let the rice mixture cool before chopping and adding the dill. ​4. Rinse and dry the grape leaves and cut the hard stems. Separate any torn or smaller leaves from the larger ones and place the larger, intact ones to the side.

5. Take a large pot and cover the bottom with your small and damaged leaves until completely covered.

6. Next, lay a large, undamaged grape leaf down on a dry flat surface.

Where the stem used to be, put a dollop (approx 1 tbsp) of your cooled rice mixture. ​7. Fold the stem end over the filling, fold the sides in and start to roll. This is where practice makes perfect. You need to keep it tightly rolled, but leave enough room so that it doesn’t burst as the rice further expands.

8. Place the rolled leaf snugly in the pot with the seam side down. ​9. Repeat steps 7 through 9 until you run out of leaves or rice (or, by some miracle, both at once).

10. Pour all remaining olive oil and lemon juice over the full pot, then fill the rest with water until the Dolmadakia are fully submerged.

Then, place a heat-safe plate upside down on top of them to make sure they don’t float or burst when cooking.

11. Bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer and cook (covered) for another 35 to 40 minutes.

12. Leave them to cool and serve.

Some Musings on Grape Leaves Pappou loves a deal and will take quantity for a bargain, over quality for less in most cases. He uses Krinos grape leaves specifically and told me as such with a very stern look since they are from Greece. These can be bought at most grocery stores for approximately $8.99 a jar. If he can’t find the specific brand, he says any California grape leaves will do, since those are “the closest to

Canada” and so must be freska freska (fresh fresh).

All that matters is that they’re tender, can hold a roll, and aren’t too bitter.

That being said, he recommended (and I specifically do not) that you visit your local schoolyard to see what’s growing and try canning them yourself in brine. He says that when he first immigrated to Canada, he had an uncanny ability to find fresh grape leaves that he would then use to

make Dolmadakia, and that most schoolyards happened to be littered with them.

And he’s not wrong: Popular vines like Niagara and Somerset Seedless grapes are incredibly hardy, and able to survive Ontario winters. Niagara grapes can spread very quickly and vigorously. It makes sense that they can be seen crawling up many school chain-link fences in late summer and early fall.

Always purchase more

leaves, get more than you think you need in case more are damaged than anticipated. They usually keep in a sealed jar for a while – the Krinos website said that they can last unopened in a cupboard for up to five years if stored correctly.

If you’re using fresh grape leaves (which according to Pappou and Yiayia are always preferred) then you should blanch them in boiling water before use.

Book shelf

Two nature adventures for kids and a gift for birders of all ages

The Tomorrow Tree: How Nature Creates New Life from Old Reviewed by Georgie Kennedy and her 12-year-old granddaughter Lydia Near

A

lthough its large format might suggest that this illustrated book is intended only for children, The Tomorrow Tree: How Nature Creates New Life from Old by Maciej Michno, Danio Miserocchi and illustrator Valentina Gottardi will engage and enchant people of all ages. The naturalistic front cover art immediately captures one’s attention. The glossy bears, the bright brown and red mushrooms, and even the pink cyclamen feel authentically drawn and the reader’s curiosity builds.

The story of how a fallen tree brings life to the forest has been cleverly organized into simple chapters that relate the arrival of insects, mosses, plants and fungi, birds and animals that grow on or are sheltered and fed by its decay. Each chapter begins with an overview followed by a deep dive into fascinating details. Titles and headings are aligned with the images. Both common names and scientific names are used in definitions making it a book for all elementary grade levels. Parents and teachers could selectively read and show it to a younger class. Older children could study and extract the scientific information on their own. Bolded words are in the glossary for extra vocabulary reinforcement.

Contrast and variety are skillfully employed to keep our attention. Stormy black and white shades in the initial pages set a tone of sorrow for the dying tree but as more living creatures appear, the colours brighten and the spotlight focuses in on the beetles, flies and ants doing the work of decomposition and creation of new habitats.

Some pages have many different pictures and definitions, while a few are two-page illustrated spreads without words, clearly designed to spark ideas and questions about the message. Others are overlaid with online art.

All types of readers would appreciate this clearly and creatively presented work of art and science. Gardeners would learn that leaving the leaves to decompose can provide homes and nourishment for many organisms.

Kids would find it joyous to understand that the tree lives on for other life. For the teacher, it can be an opening to interaction, inspiring experiments or further exploration.

The Tomorrow Tree, Phaidon

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Winter 2026

There’s a Song in the Forest Reviewed by Lorraine Hunter

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here’s a Song in the Forest takes young readers on an adventure to experience the soundscape of the natural world. With words by Jennifer Britton and art by Jillian Thalman this lively read-aloud book is a celebration of the wild world and a mindful meditation on the art of active listening.

It celebrates the music found all around us and introduces youngsters to musical terms like “orchestra,” “metronome” and “symphony” as well as highlighting notes, sounds and melodies from “the swishing and rustle of footsteps through the leaves” to the “boom, crash, and thrum of the waves as they drum /upon rocky sea caves out of reach”.

Jennifer Britton is a Halifax-based author, teacher and musician. Jillian Thalman is an award-winning designer and illustrator who lives in Scarborough, Ontario.

species, including helpful tips on how to identify them and details of their habits and lifestyle.

For beginners or casual birders, the birds are presented in six habitats: The Neighbourhood, Ravines and Parks, The Outskirts, Wetlands, The Shoreline and The Lake.

That’s a big help if you stumble on a new species and have no idea what it is. Rather than searching through hundreds of pages and tiny photos you’ll find in the standard Guides, it’s a quick way to check the habitat for likely suspects.

The book will also be appreciated by more experienced birders. It can serve as a quick reference to distinguish between those hard to differentiate species – like Thrushes or Mergansers – that you might only see once a year.

Any nature-lover will appreciate the colourful photos of some of Canada’s most beautiful birds, and it would make a great addition to any coffee table. While not intended to replace the taxonomic Bird Guides by Roger Tory Peterson or David Allen Sibley, nor does it cover all of the GTA’s 400+ species, it would be a lovely addition to anyone’s library and a great motivator to get you out into the GTA’s natural beauty and fresh air, where you can enjoy your own wildlife encounters.

Toronto’s Birds: 100+ species photographed in the GTA James Lorimer & Company, 2025 TORONTO

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There’s a Song in the Forest, Nimbus Publishing

Toronto’s Birds: 100+ species photographed in the GTA

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, Toronto

Reviewed by Walter Sliva

f you’ve ever wanted a book with excellent photographs of the most likely bird species you would see in any natural space in the Greater Toronto Area from Burlington in the west to Clarington in the east and north to Caledon and Georgina, this is it.

Toronto’s Birds: 100+ species photographed in the GTA is authored by three of Canada’s most respected ornithologists: Mark Peck, Nancy Barrett and Jean Iron. It includes beautiful, large-scale photographs of each of the birds, lovingly captured, plus a short commentary on each torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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Winter 2026 39

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TBG Welcomes Official Community Partner The Foresters Financial mission is to promote and

enrich the well-being of everyday families and their communities.

TBG’s mission is to connect people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning. Join us in celebrating this new collaboration, launched in the fall of 2025.

Featured here are Foresters Financial volunteers planting a new perennial bed in TBG’s Teaching Garden last fall.

Good Things Are Happening

Fall Ravine Festival TBG’s Fall Ravine Festival attracted more than 1,500 visitors who embarked on a 35-acre scavenger hunt across the Gardens and Ravine with live music by Ken Whiteley and a Circus performance by Artists’ Play Dance + Circus Arts. Many thanks to our community partners: Toronto Public Library, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, SciXchange, Human Nature Project, artist Alan Li, North York Harvest, Toronto Wildlife Centre and LiveGreen who set up pop-up stations engaging visitors throughout the garden. Generously supported by Enbridge. torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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Winter 2026

Holiday EcoMarket Toronto Botanical Garden was hopping for the last two weekends in November when more than 80 local, planet-friendly vendors set up shop for the annual Holiday EcoMarket. Visitors shopped for seasonal greens, local eats, handcrafted gifts and more. There were outdoor bonfires and blankets, plus free family activities. Presenting sponsor was Foresters Financial.

New Chairs Boost Capacity

Photos: Nastasia Pappas-Kemps

Through added support from the Edwards Charitable Foundation TBG was able to purchase new folding chairs to boost seating capacity at the Edwards Summer Music Series from 250 to 400 seats, giving more people the chance to comfortably enjoy the music. Guests commented that the improved concert layout made the whole experience easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Foundation funds helped the TBG purchase its own stage, eliminating the need for annual rentals. The stage and chairs are now available for rent to host arts and culture events year-round.

13,000 Spring Bulbs

TBG garden staff and volunteers planted 13,000 bulbs in the gardens for spring 2026.

GOOD Things ARE Happening... Continued

Essence of the Garden: Plein Air Art Exhibition and Sale The TBG’s inaugural 15-day exhibition attracted over 10,000 visitors and showcased 27 local artists with 90 plus works of original art. Opening night drew 154 guests and a total of 29 pieces were sold. All of the art work was created in the Toronto Botanical Gardens and the adjacent ravine. Presenting Sponsor was Foresters Financial.

e l z P u zc e s Pie

The Six in the Sun – Parc de Toronto Reviewed by Walter Sliva

T

Sales Representative, ABR, SRES HALL OF FAME AWARD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TORONTO MASTER GARDENER RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE

Direct 416.564.9450 @JoseeCoutureTorontoRealEstate

his is a 500-piece puzzle that features the artwork of Toronto illustrator Nicolle Lalonde. It depicts a sprawling scene of Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park on a peaceful sunny afternoon, with the CN Tower in the background and a random collection of picnickers, dog-walkers and cyclists enjoying the day. Just another perfect summer day in our perfect city.

How many of you know where the name of the puzzle comes from? It is a nickname for the city of Toronto, popularized by Toronto musician Drake and refers to the original six municipalities that became Toronto, including Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York and East York. It’s also a reference to the local telephone area code 416.

This is quite a good puzzle for beginners, with each scene clearly defined and easy to pull together. This, and other Villager Puzzles, are available at the TBG Shop. torontobotanicalgarden.ca

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tony DiGiovanni, Board Chair Susan Grundy and Martin Ship, Vice Chairs Doris Chee, Secretary; Claudia Alvarenga, Treasurer; Gordon Ashworth, Past Chair Barb Anie, Dianne Azzarello, Nicholas Brearton, Michele Chandler, Adeline Cheng, Caprice Chow, Ben Cullen, Lucie Gauvin, Margareth Lobo Gualt, Mark Pratt, Haig Seferian Ex Officio: Justin Hanna, City of Toronto; Deborah Maw, Garden Club of Toronto; Pat Ware, Milne House Garden Club

TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN IS A GARDEN FOR ALL Your support and engagement are essential in developing an inspired plant place, an engaging learning environment and a dynamic community hub. We invite you to grow with us. mission Toronto Botanical Garden connects people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning. vision Toronto Botanical Garden is a garden for all; a diverse community that recognizes the life-giving role of nature, working together for a more sustainable world.

DIRECTORY

Masthead

CEO Stephanie Jutila sjutila@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

Editor LORRAINE HUNTER

Education 416-397-1355 education@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Development 416-397-1372 development@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Facility Rentals 416 397-1324 events@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Garden Shop 416-397-1357 retail@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Gardening Help Line Toronto Master Gardeners 416-397-1345 torontomastergardeners.ca Group Tours 437-324-1377 programsupport@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

SIGN UP FOR GARDEN ENEWS!

Receive the latest horticultural news and information on events, workshops, lectures and other horticultural happenings. Free registration at https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca

Horticulture 416-397-1358 horticulture@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Audience Engagement marketing@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Membership 416-397-1483 membership@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

REGULAR HOURS OF OPERATION

Visitor Centre: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Garden Shop: Open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Weston Family Library: Weekdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Weekends, 12 to 4 p.m.

Parking: $4.00 per hour. $16.00 daily maximum. TBG Members, FREE.

Trellis Magazine editor@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Volunteer Services 416-397-1349 volunteer@torontobotanicalgarden.ca Weston Family Library 416-397-1343 librarydesk@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto Ontario M3C 1P2, Canada • 416-397-1341 fax: 416-397-1354 • info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca • @TBG_Canada

By TTC From Eglinton subway station take the 51, 54, 54A or 162 bus from Lawrence Subway Station to Lawrence Avenue East and Leslie Street. The TBG is on the southwest corner.

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Design June Anderson Volunteer Editorial Committee Leanne Burkholder GEORGIE KENNEDY JENNY RHODENIZER Lee Robbins VERONICA SLIVA Volunteer Proofreaders Jackie CAMPBELL Carol Cowan LYN HICKEY JEAN McCLUSKEY Advertising marketing@toronto botanicalgarden.ca Trellis is published as a members’ newsletter by the Toronto Botanical Garden at Edwards Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1P2, 416-397-1341 Trellis welcomes queries for story ideas, which should be submitted to the editor for consideration by the Trellis Committee at least four months in advance of publication dates.

Opinions expressed in Trellis do not necessarily reflect those of the TBG. Submissions may be edited for style and clarity. ©2026 All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the Toronto Botanical Garden.

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