PLACE: Trace Manes Community Centre
TIME: 7:30 pm
DATE: Thursday, June 12, 2008
PROGRAM: Container Gardening
on Patios, Terraces, and Balconies
*Note the change of location for this month*
SPEAKERS: Gerry Yates & Merle Burston
The speakers this month are both Master Gardeners. Gerry is a retired Biology teacher. He has extended his academic background in Natural Science into a passion for gardening and his own gardening business. Merle exercises her enthusiasm for gardening in her own large garden where she is always trying new plants. Both are members of the Garden Writer’s Association.
Their presentation will consist of a power point presentation as well as a demonstration of the many aspects of container gardening: the aesthetics, benefits, convenience, types of containers, preparation of containers, planting, maintenance, and plant selection including annuals, perennials, herbs, fruits and vegetables, and shrubs and trees; in other words, all you ever wanted to know about growing plants in containers. This should prove to be particularly relevant at this time of year.
OHA TULIPS ADD COLOUR TO
LYNDHURST GARDENS
In anticipation of its centennial in 2006, the OHA sold tulips throughout the summer and autumn of 2005. This was not only a fund raiser but it served as a suitable symbol of its 100 years of service to the gardening community of Ontario. Several dozen of these early-blooming, royal purple tulips were planted at Lyndhurst Centre by LGS members. During the past month, they have brought welcome colour to the gardens. They were accompanied by over 200 other blooms of tulips and daffodils in the front gardens of the centre. LGS members should be proud of the efforts of our garden society in keeping the gardens of Lyndhurst looking beautiful from early spring until late autumn.
FLOWER SHOWS DISPLAY GARDENERS’ BEST
It was a very successful Spring Mini-Show at the May 8th meeting. The entries were plentiful and the breathtaking colours certainly reflected the theme ‘Hello Spring’. Heather Grey’s beautiful orchid was the most popular choice made by member ‘judges’ for the show, thereby winning the Best In Show Award. Joanna Blanchard was a strong first place winner in the design category for Hello Spring - a design in a terra cotta pot. Many thanks to all the exhibitors for your part in making it a great show, to our members for judging the entries and to all those who so kindly helped us with the show.
Now we are looking forward to our Summer Show at Trace Manes Community Centre on the night of the June 12th meeting. Entries will be received from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. See pages 36 and 37 in the yearbook for the show schedule. New exhibitors will find helpful hints by reading “Flower Shows Made Easy” on pg. 27 and also the Show Rules on pg. 29-31. Design classes will feature a beach/water theme, “Reflections” (a design with visible use of water), “Washed Ashore” (a design incorporating a found object) and for the Youth Category, “Beach Treasure” (a design in a shell). Don’t forget that for new design exhibitors there are novice categories. Hopefully we will have nice spring weather and our gardens will produce lots of specimens to enter in the show.
Cheryl Hawrysh & Linda Wickland
Flower Show Coordinators
CNE EXHIBIT OFFERS CREATIVE OUTLET AND CASH PRIZES
We are hoping to have our garden society create an exhibit for this year’s CNE Horticultural Show. The theme is ‘Compatibility’ and the entry is to be two matching patio planters containing all foliage, flowering plants, or a combination of both. If you would be interested in joining us in this endeavor, please let us know. It can be a lot of fun and a chance to learn new things as well. We also have copies of the CNE Horticultural Show Schedule and Prize List if you would be
interested in entering any of the horticultural or design classes on an individual basis.
Linda Wickland 416-429-5131
Cheryl Hawrysh 416-482-4281
Flower Show Coordinators
GARDEN TOUR PROMISES
TO BE JUNE HIGHLIGHT
The annual Garden Tour is scheduled for Saturday June 21st, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm, rain or shine. Tickets are on sale for $10.00 each at the usual vendors, and we will also be selling them at the June meeting, at a discounted price of 2 for $18.00. Mail order is also available. If you wish to purchase tickets by mail, please call Jeannette Valeriotte at 416-425-0034. Our community vendors are: Coldwell Banker, Gentry Clothiers, Royal LePage, Stars and write impressions. Their willingness to participate in this way is much appreciated.
You won’t want to miss this year’s tour. Nine special gardens are featured, including dog friendly spaces, water features, and creative hardscaping. Large or small, they all showcase the enthusiasm and creativity of their owners, each of whom has met the challenges of gardening in Leaside in a unique manner.
We are happy to report that the response for volunteer garden hosts at the May meeting was exceptional. However, we still have a few openings that need to be filled. Avoid the June rush, look at the times still available and email Brooke Weslak at weslak@sympatico.ca or phone 416-489-5398 and reserve a spot.
Still available:
325 Bessborough 1:30 – 2:45, 143 Rumsey 1:30 – 2:45, 153 Rumsey 1:30 – 2:45, 292 Airdrie 1:30 – 2:45, 142 Randolph 12:15 – 1:30 and 1:30 – 2:45, 1 Kenrae 12:15 – 1:30 and 1:30 – 2:45.
What does it take to be a garden host? Simply a desire to contribute to the Leaside Garden Society and 1 ¼ hours of your time on the day of the tour. Hosts check off passports, chat with visitors and if necessary control the crowds. The garden owners will be present to answer questions related to their gardens, but we hope volunteers can answer queries about the Society. Passports will be available for sale at each garden on the day of the tour.
Please call Joanna (416-422-0538) or Cathy (416-422-4926) if you need more information.
Joanna Blanchard & Cathy Park
Tour Convenors
TEAMWORK AND GOOD WEATHER MAKE PLANT SALE A SUCCESS
What a difference from last year! The temperature was about 12 degrees warmer and the lineups before the sale about 3 times longer. We sold all but a few plants at the sale and I was able to sell the rest at another location the same day. One constant thread through all the years of the plant sale is the wonderful volunteers. As usual, they did a fabulous job to set up the room, price the plants, help people with their purchases, and clean up afterwards. Two people deserve special recognition; Darrell Curtin for overseeing the setup and pricing of plants on Friday (while I was dancing the night away at my bowling banquet) and Jacqui Dixon, the Master Gardener, who provided many people with invaluable advice that lead to many sales. The society made a profit of about $900 to aid in our community efforts. (Please remember to return your plant sale lawn sign to the June meeting.)
Don Beard
Plant Sale Coordinator
CHOOSING THE IDEAL PLANT
Are you looking for a perennial to fill in that annoying gap in your garden but you aren’t sure what you want? Perhaps you should consider one of the plants that has been chosen as Perennial Plant of the Year over the last few years. These plants are suitable for our climate, are easy to maintain, are pest and disease resistant, are available in most garden centres, and show interest through several seasons. You can chose from such plants as: catmint ‘Walker’s Low’, dianthus ‘Firewitch’, helleborus xhybridus, Japanese painted fern ‘pictum’, Shasta daisy ‘Becky’, phlox ‘David’, scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’, black-eyed Susan ‘Goldsturm’. For a more complete list, and for the botanical names, visit www.perennialplant.org.
FUNGUS COULD BE ANSWER TO WEED CONTROL IN LAWN CARE
I was poking around in my garden on a mid-spring afternoon when the commercial lawn care guy appeared in the yard of my next door neighbour. With a pack on his back and a wand in his hand connected to the pack, he proceeded to apply what looked to be a granular substance to spots in the lawn. I didn’t detect a chemical odour and, knowing that the pesticide/herbicide by-laws are rather strict now, I asked him what he was doing. He informed me that he was applying a granular, biological herbicide to kill the dandelions in the lawn. Our further conversation answered some more of my questions but also sparked my curiosity so I did some internet research. Here is what I discovered.
Sarritor is the name of a Montreal company and also the name of the product. The active component of Sarritor is Sclerotinia minor, a naturally occurring, native fungus. It is applied in a grain product, hence the granular appearance. It is effective on dandelions and other lawn weeds such as plantain but only after they have emerged and are in growth mode. The fungus germinates and is absorbed into the weed. It takes about 5 to 7 days for the weed to die. Turf grasses are not affected. Having done its work, the fungus dies and leaves no harm to the soil. The fungus is not harmful to humans or pets or wildlife.
It is recommended that Sarritor be applied in spring and fall when weeds are actively growing and when daytime temperatures are between 18 and 24 C. It requires moisture to work so should be applied before a predicted rainfall. It may only be available for commercial use this year but should be more readily available for residential use next year. Look and ask for it at your favourite garden centre.
Researched and written by Barry Schneider
GARDEN TOURS AROUND TOWN
June 8
Hidden Gardens & Secret Spaces
in Cabbagetown
11 am – 4 pm
10 gardens $10
Closest ticket outlet:
Mi Casa
238 Carlton, at Parliament
June 14 – 15
Through the Garden Gate: The Gardens of Riverdale
25 private gardens, $40, $35 for TBG members
Contact TBG for more info & tickets
June 21
The Magical Gardens of Leaside
11 am – 4 pm
9 gardens $10
Tickets available at Coldwell Banker, Gentry Clothiers, Royal LePage, Stars, write impressions
June 22
The Gardens of the Beach
1 – 5 pm $10
Closest ticket outlet:
Bill’s Garden Centre,
903 Pape Avenue, south of Mortimer
July 20
Pond Tour
10 am – 4 pm $10
all ponds are in Pickering and Scarborough
For more info visit: www.onwatergarden.com
OTHER GARDENING EVENTS
OF THE SEASON
May 31 – June 1, June 7 – 8
Iris and Peony Celebration at the RBG
Visit www.RBG.com for more information
June 7
Evergreen Native Plant and Gardening Fair
8 am – 3 pm free admission
at the Don Valley Brickworks
-native plant nurseries, seed vendors, eco-businesses, workshops, demonstrations
June 7 – 8
Open Garden at Marion Jarvie’s
37 Thornheights Road, Thornhill
10 am – 4 pm no charge
plants available for sale
June 12
Decorating Workshop: Creating a Mediterranean Herb Garden
Sheridan North York
6:30 to 8:30 pm
$45
Call 416-225-7705 to reserve space
June 14 – 15
Peony Festival
at Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens
10 am – 4 pm
Canada’s largest contemporary peony collection
For more info, visit: www.ovbgoshawa.ca or call 905-436-5636, ext. 2162
June 19
Decorating Workshop: Creating a Distinctive Summer Container
Sheridan North York
6:30 – 8:30 pm
$45
Call 416-225-7705 to reserve space
REMINDERS
Photography Competition – Keep your camera charged all summer long so you are always ready to take a shot of any attractive garden specimen you see. You could be the winner of this year’s photo contest. Entries must be submitted by September 11, 2008. For further details, see page 41 of the yearbook.
Community Award - As you stroll, jog, walk or drive around the neighbourhood, take note of any businesses in our community that put forth an effort to beautify their grounds with flowers and/or shrubs. Nominations should be forwarded to Charlotte Gibson as soon as possible. Even though the award is not presented until the fall, pictures must be taken while the grounds are in full bloom. Either call 416-422-4844 or <SPAN style="FONT-SI
