CLOCA Rain Barrels
17/05/12 11:01 PM Filed in: Area News
Orders are now being taken for a Saturday June 16, 2012 pickup date. Distribution will be from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Purple Woods Conservation Area 38 Coates Road East, Oshawa. No household limits and no residency requirements are imposed; however, only barrels ordered in advance are guaranteed to be available.
Each rain barrel comes fully equipped with a leaf and mosquito filter basket, an overflow adaptor that permits multiple barrels to be connected in series, 1.2m of overflow hose and a spigot that attaches directly to a garden hose. The price is $50 per barrel. (Additional overflow hose can also be purchased if required.)
Order your barrel online here.
Buy Now (use your debit or credit card to pay online now) OR
Cash-on-Pickup (reserve a barrel and pay in cash at the sale event)
Call Cathy Grant at 905-579-0411 ext. 108 for information not available on the website or if you need assistance with online ordering.
Bring your receipt to Purple Woods Conservation Area, 38 Coates Rd. East, Oshawa Heritage Hall to pick up your barrels.
Your Club Needs a Speaker Co-ordinator
17/05/12 09:07 PM Filed in: Club News
The Oshawa Garden Club is looking for a volunteer to contact and coordinate event speakers for the 2013 calendar year. We do have a list of speakers that members have heard and thought were interesting and Nadia, the out-going coordinator, would be happy to explain the general process so that you would have full support from the team.
If taking on this role would be of interest to you, please contact .
If taking on this role would be of interest to you, please contact .
May Greenleaf Online
16/05/12 06:57 PM Filed in: Club News
Oshawa's First Jane's Walks
14/05/12 09:53 PM Filed in: Club Activities
from Sally Grande, Greenleaf Editor
On May 5th, 2012, Oshawa hosted a series of Jane’s Walks at several locations. OGC's President, Debi Foster, organized the OVBG walk and partnered with Dave Marlowe and Sally Grande to walk with Oshawa’s Mayor, John Henry. At the same time, Debi’s son helped out at the Jane’s Walk at Camp Samac, which had 15 participants. Debi guided us through the OVBG gardens while Dave provided a history of the area, complete with historic photos and maps. Sally summarized the life and work of urban innovator and activist, Jane Jacobs (1916-2006). Jane would have loved the OVBG since she believed that a city’s “walkability” was its greatest strength. George McCormack and Linda Wylie provided additional input while Debi also took photos.
Sharing Gardens Tours Update
13/05/12 09:16 PM Filed in: Garden Shows & Tours
from Garry Lucas
June 24,2012: That is the first Sunday to keep open for our early summer garden tour. Even with all the unpredictable weather the gardens should be colourful and the roses in full bloom. Consider showing your garden as, I am certain, we can learn from what you have done and you can learn from the questions and experiences of your fellow gardeners.
Aug.19,2012: The Sunday of our late summer tour is another date to note. Gardens are usually at their peak and a cascade of colour at this time.
We meet at 12:30 PM at the Peony Gardens on Arena St. north off Bond at Ontario Motor Sales. After reviewing the tour map and car pooling, we leave as a group promptly at 1 PM. Members and guests are welcome and do not forget your camera as there are sure to be items.designs, and plants that inspire you.
After all that effort, planning, and expense of your garden you have a right to be proud and I hope you will consider sharing it with other appreciative members of the club. Contact Garry Lucas or Ted Brown with any questions or to volunteer.
A garden is to enjoy and it is rewarding to share the joy.
June 24,2012: That is the first Sunday to keep open for our early summer garden tour. Even with all the unpredictable weather the gardens should be colourful and the roses in full bloom. Consider showing your garden as, I am certain, we can learn from what you have done and you can learn from the questions and experiences of your fellow gardeners.
Aug.19,2012: The Sunday of our late summer tour is another date to note. Gardens are usually at their peak and a cascade of colour at this time.
We meet at 12:30 PM at the Peony Gardens on Arena St. north off Bond at Ontario Motor Sales. After reviewing the tour map and car pooling, we leave as a group promptly at 1 PM. Members and guests are welcome and do not forget your camera as there are sure to be items.designs, and plants that inspire you.
After all that effort, planning, and expense of your garden you have a right to be proud and I hope you will consider sharing it with other appreciative members of the club. Contact Garry Lucas or Ted Brown with any questions or to volunteer.
A garden is to enjoy and it is rewarding to share the joy.
OGC Annual Plant Sale
from Garry Lucas
Open to all on Saturday, June 2 from 9 AM to 3 PM. The sale will be held at the Northview Seniors Centre on Beatrice St. in Oshawa (see map). The sale will be in the upper parking lot, just follow the signs if you have never been there. In addition to member supplied plants there will be a wide selection of clematis available from a local expert. Many of these are not commonly available at nurseries.
The sale is later this year as some of you did not have time last year to divide large perennials due to the weather. There should be no problem with late cold weather this year. If you need a hand dividing or potting plants to donate or just for plant pickup, then contact us. We will come with a trailer of potting soil, pots, and willing workers to assist you. Of course, any plants you pot can be picked up or delivered the day of the sale.
This is the major fundraiser for your club and helps minimize dues increases. Donating plants or time are essential for a healthy club. Volunteers are needed to help with many tasks other than potting such as: labelling, phoning, selling, cashier, organizing, transporting, storing. Every little bit helps so, if you can assist on sale day or any day prior to that, let us know as above. I am potting and dividing most any afternoon the weather is clear. If you have an unused driveway or part of a backyard we need a place to store plants until the sale day.
Please note that we especially need plants that are not commonly grown or that are expensive at the nursery. Consider taking a small division or two off that special plant or rooting a piece of your shrubs so others can enjoy them, too. Excess seedlings are also welcomed and are popular when available.
The sale is later this year as some of you did not have time last year to divide large perennials due to the weather. There should be no problem with late cold weather this year. If you need a hand dividing or potting plants to donate or just for plant pickup, then contact us. We will come with a trailer of potting soil, pots, and willing workers to assist you. Of course, any plants you pot can be picked up or delivered the day of the sale.
This is the major fundraiser for your club and helps minimize dues increases. Donating plants or time are essential for a healthy club. Volunteers are needed to help with many tasks other than potting such as: labelling, phoning, selling, cashier, organizing, transporting, storing. Every little bit helps so, if you can assist on sale day or any day prior to that, let us know as above. I am potting and dividing most any afternoon the weather is clear. If you have an unused driveway or part of a backyard we need a place to store plants until the sale day.
Please note that we especially need plants that are not commonly grown or that are expensive at the nursery. Consider taking a small division or two off that special plant or rooting a piece of your shrubs so others can enjoy them, too. Excess seedlings are also welcomed and are popular when available.
Tree Plantings: OGC 80th Anniversary and Queen's Diamond Jubilee
05/05/12 08:42 AM Filed in: Club News | Club Activities
The second piece of news is that each district of the Ontario Horticultural Association is to be provided with a Bur Oak as an anniversary planting for the Queen's Jubilee. The announcement was made at the last District President's Meeting, and it was decided that any club interested in being eligible for the tree was to submit their club's name. The draw took place at the District AGM on April 28th and I am pleased to announce that the Oshawa Garden Club was chosen. The tree is to be planted on September 26th (Tree Planting Day) with a plaque installation at a location to be chosen by the City of Oshawa, somewhere along the Oshawa Creek Trail system.
From Ontario's Tree Atlas:
Tulip Tree
The tulip is tall, second in North American only to the Giant Sequoia. Tulips often reach 150 feet with diameters up to 8 feet; they can live 300 years. (Compare the sequoia: 300', 30' diameter, and 3,000 years). What distinguishes the tulip is good posture. It's a very straight tree. The up-reaching branches have elbow-like bends and the bottom branches may be as high as 80' from the ground. The gray-brown bark has deep, vertical furrows like an elm. These features could also describe some lindens and nut trees, so crane your neck and check the branch tips. The tulip holds on to its seed cones all winter. Tulip have lovely flowers in spring, water lily-shaped and greenish with orange stripes. However, they're 'way, 'way up there, so look for a fallen one or bring the binoculars. Over the summer, the flowers mature into light brown cones that split open in the fall, shedding winged seeds (samaras) until spring. The leaves have four points, two on each side, like a webbed duck foot that's missing the forward pointing toe. The leaves turn a lovely yellow in the fall. In the wild, tulips have a wide natural range, from Northern Florida and Louisiana, to Michigan, Southern Ontario, and Southern New England. The best ones, they say, are in the Ohio Valley. Tulips like deep rich soil with adequate moisture and good drainage. It's said that they languish in soil that's too wet or too dry. Tulips are good urban trees for large, open spaces. They're resistant to pests and they "play well with others"; the trees are tall enough that they don't shade out the competition. Tulip trees are know as "honey trees" -- a single teenage tree (e.g. 25 years old) is said to produce something like 8 pounds of nectar, which must be a lot the way the experts talk about it. The seeds are also food for the songbirds, squirrels, mice and rabbits. Curiously, tulips are one of the fastest growing hardwoods. (Note, that "fast" is a relative term when talking about trees.) This makes tulips commercially attractive for lumber. Tulips have fine-grained wood that's soft enough to be easily worked but hard enough to take a high polish. The Native American once made the giant, straight trunks into canoes; today tulip lumber is used for toys, furniture, paneling, veneer, crates and pulp.
read more
Bur Oak
The bur oak can survive forest fires because it has very thick bark. It can also tolerate drought because its roots grow deep into the ground. The bur oak is a medium to large tree, growing up to 30 metres in height. It is the most common oak in Ontario. The bur oak’s large leaves are 15 to 25 centimetres long, and are shiny green on top, and pale and hairy underneath. Its acorns, which are 1.5 to 3 centimetres long, have a deep cup covering 2/3 of the acorn. This cup has a bristle fringe around the upper edge. Depending on where it grows, the bur oak can be different shapes. It’s usually tall with a straight trunk but if grown in shallow soil, it can be smaller with a twisted trunk and gnarled branches.
Size: 15 to 30 metres tall, trunk 60 to 120 centimetres in diameter
Moisture: Tolerates a wide variety of moisture conditions
Shade: Prefers full sun, but can tolerate moderate shade
Soil: Can grow in a variety of soils
Planting tip: The bur oak’s roots grow deep into the soil, so plant it where there aren’t underground pipes. The bur oak can survive being transplanted and it grows well in cities.
read more
Ontario Tree Atlas
01/05/12 03:46 PM Filed in: Garden Tips
Trees shade our homes, add beauty to our communities and countryside, and protect biodiversity by providing food and habitat for birds and animals. Trees are natural air filters - taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Trees protect sources of drinking water by preventing soil erosion.
Trees absorb and store greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as they grow, making them an essential tool in Ontario's fight against climate change.
What trees grow best where you live? Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources has a wonderful webpage devoted to native trees for Durham Region - or any Ontario region for that matter. read more
April Presentation: Small Garden Design
25/04/12 05:59 PM Filed in: Garden Articles | Club Events
by member Karen Sciuk
April’s speaker, Frank Kershaw, an award winning horticulturalist with more than thirty-five years experience in the parks, environmental and horticultural fields, talked about design elements and techniques used to make a small garden seem larger and more dramatic.
Most modern, urban garden spaces need to be carefully designed with a smaller scale in mind. Mistakes are more obvious due to the emphasis on an inward focus. The spaces are often very intimate, enclosed by hedges, a trellis, an arbour. Vertical gardening becomes very important. Consider espaliered trees.
Terraced decks and patios create depth. There is usually room for a limited number of functions compared to larger, rural garden retreats. Creating a seamless transition from the home into the garden can give the impression of a larger space.
Similarly, co-ordinating the design from the front, along the sides, into the back creates continuity. Sinuous borders lead the eye along a more expansive journey. Clever use of reflecting pools, contrasting “proceeding” and “receding” colours, such as rich reds and yellows against cool blues and dark greens also tricks the eye. Forced perspective, an architectural trick, adds distance and expands the view.
Just because a yard is small, the plants do not need to all stay small. A few bold accents add grandeur and a lasting impression. Not only interesting plant specimens, but items such as mirrors, rustic urns, whimsical statuary, or wall fountains are good punctuation points. Finally, never forget to look out the window when designing the garden views.
For more on Frank Kershaw's delightful ideas, take a look at his chapter inside the new book Gardening from a Hammock, which is a compilation of advice given from many of our well-loved gardening gurus.
gardeningfromahammock.com
Most modern, urban garden spaces need to be carefully designed with a smaller scale in mind. Mistakes are more obvious due to the emphasis on an inward focus. The spaces are often very intimate, enclosed by hedges, a trellis, an arbour. Vertical gardening becomes very important. Consider espaliered trees.
Terraced decks and patios create depth. There is usually room for a limited number of functions compared to larger, rural garden retreats. Creating a seamless transition from the home into the garden can give the impression of a larger space.
Similarly, co-ordinating the design from the front, along the sides, into the back creates continuity. Sinuous borders lead the eye along a more expansive journey. Clever use of reflecting pools, contrasting “proceeding” and “receding” colours, such as rich reds and yellows against cool blues and dark greens also tricks the eye. Forced perspective, an architectural trick, adds distance and expands the view.
Just because a yard is small, the plants do not need to all stay small. A few bold accents add grandeur and a lasting impression. Not only interesting plant specimens, but items such as mirrors, rustic urns, whimsical statuary, or wall fountains are good punctuation points. Finally, never forget to look out the window when designing the garden views.
For more on Frank Kershaw's delightful ideas, take a look at his chapter inside the new book Gardening from a Hammock, which is a compilation of advice given from many of our well-loved gardening gurus.
gardeningfromahammock.com
10 Neat Things About Willows and Poplars
21/04/12 08:42 AM Filed in: Garden Articles
from localgardener.net
Willows (Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) are cousins, both belonging to the genus salicaceae. They both populate wide swathes of the temperate zones and extend all the way to the subtropical. You will find them growing naturally all over North America and throughout the Russian federation, covering some 70 million hectares on earth, and an estimated 70 countries grow them domestically in mixtures with other naturally occurring forest species. read more
Willows (Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) are cousins, both belonging to the genus salicaceae. They both populate wide swathes of the temperate zones and extend all the way to the subtropical. You will find them growing naturally all over North America and throughout the Russian federation, covering some 70 million hectares on earth, and an estimated 70 countries grow them domestically in mixtures with other naturally occurring forest species. read more
Raymond Evison on Guernsey Clematis
16/04/12 05:17 PM Filed in: Area News
Date: Sunday, April 29th, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.
Raymond will be giving a talk at the Toronto Botanical Gardens in Toronto.
The first part of the talk will be on new varieties, the second part on the general care of Clematis.
A 45 minute talk followed by questions.
A great chance to meet Raymond for all Clematis lovers.
Entrance Fee: $5.00. Cash only, at the door.
RSVP
p.keeping@sympatico.ca
905-697-7842
Raymond will be giving a talk at the Toronto Botanical Gardens in Toronto.
The first part of the talk will be on new varieties, the second part on the general care of Clematis.
A 45 minute talk followed by questions.
A great chance to meet Raymond for all Clematis lovers.
Entrance Fee: $5.00. Cash only, at the door.
RSVP
p.keeping@sympatico.ca
905-697-7842
Jane’s Walks Come to Oshawa in May
15/04/12 01:26 PM Filed in: Area News
from member Sally
Jane’s Walks Come to Oshawa - May 5 & 6, 2012
(Check Club Calendar for updates)
“Not TV or illegal drugs but the automobile has been the chief destroyer of American communities.” ― Jane Jacobs, The Dark Age Ahead
Jane Jacobs was born in the US in 1916 and she worked as a writer throughout her life. She moved to Toronto in 1968 due to her concern about the Vietnam War and her draft-age sons. Throughout her life, she fought the construction of highways that would cut towns in half. She was like the mouse who roared.
As a writer, housewife, mother and grandmother, she single-handedly revolutionized urban planning. She believed in communities for people planned by the people. Because of Jacobs, many distressed urban neighbourhoods throughout North America are more likely to be gentrified today than bulldozed for redevelopment. Jacobs believed that the “walkability” of a city was its main strength. The City of Toronto proclaimed Friday May 4, 2007, as Jane Jacobs Day in Toronto. Since then, people impassioned by their neighbourhoods have been holding Jane’s Walks throughout the world in 75 cities and 15 countries. The prestigious Rockefeller Foundation created the Jane Jacobs Medal in 2007, "to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to thinking about urban design in New York City". Most of all, Jane taught us to open our eyes.
This year the City of Oshawa will be participating in Jane’s Walks on May 5 and 6. The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens has been suggested as one of the sites for a walk. If you would be interested in helping put together a guided walk (1 to 2 hours in length) of the OVBG please .
See janeswalks.net for more info.
Jane’s Walks Come to Oshawa - May 5 & 6, 2012
(Check Club Calendar for updates)
Jane Jacobs was born in the US in 1916 and she worked as a writer throughout her life. She moved to Toronto in 1968 due to her concern about the Vietnam War and her draft-age sons. Throughout her life, she fought the construction of highways that would cut towns in half. She was like the mouse who roared.
As a writer, housewife, mother and grandmother, she single-handedly revolutionized urban planning. She believed in communities for people planned by the people. Because of Jacobs, many distressed urban neighbourhoods throughout North America are more likely to be gentrified today than bulldozed for redevelopment. Jacobs believed that the “walkability” of a city was its main strength. The City of Toronto proclaimed Friday May 4, 2007, as Jane Jacobs Day in Toronto. Since then, people impassioned by their neighbourhoods have been holding Jane’s Walks throughout the world in 75 cities and 15 countries. The prestigious Rockefeller Foundation created the Jane Jacobs Medal in 2007, "to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to thinking about urban design in New York City". Most of all, Jane taught us to open our eyes.
This year the City of Oshawa will be participating in Jane’s Walks on May 5 and 6. The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens has been suggested as one of the sites for a walk. If you would be interested in helping put together a guided walk (1 to 2 hours in length) of the OVBG please .
See janeswalks.net for more info.
Jane's Walk at OVBG
15/04/12 01:14 PM Filed in: Garden Shows & Tours | Club Activities
Jane’s Walk at the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens map
Saturday May 5th: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm (possibly 3 pm)
Meet at the Children's Arena parking lot off Arena Street.
Take a leisurely stroll through a botanical jewel in the heart of Oshawa. Community groups have worked together with the City of Oshawa in planning and developing this amazing space along the Oshawa Creek Trail system. A variety of gardens will be visited including the Peony Garden and the Memory Garden. Two stunning architectural elements in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International and the 75th Anniversary of the Oshawa Garden Club are also noted as key features of the botanical garden. Come and see the many facets of this unique space.
Saturday May 5th: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm (possibly 3 pm)
Meet at the Children's Arena parking lot off Arena Street.
Take a leisurely stroll through a botanical jewel in the heart of Oshawa. Community groups have worked together with the City of Oshawa in planning and developing this amazing space along the Oshawa Creek Trail system. A variety of gardens will be visited including the Peony Garden and the Memory Garden. Two stunning architectural elements in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International and the 75th Anniversary of the Oshawa Garden Club are also noted as key features of the botanical garden. Come and see the many facets of this unique space.
Volunteers Needed: Jane's Walks
14/04/12 04:17 PM Filed in: Club News | Club Activities
Jane’s Walks Come to Oshawa - May 5 & 6, 2012
If you’re interested in helping with a guided walk (1 to 2 hours in length) of the OVBG, please contact .
If you’re interested in helping with a guided walk (1 to 2 hours in length) of the OVBG, please contact .
Hearth Place Plant Sale
14/04/12 03:51 PM Filed in: Area News
Date: May 26, 2012: 8:30 am to 1 pm
Join the Artists in the Garden Committee on Saturday, May 26, 2012 for their 2nd Annual Plant Sale in the parking lot of Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre.
A variety of plants including perennials, annuals, herbs and veggie plants are available for sale. Most plants will range in price from $1.00 to $5.00 depending on size. For more information about the sale and Artists in the Garden, visit www.hearthplace.org for details.
Organization: Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre
Location: 86 Colborne St., W., Oshawa map
Contact Name: Artists in the Garden Committee
Phone: 905-579-4833
Email: artists.inthegarden@gmail.com
Join the Artists in the Garden Committee on Saturday, May 26, 2012 for their 2nd Annual Plant Sale in the parking lot of Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre.
A variety of plants including perennials, annuals, herbs and veggie plants are available for sale. Most plants will range in price from $1.00 to $5.00 depending on size. For more information about the sale and Artists in the Garden, visit www.hearthplace.org for details.
Organization: Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre
Location: 86 Colborne St., W., Oshawa map
Contact Name: Artists in the Garden Committee
Phone: 905-579-4833
Email: artists.inthegarden@gmail.com
Newcastle's Community Garden Project
14/04/12 03:38 PM Filed in: Area News
The Newcastle Horticultural Society is looking for donations of "named" plants for their community hall garden. The building was built by the Massey family in 1922 and the community has plans to raise funds to improve things.
Read about their plans here and perhaps donate plants or more to help.
Read about their plans here and perhaps donate plants or more to help.
Ottawa Tulip Festival Tour
14/04/12 10:47 AM Filed in: Garden Shows & Tours
The city of Ottawa receives 10,000 bulbs from Holland’s Monarchy every year. Pine Ridge Garden Club is planning on a tour of the Tulip Festival in Ottawa May 9th.
One of the many stops they would like to make is to Parliament Hill and then on to the Agriculture Canada Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Ottawa (established 1887), where they are attempting to have the Ottawa Garden club give a tour.
Then they’ll go to Commissioners Park to view 500,000 tulips arranged in waves of colour. Here’s hoping they have entertainment in the park that day. Then off to Major Hill Park where 25 participating countries gather together for a festival full eats and delights, & entertainment. You can sit and listen to the Music in the tulips or wander through and view the artistic displays in the tulips. If they have time they’d would like to stop at ByWard Market.
Before you sign up please understand that they will be leaving early 7 am and coming back late 11pm at a cost of $60.00.
If you are interested in going please contact Shirley at 905-986-5330.
One of the many stops they would like to make is to Parliament Hill and then on to the Agriculture Canada Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Ottawa (established 1887), where they are attempting to have the Ottawa Garden club give a tour.
Then they’ll go to Commissioners Park to view 500,000 tulips arranged in waves of colour. Here’s hoping they have entertainment in the park that day. Then off to Major Hill Park where 25 participating countries gather together for a festival full eats and delights, & entertainment. You can sit and listen to the Music in the tulips or wander through and view the artistic displays in the tulips. If they have time they’d would like to stop at ByWard Market.
Before you sign up please understand that they will be leaving early 7 am and coming back late 11pm at a cost of $60.00.
If you are interested in going please contact Shirley at 905-986-5330.
Touring with Toronto Botanical Garden
14/04/12 10:28 AM Filed in: Area News | Garden Shows & Tours
NEW 2012: DEEPEST PARKDALE TOUR - BOOK TODAY!
New and for a limited few months only, is a tour of the personal garden of a remarkable plantsman Barry Parker.
This special tour offers a combination of both the “hort” and the “culture” in horticulture.
Horticulture: Visit the personal garden of remarkable plantsman Barry Parker. This exquisite city garden is an ode to Barry’s passion for plants and a lifetime of inspiration. Among the many gems to be discovered are trough gardens to miniature plant vignettes, as well as rare and unusual native plants.
Horticulture: The Tour also provides an opportunity to explore Parkdale: A neighbourhood full of history and character. Learn about Parkdale’s interesting history and discover some architectural gems including a charming Edwardian Mews “the narrowest street in the city.”
Also included is discounted shopping at nearby Kuda, Canada ’s leading retailer in exotic solid wood furniture and accessories from South East Asia . Kuda’s 20,000 sq’ showroom is filled with a large selection of furniture and accessories for the home and garden.
Finish your tour with a prix fixe lunch ($25) in the relaxing and stylish surroundings of the historic Gladstone Hotel.
Visiting Toronto ? We would be happy to combine this tour with other nominally priced tours to create a tour package to fit your needs.
Each tour is conducted by our friendly, knowledgeable and fully trained guides who will make your visit truly memorable. All our tours are informative and engaging and are designed to help experts and novice gardener’s alike gain a greater understanding of plants, the natural landscape, landscape design and the history of these unique gardens.
We offer tours in English, and, with enough advance notice, we can arrange to bring a guide with your group to provide a simultaneous translation of our knowledgeable tour guide’s talk in: French, German, Italian, Persian, Kurdu, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Toronto Botanical Garden is a Registered Charity and is situated in Edwards Gardens at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Leslie Streets.
Booking: Deepest Parkdale tours are only available once a week from May until end of September 2012. For prices, packages and booking information, please visit http://www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/tours/overview.htm ; call 416 397 4145 or email tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
New and for a limited few months only, is a tour of the personal garden of a remarkable plantsman Barry Parker.
This special tour offers a combination of both the “hort” and the “culture” in horticulture.
Horticulture: Visit the personal garden of remarkable plantsman Barry Parker. This exquisite city garden is an ode to Barry’s passion for plants and a lifetime of inspiration. Among the many gems to be discovered are trough gardens to miniature plant vignettes, as well as rare and unusual native plants.
Horticulture: The Tour also provides an opportunity to explore Parkdale: A neighbourhood full of history and character. Learn about Parkdale’s interesting history and discover some architectural gems including a charming Edwardian Mews “the narrowest street in the city.”
Also included is discounted shopping at nearby Kuda, Canada ’s leading retailer in exotic solid wood furniture and accessories from South East Asia . Kuda’s 20,000 sq’ showroom is filled with a large selection of furniture and accessories for the home and garden.
Finish your tour with a prix fixe lunch ($25) in the relaxing and stylish surroundings of the historic Gladstone Hotel.
Visiting Toronto ? We would be happy to combine this tour with other nominally priced tours to create a tour package to fit your needs.
Each tour is conducted by our friendly, knowledgeable and fully trained guides who will make your visit truly memorable. All our tours are informative and engaging and are designed to help experts and novice gardener’s alike gain a greater understanding of plants, the natural landscape, landscape design and the history of these unique gardens.
We offer tours in English, and, with enough advance notice, we can arrange to bring a guide with your group to provide a simultaneous translation of our knowledgeable tour guide’s talk in: French, German, Italian, Persian, Kurdu, Russian, Hebrew, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Toronto Botanical Garden is a Registered Charity and is situated in Edwards Gardens at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Leslie Streets.
Booking: Deepest Parkdale tours are only available once a week from May until end of September 2012. For prices, packages and booking information, please visit http://www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/tours/overview.htm ; call 416 397 4145 or email tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Job Opportunity: Loblaws
14/04/12 10:22 AM Filed in: Area News
For the past 20 years the Ontario Horticultural Society and Loblaws have partnered on a project that sees a community member with horticultural experience providing information on plants and planting to the customers at the Loblaw Garden Centre. This is a paid position. The candidate is not expected to have any cash register responsibilities as part of the job.
Location: Bowmanville Loblaws (2375 Hwy. 2)
Timelines: Thursday May 3 to Sunday June 24
Thursdays: 11 am – 7 pm or 10 am to 6 pm at the discretion of the store manager
Fridays: 11 am – 7 pm or 10 am to 6 pm at the discretion of the store manager
Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Contact for more info.
Location: Bowmanville Loblaws (2375 Hwy. 2)
Timelines: Thursday May 3 to Sunday June 24
Thursdays: 11 am – 7 pm or 10 am to 6 pm at the discretion of the store manager
Fridays: 11 am – 7 pm or 10 am to 6 pm at the discretion of the store manager
Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Contact for more info.
We Want You to be a Showoff!
14/04/12 10:13 AM Filed in: Club News | Club Activities
Part of the OHA District 17 Annual General Meetings is devoted to judged exhibitions of horticultural specimens, photography, art work and floral designs.
The Oshawa Garden Club does not have regular flower shows as do most clubs. The planning committee for the 2013 District 17 AGM would like to encourage members to show flowers, bulbs, branches etc. from their gardens and learn what is expected so that there will be entries from OGC members submitted at our “home” show on April 20, 2013.
Each month, beginning in May, we will provide the criteria for showing different seasonal cuttings so that members can develop the confidence to enter the various competitions.
For the May 14, 2012 meeting we are asking members to submit the following:
Note:
Containers for display must be clear glass only so that the stem is visible.
Definition of terms:
Stem or Stalk: A main plant structure which supports flower, buds, leaves or fruit.
Scape: A leafless flower stem arising from the ground, each scape carries a number of flower buds depending on the cultivar, e.g. Hemerocallis (Daylily), Narcissus.
Source: Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards for Horticulture and Floral Design, 2003
The Oshawa Garden Club does not have regular flower shows as do most clubs. The planning committee for the 2013 District 17 AGM would like to encourage members to show flowers, bulbs, branches etc. from their gardens and learn what is expected so that there will be entries from OGC members submitted at our “home” show on April 20, 2013.
Each month, beginning in May, we will provide the criteria for showing different seasonal cuttings so that members can develop the confidence to enter the various competitions.
For the May 14, 2012 meeting we are asking members to submit the following:
- Iris: any cultivar, any colour: 1 stalk
- Narcissus: any type, any colour: 1 scape
- Cutting from any bulb, any colour: 3 blooms or stems
Note:
Containers for display must be clear glass only so that the stem is visible.
Definition of terms:
Stem or Stalk: A main plant structure which supports flower, buds, leaves or fruit.
Scape: A leafless flower stem arising from the ground, each scape carries a number of flower buds depending on the cultivar, e.g. Hemerocallis (Daylily), Narcissus.
Source: Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards for Horticulture and Floral Design, 2003
April Greenleaf Online
10/04/12 08:13 PM Filed in: Club News
Check for Insects: Strawberries
31/03/12 11:58 AM Filed in: Garden Tips
from member Garry
How to check for insects in strawberries
Be sure to watch the 1:45 min video on the link to see the insect and how to clean properly.
General information for checking all produce for insects can be found here.
How to check for insects in strawberries
Be sure to watch the 1:45 min video on the link to see the insect and how to clean properly.
General information for checking all produce for insects can be found here.
Kingsway Greenhouse Patio Planter Workshops
31/03/12 11:37 AM Filed in: Area News
Create Your Own Special Patio Planters: Join Kingsway Greenhouse Patio Planter Workshops This Spring
Get to the Greenhouse this spring, and make your own unique flower or herb planters. Staff will help you with everything you need to know, then supply all the plants and materials required for your planter. This year, Kingsway is offering workshops for planters through three seasons, as well as an edible herb patio planter. Have beautiful flowers for your porch or patio for early Spring, Summer, and Fall!
WELCOME SPRING
Easter Planters: Plant Tulips, Daffodils and other Spring flowers in bloom, for fresh colour in early Spring.
SUMMER COLOUR
Annuals: Make a 12” patio urn insert full of colour for summer. Learn secrets of using colour to make it special… create pots with panache!
EDIBLE HERBS
Fill a patio container with a special combination of gourmet herbs, to use all summer… or plant a ‘salad in a pot’!
For more information on these workshops and how to register, go here.
Get to the Greenhouse this spring, and make your own unique flower or herb planters. Staff will help you with everything you need to know, then supply all the plants and materials required for your planter. This year, Kingsway is offering workshops for planters through three seasons, as well as an edible herb patio planter. Have beautiful flowers for your porch or patio for early Spring, Summer, and Fall!
WELCOME SPRING
Easter Planters: Plant Tulips, Daffodils and other Spring flowers in bloom, for fresh colour in early Spring.
- Wed. March 28, 6:30p.m.
- Sun. April 1, 1:30 p.m.
- Thurs. April 5, 6:30 p.m.
- Sun. April 8 and Mon. April 9, 1:30 p.m.
SUMMER COLOUR
Annuals: Make a 12” patio urn insert full of colour for summer. Learn secrets of using colour to make it special… create pots with panache!
- Wed. April 11, 6:30
- Wed. April 18, 1:30
- Thurs. April 19, 6:30
- Sun. April 15 & 22, 1:30
- Mother’s Day: May 13, 1:30
EDIBLE HERBS
Fill a patio container with a special combination of gourmet herbs, to use all summer… or plant a ‘salad in a pot’!
- Sun. May 6, 1:30
- Thurs. May 3, 6:30
- Wed. May 9, 1:30
For more information on these workshops and how to register, go here.
Sacajawea Tours - British Gardens 2012
31/03/12 11:37 AM Filed in: Area News | Garden Shows & Tours
Sacajawea Tours - British Gardens 2012
SUSSEX SURREY & KENT: April 27- May 4:
This tour and the following can be done back to back. Gardens to include: Nymans, Great Dixter, Sissinghurst, Perch Hill Farm: Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden, Denman’s Garden
COTSWOLDS & WILTSHIRE: May 4- May 11:
Gardens to include: Hidcote and Kiftsgate, Buscot Park, Sudley Castle, Rodmarton, Westonbirton Arboretum and Iford Manor
SUSSEX SURREY & KENT: Sept 21 – Oct 5:
This tour will include gardens from our first spring tour along with others spectacular in autumn.
more information
March Presentation: "The Evolution of Whistling Gardens"
31/03/12 10:55 AM Filed in: Garden Articles | Club Events
from member Karen
Darren Heimbecker, the creator of Whistling Gardens, in Wilsonville, Norfolk County, Ontario, took us on a journey of the evolution of his property. It has changed over the past five years, from empty fields to six major gardens, containing one of the largest conifer collections in the world, with over 2,000 different species.
It was interesting to learn of his search for conifer “brooms” in his pursuit of developing unusual new dwarf cultivars. Besides evergreens, Darren grows a few hundred native and rare Carolinian trees, a few thousand perennials, and twenty-five varieties of Chinese dogwood. Some specimens to look for are Chinese Silver Leafed Cathaya, Bald Cyprus, Varigated Japanese Incense Cedar, Gotelli Creeping Blue Spruce, Japanese Snow Pine, Limeglow Spreading Juniper, Blue Spanish Fir, Variegated Cornelian Cherry, Hana Matoi Cutleaf Japanese Maple, Paperbark Maple, Summer Fun Chinese Dogwood. We witnessed the history of his labour, building stone walls and patios, intricate gazebos, a stone bridge, terraces. His vision and energy seem limitless!
Be sure to visit this intriguing place either on your own, or with the club's upcoming bus tour in June (see club calendar).
It was interesting to learn of his search for conifer “brooms” in his pursuit of developing unusual new dwarf cultivars. Besides evergreens, Darren grows a few hundred native and rare Carolinian trees, a few thousand perennials, and twenty-five varieties of Chinese dogwood. Some specimens to look for are Chinese Silver Leafed Cathaya, Bald Cyprus, Varigated Japanese Incense Cedar, Gotelli Creeping Blue Spruce, Japanese Snow Pine, Limeglow Spreading Juniper, Blue Spanish Fir, Variegated Cornelian Cherry, Hana Matoi Cutleaf Japanese Maple, Paperbark Maple, Summer Fun Chinese Dogwood. We witnessed the history of his labour, building stone walls and patios, intricate gazebos, a stone bridge, terraces. His vision and energy seem limitless!
Be sure to visit this intriguing place either on your own, or with the club's upcoming bus tour in June (see club calendar).