It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – May 2018
by Angela Lassam

Evergreens are a major part of any landscape or garden design because the colour does not vary with the seasons although some may become dull throughout the winter months. They are generally the basis and add structure to any space.

We all know that spruce and pine and other conifers are evergreen but we may not think of the many shrubs and plants that are also in the evergreen family. To identify an evergreen look to its botanical name where you should find sempervirens which in Latin is always (semper) and green (virens).

Holly, mountain laurel and euonymus come in the evergreen bush/shrub class and most gardeners have at least one of these in their gardens.

Rhododendron is also evergreen with its shiny leaves and can grow very large. In late spring they will produce an abundance of flowers in a huge variety of colors.

Boxwood is a great bush to give definition to pathways and intricate designs. It is used in topiary as it is a slow grower and easy to prune into intricate shapes. Boxwood was used extensively in Victorian gardens to edge walkways and make interesting scenery.

Periwinkle, ivy and many groundcovers are also evergreens although maybe we do not consider them to be. There are succulents that come in the evergreen family that we are all familiar with being hens and chicks and yucca. Heather is an evergreen and it is common to find these in rock gardens. It can also be used as a groundcover.

The Town-wide Commercial Urn Beautification Project has had a slow start this year no doubt due to the cold weather and so many businesses purchasing them for the Canada 150^th  last year. This year the society hopes to continue this program. Orders for an insert package or a complete urn has been extended so please contact Kathy McCormick 5194034035 or email k.mccor7013@gmail.com for more info.

The arrangement this year will be very colourful with bright pink dipladenia, yellow mini canna lilies and white million bells. They will match the large urns on Broadway and will be delivered to your door. This is available to all businesses. You not need to be on Broadway to participate so please consider purchasing one or more.

Lastly the Garden Auction in its 12^th year was a huge success once again. Many volunteers spent the earlier part of the day in preparation and thanks to all of you for that. Thanks go out to all who attended and participated to make it such a huge boost to our funds. This allows the Society to keep our town looking great in so many ways.

The next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, June 5^{th  @}  7.30pm in the Seniors Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. The speaker will be Stefan Weber from St. Williams Nursery and Ecology Centre in St. Williams which is a great source for all native plants and trees in Ontario. Everyone welcome. For members there will be signups for the summer social and a workshop so check your Tillogram for details.

More info can be found on  www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca. Also follow us on facebook Tillsonburghorticultural. 

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – April 2018
by Angela Lassam

Although it appears early to think of plants with the prolonged cold weather it is time to start seeds indoors. There are some seeds that need a little help to start their germination. It is a task that will get your seeds to germinate a little quicker. 

Scarification is a method commonly used by gardeners to speed up the germination stage. This word may sound like a complicated process but it is not. It is simply a way to open up the seed to allow moisture to start the growth. There are several ways to do this according to the size of the seed and the thickness of its outer layer. Seeds with a shell-like skin need to be rubbed with a rasp or heavy sandpaper until a white inner part can be seen. Another method is to rub smaller seeds between two pieces of sandpaper until white can be seen on them. Seeds with an eye (hilum) or scar where it was attached to the ovary inside the fruit needs care. The seed needs to be nicked with a small knife or nail clippers on the opposite side to the eye. All types of beans are among the easiest to see and prepare in this way.

Many seeds can benefit from scarification. Flowers that come to mind are morning glory, nasturtium, moonflower, sweet peas and castor beans (remember these are poisonous!). Vegetables are any beans, peas, squash and cucumber. 

As soon as you have done this stage the seeds must be soaked in room temperature water for 12 hours and then planted immediately to avoid molding. Most seeds will benefit from a prior soaking especially if they are going to be planted in lighter soils.

Stratification is also suggested for speedier germination. This is very different from scarification although it may sound similar. It simulates the embryonic dormancy phase. The method used is to soak seeds in room temperature water for a few hours and then place in a plastic bag in damp peat moss. Seal the bag and place overnight in a refrigerator. This will mimic a cold wet spring. This process is a common approach for milkweed seeds and most perennials.

The commercial urn beautification project started last year is coming up soon and a sample of the urn will be on display at the Home & Garden Springfest on 20^th – 22nd April in the Tillsonburg Community Complex. If you would like to purchase either an urn or insert (maybe more!) contact Kathy McCormick, 519-403-4035 or email: k.mccor7013@gmail.com.

A reminder that the annual plant auction is coming on May 15^th in the Lions Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. Hopefully members are thinking about what they can contribute to make this event the best ever yet. Every year it grows even bigger. It is open to everyone so please mark your calendar and join in. 

The next monthly meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will be on Tuesday May 1st @ 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. Bob and Ann Granatier from Trails End Iris Gardens, Brantford will talk about irises. Everyone welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting or join for extra benefits. Visit us on our website at www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural for up to date news.    

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – March 2018
By Angela Lassam

In a recent event at Tillsonburg Garden Gate Carson Arthur reminded gardeners that they can be the teachers for the future. Experience can be more useful than any form of media alone. Are you looking for a pastime to interact with your family, learn something new and get some reward in return? Gardening could easily fill this gap.

Some of you may have a new home and will be looking for ways to enhance your outdoors or you may be interested in knowing what is in your food and want to grow it. Most parents would like their children to know more about their environment. This can be done through gardening when learning about the insects, birds and plants (both weeds and flowers) around them. It can become a way of socializing in your neighborhood and creating new friendships through a common interest. Many grandparents and neighbors are gardeners and would be eager to share their knowledge and maybe even some plants and there is usually a story that goes with it. Gardening is a good outdoor activity for all family members and can feed the curiosity to know more about all that is directly or indirectly connected to it. Children are naturally curious and may become our future gardeners.

A simple way to do some gardening is to get children involved in a gardening program. The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society has had a Junior Gardeners program for over 30 years. Many parents have participated in the past. There have been many program co-ordinators – Chris Balazs, Ilene Chesterman and Marion Weeks to name a few and in recent years Judi Misener (2011-2013) Juley Van Daalen (2014-2016) and presently Chris Suttie (2017 –present). She starts her task as early as February ordering seeds and plants, preparing bags for seeds, and forms for the children. Any child from the age of 4 to 14 years old who lives in Tillsonburg and surrounding area can participate. Forms go out to all the schools and other locations at the beginning of April.

The theme this year is ‘Salsa & Salads’. A volunteer group then get together to prepare the kits for them. Deadline for registration is April 23rd this year. Complete gardening kits (seeds, bulbs and plants with all necessary instructions) are delivered in mid May to the schools for pickup. Arrangements are made for other children that are home schooled.

A group of society volunteers receive a list of gardens to be judged and at the end of July/August the gardeners will be contacted for judging. Then there will be a Pizza Party in September for all participating gardeners for awards and certificates. Gardens are usually photographed and displayed at the party for all to see and admire. It is usually a fun time for both children and families. Anyone who is interested in this program can contact Chris phone# 5196880588 or cell# 5195505951 alternately email: suttiekc@sympatico.ca for further information.

Now is the time to think ahead to the Garden Auction on Tuesday, May 15th @ 6.30pm Tillsonburg Community Complex. Members who enjoy making crafts I hope you are working on some interesting items for this upcoming event. Anyone who starts seeds can help towards the many plants needed to fill the auctioned arrangements. All contributions go to make this event a success so please consider doing something towards it.

The next monthly meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will be on Tuesday, April 3rd @ 7.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Complex. The speaker is Denise Huck from Colour Paradise Greenhouses, Mannheim talking about gardening trends for 2018. Everyone welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting or join for extra benefits. Visit us on our website at www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural for up to date news.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – February 2018
by Angela Lassam

Gardening has gone full circle and renewed interest is rising especially with the millennials. They are looking to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Knowledge through social media has made it easy to find out where food comes from and its content. They are looking to their childhood memories and this is where heirloom seeds can take a part. The seed companies are offering more of these seeds every year making it easier for gardeners both old and new to grow them.

Gardeners who know heirloom seeds know they are valuable to them for their hardiness, disease and pest resistance and there is no need for chemicals making them organic too. Heirloom produce appears to be more flavourful, and colourful (grocery store produce is dull and plastic-like in comparison). It is also a fact they have a higher nutritional value.

As the word indicates they must originate from 1950 or before to get this title. Many originate much earlier and some go back as far as biblical times where it is said grape vines were found on the walls of the city of Babylon. Many people had a pastime of gardening years ago. People today are returning to experimenting growing their own fruit and vegetables and in turn helping the environment by encouraging the natural diversity our planet needs A garden can be at least two degrees cooler than any paved area so why not grow food and not grass to reap other benefits.

Heirloom seeds are generally open-pollinated by nature through birds, insects and weather. Seeds can be saved for the following year but may not replicate the same due to some cross pollination. This could be an interesting task to encourage children to go forward in gardening.

There is a Millennium Seed Bank Partnership ( also known as the International Conservation Project) which in 1996 was established for the insurance against extinction of plants by storing seeds for future use. Over a billion seeds had been secured by 2007 and by 2015 13 per cent of the world species had been saved. The program grew quickly and became international in 2001 and is ongoing.

Colour is one attribute for heirloom varieties with tomatoes being a good example. There is even a striped green tomato called Green Zebra. Many heirloom vegetables are bright making any table presentation more pleasing to the eye. Chefs are using them more now as they become popular and easier to source.

Another reason to plant heirlooms is they are GMO free and generally organic. The growing time to maturity is normally longer giving gardeners more time to enjoy them.

The seed catalogues are a good source for specific names to look for. Here are just a few with the reason behind their name. In depression times (1920s) a gardener grew tomatoes for sale when he became unemployed. He made enough money to pay off his mortgage and subsequently the name of that tomato was Mortgage Lifter and is still available today. Carrots came from the Netherlands in the 17^th century. A common variety is the Nantes Coreless. Queen Victoria named a potato after Prince Albert when potatoes arrived in England. Cabbage (Copenhagen Market and Danish Ballhead) commonly used for sauerkraut and coleslaw came to America from Europe. Captain Cook’s ship doctor used sauerkraut for wounds and as a preventive for gangrene. Cucumber, a member of the gourd family came with Christopher Columbus from Spain in the 16^th century. A most famous pickling cucumber is the Chicago Pickling.

Heirloom seeds have been proven for their ease to grow without all the downfalls of newer hybrids and the value of the biodiversity the world needs.

I hope everyone can attend at least one of the upcoming garden shows to jumpstart Spring. Stratford Garden Festival is March 1^st-4^th and Canada Blooms in Toronto is March 9^th-18^th. The theme this year is ‘ Let’s go to the Movies’.

The next monthly meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will be on Tuesday March 6^th @ 7.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Complex. The speaker is Farlee See from Moores Water Gardens Port Stanley talking all about water gardening. Everyone welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting or join for extra benefits. Visit us at www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural for more information.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – January 2018
by Angela Lassam

It came to my notice that we do not need to go very far to meet people with a gardening flair who have used their interest to create a small thriving business. There are two families locally whom I would like to introduce to you and hope to talk about others at another time.

Hilde Makkink of Sunflower Farm Tillsonburg and her family are successfully running a business where they offer many products and workshops on a regular basis. Hilde and her family came from the Netherlands in 2009, started a family and opened their flower business at their farm in 2011.

The farm is aptly named Sunflower Farm and borders the Trans Canada Trail north east of Tillsonburg. Every year they plant over 2000 seeds – 35 varieties of flowers which are cut twice daily for freshness in season. There is a farm store where cut flowers and rustic craft can be purchased. It is also the pickup spot for ordered arrangements for occasions like weddings, anniversaries and similar occasions. Besides this you can have the experience of pick your own. She attends the Tillsonburg farmers market on Saturdays in the summer.

Hilde has extended her floral interest into giving workshops on the farm appropriate to the season. She can accommodate small groups (maybe a sisters day out or a mothers day gift) which are all personally arranged.

Her husband works with her on the land work and makes the bases for her creations. He builds wooden frames, boxes and any other piece for the projects Hilde requires for her designs. These materials are also for sale in the farm store. Hilde is easy to find on www.makkinks.com or on facebook .

Jane Magri of Wildflowers Tea is another local small farming enthusiast whom along with her family has created a small business on their organic 9 acre farm south of St Thomas. They grow herbs, perennials and wild flowers and her husband’s interest compliments this with his bees and beekeeping. Teas are made from herbs, roots, spices and other plants. Nettle, dandelion and burdock are among the wild plants used. There is no caffeine or additives. There is also a line of natural products that have materialized from the demand for natural ingredients. Soaps, ointments, syrups and oils are all for sale at the farm store.

Jane spent time in university studying herbal medicine and has travelled extensively. She realized where there was poverty herbal medicine was widely used successfully. During this time she met her husband. They returned to St Thomas (her husband’s hometown) where they purchased the farm and have since realized their dream. She now uses her knowledge and skills to help people who are running out of traditional health solutions and she can produce a tea, salve or oil to suit individuals upon consultation.

Jane also has yoga sessions on the farm for adults and children in the shop/barn. This is a great addition to the products available there. Tea tasting, herb walks, and see the bees enterprise are offered. Now she is branching out to weddings and dinners. More on Jane can be found at www.wildflowerstea.com or on facebook.

We have many more interesting people locally but both of these young people include their families in their endeavors and they are raising their children to appreciate the land around them and the return it gives them. I hope to profile more families like this in the future.

The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will be on Tuesday February 6^th @ 7.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. Speaker will be Suzanne Steed talking all about lavender.  Everyone welcome. $2 per meeting or join and become a member for added benefits. More information www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or on facebook.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – December 2017
by Angela Lassam

Christmas cactus has no real connection to Christmas except the flowering time and the original bloom colour. It is easy to grow as an indoor plant. You can start new ones from a mature plant and give as an inexpensive gift if you are a good ‘potter’. For colour at Christmas time they are as popular as poinsettias.

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is not a true cactus but a forest cactus – a tropical plant native to the mountains in Southeastern Brazil. It was discovered by a French botanist named Charles Lemaire and named after horticulturalist Frederic Schlumberger. The native plant is actually an epiphyte – grows on a tree and takes its moisture from the rain and air.

The plant comes in many colours (red, white, peach and pink).The leaves consist of flat round segments with serrated edges on a stem. The flower comes from the top of the leaf and is a tubular shape. The double structure shows the outer flower curled back and the inner flower protecting the stamen. It blooms for an average of eight weeks from November to January. A mature plant will produce a beautiful display and last for many years with the correct care.

Care of these plants as an indoor plant is a little different as it does not like to be placed near opening doors (drafts) or in a warm location. It prefers a temperature of 20C during bloom season and a sunny location. Misting frequently is necessary as it likes humidity. Fertilize as you would any other houseplant. This cactus also likes a regular dose of magnesium for growth and it can be done by using one teaspoon of Epsom salts in one gallon of water.

In November you can encourage a mature cactus to flower in time for Christmas. You will need to place it in a dark cool cupboard for at least 12 hours a day. Do not overwater just keep soil surface moist. It will take six to eight weeks for buds to form on the end of the leaf segments and these will be the new blooms.

After flowering is the best time to repot the cactus although it does prefer to be a little pot- bound. When not in flower it needs to be placed in a cooler spot and indirect light. Summertime it can be easily set outdoors in a shady area. Direct sunlight will cause yellowing at this stage in its cycle.

Propagation is quite easy using the cutting method and it is best done in late spring. The soil medium to use should consist of 60 per cent potting soil and 40 per cent perlite (well draining). You will need to take leaf segments and allow them to dry off at the end – leave for at least two days. Then press four of these leaf segments upright in a pot. Mist regularly but do not water too heavily or stand in water.

I hope you will consider one of these unusual Christmas time plants. Merry Christmas and a happy healthy prosperous New Year to you all.

Our regular monthly meetings will resume Tuesday January 2^nd 2018 @ 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre at the Tillsonburg Community Complex. The speaker will be Jane Magri from Wildflowers Teas. The topic is Tea and Remedies for Well Being. For members it is time to renew your membership. Non-members welcome $2 per meeting or become a member and get extra benefits.

For further information check out www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or join us on Facebook – tillsonburghorticultural.

by Angela Lassam
It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – November 2017

We are now going into a slow time for any gardener. When the snow comes, the ice rain or just a good frost our garden takes on a very different view. With a little ingenuity it can be made to come alive and interesting. We have a variety of shrubs, trees and plants that add both colour and structure to the landscape outside our windows. It is a time to take notice where there is an uninteresting spot and plan a future purchase for a new focal point. Maybe you can place a floodlight to highlight an unusual planting. Perhaps think of an item of steel, wood or cast concrete to add to the appearance of your own garden.

For colour there are many shrubs which keep their red color. We all know the dogwoods, holly (newer varieties do not need two bushes), burning bush and barberry. There is a yellow dogwood which would stand proud in the snow. Consider a yew that has yellow tips that can peak through the snow. Many evergreens can be trimmed to form shapes for year round interest.

Euonymus is an easy shrub to grow and keeps its variegation over the winter. It can be used to add interest to Christmas arrangements. There are spiky plants that are variegated like iris and yucca.

Trees that show well in winter are the weeping branch type and usually grafted (I have a lilac). Just to name a few that we are familiar with – Weeping Alaska Cedar (Nootka False Cypress), weeping copper beech for both leaves and draping appearance and Japanese larch. Snow looks great on all weeping trees as does an ice storm. Japanese maples seem to hold snow on them and look great at night under floodlights.

Some trees keep their fruit throughout the winter giving us a different view to summertime. A corkscrew witch hazel tree is both interesting in structure and also keeps some tassel-like flowers. Honey locust has long flat pods. A crabapple tree holds its tiny apples. One named Harvest Gold has clusters of small yellow apples. A viburnum called American Cranberry Bush is very showy. Winterberry  ‘Winter Red’ has branches with many red berries. Cotoneaster has many red berries and can be a shrub or groundcover. All of these feed the birds and give us life to watch in our gardens.

Many ornamental grasses left with their feather tops add interest to the winter garden as do the dead heads of many perennials. Sea holly and echinacea both look interesting poking up through the snow. You can leave the dead heads of allium as they can also look attractive.

There is no monthly meeting for December. The Christmas Potluck Supper (for members only) is on Tuesday December 5^th @ 6 p.m. in the Lions Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The next monthly meeting will be Tuesday January 2, 2018 @ 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre. Speaker will be Jane Magri from Wildflowers Teas. Topic is Tea and Remedies for Wellbeing. Remember it is time to renew your membership to get all benefits the society has to offer. For more information follow us on facebook – tillsonburghorticultural or online www.tillsonburghortical.ca.

by Angela Lassam
It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – October 2017

Thanksgiving has been celebrated here in Canada and yet to come in America ever since the pilgrims in Boston. All countries have a celebration when their major crops have been harvested successfully. For most people it is just another long weekend and the real reason seems to be forgotten. It is a celebration for the end of another gardening year when we can gather and collect food we have grown for the wintertime.  Sometimes it is called harvest festival which seems appropriate. Vegetables and fruit that we grow in our own gardens are still similar to back then and most are grown in the same way. Some of them are native although the ways we garden have changed. The traditional dinner has origins from many sources, some having evolved into different dishes but most of them are connected to the settlers from Europe.

Vegetables are primarily squash, sweet potatoes, root vegetables and corn. Also we must not forget the pumpkin for both Thanksgiving and Hallowe’en. Fruit includes apples, cranberries and grapes.

Root vegetables were stored dry like potatoes but they were dried before storing in sacks. Carrots and parsnip could be stored in dry sand if available. All squash need to be placed where they are dry and well aired. Corn could be canned although in days past it was dried and the corn was ground for cornmeal and used as flour for cooking. The settlers learned this from the Indians to replace flour in the early days. Pumpkin was used as a vegetable and in desserts.

When the settlers arrived they had no way to make pies so they made a dessert by removing the seedy center. They probably dried the seeds for the next year or cooked them and ate them as what we would call nowadays a snack. The original dessert made with pumpkin was a custard within the pumpkin called a Pie in a pumpkin. They filled the centre with a mixture of milk, honey and eggs and cooked it whole. I found a recipe online and wish to share it with you http://soufflebombay.com/2014/11/the-original-pumpkin-pie-way-pilgrims.html . Of course the pumpkin is also used for Hallowe’en and can be found in all shapes, colours and sizes.

Fruits that were readily available in early settlers’ time were apples, cranberries and grapes. They used them just to eat as a fruit. Apples came with the settlers and the first orchard according to history was established in Boston but not as we grow them today as cordoned but as regular trees. They made cider as a main drink which was fermented apple juice and used as the drink for Thanksgiving. They also dried them in rings for winter use. In later years they preserved them as apple sauce and butter in jars.

The early German settlers found cranberries in the bogs and marshes and introduced the cranberry sauce for meat accompaniment. Grapes, native to America were used as a juice or made into jelly. The grapes used in the wine industry today is not from the native grapes but an import from Europe.

Corn, pumpkins, squash and ornamental gourds have all the colors depicting the end of the growing season and are being used as natural decorations with dried leaves both inside and outside of our homes for fall and Thanksgiving. Most of these fruit and vegetables can be found in or around our gardens making the connection with Thanksgiving.

Next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 7th @7.30 pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. This month there will be Hilde Makkink from Makkink Sunflower Farm, Tillsonburg demonstrating decorating ideas. There will be three draws for her creations!  Members remember this meeting is the Photo Competition results and tour sign up.  Non-members welcome $2 per meeting or become a member and get extra benefits.

For further information check out www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or join us on Facebook – tillsonburghorticultural.

by Angela Lassam
It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – September 2017

It has suddenly become Fall where the garden chores become very different. It is a time for reflection and maybe reorganization. Grass seems to be something we rarely consider this time of year but to get a good appearance next year there are a few things we can do now.

Bare patches in the lawn are easier to repair in the fall as the ground will not dry out and germination will come easily. A scattering of topsoil over the seeds will keep them in place and encourage growth. The last mowing of the lawn needs to be a little higher than summer cutting for protection. It will also allow the chopped leaves to give it a mulching for the winter.

When it seems as if the grass is no longer growing it is time to apply a fall fertilizer. It will sustain the roots throughout the winter and will allow the uptake in the early spring for growth as soon as the temperature is right. If it is done in the fall you can delay application again until May.

In the flower beds you can divide many of the perennials to encourage more blooms. There are several common plants that thrive after this and it also allows us to share with fellow gardeners or to reorganize a tired bed. Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, Siberian iris all grow extra bulbs attached to the original planted one. Division is a way of expanding your garden colour. Peonies can be lifted and divided in the fall. Astilbe, Veronica and Bleeding Heart will all bloom better after being divided.

Strawberry runners can be transplanted to either tidy up an existing bed or enlarge it. Careful lifting is necessary as they are tender with small roots but snip the runner and plant it as you would any annual.

There is always the task of planting some of the new varieties of spring bulbs and maybe invest in some of the more unusual ones. After browsing through a new catalogue I found some interesting bulbs. Fritillaria is an old spring bulb but worth a mention. There are many to choose from either as a crown of colour or a bells formation. I also saw a Camassia Blue Melody which is a violet blue flower with variegated foliage. Eremurus commonly called foxtail lily has a spiked flower and is available in various colours. It is deer resistant and drought tolerant. I found a Muscari Golden Fragrance. Its common name is Grape Hyacinth but not typical in appearance. The flowers are a novelty to see with golden tubular florets and a topping of purple tubes.

Lastly leaves can be used as mulch for the winter on the flower beds and will encourage early growth to all perennials. If there is an abundance of leaves on the lawn in late fall it is advisable to rake them up as the snow and rain will create a mat which will stifle new growth next year.

Next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 3rd @ 7.30 pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. Speaker for this meeting will be Larry Peterson, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph. He will talk about fungi and what lies beneath the soil.  Members remember this meeting is the Photo Competition. For details check the Tillogram. Non-members welcome for $2 per meeting or become a member and get extra benefits.

For further information check out www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or on Facebook – tillsonburghorticultural.

by Angela Lassam
It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – August 2017

We all know about aphids especially on roses, the slugs on hostas, and the tent caterpillars that are very noticeable on the trees this time of year. But what do we really know about Japanese beetles?

The Japanese beetle, as the name implies, originated in Japan and was first detected in the U.S. in 1916, and has since become a big nuisance for the gardener and horticulturalist. It is a big problem in the Niagara farming belt. It is a colourful beetle with a metallic green head and copper hard shelled body only measuring ½” but is very destructive. It does not discriminate on what it eats – just about anything leafy, fruit leaves, vegetables, ornamentals and even weeds.

Their life cycle starts mid-summer as eggs dropped into any open soil. Then as grubs they eat any roots and go deep into the soil for the winter. The following year as soon as the soil warms up they rise to the surface devouring all roots in their path and mature to the Japanese beetle.

As soon as it gets warm and sunny you will see the beetles flying around. It is said that a ‘scout’ beetle will precede a swarm and they will continue to invade your garden everywhere. This will last up to six weeks and is the time you will see the skeletal destruction on large leaves. They only survive one generation but they are very prolific laying many eggs.

When they are grubs moles will eat them underground. Raccoons and skunks will dig them up for food and the bigger birds will pick them up.

There are a few methods to control them. Early in the season you can actually pick them off plants into a bucket of water and dispose later. They are sleepy at this time and also they do not see well which helps us catch them. The normal insecticidal soap will work but needs to be repeated often.

A home-made solution of soap, water, garlic powder and cayenne pepper applied with a garden sprayer will leave a gross taste as a good deterrent but also a tedious daily chore.

There are beetle traps available at any nursery which will catch them easily. They work on the principle of a pad with pheromones on it which will attract them and a bag attached below it to catch them. They fly into a plastic fin (remember they do not have good eyes) and drop into the bag. Empty the bag daily. The trap needs to be hung away from all vegetation to be effective.

There is new information which shows that geraniums have a toxic effect on the Japanese beetle. Many were found dead underneath some plants suggesting this to be true.

I hope that many of you have taken the time to admire the gardens in town tended by the Horticultural Society volunteers. They can be seen outside the Senior Centre at the Community Complex. A colourful sight is outside the Livingstone Centre. The Station Arts Centre is a popular place to visit as we’ll as the market that is there on Saturday. Many events happen at the Royal Canadian Legion especially for the 150^th Anniversary. Annandale House was one of the venues on Canada Day and the gardens have had a rejuvenation there. Woodingford Lodge is an ongoing challenge but the residents and visitors enjoy beautiful gardens there. Library Lane has also been added recently to this list of locations. On a final note the large urns everywhere and the smaller ones outside businesses downtown have added colour and life to our town.

Regular monthly meetings will resume on Tuesday Sept 5th @ 7.30 pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. Speaker for this meeting will be Mitchell Hewson, Registered Horticultural Therapist.The topic is Power of Nature – living healthy using remedies through horticulture. Members remember this meeting is the Grow and Show Flower Competition. Non-members are welcome with a $2 per meeting or become a member and get extra benefits.

For further information check out www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or on Facebook – tillsonburghorticultural.

Take a minute to look at these photographs of the beautiful urns at Annandale National Historic Site where Horticultural Society members design, plant and nurture the gardens each year.