It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – March 2017

by Angela Lassam

Climate change will alter the way we garden in several ways. The garden zoning will alter and we will be able to grow different plants and shrubs as our weather patterns change. Summers seem to be getting warmer and drier and our seed and nursery catalogues appear to be more orientated towards drought tolerance, sun and shade. There is also a trend towards xeriscape to get away from grass and the need for water to keep it green.

Mulches have become normal in gardening mostly on our flower beds and there are some interesting views on the different colored varieties. Dyed mulches are attractive either red or black it makes no difference as all the dyes are treated with vegetable-based colorants. They are non-toxic and non-hazardous to plants and animals. There is however a negative side to coloured mulch as it takes longer to break down into new soil and tends to compact quickly. There are reports that a compacted mulch will grow a white string-like fungus under the top layer which may attach itself to the trunk and roots of shrubs if undisturbed. It is advisable that you rake coloured mulch throughout the summer to keep it aeriated. Untreated wood chips and mulch are cheaper and less likely to cause insect infestation.

Plastic mulch sheeting is another form of moisture preservation and weed prevention. It also helps the soil to warm up quicker and allow better growth. Commercial fruit and vegetable producers use different coloured plastic sheeting and maybe some gardeners could experiment with their vegetables. Different vegetables respond to different colors.

Black sheeting is a common one and helps the soil heat up, keeps moisture in and prevents weed growth. It is also the least expensive and can be biodegradable.

Red sheeting promotes more compact growth, early flowering and productivity. Tomatoes and eggplants have been proven through experimentation to have an increase of 12 per cent production.

It appears silver sheeting is good for peppers and pumpkins where the reflection seems to prevent aphids from attacking the early growth thus creating less virus on the vines.

Other colours have been experimented with – yellow mats will attract insects where you can selectively destroy instead of spraying crops.

Blue sheeting although more expensive has been experimented with when growing melons, cucumbers and squash and has been proven to aid fruiting response from reflection. Also it gives more heat retention than the black sheeting.

All mulches and sheeting help the gardener and the environment in many ways and are worth consideration in our gardening practices but always leave space around plants to allow direct watering.

Progress has been made on the beautification of downtown Tillsonburg. After the success of the eight urn/planters on Broadway crosses of Ridout Street and Brock Street they will re-appear this year with the addition of four more bringing a total of twelve. They will be watered and maintained by the town.

There will be an additional initiative by the Horticultural Society which will hopefully involve the town businesses. This program is to encourage pride in our town with the purchase of a smaller replica of the large planter and a complete care package. This will be to celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of Canada but hopefully it will become an annual enhancement to our town during the summer.

The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on April 4th @ 7.30pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The presentation this month is about what’s new for 2017. Matt Fenn from Garden Gate will be giving us an update on the gardening world. Non-members welcome. Come and make some new friends.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online. Also find us on Facebook – Tillsonburg Horticultural.

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

This time of year we try to think of doing something beyond our normal mundane tasks. Why not try to grow some fresh food to add to our table? It is as simple as buying a packet of seed and planting them. You should find a warm sunny spot with at least six hours of strong daylight. Soilless potting mix is easily found at any nursery. We all buy prepared foods in the recyclable containers so why not put them to another use. They make perfect forcing trays keeping the moisture inside for quick germination and after remove the lid for the continued growth. Many seeds do not need a lot of soil depth to grow.

Spinach germinates well. Lettuce, the salad bowl variety is easy as it will cut and come again. Radishes are good to grow as they do not need depth and will be ready in 30 days for use. Of course we always think of herbs as we can buy these fresh all year round in the grocery store but their growth from seed does not take long to reach a useable size. Spring onions will grow but will be small but still tasty. Bean sprout seeds are more easy to find nowadays and can be grown in a jar which is interesting to watch grow especially to encourage children into future gardeners. www.wiki.com/grow-bean-sprouts-indoors .

If you are a DIY person there is an interesting project on making a heated mat using a rope light at http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/11658/diy-heat-mat-speeds-seed-starting . Then you will be ready to start your seeds that much earlier.

Another easy pastime is making small pieces for a fairy/miniature garden using model clay from a craft store also wire can make gates and fencing. Lollipop sticks are good to cut down for furniture and fences.

As the days are getting longer it is that time of year when the usual garden shows will be happening giving us the new ideas. The usual ones – Canada Blooms is in Toronto March 10-19^th theme is Oh! Canada. Ladies are among the speakers this year. Kate Seaver will be there on several days also Jennifer Reynolds, Jo-ann Mcarthur, Jessica Gale and Cathy Kosma (bees). There are bus trips arranged through Annandale House and local nurseries.

Stratford Garden Festival is also on again this year March2-4^th theme is Earthly Delights with some interesting speakers. London is no longer doing a Spring show. Hamilton is doing events in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum where there will be a Home & Garden Show with speakers March 31-April 2. It is easy to find and free parking (worth a visit).

The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on March 7th @ 7.30 p.m. in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The presentation this month will be Remembering Them from Nancy Abra of London talking about the history and horticultural aspects of the Commonwealth War Graves. An appropriate topic for this time of remembrance. Non-members welcome, come and make some new friends.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online. Also find us on Facebook – Tillsonburg Horticultural.

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

It is winter and we cocoon ourselves in our homes and only have our houseplants to add some green to our daily life. Have you ever thought you were actually doing yourself and the family a favour? Many plants that we normally keep in our homes are natural air cleaners and are easy to purchase even in our supermarkets.

The most common plants are the Spider plant, Weeping Fig (Ficus), Boston Fern, Bamboo Palm, Aloe Vera, Snake Plant, Dracaena and similar indoor plants. Flowering plants are Chrysanthemum, Gerbera Daisy and Peace Lily. They all absorb the pollutants (VOCs – volatile organic compounds) that can be found in our homes from the outgassing of many things around us daily.

Plants absorb particles in the air by taking in carbon dioxide and process it into oxygen through photosynthesis. Also the microorganisms found in potting soil are responsible for some of the purifying. An added bonus is that plant presence is reputed to lower blood pressure and stress.

Formaldehyde is the one that we all know and can be found in most manmade wood products, furniture and even fabrics used for bedding and drapes. We only remember the banned insulation which caused health problems to many people. As a matter of interest formaldehyde is found in many other common products that we use daily but we must remember the levels to cause problems have to be above .03 ppm to be of concern. For great reading and more information http://greatist.com/connect/houseplants-that-clean-air . Also if you are interested in learning more about formaldehyde look at https://branchbasics.com/blog/2015/04/23-sources-of-formaldehyde-to-remove.

NASA studies on indoor pollution recommend 15 to 18 plants in 6 to 8-inch- diameter containers to clean the air in an average 1,800 square foot house. That is approximately one plant per 100 square feet of floor space. This may sound like a lot but a basket of a variety of these will definitely give us a healthier environment.

It does not matter whether the plants in our home come in this category as any plant growing gives us a show of life and lifts one’s spirits. Flowering plants also add colour during the winter months.

One of the most popular flowering plants in most homes is the African violet which comes in many colours and flower patterns both frilly, plain, single or double. They can be propagated from a single leaf using the recommended potting soil for African violets.

Problems arise when caring for them due to watering and fertilizing. Water should be at room temperature maybe let it sit for a while. The plant should only be watered every two weeks or when dry to touch on the top of the pot. The best way to water them is to sit in a bowl of warm water and allow it to wick up to the roots. The water may have liquid fertilizer generally recommended for African violets added to it (less is better than overdoing it). To repot the plants always use an open free draining soil and do not press out the air in the mix as the roots which are fine and hairy like the air. Lastly they need light to flower so a sunny spot is ideal. A wilting plant may have Mealy Bugs eating its roots so washing the roots and repotting in new soil may save it. More reading on www.africanvioletsforeveryone.net

I hope this will help those members who enjoy this flower and will take some photos to submit to the Horticultural Society’s photo competition in September.

The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on February 7th @ 7.30pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The presentation this month will be Pruning given by Natasha Collins, a landscape architect and arborist new to Tillsonburg.

Members – just a reminder that renewals are due. Non-members $2 per meeting or sign-up at any meeting. Everyone welcome.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – December 2016
by Angela Lassam

Merry Christmas to all!  Have you ever given thought to question why we adorn our homes this time of year?

Many tree branches and other evergreens are taken inside for decoration and I wondered the reason. I thought to enlighten folk to their meaning so here are my findings.

Greenery such as cedar, ivy, holly originated as far back as Roman times and even further. They were taken inside to celebrate the Winter Solstice and depict everlasting life. As Christianity arrived holly was thought to replicate the crown of thorns and the berries were the drops of blood at the crucifixion. Ivy was used to show the need for support as it is a clinging vine. Evergreens showed continued life and the rebirth at springtime.

The Christmas tree tradition actually started in Germany in the 16^th century where the peasants believed it would keep illness and evil spirits away. It did not appear as a home decoration until 1847 when Queen Victoria encouraged by Prince Albert, a German started the tradition of a decorated tree to celebrate Christmas. This tree was decorated with many coloured ornaments (the European glass ones) and many other things. She was known for her extravagance with color and style and so it became the tree as we know today. The German settlers started the tradition in America around 1830. They decorated them with apples to represent the Garden of Eden and added nuts and popcorn and homemade cookies and candy.  The trees are usually spruce, fir or balsam.

Pointsettia Festival at Huron Ridge Acres in Zurich

The poinsettia plant has become the most popular plant at Christmas .They are usually red although there are all colors available in most nurseries (blue, cream, pale purple and white /red stripped). Some think the flower resembles a star as seen in Bethlehem and there are many other ideas suggested around the world. It is the red original color that attracted its use at Christmas time and they are the most popular plants especially as gifts that can be almost any size.

The poinsettia (Euphorbia Pulcherrima) was found in Mexico in 1828 by Joel Roberts Pionsett, a botanist from South Carolina and ambassador in Mexico. He found you could grow plants from cuttings and introduced them to America and later Canada and the world. In Mexico it is sometimes considered a weed or wild shrub. It grows in deciduous tropical forests at moderate elevations and can be up to 10 feet tall.

It is not actually a flowering plant but the colored leaves (to many the flower) are called bracts. The leaves once considered poisonous have been proven to be unsafe due to the milky sap which is latex and a skin irritant. If ingested the leaves will cause diarrhea and vomiting. It is wise to keep out of reach of puppies and kittens especially.

Poinsettias in the home like a sunny location, free from drafts and cooler nights. They do not like wet feet so only water when dry to touch by setting in water then letting drain (make sure if still in plastic there are drainage holes in the bottom). Fertilize the same as any other houseplant.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society resumes their monthly meetings on January 3^rd  @ 7.30pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium , Tillsonburg Community Centre. Allyson McDonald will be giving a presentation on the beautiful English gardens in Cornwall and Devon.

Members just a reminder that annual membership renewals @ $15 are due. Non-members pay $2 per meeting. Everyone welcome.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – November 2016
by Angela Lassam

Decorating inside and outside our homes for the festive season is here again. It does not appear to be the right time as most of us have only just removed all our annual plantings although they were still in bloom. It is always a pleasant job collecting greenery, maybe making bows and buying the 2016 choice decorations for the season.

Our speaker for this month’s meeting was from Twigs Floral Design, a local store with a modern approach to anything that is floral. The two ladies have attended floral conferences to be aware of new techniques and trends. Brenda Louws and Melanie Fardella demonstrated both small inexpensive and large elegant arrangements with a modern flair. They were boisterous and very happy while doing their presentation and made it look so easy.

They started with a small inexpensive centrepiece which included orchids – not your usual red for Christmas but it was obviously for Christmas as Cedars and other greenery was prevalent. Then they proceeded to do a large display worthy of any prestigious foyer in any big city. Notably the arrangements could be used for any occasion by changing the flowers used. The one that was done had orchids and small candles strategically placed but it could easily have been changed by placing eggs and Spring flowers in it for Easter.

We were told that we must remember to water the oasis that our arrangements are placed in and to spritz the greenery to keep it looking fresh longer. This is often forgotten but your arrangement will last a lot longer with more attention.

The Horticultural Society members have decorated Annandale House pots and urns, also outside the Station Arts Centre in preparation for the Down Home Country Christmas weekend. We hope they will be admired by all.

There are many Home Tours arranged in most towns, planned by volunteer organizations to raise funds for the less fortunate especially at Christmas time. Please take some time and go and enjoy at least one of them.

We have come to a spot in the calendar year where we do not spend time in our gardens but life does continue outside our windows and gives us a connection with the creatures that inhabit our outdoor space. I am talking about the birds (and squirrels still collecting their winter food). They will soon be unable to forage for themselves and as they give us help in our gardening world year round they deserve a little of our time.

The feeders need to be put out in easy spots for us to fill them especially when the snow flies. Also for us to watch them as they will be the only colour in the black and white world which will inevitably arrive. The bluejays (not the sports kind!), cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees and juncos are now using the feeders so it is time to keep them filled regularly.

There is no monthly meeting in December but for members only there will be the usual Potluck Christmas Supper on December 6^th @ 6 pm in the Lions Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Monthly meetings will resume in January 2017.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca.online.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – October 2016
by Angela Lassam

Tillsonburg Horticultural Society members will be busy planting over 2000 tulip bulbs in the coming weeks in preparation for the 150^th celebration 2017. There are special bulbs on offer (red and white) and we hope that you will join us and plant some to make our town look great.

Bulb planting is easy. Even children can participate with a little direction. After buying bulbs that are solid, dry and free of mold you can start by measuring the depth of the bulb to decide how deep to plant them. Dig a hole three times the depth and sprinkle in some blood meal. It will promote root growth and may deter skunks and raccoons from digging them up. Place a bulb in the hole with the root at the bottom and fill in with good soil or a mix of soil and sand if the soil is heavy. Bulbs do not like wet feet. Lastly lightly water them in and press soil hard to slow down critters from digging up your work. You should not plant bulbs touching each other to prevent rot and mold.

Everyone gets upset when their bulbs seem to have disappeared when spring arrives. There are a few things we can do to help this situation. Blood meal will slow down rodents but chicken netting placed just beneath the soil on top of bulbs is one suggestion that is most commonly used. Strawberry baskets (the open plastic type) make good underground planters with wire on top. Most rodents do not like other animal smells (a dog or cat) so animal hair from grooming can be placed among the plantings and kitty litter (for the smell of urine) is another idea. Chili pepper liquid sprinkled around is not liked by rodents. Another idea is to scatter mothballs which would not be unsightly.

Bulbs that rodents do not like include daffodils, snowdrops, snowflakes and fritillaries. Unfortunately they like tulips, crocus and gladioli. This should not stop us planting them it just means more care when planting and more work.

Credit Valley Train Tour. Photo by A. MacDonald

As fall has arrived there is plenty of the reds, gold and orange. Recently a Fall Color Tour arranged by the Horticultural Society was enjoyed by members. It included a train ride through the Credit Valley and Niagara Escarpment on a bright sunny day with colors in full glory. For those of us who missed the trip our own countryside is full of color so a ride to buy the last roadside produce can brighten a day. There are many places to pick up pumpkins and squash. Also orchards are open for the new season apples.

Our gardens are almost finished so it is time to think of a favorite indoor activity. I like to use the unripened green tomatoes to make a chutney and collect fallen apples from the local orchard to make applesauce to use all winter. There are many chutney variations but this is a recipe I use with the addition of chopped apples to make it thicker. http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/green_tomato_chutney

Next meeting is on November 1st at 7.30 pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Presentation this month is to prepare our thoughts for centrepieces for Christmas. Twigs Floral Design will be doing a demonstration. There will also be the Photo Competition results and awards.

Non-members welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting so come and enjoy a social evening. Also you can become a member at any meeting and get extra benefits along with friendship and fun.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca.online.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – September 2016
by Angela Lassam

Although it is still unusually hot for this time of the year all our gardens are showing signs of the shorter days. Early mornings there is mist over the ponds and it is wet underfoot. The canning and freezing of your harvest has slowed down and now is the time to look at your garden and decide what you would like to change for next year.

I prefer to divide perennials or relocate them in the fall. I have found a huge change in a plant when relocating it contrary to growing directions. There are many ways to divide but it does take time to do it successfully. Simply dig up the plant you need to work with and decide which method you should use from looking at the root.

Different types of root needs different tools. Tubers and rhizomes should be cut with a knife. These include Iris, Dahlias and Cannas. Woody crowns should be sliced with a handsaw. Astilbe, Peonies, Solomons Seal and Bears Breeches can be found in this category. A spade or pitchfork is useful for Bee Balm, Aster, Coneflower, Daylies and Garden Phlox.

Of course the easiest method is by hand and amongst those are Columbines, Jacobs Ladder, Sweet Woodruff and Yarrow. Spurge is a plant that produces a sap which is a skin irritant so care should be taken when handling it. Carnations, Delphiniums and Sea Holly are among those that should not be divided. If you are going to do this there is good information on this website http://www.finegardening.com/10-tips-dividing-perennial-plants.

We are all tempted to deadhead and cleanup but according to Paul Zammit, our speaker of the month we should let our landscape change with the seasons and allow the pollinators the space to keep our gardens thriving in the future. We should not make our gardens look manicured rather leave them as nature intended. Due to the decrease in open land and natural vegetation all pollinators are on the decline as their food sources are depleting worldwide.

The Honey Bee is a species which arrived in Canada with the Europeans. Our native bee is called the Mason Bee. Butterflies, moths, flies, spiders, beetles, ants and bats all contribute to pollination but do not forget that the wind plays a natural part. We need open types of flowers instead of the more popular double varieties to allow the bees to transfer pollen (protein) and nectar (honey). Also if you are adding bulbs to your garden this fall consider some early Crocus as the bees will seek them out. We have been told to help by allowing nature to do its job and not try to alter the biodervisity of the world.

Next meeting is on October 4th @7.30 pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. The presentation is about the Royal Botanical Gardens, Toronto and will be given by John Peters RBG Curator and Manager of Plant Records. Non-members welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting so come and enjoy a social evening. Also you can become a member at any meeting and get extra benefits along with friendship and fun.

Members just a reminder it is the Photo Competition this meeting.
For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca.online.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – August 2016
by Angela Lassam

There seems to be a movement away from the artificial idea of decoration and maybe people are getting tired of all the plastic uses which seem to be destroying our natural surroundings. Are they looking for a return to the natural way many things were done in the past?

The use of edible flowers both wild and those commonly found in our garden is not a new idea. As far back as Biblical times feasts were adorned with vines and flowers that we know today. Dishes were prepared using edible plants both for color and extra taste. Today chefs use edible plants for exotic dishes and to re-invent our basic home cooking. Baking done today would include muffins, cookies, jellies, sauces and special occasion cakes.

Among the many flowers we grow Marigold resembles Saffron (called poor man’s saffron) and it can be used in soups, pasta and salads but only the petals. It is also a bug deterrent for the vegetable garden. Carnation (Dianthus) can be used as cake decorations and steeped in wine. Petals of this flower is used in Chartreuse, a French liqueur. Cornflower can be a table/cake decoration but also is a natural dye. Mint flowers and leaves are used in many Mideastern dishes. Lavender is a much used plant for its fragrance, therapeutic value and culinary flavors. Pansies and violets are great as a crystalized decoration for a special occasion cake or as a topper on cream covered muffins at that special shower. Nasturtium are a known addition to salads and have a distinct nutty flavor. You can do something as easy as freezing flowers in ice cubes to make a simple punch look elegant.

Many wild flowers have been used to help with health problems. Teas, salves and oils were common a long time ago when doctors were far away and folk experimented to find relief from ailments. There are many flowers that have therapeutic properties so here are just a few.

• Chrysanthemum steeped in hot water helps fevers, headaches and colds and as a cooled liquid can be used as a compress for tired eyes.
• Honeysuckle can be made into a paste for skin rashes and also as liquid for gargling as an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Sunflower consumed as a brew helps with ulcers and menstrual cramps.
• One can use the flowering tips and leaves of Heather as a tea or add to a bath to help arthritis and gout.
• Of course do not forget the Rose as vitamin C, also the raw petals increase blood circulation and relieves depression.

All herbal flowers and fruit flowers are edible but be careful that none of them have been sprayed. All need to be used in moderation.  If you need to learn more you will find further reading and recipes online http://www.zocalo.ca/edible-flowers  http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.html

Next meeting is on Sept 6^th @7.30 pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. The speaker is Paul Zammit and he will speak about Pollinators. Non-members welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting so come and enjoy a social evening. Also you can become a member at any meeting and get extra benefits along with friendship and fun.

Members just a reminder it is the Flower Competition this meeting.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca.online.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News –  June 2016
by Angela Lassam

Now that our gardens have started growing well and looking good around come all the pests – a term I use very loosely. Some are beneficial and others not so. Insects are the main pests but there are others that come to mind including rodents and wild animals.

Insects are our biggest nuisance we think but it is not necessarily so. We do not realize that nature has its own way of solving our munchers. Aphids (plant lice) are probably the ones that most people think of first and one of our worst bad insects. They come in various colours but most of the ones that we we see are the bright green ones on the roses. They can be both winged and wingless and work in large groups. Some secrete a sticky substance called honeydew which in turn attracts their natural enemies – ants, bees, flies and wasps.

Soap spray under the leaves as soon as you see them and keep it up especially after rain. Ladybugs (ladybirds to some of us) like aphids especially but will eat any soft bodied insect. The Asian ladybug which varies from mustard yellow to dark red has taken over the Canadian species as it withstands colder winters so hibernates well. Interesting reading can be found on the Canadian Wildlife Federation: Ladybug 101 website.

Spiders work in our gardens (good insects) weaving webs to catch their food. They work at night then scurry back to the dark spots amongst tall plants and wait for any flying insect to get caught.

Mosquitos are a human nuisance for our health but not for our garden. The same can be said for the Tick.

Ants are common but do not seem to do harm. In the garden they run tiny tunnels so naturally aerate the soil. Peonies when in bud attract ants, which crawl around on the flowers, feasting on the sticky sugars they secrete. Once the flower opens fully, and the sucrose has been consumed, the ants depart, whether they are outside or on someone’s dining room table. Those who have had ants leave their centerpiece and march across their dining table tend to take a dim view of peonies as cut flowers.

There is a simple solution for the ant problem, and it’s one that every commercial peony grower practices: Cut the peonies when they are in bud, before the petals unfurl. If there are ants on the buds, wipe them or shake them off. Then put the peonies in water, and let them bloom inside. It is said ants are good for peonies where they appear in large numbers when the flower is in bud.

Frogs and toads are not liked by everyone but are beneficial to gardeners. Toads should be cared for in our gardens as they will eat over a hundred insects in one night. Their diet includes grubs, slugs, worms, caterpillars, cucumber beetles to name a few. They will hide in any dark damp spot. Their eggs are usually laid in any nearby water in long jelly-like strings becoming tadpoles and eventually toads and migrate to land. They have a dark, crusty skin unlike the frog who has a green often striped skin and white underside. Frogs stay in the pond where they were hatched unlike toads keeping the pond clean. Their calls herald spring in the early evening hours and a great sign for gardeners.

Members enjoyed a great day touring gardens in Toronto’s Kingsway area. Toronto Botanical Gardens organized a garden tour called Through the Garden Gate. The area was built in the 1900s with the Tudor architecture and English style gardens and mature tree-lined streets stretching along a ravine section of the Humber River. Many garden tours can be found in your own vicinity. Both Lions and Lioness clubs usually run them so go enjoy a pleasant day.

The Horticultural Society will return to its monthly meeting schedule on September 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Seniors Wing Tillsonburg Community Complex. Also for members please check the website for the Photo and Flower Competition details. Enjoy the summer!

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – May 2016
by Angela Lassam

Welcome to spring – Annandale House, May 11, 2016

It is time to visit local flower spots to buy those garden fillers and think about planters, flower boxes and hanging baskets.

After talking to the owner of Garden Gate about impatiens it appears the growers are working hard to grow a new variety as the old varieties were very prone to disease. The spores stay in the soil especially in a mild winter. He did say it is OK to put them in planters as long as you do not put the old soil into your garden afterwards. A better alternative is to use vinca or waxed begonias. Petunias have evolved into bicolored and are more compact with even more choice of colours. Of course marigolds come to us in so many sizes and colours so can be used to contrast with any other choices with the bonus of protection from bugs.

David Hobson gave a great many ideas at the last  meeting for unusual plantings in our gardens. The ones that drew my attention were the large ones – a staircase plant (Leonotis Leonierus) that grows from a single seed to reach up to 15 feet with flowers spaced on a main stem and White Fleece Flower(Persicaria Polymorpha) a perennial growing up four feet. If you are looking for unusual foliage look for ornamental elderberry (Sambucus), varieties include lemon and black lace.

Smaller additions to our garden is a sedum – Postmans Pride with black foliage and a coneflower called Cheyenne Paint. Painted Tongue (Salpialossis Sinuate) is an annual alternative to the petunia and more decorative. Ornamental Black Pearl Pepper (Capsicum Annum) has dark foliage with black cherry like berries turning bright red in the fall. Tiger Flower or Mexican Shell Flower (Tigridia Pavonia) is very delicate but showy with many blooms over a six week period .Chocolate Cosmos looked interesting with its dark colour and even smells like chocolate we were told, and too many more to list.

A shrub that did catch my attention was a Bottlebrush (Fothergilla) from the Hamamelidaceae family. There is one called Gardenii growing up to five feet and a larger one named Major at over six feet. The flowers are white and spikey just like bottle brushes.

The vegetable spot needs to be planted if not already done (earlier plantings need protection from frost yet). It is still early for tomatoes, peppers and other softer plants.

At last we can get the garden pond going again. Leaves and any other dead debris need to be removed and the water topped up. The pump installed and started again to clean and oxygenate the water. Slowly start feeding the fish as they need the water to reach 10˚C or 50˚F.

All the summer birds are back so place the feeders out for them. I have had success with dried mealworms for the bluebirds which is available at the pet store. The first of the chicks have hatched so more food is needed to be readily available. They all control the insects around our gardens and add so much life.

Just a reminder – did you plant for the bees? Free wildflower seeds were offered from Honey Nut Cheerios website to plant for the depleting numbers of bees we need for pollination.

Denise Huck from Colour Paradise Greenhouses from Mannheim is our speaker for the next meeting talking about container planting –Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers for 2016.

Next meeting is June 7th @ 7.30 p.m. in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Members and non-members welcome.

For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca online.