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.