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.