Next meeting

Wednesday, February 22^nd

General meeting 7:30 p.m.

Seed exchange

Master Gardener Q & A

Speaker : Dr. Rod Johnson,

Community Waterfront Friends

will give us an update on exciting new developments

in the plans to develop North Bay's waterfront

PLEASE LUG YOUR MUG!! Help us protect the environment!!

Please bring any seeds you can spare in envelopes or packages labeled with the name or description of the plant. To make sure it is fair for all our members who attend the meeting, the exchange will be held after the speaker. Those who are unable to bring seeds but wish to participate are asked to donate a loonie or toonie to the pot. Please leave your seeds at the membership table when you come in.

Our Master Gardener will be available to answer your questions about seeding.

Garden guide for February

• Beat the February blues by propagate indoor plants (geraniums, etc,) by stem cuttings.

• Place mail order for seeds and summer bulbs.

• Start impatiens and dusty miller from seed.

• Repot house plants if necessary. Begin fertilizing at half strength.

• Sort through last year's seed packets. Check for viability by putting a few seeds in a moist paper towel in a plastic bag and place in a warm spot (above fridge) for about a week.

• Prepare seeds for annual seed exchange.

• Inspect houseplants for spider mites and aphids. Spray with insecticidal soap.

• Check dates of the annual garden show and plan a trip to one; they are great inspiration.

Dry-flowing amaryllis : A veritable toy box of creative opportunities

 Canadians grow somewhere in the neighbourhood of half a million Amaryllis bulbs every year. And for good reason. From December through to March these, often baseball sized, bulbs produce spectacular blooms which range in diameter between 10 cm and 18 cm. Their rapid growth and dramatic flowering habit bring joy to Canadian homes during the dreariest part of our winter season.

Traditional growing methods

Amaryllis have traditionally been grown in two ways. The first is to plant the bulb in soil, with its "neck and shoulders" exposed above soil level. The other is to suspend the bulb over, but not touching, water. Specialty garden centres and florists sell vases for just this purpose.

Exciting news

"Hot off the press" trials completed in early summer 2005 at the Applied Plant Research Centre in Lisse, the Netherlands, now prove that there is another Amaryllis growing method to add into the mix. It's called: Dry Flowering. According to Paul van Leeuwen, head scientist on the project, "If the bulbs have been pre-cooled for about 8 weeks at 13 degrees C, (which is how they are usually sold in the Canadian marketplace) this method requires nothing at all. No soil. No water. Nothing. As it appears that hardly anything will stop a pre-cooled Amaryllis bulb from sprouting and flowering."

The Research Centre is developing a list of Amaryllis varieties better suited to dry flowering than others. While the entire list is not yet ready for publication, three varieties which have made the grade are: "Red Lion" which produces 15 to 18 cm blood-red flowers; "Pamela", a miniature (as in not as tall) red variety with 12 cm blooms; and "Moonlight" a stunning, large-blossomed, pale green/cream, frilly-edged variety.

Let your creativity run wild

Dry flowering opens up a veritable toy box full of new and exciting ways to use Amaryllis bulbs.

This spring, for example, the greenhouses at the world famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Holland, showcased a dramatic display of dry flowering Amaryllis bulbs simply suspended in midair with string and twine.

In the home, especially during the holiday season, it's now possible to do all sorts of new and creative dry flowering things with pre-cooled Amaryllis bulbs.

They can be tucked into garlands of fir boughs used to decorate mantles or staircase banisters. They can be grouped on pretty glass platters and used as dining table or buffet centerpieces. For a touch of whimsy, one or two can be placed on each step of a staircase (without the worry of breaking vases or spilling water).

Like gymnasts, they can even do it upside down

Adding to the intrigue of a bulb which can flower without the addition of either soil or water, it doesn't even matter how they are placed. Right side up, sideways or even upside down, nothing seems to affect their ability to flower.

After the Holiday baubles, clutter and glitz have put away what fun it will be to place a simple container of any sort in the middle of the dinning room table, gently toss in five or six Amaryllis bulbs of different varieties, let them lie just how they land, and then spend January, February and maybe even March watching them bloom away to their hearts' content.

From The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre.

Tell a friend!

Encourage your friends, family and neighbours to get involved in this city's latest passion by joining our Society. Ontario horticultural societies receive a $1000 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) with a membership of between 100 and 200 members, but this rises to $1500 with over 200 members. This grant helps us with many of our programs such as civic beautification, invited guest speakers, publicity, library, bursaries, plant sale and flower show.

Share our love of gardening...tell a friend...only $10.00 single/$15.00 family

Dawn Carlson, Membership

Recipes from the garden!

Rosemary cookies

1.c. butter or margarine

2 c. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 c. sour cream

1 orange, juice and grated rind

3 1/2 c. all purpose flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. dried lemon balm, crushed (optional)

3 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed (or 9 tsp. fresh rosemary)