“Fostering the love of Gardening and the Beautification of our City.”
May 2008
President’s Message
With summer approaching, and even though our days have seen much rain and cool temperatures, it’s still safe to start dreaming about summer vacations, cottage escapes, picnics in the park, outdoor terraces, containers filled with ivy and begonias, home-grown tomatoes, outdoor weddings and green thumbs!!
And our plant sale is approaching quickly and we are looking forward to great weather, everyone’s support and a great sale. Thank you to Pat Madill and all of the people who are working so hard to get this weekend organized.
Look for our “Living Green” articles to start in the North Bay
Nugget on May 20th. The articles will run weekly for approximately 20 weeks
during the summer. A huge thanks to all who contributed to this segment and
to Rosalyn Charland for editing all of the articles.
It’s been mentioned to me more than once to not get stressed out because
“after all, it’s only flowers” and even if it is only flowers
our executive is strongly committed to accomplishing goals this year that will
increase community awareness of our society and the love of gardening.
Darlene Lecour
Plant Sale
Sat. May 24
9 a.m. sharp
Christ Church
Next meeting
Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m.
Speakers : Bonnie Cappadocia
‘Growing organic vegetables in pots’
PLEASE POST PLANT SALE POSTER FOR US! Thanks!
(back page of newsletter)
Our event schedule for 2008
Sat. May 24 – Plant sale 9 a.m. sharp
May 27 – Bonnie Cappadocia – Growing organic vegetables in pots
Sat. June 21 - Flower and vegetable show at Northgate Shopping Centre
June 24 – Strawberry social & Silent auction ; Jim Aldridge - Bees
Tues. July 22 – Ella’s waterfront picnic at noon
August 22-24 - OHA convention in Brampton
Sat. Sept. 6th – Painting flowers workshop with Carol Romaine Cost $25
September 23th – potluck; The art of pressed flowers – Dorothy Antram
Sat. October 4th Gathering Nature’s Bounty (edible wild walk): with Lucy
Emmott - $10 includes list of plants and other info
October 28th meeting – Beautiful winter containers – Mark from Bouquet
D’Amour
November 25 – Annual general meeting –Waterfront Update with Rod
Johnston
Plant Sale THIS WEEKEND
Saturday May 24, 9.a.m.
Christ Church
We will be needing lots of volunteers for set up Friday afternoon (after 2
until about 7), as well as the day of the sale. Drop in any time Friday afternoon
if you can. If you will be there around 6, bring an appetizer and we will all
share a well earned quick meal. If you have any questions, please feel free
to call Pat Madill at 472 9836. If you have plant donations you need picked
up, please call Daphne at 476-0567.
Muffins will be sold again so if you want to bake up a dozen or two, drop them
off Friday afternoon or Saturday morning between 8 and 8:30 a.m., individually
wrapped in saran and labeled.
Wear your Name tags
We would love to try to get out members to wear their name tags to each meeting
so we can all figure out who is who. When you grab your mug for the meeting,
please remember you tag too!
PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LUG YOUR MUG!!
To all our meetings
Help us protect the environment!!
Garden guide for mid May to mid June
Spread compost over lawn and water in. This will supply a boost of nutrients
to get turf grass plants off to a good start this season. Sprinkle with grass
seed in thin or weedy areas and keep watered for a week if there is no rain.
Prune out dead and spindly wood on rose bushes. Cut remaining canes back so
each has 3 to 5 buds left - top bud should be outfacing.
Plant shrubs, trees, hedges and roses. Evergreens should be planted in late
spring and always with a ball of earth.
Transplant biennials (violas, pansies, foxgloves, etc.), perennials, container
stock, Fall mums. Pinch out new growth in mums to encourage plants to fill out
and increase size for fall.
Check trees for caterpillars and other insects.
Turn compost heap to start it working after winter dormancy.
Deadhead faded blooms from spring bulbs. Do not remove leaves - they provide
nutrients to the bulbs.
Prune raspberries, vines, evergreens, hedges, hydrangeas, and lilacs and crabapple
after flowering.
Water lawns and gardens regularly, preferably in the morning. Use seed-free
grass. clippings and compost on gardens to conserve moisture and control weeds.
Stake tall-growing perennials and tie up vines.
Continue to seed cool weather vegetables for a continuous crop for table and
freezer. Seed warm weather vegetables (e.g. green and wax beans) once soil has
warmed up and transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, etc.
Mow lawn, cutting to not less than 2 inches. Leave clippings where they lie,
at least occasionally. This provides protection from the sun, provides nutrients
as the clippings decompose and helps retain moisture.
Weed vegetable and flower gardens. Regular hoeing keeps the task from becoming
a time-consuming chore. Put a neat edge on all flower beds.
Civic Beautification
Planting will take place at our Canadore College main campus beds, Wednesday
May 21st at 9 a.m. All helpers welcome. No experience necessary.
Park at the back, bring gloves, and a trowel.
Pansies have been planted at the Chamber of Commerce.
Tulips are in bloom at the Lily Bed near the back entrance of the public library.
The hostas are peeking thru.
If you might be interested in helping out in one of our seven gardens from time
to time, please give your name to one of our executive members. Thanks.
Lilac Bed - Plea for volunteers
The Lilac Bed at the waterfront has recently lost some of its members and we are now down to only 3 members and 2 non-members. We are in need of about 5 new members to help to care for this very easy bed. This bed was planted and is cared for by the North Bay Horticultural Society and our team name is “The Green Thumbs” to match our newsletter. I would not like to pass this bed over to the Heritage Gardeners, however, if we don’t get more involvement that is what I will have to do. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 in the evening from June to October or as required. Learn how to use dormant oil, mulch and prune lilacs. It’s a very easy bed to care for and because it is located at the waterfront, you will also become a Heritage Gardener.
It is the only bed at the waterfront with dual ownership. We care for the bed and the City provides us with mulch and compost. As a thank you, the City gives the Heritage Gardeners a day of appreciation to show their gratitude for all of our efforts. This is free to us since the City picks up the tab for our $25.00 a plate dinner including guest speakers.
So come on out and have some fun learning about lilacs and meet your fellow members. We are located at the end of the parking lot to the left of the Marina. For more info, please call me at 752-3979.
Betty Foy/Team Leader
Flower Show Tips
Help us put on a great show!
Exhibiting Tips
1. Some cut flowers do not readily absorb water and require further conditioning to prevent wilt during a show. Take a pail of water to the garden. Always start with warm water, except when cutting bulbs. Cut flowers in either the early morning or early evening when the plant has taken in water. Fresh cut flower specimens should be immersed in warm water immediately. A sharp knife will make a clean cut.
2. Cut flowers prefer water that is room temperature or warm – keep flowers fresh, change water daily.
3. To ensure that your flowers will be exhibited at their best, cut the flowers the day before the show and condition them overnight for at least 6 hours. Cut more than one just in case.
4. Judges are looking for specimens that are fresh and free from blemishes, bruises, dirt and insects.
5. Uniformity is important. All cultivars in an exhibit should be all nearly alike as possible in size, form and colour unless specified otherwise.
6. Never bring a sick plant to the show.
7. Place flowers in clean containers. There must be no leaves in the water. Blooms should not touch one another.
8. Arrangements must be in proportion to the vase with 1/3 vase & 2/3 flowers. Saran wrap tucked in the top of a container can keep the flowers in place.
9. Groom all plants before showing. This includes cleaning the pot, washing the leaves, removing diseased or damaged leavers, and checking for insects.
10. A rose spray is 2 or more blooms on a single stem.
11. A specimen bloom is one bloom on one stem. No buds or side shoots are allowed.
12. A rose should have 3 to 5 leaves on the stem for a hybrid tea, floribunda or grandiflora. A miniature rose should have 2 or 3 leaves.
13. One stem means just that – one stem.
14. Ensure that you have read the ‘Rules for all Shows’ in the
booklet so as not to disqualify your entry.
Entry Tags demystified
Filling out an entry tag properly for the flower show is important.
What is a class? Grab your show schedule and let’s look at the Rose section.
You have a medium red tea rose in your hand; under the Floribundas rose
section, #1 is ‘red or red blend’. The class is ’1’.
The first line is filled out.
Next is section – this is tricky. You might think it is Roses but it
is
Horticultural. In reality we have six sections, but for the purpose of
the Entry Tag these are condensed to three Divisions; horticultural (1-
87), design (88-95) and youth (96-99).
Article – Floribundas tea, red or red blend. If you know the name for
the rose
such as ‘Firecracker’, add it here.
Exhibitor’s number – you get this from the Audrey Morton at 472-4810.
Print your name and address/phone number.
One last important detail, fold tag up at the perforation and the tuck
the tab into the slot to hide your name. This is so the judges do not
know who submitted the entry.
Now pick up tags before the show and fill them out. One thing less to
worry about on the big day:
Saturday June 21 at Sears Court, Northgate Shopping Centre
North Bay Blooms
This new city program, North Bay Blooms, has been created to promote the beautification
of North Bay; the committee has asked our Society for some volunteers to help
judge some local gardens. This commitment will take about 2 hours and will be
done in pairs, during the first two weeks in July. Simple judging guidelines
will be given to each pair, and they will need to visit about 10 gardens in
an area to choose their favourites.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please see Darlene at the next meeting
or call her at 752-3728.
Thanks to our volunteers
Thanks to all those who wrote articles for our Living Green column which will
be running in the Nugget Thursdays until October. Watch out for the column
which should start this week.
Hopefully all the columns we submitted will be published
(although a few went astray last year).
Living Green ideas
Go Green by Adrian van der Bijl, Master Gardener
Instead of using herbicides, I now use the hoe more and pull the weeds. When
I weed, I keep a short fork with me and dig out the roots of dandelion, dock
and horsetail. I weed as early as possible before the weeds start seeding. If
you don’t use herbicides, you will attract and increase the worms, which
are good for aerating your soil.
Instead of using pesticide, I look for alternatives to combat insects, such
as attracting frogs with a small pond. I attract toads with a small rock pile,
for shade and a place for them to bury in; a rock pile also provide a place
for garden snakes which are harmless to you, just leave them alone - they will
disappear when you get close to them. If you don’t use pesticides, you
will attract more birds and beneficial insects.
I also have a composter for weeds, and kitchen waste. If you mulch your leaves,
they will compost faster. If you use the mulcher on the lawn, it will attract
and increase the worm population. For the dry areas of my yard, I look for drought
tolerant plants, which need less watering.
Seedlings Storytime
(a joint program with the North Bay Horticultural Society and North Bay Public
Library)
The next children’s program starts Saturday May 24th.
If your children or grandchildren need something to fill their Saturdays,
consider signing them up.
If you have any questions, you can always reach me (Janet Vos) via email at
stellasnowflakeATsympatico.ca or by telephone at (705) 752-1826.
Going, going, almost gone!
Thursday evening, June 12th, The Callander Horticultural Society will host
"An Evening with Ed Lawrence" at the Callander Community Centre.
Ed Lawrence is retired chief horticulturalist at Rideau Hall and popular gardening
expert, author of the best-selling book “Gardening Grief and Glory”.
Ed has gained a solid reputation as the elder statesman of environmentally-responsible
gardening. His simple, practical, and effective solutions to gardening problems
and pests have consistently avoided the use of dangerous poisons and commercial
pesticides. Soap and water, dormant oils, integrated pest management (ie. good
bugs eating bad bugs), even the use of beer in small bowls to eliminate slugs
from your garden are among the benign remedies that Ed has used and promoted
over his many years as both a media gardening celebrity and in the greenhouses
and gardens of the Governor General.
Tickets are $10.00 and there will be refreshments available.
Contact Colleen Haddow at 472-8016 or at newheartmamaATyahoo.ca.
JUST A FEW TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!
Need to contact us with comments, questions or suggestions?
North Bay Horticultural Society
P.O. Box 1482, North Bay, ON P1B 8K6
Website : Go to www.gardenontario.org and follow the links!
Email : [email protected]
President : Darlene Lecour
First Vice-president : Louise Cicci
Secretary : Betty Foy
Treasurer : Ruth Wright
Civic Beautification : Ruby McLeod
Plant Sale : Pat Madill
Flower Show : June Charette
Youth : Janet Vos
Membership : Maureen Ranger
Social :Judy Watling
Telephone Committee : Audrey Morton
Green Thumb : Geri Openshaw
Assistant directors : Lorne Cutts, Daphne Andrews, Vickie Wiemer, Sue Finnis
Treasurer’s report to Apr. 30/08
Investment savings $3630.78
Bank statement as of Mar. 31/08 $1583.87
Last month’s outstanding cheques - $ 148.98
Deposit + $ 110.00
Expenditures - $ 619.88
This month’s outstanding cheques + $ 62.38
Total current account 987.39
Expenditures
Horticultural meetings $ 375.00
Green Thumb $ 102.50
Bank charges $ 5.00
OHA & products $ 12.00
Plant sale $ 18.70
Gifts and social $ 6.68
Donation $ 100.00
Total expenditures $ 619.88
Receipts
Membership $ 90.00
Donation $ 20.00
Total receipts $ 110.00
The North Bay Horticultural Society
General Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Held at Christ Church, 890 Vimy St.
President Darlene Lecour welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order
at 7:05. 37 members were in attendance.
Business – There being no errors or omissions, the Minutes of the March
General Meeting, as printed in the Green Thumb, were moved to be adopted by
Louise Cicci. Cd.
Treasurer’s Report – A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report
as presented in the Green Thumb was made by Katherine Minkowsky and 2nd by Adrian
van der Bijl. Cd.
Today is Earth Day – April 22. In observation of this day we are reminded
to become more environmentally diligent, to reduce and recycle.
Front Cover of the Nugget – Audrey Morton was featured talking about her
grow lights and love of gardening.
In Memoriam - It was mentioned that Geri Openshaw will purchase a book from
the North Bay Library with a label in the front of the book in memory of Beverley
and Keeley Laporte, since the North Bay Horticultural Society has had so many
dealings with Laporte’s Garden Centre over the years.
North Bay Blooms – volunteers will be needed. There will be an update
next month when we know more.
The North Bay Nugget “Living Green” articles will start on Tuesday
May 20 and should carry on for every Tuesday till September 30. Four more articles
are needed to give us the full 20 articles required. Thanks so much to all those
who have shared their stories so far, without you, this great opportunity would
not be possible.
The “Living Green” articles for the Green Thumb – Adrian will
do an article for the May Green Thumb.
Volunteer Hours – throughout the summer months please keep track of all
your volunteer hours and give them to Pat Madill. They all go towards our grant
from OMAFRA.
Yard Sale – Saturday, April 26th at Linda Graham’s, 14 Ferris Road
in Ferris. Items for sale include a wheelbarrow, grow light & table, and
gardening paraphernalia.
Committee Reports –
Civic Beautification – Ruby McLeod - Jane and Ruby planted pansies at
the Chamber. Canadore College’s Graduation is May 28. There will be a
scheduled planting on May 21. Anyone interested, please sign up on sheet with
your phone numbers. Thank you in advance.
Plant Sale – Pat Madill – Saturday, May 24. The Pot Up for the plant
sale will be this Saturday, April 26 at the old “Northern Perennials”
in Astorville. Marie Louise Fraenkel has made arrangements with the new owners
of her property to dig and pot up again this year. Please meet Pat at Wasi Corners
at 9:30. Bring your gardening tools and lots of pots. When everyone is cleaning
up your gardens at home this spring, please remember to divide up some perennials
for our plant sale. Please keep track of all your volunteer hours for Pat. If
you wish to bring in some muffins for our coffee and muffin sale, please call
Pat to let her know, at 472-9836. Also please use containers that you do not
want to get back. Maureen Ranger has made posters to advertise the plant sale
at your place of work or public areas. The Church should be open at 2:00 on
Friday, May 23rd to drop off your plants. There will also be a pot luck supper
during our set up. If you wish to bring in something, that would be great.
Flower Show – June Charette – Saturday, June 21. The theme this
year will be “Mid Summer’s Dream”. Some entries titles are:
“Green with envy”, “June is Bursting Out All Over”,
“On the Wild Side” and “Summer Bonnet” to name just
a few. With such a vibrant and colourful theme, the imagination can go wild.
You would be surprised how easy it is to put together an arrangement to be proud
of. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. What have you got to lose?
The more entries we have, the better a show it will be.
Membership – we now have 98 members.
Youth – Janet Vos has finished the first session. One parent said she
learned more than her boy learned. She mentioned that the kids will take part
in the Plant Sale, visit Laporte’s Garden Centre, make a scarecrow and
have a tea party.
Social – Judy Watling – Maureen Ranger, Debbie Clark and Cathy Frair
volunteered to bring the goodies for the next meeting. Thank you ladies.
North Bay Horticultural Society Cards – Louise Cicci made some beautiful
Thank You, Sympathy and Get Well cards to be sent to out to members on behalf
of the Society. They were passed around for all to see.
Gardening Course – Dorothy Stewart will be teaching a gardening course
at Canadore College starting on Tuesday, April 29 for 6 sessions. Cost $106.00
and worth every penny.
Ed Lawrence - June 12 - Callander Community Centre, 7:00-9:00. Tickets $10.00
in advance through Lorne Cutts (497-8863) or Ted Reed (752-2565)
Door Prizes – were won by June Hamilton, Bette Atkinson and Katherine
Minkowski. Congratulations.
Master Gardener’s Questions/Answers – Adrian van der Bijl
- Irish Moss will grow in some acidic and shaded conditions.
- Most veggies need full sun normally.
- Spray a rhubarb tea on the ground before planting broccoli, brussel sprouts
to kill any viruses in the ground.
Guest Speaker – Mr. Brian Herdman with The Nipissing Environment Watch
and owner of the “Deer Creek Garden Care Centre” on Highway 94 outside
of Callander. Speaking on Climate Change & Gardening. The following are
a few of the highlights: long falls, milder winters, unpredictable springs,
2-3 degrees warmer by the end of the century and very hot and dry summers. Bad
points: more pest and disease problems, for example earwigs, migration of new
plants, fungus and weeds have longer to grow. Good points: longer growing season
– 85 to 100 days growing veggies, azaleas and rhododendrons – bigger/higher
zone areas. Landscape fabric is not recommended; weeds will come though after
time. Use less water by planting drought resistant plants; use water barrels,
drip hoses and spaghetti tubing. Water in the early morning to prevent fungus
which is caused by watering in the evening. To get rid of ants in lawns, use
powdered sugar and borax. Please remember that “Weed and Feed” is
a pesticide.
Adjournment –
Darlene thanked over guest speaker and everyone for helping with setting up
for the meeting and reminded all to buy your mother a membership for Mother’s
Day. The business part of the meeting was adjourned by Monica Kimtimavik and
the meeting ended at 8:40 after our guest speaker. The next general meeting
will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
"The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May."
- Edwin Way Teale
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PLANT SALE
Saturday May 24th 2008
9 A.M.
at
Christ Church
890 Vimy Street
Coffee, tea and home baked muffins will be for sale
Many, many plants are available including
ANNUALS
VEGETABLES
HOUSEPLANTS
PERENNIALS
HERBS
Some examples: rock garden plants, grasses, hostas,
heucheras, primulas, coleus, and much more
– all hardy to the North Bay area