“Fostering the love of Gardening and the Beautification of our City.” Geri Openshaw, Editor

September 2007

President’s message:
Hopefully, most of you were able to attend one of our many events that were going on during the summer months. A huge thanks to Betty Foy, Geri Openshaw and Lorne Cutts for all of their hard work and dedication to ensuring that our first Garden Tour was a success. And to June Charette for the tremendous effort that she put into organizing our flower show event. These members spent months organizing and planning in order for these events to be a success.

We also hope that you enjoyed both “Gardening Tips” and the “Beautiful Yards” segments published in the Nugget this summer. The Nugget has also shown interest in carrying the “Tips” publication starting in the spring of next year. This is a great opportunity for more of our members to get involved. Again, thank you to all of our brave writers who published and contributed to both of these features and to Rosalyn Charland for expertly editing all of our submissions.

What a summer it has been!!!
Darlene Lecour

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Sept 26th
Potluck 6:00 p.m.
General meeting 7:00 p.m.
Speaker : David Henschel
of Therapeutic Solutions
“Plant and rake without ache”

OHA District 18
Fall workshop
Sat., Sept. 29th
Dunchurch/Whitestone

Tuesday, October 23rd
General meeting 7:00 p.m.
Speaker: Lucy Emmott &
Jeremy St. Onge
Wildcrafting: Harvesting Nature’s Bounty

Next meeting

Tuesday, Sept 25th
Potluck 6:00 p.m.; meeting 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE bring your own plates, cutlery, mug and serviette, as well
as your potluck ‘special’ and serving implement!!
Help us protect the environment!!

General meeting 7:00 p.m.
Flower Show Awards // Master Gardener Q & A

Speaker : David Henschel of Therapeutic Solutions
Plant and rake without ache

A graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, David was a key player with SYMETRICS, (originally known as Physiotherapy North), since 1990. He has just recently branched out with his own with Therapeutic Solutions.

GARDENING GUIDE

Mid September to Mid October
Begin fall garden clean up. Clear garden debris and rake leaves as they fall.
Put all discarded annual plants, vegetable plants and leaves in the compost pile as long as they are not diseased.
Compost layers should be approximately 70% dry material - leaves etc. - to 30 % green material - fresh grass and plants, kitchen wastes etc. (no animal products - eggshells OK).
Lift all frost sensitive bulbs - e.g. gladiola, dahlia, begonia, canna, calla. Dry thoroughly, dust with fungicide, and store in a cool, dry basement.
Complete pruning of shrubs and vines.
You can cut back perennials or if you prefer leave them over the winter to help trap snow as protection against freezing and thawing cycles.
Place nets over ponds and water gardens to prevent the water from becoming polluted by falling leaves.
Plant garlic sets out in a well-drained location and mulch well after frost. They will get a hard start for next year’s crop.
Harvest squash and pumpkin before the first frost. Leave 1” to 2” of stem attached to prevent rot.

COMING EVENTS
October 23 – Wildcrafting : Harvesting Nature’s Bounty
with Lucy Emmott and Jeremy St. Onge

Share your ideas!
We will be welcoming a few new members on your executive of this Society this fall; we would love you to share your thoughts, and ideas for the society in 2008!
Please talk to Maureen or put you name down on our signup sheet at the September meeting for more information.
Please consider joining us when your nomination committee member calls!

“LIVING GREEN”
the following is a sample of one of one of our articles
published in the Nugget this summer.

PLANTING MINOR BULBS AND DAFFODILS by Audrey Morton

“Minor bulbs”, so-called because they are small, certainly not minor, in their colourful display or reliability.
Crocus, hyacinths, cilla, muscari, snowdrops, aranthus, English hyacinths, glory of the snow, fritillaria, and snowflakes are examples of minor bulbs.
In mixed border, against a backdrop of birch or shrubs or their backs against boulders to warm them, they are a sight in early spring before other colour comes along.
As most are small in stature, it is best to plant in large quantities. They are very reasonably priced.
Light mulch around them in the fall in helpful, to keep blossoms from being splashed with soil, in the heavy spring rains.

The sight of a daffodil means spring is here at last. In order to have a longer displaying the garden, it is necessary to plant a larger variety of daffodils than just the large trumpet type. They looked best in a mixed border with your flowering shrubs. The others would be suitable in a rock garden, or near your terrace to cheer your day.
They range in height from 6“ to 18“ and flowers range from thimble size (single or clusters) to 5 – 6” in diameter. Remember that their show begins during the early spring, when weather can be inclement, so consider what area can be seen from the windows of your home. Good drainage and sun is important. Plant the bulbs as soon as they are available in the autumn, so allow them time to develop their roots. Plant between perennials, so their dying foliage, won’t be unsightly.
Deadhead dying blossoms but do NOT cut back foliage as all bulbs need the leaves to nourish the bulb for next year.

More budding writers needed : The North Bay Nugget has been pleased with our gardening articles which appeared each Tuesday during the summer. They are considering running more articles next spring and summer. If you are interested in writing a few articles for us (about 250 words) in the future, please contact Maureen at our next meeting.

A new Youth Seedlings program coming this fall….
Saturday afternoons for 1 ¼ hrs.
For children ages 4 – 10
Stories and hands on programming
with an ‘indoor gardening’ theme
with North Bay Horticultural Society ‘s youth leader,
Janet Vos
at North Bay Public Library
Register in the Children’s Dept. at the end of September
Limited registration.
For more details, call the Children’s Dept. at 474- 4830

Executive Summary of the Flower & Vegetable Show
“Fun In The Sun” July 28th, 2007
The show looked great in Sears Court at Northgate Shopping Centre this year…and only due to the efforts of 10 exhibitors!!!
These 10 very hardworking and dedicated members entered 154 exhibits which was amazing. Adrian did his magic by entering an exhibit in almost every category of fresh and dried designs.
Linda, a 1st time entrant worked for hours collecting flowers and vegetables to display in the mall. The rest of us did what we could with the time we had and they all looked wonderful.
Huge Thanks to Everyone who helped make the show success and be sure to join us at the general meeting Sept. 25th for the awards ceremony!!
June Charette Flower Show Chairperson
Ella’s picnic – Tuesday, July 24th

About 15 members enjoyed another beautiful day at the waterfront – it never rains on Ella Fudge’s picnic! We shared stories and laughter as well as Ella’s delicious cake which had been warmed by the sun!

Hope

A book review by Gregg Elliott

“… bulb gardening is often more complicated than it appears.”
— Jim & Valerie Hole
“… gardeners will enjoy, as I have, a lifetime of delight with these amazing plants.” — Lois E. Hole

Lois Hole’s Favorite Bulbs: Better Choices, Better Gardens by Jim Hole & Valerie Hole, eds.
Bulbs for All Seasons by Pierre Gingras, (trans. Michael Ballantyne).

These are reference books intended to introduce the neophyte to ‘bulbs’ or to introduce ‘bulbs’ other than tulips and daffodils and for all seasons not just spring. The majority are outdoor ‘bulbs’ but there are the indoor ones too. Although some people commonly refer to ‘bulbs’ as such, and hence the titles of the books, the generic term actually refers to four different classes. There are bulbs of course such as tulips and lilies but there are also corms, such as crocuses and gladioluses, rhizomes such as some irises and canna lilies, and tubers such as potatoes and dahlias. All are different, although the end result will be great looking blossoms or something good to eat.

The opening chapter of the Gingras book, Spring, begins with Allium and ends with Tulipa. Entries in each chapter are alphabetical regardless of what class they belong to. Spring is also the longest chapter at 88 pages since that is when most ‘bulbs’ bloom. Only Summer is nearly as long at 80 pages. Indigenous plants [16 pages] begins with Arisaema [Jack-in-the –pulpit] and ends with Trillium. Summer has Agapanthus as the opening ‘bulb’ and Zephyranthes as the final. Autumn [only five pages] with Colchicum to Lycoris, and Winter [24 pages] begins with Achimenes and closing with Sprekelia.

These books are really intended for the moderately interested bulbiculturalist, someone who wants some ‘bulbs’ in the garden. These books serve this function quite admirably, being neither too sketchy nor too encyclopaedic. They are not intended to be comprehensive. There are bulbs that are not included such as Liatris, Acidanthera, Dichelostemma and Brodiaea, for instance. Nothing about these books can be objected to since they serve their purpose well. Flipped open at random in Gingras I came upon Bletilla, a summer rhizome that develops corm-like pseudo-bulbs. This is given no explanation but then other gardening encyclopedias offer the same definition with nothing further either. The size of Bletilla’s leaves and blossoms is given as well as the overall height. Then there are the obligatory mentions of soil and light conditions, as well as fertilization and pests, in this case aphids. ‘Bulbs’ enhance any garden for a space of time but we know that they’ll be back next year. And there is a sense of hope in that.

Book details
Jim Hole & Valerie Hole. Lois Hole’s favourite Bulbs: Better Choices, Better Gardens. St. Albert, Alberta: Hole’s, 2003. 310 pages including Contents: (Preface, Foreword Acknowledgements); Introduction; What are Bulbs; The Growth Cycle of Bulbs; Shopping for Bulbs; Planting Bulbs; Enjoying Bulbs; Twenty Best Bulbs; For the Adventurous; Appendix (How to force garden bulbs, How to Naturalize bulbs) ; Glossary; References; and Index); Twenty Best Bulbs: Alliums; Anemones (Anemone blanda, Anemone coronaria, Anemone nemorosa); Tuberous Begonias; Calla lilies; Canna lilies; Chionodoxas; Colchicums; Crocuses; Dahlias; Elephant Ears (Alocasia macrorrhiza, Colocasia esculenta); Eranthis; Fritillaries; Galanthus; Gladiolus; Hyacinths; Bulbous Irises; Muscari; Narcissus; Squills (Puschkinias, Scillas, Bluebells); Tulips (Hybrid Tulips, Species Tulips).

Pierre Gingras, trans. Michael Ballantyne. Bulbs for All Seasons. Toronto: Firefly Books, 2001. 282 pages including Acknowledgements; Preface; WHAT IS A BULB? (The real bulb, The corm, Tuberous roots and rhizomes); PLANT HARDINESS ZONES (The microclimate, Mulch, Hardy bulbs, Life goes on, A lethal temperature); GROWING METHODS (Fertilization, Propagation, Growing from seed: a long process, Naturalization, Spring or fall?, Forcing); AN IMPORTANT WORLD MARKET (What to buy, A guarantee); [The bulbs] Spring; Indigenous plants; Summer; Autumn; Winter; Glossary; Bibliography; and Index.

Treasurer’s report to Jul 31 /07

Investment savings $ 3500.00
Bank statement (May 31/07) $ 4618.21
Outstanding cheques last month $ -501.36
Outstanding cheques this month $ 133.65
Deposit $+ 606.31
Expenditures $-3296.49
Total current account $1560.32

Expenditures
Horticultural meetings $ 75.31
Green Thumb $ 141.93
Bank charges $ 10.48
Social and gifts $ 13.65
Civic beautification $ 897.75
Flower show $ 163.49
General office expense $ 15.77
Workshop (living wreath) $ 555.00
Advertising (plant sale) $ 298.92
Travel expense $ 50.00
Miscellaneous(garden tour & Ed’s book) $1074.19
$3296.49

Receipts
Membership $ 40.00
Workshops $ 492.81
Plant sale $ 13.50
Advertising $ 50.00
Book $ 10.00
Total receipts $ 606.31

Master Gardener’s Hotline 495-0920
Have a gardening question? Leave a message on their answering machine and local Master Gardener volunteer will call back with an answer! A free service.

Executive Summary of the Flower & Vegetable Show
“Fun In The Sun”
July 28th, 2007
The show looked great in Sears Court at Northgate Shopping Centre this year…and only due to the efforts of 10 exhibitors!!!
These 10 very hardworking and dedicated members entered 154 exhibits which was amazing. Adrian did his magic by entering an exhibit in almost every category of fresh and dried designs.
Linda, a 1st time entrant worked for hours collecting flowers and vegetables to display in the mall. The rest of us did what we could with the time we had and they all looked wonderful.
Huge Thanks to Everyone who helped make the show success and be sure to join us at the general meeting Sept. 25th for the awards ceremony!!
June Charette Flower Show Chairperson

Ella’s picnic – Tuesday, July 24th

About 15 members enjoyed another beautiful day at the waterfront – it never rains on Ella Fudge’s picnic! We shared stories and laughter as well as Ella’s delicious cake which had been warmed by the sun!

PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LUG YOUR MUG !!
Help us protect the environment!!

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]

General Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Held at Christ Church, 890 Vimy Street, North Bay, Ontario

Darlene Lecour called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 48 members were in attendance.

BUSINESS :
Minutes of the May 22, 2007 General Meeting Minutes as presented in the Green Thumb were MOVED to be adopted by Betty Foy. CARRIED.
MOTION to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented in the Green Thumb by Helen Bannerman. CARRIED.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Darlene asked all the volunteers who helped with the Plant Sale to stand for applause. The plant sale netted $3004.00. Special thanks to Hariett Madigan, Marie-Luise Frankel and Jean Nicholson for their plant donations for the sale. Also thanks to Commanda Gardens.
The Nugget has requested our participation in a weekly segment of seasonal Gardening Tips featuring the Horticultural Society input and membership activities. They are also planning production of a booklet or special insert in August called “Beautiful Yards in North Bay” and would like to feature our members’ gardens and theme beds. The Society was thrilled to participate in this great opportunity. Darlene asked for volunteers to participate on this committee.
CBACH Artsperience – North Bay’s Coordinating Body of Arts, Culture & Heritage presents its 3rd Showcase with David Lewis, Barbara Kyle and Dwayne Harty. Info at the back.
Our thanks to the volunteers who volunteered at our Publicity Table at the Northgate Mall: Helen Bannerman, Linda Graham, Geri Openshaw, Betty Callaghan, Norma , June Charette.
Janet Philips updated the Society on the status of Otter Lake being sold off as residential lots as of Aug 27.
Thank you to Janet Vos and the new Youth Seedlings Storytime Program at the Public Library. It’s great fun.
Committee Reports
Civic Beautification Report.
Ruby McLeod reported the five beds at Canadore College look great, all 1,932 plants. The waterfront theme bed is striking, but will require volunteers for weeding. Dellandrea Place is not in good shape. It requires new soil and a lot of weeding. No planting will take place until beds are prepared. Chamber of Commerce tubs require removal of pansies and planting of flowers. The wildflowers on Hwy 17 are doing well. The library beds were planted with 200 plants (begonias).

Youth Update.
Janet Vos reported the success of the first “Seedlings – Storytime Program this past June. 10 children registered and about 6 or 7 came each Saturday. Janet would like to run this program again next year and include an older age group. A new Youth Page is now in the Green Thumb.
Flower Show Update.
The Flower Show is July 28th at Northgate Square from 10:00am – 2:00pm. The theme is “Fun in the Sun”. June passed out copies of The Flower Show Booklet to the membership for review and encouraged their participation.
Membership Report.
We now have over 144 members in good standing. We still hope to reach 150. Membership is up 20% from last year. Kudos to all!
Members Only Garden Tour Report.
Betty Foy, Geri Openshaw and Lorne Cutts reported that our 1st Annual Members Only Garden Tour set up is complete for Sunday, July 8. They would like 12 volunteers to man 6 gardens with 2 volunteers at each garden to check membership cards and stamp hands. Members were asked if they would like to donate cookies or lemonade. Sign up sheet is at the back. Required at each tour location would be a card table, 2 chairs and cooler. Dollars has donated water for each location. Prizes have been donated for volunteers, garden hostesses and participants. Maureen to prepare membership kits.
Website Update.
Darlene encouraged the membership to check out our updated website. Special thanks to Mark Giddens for development.
MOTION to adjourn business at 7:45p.m. by Shawn
Strawberry Social was enjoyed by all.
Feature Presentation: “Eat Your Yard” – Growing Your Own Veggies, Fruit & Herbs with Monica McLaren.
Master Gardeners – Monica McLaren and Vicki Weimer took questions.
Door prizes were won by: Carolyn Carr, Dawn Williams and Judy Watling.