CG November 1999

Another Season Winds Down

Outside a Few Chores Are Left But Inside It’s Blooming Wonderful

So it is finally time to close down the garden completely.  Take up the last of the falling leaves.  Cut the lawn to just a half inch high to avoid late winter problems.  Compost the final, late-lingering annuals and reduce similarly inclined perennials to ground level.  Clean the bird feeders and baths with a dilute solution of bleach.  Toronto Field Naturalists have noted, not a few times, that disease is all to often spread from such sites.  Remember that a reliable source of water is important for our feathered chums.  They’ve removed from the garden quantities of pests and weed seeds all season.  Now is the time to return the favour.  Time also to protect rose bushes for the winter.  Hybrid tea, floribunda and Grandiflora roses all require protection if they are to have a good chance of surviving the winter.  The majority of Canadian-developed roses are different…but we’ll come to those in a moment.  First, cut back the canes to a foot high.  This will prevent the tops whipping about in winter wind, straining and breaking the roots frozen in the soil.  Discard all rose pruning and, especially, every dead leaf.  Do not compost – the composter cannot reach a high enough temperature to kill the spores of the notorious black spot disease which over-winters in such places.  Next place a plastic rose collar around each pruned-back bush.  Fill with compost, either purchased or from the home composter.  This may be spread in the following spring as mulch around the roses, saving and additional purchase at that time.

Canadian-developed roses of the famed “Explorer” series and some of their close relations are not so finicky.  Although it is usually recommended that they be similarly protected for the first year after planting, thereafter they survive just the same as most things Canadian.  If you neglected to raise the soil to alkaline levels loved by clematis, then there is still time.  A generous handful of garden lime sprinkled around the base of each plant will be most beneficial.  Keep this away from rhododendrons, azaleas and their relatives.  They hate lime.  Nice acid soils are what they flourish in.  Beg or borrow every oak leaf and or pine needle in the neighborhood.  Mulch up to six inches thick around the base of all such shrubs.  Failing this, peat moss will achieve similar low pH levels or mix together all three.  They are less likely to blow around if, just before nightfall, they are wetted down with the garden hose.

While pruning is not at the top of the list of things to do in November, a final check before freeze-up is advisable.  Remove any suckers of water shoots from apples, crab apples, hawthorns and lilacs, all of which are particularly prone to this problem.  At the same time, cut out any dead, dying or diseased wood that may be discovered.  If this is up much higher than can be reached from the ground and is extensive, don’t climb into the tree.  We like to keep our readers.  Call a tree surgeon and let them take the risks.

Indoors with the air becoming drier, watch of the infamous spider mite.  A dusty appearance to the foliage, which may also become mottled yellow, may signal an attack.  By the time the plant is covered with webs it is usually in extremis.  Daily spraying with room-temperature water will not increase the humidity but will discourage this pest.  As with the legendary small boys, it hates taking a bath.

Continue to fertilize houseplants through until the end of this month.  After this use plant food only if they bear flowers and are actually in bloom.  We will talk about gift plants next month.

Pumpkin Pies and Muffins

Missed last month’s talk at Main St. Library?  Too late to taste them, but here are City Gardening’s own recipes:

Pumpkin Muffins

• 1-½ cups flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1/3  cup cooking oil

• ¾ cup cooked pumpkin

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup milk

• ½ cup raisins

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• ½ tsp cinnamon

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and spices, and then add the raisins.  In a separate bowl mix together the pumpkin, milk, oil and egg, then add to the dry ingredients.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 of the way full and bake at 400F for 15 go 20 min.

Pumpkin Pie

• Pastry for 9-inch pie

• 2 cups cooked pumpkin

• 3 egg yolks

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1-cup sugar

• ½ cup milk

• 3 egg whites

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Mash the cooked pumpkin smooth; them add the milk.  Beat the egg yolks and add to the pumpkin and milk mix, followed by the spice blend, vanilla and salt.  Beat the egg whites until stiff; fold in to the pie mixture then pour the whole into the pie shell. Bake in 350F oven for 45 minutes.

Warning: the editor finds these addictive.

Gardener’s Snips

Theft of wild orchids is on the increase at Waterton Lakes National Park, in the Rockies, 250 km southwest of Calgary, despite the threat of a $2,000 fine, parks authorities report.  The tragic futility is that it is almost impossible to domesticate such orchids.

Cullen Gardens has solved a burning question.  One of the most popular displays of their miniature village was the metre tall house on “fire”.  The 80-kg model went missing in late August and turned up almost two months later in the early hours one Sunday morning on the front lawn of an Oshawa Fire Station.

The Wet Coast’s beautiful Burnaby does not appreciate the skirl of the bagpiper.  Their internationally acclaimed Simon Fraser University Pipe Band was ordered out of the Burnaby Mountain Rose Garden where they had practiced for the past 17 years.  Local bungleaucrats capitulated to the demands of a single derogatory letter.  When, as reported, they reconsider their dubious actions, rosarians would be happy to lend their support to anything that might discourage the ravages of aphids and other pests.

It had to happen: finally, another activity has beaten out gardening for using up energy.  Measured by the metabolic turnover of oxygen, or METs in scientific shorthand, cycling, golf and heavy lifting all involve using about the equivalent or even slightly more METs than gardening.  So reports the highly respected International Journal of Clinical Practice.  But what exceeds all these?  Why, nothing less than “vigorous sexual activity” states Dr. Graham Jackson, who headed the group that reported these startling findings.

What to do about the plagues of earwigs is a frequent question we are asked.  Mr. Lovizek, a local lad who supplies trained insects for movies television and advertisements may have the answer.  He is, reports the Weekend Post, presently painting several hundred of the beasties with a non-toxic white paint so they may be used as a substitute for hard-to-come by silverfish in an upcoming production.

How to Have Happy and Healthy Houseplants

Talking to Them May Help But There is more to Keeping Them Alive

The days draw in, the last leaves have fallen from the trees outside, and thoughts turn to houseplants.  And if you haven’t got them already, resist the urge to purchase during winter.  Not only is it more difficult to bring ‘em back alive, but also conditions in the home are horrifying from a plant viewpoint.  Low light, short days, air drier than that found in the middle of the Sahara.  No, that latter is not an exaggeration. Lacking a humidifier, the air in the average Canadian home this season contains just that much moisture.

The air is also stagnant.  Take a leaf from the book of orchid fanciers and either install ceiling fans of keep a table fan on at low speed.  Not only do the houseplants do better, so will their owners.  Yes, gently moving air helps but also, as NASA established a few years ago, plants prevent the pollution, which causes the now-notorious SBS or Sick Building Syndrome.

It has been estimated that incorrect watering kills 80% of houseplants sold in their first year.  Always use room temperature water.  Cold water rots roots.  Leave dribbles to babies.  When watering, water well, until liquid flows from the bottom of the pot.  No drainage in the container?  Next time re-potting is necessary; place a half-inch to inch of charcoal in the bottom.

Moisture meters, available at any garden centre worthy of the name for around $10, are invaluable.  They indicate the state of the soil, however, not when to water.  As a general rule, many larger specimens require the soil to go almost bone dry near the base of the pot.  Smaller specimens, such as African Violets, must be kept just moist at all times without creating a swamp.  Cactus and other succulents barely require any water over winter, but more copious supplies in summer.  If anybody claims it is possible to water by the week, relegate him or her to the abysmal regions where the décor is limited to plastic plants.

Spritzing plants with room temperature water does not raise the humidity.  It is highly beneficial on most plants since it removes dust, permitting better photosynthesis.  It also discourages spider mites, a major pest.  Hair-leafed plants again such as African Violets, along with begonias, do not take kindly to this treatment and should be cleaned with a soft paintbrush.

Unless plants are displaying flower buds or are in bloom, omit fertilizing from December through February inclusive.  Plants raised for their blooms require feeding every couple of weeks with a fertilizer high in phosphate, the middle figure of the three on the label.  An excellent product is supplied by Wilson Laboratories, Lakefish for Flowering Plants.  As with their similar product for foliage plants, this is natural based.

Again, resist the urge to re-pot.  First, it is amazing the limited room plants require providing other conditions are supplied.  Secondly plants freshly introduced to the homes are going through enough shock as it is without heaping further indignity upon them.  Lastly, now is the wrong time.  March through to mid-summer is preferable by far.  Use clay pots if possible for all but the smaller plants.  Being porous, they are harder to over water, breath and, better still, are heavy enough so that taller specimens do not go crash in the night; a disturbing experience for both plant and owner. 

When re-potting, most plants will do better in soil-less or “professional” mix, for example the well-known commercial “Pro-Mix”. Or blend at home a half-bushel of peat moss with a like amount of horticultural grade vermiculite.  Add 12 level tablespoons of garden lime and voila, a home-mix.

Trying to grow a plant that requires full blazing sun in a dark corner is a sure recipe for failure.  It is a cardinal error to believe that plants perceive light in the same manner as the human eye.  The very least even “shade” specimen’s need is that similar to which a newspaper may be read in.  Much-touted artificial lights are rarely effective under home conditions, apart from being an expensive investment.

The death of a houseplant is rarely caused by any pathogen, obscure or otherwise.  The successful growers have discarded the wretched demands of the “me generation”.  Houseplants are living things and require a commitment, minimal as that may be.  Water, food, light, air, it is really not much different from what their human caretakers require.  Prince Charles was once laughed at when he admitted to talking to his plants.  But it showed his commitment…although it might be better to avoid prolonged conversations.  We don’t want to talk the poor dears to death.

Horticultural Happenings

Note all Toronto Field Naturalist events are free and children are welcome, but please no pets.  Dress for the weather; camera, notebook, binoculars useful. 

• 30 October 1999: North American Native Plant Society annual meeting at Civic Garden Centre 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (416) 924-6807

• 31 October 1999: Japanese Garden Club 47^th Annual Flower & Bonsai Exhibition; Noon to 5 p.m. at the new Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond Court.  For more information call (416) 425-3161

• 31 October 1999: Global Warming free Science lecture at medical Sciences Building 1 king’s College Circle.  Royal Canadian Institute.

• 1-14 November 1999:  Annual Chrysanthemum Show; Hamilton’s Gage Park Greenhouses has +75000 blooms, from 240 cultivators; for more information call 1-800-263-8590

• 4-13 November 1999:  Royal Winter Fair, National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place will have gardens inspired by Japan, China and elsewhere; for more information call (416) 236-3482.

• 6 November 1999:  explore nature in art through many of the galleries of Yorkville galleries with a Toronto Field Naturalist guide; meet 11 a.m. at Cumberland exit of Bay Subway Station by “The Rock”

• 7 November 1999:  Toronto Field Naturalists monthly meeting 77 Queen’s Park Circle East 2 p.m.; visitors welcome; chance to purchase unique gifts at the sales table; talk on the mushrooms of southern Ontario.

• 13 November 1999:  Lower Mimico Creek Walk with Toronto Field Naturalists and Friends of the Mimico Creek; meet 10:30 a.m. northeast corner Park Lawn Rd and Lake Shore Blvd West.  Bring a lunch and be prepared for a rugged walk.

• 23 November 1999:  Cabbagetown Heritage Walk with Toronto Field Naturalists; includes trees, shrubs of the Necropolis; meet 10:30 a.m. southwest corner of Winchester St.

• 28 November 1999:  Humber River Discovery Walk; meet at 1:30 p.m. Old Mill Subway Station, a 7km walk of about 2 hours offers fascinating insights on many subjects including nature; free.

• 28 November 1999:  Fine Fly Dining, a free science lecture by the Royal Canadian Institute at the Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, 3p.m.

Toronto Gardener’s Journal

This invaluable annual publication from Margaret Bennet-Alder is now entering its eighth year.  The week-at-a-glance will gladden the hearts, as well as gardens, of householders anywhere in the “Golden Horseshoe”.  Many will find the Source Book section of even greater help; listing as it does catalogues, societies, outlets for plants and associated materials and much more.  All this for just $16.95, whether from one of may more receptive local stores or direct from the author, at (416) 488-9523 by VISA.

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