October 2000

Gardening a Growing Business but Climatic Predictions Dubious

“Gardening is the fastest growing leisure activity in North America,” says Chris D Andrews, who should know.  He is the executive director of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.  The Canadian lawn and garden industry produces $7-billion in retail sales, from over 20,000 firms, which employ more than 120,000 people, he adds.  More than four decades ago, newly emerged from college, horticulturists found people couldn’t even pronounce the word, and didn’t know what it meant.  Not surprising, really, when there was the Niagara School of Horticulture offered one of the very few courses on the continent.  Canadians had to train in Europe then, upon returning, found a distinct reluctance for any garden centres or others to employ them.  Times have certainly changed.

Why didn’t you mention moth balls to deter squirrels?” asked several regular readers concerned about their newly planted bulbs.  First, mothballs are extremely poisonous and all they can be relied upon doing is guarantee that the squirrels will never, ever be attacked by clothes moths.  This falls into the same category as getting rid of pigeons by feeding them Alka-Seltzer tablets.  The story goes that the thus medicated flying rats proceed to explode all over the place.  C’mon, it is bad enough being targeted by their guano….

Basil probably will not survive until 29 October.  But in the old city of Toronto, along with East York, that is likely the date of the first fall frosts.  Contrary to ancient local wisdom, it is not in the third week of September that Jack Frost spreads his icy fingers.  Even the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is unlikely to see his arrival before the first week of this month.  Notwithstanding, and given the miserable weather, early this month is still a good time to bring indoors any special plants hat it is desired to save for next season.

As to climate, rather than weather, Scientists continue to seriously question the premise that the present rise in temperature to be caused by human intervention since recent research indicates as the “little ice age” finished in the 19^th century, the climate began to warm.  Indeed, Wallace Broecker says that the key to understanding humanity’s role in the global warming trend “may lie in unravelling the demise of the little ice age,” according to an article in the journal New Scientist.

With this year indubitably cooling, however, it is time to turn gardening thoughts to seasonable culture.  It's too late to fertilize the lawn, whatever the importuning of assorted manufacturers and garden centres.  Keep mowing though, maintaining the grass at no less than 1-1/2 inches high.  Trim the edges with a turf edger for that final touch that separates the enthusiast from the dabbler.

If the perennials are in dire need of attention, fall is a choice time to lift, split, clean the beds and clumps of weeds and then return the most modest selection.  Replanting all and everything is an error of epic proportions.  Harden the heart; give the old heave-ho to all that there is not truly room for.  Now is the time to bestow thoughtful gifts upon neighbours, relations, work colleagues and other innocent souls who will welcome such.

Many make much noise about their love trees.  Few seem to be willing to undertake the necessary maintenance to keep major shade trees healthy.  Now is the rime to undertake such for maples, willows, bitch and poplars.  Better still, have a professional tree care company perform the work.  They will climb up, thin the canopy, and cut broken branches and the like.  Don’t try this yourself.  Remember the old chestnut about the tree surgeon that fell out of his patient.  It’s a long way to fall.

Lightning Strikes

It is not exactly a good idea to stand under any tree during a storm, but some trees seem to attract more hits than others.  The first official day of fall saw a magnificent lightning storm over Toronto.  This led us to wonder exactly which trees get “hit” the most often?  North American records indicate similar experiences to those of England where a reader write-in resulted in the following numbers of trees of each species being recorded as struck:

Oak 484

Poplar 284

Willow 87

Elm 66

Pine 54

Yew 50

Beech 39

Ash 33

Pear 30

Walnut 22

Linden 16

Birch 9

Apple 7

Alder 7

Mountain Ash 2

Hawthorn 1

Sycamore 1

Over Wintering Annuals and Herbs in the House

Many of the annuals that brightened summer gardens are, in fact, tender tropical perennials.  Given the rapidly rising prices demanded for such by even the most modest retail outlet every spring, it makes fiscal sense to save them if possible.  Not only that, but the very act of gardening demonstrates respect for life and, if possible, its preservation.  Herbs, improving culinary efforts, add zest to life and so appeal to the more physical needs of gardeners.

Commence by preparing six-inch plastic pots the previous evening.  Wash them clean of every trace of soil and salt encrustations, then soak in a weak bleach solution for half-an-hour, before allowing to dry and air overnight.  Any quality professional soil mix is adequate, with the commercial “Pro-Mix” without a doubt one of the best.

It is essential to select only the very best and most satisfactory specimens that it is desired to preserve.  Pot up early in the day, when the plants are turgid.  Stand them on the patio, deck or driveway and water very heavily to evict any and every creepy-crawly lurking around the roots.

The growth many plants have made over the summer refuses to adjust to indoor conditions.  Cut it hard back therefore, to three or four-inch stubs.  Ever-popular geraniums, as well as impatiens, many begonias and browallia will respond well to this.  Some container trailing plants such as asparagus fern are best treated similarly.  Tropical shrubs, including hibiscus, lantana, fuchsia and bougainvillea need three-quarters of their new growth cut hard back.  The ubiquitous dracaena or “spikes” require no trimming at all.

Finally spray everything with insecticidal soap.  Be generous, as you must eliminate every pest possible.  Since it is impossible though to zap every last one of the li8ttle beggars, continue in the house with precautionary sprays once every five days for at least three weeks.

October is the Month of the Great Pumpkin

Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Facts and Fancy 

About the Giant Cucurbit

According to Duff Conacher in More Canada Firsts (Toronto:  McClelland & Stewart, 1999), Howard Dill of Windsor, Nova Scotia has “Developed World’s Biggest Pumpkin Seed Strains.”

Well may the achievement be capitalized.  Dill’s Atlantic Giant, as these whoppers are known, now exceeds 2,200 kg, according to Conacher.  Such a monster would yield well over a thousand pies assuming, of course, one would fit in the average urban garden.

Much earlier, however, Cinderella’s coach was created by her resourceful relative from a pumpkin, while more recently Warner Brothers embroidered with pumpkin seeds one of Vanessa Redgrave’s gowns in Camelot.  Unfortunately this is one of the few things to recommend this 1967 musical movie.

In a U.S. survey (where else?), “pumpkin” tied in tenth place with “angel” as a term of endearment, a piece of knowledge we have R.H. Bruskin Associates, a market-research firm, to thank for.  In Chicago, at the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation, neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Alan Hirsch discovered that the scent of pumpkin pie “had a greater effect on male sexual arousal than any other scent tested.”

After this Ontario, you will be relieved to learn, tends more towards the conventional but still fun celebration of much else that is pumpkinish.  The Niagara Peninsula is a good place to find things gourdish and goulash.  St. Catharines has its Pumpkin Festival (905-688-5601) and there is Lindley’s Pumpkin-fest in Ancaster (905-304-0195).  Further west there is the Waterford Pumpkin Festival (519-4437834).  North in cottage country, up in Parry Sound, they have a Pumpkin Carving Contest (795-746-9252) as does Barrie much closer to the GTA (705-734-1414). 

But it’s back to the U.S. for the most bizarre carving contest, that which takes place underwater in the springs at Vernon, in northwest Florida, this Year seeing the sixth such annual contest.  Bring along your scuba outfit and diver’s knife and be prepared for something to beat pulp fiction.

As with so much, the whole thing stared with the British or, more accurately, the Celts of that wet weird isle.  Halloween was the Autumn Festival for them, a harvest celebration that also had dead relatives pay their annual visit to former homes on 31 October.  The original Jack O’ Lanterns were carved not from pumpkins, which the ancient Brits didn’t have, but from the more prosaic turnips which they most assuredly did, the idea being to scare off evil spirits.  The custom was adopted; no doubt with certain misgivings, into the early Christian Church and with it the story of Jack and his turnip lantern.  Some say that Jack was a blacksmith, and a particularly conniving one.  In return of the privilege of whooping it up on Earth, Jack sold his soul to the Devil.  Eventually though, as happens to everybody regardless of what deals are swung, his number cam4e up.  Jack twisted, turned and tricked as only he could and eventually trapped the devil in a pear tree, from which he would only allow him down if the devil cancelled their agreement.  This was done, but left Jack an outcast from both Heaven and Hell.  Before being cast for the last time from the latter place, he is said to have scooped up a blazing cola with a chunk of turnip he just happened to be nibbling on.  Thus it is this unique vegetable lantern we see to this day, held aloft by Jack as he wanders forever through the nether regions.

Given that pumpkin season celebrations have such great antiquity it is more than passing strange that provincial municipal politicians should decree that on the third Monday in November elections be conducted.  Coming soon enough so that memorises of turkey and ham still linger and pumpkins still gleam, one would think it risky, to say the least.  The derisive term “bumpkin” is, after all obtained from pumpkin, as in “pumpkin head,” that was used in Boston and else where in New England in days of yore.  As far as politicians go, an association of admirable proportions, surely.

After all this you are probably ready to join Lucy Maud Montgomery in the lament through her alter ego in Anne of Windy Poplars (1936): “I am so sick of pumpkin preserves,” the heroine exclaims.

Horticultural Happenings

Casa Loma Gardens

Free every Tuesday evening through to October from 4 pm to dusk.

Toronto Field Naturalist Outings

All theses walks are free and accessible by public transport; children are welcome but, please, no pets; dress according to the weather; bring notebook, camera, and binoculars – and be on time.

4 October 2000 Derrydiwn Park Nature Walk: meet 10:30 a.m. at park entrance, south side finch between Keele and Jane Streets; bring lunch

7 October 2000 Morningside Park for Mushrooms:  meet 10:30 a.m. at park entrance west side Morningside between Lawrence E. and Ellesmere; bring lunch

8 October 2000 Waterfront Trail Nature Walk: meet 1 p.m. at southeast corner Kingston and Westlake Roads.

11 October 2000 Rouge Valley Nature Walk:  meet 10:30 a.m. northeast corner of Sheppard East and Meadowvale; bring lunch

18 October 2000 Earl Bales Park Nature Walk:  Meet 10:30 a.m. at the park community centre Bathurst just south of Sheppard on east side; bring lunch

21 October 2000 Centennial Creek Ecoparks Nature Walk:  meet 10:30 a.m. northwest corner Old Kingston Rd and Meadowvale; bring lunch

22 October 2000 Mimico Creek Nature Walk:  meet 10:30 a.m. southwest corner Queensway and Parklawn; bring lunch.

24 October 2000 Newtonbrook Creek Nature walk:  meet 2 p.m. southeast corner Finch and Bayview

29 October 2000 Humber Marshes Nature Walk:  meet 10:30 a.m. at Old Mill subway station; morning only; wear waterproof footwear.

High Pak Activities

1 October 2000 Harvest Festival noon – 4:30 p.m. traditional music, Victorian picnic, children’s activities; $2 to tour Colborne Lodge.

Walking tours:

Meet south side of grenadier Café; a $2 donation is requested; walks last for about 2 hours.

15 October 2000 Birds of Fall; meet 9 a.m.; binoculars required

29 October 2000 Nature Photography; meet 1:15 p.m.

Richter’s Herbs

15 October 2000 Thyme for kids fund workshop at Richter’s, Hwy 47, Goodwood, and Ont.  $15

15 October 2000 Herbs for Healthy Skin free lecture at Richter’s, Hwy 47, Goodwood, and Ont.  2 p.m.

New Products

A major gardening Trade Show in Toronto at the end of September gave retailers an early look at next season’s offerings at the altar of horticulture.  If Canadian nursery growers were reluctant to admit to that which will be new, exciting, different and interesting, Dutch growers were not.    Forget about just bulbs from these people and be prepared for some fascinating perennials.  For example, a new variegated lavender is rumoured.

Fighting past the pots, ornaments and gizmos all there in vast numbers to the stolid supporters of growing plants, one trend was very plain.  In a word that is natural.  There are the small, dedicated businesses such as Vital Organix Fertilizer with the appropriate address of Bright, Ontario.  Then there is No-Gro Corporation’s complete Green Earth line of Pesticides, soils and nutrients, again from this province.  Further a field finds Ropel with plant Protect*R, a natural insect repellent to bug your pugs nest season.

Not all gardeners use everything natural though.  Plant-Prod now have Smartcote controlled release fertilizer and over at Vigoro is TNT which, friend Fred Myderwyk assures us, with a twinkle in his eye, stands for “time-released Nutrient Technology.”  Finally, don’t miss Windspiration front eh Orb factory, Halifax N.S.  These are some of the most wonderful fun ideas to spin in your garden, delighting your and old.  (www.orbfactory.com)

Gardeners Bookshelf

On of the most popular books on the famous City Gardening recommended book list is Lewis Hill’s Pruning Made Easy.  The latest, well-revised edition appeared three years ago but still remains an unequalled source of practical information for the amateur gardener…as well as not a few garden centre staff and other professionals.  Hill covers everything from the reasons for pruning, through equipment required to techniques, timing and other essential cutting culture for shade and fruit trees, shrubs, evergreens, hedges and much more.  The illustrating and editing by the staff at Story Publishing is a fine example of everything in those areas of expertise that should be applied to a gardening book but seldom are.  Very highly recommended at $25.00 plus 7% GST to support Mr. Chretien’s tax on knowledge.

News form a Gardener’s View Point

City Gardening peers at the past month’s news form Canada and elsewhere.

Landscaping

According to a poll by Amusement Today Busch Garden Williamsburg, Virginia, has the best landscaping, at least according to 51% of its respondents.  Walt Disney World follows it with 12% and Alton Towers Staffordshire, England at 6%

The landscaping “in thing” is to have a large scale model railway, according to trade journal Horticulture Review, eager gardener can discover more from the Large Scale Model Railroad Association (LSMRA) at 1877-LGSCALE or at their website www.largescale.org

On the subject of railways, the London, England, headquarters of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions was so embarrassed by remarks in a scientific journal that they replaced the dilapidated landscape in front of their building.  Toronto Transit Commission, please note.

According to the doctoral thesis of York University’s Allan Greenbaum one can determine the political proclivities of property owners by their landscape choices.  Last year, Your University also allowed a thesis on the sociological significance of the Canadian Doughnut Shop

The garden surrounding the home of Toronto’s George Brown, one of the Fathers of Confederation, is recreated by its present owner, the Ontario Heritage Foundation, together with senior students from the University of Toronto’s faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

Trees

Gravenhurst resident Kathleen Finlay and her family are suing the town of Gravenhurst for the removal in August of two enormous white pines whose roots, Mayor Bob Betts says, were interfering with tennis courts.  The Finlays want $200,000 compensation.

Tree rustling, the illegal removal of old-growth red cedar and other trees from B.C.  forests, has reached an estimated $100 million a year, the RCMP’s Forest Crimes Investigation Unit reports.

A public artwork of seven maple trees is installed in Toronto’s Woodbine Park, consisting of six living trees and one of bronze, created by Toronto artist Laurie McGugan.

A tree dropped by a busy beaver across P.E.I. power lines deprives many residents of electricity for several hours, proving the advantages and disadvantages of lining with nature.

Tree rings indicate a world weather disaster that took place around 540 AD but that went unrecorded elsewhere, claims a university professor on Belfast Ireland.

Putin’s Vodka, a new brand being offered in Lithuania, is steadfastly claimed by the distillery involved to be named after the snowball viburnum, which in Lithuanian tongue, is the patinas tree and, of course, is entirely unconnected with the Russian President of the same name.

John Turner, the former PM, has an island retreat near Kenora, reports Frank Magazine.  Landscape crew moved in to plant 400 birch plus 200 red and white pines, according to this well-known reliable source.  Wife Gillis ordered a few trees held back so the boss could be seen doing his environmental bit on Labour Day.  Frank claims Turner was “Treetotaling.”

Australian researchers in Tasmania have developed software that allows forestry managers to grow “designer trees” for particular purposes such as furniture or pulp.

Israeli scientists have developed a species of trembling aspen that is remarkably tolerant of salt laden soils, thanks to a protein known as BspA.  Look for transportation engineers using this as justification for continuing to salt winter roads.

Residents in Alberta area surrounding the campground at Pine Lake devastated by a tornado last July have replaced some 2000 trees that were destroyed in the disaster that took 12 lives.

Lawns

Mirage Custom Putting Greens offers to tear up your existing lawn and replace with a putting green of artificial turf for $15 to $17 a square foot.  They will also install artificial greens in residential basements, office buildings or even condo roofs.

“The few times I did venture out to the yard with a long book and a tall drink, I was driven back inside by the universal racket that is the bane of all lovers of peaceful summer days – the power lawn mower.” Valerie Meadows, Metro, 22 September

Flowers

On 1 May the new territory of Nunavut selected the purple saxifrage as its floral symbol.  New research has shown that this and other plants survived the last ice age not by moving south but by staying in ice-free areas on the Yukon, Alaska and Eastern Siberia.

The “Sensitive Plant” Mimosa pudica, has leaves that wilt when touched.  Japanese researchers discovered it is caused by dephosphorylation or in other words, after being touched, there are fewer phosphate groups found bound in actin.

Down In the Vegetables

Scientists at a military research establishment in India report the discovery of the world’s hottest pepper, the “Texper Chilli”, which has about a third more heat than Mexico’s El Savina Habanero.  Good news for chilli lovers, bad news for squirrels.

According to Stefano Padulosi of the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute in Italy, the food plants that will be of increasing interest in the coming decade are ancient crops such as rocket, sorrel and seakale.

It has just come to our attention that in a European Union survey earlier this year that 35%of Europeans believe the statement “ordinary tomatoes do not contain genes, genetically modified tomatoes do.”

Peter Lansdale, chairman of the Tomato Growers Association I the U.S., notes that last year’s playing of rock music to tomato plants may have increased yields by 5 per cent.  “While we don’t put it entirely down to the introduction of rock and roll music, where sound waves help with the pollination process, it has encouraged us to think laterally and not be afraid to try new ideas.”

French researchers demonstrate that, since astronauts may suffer bone loss thanks to a deficiency of vitamin K, they would benefit from broccoli, a good source of such nutrients.  Closer to home, a U.S. study in China indicates that a chemical in the same vegetable, as well as cabbage and bok choy, helps protect against lung cancer.

Fruit

A serious virus affecting peaches, nectarines, plums and possibly cherries may have been present in Ontario for 10 or more years but went unreported by orchard owners, despite obvious damage to fruit.

The Financial Post reports that it cost $10 million US to change the name of “prune” to “dried plum.”  However the California Prune Board, initiators of the makeover, have no plans to change their name.

While a Thailand farmer is reported to have had great success using trained monkeys to harvest coconuts, mangoes and tamarinds, in the U.S. they cause problems for motorists.  Three escaped from an unknown source and pelted passing vehicles on Virginia Interstate 95 with bananas and crab apples, then escaped into woods when police investigated.

Natural Gardening

According to Joyce Sumner of Anstey, Leicestershire, England, chewing coffee beans removes garlic odour from the breath

After working for four years, the European Commission has legislated honey as a “natural sweet substance produced by Apis mellifera bees.”

Etobicoke wildflower gardener Doug Counter is threatened by the city for allegedly permitting his natural front garden to exceed a metre in height.

Herbs

Sage, lemon balm and wormwood all have ancient reputations for restoring memory loss.  Researchers at the University of Newcastle, England, have discovered there appears to be some scientific basis for such claims.  They caution, however, that wormwood in particular has other constituents that are distinctly dangerous to human health.

A new Thai restaurant franchise about to be launched will see establishments named Cook Basil in Western Hotels.

Weeds

Ragweed pollen levels are reported to be particularly severe this year, taking a toll on hay fever sufferers.

Opponents of genetically modified crops in Britain claim that growing of sugar beet modified to control weeds could threaten Britain’s “most popular farmland birds” by eliminating the weeds they feed on.

Bugs & Gardeners

An East Japan Railways express train was halted north of Tokyo when large numbers of millipedes swarmed over a section of track, causing the locomotives wheels to slip on their crushed bodies.

An eight-year-old Albertan boy attempts to keep almost 200 preying mantis in one bottle to study them to improve his kung fu.  Instead he learns that preying mantises are cannibalistic when he ends up with just two of the predacious insects.

NATO is on the hook for some $300,000 US claimed by Macedonian apiarists for loss of honey production as their bees became nervous of the bombing in neighbouring Yugoslavia last year.

Another argument for restricting attempts at biological control with alien organisms has been made following research by scientist Raymond Huey of the University of Washington in Seattle.  Fruit flies accidentally introduced into the New World from Europe two decades ago are already mutating he says, displacing native species.

Aphids harbour certain bacteria, which have evolved to such a stage that neither can exist without the other. Japanese researchers report, causing extreme excitement amongst evolutionists if not gardeners.

Mushroom News

According to recent research published in the journal Science, fungi may have preceded higher plants on land.  Subsequently the two evolved together, most frequently for their mutual benefit, the majority of fungi being beneficial to green plants; although a few are, it is true, serious parasites.

Every Gnome Needs a Home

A pair of gnomes went missing in Huntsville, Ontario, just prior to the Labour Day weekend, causing local police to panic and issue warnings to lock up lawn ornaments less a 1999 occurrence is repeated which saw over 100 gnomes turn up at the town hydro plant, electrifying Huntsville gardeners.

Cultural Advice for Gardeners

Nest time you are tempted to complain of Canada’s two official languages, consider Mrs. Allen in England, now part of the European Union.  Purchasing a pair of rubber work boots for her husband, she discovered a 24-page booklet in 11 languages was included instructing the purchaser on how to use the product.

Gardening in the City

Researchers at Vanderbilt University found indications that the extremely high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in streams in Nashville Tennessee, are not from faulty municipal or private sewage systems.  The cause is pet dogs and cats, they say, who use gardens to defecate on.  Unless, reports New Scientist, “the citizens of Nashville have taken to relieving themselves on their garden lawns.”

The Greater Toronto Area has one of the highest concentrations of garden centres in the world, but lucky is the community of Balzac, Alberta which consists of two people, two churches – and a garden centre, all serving and area with a population of 500.

Although perfectly legal in England and indeed growing in popularity, arranging to be buried in the garden is not wise, says Nicholas Albery, Editor of The New Natural Death Handbook.  Not only might it cause problems with relations and neighbours, but also it may lower the property value, he says.

Science and the Gardener

Isolating the gene involved in tea and coffee plants producing caffeine, scientists announce the possibility of producing decaf bushes without; they hasten to add, spoiling your favourite brew’s flavour.

Researchers at Purdue University are developing a coating for seeds to delay their germination, allowing winter wheat and soybeans to inter-planted in the same field,

Biochemist Eva Villegas, 75, and plant engineer Surinder Vasal, 62, both from Mexico, have won the world food prize, an award worth a quarter-million dollars for developing a new high-protein corn to alleviate hunger in the Third World.

The Permian animal extinction of 250 million years ago not only reduced animal species by 8.5 %, it also decimated plant life, field researchers from the University of Washington say after studying South Africa’s Karoo Region.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases a study showing that genetically modified corn poses little risk to monarch butterflies as well being safe for human consumption.

Health and Gardeners

Ever mindful of your health, the Ontario Alcohol and Gambling Commission ordered the company distributing Agwa to remove labels from the back of the liquor bottles.  You can advertise gambling opportunities anywhere and everywhere but never, ever, alcoholic drinks which claim to increase sexual prowess with ginseng, coca and guarana

Drinking grapefruit juice with some drugs, researchers discover, may double their potency, advising pill poppers with a penchant for the potent liquid to cease and desist.

Go easy on cinnamon.  It may not be so healthful, says Gerjan Huis in ‘t Veld, Dutch Consumer Organization, in response to reports that it should benefit some diabetics.

Health Canada is discouraging consumption of unpasteurized juices or ciders as such have been linked to attacks by E. coli bacteria and similar ailments.

Dutch researchers discovered of 96 cigarettes sampled, 63 were contaminated with various moulds one at least of which is a common cause of infections.  Meanwhile, in Quebec, a cigar manufacturer is fined for including insects and “sub-standard” tobacco in their product.

Environment and Gardeners

Buchu, Agathosma butilina, is endangered in its natural South African habitat by over-gathering.  As a claimed natural cure-all, it is in high demand in Western Culture.

An enterprising company is offering “Masker-Aid” to commercial lawn spray operator to cover up the objectionable odour of the chemicals the favour.  Tow choices are available, cherry and bubblegum, for those who believe they are on the right scent.

Thanks to scheming by environmental activists even your grandmother can no longer be trusted.  A 72-year-old great-grandmother arrested for anti-logging protest in B.C. was purposely chosen in a “manipulative campaign” a B.C. Supreme Court judge said, sentencing her to a year in jail.

In a letter to MPs defending the professional use of pesticides, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association notes: “reports by the World Health Organization of 220,000 deaths due to pesticides did not include the information that 91% of these deaths were suicides.”

The Law and the Gardener

Police charge a Toronto city employee with dangerous driving in connection with an incident of a tractor and mower and a baby stroller.

Melons can now be transported bribe-free in Kazakhstan after a government minister who was travelling incognito on a truck carrying the fruit fired three-dozen larcenous officials.

A 62-year-old man was on trial in Pennsylvania for gardening sans clothes by way of protesting his neighbour’s floodlights.

Weather

As temperatures dropped below 20C in a moist Toronto, residents of Kansas City sweltered in +38C and Texans had been almost two months without rain.  On 21 September Calgary received several centimetres of snow.

World climate is returning to normal after recent impacts of El Nino and La Nina, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.  This summer was “normal”?

Environment Canada forecasts fall temperatures to be “slightly above normal, with average precipitation.” Later they decide we’ve had the third-wettest summer ever.  Presumable this excludes that experienced by an ark-building mariner some time previously.

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