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The Essex Thymes
The Essex & District
Horticultural Society Newsletter for February 2008
Remember to Lug a Mug
Please note new guidelines for February 27th, 2008 Silent
Auction: Starting this month, we will keep the higher value items on a
separate table with a minimum bid. If an item does not get at least that
amount it will be returned to the donor.
President’s Message: Welcome Everyone. Well, here we are in February and
Spring is just around the corner, (or so we hope). This has been a rather
bleak, snowy, cold month and I for one will not be sorry to see the end of
it for another year. However, February is a great time for planning and I
have been making good use of some of that time by planning the bus trip for
June and a flower show for July. Likewise, I hope you have been planning
your garden and catching up on your reading and ordering seeds and plants
from the plethora of gardening catalogues out there. It’s a good time too
to check your houseplants over carefully and I have certainly found some
unwanted visitors on mine. Should we get a few nice days, be sure and go
outside and check your gardens. Look to see if there has been any heaving
of your plants and check for damage to your trees and shrubs. If there is,
you may want to put some chicken wire around them – it’s been a nasty winter
for some of our little four legged friends and they have been hard up for
food too, so our tree trunks often suffer when this happens. Some seeds can
be planted now, and a lot of people do winter sowing at this time. Pot up
some soil less mix and plant some perennial seeds in it – put the pots
outside in a semi – protected spot (up near the base of your house) but make
sure they will get snow and rain to water them. You will be surprised how
many will pop up when it comes Spring. Also many seeds can soon be started
indoors and cuttings can be taken off such things as geraniums that you may
have brought in last fall. Even though it is February, you really can still
garden to a certain extent.
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This week I went to see Edgar and Beenie James, long time members who now
live in Wallaceburg. They are well and send hellos to all of you, along
with garden books for our library and some for our silent auction. We thank
them for thinking of our club and donating these books.
With Spring fast approaching, please think about adopting a bed in the Town
of Essex for this year. We supply all the plants and can even plant it but
we need people badly to regularly weed, throughout the Spring and Summer.
Perhaps you may not even have to do it once a week, but we need a
commitment. The beds looked wonderful last year and thank you to all of you
who took care of them. If you can do the same bed again, or even add 1 more
it would be a great help to us. Please think about it. We will have sign
up sheets ready soon. We need your help on planting day but also all season
long. It only takes about 10 minutes a week, maybe not even that.
See you next month, and just think, it will be Spring !!!!! ………….Sandy
This article was in the Windsor Star Saturday, January 26th under
the Master Gardener question and answer area in the Home section. It was
written by Lynn Imeson
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QUESTION: Please explain the terms naturalization and native plants. Hettie,
Belle River
ANSWER: Simply put, naturalization means creating a wildlife habitat with
plants that are native to the area. Plant, shrub or tree species that were
here before the settlers came could be considered native. Naturalizing an
area draws in wildlife as the plants and trees will support the lives of the
insects, birds, amphibians and mammals that live in it. To create a
naturalized area, plants and trees native to the area are used as they have
survived in that particular habitat because of the climate and growing
conditions. These plants live in harmony with each other without taking the
other over. (We must be aware that some plants which are not native to our
area arrived here long ago by whatever means, have survived and are now
mistakenly considered native by many.) Species that continually survive in
a particular area are usually most free from disease and can survive in
stressful conditions such as drought. Thus pesticide use is reduced and
water is conserved.
We
are in the northern tip of what is referred to as the Carolinian Zone, a
forest region that runs south to the Carolinas. In Canada, this region,
running roughly from the north side of Lake Ontario, down to and including
all of Essex County and Windsor, contains about half the species native to
Canada. That is an incredible amount !
Going native does not mean that you have to tear up your entire property and
start over or have a boring landscape or a unkempt looking area. Native
species can be added gradually. There are so many varieties of trees,
shrubs and vegetation to choose from that you will have no trouble creating
a lovely space. Once established they should require less maintenance than
traditional gardens as they are more suited to the climate and soil
conditions.
Going native does not mean that you have to tear up your entire property and
start over or have a boring landscape or a unkempt looking area. Native
species can be added gradually. There are so many varieties of trees,
shrubs and vegetation to choose from that you will have no trouble creating
a lovely space. Once established they should require less maintenance than
traditional gardens as they are more suited to the climate and soil
conditions.
We
have a wonderful resource for learning about naturalization and going
native:
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The
Naturalized Habitat
Network of Essex County &Windsor offers Naturalized Landscape Courses each
year, usually in the fall and in the spring. (Please see following page in
this newsletter) A registered charity, the Network puts on this course as a
community service. The course helps a person decide what changes can be
made to their property and which plants, shrubs and trees are best suited
for it. This year the courses begin in early March, with the first one
starting March 10th, 2008. Call the number below for more information.
Members of the Network annually participate in Native Plant Propagation
Workshops, Seed Collection outings, tours of local woods and also backyards
that have been naturalized. The group has initiated Seeds of Hope, which
will provide training for the collection and cultivation of native seeds.
Network website:
www.naturalizedhabitat.org , e-mail
byhew@wincom.net , phone 519-259-2407, mail to P.O. Box 292,
Essex, ON N8M 2Y3.
We still have some
dedicated native plant growers in the County.
Three of them are:
1)Wheatley Woods, Craig
& Marjan Willett, 2448 Essex Rd 14, 4 km n. of Wheatley, corner of Essex Rd
14 and Kent Road 1, phone 519-825-4217, or
www.wheatley-woods.ca .
2)Native Trees &
Plants, Vic & Darlene Bernyk, 629 Dalhousie Street,
Amherstburg,telephone 519-736-4695, or e-mail
vbernyk@sympatico.ca
3)Tracey Colenutt, n.
of Leamington at 440 Hwy 77; his phone 519-326-8340, his e-mail is
traccole@hotmail.com.
BUILD A BETTER
LANDSCAPE - from THE NATURALIZED HABITAT NETWORK
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To all
our friends,
Help us spread the
word... The adult evening course that has benefited over 500 area residents
is back and we are now accepting registrations for our next series of the
Naturalized Landscape Course. This course, which is accessible to both
beginner and advanced gardeners, covers the essentials of planning,
designing and creating a great home landscape. Just as importantly, this
weekly course provides an ideal venue for anyone who wants to learn more
about our region’s numerous species of native trees, shrubs, vines, wild
flowers and wetland plants.
All classes begin at
7:00 PM and typically last for two hours. For anyone who wants more insight
on becoming a better gardener, now is your chance. The cost for registration
is $50. This coming March, 2008, we will be offering four sets of classes at
the following...
Mondays in Belle River,
beginning on March 10.
Tuesdays in Harrow,
beginning on March 11.
Wednesdays in LaSalle,
beginning on March 12.
Thursdays in Essex,
beginning on March 13.
Registrations will be accepted throughout this month, or at least while
there is still room in each class. Seating is limited to an average of 20
people per class and advanced registration is required. To register or to
find out more, call us at 519-259-2407, anytime between 9:00 AM and 6:00
PM. Also visit our web site at
www.naturalizedhabitat.org .
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Dan Bissonnette,
Program Coordinator
The Naturalized Habitat
Network 519-259-2407
P.O. Box 292, Essex,
Ontario N8M 2Y3
Does anyone have any
ideas for the newsletter?
Do you have a good
story for us?
How about a teaching
piece?
Nothing is too small or
too large for this newsletter.
Do you feel the font on
some of the hard copy pages is too small?
Do you have any ideas
for features that you would like to see in the
newsletter? We want to hear from
you because this is your newsletter.
Do you have something
interesting, and preferably garden related, that you make/sell/teach ?
This is the place to
advertise it (just like the hyper tufa trough classes).
If you have a garden
object that you no longer have use for, be it decorative or functional such
as a tool, and you wish to sell it, ADVERTISE in the newsletter.
Contact Lynn Imeson to
get any of this into the newsletter.(see contact info under Hyper Tufa
Trough Classes )
Ontario Horticultural Association website address:
http://www.gardenontario.org/index.php
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2008
Executive and
Directors and Committees for the Essex Horticultural Society:
President:
Sandy Ellenor; 1st Vice President: Kathy Hudak; 2nd
Vice: Marie Tiborcz;
Secretary:
Teresa Vermeulen;
Treasurer: Bonnie Teskey;
Directors:
First Year of Two : Walter Gerard, Lynn Imeson, Camelia Mallia
Second Year of Two:
Connie Couvion, Roberta Hernandez, Stacey Hildenbrand,
Evelyn Kogel, Sandy McCrone, Pat Newhouse, Tim
O’Hagan, Doris Parr
Communities in Bloom
Liason: Tim
O’Hagan
June Bus Trip:
Sandy Ellenor
July Flower Show:
Sandy Ellenor
Librarian:
Pat Newhouse
Membership:
Walter Gerard, Bonnie Teskey
Phone Committee:
Connie Couvion, Sandy McCrone, Pat Newhouse, Evelyn Kogel
Planting Committee
Heads: Kathy
Hudak, Tim O’Hagan
Program Committee:
Kathy Hudak, Marie Tiborcz
Newsletter Editor:
Lynn
Imeson
Publicity:
Camelia Mallia
Social Committee:
The Ridleys and Marie Tiborcz
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Marie Tiborcz’s
Home
Project #2
Gourd Bird Feeder: Grow or buy long necked gourds. Carve out openings to
make a bird feeder. Drill a hole in the neck to match the size of a small
rod or dowel. Hang from a metal or wooden arm which is attached to a tall
PVC pipe. The pipe discourages squirrels and cats. Fill with your
feathered friends’ favourite seed mix.
A
book we have heard about but not read: “The End of Food” by Thomas Pawlick
shows the effects the corporate food industry is having on world
systems…inspires the reader to buy local, organic, free-range, etc… sounds
interesting…will have to look it up.
Timely Tips Edition #1 ...............submitted by Dorothy Vriesacker
1. Use a wine cork to make sure your indoor foliage gets the moisture it
needs: Pulverize 12 wine corks in a food processor; add ½ cup of this
powdered substance to the topsoil of each potted plant. The material is
made up of small air filled cells which will keep moisture from evaporating.
2. Keep your cut flowers looking lovely longer ! Add 1 Tablespoon sugar
and 1 Tablespoon bleach to a gallon jug of water. Each day empty the old
water from the container and re-fill with the jug mixture.
3. When gathering flowers for a bouquet, pick those which are barely open.
They will last longer.
4. Apparently pansies have properties which loosen mucus in the nasal and
bronchial tracts. This breaks up the congestion that keeps a person from
sleeping. Steep a few petals in hot water for 10 minutes and drink as tea.
These teas are also available at health food stores.
5. Do you have an ear infection? Marigold blooms are thought to contain
chemicals in their essential oils which ease inflammation and destroy
bacteria, hence bringing pain relief. The tea can be found in health food
stores under “Calendula”
(Editor’s note: I would check with ones doctor before ingesting either of
these teas. Sometimes home remedies can interfere with prescribed
medications so be sure to check it out)
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Interesting Stuff:
Taken from an internet report by Anna-Marie Lever Science and nature
reporter, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) News February 6, 2008
“It is reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
journal that a "barcode" gene that can be used to distinguish between the
majority of plant species has been identified. This gene can be used to
catalogue plant life as it has a slightly different code between species but
is nearly identical within a species. Species that look the same to the
human eye can be told apart with a small leaf sample. Example: Species of
orchid can look the same but be genetically different. DNA barcoding is
already a well-established technique in animals. Co-author Dr Vincent
Savolainen, from Imperial College London and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
told the BBC News website: “It was our dream to find the gene in plants that
could identify species.”
Coming Events
February 27
General Meeting,
Kinsmen Field House, 7:30 pm
Speaker:
Pat Bastien from the Belle River Horticultural Club - using objects in your
garden
Silent Auction
February 28 - March 2,
2008
Stratford Garden Show: Theme: “Down to Earth”Tickets $8:00 per person.
Tickets available at the door. ******New location: Stratford Rotary Complex,
353 McCarthy Road, Stratford, On
Thurs. Feb 28, 2008 Noon to 5:00
pm
Friday, Feb 29, 2008 10:00am to
8:00pm
Sat. March 1, 2008 10:00am to
6:00pm
Sun. March 2, 2008 10:00am to
5:00pm
For further information, go to
www.stratfordgardenfestival.com or
contact The Lung Association at 519-271-7500 or e-mail
dherman@on.lung.ca
MARCH 10TH
and onward Naturalized Habitat Network courses
Mondays in Belle River,
beginning on March 10.
Tuesdays in Harrow, beginning on March 11.
Wednesdays in LaSalle, beginning on March 12.
Thursdays in Essex, beginning on March 13.
Registrations will be accepted throughout this month, or at least while
there is still room in each class. Seating is limited to an average of 20
people per class and advanced registration is required. To register or to
find out more, call us at 519-259-2407, anytime between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Also, visit our web site at
www.naturalizedhabitat.org . Dan
Bissonnette, Program Coordinator The Naturalized Habitat Network
519-259-2407 P.O. Box 292, Essex, Ont. N8M 2Y3
March 8
Hyper Tufa Trough classes at Lynn Imeson’s - see box on page 4
March 11
Directors Meeting, Kinsmen Field House, 7:30 pm
March 12- 16 Canada
Blooms: The Toronto Flower and Garden Show presents Flower Power,
at the
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South
Building.
Bus trip from Windsor the Saturday of the show - March 15th. The cost would
be $65 with a pick-up at the 401 / Manning road commuter parking lot near
the OPP station. The cost covers juice and muffins, admission ticket, bus
cost and drivers' tip. It will leave St. Theresa's church in Windsor at 6:30
pm, then to the 401 lot @ Manning, arriving in TO just after opening time,
then leaving there at 5pm, with a stop in Cambridge where passengers get
their own dinner, then back home just after 10pm.
Call Tammy Prince @ 519-735-6186 to reserve a seat.
March 17 - 18
London Orchid show 519 471 4643
March 26
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Maria Pap - New flowers
for 2008
March 29 Winter
Blooms - Landscape/Garden Expo and Symposium
St. Clair College, 2000
Talbot Rd. W., Windsor
Landscape Ontario Windsor Chapter and St Clair College present their 3rd
annual Winter Blooms, featuring keynote speakers Paul Zammit on Annuals and
Perennials plus Planning and Planting for All Seasons of Interest and
Michael Pascoe who will speak about Gardens of England. Local speakers are
also scheduled during the day. The show also features landscape displays/
information booths, live cooking demonstrations and children's activities.
Proceeds from Winter Blooms will benefit the Hospice of Windsor and St Clair
College Foundation for horticultural bursaries and scholarships. For further
information contact the Horticulture Department at St Clair College at (519)
972-2727, ext. 4457.
April 8
Directors Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
APRIL 13
Day Trip to
Belle Isle Conservatory for the Windsor Orchid Society.
Date: Sunday, April 13/2008 Time; 12:30 to 5:30 ish
Leaving from: St. Clair College Parking lot Cost: $15.00/person
Transportation: Bus Will need at least 40 to be a go.
Contact Juliette St. Pierre at 727-6343 if
interested.
April 23
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Louie Fiorino - Ponding
101
Installing a pond to
entice frogs and raising fish
Plant and Seed Exchange
May Annual Plant at
Bake Sale at the Essex Railroad Station
- date to be announced
May 13
Directors Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
May 28
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Susan Ross from
Leamington Horticultural Society - tropical fruits
June 7
Bus Trip
…specifics to be announced
June 10
Directors Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
June 25
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Marg Dudley - Bearded
Iris - Everything you want to know
July Annual Flower Show
during Fun Fest -
date to be announced
August 22 - 24 2008
OHA Convention in Brampton
Sept 9 Directors
Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Sept 20 Master
Gardeners Seminar at Colasanti’s Gardens
Please see attached brochure
Sept 24
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Lynn Imeson - Pressing
flowers
Plant and Seed Exchange
October 14
Directors Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
October 22
General Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Speaker: Alan & Karen Batke -
native wild flowers
Silent Auction
Nov 11
Directors
Meeting at Kinsmen Field House 7:30 pm
Nov 26
Annual Pot Luck Dinner & Elections of Officers 6:00 pm
Set up at 5:00 pm
Location to be announced
As usual, please bring a dish of food to be shared, your own (Christmas)
place setting, including cutlery, glasses, cups and plates. Tea, coffee and
other drinks will be supplied.
Speaker: Pam’s Flowers from
Belle Rive
Don’t
forget that the 2008 Ontario Horticultural Association Convention is August
22 – 24.
For
entry forms for entering flowers, poetry, artwork, photography and much
more, please go to the Ontario Horticultural Association website at
http://www.gardenontario.org/index.php
From
there click on Conventions, then at the left onto Upcoming Convention and
then look for the phrase “click here” in light purple. Then click on the
light green box marked Convention Details, then click on whichever
Competition Schedule you are interested in .
For
details on the Master Gardeners’ open seminar at Colasanti’s Gardens,
September 20th, or to register, please contact Juliette St.
Pierre at 519-727-6343, or e-mail
canadel@cogeco.ca.
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