Students from Espanola High School helping with the planting of the school beds. Left picture: Alex Fournier pictured in the foreground with Sue Harvey. Right picture: Logan Leblanc (foreground) and Brad Lamothe.
Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair...
SUSAN POLIS SHUTZ
A Few Words from the President
July is here and summer is upon us. Our gardens and flowers are bursting forth in vibrant colours, fragrant smells and bountiful vegetables. Peonies that are usually finished by this time are only reaching their peak in blossoming perfection.
In following the original aims of the Society for the beautification of Espanola, members of the Society have been hard at work in many areas. Some areas where members have lent helping hands include:
1)Three areas at the Hospital - cleaning the beds in front , the circular bed and along the walkway to the medical clinic. Work has also started on revitalizing one of the courtyards.
2)Espanola High School: The main bed in front of the school was cleaned up and planted. A second bed along Barber Street has also been seeded so we will wait to see what comes up later this summer.
3)The bed at Spanish River Drive has been enhanced
4)A new bed was created at the south entrance to town. This bed houses many of the plants and some birdhouses that were returned to us from the Toronto garden.
5)Revitalizing the butterfly garden at A.B. Ellis Public School with the assistance of the Junior Horticulturalists.
Without the dedication of these active members, our commitment to the beautification of the town of Espanola for the 50thAnniversary would not be possible.
Next year is the 60th anniversary of the Espanola Horticultural Society. A specialty Viridiflora tulip bulb has been selected for our Society’s 60th anniversary. The bulbs need to be ordered by the middle of July so orders will be taken at the next general meeting. Bulbs cost $1 each or, for a limited time, 6 for $5. Orders can also be placed by calling Jill Beer at 862-7445.
I want to thank all who have made the first half of this year a resounding success. If you want to get involved, and haven’t done so yet, come and talk to me – we will be happy to find you something to be involved with.
Frank
1 / July 2008The chessboard is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what we call the laws of Nature, the players on the other side is hidden from us.
THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY
The Lions and I
Every year it’s the same thing – and every year I think I should tell others about it but then I figure that they’ll think I’m crazy. This year I’m going to share my experience with you, you may or may not believe it. It happens like this: Every year I have a vision of a lovely, healthy vegetable garden with rich soil and no weeds. I get the seeds in early and in a week or so I go to see if anything is up yet: onions, lettuce, and radishes are usually sprouting but those “blessed weeds” are well established – especially the “Lions.” I lean down and begin pulling them out, the first two or three come out easily but then the next ones all break off and I’m left with a handful of tops only. Sometimes I go away and come back later or I move to the other end of the garden but the same thing happens.
I am truly convinced that plants and weeds especially, have an underground alarm system; as soon as they realize that someone is trying to eliminate them, they send out an S.O.S. “Alert! Alert! She is at it again! Hold on tight! Don’t let her pull you out. Remember even if we lose our tops, our roots will keep growing and our tops will grow back. So hang on tight everyone. Let your stems break – so what if we lose our ‘hair.’ We’ll fool her and multiply and send up six times as many plants.”
Did you know that Dandelions are one of the smartest weeds, they send down a long root. I think it reaches down and holds hands with the other side of the globe so that you hardly ever get the entire root.
If you’re already calling me crazy, so what – don’t you ever talk to your plants? It certainly was the fad a few years back to do so. Many gardeners and kids did science projects to prove that talking and music seemed to produce healthier plants. So if they respond to “people talk,” wouldn’t you think they have their own means of communication with each other? Remember some plants and trees won’t even produce blossoms unless they have one of their own kind to be neighbours with.
Anyway, back to my insight; I’ve tried soaking the garden before “weeding” or going out after a heavy rain and I’m usually more successful in removing the week and the root that way. But that only lasts a little while, which is likely due to the fact that they “drank too much” and, like most drinkers, are not as alert as usual, or their S.O.S. networking system works much slower when the ground is wet. The third possibility is that they are just plain drunk and hung over from imbibing too much water. (I think a laugh is due here.)
Last year because of knee replacement surgery, the weeds in my garden had a grand time. I know my daughter went out two or three times and weeded but I’m not sure she eliminated many roots as their numbers always seemed to increase.
This year it’s a different story I got a head start on the dandelions, when the garden was soft I loosened all around each plant with a small garden fork first, then if they didn’t come out with a strong steady pull, I fooled them. I loosened my grip for ten seconds or so until they had relaxed, then I’d pull again quickly. I had about an 80% success rate. I used every trick I can eliminate them root and all. I must have removed seventy-five or so “weeds” – and I thought I’d sent their communication system into a panic – then I’m sure I heard them send an S.O.S. to their relatives all around the edges of the garden an into the “lawn” at the back. “Be prolific this year. You have to be prolific.” I know this is true because my yard was soon a sea of gold – so I called for Tyler to come in to cut the “grass.” The next day however I realize that when they heard that mower coming, all they did was flatten themselves to the ground until it passed, because a few days later I had a “lawn” of white, fluffy “snowballs” that were soon blown everywhere, including into my garden. Earlier when Tyler tilled the garden – I figured the weeds I’d missed would get chopped up – not so. When I raked it over and made trenches to plant my veggie seeds – I raked up all sorts of whole plants that were very healthy and beginning to re-root, or else those were the ones that he ploughed down last year and have been just waiting to get to the top again.
Well I wonder if I start talking to the weeds, telling them how much I hate them and how I want them to leave, to go away and not come back, I wonder if I could hurt their feelings enough to kill them – that is before the neighbours would call in men in white coats with a straight jacket to get me.
It’s early in the season yet so we’ll have to wait and see who wins out this year – the Lions or me.
By Betty Bowerman
Concrete Birdbath Workshop
The concrete birdbath workshop was a resounding success. There were 17 people signed up for the workshop and made rhubarb leaf birdbaths and garden ornaments. The rain threatened but it turned out to be a wonderful day after all.
Spring Flower Show Results
This is the first year that we have had a spring flower show in quite some time. Overall there were 30 entries in 10 different categories.
1 / July 2008SECTION A – SPECIMEN BLOOMS
Class 1
Tulip – 1 stem or bloom, maximum length 15”, including bloom
1stMillie McCormick
2ndJill Beer
3rdDoris Cornochan
Class 2
Daffodil/Narcissus – any variety – 1 bloom, max. length 15”, including bloom
1stBetty Bowerman
2ndSheila Pope (tie)
2nd Jill Beer (tie)
Class 3
Daffodil/Narcissus – any variety – 3 blooms, max. length 15”
1stJill Beer
2ndBetty Bowerman
3rdSheila Pope
Class 4
Hyacinth – 1 stem
1stJill Beer
Class 5
Any minor bulb – 3 stems
1stSheila Pope
2ndJill Beer
3rdMillie McCormick
Class 6
Any other perennial – 1 stem or bloom
1stSheila Pope
2ndBetty Bowerman
Class 7
Flowering shrub – 1 branch, max. length 24” (60 cm)
1stSheila Pope
Class 8
Houseplant – in bloom
1stBetty Bowerman
2ndMillie McCormick
3rdJill Beer
Class 9
Houseplant – Grown for its foliage
1stJoanne Bellmore
2ndMillie McCormick
3rdJill Beer
SECTION B – DESIGN
Class 10
“Spring Tonic” – a design celebrating spring’s arrival
1stMillie McCormick
2ndSheila Pope
3rdBetty Bowerman
1 / July 2008And 'tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breaths.
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
History of the Espanola Horticultural Society
On March 29th, 1949, an organizational meeting was calledby the Lions Club and the Community Hall in an attempt to form the Espanola Horticultural Society. In order to take advantage of Government aid, they required at least 60 paid-up members at $1.00 each. About 90 people were present who were interested in this Society. On May 3rd, 1949, the first meeting of the Espanola Horticultural Society was held at the Espanola Hotel Lounge.
The purpose of the Society is to foster an interest in horticulture and environmental issues among the residents of Espanola and the surrounding area. The Society is also committed to assisting the Town of Espanola in the beautification of public areas.
Over the past 59 years, gardens throughout townhave been planted and maintained by dedicated Society members. Other activities include annual flower & vegetable show, Adopt-a-street cleanup (Queensway from Hwy. 6 to Lee Valley Road) in spring & fall,Junior program, Spring Exposition, plant sales, garden tours andguest speakers at meetings.
Over these past years, the businesses of Espanola and the Town of Espanola have been very supportive in our many projects.
Gardening is a very rewarding hobby and it is great to get together with fellow gardeners and exchange ideas. We look forward to seeing you at any of our meetings.
By Doris Cornachan
1 / July 2008Junior Horticulture Club Activities 2008
It is with heavy hearts we are saying goodbye to Karen Morgan, our Junior Horticulturalist Coordinator. Karen and her husband are moving out of town and we wish them all the best. At the moment, we are looking for a new Junior coordinator. Parents of our junior members will be receiving a phone call when the next Junior Meeting is scheduled.
Tip for parents: Teach kids to recognize one or two varieties of common weeds in the garden such as pigweed or clover. Make it their responsibility to ensure the garden remains free of these weeds.
September 27 - Club MeetingLocation: Upstairs At Winkel's
The Pumpkin Project Event!
Share your project. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins... Pumpkin food fun and make a pumpkin pot to take home.
1 / July 2008When we plant a tree, we are doing what we can to make our planet a more wholesome and happier dwelling place for those who come after us, if not for ourselves.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
Invasive Species Information Bulletin
Rhamnus frangula
Common Name: Glossy Buckthorn, Alder Buckthorn, Black Buckthorn
Family: RhamnaceaeInvasivePotential: High
Height: 3 m to 5 mType of Plant: Shrub
Identifying Characteristics
Leaves: Glossy buckthorn have an alternate leaf arrangement with a medium texture and are obovate in shape. Leaves are typically 3 to 7 cm in length and may be 1.5 to 7 cm across. The leaf is dark green in colour and pubescent on the underside of the leaf.
Flowers: The small whitish, green flowers have five petals and grow in clusters up to 10. The blooms appear in May.
Fruit: The fruit is a small berry that is red in its immature form and matures to black, containing 2 to 3 seeds. The fruit matures in July through September and is very showy.
Other: Rhamnus frangula can be grown as a screen or hedge, but is highly invasive. The bark and mature fruit are toxic although are likely to upset the digestive system. There has only one documented case of a cow dying from poisoning after ingesting a large amount of Glossy Buckthorn leaves, twigs and berries.
Culture: The plant grows in full sun to part shade and although tolerant of most soil conditions, it prefers well-drained soils. The plant is often found along fences, roadsides and in lightly shaded woodlands.
Propagation: Seeds are dispersed by birds. The shrubs also send out side shoots and suckers.
Control Methods:
Several methods are used to control Glossy Buckthorn including burning, use of herbicides, flooding and cutting the shrubs down. All methods generally require several subsequent attempts to control the plant’s growth and spread.
NativeCountry: Europe
REFERENCES
Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Services < >
McGill University, < >
University of Connecticut < >
Royal Botanical Gardens:
I hate flowers -- I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move.
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, New York Herald Tribune, Apr. 18, 1954
2008 Events Calendar
July 7General Meeting 7 pm - Queensway Pentecostal Church
Presentation by Sheila Pope on “Preparing Flowers for Show”
July 26Espanola Self-guided Garden Tour: “Beyond the Garden Gate”
Aug 8Directors Meeting
Aug 13 Flower Show and Lunch, “Celebrating Espanola’s Golden Anniversary,” Elks Hall
Aug 22-24Annual Meeting of the Ontario Horticulture Association, Brampton Ontario
Sept 12General Meeting 7 pm - Queensway Pentecostal Church
Presentation by Jim Mabee, OHA President “Gladiolus”
Sept 27Junior Horticulturalists – Upstairs at Winkel’s
Oct 3Director meeting - Planning for 2009
Nov 1District 13 meeting - Blind River
Nov 3General Meeting 7 pm - Queensway Pentecostal Church
Dec4Christmas Potluck Supper, Annual Meeting & Installation of officers
Other Dates to Note:
July 5Sudbury Horticultural Society “Raindrops on Roses”; New Sudbury Shopping Center 10:00 – 3:30
July 19Campbell Society “Scenic Manitoulin Flower Show and Tea”, Mindemoya Community Center 1:30 – 4:00
July 19Elliot Lake Flower Show “Bursting with Beauty”; Collins Hall 2:00 – 4:00
July 26Spanish Flower Show “Welcome to Spanish Gardens”; Royal Canadian Legion 1:00 – 4:00
August 2Sault Ste. Marie Flower and Vegetable Show “The Year in Flowers”; Station Mall 12:00 – 4:00
August 9Assiginack Society Flower Show and Luncheon, Manitowaning, Knox United Church Hall 12:00 – 3:00
August 14Massey/Walford Flower Show; Massey Legion Hall 6:00 – 9:00 pm
August 21Blind River Flower Show; Blind River Community Center 6:00 – 8:30 pm
August 21Lake George Flower Show and Luncheon; Echo Bay Community Hall 11:00 – 2:00
August 23St. Joseph Island Flower and Vegetable Show; Richard’s Landing St. Marks United Church Fellowship Hall 2:00 – 4:00
Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance.
JOHN RASKIN