The Newsletter March 2010

Transcription

1 The Newsletter March 2010 Rudbeckia hirta ( Black-eyed Susan ) Editor: Hermina Hubert Phone: herminahubert@yahoo.com. Membership: Claire Liinamaa Phone: claire_nl@sympatico.ca Visit our web site: www. sudburyhorticulturalsociety.ca I Wonder Dedicated to the beautification of the Sudbury region and the preservation of our environment I wonder how the flowers know it s time to bloom...who tells them so? They cannot see or hear a thing and yet they start to grow in spring. Who tells the pussy willow trees, the apple blossoms and honeybees? In spring things grow so fresh and new. I wonder...am I growing too? (Gleaned in part from In Spring by Jane Moncure)

2 Page 2 DATES TO REMEMBER March 14 - Daylight Saving Time Begins March 18 - Canada Blooms Bus Trip March 28 - General Meeting at CNIB with guest speaker: Jeff Sonnenburg Worm Composting April 17 - Earth Day at Market Square April 28 - General Meeting with guest speaker, pot luck supper, and African Violet Show at CNIB Ask the Master Gardeners A Big Thank You To all those members who support our white elephant table sale by giving previously-loved items a new home, thank you! Sales for each of the last two months broke the record in funds raised. The Purple Velvet Plant If you have a Purple Velvet Plant, Matt is looking for a cutting of this unusual plant. Please call Hermina ( ) if you can help. Membership Cards Please begin to show your membership cards as free admission to the general meetings. This will be required at some of the upcoming events, so it s good to get into the habit of bringing your card with you. Question: One area of my property is very wet...like a bog. I would like some colour, not just ferns. What flowering plants will grow best in that area? Basil Answer: The Sudbury Master Gardeners recommend the following plants for a bog garden: Ligularia Marsh Marigold Astilbe Jack in the Pulpit Joe Pye Winterberry Daylilies Lady's Mantle Siberian Iris Yellow Flag Iris Globe Flower Filipendula (Meadowsweet) Lysimachia Clethroides (Gooseneck Loosestrife) You may need to amend the 'muck' with peat moss and compost before planting. Check the sunlight requirements for each plant. Getting older is the only way to live longer!

3 Here We come! The bus trip to Canada Blooms, on Thursday, March 18, is a GO!...thanks to our members and the sudden availability of a smaller bus. Toronto Botanical & Royal Botanical Gardens Overnight Bus Trip in July There are still a few seats available for purchase at $ For those people who have already reserved a seat on the bus, you must make your final payment of $ to Wayne ASAP. Cheques can be mailed to Wayne at 181 Garson-Coniston Road, Garson ON P3L 1G3. Silent Auction Carol Holla has donated four framed prints of original drawings by M.R.Fleming. The first of these was auctioned by Linda (below) at our January General Meeting and purchased by Hermina. African Violet Show Again this year, we will present the African Violet Show at our general meeting in April, at the CNIB. Remember that this is your opportunity to enter the Hobbyist Arts and Crafts classes and also this year, your House Plants. Please check pages 38 and 39 in the yearbook for these classes. If you plan to enter potted violets, Colombe Charest made these recommendations at the last meeting: 1) Give your violets more light. 2) Add some fertilizer weekly. 3) Turn the pots a 1/4 turn to encourage the leaves to grow a round crown (rather than facing in one direction) 4) Check for bugs! The other three are part of a silent auction that will continue at this month s meeting, March 28. Don t be shy! Bring your cheque book and make a bid (or two)!

4 Rules for Photography at the Barrie Convention Page 4 1. Prints must be taken in Ontario during the past 24 months. 2. Entries must be COLOUR PRINTS (unless stated otherwise), max. size 5 x 7 matted size to be 5 x 7 (THE MATTING IS PLACED ON TOP OF THE PHOTO, if you are unclear about this rule, call or the Chair to avoid being disqualified) 3. Prints may be picked up at the end of the Convention or will be returned to the exhibitor only if a stamped, self-addressed envelope (preferred) or NAME, ADDRESS, POSTAL CODE and RETURN POSTAGE are included with the entries. 4. All prize-winning photographs will be scanned. The images may be used for any use the OHA designates, but ownership of the photograph is retained by the photographer. 5. Open to all members of the Ontario Horticultural Association and affiliates. 6. Entries are limited to ONE per person in each class. 7. Each print must have the NAME, ADDRESS (use an address label), SOCIETY of the exhibitor, as well as CLASS NUMBER, TITLE and the name of the CULTIVAR, if possible, in the Top Right Corner on the back of the entry. (This will assure the judge(s) judge the entry the way you wish it to be viewed.) In addition, an entry tag with the above information must be attached to the back of the print. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR DISTRICT NUMBER. 8. No name or title of any kind is permitted on the front side of the print. 9. In the event that fewer than three (3) entries are submitted for a class, the prize(s) awarded will be at the judge s discretion. 10. The exhibitor must have taken the photo. 11. All prints must include some horticultural material. 12. Entries not to be removed before Sunday of the convention and a signature is necessary for removal of the entries. 13. Entries must be mailed to the Photograph Chairperson (below) and postmarked no later than JUNE 1st. 14. Please include your address (if you have one) for better and faster communication. 15. Please be sure to include with your entry, your RELEASE FORM and (if needed) a PERMISSION FORM for individuals in your photos. Class 1: I m In the Dark - a picture taken after sunset Class 2: At the Market - scene from a Farmers Market Class 3: I m Green With Envy - a monochromatic shot Class 4: I Love it When the Wind Blows - wind affecting nature Class 5: Room to Let - bird house(s) Class 6: I ve Seen Better Days - a barn shot in black and white Class 7: Fruit of the Vine - anything that grew or is growing on a vine Class 8: Good Morning Sun - morning shot Class 9: Oh, It s Cold out Here - winter scene Class 10: A Potting Shed - with a touch of Nature Class 11: Stormy Weather - shot taken in a storm Class 12: Fuzzy Wuzzy was a - something fuzzy (ie: peach, caterpillar) Class 13: I Should Have Had a V-8 - a vegetable garden Class 14: It s up to you - any subject done in sepia Prizes Judging Scale First: $10.00 Horticultural Value 40% Second: $ 8.00 Photographic Value 40% Third: $ 6.00 Appearance & Impact 20% Best in Show: Ribbon only CHAIR: Jennifer Plaus, 7258 Churchill Line, Watford, ON N0M 2S0 Phone (519) tandjplaus@brktel.on.ca

5 General Meeting Sunday, March 28, at CNIB Guest Speaker at 2:00 pm Jeff Sonnenburg Worm Composting Enjoy coffee and treats from 1:15 pm Browse through new selection of magazines and white elephant items. Introducing the Guest Speaker Jeff Sonnenburg, affectionately known as the Friendly Worm Guy, is a breeder of premium European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis) and Red Worms (Eisenia fetida) in Massey, Ontario. The business started as a second job, to make ends meet. He and wife Lorie ship worms all over Canada and the US. In Canada, the worms are shipped via Canada Post. They have never lost a shipment, nor have any worms died in shipment...amazing! He also does vermicomposting with these worms to produce high quality worm castings (worm fertilizer). This is particularly useful if you live in an apartment. Page 5 Hermina, Wayne, Linda and Aline (who was taking the photo!) Benefair at Laurentian On February 18, four of us attended the Benefair in the Great Hall of Laurentian University. The purpose of this event was to inform high school students about volunteer opportunities available to them. We are pleased that several signed the sheet at our kiosk because they were interested in helping at John Street. Whitewater Greenhouses & Yard Art Centre Thurs. - Fri. 9am - 9pm Sat. - Sun. 9am - 5pm off Montee Principal Topiary, Weeping Trees Azilda, ON large assortment of (705) Perennials, Annuals nicrog51@vianet.ca Vegetables and Shrubs Southview Greenhouse Growers BEDDING PLANTS - GERANIUMS - PERENNIALS TREES - SHRUBS - FALL MUMS Joe Reid 2500 Southview Drive Tel: (705) Sudbury, ON. P3E 4M9 Fax: (705) Riddle of the Month Clue: I was named after an animal that robs livestock, because it was mistakenly thought that I rob the soil of nutrients. Answer on page 6.

6 Page 6 Successful Seedy Sunday The collaboration of the Sudbury Food Shed, Eat Local Sudbury, Master Gardeners, our Hort Society, and Seeds of Diversity made the first annual Seedy Sunday a big event. The swapping of seeds took place first, with everyone eager to try something they had not planted before. The remainder of seed packets were then sold. There were guest speakers and food vendors, heirloom seeds for sale, local honey, and much more. Suzanne Hanna and Rita West, who had just participated in the ever-growing Seedy Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, drove to Sudbury to help with the event. Plans are already in progress for next year with more activities and more vendors. Bull riding was not one of the events that day, but this papier-maché sculpture (above with Lisa Robinson) was very impressive. (Left) Rita, Madeleine, Hermina, and Jessie We were honoured by a visit from our OHA President this year, Kees Stryland (above with Wayne and Linda). Kees travelled from Timmins to attend. Answer to the riddle: the Lupine (wolf) Another riddle? In the 1630s, I became so valuable that 12 acres of land were exchanged for just one of me. Answer next month. Suzanne Hanna and Cynthia Barnes