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00 ~~ Lond Ao BREE ans | {hi BROOKLIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY NEWS by Veronica Colangelo March 1987 Membership Fees That time of the year is upon us .now and membership fees for 1987 'are due (Single $5.00, Family $8.00 and Seniors $3.00 each). Many of you may not realize that the size of our government grant is directly related to the number of paid- -up memberships. While we do organize various fun- draisers, the grant is our primary source of i income. Our Membership Conveners over the years have reported that it is dif- ficult at times to collect the fees. Previously, members who have not paid their fees have been retained on the newsletter list anyway! That will not be the case this year!! Membership fees must be received by Penny Hosken no later than March 2, 1987. At that time we will be purging the newsletter list and those who have not paid will be dropped. In order to make sure that this is not the last newsletter you see send your cheque or money order to Penny Hosken, R.R.4, Uxbridge, LOC IKO. If you will be attending the February General Meeting; Penny will be happy to take your "money there. Perennials From Seed! One of my greatest pleasures is looking into my backyard and enjoy- ing my perennial border. I have to say that Mary Housego's and Margaret Davis's perennial gardens probably gave me that initial in- spiration, or more accurately desperation to have one. I know that both Mary's and Marg's, as well as Dorothy Barter's (although I haven't had much exposure. to Dorothy's, it's likely the Grand Mama of the others) has taken many years and untold toil to "develop. I wanted mine instantly and I have a definite aversion to toil! Many varieties I purchased at our plant auctions, cajoled others in- to giving me roots (here I have no pride), and also willingly paid outrageous prices for sickly specimens at nurseries and garden centres. It soon became apparent that if I was to acquire the numbers . and varieties of plant materials that I desired, I had to find another way. About three years ago I started to grow my perennials from seed. I have had some failures and many more successes. For the price of a packet of seed (less than half the price of one plant at a nursery), I have produced up to seventy-five specimens of one variety, more than I could use! Many perennials are as easy as growing annuals, others re- quire more attention. I have suc-. cessfully grown achillea (yarrow) both yellow and the pink millefolium rosea, columbine, rock cress, cam- panulas (several varieties), cen- taurea (cornflower), both the unusual golden yellow one and the more common bluet. Last year I had an abundance of a lovely dwarf dou- ble coreopsis, delphinium, geum, eryngium (sea holly), helleborus, heuchera (coral bells), lupin, lychnis (maltese cross), poppies, penstemon, primula, veronica (several types) and many many more. Some perennial seeds require a chilling or freezing period (fridge or freezer) in order to simulate what "nature provides. Generally speak- ing, perennials can be started either early indoors (now!) or outside in July in a protected nursery bed. I have found that the sowing direc- tions given by Stokes on their packets are detailed and reliable. Since most of these flowers do not bloom until the second season of growth, a little patience is required For a little patience and some time, the rewards can be enormous in terms of savings and satisfaction. You will produce more than enough for yourself and your friends. as well as some for donating to our plant auction held in May! Time To Get Tuberous Bengonias Started The tuberous begonia is one of Summer's loveliest flowering "bulbs." As its name suggests, it is not a true bulb, but really a tuber. The newer hanging varieties are really spectacular, as any one who purchased any at last year's bulb sale will atest to. Available now from nurseries and mail order houses, it seems timely that a men- - tion of how to *'start" them is in order. Begoniasshould be started about © 10 to 12 weeks before outdoor plan- ting time. Here's how: Lay bulbs on a flat of moist peat moss or other starting mixture with their concave side upwards and not covered. Keep them in a warm location (70-75 F) that is well lighted but out of direct sun. When some growth and roots have formed the begonias can be transplanted into pots covering them with 4" to 2" of soil. Keep them evenly moist, but not soggy and with bright indirect sunlight they'll thrive and be ready to plant in your shady garden area when all danger of frost is passed. Bring Spring Inside At this time of the year when © garden flowers are not available, it is possible to give Mother Nature a bit of a nudge. Branches of some flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, Flowering Almond, Quince, Pussy Willow, Flowering Currant and some fruits (apple, cherry) are a few that may hurry Spring along inside. . Choose attractively shaped bran- ches and cut them with a sharp knife. on an angle. A couple of vertical cuts in the branch will assist in the up- take of water to the dormat buds. Keep the branches in a bucket fill- ed with warm water in a cold (not frosty) spot for a couple of days, and then move them into the warmth. Change the water regularly and mist the branches to encourage them to become active. This process could take up to 5-6 weeks before flowering, although I have a vase of Pussy Willow and Alpine Currant that is out and'it only took 3 weeks. The closer the branch is cut to its natural flowering time, the sooner indoor bloom will appear. On the It may be later than you think June 'might seem a long way away as local residents look our their win- dows and see the February snows covering the ground, but June is closer than you think for members of the Brooklin Spring Fair Board. Plans for this year's Brooklin Spring Fair, traditionally held dur- ing the first weekend in June, are well under way. Anyone wishing to enter exhibits in the Homecraft Sec- tion are reminded they should pick up their entry sheets at Brooklin Library, Whitby Library or Oshawa Library. 'Pitch-In' + (From page 18) "A detailed information package about Pitch-In has been mailed to more than 7,500 groups in the Pro- vince," according to Lounsbury who states that any organization not in receipt of an information kit by the end of February and wishing to par- ticipate in the campaign and receive free garbage bags for a clean-up 'project should contact the Pitch-In Co-ordinators at 2nd Flr., 598 St Clair Avenue, West, Toronto, On- tario M6C 1A6 Cheating Mother Nature other hand, the farther away Spring is the more precious forced blossoms are! February General Meeting Wednesday, February 25, 1987 Our topic this month will be "Growing Prize Winning Vegetables' with speaker Jim McWilliams. Mr. McWilliams won évery prize for his onions at the Royal Winter Fair this year and has many tips for us. Come out and en- 'Joy this very fine speaker. As usual, our Meeting is held at the Brooklin United Church, Brooklin at 8:00 p.m. Introduce a Friend to Horticulture You will notice that with this month's newsletter, I have enclos- ed a booklet entitled ** You're Invited to Join a Local Horticultural Socie- ty." Please give it to a'friend or ac- quaintance whom you feel might en- joy some of our programs. As if\ most worthwhile organizations new blood adds zest and excitement, as well as increased fellowship for the whole membership. Aldine Wick has kindly consented to having in- terested people call her if they . would like more information, and | have noted her telephone number in the inside of the booklet. As you can see we have many ac- tivities planned for the coming months, We hope that some of them ~ will be your cup of tea. As always | am interested in your feedback, and find that without it we tend to stay the same, so if you would like to make any suggestions write to me, call me, speak to me or another Board member at a meeting. We're receptive! Sales Table As you know each month at our general meeting we set up a sales table with items of a horticultural nature for sale at wholesale prices. It has been suggested that possibly our 'members could have items (tools, seeds, etc.) or plant materials that they may wish to donate to the table. They could be sold to other members at reasonable prices and the money donated to our Society, We have decided to give this a try. If you do have anything |' you feel has outlived its use to you but could happily give good service to another owner, bring your goods to Shirley Morrow at the Sales Table and we'll see what happens. CHESTERFIELD SUITES - LOVE SEATS SECTIONALS - MATTRESSES ~ A Large Selection -- LESS THAN 1/2 PRICE! 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