6 Friday, April 12, 2019 brooklintowncrier.com Blooming in Brooklin By Ken BrownCommunity Calendar The garden is waking up Spring arrived in my garden on March 26 when I was finally able to photograph the witch hazel in bloom. Now its lovely dark red blooms are starting to fade while the rest of the garden is waking up. I'd like to rake the lawn but walking on it too soon can do more damage than good. When it's dry enough to walk on without leaving a footprint then it will get a good stiff raking to clean out as much of the dead thatch as possible. I might even rent a dethatching machine for the oldest portions. We remove it so that fertilizer and water can more easily reach the soil without having to fight through dead grass. Fast growing plants When it's too unpleasant to work outside, I head to the basement to start the fast growing annual flowers such as zinnias and cosmos. It's almost too late to sow tomato seed. However, for fast growing vegetables, do it now. Cucumbers, zucchini, melons and other squash are in the vining squash family, another group of fast growing vegetables that can be sown by the end of the month to be ready for the end of May. They really only need 3-4 weeks so starting them too early gets you a twisted mess to untangle at planting time. Near the end of the month I also start one of my favourite flowers. The vining heavenly blue morning glory needs about four weeks ahead of its late May planting. You can start earlier if you're prepared to spend time untangling them when it's time to move outside. They scramble up the trellis they share with the pole beans which I usually direct seed to putting in the morning glory plants. In the last few years I've had to put a little fence around the base of those trellis as the bunnies like young bean plants. Pruning the crab apple On another sunny warm day, the crab apple will get its annual pruning along with the other fruit trees in the backyard. Fruit tree pruning is an art form that can't be explained here. But there are lots of videos to show exactly how to do it. Most crab apples don't need pruning except for shape, but I have this old one in the backyard I started to prune years ago to keep it a certain size and shape over the ponds. It's become sort of a giant bonsai that now keeps me pruning every year. I don't know its variety but it reliably blooms and fruits every other year. I miss the blossoms on the alternate years though not the buckets of apples that need to be raked. As the weather warms, I do a daily walk around the garden hoping for that wonderful first taste of fresh veggies. The asparagus will soon pop up, truly the start of the gardening season. Sat., April 20: 10 am to 2 pm: Annual Easter Egg & Scavenger Hunt Hosted by 2nd Brooklin Scouts At Brooklin Kinsman Park (behind Brooklin Community Centre), 8 Vipond Rd. $5 per participant Children 7 and younger will collect eggs found in the woods. Those 6 and older can hunt for clues in the field for the Scavenger Hunt (trivia questions, hidden creatures, solve puzzles) Loot bags for all paying participants and prizes for top scavengers and most eggs collected. Crests for all Scouting/Guiding members. Wed., April 24: 7:30 pm: Whitby in Bloom Presents Tara Nolan on "Raised Bed Gardening" At Brooklin United Church Learn how to create your own oasis and the benefits of raised bed gardens that allow you to garden almost anywhere. Space is limited. Register and reserve your spot early at whitby.ca/whitbyinbloom. Fri., April 26: 4:00 - 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library Whitby Library's Brooklin Branch seeks Teen Leadership Council members to share ideas & assist with special events and programs. Grade 9-12 students earn community service hours. Snacks provided. No registration required. For information, email teenservices@whitbylibrary.ca. Sat., April 27: 9 am-11 am: Pitch-In Brooklin At all Brooklin parks Check it out on Facebook to win prizes For more info, email: Michael_argue@hotmail.com Sat., April 27: 7 pm: "The Joy of Music" concert at Brooklin United Church A variety program featuring popular music and show tunes. Tickets are $20. and available from the church office 905-655-4141 Sun., April 28: 7:30-9 pm: Trivia Night At MichaelKelly's Eatery on Winchester and St. Thomas. $20 per person cash only. Teams of 4-6 ONLY. Each team receives a large pizza and an order of garlic bread, with a beer per person. Winning team members each get a $10 gift certificate to MK's. Register by emailing your name and number of team members to: editorofbtc@gmail.com Capacity is 42 people, so registration is first come-first served. Hosted by the BTC with all proceeds to Prostate Cancer Canada Network (PCCN) Durham. Fri., May 3-Sat. May 11: Beech Street Theatre Company Presents: Earthkraft A comedy by Michael Khashmanian At Brooklin Community Centre Six shows: 4 evening + 2 matinee performances. For dates and times, visit bstconstage.com $27 per ticket online through web site or at the door. Seating is limited Sat., May 4: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm: St. Thomas' Anglican Church Spring Market Bazaar Sat., May 4 - Grand Opening of CB Pools/Spas 30 St. Thomas St. https://cbpools.ca/ Sun., May 5 - 6th Annual Autism Awareness Run/Walk (5k Run or 1K walk) 8 am registration - 9 am opening From Anderson CVI in Whitby All proceeds to our charity CCRW and will pay for our program SOAR, a summer employment program for teens and young adults with Autism. A Family Friendly event centered around supporting the autism community. Face painting, live music, refreshments, live mascots, prizes and more! We will also be protesting the new OAP plan and will have local MPPs and petitions on site. Contact details: Kara Onofrio: 416-333-3858 autismangels.com Wed., May 22: 7:30 pm Whitby in Bloom Presents: Carol Pasternak on "Drama in the Butterfly Garden" At Brooklin United Church Learn how to focus on the life in your yard. Will feature a book signing of "How to Raise Monarch Butterflies, a Step-by-Step Guide for Kids." Space is limited. Register and reserve your spot early at whitby.ca/whitbyinbloom. Sat., May 25: 9 am-1 pm: Brooklin Horticultural Society annual plant sale At Grass Park. Also $55 Rain Barrel Fundraiser. Barrels can be ordered at www.RainBarrel.ca/ Brooklin by May 14. Pickup at Brooklin United Church on May 25, 9-1. Locally grown healthy perennials, annuals, vegetables & more for sale! Vendors selling gardening decor & supplies. BHS members on site to answer gardening questions. Details at: www.brooklinhorticulturalsociety.com/ bhs-plant-sale.html. Sun., May 26: 9 am - 12 pm: Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides Hosted by Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides At Brooklin's Pet Value store Visit: walkfordogguides.com/ locations/walk.cfm?ID=1981 Thurs., June 13: 1:30 pm: 14th annual "Fore the Future" Charity Golf Classic At Royal Ashburn Golf and Country Club. Proceeds to programs supporting children and youth in care throughout Durham. For more information or to register, contact Sian Gibson, Executive Director sian.gibson@durhamcaf.ca Sat., June 15: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Nova's Ark's 9th Annual Friendship Walk. 3 km walk from Grass Park led by Bing the camel Fundraiser to help maintain our unique program facility. Music from The Working Dawgs, face painting and hands-on interaction with therapy animals. Nova's Ark Charity is a not-for-profit organization based in Brooklin that provides individualized programs for people of all ages and abilities. To register for the Friendship Walk or to make a donation, visit www.novasark.ca. French Family Storytime: Children and their caregivers can join Madame Sue for weekly French Family Storytime! A half hour of French stories and songs, with a dash of English! Drop in at Central Library's Children's Program Room Tuesdays: 7:25 pm: Brooklin Toastmasters Club Practice public speaking at Brooklin Community Centre & Library. Contact John Johnstone at jajhj@sympatico.ca or phone 905-683-4439 or Patricia Romano at promano257@outlook.com or phone 905-626-7055. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Community Care Durham (CCD) Basic Foot Care at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. 905-668-6779 Mon.-Fri. CCD delivers hot or frozen meals. To order: Karen Andrews 905-668-6779 If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar." Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. WORSHIP DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sundays 10:30 am • Sunday School & Nursery Care Come catch the Spirit! www.brooklinunited.ca 905.655.4141 Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 am We're here for Brooklin! 905.655.4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca Brooklin Village Church At Brooklin High School, 20 Carnwith Drive W. Sundays, 10:30 am Our Mission is to share the love of Christ as we live out our calling to become more like Him. www.brooklinvillagechurch.com St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 am Communion & Healing Service Celebrating 150 years in Brooklin 'Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we welcome you!' 905.655.3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca