Back again with lotsa news
Where has the blogger gone? Sorry folks, she’s been busy doing the dirty work – planting, yanking out undesirables, moving houseplants to summer outdoors, cleaning out the shed, making new potting mix…. You get the idea.
The garden is still poking along, slowed by our unseasonally cool temperatures. The begonias are sulking and even the rosemary has got spots (dratted mildew!). My roses are just little green buds and our last flower show until September is later today. Not much for me to bring, but I’ll try to find something. Hate to disappoint our hardworking show organizers and the judge.
Shameless plug: Come to the June meeting and get your tickets for our special door prizes: five fabulous pruning and trimming tools donated by Fiskars Canada. The pruners, loppers and shears all feature Fiskars’ special PowerGear technology that’s easy on sore fingers and hands. Tough, lightweight carbon-fibre handles mean you don’t have to be a weightlifter to use them, either.
This blogger – and the cutting-edge prizes – will be perched by the door near the stage, so be sure to stop by for your tickets.
Explore gardens of the Beach
Weather or no, it’s garden tour season. Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 28, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., when Beach gardens will be on show, thanks to the Beach Garden Society. I previewed just a few and can’t wait to see the rest.
Gardens in our neighbourhood are noted for their personality. They’re all well-loved and most are designed and cared for by the owners. It’s absolutely the best way to find out what grows well in real people’s gardens.
Tickets are just $10 each for an afternoon of fun and inspiration. Get them at local shops Cool, Green & Shady, Pet Value, Trinity 1 Gallery, East of Eliza and Bill’s Garden Centre.
The rich are different
And then there’s that other garden tour: Through the Garden Gate, held by the Toronto Botanical Garden (used to be the Civic Garden Centre). This year’s extravaganza features the gardens of the Bridle Path – some of which look like botanical gardens themselves.
Gasp at pavilions the size of your house. Goggle at scenic pools. Groan with envy at mixed rose and peony borders. And wonder at museum-quality sculpture by west coast glass artist Dale Chihuly.
TBG garden tour runs June 20 and 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-day passes are $40, $35 for TBG members. You can purchase online at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Enough words. See you at the meeting.
– Mary Fran McQuade, writer, gardener and BGS member/blogger
