Gardening on the Rocks

June-July 2012

Photo of a water feature by Colette Ilnitski

Editor: Hermina Hubert Dedicated Phone: (705) 692-1442 to the beautification herminahubert@yahoo.com of the Sudbury region

and the Visit our website: www. preservation sudburyhorticulturalsociety.ca of our environment

Seniors’ Growing Together CommunityGarden

It is with excitement that I write and share with youthe news that Pioneer Manor was one of the successfulrecipients of a grant from the New Horizons for SeniorsProgram (NHSP). The project title is "Seniors' GrowingTogether Community Garden".

We are currently in the early design stages of thedevelopment of a Community Garden on the property ofthe North East Centre of Excellence for Seniors’ Healthlocated at 960 Notre Dame Ave, Sudbury. The primarygoal of this project is to bring together participants fromcommunity and clients from other services offered at theNorth East Centre of Excellence for Seniors’ Heath whomay no longer have access to a garden or outdoor space toconnect with institutionalized seniors on a social andemotional level to grow nutritious food. This project willfurther meet the NHSP objective of promotingvolunteerism among seniors and other generations,supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors,and engaging seniors in the community through mentoringof others.

Working together in a wheelchair-accessible gardenwith raised beds and adaptive tools will promote physicalactivity, increase socialization, enhance general well-being,reduce barriers, enhance learning, stimulate the senses,maintain independence, reconnect seniors with past roles,and further provide a link with the local community throughsupporting the local food bank.

As part of this project, we look forward toinvolving other organizations and forming partnerships. Iinvite you to consider participating on the steeringcommittee which will be formed in the very near future.The Steering Committee will assist to promote the conceptof the Seniors' Growing Together Garden to the largercommunity and bring together participants and partnerswithin the local community in the development of thegarden to create a new and unique social opportunity forseniors of all abilities, promote volunteerism, and giveseniors the opportunity to mentor other generations.

We hope to hear from you as soon as possible andanticipate your support as we establish this steeringcommittee and move forward with this exciting project.We are happy to speak to you further if you would likemore information related to this project. Please feel free tocontact me or Lydia Shea-Allard, Coordinator ofRecreation Therapy and Volunteerism, at 705-566-4282 ext3225.

Sincerely, Kimberly Pelkman OT Reg. (Ont.)Manager of Therapeutic Services - 705-566-4284 ext 3220

Queen’s Jubilee Medal

Fifteen Greater Sudbury citizens will have a placein the history books after having been presentedwith Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medalsthis past May.

Two of these recipientsare members of theSudbury HorticulturalSociety. Deborah Knuff(Left) and Dr. ChrisNash received theQueen’s Jubilee Medal ata celebration in the ValeCavern at Science North.The commemorativemedals were created tom a r k t h e 2 0 1 2

celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Queen'sascension to the throne.In addition to the medal,Deborah and Chriswill have their namesentered into thepublic record for allCanadians to see andto read for decadesto come. The greatwork they have donein our communitywill not be forgotten.

(Gleaned from article by Laurel Myers, SudburyNorthern Life Staff)_____________________________________

Congratulations Gilberte !

One of our former members, Gilberte Lambertwas elected as the new Assistant Dirtector ofOHA District 18 (Gavenhurst area)“She is keeping very busy, working daily at ourhome garden, transforming it into a showpiece(English Country Garden Style) preparing to lether gardens be included in the local tour of privategardens. She already received a "Daisey Award"in 2010 for gardens viewed from the street by“Communities in Bloom”. She also volunteers atthe Main Street Parket, the Trinity United Churchgardens and in the kitchen at the GravenhurstSeniors club”. Chuck Mossey

Open Garden WeekendJuly 21 and 22

Featured this year are nine private gardens, two public gardens, a museum and

greenhouses.

Passports are $10. per person available the first day of summer, June 21

at Black Cat,Botanix Azilda Greenhouses,

and Backyard Birder

On Sunday only, July 22, a BBQ will be held inJohn Street Park, between 10 and 2 and

will once again be complimentary for members.

Dates to Remember

June 16 - Judging Update in Spanish July 7 - Rose & Perennial Show, New Sudbury Shopping Centre

July 21 & 22 - Open Garden Weekend Tour of Local Gardens

August 1 - Campbell Society Flower Show in Mindemoya

August 7 - Board Meeting ...7:00 pm at Red Oak Villa

August 26 - August General Meeting and Flower Show

Sept. 8 - Spanish Society Flower Show and Art Exhibit.

The Rose and Perennial Show at the

New Sudbury Shopping CentreSaturday, July 7

Check pages 49 - 51 in the yearbook for classes in Roses, Perennial Specimens,

Design, and Photography

Bring entries Saturday, between 10 and 11:30 am at which time judging will begin....the sooner the better

as the public arrives early. Remember to put all boxes in your car,not under the tables. Take down is at 4:00 pm.

“VOLES, MOLES & SHREWS – Who is Who and What to do?”

This is a little introduction to voles, moles and shrews.People often think they are all garden pests, but theyare not – moles and shrews actually can be beneficial.Voles, not so much.

VOLES: Oh no!How to control voles in the garden is probably one ofthe most common questions we get asked – the shortanswer is “apple sauce”. Much of the followinginformation is based on the research of Dr. WilliamMiller of Cornell University who has studiedextensively the feeding habits of voles.

The best way to control volesis to trap them in early springand fall. These are the timeswhen they are the mostactive. I’ve found the besttrapping system is to use thesturdy snap traps made byTom Cat (I have nevercaught a vole in a Hav-a-hart), but it’s important to bait them using apple sauceand dried pulverized tulip bulbs. Dr. Miller discoveredthat voles are just crazy for apple sauce and their nextfavourite is tulip bulbs, especially Apeldoorn tulips(don’t use the species Tulipa turkestanica, they are notvery fond of them). If you don’t have old tulips lyingabout, expired garden seeds, mixed with apple saucework just as well. Peanut butter is often recommendedas bait, but I find that peanut butter is more attractiveto domestic and white-footed mice, and less so tovoles. Voles are somewhat picky, believe it or not.

You need to set up the baited traps directly in front oftheir holes. Trap placement is crucial. Voles seldomstray from their runways, so set traps along theseroutes. Look for burrows and runways in mulch ornear the garden. Place the traps at right angles to therunways with the trigger end in the runway. Place aninverted plastic garden pot over the trap and on top ofthat place a rock or brick to hold the pot down. Thepot is meant to hide the trap from birds or otheranimals that might be interested in the bait. Since volesfind their way around mostly by smell they will haveno trouble finding the trap in the dark. Use many traps(at least a dozen) to make sure you get as many volesas you can as quickly as you can. I usually set up thetraps at dusk to catch them when they get up to feed

at dawn.

Examine traps daily, removing dead voles or resetsprung traps as needed. Continue to trap in one location until you stop catching voles then move thetrap to a new location 15 to 20 feet away. Destroy oldrunways or burrows with a shovel or by stomping onthem to deter new voles from immigrating to the site.I’ve always said there is a Craig’s list for voles andground hogs...they always seem know when there is avacancy.

MOLES: Not all Bad

Please do not confuse volesand moles, although bothwill make lawn tunnels.Voles tend to make tunnelsthat are not deep and aremore like carvings in thegrass. Moles are the littlepink, blind carnivores thatlive under the lawn because that area is home to grubsand worms – or think “Wind In The Willows” and thedeep tunnel that was Mole’s End. Moles are easilyidentified by their greatly enlarged forefeet modified fordigging and they lack the big eyes that stare up at youand make you feel guilty for hating them. Moles do not eat your plants, but they do enjoy agood juicy Japanese beetle grub and they will even dineon baby voles, so Bon Appetite Moles! I personallyhave no problem with moles and pretty much ignorethem. It helps not to be a lawn person. If you want tokill moles you’re on your own here.

SHREWS: We like them!The other creature manypeople confuse with voles isthe shrew. Shrews havepointed noses and their smalleyes and ears are almostcompletely hidden in their soft,velvety fur. They resembletheir close relatives, the moles,in some respects but lack the large, modified feet fordigging.

Shrews are active night and day constantly in search ofprey when they are not sleeping. The bulk of their dietis insects, insect larvae, slugs, worms and largeranimals such as mice or voles. 4 Cont.....

Voles continued....

Vegetable and plant materials make up a very smallportion of their diet and are eaten only when otherfood sources are unavailable. They must eatapproximately three times their own weight in foodeach day to stay alive, which makes them useful asbeneficial destroyers of insects and other pests.Shrews are commonly found in and around gardens,fields and wooded areas, but occasionally they mayfind their way into the home. Shrews do more goodthan harm so please don’t hurt them. Source: Bill Cary, In the Garden, The Journal NewsLoHud.com, March 27, 2012.

Urban Horticulture There is a trend towards smaller gardens, planting incontainers, raised beds, community gardens, andmaintenance free gardening. This is especially true forpeople who have limited space or limited time. In ourbusy lives, urban gardening is a simple easy way toenjoy nature up close, to nurture flowers andvegetables, and to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Here are some tips you might find useful. If you aretrying to grow tomatoes or cucumbers, grow themvertically on a trellis or stake. This saves space and youwill get a much better crop. A little calcium or bonemeal will do wonders in this application, full sun andlots of water are the keys to success. If you are just interested in colours, bedding plantsmake a wonderful display. A 14 to 16 inch pot willprovide you with lots of brilliant flowers to enhanceyour deck, patio, or balcony. You can improve yourdisplay by selecting plants that suit how much shade orsun the area gets. A small herb garden is also worth considering. There isnothing like fresh basil, parsley, dill, or sage to enhanceyour cooking skills. They all make wonderfulamendments to a freshly-picked, organic, locally-grownsalad mix. For more information and other handy gardening tipsp le a s e fee l fr ee t o co nt ac t me a tstubie_rock@yahoo.com or call 705-693-9984 .

Stuart McCall ______________________________

Sunday, August 26 - Save The Date!This August, we will be having a

General Meeting with guest speaker and a Flower & Vegetable Show at CNIB

Speaker: Ersin Abduhlla “Patios &Pathways”(ecologically-friendly landscaping) and an

August Show of floral specimens and design,vegetables, and photography.

Mark it on your calendar ...Sunday, August 26

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Southview Greenhouse GrowersBEDDING PLANTS - GERANIUMS - PERENNIALS

TREES - SHRUBS - FALL MUMS

Joe Reid 2500 Southview Drive Tel: (705) 522-4769 Sudbury, ON. P3E 4M9 Fax: (705) 522-0205

Milkweed and Monarchs... a Vital Partnership !

It's spring again! The Monarchs are on a fascinatingjourney north from their winter getaway in Mexico.This exhausting migration of over 3,000 miles toNorthern Ontario is made annually. Once they havearrived at their destination, they need to eat and layeggs. What not many people know is that the Milkweedplant is the only food source for the Monarchcaterpillars to eat in order to grow and becomemarvellous Butterflies ! If you want to ensure the future of these beautifulcreatures, plant and protect Milkweed. Not only willyou be enriching the planet but you will have a prettyflower to spruce up your garden and the Monarchs willthank you! Fo r mo r e info r mat ion you can vis itwww.savethebutterfly.com ... facebook or contact meat andrea@savethebutterfly.com - Andrea Solski

To learn more about the milkweed plant, or to order aplant, go to this web site below. It is a good source fora cultivar Cinderella Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata"Cinderella") that would be a perfect garden choice.Aromatic vanilla-scented flowers; foliage and flowersattract the monarch butterfly and its larvae; silky seedpods can be used in dried flower arrangements. It isnative to wet meadows and swamps but adapts toaverage garden conditions It's available online fromConnon Nurseries (Southern Ont.)http://plants.connon.ca/11100004/Plant/4341/Cinderella_Milkweed

Grow-A-Row News

1) The Vale Community Garden in Copper Cliff, theArt Gallery of Sudbury, Science North, and theAlban-French River Horticultural Society, are newadditions to the Grow-A-Row community - thankyou! 2) A special thanks to the St. Benedict SS grade 11environmental students and St. James JK forplanting onions and beans at the Anderson FarmGrow-A-Row garden last week! 3) The Ste. Anne Community Garden has planted a"Grow-A-Row" row of onions, beans, and peas aswell as a Pallet Salad Bar for sharing among thegardeners. Many have been asking about the use ofthe pallets. I will be sending out pictures over thesummer, but please drop by the Ste. Anne Garden at30 Ste. Anne and visit! 4) The Foodshed Project will be embarking upon avideo to be completed in the fall to showcase theamazing efforts of each of you to alleviate foodsecurity in our community. Do you have somethingto add to the discussion of poverty, hunger, foodsecurity, the state of our environment, health issues,and what role you are playing to make a difference?Do you have a garden tip to share? Please email meat projectmanager@foodshedproject.ca so we canconnect. 5) The Garden Planner is also available for you todistribute - let your gardening circle know thisprogram is active here in Sudbury! If you want thegarden row markers, please let me know. Many thanks to all the gardeners who donated lastyear, and to those of you who plan on donating thisyear. In the next while, I will be sending outinformation on locations to donate to this year.Remember, Meals on Wheels is also willing to takeproduce and will send it out to home-bound seniorsin our community - this is new for this year and agreat partnership to build on. Do you have extratime to volunteer for “Meals on Wheels” - contactinfo: http://www.sudburymeals.org

Doreen OjalaExecutive Project Manager

The Foodshed Project Grow A Row Program

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Botanix AzildaGreenhouses

300 Carriere Street, Azilda, ON705-983-5252

Open April to Dec. (closed Sundays)Quality Growers of Annuals, Perennials, Vines, Trees, and Shrubs

www.azildagreenhouses.com

Web Siteof the Month

The Gardening Festival(Top) the potting crew at Corona’s house (left) Hermina and Rachelle(right) Colombe selling plants at Market Square

(Right) Nicole Richer(below) Lisawith herdisplay ofdaisy photos

(Left) Colette, Jessie, and Cynthiaselling memberships (right) StuartMcCall chatting with Mr. ArbuckleThanks to everyone who contributedtheir time and effort.

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(Right) TheCorrigans with

Rachelle’s displayof art work

CNIB GardensThe Hort Society members do absolutely fantasticwork here at our building. Our flowers and shrubsare perfect all the time. It makes a difference tothe appearance of the building and to each of uswhen we come to work in the morning and seethe beautiful display of plants. We reallyappreciate what they do ! Sandra Mulcahey

Kudos to Georgette Mitchell, Kari and DaveHodge, Barb Ecker, and Madeleine Genier fortheir hard work maintaining the CNIB gardens.

MAISON VALE HOSPICE WALK OF LIFE

During the early planning stages of the 105th OntarioHorticultural Association Convention held in Sudbury inJuly 2011, District 13 Director Suzanne Hanna soughtand received permission from Spanish HorticulturalSociety to borrow their picket fence idea. Her vision wasto get OHA Societies and members, throughout theprovince, involved, interested and eager to participate inthe convention planning - and it worked! Pickets, supports, and feet were made and then primed byDistrict 13 members. They were distributed throughoutthe nineteen OHA Districts. Members were asked topaint a nature-inspired design on the front of their picketand sign or identify the artistic society, district, and/ormembers on the back of their picket. All pickets werereturned to Suzanne prior to the convention. On theFriday of the convention, pickets were assembled intosections and displayed at the Sunday morning plenarysession. OHA Youth Camp participants at Camp Falconaalso had the opportunity to paint a picket fence section.What talented members belong to the OHA!In early 2011, Suzanne offered the picket fence, uponcompletion, to Maison Vale Hospice Director LeoTherrien. He ran it by their Board of Directors and theyeagerly accepted.

The finished sections were sealed to protect them againstthe elements. Since late last summer, some sectionscontinue to adorn the porch, hallways, reception area,foyer, and contemplative area at the Hospice. And now,sections stand outside in the gardens amongst the flowersand shrubbery, in front of the Hospice, and along theboardwalk leading to the gazebo alongside Bethel Lake.(They will be stored inside for the winter.)On Sunday, June 10, Maison Vale Hospice "Walk of

Life" was unveiled. This barrier-free walkwayconnects residents and their families to naturalwoodland which includes a number of gardens,contemplative spaces, a dock, a patio, and a gazeboon the shores of Bethel Lake. The Walk of Life isinlayed with Memory Stones dedicated to donors'loved ones. At the ceremony, Leo Therrien praisedthe MANY volunteers and donors - individuals,organizations, small and large businesses,corporations - also acknowledging the OHA for thepicket fences. Theresa CullumTheresa Cullum and Don Ethier represented theSociety at the event on Sunday._______________________________________

Ugliest School Yard is Now Greener

Doris and Enzo Floreani, Theresa Cullum, TinaMcCaffrey, Wayne Hugli, and Tony Fasciano at thegrand opening of the regreening project at St JohnSchool in Garson. As the grand prize winner ofVETAC's Ugliest Schoolyard Contest in 2011 thisschool received substantial funding and support forthe project last fall.