HORT HAPPENINGS
December News
By Anne Hill
Last month I mentioned that Project Feederwatch was about to start for the season and I’ve had an exciting first count! For the first time ever a red-bellied woodpecker has been coming to the peanut feeder – this large handsome bird has not typically come this far north. It got me thinking about the changes we see from year to year as the climate changes. There are still annuals, including snapdragons, in flower and the hanging baskets of annual geraniums are looking just fine although it’s November 20th.
Of course, winter is just around the corner and the birdbath is now plugged in so that it won’t freeze. The birds really do appreciate a water supply in winter.
We have been planning the flower shows to be held at the East Gwillimbury Gardeners meetings from May to October. Showing the flowers from your garden is a great way to ensure that you really take a close look at what’s growing and enjoy the details. It’s also a chance to let other gardeners see something new.
This is a good time to think about delights and disappointments in the garden this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the containers that I put together using some plants I’d not tried before. A very tall grass, King Tut papyrus, looked exotic in a large pot with lower plants around it; that’s one I’ll use again next year.
The first of the seed catalogues has arrived already – time to dream of setting up lights and starting seeds inside. It is a great way to get exactly what you want and avoid the winter blahs. Do you save cuttings from favourite annuals over the winter? Or keep a pot of rosemary indoors? We just don’t want to give up on things, do we.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday February 21st. Malcolm Geast will talk about Bugs in the Garden (he was to be our speaker in October but was sick). I expect there will be some questions about indoor plant bugs too as we are all eager to learn environmentally safe ways to control the little pests on our houseplants. We plan to have a mid-winter pick-me-up that evening with warm punch and tasty treats so join us for a social time at 7 p.m. The meeting proper starts at 7:30 p.m.
The Junior Gardeners will meet at 7p.m. on Feb 21st to kick off their year of learning about nature and growing things. They took home bulbs planted in pots in October so in spring they will have the excitement of watching the growth. Youngsters aged 6 – 16 are very welcome to join them. Membership for a child is $5 per year, and a family membership is $30 (two adults and up to four children).
All our meetings take place at Mount Albert Community Hall, 53 Main Street. For more information please call me at 905-478-8450 or check out our website at http://www.gardenontario.org/site.php/mountalbert
Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
For more information about any of our activities please call 905-478-8450 or visit our website at www.gardenontario.org/site.php/mountalbert
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