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Harbord Village Gardeners

This mid-June message is mostly about glorious blossoms and lush greenery that provide interest and colour to our downtown neighbourhood. Start by admiring photos of Harbord Village trees. Look over the list of offers and requests from other gardeners. Read the notes and question about pest control, balanced by two reminders to celebrate “good” insects and birds. Then linger over the photos of roses, peonies, and other blooms from local gardens. 
 

FLOWERING TREES

To start with, here are some shots of local flowering trees. Are they especially beautiful this year, or are we just paying attention? Diane Roblin answers: “—Yes, everything is FABULOUS this summer!  I think also we needed it….so we are noticing all to the max as well.”

Three of these trees are dogwoods: a pagoda dogwood seen from above, a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) still in bloom after several weeks, a Japanese dogwood bush, with one of its delicate flowers. And then a huge and magnificent catalpa tree on Major St. near Bloor.


OFFERS / REQUESTS:

1.  New member Brenda Louie sent this note a couple of weeks ago (just after the last e-newsletter), so not everything listed may still be current. But check with Brenda at brendalouie@hotmail.com if you’re interested. You can see she's trying to establish a herb garden!

WANTED:
  • cuttings of sage (particularly variegated or pineapple sage, but will take any kind)
  • cuttings of rosemary
  • divisions of oregano
  • divisions or cuttings of peppermint
TO SHARE:  
  • plants: strawberry plants (both June-bearing and everbearing)
  • seeds: chives, garlic chives, cilantro, red peppers, orange peppers, green peppers, beets (other veggies i don't have space for anymore)
2.  A valuable gift for a small garden: Mary Neumann’s neighbour wants to give a tumbler composter (fairly small size) to someone who can use it. Email Mary mneumannto@gmail.com about pickup arrangements.  
 


PEST CONTROL

1. Janice Dembo recommends these sites about deterring insect nuisances: But she says she's still at her wits’ end with raccoons digging up her plants every night, and is now thinking she should get rid of the grubs they’re apparently looking for. Her link to a document from a Chicago-area residents’ association no longer works, but it had the sensible title “Living With Raccoons.” The City of Toronto page takes a similar approach, focussing more on avoiding danger to yourself than on any hope of getting rid of raccoons: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/animals-pets/wildlife-in-the-city/raccoons/.
 
Does anyone else have a suggestion about the digging problem? About keeping raccoons away from our precious vegetables and flowers?
 
2. Jane Thompson was appalled to see what boxwood moth did to her boxwood shrubs last year. She had them treated with BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki), and is thrilled at its effects. Here are some before-and-after shots. Jane would be happy to share more information if you’re facing the same very common problem; email her at jane@ejanethompson.ca.


CELEBRATING POLLINATORS

  • Pollinator Partnership Canada (P2C) is a registered not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators. Browse its website at https://pollinatorpartnership.ca/en/pollinator-week-canada, and (as noted in a previous eblast) look for special lighting on the CN Tower at sunset on Tues. June 22 as a reminder to value pollinators and their benefits.
  •  The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) is offering even more chances to celebrate birds, bees, and butterflies through a series of virtual events this summer, all free of charge. The first is on June 26 at 11am; register at https://app.simplyk.io/en/ticketing/a96b2990-037a-46ad-b008-d0bd8f5cbd8a 


MORE PHOTOS

Roses are the main event in early June, along with bush peonies. It's been a spectacular year for both! Coral bells, clematis, hydrangea (including an amazing climbing one, below) and other perennials are also starting to bloom.
Local enthusiasts who sent the photos and news items in this message include Janice Dembo, Andrea Poptsis, Diane Roblin, Nicole Schulman, and Merrill Swain. Please send more as the season keeps unfurling more glorious flowers. (Photos of vegetable and herb gardens would be welcome too.)
 
Message prepared by Margaret Procter for the Harbord Village Gardeners
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This is a distribution-only list. To send an inquiry, offer, news, or photo to the other 100+ people on the list, write gardeners@harbordvillage.com with "Please Distribute" in the subject line. The editor will include your material in the next eblast.
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