The AUXILIARY of Royal Botanical Gardens

Spring Newsletter

June 2015 Website: www.rbg.ca

Telephone: (905) 577-7771

email: auxsec@rbg.ca

Reports in this Issue:

President 2

Vice President 2

Past President 3

Archives 4

Auxiliary Garden 5

Auxiliary Workshop 5

Docents 6

Horticultural Sales 7

Information Desk 7

Library 7

Membership 8

Shop @ The Gardens 8

Social Committee 8

Special Events 9

Tour Guides 9

Volunteer Gardeners 10

Members’ Contributions 10

Dates To Remember:

June 16 (Tue) Strawberry Social June 23 (Tue) Special Gardens Tour Sept 11 -12 (Fri-Sat) Fall Plant Sale Sept 17 (Thu) Fall General Meeting Nov 19 -21(Thu-Sat) Christmas Show and Sale

This Newsletter was produced by the Newsletter Committee:

Judith Reed, Chair; Frances Smith, Layout; Gabrielle Adams;

Roxine Bisson; Shirley Jordan; Alexandra Rawlings; Lyn Robinson

Thank you to all contributors for your articles & photos

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

President - Jean Crowe Spring happened almost overnight and the Auxiliary Plant Sale was blessed with great weather. The Sale this year was on four days and sales were somewhat less than in previous years.

The opportunity for Auxiliary members to augment RBG activities changes with the seasons. Some members have begun gardening in the Arboretum and the Laking and Hendrie gardens. We are mostly weeding but there will be some “pruning”, deadheading and general sprucing. We all take great pride in “our garden” and we would welcome many more volunteers. After all, we are Royal Botanical Gardens and the emphasis is to provide visitors with a “wow” experience.

Please save the date for Sunday, June 14, 2015. Details will follow of a “sneak peek” at the newly renovated Rock Garden. This special opportunity is being offered to RBG Board members, donors, staff and Auxiliary members. Since the area remains a construction site, numbers will be limited for safety reasons. You will be given the chance to register for this great occasion.

Throughout the summer there are many RBG special events at which we are asked to assist in various ways. Watch the weekly VON (Volunteer Opportunities and News – not the former visiting

nurses) and learn about these opportunities, check your calendar and sign up! One way to stay healthy and ward off the advances of age is to make changes, learn new skills, and expand your horizons.

Vice President - Mary Lyn Brown Long term memberships were recognized and the Paterson Bowl was presented at the Spring General Meeting. Long term membership is recognized in 5 year increments. The following members were recognized for 20 years and more of service: Cathy Cummins - 20 years; Charmian Patrick - 30 years; Janet Hutton - 45 years;

Jean Murphy - 45 years.

Marion Jarvie, guest speaker

RBG Auxiliary Spring Meeting

45 year service award to Jean Murphy 45 year service award to Janet Hutton

2015 RBG Auxiliary Service Recognition

45 Years 30 Years 20 Years

Janet Hutton Charmian Patrick Cathy Cummins Jean Murphy

15 Years

Margaret Barnes Susan Jones Irene Quinn

Margaret Davidson Marion Little Ingo Schneider

Patricia Forsyth Donald McGillivray Anne Simpson

10 Years

Barbara Collins Frances Neufeld Roberta Rodenhizer

Everard Hambro Sheila Roach Gordon Wickens

Linda Heaver Jeanne Robertson

5 Years

Solange Black Kara Getgood Brian Pentecost

Anne Marie Christian Nancy Kumpf Rita Shaw

Dan Gardiner Lizzie Matheson

Ontario Service Awards

The following have been awarded a volunteer award from The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration of the Ontario Government

Antje George Judy Harris Ann Pallant

Russ Gunn Mattie Lemmond Catherine Shimmell

The awards were presented on April 30th in Hamilton.

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

Past President - Roxine Bisson Jill McDougall has been declared the worthy recipient of the 2014 Paterson Bowl. Over the years, Jill has volunteered enthusiastically in many areas of the Auxiliary: the Spring Plant Sale, the Auxiliary Garden and Workshop, and the Newsletter Committee. In 2000, she served as President of the Auxiliary. One of her duties as Vice President was to act as Chair of the Christmas Show and Sale. More recently, Jill took charge of organizing urn inserts for the sale. She is an excellent tour guide and a wonderful mentor to new guides, encouraging them to accompany her on tours until they feel comfortable to lead tour groups on their own. Jill

faithfully attends Auxiliary Docent and General Meetings and welcomes new volunteer opportunities as interpreter at special events. Her continued participation underlines her commitment to the Auxiliary and RBG. Congratulations, Jill.

THE AUXILIARY BOARD OF ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS 2015 - 2016

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

Archives - Marie Minaker

In late February the Catalogue project held an Open House for RBG staff and volunteers, plus invited guests from associated organizations. More than thirty people attended throughout the morning, each receiving a small leaflet about the catalogue collection. We prepared displays showing the work that is being done, including before and after samples, and showcased some of the items from the collection, illustrating the development of horticultural catalogues during the 150 years covered by the collection. Visitors were also able to tour Room 207 where the 30,000 catalogues in the collection are stored. The response was positive and we plan to hold a similar event next year.

Archives Catalogue Open House

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

We welcomed five new volunteers to the Workshop this year. They were introduced to the mechanics of silk arrangements and the principles and elements of design by Diana McCallum. We invite all members interested in learning a new skill to join us in the Workshop.

Sales have been good in the consignment area next to Shop @ The Gardens. Over 100 dried bouquets, arrangements and wreaths have been sold. The Workshop has also been very successful in filling orders for custom silk arrangements.

In preparation for the new season, the Auxiliary Garden has started cleaning and soil preparation for planting. New ideas are being considered for the annual Christmas Show and Sale, the Evergreen Workshops and decorating the Colonnade for the 2015-16 Holiday Traditions.

Auxiliary Workshop - Kathy Conway

Auxiliary Garden - Antje George

The seedlings for the Auxiliary Garden have been transplanted and are maturing in the Green House. We are very busy getting the garden ready for the new plants - transplanting perennials, pruning shrubs and grasses, and preparing the beds.

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

If you missed the recent monthly Docent Meetings, you missed opportunities for interesting learning.

Since January 2015 would have been the 100th birthday of Barbara Laking, founder of the Auxiliary, Marie Minaker, Auxiliary member, read short excerpts of her recent book, “Volunteer, Eh!” which recounts the Auxiliary’s beginnings.

Jodi Healy, RBG Gardens Manager, gave an update on the Rock Garden plantings, the makeover of the synoptic shrub collection at the Arboretum and the 90 new lilac bushes in the Dell.

Non-Native and Invasive Plants were explained by Tys Theysmeyer, Head of RBG Natural Lands. The introduction of a foreign species into another environment can cause it to become invasive. Climate change can alter the status of a native plant into an invasive one. Great presentation!

Jim Lounsbery of Vineland Nurseries demonstrated how, why and when to prune trees and shrubs. There was great enthusiasm for this topic.

Cathy Cummins was an outstanding Chair of the Docent Committee for two years, providing interesting and informative speakers, great enthusiasm and a touch of humour to the monthly meetings. At the AGM in February, Norm Madill was appointed the new Chair. Jo-ann Price has agreed to serve as a member of the committee. Anyone with ideas for future meetings is welcome to join.

The committee appreciates the support of the Past Presidents who regularly attend the meetings and the work of Janice Cooper and the Social Committee who provide treats during the social period after the meetings. In an effort to reduce waste, members are encouraged to bring their own mugs.

Docents - Norm Madill

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

This year the Plant Sale was held on May 6-9, with May 6 being RBG Members Only day. By all measures, Members Day was a huge success. The rest of the Sale was excellent as well. Mother Nature cooperated and after the horrible winter we had, treated us to four wonderful days for our Sale. We were most appreciative of the weather, as were the customers who seemed to be pleased to be out and about and buying plants.

We had all made a concerted effort to clean up the compound this year and we moved to a new format for the Sale, which proved to be extremely popular and successful.

First and foremost, we want to thank all of our volunteers for their many hours of dedicated support and for everyone who came out to purchase plants. A special thank you to RBG staff who are always there to help us when we need them. Without them we wouldn’t have made it through the trials and tribulations during the harsh winter.

We are now in summer mode and look forward to a somewhat less stressful couple of months, maintaining the remaining plants and selling them in Shop @ The Gardens.

Horticultural Sales - Dan Totino

Information Desk - Pat Barton

The Information Desk is functioning very well at present. The sixty two shifts required most months add up to many hours of commitment and, although we have not covered one hundred percent yet, we have been close. Our volunteers are informed and outgoing and enrich the visitor experience by their presence. Visitors arrive from around the world and engage in interesting conversation. Most questions are easily answered but on occasion we need expert help. It can be quiet but then there was “Frogs”. Definitely not quiet days!

As the gardens open and the visitors increase in number, the Information Desk is really appreciated by the kiosk staff as we can assist in keeping the line moving and give information and directions as to the optimum gardens to visit on any day.

There is always a shift waiting for anyone willing to join the group for which brief training is provided. Working on the Information Desk is not as physically demanding as Trail Watchers etc. but you will get exercise walking up and down the colonnade as you meet, greet and direct visitors. We are looking forward to a busy summer season.

Library - Diane Proper

What’s new in the library? Volunteers have migrated to the Herbarium. On Dr. Galbraith’s request, volunteers have begun to work with Nadia Cavallin, RBG’s Herbarium Curator, to arrange the books in the Herbarium into shelf number order on the new shelves. Subsequently we will record the location information on the individual book records in the database Quercus.

This new project will help locate some of the books that had been signed out from the library but not returned for several years. They will now find a new home. Instead of being shelved in the library, they will remain on the Herbarium shelves.

We have started de-accessioning books that are second copies of books that the Library already owns. Dr. Galbraith, Head of Science, will offer these books to other Botanic libraries. Continuing tasks include adding recently donated books to our library collection and encouraging staff to return overdue library books.

Nadia Cavallin, Diane Proper, Brenda Deacoff

in RBG’s Herbarium

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

Membership - Alexandra Rawlings

As of May 12, 2015, the Auxiliary has 307 members and we continue to interview new members every month. In the past 7 months, the Membership Team has interviewed and placed 33 new volunteers, held 6 Orientation sessions and provided follow-up support to help new members become involved in their chosen activities.

Each spring and fall, we provide tours of all the gardens to new members. This year’s initial tour, ably led by Toni Carson, was cut short due to the presence of an adventurous raccoon that had become lodged under the apex of the roof of the Mediterranean Garden greenhouse. We all had to leave when the Burlington Animal Control personnel arrived to remove him from his high wire perch to a safer place. There is always something exciting happening at RBG!

Shop @ The Gardens - Judith Reed

After a very busy time in the Shop thanks to RBG's Frog Exhibit, the new Spring Stock has arrived!

Lovely straw hats & bags for the beach, scarves & jewellery are just a few of the new arrivals.

Plants will be available for sale throughout the season.

Social Committee - Janice Cooper

Spring is gearing up to be busy for the Social Committee. We have provided treats for the Docent Meetings through the long, cold winter as well as a light breakfast for the Spring General Meeting in May. We are a dedicated and enthusiastic group who enjoy what we do. Consider joining us to add a social element to our Auxiliary events!

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

Special Events - Peter Thoem

Auxiliary members contributed mightily to the creation and interpretation of the winter Frog Exhibit. It was a great success, but thank goodness winter’s over, now we can get on with exhausting ourselves with the spring and summer events. The list of events we’ve been asked to support is quite long but many members have stepped forward to help ease the load on staff.

For example: RBG staff have been busy sorting out the good fish from the bad fish at the fishway and several of our members have been on hand to help explain to the public what’s going on. We will continue providing help with interpretation throughout the summer.

Weddings are a challenge for RBG staff, after all, how would you like to direct and oversee half a dozen brides, mothers of the brides and bridal parties – all at once? Several members are ready to help make things run smoothly. And of course, weddings are good people watching too.

We will be helping out on the May 23 weekend when RBG is running special International Biodiversity Day events at the Arboretum. Among the exhibits is one about alternative sources of protein; how we all need to eat more ants and crickets - yum!

Watch the weekly Volunteer Opportunities News for new events and a chance to improve visitors’ experiences.

Tour Guides - Pat Barton

As I write this report the magnolias are almost finished and some of the early lilacs are in bloom. So begins another season of outdoor activity for the Tour Guides. During our cold winter there were a few indoor tours including the Mediterranean House, but not too many. It does not seem to be common knowledge that the Med. House is at its best in February.

Training is now completed for another year which included in depth garden tours given by RBG staff specifically for new guides but also as a refresher for returning guides. Our sincere thanks to Jodi Healy, Jon Peter and Alex Henderson for taking time to do this for us as we know they are very busy and still without a department head. Following the garden tours, one full day was given to studying the mechanics of a tour for the new people and an update meeting for all the guides which included an opportunity to socialize.

We welcomed eight new guides who are now enthusiastically “shadowing” tours until ready to go it alone. Sadly Bill Fegan has had to leave the group for personal reasons and we will miss him. He was a guide for many years and frequently headed up the outreach programmes until RBG

discontinued them.

Unfortunately we have a problem in that there have been fewer tour groups in the last few years and therefore less opportunity to hone our skills. We really hope this will improve soon. If you are involved in local groups please get the word out that we lead tours and organize lunches and encourage them to visit RBG for special celebrations. Group rates begin with groups of fifteen and we can deal with large groups.

Another year without the Rock Garden is a challenge but as I watch the progress, en route to RBG, I have the feeling the TGs will need a few sessions of extra training before May 2016.

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Spring 2015 RBG Auxiliary

Volunteer gardeners started to assist RBG staff in the Arboretum on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, by sprucing up the lilacs in preparation for the bloom festival. A few new members have joined our ranks along with some dedicated returnees. Gardening in Laking Garden and Hendrie Park commenced in early May, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We are looking forward to working among the themed plantings for the PanAm games and the new installations of Earth Art. Being able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings is a real perk for volunteers. I hope you will consider joining us. There is always lots to do and lots to learn.

Volunteer Gardeners - Joyce Vanderwoude

Members’ Contributions

Perennial Plant of the Year for 2015 Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo' - Yvonne Cunnington The groundcover cranesbill G. x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo' is the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2015. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8, this fine plant has pink-centered white flowers, grows 8 to 12 inches tall and can spread to 36 inches.

An interspecies hybrid that comes from the American native G. maculatum crossed with G. cinereum, a native of the Pyrenees mountains, it belongs to the group known as the Cambridge geraniums which originated in that part of the English countryside. 'Biokovo Karmina' is similar, but with deep rose-colored flowers, and related cultivar 'Cambridge' has pink-violet flowers.

Ground-hugging, mat-like growth crowds out weeds in part shade or combines with a variety of plants for the perfect filler. Moist, well-drained soil is preferred, but it tolerates dry shade in full sun or part shade. While it makes a spreading groundcover, it isn't aggressive. Use it in pots around the base of taller plants or in wide bowls and troughs. This perennial blooms for an extended period from late spring to mid-summer. The foliage is fragrant with striking burgundy fall color.

Companion Plants: Provides subtle colour to conifers such as Compact Bronze Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Pygmaea Aurescens') and dwarf Japanese juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'). It is also compatible with other more potently colored cranesbills such as bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum), as well as creeping phlox. Its texture also goes well with hostas and other woodland plants, as long as it is not grown in deep shade.

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. As a groundcover, space plants 2 ft to 3 ft apart (or closer for faster coverage). Control weeds with mulch until the plants cover the area. Established plants are easily divided for increase.