Lily Blooms

Amy and Rohan's Garden 2009

herb bibliography

Beston, Henry. 1935. Herbs and the Earth. David R. Godine Publisher, Boston, MA.

Blose, Nora and Cusick, Dawn. 1993. Herb Drying Handbook. Sterling Lark Book, New York.

Bremness, Lesley. 1988. The Complete Book of Herbs. Readers Digest, Italy.

Duke, James A. 1997. The Green Pharmacy. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA.

Griffin, Judy. 1997. Mother Nature's Herbal . Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Halva, Seija and Craker, Lyle. 1996. Manual for Northern Herb Growers. HSMP Books, Amherst, MA.

Harrar, Sari and Altshul O'Donnell, Sara. 1999. Woman's Book of Healing Herbs. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA.

Hemphill, Ian. 2000. The Spice and Herb Bible. Robert Rose Inc., Toronto, Ontario.

Hemphill, John and Hemphill, Rosemary. 1990. What Herb Is That? Stackpole Books, PA.

Hermann, Matthias. 1973. Herbs and Medicinal Flowers. Galahad Books, New York.

Hole, Lois. 2000. Herbs and Edible Flowers. Lois Hole, St. Albert, Alberta.

Kowalchik, Claire and Hylton, William H. 1998. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA.

Lima, Patrick. 2001. Herbs The Complete Gardener's Guide. Firefly Books, Altona, Manitoba.

McClure, Susan. 1996. The Herb Gardener.. Garden Way Publishing, Vermont.

McIntyre, Anne. 1996. Flower Power. Henry Holt, New York.

Mojay, Gabriel. 1996. Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Henry Holt, New York.

Podlick, Dieter. 1996. Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe. Harper Collins Publisher, Italy.

Polunin, Miriam and Robbins, Christopher. 1992. The Natural Pharmacy. Raincoast Books, Vancouver, BC.

Small, Ernest. 1997. Culinary Herbs. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario.

Walters, Clare. 1998. Aromatherapy, An Illustrated Guide. Element, Italy.

Weiss, Gaea and Weiss, Shandor. 1985. Growing and Using the Healing Herbs. Wings Books, New York.

garden scenes 2009

books I wish I owned cont.

Goody, Jack. THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS. NY, Cambridge, 1994, 462pp. An unusual look at the themes and transactional uses of flowers across different cultures.
 ( also available from The AMERICAN BOTANIST Booksellers )

Grannis, Ruth (ed). PLANT ILLUSTRATION BEFORE 1850. NY, Grolier Club, 1992, (1941) 33pp., wraps & conts. NEW. This is reprint of a catalogue of an exhibition of books, drawings and prints. Containing no illustrations itself, it does a good job of outlining the important botanical texts, giving woodcut and plate numbers.

Mules, Mrs. Helen et. al. FLOWERS IN BOOKS AND DRAWINGS. NY, Pierpont Morgan Library, 1980, 80pp., paper, conts. VG. Covers 141 titles, with numerous illustrations between 940 and 1840. .

Phipps, Frances. COLONIAL KITCHENS, THEIR FURNISHINGS, AND THEIR GARDENS. NY, Hawthorn, 1972, 346pp., DJ lite wear, cloth & conts. VG. Based on settler journals & traveler's diaries. An accurate look back.

Wright, Richardson. THE WINTER DIVERSIONS OF A GARDENER. Phila., Lippincott, 1934, 1st ed., 356pp., DJ chipped & worn, cloth & conts. VG. Travels, hermits and the like.

Cranesbill Geranium

Kingdom:     Plantae

Division:       Magnoliophyta

Class:            Magnoliopsida

Order:           Geraniales

Genus:          Geranium

Species:       G. phaeum

Illustration by
Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé  
Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz
1885, Gera, Germany
(copyright expired)



The violet-blue coloured flowers of the cranesbill geranium which thrives amongst the explorers in the University's memorial rose garden suggest G. himalayense but could be the more common Purple Geranium G. magnificum adopting a more blue hue from the soil. Maybe a hybrid cultivar - Jonson's Blue? 
G phaeum has rich wine coloured blooms, and I adore it. I would love to find one for the front garden. I believe there are already some hardy purple/violet/blue cranesbill already in the garden, but we'll have to confirm that after the excavation in the late spring.

The rose garden's cranesbill grows as a neat little mound of foliage to the north east of the bench. When it blooms it compliments in contrast to the roses around it.

• Cranesbills are also popular among the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and Mouse Moth. There is already a fair selection of food for the butterflies in the garden, but I'd like to improve it.
• Some species are perennials and generally winter hardy plants;. they are long lived and most have a mounding habit, and some have spreading rhizomes. 
• Grown in part shade to full sun, in well draining but moisture retentive soils, that are rich in humus.

Being Backyardovich in January 2010

Earlier today I was running around mad trying to find a collection of plant tags that I found in the back porch last summer. They were obviously Wayne's, from when he planted the garden, and identified most of the junipers. I still can't find them, but in my mind's eye I can see them in a few places, so I'm sure they'll turn up - which will give me something else to post about when I do.

Instead I doodled our garden using notes and photos I've collected since the summer. I took a photo this afternoon of the January garden to use as a guide because some of my notes are sketchy, and I wish I had more sketches - I remember best by those. As I reflected upon one (which I'd rather not post) I slipped into a daydream; sitting in one of my neglected Adirondack chairs in the backyard. I had brought the chair nearer to the fence to the dog run so that Claire, on the other side, wouldn't feel so apart from me. This tactic was a complete failure; Claire sulked on the other side of the fence, taunted me with rock chewing, paced until I felt uncomfortable. Few drawings were ever completed, though I can still see them in my imagination.

In one of my little green Journals I found a list of the garden's plants. I remember compiling that list. It was before I found the plant tags. Still stumped on the names of the Lilies, I'm only guessing. I'd like to believe the Daylily closest to the house is Mini Pearl. The Daylilies were what I was most curious about. I had wanted to talk to Wayne directly to ask what his inspiration was; what was his plan? The only time he was over I wasn't home. Rohan said he was thrilled with how the garden has grown, saying, "It is exactly what I had envisioned." I can completely understand his sentiment. I had that vision at Castlegreen. I only really saw it thrive in maturity one season, woe.

I was able to admire Wayne's design even more during the summer as I waited for and watched the daylilies bloom. The first question I had for Rohan regarding the garden was which daylilies were each. He didn't know. I don't think he realized how many different ones there are, or anticipated my attention to their names. I told him about my daylily circle of yummy things: 'Raspberry Parfait', 'Melon Balls', 'Vanilla Fluff', 'Strawberry Swirl'.... We still don't know the daylilies names, but I did document their colours and blooming periods, and have a vast collection of photographs (of course). What I found most spectacular about Wayne's plan was the timing. The whole garden was colour-timed throughout the seasons. In early spring it was the purples and lavenders who stole the show, then some yellows and peaches in the daylilies, and in late summer when things are lush and thoughts of autumn begin to surface, the red daylilies change the hue of the whole garden accordingly. The thick greens and reds almost brought thoughts of Christmas, and brought us to the end of the season.


By the drawing above one would think Rohan and I have no business going through seed catalogs, like we were last Saturday. Lying in bed on a January morning with coffee and dogs, newspapers and seed catalogs. We discussed the state of the world, the state of the locals, the Thumbs Up Thumbs Down section, and agreed upon enough seeds and plants to fill our yard twice over. How we will accomplish this is what we have to look forward to, and what this journal looks forward to recording.

Taken on August 13th, 2009 - I also used this photo to assist my memory in doodling today's drawing.

There are things missing from the drawing, names, and I'm sure I missed a plant or two. The dogs are each included 1.5 times. (Maybe because each dog, in his or her own way, often feels like one and a half dogs i.e. in poop scooped and household fur.)
Especially included is our glorious boulevard tree, who is currently the only one on the block to be holding on to some foliage. Also in front are a number of mystery plants and shrubbery. I had wanted to tackle the space in August, and add the hostas and other shade plants I have saved from amy's garden. I didn't. There's always this coming spring.

I have the best love. Rohan's careful maintenance, and enthusiasm for his own additions can be thanked for the garden's success. Appreciation

This summer will be an interesting challenge. With all our expectations for incorporate all our food plants, and establish them, while exploring/returning to Australia for most of August. (Oh just imagine what amy's garden will travel-blog about Australia!)
Being the cooking enthusiasts that we are most of our wishlist is comprised of things we most often eat: garlic, herbs - namely basil (and lots of it), thyme and rosemary, sage, dill, garlic chives (already thriving under the tamarack). Capsicum of many kinds from hot to sweet, tomatoes, and squash - if we can grow these at home, in pots and clever tucked in places, we'll be able to satisfy many meals. The Rhubarb will feed us for months. The onions will likely never stop.

The lack of space for both a goat and a small flock of backyard chickens is easily demonstrated through the drawing. This doesn't stop me from saying often how lovely both would be.

And so this is a new backyardovich, the best backyardovich. It's just beautiful.

endless

A HISTORY OF Silver Islet AND IT'S Gardens

text and photographs by

Barbara Lesperance

978-09767736-6-5*

It was a journey dear to my heart through this book. Silver Islet sets the stage for some of my fondest and oldest memories. It hosted the photography leg of my first, and endless, date with Rohan. Always a visitor, I suffer pangs of envy every time; but the awe leaves me grateful for the opportunity, and for having this lovely location so nearby.


* Another treasure from the trove of Nana's Christmas book gifts. :)

JSTOR goodies

An Annotated List of the Pteridophytes of North-Western Ontario: II

O. E. Jennings / Published by: American Fern Society
American Fern Journal, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1918),
pp. 76-88

Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1544220

observations

There's been little for me to blog about gardening lately, not that I haven't been thinking about what I would. It's not that my interest has faded, but rather how it's changed, and how I feel about the gardening climate today.

The hysteria over "climate change", environmental concerns, and "the food crisis" has sent the media and politicians after gardeners to save the world, and everyone wants a piece of it. I've been trying to avoid all of this and remain true to the more containable story, mine.
My story is ever changing, as all good stories do. Amy’s Garden has moved and moved again, and many of my beloved plants have found new homes in community gardens, lost their battle with moving, or have survived with me to tell their story. Amy’s gardening experiences have evolved as well and in many ways come full circle. I’ll be back at the greenhouse this spring; the community gardens will grow on, and I will return to where the air is clean and I can be myself again.

It's difficult to compose my words because I certainly can't find fault in people wanting to grow things. What I've always enjoyed most about the greenhouse are the conversations that develop about techniques and tricks people have picked up over the years, or things they learned from a grandmother, father, or friend. Essentially the latest wave of community gardening is bringing people and those conversations together in a way that is not all that different in nature, just a little more in your face. To have kitchen gardening become an even hotter topic outside the greenhouse how could I complain? I guess it was that the unique quality to those conversations has been altered somehow.

It's the motivation behind the effort that has often discouraged me in the recent year. This is where I find it difficult to get too involved. I'd like to think that the motivation is to share one's love for gardening, and demonstrate what can be produced with a little effort, but I think it's become more of a competition of involvement.

I feel have been and am overwhelmed with the topic from every direction. Again, why do I find this disconcerting? I know part of my hesitation comes from knowing I feel quite different from most on a few of the more politically, and to many, moral, topics that tend to be surrounded in great debate - none of which I feel like getting into passionately.
Luckily my significant other is also a disbeliever of many of the hot urban garden myths, namely "global warming", and provides wonderful literature for coffee table resources. Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor by Roy Spencer, and Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed by Christopher C. Horner, to name a couple. He's a scientist, which I think is so sexy, but also confirms his wonderful sense of logic. I'm very attracted to that.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for improving any negative human impact on the earth, I just don't agree with the current agenda put forth in the media through the politicians.

The phrase "food security" alone creates a kind of problematic fear factor of it's own. On it's own it defines itself properly in that the objective is to "secure safe and healthy food for oneself"; but with the decade's use of the word "security" the expression presents, whether it wants it or not a troubling underlying mood. I don't mean to sound callous, but people have been starving all over the world for as long as we've been around. If sustainable agriculture is going to save them, it would have done so long ago.
The recent organic movement is also instilling terror in the population with documentaries such as the Monsanto and Food Inc. (although extremely valid and true), and discredit all attempts at food modification (which could save the starving), while at the same time opened up a Pandora's box of what food manufacturer's have been feeding us for so long. I think it's doubtful that organic agriculture is the solution.
Is it politics and the current state of the economy? The reaction from people and communities in similar situations (the Victory Gardens of the World Wars, for instance) influenced community gardens, so it's not surprising that during another downward slope in the economic markets, we find a rise in the farmer's markets, right? It should be inspiring, and it is, but again local food (especially in the Thunder bay area) has been available for a long time, as has the market, and only recently has enjoyed this surge of attention.

While driving around town the other day, R and I heard a CBC Radio One broadcast about Haiti and how the country spends $1,000,000.00 each year importing eggs. They were interviewing an eleven year old boy who was collecting eggs from a coop rather than playing soccer, who said (paraphrased) he would rather be helpful than playful.The question of the story was the same we've been hearing often lately, which is why are some countries and communities having to put out such expense for something that could be produced locally. I don't have the answers of course, but the questions are certainly provoking.

When I first started working at the greenhouse more people were interested in flowers, while vegetables not so much. There was always the old Polish guys looking for their eggplants, and that non-English speaking elderly Italian woman who bought and planted every food plant we had (her garden is near the 55+ Center and is incredible). Tomatoes are always very popular too. Most people though, just wanted the baskets with the bacopa and a specific list of plants for a container a magazine designed.
Last year the greenhouse could hardly keep up with the demand for vegetable plants.

It will be a satisfying return to the greenhouse, and one I'm deeply looking forward to. I anxious to have my fingers handing seedlings by the thousands, smell the air, and soak up the sights of row upon row of plants of all kinds. It's not about saving the world, but growing plants and finding them homes. I'm happy with the simplicity of that. As far as Amy's Garden grows, that's another post. Fueled by our love for cooking Rohan and I have numerous plans to incorporate some of our own plans into the adopted garden we have, as well as rejuvenating the front shade garden. I will have lots to say as all this develops.

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A view over the LU Garden from the Centennial Building, reflecting me.

The Young Omnivore's Dilemma

For Christmas my book giving mother presented me with a copy of The Omnivore's Dilemma by Micheal Pollen. Last night, while scrolling through Hannah's Scholastic offerings for the month I discovered the young readers edition, which I will order for her. The description on Amazon reads:
""...this young readers' adaptation of Pollan's famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices.
In a smart, compelling format with updated facts, plenty of photos, graphs, and visuals, as well as a new afterword and backmatter, The Omnivore's Dilemma serves up a bold message to the generation that needs it most: It's time to take charge of our national eating habits — and it starts with you."

I'm curious to compare the two editions.

The Nature of Things

To Bee or Not to Bee

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Premiering: Thursday January 7, 2010 at 8 pm on CBC-TV
Repeating: Thursday January 14, 2010 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network

Directed by Mark Johnston and produced by Natalie Dubois and Christine Le Goff, for Galafilm Productions.

two of four

Name that Lily

Mystery lilies in Amy & Rohan's garden.
I wonder if the daylily is Mini Pearl, which would be most appropriate being on Pearl Street. It looks more peach in colour than it appears in my photo. I'll have to ask Wayne, who planted the garden years ago. Not far from it is Mini Stella, who has been blooming for a few weeks. I'm guessing this asiatic lily is Tropical Dream, a popular lily, more so than Royal Present or Giraffe, which it also looks like.

This gives me good reason to have Caroline over for wine and lily identification. :)

Amy's Garden

new RB trees

Both the Ryan Building and the Library received new trees this year. :)

praying to the spade gods

Gardens June 18 2009

Gardenerd goes YouTube-ing

Amy's Gardens

Amy's Garden at the site of the St. John Street Beautification Project:

Tomatoes, peas, cabbage, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, and beets. Just enough.

Rohan`s Garden

Euan`s Tree Farm

Euan's Tree Farm
St John Street Beautification Project