Annual Plant Fair — Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Annual Plant Fair will be held at the same time, same place, next year — the day before Mother's Day, 2011.

The Plant Fair is the largest event of the Hort yearly events. It is also a time when well over a hundred Hort volunteers mobilize like a well oiled machine to bring not only member’s plant divisions into the community, but also their expertise. Plants of every description fill the tables. Standard nursery stock and the basic annuals of the season will also be available.

 

This year, a Connoisseur’s Table will offer items aimed primarily at Hort members or experienced gardeners looking for the out of the ordinary. Check out this year’s Vendors and enjoy a refreshment and a sweet at the Hort Cafe.

 

Held at Parkdale Public School gym, on Lansdowne Avenue near Queen St. West (see map in the left margin), over the years it has become a fixture of the spring season. It is a wonderful day of mixing, mingling and chatting over plants and green elephant bargains. Spirits are high, the refreshments are tasty and when your arms are full just ‘park’ your plants and continue to browse.

 

Location Parkdale School & Community Centre 75 Lansdowne Ave (at Seaforth, 1 block N of Queen West)

Members’ Advance Sale 9–10am

General Public Admission 11am–2pm

 

 

The Parkdale Public School is action central for the Hort Plant Fair every Mother’s Day Saturday.

 

Green Elephants—just one of the special features of the Plant Fair. Dig deep for the Green Elephants in your life. Garden related stuff that you don’t need or like anymore can transform into someone else’s treasure. Drop off your treasures at 12 Trenton Terrace.

 

Vendors at the 2010 Fair

So who will you see at the Fair? The final list isn’t ready yet but we thought we would let you know the vendors who have confirmed so far.

• Urban Harvest: confirmed to return this year with a selection of herbs, heirloom vegetables and perennials.
• S-W Gardens: five varieties of lilies already potted up and growing on Barbara Japp's deck.
• Hortico: confirmed to return with a comprehensive selection of well-grown plants.
• Wild Things Perennials: wonderful perennials, clematis and native species
• Nottawasaga Daylilies: confirmed as a new vendor with a wide selection of day lilies, including their 3 new introductions
• Humber Nurseries: unusual annuals, grasses and ferns
• Glover Garden Hats: curious and colourful sun protection
• Jean Johnson botanical cards: art from one of our member
• Little Rock Honey Farm: local flavoured honeys
• Sweetpea's: confirmed as a new vendor with a selection of Spring bulbs, shade loving perennials and ornamental grasses.

 

We Need Your Volunteer Support!

 

For more information, please contact . . .

Mary Mosser :: 416.769.0436 :: mmosser0722@rogers.com

Maureen Whitehead :: 416.534.4680 :: maureenwhitehead@hotmail.com

 

 

Divide and Conquer with Your Garden Divisions

The perennial divisions contributed by members are the core of our fundraising success. Without your spade work and generosity we can’t do it. Don’t forget to label your divisions thoroughly and include photos if you can. It makes for a guaranteed sale if you show the plant at its best. Please let Richard Kerr know if you need a plant label template and he'll email a Word version to you.

 

Take your divisions to one of the drop off locations listed below or bring them to the the Parkdale School at 75 Lansdowne on Friday May 8 between 7 and 9pm. Saturday morning will be extremely busy with the Members’ Advance Sale starting at 9am so we’d appreciate as many drop offs as possible at the school on Friday evening.

Advice about divisions: Contact Brigid O’Reilly at 416-533-2194

 

Drop off locations:

• PERENNIALS & SHRUBS IN POTS
• 97 Fermanaugh Avenue (near Roncesvalles)
  
  
• 218 Wright Ave (west of Roncesvalles) :: Note, do not try to drive up the lane.
  
  
• 112 Robinson Street (North of Queen at Claremont) :: Note: Use the gate at the west end of the wooden fence. Put plants by the garden shed. Please close the gate when leaving.
  
  
• 129 Evans Avenue (East of Jane and South of Annette ):: Put plants in the north side yard, accessible from both streets. Please close gate when leaving.
  
  
• 573 Indian Rd. (2 blocks north of Bloor at Chelsea)
  
  
• 435 Annette Ave. (halfway between Jane and Keele)
  
  

Plant Fair Set Up

Drivers

We still need drivers on Friday night (7pm–9pm) to collect divisions and Green Elephants from the drop off locations.

 

Friday, May 7 from 7–9pm

Parkdale School & Community Centre

75 Lansdowne at Seaforth

Deliveries to the loading entrance off West Lodge

 

Post -Fair Help

If you really want to be appreciated, just put your name down for the cleanup from 2–4pm on Saturday. You will be treated well.

 

TEN TIPS for Dividing Perennials for the Hort Plant Fair   1. You can dig up the whole plant and divide it out of the ground, or you can chop pieces off the edge of a large established clump, using a spade.   2. Once you have the plant, or pieces of it, out of the ground, you may be able to tease the roots apart by hand. If you are dealing with a large, woody or tightly woven root system, you may have to separate the roots with a spade, sharp knife, secateurs, loppers, or a small tree saw. Two garden forks placed back to back in the root ball can also be used to pry apart roots.   3. Larger pieces of root will thrive better than smaller ones. However, try to avoid potting up very large divisions (or whole plants) in one or two-gallon pots – they can be difficult for people to carry home. And, the more divisions, the better. I favour 4 to 6 inch pots.   4. Try to fit the root to the pot. Ideally there should be a ½” to 3/4 “ space all around the root ball. If necessary, trim the root (especially very large roots), to fit your available pot, using secateurs. 5. Make sure each division has some foliage (or shoots) and some roots.   6. Avoid leaving any roots hanging over the edge of the pot 7. If dividing irises or other rhizomatous plants, use a sharp knife to cut rhizomes into pieces containing two to three buds. Allow them to air dry for an hour, to heal wounds before repotting. 8. Use a lightweight potting soil, or compost, or a mixture of these, (possibly with a small amount of sand added) to fill the pot. Fill the space around the root ball with soil mixture and firm the division well into the pot. Don’t fill the pot with soil from your garden as this can make for a very heavy pot, and can leave a big hole in your garden. The combination of potting soil and compost also encourages the root to establish more readily. 9. Once potted up, water divisions thoroughly and place in a sheltered spot—out of the sun and away from wind, which can dry out newly dug plants. Keep an eye on them as water as required, especially if the weather turns hot and sunny.   10. It is not necessary to fertilize your new divisions; in fact it is probably better if you don’t. Plants are best fertilized after they have been re-planted in their new home.