GARDEN COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is written by the members of the PCC 110 Garden Committee. Opinions expressed are their own.

July 2022

2022-07 newsletter summer 2022.pdf

May 7, 2022

2022-05-07 Garden committee newsletter.pdf

April 1, 2020

2022-04-01 Garden Comm Newsletter.pdf

March 20, 2022

March, came marching in . . .

Buzz . . And although tomorrow is the first day of Spring, there is very little evidence of that! Below is a picture of Coltsfoot, always the first flower in the season, taken last year on March 17^th, but there is no sign of it yet this year. Perhaps we will have an instant Spring as we have had in the years before.

Members of the Garden Committee who live in 1515 (PCC 170) have begun the process of getting permission to create new container gardens for the community. They proposed location is west of the tennis courts. They hope to create an area where all ages can meet and enjoy the marvelous outdoor space of our property..

It should be noted that the Garden Committee completes it work on a most modest budget from the Board ($500) and many of our structures, soil, and plants come from donations of the members and of residents who appreciate the gardens (especially the tomatoes). All donations are welcome, either financial or labour. A helping hand is always welcome, as are encouragement and compliments!

“The earth laughs in flowers”. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 12, 2021

Buzz . . . . October gardens are full of great splashes of colour amidst darkening foliage. Garden mums in a variety of bright colours are planted to replace the spent tomato plants giving wonderful combinations of subtle

colours. The coleus plants, giant sized this year, combine with the mums and sedum to please the most jaded eye. And the old faithfuls: brown-eyed Susans, Japanese anemones, and geraniums are still producing glorious flowers. As a bonus, a flower we had given up as a non-bloomer this year, the Cosmos has produced three brave pink blossoms.

Arsenal Lands: In the meadows across the Lakeshore it is aster time and the purple New England Aster and the white Heath Aster reign supreme. The roses bushes, awash with red rose hips, are home to the hundreds of birds collecting for the long trip south. Go over and just sit on the log benches and listen and inhale through the nose —it is good for the soul.

Putting the gardens to bed is our next task. Plants from the rear door garden need to be moved into our back gardens as this garden will be torn up next Spring to accommodate the final phase of our parking lot repairs. Hopefully a new garden will replace the current one which gives so much pleasure to so many people.

Volunteers are always welcome. If you want to help, just ask any gardener, or contact Virginia, Unit 2010 vtencatebd@gmail.com in building 1535, or Edward, Unit 1610 Edward.brain@gmail.com in building 1515.

“ My favorite color is October” ~Author unknown

Andrew’s favourite flower is the Japanese Anemone

Issue #10 - August 11, 2021

August: dog days of summer . . .

Buzz . . . What better way to while away a day than come and sit in our gardens? The phlox, present in virtually every garden, are in full bloom and smell divine! Vines are growing up the fences like they are on steroids.

Morning glories, Mandeville, and Clematis, Nasturtium, (and don’t forget the beans) are on full display.

Tomato bonanza: The tomatoes are turning red. The cherry tomatoes can be picked and ripened at home in a day—delicious. The bigger tomatoes have a while to go yet, but you can see them now and know they too will be ready soon. In the perennial garden there are two lonely eggplants--look hard and you will see small dark purple fruit; grown by Virginia as an experiment because they are such a beautiful plant.

“Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years”

– Unknown

Above: Our new potting bench: designed, built, and donated by volunteer Jon, resident of 1535. The Committee is delighted with this creation, designed especially for our needs. A heartfelt “thank you” to Jon.

Issue #9 - July 7, 2021

July: and the garden is in bloom . . .

Buzz . . . . It is still soooo hot! The gardeners are watering, watering, watering—morning and evening. And that is in addition to the sprinkler system. . But the perennial and annual flowers are gorgeous. Go look. Every day the gardens are different, so come and walk through as often as possible.

Herb Garden: Ani and Didi’s herb garden is flourishing. Open the gate and go in—the fragrance of all the herbs is wonderful—admire at least three kinds of sage, 3 kinds of mint, two kinds of oregano, two kinds of parsley. Cut some red basil or parsley or majoram for your salads. If Ani is there, ask for a tour!

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes: We have one fan who comes every day to check out the tomatoes. And some plants already have small tomatoes on them. Soon, soon , soon . .

Meet the youngest resident of 1535 (left), who has the same name as one of the plants in our gardens, and enjoys an evening snooze there.

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need”

– Cicero

Issue #8 - June 12, 2021

June: and the garden is “coming in” . . .

Buzz . . . After a frenzy of planting to beat the two heat waves and little rain, all our gardens now have some new perennials and bright and cheerful annuals. It is exciting to see the plants that we put in last year growing tall and bursting into bloom. We have had some spectacular successes, and a couple that were completely unexpected: Susan has had her sweet peas return, and I have had my Nellie Moser clematis bloom first time—she was planted in 2019. We have peonies, roses (both wild and cultured) and our native vines are growing at a great rate.

New this year: The herb garden has been taken over by Ani and Dolores. They have created a wonderland of herbs: two kinds of oregano, three kinds of mint, several kinds of sage, and parsleys, basil, and chives all artistically arranged.

And vegetables galore: Anthony has added to his bean and squash repertoire with melons, cauliflower, and broccoli among other vegies in his Poppy Planation garden. Edward has planted carrots, beets, and onions in his gardening box. And, of course, tomatoes, tomatoes, everywhere!

Sit in our gardens. We have two tables and chairs with backs(!) for you and your family and friends to use in the gardens. There are extra chairs near the potting tables. As the Covid restrictions ease we hope that more owners will use these areas. You are most welcome to come and sit and enjoy our birds. We ask you to please take your garbage back home with you and dispose of it in the usual way.

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.”

– Janet Kilburn Phillips

Find these plants in our gardens:

Roses in the Oval Garden

Nellie in the Perennial Garden

Trilliums in the Woodland Garden

Veggies in the Poppy Plantation

Hens and Chickens in the Herb Garden

Issue #7 - May 4, 2021

May: finally, time to plant . . .

Buzz . . . The hardy perennials are pushing up between the bulbs, and plants that have wintered over in our kitchen and garden shed are in the cold frames hardening off before being planted. It is an exciting time. Some of the nurseries are open despite Covid-19 shutdowns, and here and there you will see a new plant—they are the ones with the labels in front of them! But the best is yet to come—when the annuals are planted among the perennials and you see your old favourites blooming in bright colours. And coming again this year: the giant sunflowers!

Don’t forget the vegetables: we will have tomatoes and tomatoes and more tomatoes, as well as carrots, radishes, beets, squash, and of course, beans—all for the use of residents.

Our herb garden has been expanded this year by Ani and Dolores. You will have a supply of fresh chives, basil, oregano, sage, lemon balm and more--all your favourites in an attractive and restful setting.

Sit in our gardens. We have placed tables and chairs for you and your family and friends to use in the gardens. We ask you to please take your garbage back home with you and dispose of it in the usual way. Covid-19 is still with us. Although most of the gardeners have had one vaccination, we appreciate your wearing your mask and social distancing when talking to us.

“Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors”

– Mary Cantwell

Tulips in a box

MORE PHOTOS

Issue #6 - April 3, 2021

April, month of sun and showers, and plans . . .

Buzz . . . . The bulbs are starting to emerge—walk out and see the crocus in bloom in the Dragonfly garden, snowdrops in the garden by the back door, and daffodils and tulips popping up in unexpected places. Admire the first of three parts of our new potting bench, courtesy of a volunteer who enjoys working with wood.

The Garden Committee is very busy. We have been moving in top soil, reworking our “found” garden furniture, improving our compost areas, and cleaning up the winter debris from the gardens. Inside we are tending our wintering-over plants and planting seeds. We have placed tables and chairs outside in our gardens for you in good weather. If you walk by the garden shed (on West side of 1535 building) and the door is open, say “Hello.” Because of Covid, only two people are allowed in at once, masked, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stick your head in! All ideas are welcome.

Wanted: We are looking for volunteers to build us at least two more benches in the same style as the three we already have. We have the plans, they are simple, easy to put together with precut lumber, and rewarding. The building of the bench can be done outside with just a drill. We will supply everything you need. If you are interested, contact Virginia, Unit 2010 vtencatebd@gmail.com in building 1535, or Edward, Unit 1610 Edward.brain@gmail.com in building 1515.

“The earth laughs in flowers”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

What you can see in our gardens now—crocus!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP BUILD TWO MORE OF THESE?

Contact:

Building 1535, Virginia Tencate, Unit 2010

vtencatebd@gmail.com

Building 1515, Edward Brain, Unit 1610

edward.brain1@gmail.com

Issue #5 - March 4, 2021

March, came marching in . . .

Buzz . . The wood chips have been distributed into the gardens and areas where it is damp and grass does not seem to grow. Many thanks to the volunteers who trundled the chips to various places in our wheelbarrows. The weather was gorgeous—crisp and sunny winter days, perfect to be outside with work to do!

The CFRC (Common Facilities Recreation Committee) and the Garden Committee are hard at work planning and executing projects, for example a barrier between parked cars and the sprinkler heads at the very rear of our parking lot.

More very, very bad garden poetry in the limerick style in honour of St. Patrick’s day:

Once in our backyard piles of wood chips did appear

But many hands helped make them quickly disappear

Small piles now can still be found

Here and there upon the ground,

And so it’s time we thanked all the volunteers !!!

We are looking for input from you—your comments, your photos, and especially for you to volunteer. Contact: vtencatebd@gmail.com or Unit 2010.

“Life begins the day you start a garden”

– Chinese Proverb

How to grow your seeds

1. Fill a flat tray with potting mix, or make your own soilless mix by combining one part peat moss with one part vermiculite.

2. Fill the tray with the mix until it is level with the sides of the tray, then gently firm the mix down with a small board until it is 1/4” to 1/2” below the rim.

3. Scatter seeds evenly across the top of the flat.

4. Cover the seeds lightly by sifting soil or mix over them. Some seeds do not need to be covered, just pressed into close contact with the soil.

5. Water the flat thoroughly using a watering can.

6. Label the tray and cover with a glass sheet or plastic film to retain moisture and warmth.

7. Place the tray in a warm, bright spot, but not directly in sunlight as it will cause the interior to heat up excessively.

8. Remove the plastic or glass when the plants emerge from the soil.

9. Move the flats into direct sunlight or under artificial lights.

10. Keep the soil evenly moist.

11. The seedlings are ready to transplant when the first “true” leaves appear.

Issue #4 - February 5, 2021

February, the month of hearts and flowers and bad poetry.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue

We love our gardens

And know you do too . . .

Buzz . . . Our Common Facility Recreation Centre (CFRC), working in conjunction with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), have been judiciously eliminating dead trees and branches on the property. You will be happy to know that many new trees compatible with our climate and surroundings will be planted in their place, maintaining our beautiful park-like grounds for many years to come. The TRCA is helping us because the property is part of the watershed for Etobicoke creek.

The chipped wood from these trees has been piled at the back near the big bins for the landscapers and the Committee to use as mulch this summer, a fabulous way of retaining the moisture in the gardens, thus cutting down on wasteful watering. Walk by and take a big sniff: the piles smell wonderful!

We have installed experimental gro-lights in the garden shed for our seedlings for the gardens this coming summer. You still have time to tell us if you want a particular plant. And please, we are looking for input from you—your comments, your photos, and especially for you to volunteer. Contact: vtencatebd@gmail.com or Unit 2010.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

—Greek Proverb

Issue #3 - January 11, 2021

Now 2021 Is Here!

And, unfortunately, so is Covid. It is rewarding to see so many of the residents taking care of each other by wearing masks in all the common areas.

Because there has been so little snow, residents can walk around our grounds and in Marie Curtis Park. Mississauga has opened the adjacent Arsenal lands and if you like to walk in meadows and around the ponds and back through the woods, it is doable—a bit muddy, but still easy walking.

Our composters behind the back bins are still going strong. There is still room in one of them, but it would help a great deal if you could take an extra minute and chop into smaller pieces some of your scraps; i.e. cauliflower leaves, broccoli stems, and watermelon rinds. Small pieces break down faster and leave more room for others.

The Committee is beginning to look forward to our next big project—starting seedlings for the gardens this coming summer. We have to decide which seeds we want, (you can help with the decisions if you wish to let us know), plant them, nurture them, watch them sprout (that is the fun part), introduce them slowly to the cold, and finally plant them when the soil is warm enough. You are welcome to help us with any part of this process.

Don’t forget we are looking for input from you—your comments, your photos, and especially for you to volunteer. Contact point: vtencatebd@gmail.com or Unit 2010.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

—Audrey Hepburn

Issue #2 - December 15, 2020

The holiday season is here!

However, it is a much different season than ever before because Covid has changed this year’s festivities where families and friends cannot get together in a way since the World Wars I and II.

Holiday decorations have been severely limited, but the Board has placed gorgeous poinsettias in the lobby and minimal decorations have been installed. It all looks festive and very bright and welcoming.

The decorative pots in the bench in front of the building have morphed from wild and indigenous plants into traditional seasonal decorations. A traditional mini-tree with lights has been placed at the back entrance. The Board has installed two very handsome decorative pots in front of the main doors.

Gardeners are incredible optimists: don’t forget we are looking for input from you—your comments, your photos, and especially for you to volunteer. Contact point: vtencatebd@gmail.com or Unit 2010.

As we move into 2021 and the promise of a vaccine, remember:

“If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere.”

—Vincent van Gogh

Look in our gardens and see the many wonderful plants that are still alive under the leaves and snow.

Enjoy this holiday time with best wishes from

The Garden Committee

Issue #1 - November 28, 2020

Thank you for all your donations: plants, money, and artifacts. We have used them to bring to you the pleasures of having a beautiful and fun place to walk and sit on the property. Until spring, please take further plant donations to the gardens, spread the soil anywhere and dispose of plants and containers in the rubbish bins.

The gardens have been “put to bed” and we are over-wintering plants in the Kitchen and Games Room and Garden Shed for rejuvenation next spring.

The decorative pots in the bench in front of the building have been filled with mostly natural indigenous plants that grow on our property and locally. These pots will gradually assume a more holiday-season motif as that time approaches.

We welcome people who want to help in any way—you do not have to be on the Committee. This is your property; your ideas are very welcome and we will try to help you make them happen.

In particular we are looking for great photos of the gardens to post on the Garden Committee bulletin board (in the hallway leading to the recycling room) over the winter. You can give them to Virginia, vtencatebd@gmail.com or Unit 2010.