Ontario Delphinium Club Newsletter Volume 25.3 June 2012

Newsletter Volume 25.3 June 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Greetings Everyone

The AGM and Field day will soon be upon us and it will be held at

John and Sofie Bigham’s home at Country Lane, North of Columbus Road in Brooklin (Whitby). Come and see the gardens. It should be a great day for all President: to enjoy. The garden h as a large number of unusual plants and trees. It will Joe Cook keep us very busy just to see half of them. I am sure John and Sofie will be 681 Fife's Bay Road on hand to answer questions. R.R. 2 Peterborough, ON , K9J 6X3 Telephone: 705-742-9923 Everyone should be working to get their plants well grown so they are [email protected] ready for the flower sho w at the field day. Besides the categories for your delphinium elatum, there is a division for your best garden flower of any Vice President: variety. This will be judged by everyone attending. This is a fun, friendly Elizabeth Butler Telephone: 905-729-3510 competition with prizes. Add to that the great food and superb setting to make [email protected] a perfect day.

The club will have lots of British delphinium elatum for sale so bring Treasurer some money to purchase the plants of your choice. This is a great way to Marvin Belfour support the ODC while you add to your garden. Telephone: 905-579-9076 [email protected] I must say it has been a privilege to work with the members of the Secretary : board this past year. Together we overcame a few bumps on the road to Marilyn Dodds achieve much. I extend a sincere thank you to all the board and other Telephone: 905-936-4086 members of the club for their help. Now we can look forward to many more [email protected] years of delphinium growing. Directors:

Once again, I extend a big thank you to Pat Sang for her warm Lydia Skirko welcome and efficient hosting our board meetings. Thanks Pat. Telephone: 905-725-2026 [email protected] It is a special treat to be invited into the gardens of John and Sofie Pat Sang Bigham, so spread the word ab out our field day and bring some extra friends Telephone: 905-936-2964 to share the fun. [email protected]

Joe Cook Irene Neal

Telephone: 519-763-1039 [email protected] If everyone does their part to save their little piece of paradise, the world will be a better place. Don Wick

Telephone: 905-655-4065 [email protected] [email protected] ODC’s email : ODC's website: www.ondelphiniums.com Peter Gill ODC members 2012 website: www.ondelphiniums.com/members2011 Telephone: 905-986-0310 [email protected]

Co-Editors for 2011-12 are Marvin Belfour and Elizabeth Butler Grace Lofters Telephone: 416 239-5646 Responsible for Printing: Don Wick [email protected] Responsible for Distribution: Lydia Skirko

May 4, 2012

1. Flower of the sea. Named by the Greeks for the loveliest creature of the sea, the word delphinium comes from the Greek delphis , for dolphin. Larkspur, a variety of delphinium, was so called by the British because they believed its flower resembled the claw of a lark.

2. Deadly delphinium. Delphinium elatum , the common garden variety delphinium, is powerfully poisonous, containing an alkaloid called delphinine, which has properties very like those drawn from Aconitum (monkshood), although a bit weaker. Nevertheless, delphinine kills in much the same way, attacking the heart.

3. Healing delphinium. 1. Larkspur Prescribed in minute quantities by those who know their art, delphinium has been used to treat dropsy (a weakening of the heart that causes water to build in the body), to treat gout and as a parasiticide. It was used effectively during the First World War to treat lice and their nits in the hair. Juice from delphinium leaves is said to relieve bleeding hemorrhoids and relieve spasmodic asthma. Juice from the flowers was used to relieve colic in babies.

4. Only flower with its own dedicated art show. Edward Steichen (1879 to 1973) was, by day, a fashion photographer for Condé Nast publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, but on his own time, he was a grower of delphiniums. He mounted a show in the Museum of Modern Art in the summer of 1936, showing his seven-foot tall delphiniums. How did he get them that tall? He fed them a cocktail of colchinine (a derivative from the autumn crocus, which is also used to treat gout). Colchinine is a chemical mutagen that promotes chromosome doubling. His delphiniums were giants of their times and his Delphinium 'Connecticut Yankee', named in honour of Mark Twain, is still available today. 2. Delphinium elatum 5. Etched in ink. Delphinium flowers were ground into powder then mixed with alum to make a very good blue ink. The flowers were also used to make blue dye to colour yarns and other fabrics.

6. Delphinium growing habits. Delphiniums are happiest in deep rich soil with even moisture and lots of compost. They are heavy feeders enjoying a diet of compost, fortified by a periodic binge on fertilizer. In spite of all this nourishment, alas, they are short-lived, losing some of their vitality after the second or third year. If they don't self-sow in your garden, re-plant a few each year. You can also take basal cuttings to propagate your favourites.

3. Edward Steichen

7. Delphinium symbolism. Delphiniums signify an open heart and ardent attachment. Larkspurs project lightness and swiftness. Delphinium is July's birth flower.

8. The delphinium leaf eater, Polychrysia esmeralda . This golden winged moth infests delphiniums (and monkshood, larkspur and globeflower) by over wintering near the bottom of their hollow stems then emerging to create silken nets of leaves and blossoms. The larvae that they lay then peacefully eat their way into the flower buds, destroying the buds as they do so. Dispose of the worms by hand and cut your 4. 'Connecticut Yankee' delphiniums to the ground in fall to annihilate their winter home.

9. Delphinium disease. The most common disease is sclerotinia rot, a fungus that given the chance to mature will turn black before it produces stone-like spores that can drop and remain in the soil for many years. Aster yellows also attack delphiniums. It can turn the leaves yellow and wilts the plant.

10. Choose your poison. There are many choices of delphinium, but a few might include the 5. Polychrisia Esmeralda earliest hybrids, 'Blackmore and Langdon', introduced in England in 1905. The flowers are pastel blue, white, lavender, violet and indigo. 'Pacific Coast Giants' are seven feet tall and come in blue and pink. 'Magic Fountains' are only about 30 inches tall. 'Blue Mirror' is gentian blue. 'Green Twist' is creamy white with green overtones. If you love delphiniums, there are delphinium clubs to join and learn from. Try www.ondelphiniums.com .

9. ' Blue Mirror'

7. 'Pacific Coast Giants'

8. 'Green Twist' 10. ‘'Magic Fountains'

MARTIN GALLOWAY - A naturalist at heart, captivates his audience by getting up close and personal with bugs, insects, critters, anything that moves on his property or in the wilds. He shows the intimate relationship between flowering plants and wildlife in the yard. A lover of all things animal, vegetable and mineral, Martin always asks the question "why?" and then tries to find the answers including the process of pollination and the work of such insects as the butterfly, ladybug, bumblebee and beetle.

He was a segment presenter/writer on the popular Canadian television series Harrowsmith Country Life for four seasons. He also has a love of gardening which is evident from his greenhouse, Chalk Lake Nurseries, which supplies plants to many of the larger gardening centers in Southern Ontario. Martin's experience and passion make him the perfect host of The Secret World of Gardens which can be seen on television today.

Armed with a Master's Degree in environmental biology and an extensive background in botany, Martin carries a wealth of knowledge on the creatures and phenomenon that share this planet. Years of teaching environmental biology and botany at the University of Toronto, Seneca College and York University have honed Martin's presentation skills. We are very fortunate to have Martin speak at our meeting as he is currently on sabbatical. He will be speaking on “Plant Adaptability to Climate Change” – a sign of the times.

A reminder to bring your lawn chairs, sun hat/umbrella, camera - salad or dessert if you wish for the table and come enjoy an entertaining afternoon in Bigham’s beautiful country paradise. Paper plates will be provided but if you like you may bring your own dish and/or cutlery. Don’t forget your flowers – We are always eager to see what other gardeners are growing even if they are not selected as a winner. It adds to the fun of the day. See you in July.

Explanation of Address label

Alongside your name and address there are a bunch of numbers. Membership ODC Number. Number Name does not change • and # 12xx Just below ‘ODC’ you will find a Address Membership v alid membership number 1234 till June of y ear • Below the membership number is a xxxxx.Renewal f orm could be rectangle. This indicates that your ODC mailed in or at the Field Day membership is till the Fieldday indicated Mailing Address Labels in the rectangle

• Those who will not be able to be at the Fieldday may mail in their membership. The form can be printed off the web site. • Members who receive their newsletters by email will be sent a reminder that their membership is due. • Memberships will be accepted at the Fieldday

ONTARIO DELPHINIUM CLUB FIELDDAY & AGM

Saturday 7 th July 2012

Bring : Ontario Delphinium Club Lawn chairs A salad or Contact: Dessert [email protected] Fieldday & AGM Flowers f or the show Saturday, 7th July, 2012 Website: Registration 11am www.ondelphiniums.com John and Sof ie Bigham Members $5 Non members $10 7425 Country Lane, Brooklin (Google Map - Whitby );

Columbus Road N

Map not to scale Hwy 7&12 Baldwin Baldwin St. BROOKLIN Country Lane 7 Winchester Rd. 407

Taunton Rd. Hwy 12 Brock Road

PICKERING Brock Street Harmony Rd. Lakeridge Rd. Lakeridge WHITBY OSHAWA 401 Exit 399 Exit 410 Exit 419

PG bigham/vsd 2012

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA

1. Call to order 11.00am. 2. Minutes & Approv al of AGM Minutes Registration 3. Presidents Remarks - Sy nopsis of the y ear Membership Renew als 4. Treasurer's Report 5. Secretary 's Report Flow er Show 6. Committee Reports: Membership, Newsletter Walk & Talk & Plant sale Shows, Web Site, Other reports BBQ 7. Resolution: "Resolv ed that all acts and omissions of the Of f icers, President and Directors of the Ontario Delphinium Club be hereby ratif ied Speaker - Martin Gallow ay and conf irmed." 8. Elections - Slate of Of f icers "Plant Adaptability for Climate Change". President - Vice President - Past President - Directors: One Year PROGRAM Two Years Treasurer: Meeting Secretary : Auction Financial Rev iewers: Draw s Introduce New Board (Group photograph) 9. Adjourn