Friends of the Central Experimental Farm Summer 2016 Newsletter Volume 28 No. 3 Roses That Have Stood the Test of Time By Caroline Dabrus ‘John Cabot’, ‘Frontenac’, ‘Champlain’, and ‘Alexander Mackenzie’. Canadian Explorer Roses for Canadian Gardens The continuing popularity of Explorer roses is directly linked to Dr. Svejda's work. Her goal was to develop plants that not only produced large, repeat blooms but also were “Canadian-winter”-hardy and disease resistant. With her recent passing, it seems particularly appropriate that we take the time to recognize her achievement in breeding roses, which, more than five decades later, remain popular with consumers both in Canada and around the world. In honour of Dr. Svejda, here is a brief description of the wonderful plants I came across during my f f i l recent visit to a garden centre. c h c ‘John Cabot’, released in 1978, is a n i H . spectacular pillar-type rose. It bears R masses of fuchsia-pink, double blossoms Explorer rose ‘Frontenac’ with bright yellow stamens throughout love walking through garden centres and nurseries. I can June and July, with a modest re-bloom in August and September. never get enough of looking at the different varieties of plants Disease-resistant, it grows to 8-9 feet tall (2.4-2.8 m), making it a Iand cultivars. Like many of us, I have a soft spot for roses and good climber or tall arching shrub. always make a point of checking out what cultivars are on offer ‘Frontenac’, introduced in 1992, is extremely floriferous. It is each gardening season. almost completely covered with blooms at its peak in June and Every year, rose breeding programs worldwide develop and continues to flower until the end of September. An excellent release dozens of new varieties. They often have improved plant for shrub borders, its deep pink blooms are delightful as cut tolerance to various environmental challenges but their aim is also flowers. to introduce new plants to satisfy ever-changing consumer ‘Champlain’, one of my favourites, produces brilliant red preferences. With so many new roses introduced each year, is double blooms with dark edges from June to September. there still demand for those initially developed by Dr. Felicitas Flowering is quite free and continuous with little encouragement Svejda at the Central Experimental Farm under a rose breeding needed. The orange hips, which form in fall, add garden interest. program begun in 1961? The answer is a resounding yes. ‘Alexander Mackenzie’ has medium to deep red blooms, Without fail I always find a number of varieties from the which have a classic look. Borne in large clusters, the double Explorer Rose program at local nurseries and across Canada. blooms resemble those of grandiflora and hybrid tea roses. The Recently, I came across the following roses at a garden centre: shrub grows vigorously, tall and upright. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Friends of the Central Experimental Farm • Summer 2016 President’s Message ost of us know that for a This brings me to the other area gardener, the summer is the where our organization gets busier in the Mbusiest time of the year. It’s also summertime: our events that welcome the busiest time of the year for the people to the Farm. Throughout the Friends’ volunteers. In the summertime, spring and summer we provide a huge it seems like there is always something variety of events. We have almost as many to do in the Ornamental Gardens, volunteers helping with our events as we Arboretum and Shelterbelt—from have working in the gardens. Some of planting to weeding to trimming. There these are opportunities for us to raise are volunteer gardening teams working funds to support our gardening activities, every morning from Monday through but others just welcome people to the Friday, and most days more than one. gardens. The events are designed to offer Each of the teams is led by people who people the opportunity to enjoy spending care for these gardens as if they were time in the public areas of the Farm. For their own. The overall leader of the example, we offer free tours of selected garden teams for the past couple of years plant collections in the Ornamental has been Caroline Dabrus. Sadly for us, Gardens and trees in the Arboretum. We Caroline will be moving to Victoria this Judy Dodds have a Victorian Tea that allows people to summer. She has been a wonderful enjoy an old-fashioned formal tea in the leader of our garden teams and we will satisfying. Another thing that is always a beautiful setting of the Arboretum. Come miss her. We wish her well. pleasure for our volunteer gardeners is to “Art on the Farm” and you can shop for One wonderful thing about this time when someone stops to comment on how wonderful original art while walking of year is that even though we are hard at lovely the beds are and how much they around the lawns that border the work in the various gardens, we are also appreciate the work we do. We certainly Arboretum. All of these events are enjoying the amazing beauty that results garden for ourselves because we love possible because of the efforts of our from our work. And, if we are honest with being around the beautiful plants, but we volunteers and they invite all of you to ourselves, we love to dig in the soil and also do it for the pleasure of those who come and bring your friends. we often find pulling out weeds very visit the gardens. Message du président ’été est la période de l’année la plus Ce temps de l’année est tout à fait nombre de bénévoles s’affairent aux occupée pour un jardinier, comme merveilleux, et même si nous sommes activités que ceux qui exécutent des Lbon nombre d’entre nous en laborieusement concentrés sur notre travaux de jardinage. Ces événements sommes bien conscients. Il en est de travail dans les divers jardins, nous nous nous donnent l’occasion de recueillir des même pour les bénévoles des Amis de la réjouissons de la beauté incomparable qui fonds qui permettront de financer des Ferme (les Amis). Au cours de la saison couronne nos efforts. De plus, nous projets de jardinage, alors que certaines estivale, semble-t-il que le travail à devons avouer en toute franchise que le activités consistent tout simplement à accomplir n’ait de cesse dans les endroits fait d’enfouir nos mains (gantées) dans le accueillir des visiteurs dans les jardins ou où se situent les Jardins ornementaux, sol pour y extirper de mauvaises herbes espaces publics de la Ferme, là où ils ont l’Arboretum et le brise-vent, qu’il s’agisse nous procure une bien vive satisfaction. le loisir de se promener. Par exemple, de mettre des plants en terre, d’arracher Et si quelqu’un s’approche, fait une nous offrons des excursions gratuites de mauvaises herbes ou de débrancher remarque sur la beauté des massifs de pour y présenter les fleurs et les arbres de des arbres. Du lundi au vendredi, des fleurs et sur le travail que nous certaines collections des Jardins équipes de jardinage bénévoles travaillent accomplissons, nous en dérivons toujours ornementaux et de l’Arboretum. Un thé dans les jardins, et bien souvent, plus beaucoup de plaisir. Nous jardinons victorien invite les visiteurs à prendre le d’une équipe est à l’œuvre. Des absolument pour nous-mêmes parce que thé traditionnel à la mode d’antan dans passionnés du jardinage dirigent des nous aimons être entourés de magnifiques l’environnement spectaculaire qu’est équipes et s’occupent des jardins comme plantes, et nous le faisons également pour l’Arboretum. « L’art à la ferme » regorge si ceux-ci étaient les leurs. C’est Caroline le plus grand plaisir de ceux qui visitent d’une sélection d’œuvres d’art originales Dabrus qui a assumé la responsabilité de les jardins. que l’on peut admirer ou acquérir tout en toutes ces équipes, et elle effectue ce Cela m’amène à vous parler d’une déambulant sur les pelouses en bordure travail depuis les deux dernières années. autre raison pour laquelle notre de l’Arboretum. Si ces événements se Triste nouvelle pour nous, Caroline ira organisation déborde d’activité au cours produisent, c’est grâce aux efforts de nos s’établir à Victoria cet été. Elle a été une de la saison estivale : nos événements qui bénévoles! Ils vous lancent cette chef de file sans pareil pour nos équipes, attirent des visiteurs à la Ferme. Au invitation et vous prient d’y venir en et elle nous manquera énormément. Nous printemps et à l’été, de nombreuses grand nombre avec vos amis. lui offrons nos meilleurs souhaits activités s’y déroulent. Un aussi grand Judy Dodds Friends of the Central Experimental Farm • Summer 2016 Page 3 Roses That Have Stood Guided Tree Tours in the the Test of Time Arboretum (continued from Page 1 ) The following are the remaining 2016 guided tree tours in the There are many other varieties of Explorer Arboretum. Although the tours are free and open to the public, please roses and most are still widely available at register in advance at [email protected] or call 613-230-3276. garden centres. However, the Explorer rose Donations to the Friends of the Farm will be kindly accepted during the garden at the Farm is an excellent place to see tour. See www.friendsofthefarm.ca for more information. the varieties. What better way to pay tribute to July 17 – Oaks and Conifers, Universally Fascinating, Dr.