Tweed Horticultural Society

George Thomson and Elizabeth Churcher spoke at the April meeting of the Tweed and District Horticultural Society. Their power point presentation, “Gardens for Nature”

highlighted their personal gardens to show how we can use plants to encourage birds and insects to visit our gardens. The best way to maximize your yield of fruit and flowers is to encourage pollinating bees. Bees are nature’s primary pollinators.

According to Elizabeth, the plants we select for our gardens need to produce nectar and pollen for bees and insects if we want to encourage them to visit our gardens.

Both George and Elizabeth were excited to share their photos of the Giant Swallow Tail Butterfly which was first noticed in this area in 2009…..due to climate warming, certain insects like this butterfly are starting to move further north…need the prickly ash for this butterfly to survive.

Throughout the presentation, George and Elizabeth provided members with many examples of plant, trees and shrubs that can be used to attract insects and birds.

Native plants…..

·       Bee Balm/Monarda

·       Bleeding Heart (for ruby throat hummingbird)

·       Butterfly Bush

·       Black-eye Susan

·       Obedient Plant

·       Lupines

·       Echidna/Cone Flower

·       Cardinal Lobelia

·       New England Aster

·       Sunflower

·       Coreopsis

·       Gaillardia

    

During the presentation it was suggested do plantings in large clumps and to have a variety within the garden so there are always flowers for the insects.

Native Trees and Shrubs that attract birds….

·       Service Berry

·       Choke Cherry

·       High Bush Cranberry

·       Red and Black Current Shrubs

·       Juniper

·       Mountain Ash

·       Wild Rose(good to encourage nest building)

Some non-native plants that grow well in this area…

·       Sedum

·       Clematis

·       Glorosia Daisy

·       Holly Hocks

·       Phlox

·       Variety of herbs

·       Bachelor Buttons

·       Columbine

·       Hostas….provide shade for frogs

Non-native shrubs for this area….

·       Apple tree

·       Blue spruce…shelter for birds and nests

·       Maple tree…food and perches for birds

·       Cherry tree

·       Willow tree

·       Flowering Crab

·       Lilac

·       Korean lilac

·       Snowball Bush

Since George and Elizabeth grow most of their own food they had a few tips to share…….put grass clippings between the rows of plants as this will help to control weeds. Zinnias planted around the perimeter of the garden act as a barrier and discourage animals.

These lists of plants will certainly help members plan gardens that will entice birds and insects to visit.

COMING UP….

May 6 Meeting….Marjorie Mason of Mason House Gardens will talk about the new plants for 2014 plus some special plants from the past that should be included in every garden. She will be bringing plants for sale. NOTE: This meeting will be held at the White Building at the Fairgrounds in Tweed. $3.00 for non-members.

May 10…Spring Cleanup of flower beds. Meet at Moira Garden @ 9 am.

May 17…Annual Plant Sale at Tweed Memorial Park @ 8am. All plant material should be at the park by 7 am. Please attach a label with the name of the plant. For more info, please call Joan @ 613-478-6115.

May 23….10:30 am at the Library….Scarecrow making workshop for children. Participants are asked to bring in old clothes, hat and accessories to make their scarecrow. Straw will be supplied.

Please pre-register at the Library for this event.

May 27...Planting town planters and flower beds. Meet at empty lot across from ValuMart @ 5:30 pm.

GENERAL INTEREST EVENTS…

May 3…AGM hosted by Land O’Lakes Garden Club