ground still frozen here. But there is hope in the weather forecast! Soon can't come fast enough

---

From: owner-perennials@hort.net <owner-perennials@hort.net> on behalf of Kitty Morrissy <1018@rewrite.hort.net>
Sent: March 28, 2020 2:17 PM
To: perennials@hort.net <perennials@hort.net>
Subject: RE: The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

 

Lil,

Like Don mentioned, we had heavy rain here too, and expecting more tonight. After that it’ll be dry with high temps dropping from 60 to low-mid 40s°F for the upcoming week. I can work in that.  We had a mild winter so spring, though she’s dragging her feet a little, looks to be shaping up nicely.

 

So sorry about the festival and all your hard work on it. This virus has been hard on everyone in so many ways.

 

Kitty

 

From: owner-perennials@hort.net [mailto:owner-perennials@hort.net] On Behalf Of lil tovey
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2020 10:01 AM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Re: The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

 

Hi Kitty - I'm really blessed to be on the board of Canada Blooms - This was my year as chair. I also am a member of The Garden Club of Toronto (co-founders of the Festival) and have a number of responsibilities there too. As a result, I was there a lot before the actual opening. It was such a shame - the gardens were spectacular this year as was the Flower Show.  So now I just sit and watch the weather...I'm itching to get out into my tiny garden - as are most of us addicts! 

Hellebores and snowdrops give me hope.

Lil

Georgetown Ontario

 

---

From: owner-perennials@hort.net <owner-perennials@hort.net> on behalf of Kitty Morrissy <1018@rewrite.hort.net>
Sent: March 27, 2020 11:08 PM
To: perennials@hort.net <perennials@hort.net>
Subject: RE: The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

 

Here in Zone 5b March is the standard time to prune unless it’s a bleeder like a Norway maple. But I’ve also learned it’s ok any other time except August, so long as the shears are sharp.

 

I read that it closed. How did you get plants from there if they didn’t open?

 

Kitty

 

From: owner-perennials@hort.net [mailto:owner-perennials@hort.net] On Behalf Of lil tovey
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 9:43 PM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Re: The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

 

And I now have a garage full of wonderful finds that came to me after Canada Blooms was closed just 18 hours before opening.  One of my treasure is a standard Ginkgo. Its still fairly short, but the ball on the top is a good 2 feet in diameter. There are 2 branches sticking out where they shouldn't be. When is a good time to cut them back? Now? Never had a Gingko before but I love them. 

Lil, 

Georgetown Ontario

 

---

From: owner-perennials@hort.net <owner-perennials@hort.net> on behalf of Kitty Morrissy <1018@rewrite.hort.net>
Sent: March 27, 2020 9:25 PM
To: gardenchat@hort.net <gardenchat@hort.net>; perennials@hort.net <perennials@hort.net>
Subject: The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

 

Thought this might hit home for many of you:

The therapeutic value of the garden in trying times

By

Adrian Higgins 

Columnist

March 24, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. EDT

Full article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/gardening-self-isolating-coronavirus/2020/03/23/30bae166-6a08-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html?utm_campaign=pw_acq_032720&utm_medium=email&utm_source=acquisition&wpmk=1

 

If someone were to say I must self-isolate in the garden for the next few weeks, I would shake him or her by the hand. If I could. Here’s a thumbs up from a distance of six feet or more.

The neighborhood sidewalks and nature trails are thronged with the cabin-fevered, so what better place to be outdoors and yet away from others than in your backyard and garden?...

…The mark of a true gardener is a person who does not see a finished landscape but a series of tasks that need to be tackled. This isn’t as onerous as it sounds because it gets to the essential elements of gardening: creativity, honest toil and the satisfaction of a job well done. Aches and pains come along for the ride, but that’s why we have bathtubs.

Just as many of us have been able to compartmentalize ourselves from the coronavirus, we should divide our gardening into a series of discrete tasks or projects. Without that focus, it can become overwhelming. A little every day will accrue to a garden transformation by May….

Kitty

 

<image001.jpg>

Virus-free. www.avast.com