TOOLKIT

RUDIMENTARY ASPECTS OF BOTANIC LATIN
Although Botanic Latin is a comprehensive system, gardeners need only be concerned with the plants genus, species and sub species name. The Family classification is of interest when looking for plant allies. To better understand this gardener’s language, there are just a few things to remember.

• Plant names are in Latin form, but botanic Latin is not classical Latin. These Latin or Latinized names may have special plant meaning: botanic Latin.
• Family names end with the suffix “-aceae”, which means, “of the family of”.
• Genera or genus is defined as “a group of plants with similarities in flower form and often in general appearance, growth habit and cultural requirements.” (How Plants Get Their Names, Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1963).
• Plants are then further broken down into the species classification. Species “is a kind of plant or animal that is distinct from other kinds in marked or essential features that has good characteristics of identification, and that may be assumed to represent in nature a continuing succession of individuals from generation to generation. "Bailey). That is, species are reproduced or reproducible in nature.
• The genus comes first and is always capitalized and italicized. Some are actual Latin words, the majority are Greek words. Nearly all genus names have been given an ending to make them look like Latin; they are Latinized. Genus is singular form, genera is plural.
• Species names are often genuine Latin, an adjective, and with botanic meaning. What this means, is that the species names is usually descriptive in nature. It may describe the shape of the leaf or some other plant characteristic such as the flower, color or bloom season or the plant as a whole. The species name may be a Latinized name of a person or place, and not necessarily the location the plant is native.
• Species names are not capitalized; even proper names, and they are italicized. Species is used for both singular and plural references.
• A species name may only be used once within a genus. If a plant is moved from one genus to another genus that already has that species name, the species name is renamed. The plant is given a new name.
• A variety is a member of a species that naturally occurs in nature that is different enough to be recognized. Usually a difference in flower color from one plant to another of the same species would be one example. Occasionally subspecies or varieties will be written as ssp. or var.
• A cultivar is a plant variety maintained in cultivation by vegetative propagation or from inbred seed. Cultivar means cultivated variety and is usually a Roman word or words. Cultivars are usually not found in nature.
• A cultivar name is enclosed in single quotation marks. (Example: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’)
• A hybrid is a plant resulting from a cross between two parents that belong to different varieties, cultivars, species or rarely, genera. Hybrids do not produce viable seed.
• Hybrid species are indicated by an “x” before the species name and is italicized. (Example: Nepeta x faassenii ‘Select Blue’, is a cross between N. racemosa and N. nepetella.) Some plant catalogs omit the species name when listing a plant, showing only the genus and variety name. An important rule of nomenclature is to list the plants complete name: genus, species and subspecies.
• Plant breeders and propagators sometimes identify certain hybrids or cultivars using PPAF or PP, indicating the owner of the plant has applied for or received a patent, preventing propagation of the plant for sale without a license.
• Trademarks placed on plants indicate the origin of the plant (nursery or plant breeder) but does not restrict propagation.

PLANTING FALL BULBS
Often overlooked in favour of the popular major bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, the smaller minor bulbs merit more attention for their hardiness and masses of diminutive blooms. Many readily increase their numbers each year, making them excellent for naturalizing in lawns, borders or on woodland slopes.

Super-hardy ones, such as snowdrops, deserve special recognition for emerging and blooming even through melting snow and ice. And minor bulbs such as species crocus, windflowers and bulbous iris shine in spring or early summer until other plants are ready to carry on the cavalcade of colour.

Because most minor bulbs prefer well-drained soil, they’re great for rock gardens, and their small stature means they combine well with low-growing alpines such as sandwort (Arenaria spp.), saxifrage, campion (Silene spp.) and speedwell (Veronica spp.).

CHECKLIST
• Plant in the fall as early as bulbs are available in slightly moist, well-drained soil, full to part shade; water well.
• Using a narrow trowel or dibble, dig a hole to a depth of at least three times the bulb’s diameter. (In cases where it’s difficult to tell which side is up, plant bulb sideways.)
• Apply bonemeal to soil just after flowering.
• Allow foliage to yellow before cutting back, including that of bulbs growing in lawns, which should not be mown until leaves have died back naturally.
• Divide only if plants are overcrowded

GARDEN HINTS AND TIPS
GRAPEVINES
Grapes like good air circulation and acid soil. Hyssop planted with grapes increases the crop. For good fruit production, prune back 2 or 3 buds the first year. After that cut out the branches that produced fruit during the season, each fall.

HYSSOP
This handsome plant with bright blue flowers attracts bees, which is a good thing in any garden. As a companion plant it is supposed to repel flea beetles and cabbage moth. It will also lure butterflies and hummingbirds into the garden.

GOPHERS
Scillas are supposed to keep gophers out of the garden. These bulbs make great edging and naturalize everywhere.

HANDS
Before you go out into the garden to work, run your fingernails along a bar of soap and then wear gloves. Wash hands filthy after a day of gardening with a mix of water and denture plaque remover. All gardeners live with rough hands, but they can be rejuvenated by one of the oldest salves around Bag Balm.

NESTS FOR BIRDS
Supplying building material helps attract birds to the garden. Save all your loose threads and snippets of yarn and roll into loose balls. In the spring, hook these wads onto twigs in trees. Birdsbird prefer natural fibres such as cotton and wool.

PLANTING IN THE FALL
Advice from Brenda at Tanglebank Country Gardens
Fall is one of the best times to plant perennials and trees as cooler night and day temperatures and warm soil are the perfect mix allowing plants to develop before having to worry about new top growth. This will assist in flowering and fruiting the following spring and summer.

Trees planted in the Fall have a full season's advantage over those planted five months later in the spring. So go ahead and get planting.

Fall wouldn't be complete without the beautiful big mauve pink blooms of Joe Pye Weed or Eupatorium Purpureum Atropurpureum which grows 7 to 10 tall in full to part sun and makes an excellent partner to tall Miscanthus varieties. Eupatorium Rugosum Chocolate is an exceptional dark brown form that pairs well with smaller Miscanthus e.g. Adagio or Yaku-Jiima.

ORGANIC GARDENER'S TOOLKIT TERRA VIVA ORGANICS
This list was given out to our members last year when we had our speaker from Terra Viva Organics. For those of you who missed the presentation, here are five must-have ingredients for the organic gardener's toolkit.

GARLIC: A Natural Antibiotic and Antifungal Remedy
Recipe: Soak 3 ounces of finely chopped garlic in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil for 24 hours. Add 1 pint of water and 1 ounce of liquid dish soap. Stir well and strain into a glass jar for storage. This is your concentrate. To use: Combine 1-2 tablespoons of concentrate in 1 pint of water to make the spray. Do be careful not to make the solution too strong.

MILK: Excellent Fungal Control
Any type of milk can be used from full milk to skim to powder. However, the low fat milks have less of a change of giving off any odor. The recipe calls for milk to be mixed with water at a ratio of 1 part milk to 9 parts water and applied every 5-7 days for 3 applications.

BEER: Natural Slug Control
Place - 2 inches of beer in each container and place the containers around your garden, especially around plants prone to slug damage. Never, sink the containers flush with the soil level or you run the risk of drowning ground beetles, important slug controllers. The rims should be 1" above the soil's surface. You will probably need to empty the container of drowned slugs every other night.

FLOATING ROW COVER:
Prevents damage in the first place.

NEWSPAPER/CARDBOARD: Low Coast Weed Control
Both newspaper and cardboard degrade naturally and will, over time, add carbon into your soil, helping provide organic material. If you decide to use newspaper, make sure you place it at least 4-6 sheets thick over your weeds.