What is going on with my wonderful gaura? This weird, funky, fascinating looking plant has what’s known as fasciation.

What is fasciation? Fasciation causes an elongation of the apical meristem, producing a flattened, ribbon-like growth that has a fan-like or crested appearance.

This condition is not very common, but has occurred in hundreds of different species, including but not limited to: ferns, woody plants, herbaceous annuals, perennials, fruit and vegetables. It can even develop in conifers and broad-leaved trees, and is called witches’ broom. When this happens to cacti, they are prized for their now unusual appearance and are highly sought after by collectors.

While most plants will only do this once, horticulturalists and growers have propagated such flowers as cacti and cockscomb (celosia) to keep their unique appearance.

Another fascinating use of fascinated plants is the Japanese fantail willow. This is a cloned plant with fascinated stems, propagated from cuttings — such a beautiful specimen.

The cause of fasciation is varied. Infection by a bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas, insects, animals, chemical and mechanical have all be implicated. Other suggestions have also been somatic mutations, hormonal imbalance and the environment, such as extreme weather.

There is no treatment for fasciation, but it also has little effect on the health of the plant. You can prune it out if you really don’t like the appearance. I think it looks pretty funky, but to each their own!

Don’t forget to save the date. This year’s collaborative Seedy Saturday event by the Dunnville Horticulture Society and the Haldimand Horticulture Society will be held at the Cayuga arena on April 29. There will be tons of vendors, lots of prizes and great speakers; you don’t want to miss out. Admission is only $5.

Do you need something exciting in your garden? I know I do. Do you need to add elegant structure and unbelievable colour? Who doesn’t?

Well, golden shadows pagoda dogwood is the plant for you. With a natural horizontal branching habit giving it a tiered appearance, and its glorious variegated leaves of bright yellow with a splotch of emerald green, this is definitely a showstopper.

This spectacular dogwood takes on a pink tone on the new growth and in the spring produces clumps of lacy, yellowish white flowers. This is definitely a spectacular addition to any landscape.

It is a tough native North American shrub tree that gives year-round presents and beauty. It thrives in dappled shade, but will withstand some sun. Moisture is the key component and weekly watering during hot spells is necessary. They will also benefit from mulching to maintain the moisture.

Golden shadows will grow in different soils, like loam and clay, while giving it compost in the spring is all the fertilizer it will need. No pruning is necessary, but you can, only to keep a desired shape. Therefore, it is a low maintenance specimen.

Of course, with all plants you might need to protect them from our wildlife, as they tend to nibble on new growth. You also need to protect them from weed whackers and lawn mowers, too.

Don’t forget the Dunnville Horticultural Society holds its monthly program night every third Thursday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Optimist Club of Dunnville hall, 101 Main St. E. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with light refreshments provided. The group is now sponsoring lug a mug, so don’t forget to bring your reusable mug. This month, our program is all about favourite YouTube gardeners. Memberships are available to purchase.

Also, don’t forget to save the date for April 29, for the collaboration Seedy Saturday with the Haldimand Horticultural Society. It will be held at the Cayuga Memorial Arena, 55 Thorburn St. S., Cayuga. It is sure to be a spectacular day.

 

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

Well, here we are, going into fall, which is a great time to plant and divide perennials, bulbs, shrubs and trees.

The weather is usually cooler, and wetter compared to spring and summer, which gives the plants a better chance to get established, rather than during hot weather, when they are competing for moisture.

Now is the best time to move and divide peonies. But be mindful to plant the small, pink buds on the roots no more than 2.5 to five centimetres (one to two inches) below the soil, as they need the sun to grow and produce the beautiful blooms next year. They may take a few years to reproduce, as they do not like to be disturbed. Do not cover with mulch around the crown.

Having found a new shrub at one of our local garden centres, I was quite pleased to find an orange diervilla, which is a gorgeous native, non-invasive honeysuckle. It is a very hardy, easy-care shrub, unlike the invasive Asian type.

It has brilliant orange foliage in spring and fall, with small yellow flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It is also available in a red variety that has deep burgundy tones in spring and vivid red in the fall.

It tolerates shade and dry conditions, but would appreciate an occasional drink.

Both varieties provide exciting autumn displays of yellow, orange, red and purple. They grow a metre tall and can be trimmed in the spring.

This shrub is a great addition to add low-maintenance variety and colour to your landscape.

If you want to learn more about orange diervilla and other plants, the Dunnville Horticultural Society meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Optimist Hall, from September to June. For more information, check out our website at dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org or our Facebook page. Club president Deb Zynomirski can also be reached by email at debzyn@gmail.com or by phone at 416-566-9337.

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

Purpureus variegated shrub hibiscus, or rose of Sharon, comes in many different varieties, but the one I find most striking is althea purpureus variegatus. This rose of Sharon is unlike the other varieties, and has beautiful variegated blue/green and velvety creamy white foliage from spring to fall. It flowers in late summer and the blooms resemble raspberries. The flowers are very tight and do not open entirely, like the other types. The blooms are dark purple or black in colour.

Another variegated variety is called sugar tip and, unlike the purpureus variegatus, the blooms open to reveal a double pale pink flower.

Plant these in full sun to part shade and prune in late fall or early spring.

Rose of Sharon can be used as a hedge or specimen shrub. Sugar tip and purpureus variegatus shrubs do not self-seed, so no pulling of seedlings is required like with some varieties.

They can be propagated by layering. Nick the branch, cover it with soil and place a rock on top until roots form — this could take up to a year — then cut the branch off below the roots.

This shrub will add lots of interest to your garden.

If you want to learn more about rose of Sharon and other plants, the Dunnville Horticultural Society meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Optimist Hall, from September to June. For more information, check out our website at dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org or our Facebook page. Club president Deb Zynomirski can also be reached by email at debzyn@gmail.com or by phone at 416-566-9337.

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

The beautyberry shrub is an unusual shrub with long, arching branches producing many small pink flowers, usually in August. It has yellow-green fall foliage. However, its most eye-catching features are the clusters of glossy, iridescent purple berries that cover the branches after the leaves fall following a hard frost.

The berries are an important food source for 40 species of birds. They can also be used in teas, jelly and wine. Beautyberry berries have been used for medicinal purposes for many years, but only consumed in very small quantities.

The beautyberry shrub is a good understory bush, and it prefers moist soil. It can be propagated by softwood cuttings. It will grow from one to two metres high and can be pruned severely to 30 centimetres from the base just before the new spring growth appears. Pruning will keep it more compact. There are several different varieties.

I have five bushes, which the birds feast on during the winter.

Marlene’s gardening tip: To organize your plant tags, punch a hole in them and hang them on a shower curtain ring or in a three ring binder.

The Dunnville Horticultural Society meets on the third Thursday of the month in the Dunnville Optimist Hall, 101 Main St. E. For more information, check out our website at dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org or our Facebook page under Dunnville Horticultural Society. Our president, Deb Zynomirski, can be reached by email at debzyn@gmail.comor by phone at 416-566-9337.

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

The first flag to fly on Haldimand County’s new pole for community groups actually represents two organizations: the Dunnville Horticultural Society and the Haldimand Horticultural Society.

The flag is in recognition of 2022 being the Year of the Garden.

Sharon Slack, a member of the Haldimand group, said the Year of the Garden is being celebrated throughout all of Canada.

“They’re asking every gardener to plant red flowers,” she said, adding that many groups, including both of the ones in Haldimand, are having special initiatives and activities this year in celebration.

“Gardening brings everyone together,” she said.

Debbie Thomas with the Dunnville group noted that the COVID-19 pandemic meant a lot of community groups —

The Dunnville group meets on the third Thursday of the month in the Optimist Club of Dunnville building at 7 p.m., while the Haldimand group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at St. Paul’s Anglican hall in Caledonia at 7:30 p.m.

Haldimand Mayor Ken Hewitt said, “The county is pleased to see the first community flag raised and looks forward to recognizing more local groups/organizations doing important work through this new initiative.”

Charitable and non-profit groups are asked to submit a request at least four weeks in advance of the date requested for their flags to be flown. Requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The flags cannot be of a political, commercial or religious nature, and cannot promote hatred, violence, racism or discrimination.

For more information or to find the online flag application form, visit the county’s website.

including horticultural societies — have had to curb their in-person meetings and activities for the majority of the past two years.

Having it be the Year of the Garden and having a flag celebrating that at the Haldimand County Administration Building in Cayuga “is a way to kick off and get us going again,” Thomas said.

She encouraged everyone who isn’t already to become a member of their local horticultural society and “be a part of beautifying your community.”

Which cactus did you buy before Christmas? Do you have a Christmas cactus or a Thanksgiving cactus? I’m sure it’s not an Easter cactus, as they are the same genus but a different species. How do you tell the difference?

While all usually bloom in cooler seasons, they are not the same cactus.

Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are in the Schlumbergera genus. They are both short day cacti and need long periods of cool temperatures and dim conditions before they set buds. Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are in separate species designations and have a different leaf structure.

The Thanksgiving cactus has clawed edges on the leaf and is often called crab cactus. The Christmas cactus has notched edges, but they are not as pointed. They both have tubular, brightly coloured flowers. The Christmas cactus’ flowers are drooping with purple-brown anthers and the Thanksgiving cactus flowers grow horizontal to the stem with yellow anthers.

The Easter cactus has a smooth leaf edge with no notches and the flower is a flat star shape. The Easter cactus needs a longer period of cool temperatures and low light period to form flowers.

All three plants come in a variety of colours, mostly red to fuchsia, and you may find white, orange and yellow, too. No matter what type you have, they are all delightful and will brighten your day.

The Dunnville Horticultural Society has resumed in-person meetings at the Dunnville Optimist Hall. Our next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2022.

If you have questions or comments, please contact group president Deb Zynomirski at debzyn@gmail.com or check out our website at www.dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

I recently read an article that describes two invasive species.

One of them, the buckthorn tree, is very aggressive and vigorously spreads, out-competing native plants and negatively affecting the soil. The buckthorn tree produces berries that can cause illness in birds and also dehydration. Migrating birds will not stay in an area overloaded with invasive shrubs.

Planting native spicebush and arrowwood viburnum (whose berries are more nutritious to migrating birds) and removing any invasive species will benefit the environment and wildlife.

The other invasive species, recently found in Michigan, is the dead spotted lanternfly. It was found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Eight other states have confirmed infestations.

Immatures and adults feed on many hardwood trees, including fruit trees, black walnut, maple and black cherry. Grapevines and hops can also be damaged or killed.

Egg masses look like old putty or gum and have been found on the surfaces of tree trunks, wooden posts, stones and even camping gear.

Adults are an inch long, with folded wings that are grey to brown with black spots, and when opened reveal bright red hind wings with black spots, and their yellow and black abdomen. There have been no reports of sightings in Ontario, but everyone needs to be on the lookout for this invasive species.

One important species that is on the decline is the humble bumblebee. One suggestion to encourage them to build their nests is to bury a roll of toilet paper about two-thirds into the garden soil. A queen bee will chew a hole into the roll and start her colony in the spring. Seventy per cent of our native bee species nest underground. So, maybe you have an extra roll of toilet paper that you stocked up on, and now can help out our pollinators that we depend upon for our flower and food production.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Dunnville Horticultural Society has suspended member meetings. If you have questions or comments, please contact club president Deb Zynomirski at debzyn@gmail.com or check out our website at www.dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org.

Note that 2021 club memberships are currently available through mail. Send a cheque or money order ($10 for a single, $15 per couple) to Dunnville Horticultural Society, P.O. Box 274, Dunnville, Ontario, N1A 2X5.

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.