Wednesday, Apr. 18 was the date of the latest Yorkton and District Horticultural Society’s regular meeting, 7:00 p.m., at SIGN on North Street. Our special guest was be Glen Tymiak, who talked to us about growing and caring for tomatoes. Glen is so knowledgeable about growing tomatoes, we’ll be enjoying toasted tomato sandwiches before we know it! You don’t have to be a member to come to the meetings.
And thinking ahead, our Spring Plant and Bulb Sale will be held on Friday, May 25 at the Parkland Mall. More on that as the date gets closer. Remember, you can always see what is coming up on our website, www.yorktonhort.ca.
Some of my most favorite gardening books are from the gardening books Mom and Dad had in their collection. One small, thin volume that I found was a real delight, not only full of information, but full of local history.
This book is called “Landscaping For Modern Canadian Living In The Prairie Provinces” by Theodore Onufrijchuk. The back sleeve of the book tells us that the author was born in 1908 in Ukraine. After completing high school in Rivne, he graduated from the Horticultural College in Lublin in 1928. Further education included the Ukrainian Technical University in Regensburg, and research at the Botanical Institute at the university in Frankfurt. He came to Canada in 1949, working as the head gardener in Winnipeg till 1959, then moving to Yorkton to become the City Horticulturalist until 1981. He died on May 1, 1989.
Now that we know a bit about the author, let me tell you about the book. This book, published in 1964, shows us what a progressive gardener Mr. Onufrijchuk was. His forward talks about how trees and green spaces benefit the city with healthy air, reduce noise, and provide places for shade and recreation. He says “Not only should we be concerned with the greenness of the cities, but every resident should endeavour to have his lot planted to trees, plants and lawn. Through the cooperative effort of all the residents, the city could be made into a healthy and beautiful environment.”
The book talks about various topics, including “How To Plan and Plant Small Lots”. I enjoyed this chapter because it talked about choosing trees and shrubs based on the shape of the specimen, the bark, and the leaves. Top picks included linden, mountain ash, dogwood, spirea, honeysuckle, and birch. The “Planting” chapter had interesting advice, such as where to plant a tree on the front lawn: “Usually we plant one tree, to the right of the front entrance, and approximately 20 feet from the house. This will provide a shady spot when the tree matures. This is particularly important on a small lot.”
No doubt we now have more great plant choices to add to the list, but thinking of the shape and size of the tree, the look of the bark, and the coloring of the leaves in summer and fall are still excellent guidelines for us as we choose our trees and shrubs.
I mentioned that this book had some local history: illustrations and sketches in the book are done by the author himself. The cover features a lovely photo of the old Yorkton City Hall, which was located next to the current City Hall. The book was printed by Redeemer’s Voice Press. Thumbing through this book, I can recall my precious parents sitting at their kitchen table, enjoying a cup of coffee and browsing through this very book, making their gardening plans. They feel close to me as I do the same today. So…
Find a great gardening book, continue with your garden ideas, and have a lovely week!
