Loading...
Townsman, 1991-04, Page 30become virtually impossible to have all the work done. "Now we try for full colour in the front flower bcd," says Washburn. The primary flower used there is bcgonia; six and a half thousand to be exact. Though this sounds like a rather substantial num- ber it is only a drop in the watering can. In total, the plants used in the 12 bcds on the Festival grounds is, according to Washburn, 26,000. It takes the five gardeners usually 10 days working 16 hours daily, before thcy arc all in. The plants arc essen- tially the same in each bed, but the designs change yearly. The remainder of the season, the crew spends their time maintaining the beds and the immaculate lawn. Thrcc times a week, the grass on the approximate three acres of Festival property is mowed, using quite sur- prisingly in this era, a walking mowcr. "It's good exercise," says the slightly built Washburn, adding, it lakes only one day to complete. The lawn is mown frequently because they like to kccp the grass down to about one inch in length, as opposed to the normal growth of two to two -and -a -half inch- es. "It's a much finer -looking grass," says Washburn, though the short height does dry out more quickly, so requires more watering, he admits. Come fall another push is on to get the small standards, like geraniums, freesia and lantanna, back into the on - premise greenhouse before the first frost, which hits around the middle of September. "You can count on a killer frost by then," says Washburn. Once safely snuggled into the humid warmth of the greenhouse, the plants arc tended to regularly by Washburn and Campion, who also nurture the young standards, not yet ready to be planted outside. Starting them takes about two years, Washburn says. The present greenhouse was built in 1989. The one originally there when Washburn arrived was demolished during theatre renovations seven years ago. In the interim, space was rented at local greenhouses. Even now there is not always room enough to house thc entire stock of plants required. Presently the back end is filled with 150) alternanthca, the red, yellow or pink plant used on the Niagara Falls clock, while 7,000 more arc at a local growers until needed. They will, Washburn says, all be used in the flower bed located on thc cast side of the Festival, the bed Washburn added after coming 10 Stratford. He plants the alternanthca lour inches apart and they eventually grow together creating a carpet -like effect. The larger foliage plants used in the administration offices are exchanged frequently and returned to the green- house for perixls of re-juvenation. A banana tree, which Washburn bought from a local department store for nov- elty, has grown from 18 inches to 12 feet and bears about 70 miniature, very un -ripe bananas. Washburn says they take one year to produce fruit that is any good. The aura of the greenhouse is unique. In the fast -paced, work -a -day world that most of us inhabit, one can- not help but be captivated by the glassed in utopia of the greenhouse. The sauna -like mist, the tranquility, and the rich colours have a soothing effect. Yet, Washburn shrugs off com- ments concerning his un -stressful working environment with a charming grin and says, not without a measure of doubt, "That's what everyone says." To him it's all in a day's work, but one senses a degree of satisfaction and contentment in this unassuming, good-natured man. "What's nice for me is that it is the kind of job whcre you get to sec from start to finish what you've done, whereas other types of work, you only see parts of what you do," he said. "Seeing the end result is kind of nice." THE GARDEN STORE For all your gardening needs. • British Tools • Seeds • Hand Painted Pots • Gifts and much more Bayfield 565-5494 located beside Sugar & Spice Sparkles Marv, Mary lily Little Florence Nightingale Shop the area's foremost collector's headquarters for Ashton Drake Dolls. Specializing in BRADFORD COLLECTOR PLATES WOODEN PLATE FRAMES & ASHTON DRAKE DOLLS with savings & value that are sure to please. Polly iomip ,f1.1 Clinton Goderlch iddaugh's Collectibles 45 Albert 36A Newgate 482-5211 524-5540 28 TOWNSMAN/APRIL-MAY 1991