Queen given early Diamond Jubilee bling from Canada

Postmedia News Dec 20, 2011 By Randy Boswell

Queen Elizabeth has received an early gift from Canada to mark next year’s 60th anniversary of her time on the throne: a diamond, gold and platinum brooch symbolizing her “special relationship” with a Manitoba-based military regiment.

The brooch, commissioned by the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and designed by the Montreal jewelry firm Birks, features a maple leaf encrusted with 60 individual diamonds, a gold cannon and a stylized crown set with a sapphire, emeralds and rubies.
The Diamond Jubilee gift was personally presented to the Queen last week at Buckingham Palace by two senior members of the regiment, which is based at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, near Brandon, Man.

The regiment’s Colonel Commandant, retired lieutenant-general Mike Jeffery, said in a statement that the gift from “Her Majesty’s Canadian gunner family” highlights the “very special relationship” between the Queen and the artillery group.

Jeffery and the regiment’s senior serving gunner, Lt.-Gen. Stuart Beare, presented the gift to the Queen last Tuesday.

Elizabeth II became Queen of Canada as well as the Canadian artillery regiment’s honourary Captain General following the death of her father, King George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952.

Regiment spokesman Maj. John Stewart wouldn’t disclose the value of the brooch but told Postmedia News the cost was covered privately by serving and retired members of the unit and by Birks.

He described the brooch as a “celebration of mutual loyalty and respect” between the Queen and the Canadian regiment.

Birks, which was commissioned to produce a silver jewel case for Queen Elizabeth’s mother in 1947, has a “rich past as official purveyor to the Royal Family,” said company president Thomas Andruskevich. “We are very proud to be adding the beautiful Diamond Jubilee brooch to our list of creations for the Royals.”

The Queen has a demonstrated taste for brooches from Canada. It’s known that one of her favourite pieces of jewelry — and one she’s worn several times during visits to this country — is the so-called Williamson Brooch, a Canadian mining executive’s wedding gift to her in 1947 when she was known as Princess Elizabeth.

At the centre of that flower-shaped brooch is a huge, pink diamond discovered by Quebec-born geologist John Williamson at his mine in present-day Tanzania.

Elizabeth wore the piece to the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and during a 2009 visit to Buckingham Palace by U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama.

The Williamson Brooch was among the items selected earlier this year from the Royal Collection of jewelry, artworks and historical artifacts for a special exhibition to be unveiled in Britain next year, celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

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Gardening - Seed Catalogues

(Picture: Pelargonium)

David Hobson, In the Garden
Friday, Dec. 16, 2011

In the garden: Seed catalogues make my spirits bright

Christmas cards have been arriving in the mail, along with the usual bills, setting up an emotional conflict, but fortunately, I’ve also received a few seed catalogues that support the good will of seasonal greetings.

There’s nothing like a colourful catalogue packed with spring dreams to lighten the mood during the short, dark days of December.

Even the few plants I have been growing indoors are feeling the effects of SAD — seasonal affective disorder. Only a few more days to the equinox, I tell the lonely pelargonium, and then it can stop straining for the light.

I may be feeling the effects, too, but thanks to the seed catalogues I can now spend quality time browsing through page after page describing flower, fruit and vegetable seeds. I could browse online, too, as there’s a website for every seed company in the world — plus countless seed-swapping gardeners who are willing to mail seed for almost every imaginable rare plant.

The digital world has rapidly changed the way we shop. And plants and seed are not excluded from that change. We may eventually see the demise of the printed catalogues as all seed merchants have an online version; in fact, some catalogues I’ve received already have a QR (quick response) code to direct smart phones to the website.

If you’re new to gardening and have never ordered from a catalogue, then it’s unlikely you’ll be getting one in the mail, but a phone call, letter, or email to a seed company will get you on their mailing list. Contact information can be easily Googled at a home computer or at the local library, where assistance is available. The big names for seeds in Canada include reputable companies such as: McFayden, Stokes, Veseys, Dominion, McKenzie, and of course, Ontario Seed.

It’s never been easier to buy seed, although there are plenty of places in the country beyond the internet and there are gardeners who simply prefer to be disconnected from the digital world. I am comfortable with it and yet I still enjoy flipping through the paper versions, highlighting the new, the unusual, and the reliable, knowing full well that I don’t have room in my garden for most of it.

Whether you purchase online or from a catalogue, here are a few tips for beginners:

Just like fashion photography, flowers and vegetables in catalogues are shown in the best light possible. And, like the models and celebrities portrayed in magazines, blooms and blossoms all look their best. Every petal and leaf, whether flower or vegetable, looks perfect without the slightest blemish — not a bug in sight.

There’s also the question of scale. I doubt you’ll see the flower on a forget-me-not looking as though it’s as large as a peony, but perspective in a photograph can be misleading and actual measurements of flower heads aren’t always given.

Hmm, a petunia that looks the same size as a peony? I don’t think so. This is where it helps to have a reference book or plant encyclopedia to verify details that may be lacking.

Height and spread are usually described, but keep in mind that these are under ideal conditions that your own garden may not provide. Variations in soil type, light, water and nutrients will all have an effect.

The other important thing to note is the growing zone number — indicating what plants will grow in different parts of North America. Our own area is considered zone five, so perennials that are rated to zones with a higher number than five will not be hardy here, and even those rated as suitable for zone five may be challenged some winters.

As I’ve discovered too often, as well, blue flowers don’t always turn out to be quite as blue in the garden as they were in the seed catalogue . . . but I can dream.

Gardening in Kitchener - The Environment

David Hobson, In the Garden
Friday, Dec. 9, 2011

In the garden: Green thumbers should also be environmentalists

It was disappointing to see the lack of progress at the recent climate change talks in Durban, South Africa.

Governments are abandoning green initiatives to focus on the recovery of mismanaged economies despite dire warnings on the future of the planet. Consequently, chances are looking slim for an agreement among the 194 countries present that will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases. It’s enough to make anyone want to retreat to the garden and simply hope for the best.

But burying one’s head in the compost pile won’t help at all. At least in the garden, there are positive things that can be done to help the environment.

Back in 2002, when the Kyoto protocols on climate change were making big news, I wrote a column suggesting a few ideas for the garden that would help improve air quality. Nine years later, it may seem we’re not much further ahead, but it’s interesting to see that some things have changed and improved, at least at the local level.

The concept of the 100-mile diet, where only foods produced within a 100-mile radius are consumed, is certainly taking hold, as people discover that food grown five or six metres from the back door saves enormous amounts of energy for transportation and tastes a lot better than fruit and veggies that had to be drugged for the journey (that’s how produce arrives in the store at peak ripeness).

One of the biggest changes is in the use of water. Supply costs for municipalities have risen substantially over the last few years as it takes a lot of greenhouse-gas-producing energy to pump water from the ground or a river, treat it, then send it down pipes to your backyard.

In the past, much was wasted by poor watering practices, whereas now the daily sprinkling of lawns has ended and that practice has become almost socially unacceptable. More and more front yards are now filled with plants and shrubs that have been selected for their ability to withstand drought conditions. And adding mulch and compost to flower beds is normal procedure.

Thanks to the green bin program, there has been a dramatic increase in the recycling of those wastes that can be converted to garden compost and made available to homeowners. This is great, although it does take a lot of energy to truck all that stuff around. The next step is to recycle these wastes right in the backyard. A huge pile of leaves will turn into garden gold in just a few months time.

One area where we are regressing is in the use of power around the yard. The leaf blower/vacuum, once rare, is replacing the broom and garden rake. It may be helpful for those with a huge property or physical limitations, but a cacophonic choral society in the neighbourhood is one thing we can do without.

Power tools all have an impact on air quality, especially that worst of polluters, the gasoline-powered lawn mower. Today’s push mowers do a fine job and, with other hand tools, are the most economical types of exercise equipment on the market — and far cheaper than the fees you will pay at a fitness centre.

I am happy to say that air quality has improved in Ontario — thanks to the restricted use of pesticides. No longer is there a chemical fragrance wafting over neighbourhoods each spring, a welcome change.

So despite what ultimately comes out of the discussions in Durban on greenhouse gases and climate change, there is much that has been done and can be done at the local level, especially by us gardeners.

Gardening in Kitchener

(Cat picture - for no reason at all)

In the garden: Green thumbers should also be environmentalists

It was disappointing to see the lack of progress at the recent climate change talks in Durban, South Africa.

Governments are abandoning green initiatives to focus on the recovery of mismanaged economies despite dire warnings on the future of the planet. Consequently, chances are looking slim for an agreement among the 194 countries present that will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases. It’s enough to make anyone want to retreat to the garden and simply hope for the best.

But burying one’s head in the compost pile won’t help at all. At least in the garden, there are positive things that can be done to help the environment.

Back in 2002, when the Kyoto protocols on climate change were making big news, I wrote a column suggesting a few ideas for the garden that would help improve air quality. Nine years later, it may seem we’re not much further ahead, but it’s interesting to see that some things have changed and improved, at least at the local level.

The concept of the 100-mile diet, where only foods produced within a 100-mile radius are consumed, is certainly taking hold, as people discover that food grown five or six metres from the back door saves enormous amounts of energy for transportation and tastes a lot better than fruit and veggies that had to be drugged for the journey (that’s how produce arrives in the store at peak ripeness).

One of the biggest changes is in the use of water. Supply costs for municipalities have risen substantially over the last few years as it takes a lot of greenhouse-gas-producing energy to pump water from the ground or a river, treat it, then send it down pipes to your backyard.

In the past, much was wasted by poor watering practices, whereas now the daily sprinkling of lawns has ended and that practice has become almost socially unacceptable. More and more front yards are now filled with plants and shrubs that have been selected for their ability to withstand drought conditions. And adding mulch and compost to flower beds is normal procedure.

Thanks to the green bin program, there has been a dramatic increase in the recycling of those wastes that can be converted to garden compost and made available to homeowners. This is great, although it does take a lot of energy to truck all that stuff around. The next step is to recycle these wastes right in the backyard. A huge pile of leaves will turn into garden gold in just a few months time.

One area where we are regressing is in the use of power around the yard. The leaf blower/vacuum, once rare, is replacing the broom and garden rake. It may be helpful for those with a huge property or physical limitations, but a cacophonic choral society in the neighbourhood is one thing we can do without.

Power tools all have an impact on air quality, especially that worst of polluters, the gasoline-powered lawn mower. Today’s push mowers do a fine job and, with other hand tools, are the most economical types of exercise equipment on the market — and far cheaper than the fees you will pay at a fitness centre.

I am happy to say that air quality has improved in Ontario — thanks to the restricted use of pesticides. No longer is there a chemical fragrance wafting over neighbourhoods each spring, a welcome change.

So despite what ultimately comes out of the discussions in Durban on greenhouse gases and climate change, there is much that has been done and can be done at the local level, especially by us gardeners.

A cat picture, just for fun

Leaders in Agreement

(Picture taken today - Dec 5, 2011)

Sarkozy, Merkel to outline grand plan for euro zone rescue
Catherine Bremer
PARIS— Reuters
Published Monday, Dec. 05, 2011 5:57AM EST
Last updated Monday, Dec. 05, 2011 11:19AM EST

France and Germany have agreed on a series of reforms to address the euro zone sovereign debt crisis that will be presented to EU President Herman Van Rompuy on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

“We want to make sure that the imbalances which led to the situation in the euro zone today cannot happen again,” Mr. Sarkozy told a news conference.

“Therefore we want a new treaty, to make clear to the peoples of Europe, members of Europe and members of the euro zone, that things cannot continue as they are,” he added.

Mr. Sarkozy said that the new proposals would include a modified EU treaty, ideally for all 27 EU members, but that they were also ready to draw up a treaty for the 17 euro zone members though this would be open to others.

This treaty would include automatic sanctions for states who fail to meet the 3 per cent deficit rule, as well as a budget-balancing rule across the euro zone...

Gardening from Kitchener

Gardener on your holiday gift list? Read on . . .

Is it December already? It still feels suspiciously like fall as the garden hasn’t had much of a solid freeze yet. If this keeps up, I may have to revise my fall cleanup suggestions, although this late in the season a little spade work in the vegetable garden is about as exciting as it gets.

Most gardeners have likely set thoughts of plants aside until the Christmas season has passed. They’re currently focused on shopping, but with the winter solstice approaching and seed catalogues arriving in the mailbox daily, it won’t take much to get them excited again. Opening a suitable gift on Christmas morning will do it — but if you have to buy something for a gardener, what’s it going to be?

There’s no lack of possible gifts to brighten up the lives of gardeners during December doldrums and it should be easy to find something suitable.

Gifts range from practical to quirky and it’s really down to the taste of the recipient. One more garden gnome when the backyard is already a gnome commune might not be appreciated. Nor will wordy plaques if there’s a complete library of proverbs and aphorisms lying around the flower beds.

Course, the beauty of garden gifts is that they can still be found a place in the yard, even if not obvious — lovely, yes, I have the perfect place for it.

I suppose I should help with gift suggestions, but I’m afraid I’m on the completely practical side with not a lot of interest in anything that doesn’t grow or doesn’t help me make something grow. The first category is difficult as anything that can be planted at this time of year is limited to a lucky find of bulbs lost among tree decorations at a hardware store. Other than gift cards for a garden centre, that leaves the things that will ultimately help make me grow things well — like tools, plant ties and supports, fertilizers. And, of course, books.

At this time of year, garden books are certainly more attractive than sticks and twine or a pail of 20-20-20 fertilizer, except finding the right book for the right person is the challenge. There are almost as many garden books as cookbooks out there and I hesitate to suggest, but here goes:

The serious indoor gardener — who calls all their plants by the correct botanical name — or anyone with an interest in tropical plants would love to receive a copy of Encyclopaedia of Tropical Plants: The Identification and Cultivation of 3000 Tropical Plants, by Ahmed Fayaz.

It’s from Firefly Books, has a suggested retail price of $75 and is an essential book for anyone needing accurate and detailed plant information. Also for the serious gardener is a pair of encyclopedic books by Geoff Bryant and Tony Rodd. Trees and Shrubs and Annuals and Perennials will make useful reference books. They’re also from Firefly books and listed at $19.95 each.

A locally produced and totally practical book I always like to mention is Gardener’s Journal, by Margaret Bennet-Alder of Toronto. It’s a daily journal and a remarkable source book listing everything garden related from radio and TV shows to landscape architects and plant societies. You can order it online at torontogardenbook.com for $24.95, plus $3 for shipping.

If those books sound a little too serious, there’s a new book out by Fergus author Sonia Day that should make for a wonderful winter armchair read. It’s called The Untamed Garden: A Revealing Look at our Love Affair with Plants. It has a list price of $26.99 and is published by McClelland and Stewart.

Sonia, irreverent as always, tells how plants have seduced us through the ages. From flirtation to rapture and everything in between, she provides tidbits and anecdotes from myth and history as she reveals our fascination with flowers. $26.99 from McClelland and Stewart.

I have a copy of this book on my desk, waiting for that winter morning when the garden has frozen solid, the driveway needs shovelling and I need a good chuckle. Has to happen soon.