4 Friday, October 21, 2016brooklintowncrier.com Make This a "Bulbous" Autumn Blooming in Brooklin By Ken Brown Global warming is a mixed blessing. We had very few cucumbers this summer because of the record numbers of cu- cumber beetles, which survived the mild winter. We're still picking ripe tomatoes and peppers because of abnormally warm autumn days. The lack of frost has kept several vegetables from our dinner plates. Brussels sprouts, leeks and autumn lettuce taste so much better after a couple of light frosts because they convert less tasty starches into sugars that enhance flavour. I have bulbs to plant, like new tulips and narcissus that will be amazing in the spring. But the beds I want them in are still resplendent with summer flowering annuals which I'm not ready to rip out because of their delightful colours. With warm soil, those bulbs develop root systems to push up their waves of colour next spring, no matter how late we plant them. I'm always amazed come spring how many gardens are missing the bright colours since bulbs are so easy to plant. A little effort and they can last for years. They provide joy as harbingers of spring and there's a colour, style and shape to satisfy any gardener's whims. They're also one of the few garden features that have actually become cheaper. My bulb garden starts with snow-drops. They emerge at the edge of the receding snow and extend to the early summer alliums that rise above other developing perennials with huge white or purple orbs. One of the other delights of bulbs is their ability to naturalize and spread. A few practically indestructible snowdrop bulbs planted in the lawn this fall will become a larger patch next year. I've laid new sod on top and still they emerge each spring in ever increasing numbers . I don't cut that area of lawn for the first couple of cuts to allow the bulbs time to mature and drop new seed. When I do cut them, they only lose about half their leaves. That allows them to keep increasing for the next year. Plus, squirrels ignore them. As soon as the leaves start to turn colour, consider planting a new tree or shrubs. Most garden centres have fall sales so you can actually save money by planting a tree at the time of year it prefers. This also applies to many deciduous shrubs that provide us with interesting colours in the spring. A brilliant yellow forsythia to start the season and the sweet aroma of lilac are among the treats you'll find on sale at the garden centre. If that weigela you carefully planted a couple of years ago is now obviously in the wrong location, then dig it up now and move it. The golden colours of fallen leaves also provide some gardening gold. Mine never see the inside of recycle bags. The leaves are packed with nutrients they've been creating all summer and are a wonderful source of organic matter. Rake them straight onto your garden beds. Your vegetable garden's bare soil is another excellent place to put them. I move mine in big windrows. Then the lawnmower comes out for possibly its last time and chews the leaves into bits that are spread across the soil. Next spring's vegetables will grow in the enriched soil. By the way, store the lawnmower behind the snow blower and start that machine. It's much easier to find problems now rather than on than that first cold, dark, snowy morning. Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar."Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Wed., Oct. 26: 7:30 pm Brooklin Horticultural Society presents Steven Biggs and his daughter Emma. They will speak about "Growing Gardeners: Kid-Tested Gardening." Children and grandchildren welcome! This meeting will also feature our Pumpkins, Pies and Pictures Show. Stick around after the meeting to enjoy some delicious refreshments (pies, of course). At the Brooklin United Church, 19 Cassels Road East. Sat., Oct. 29: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Brooklin Zombie Walk (Optimist Club of Brooklin) at Grass Park, Brook- lin. Join the Legion of the UNdead as we wander the streets of Brooklin in search of brains. What's a Zombie Walk? It's basically what zombies do best. Besides eating brains, they lurch, shamble, and drag hinged limbs down the street. Why are we dressing like zombies? What other monsters have such unity as a mass in death?! Plus it's just fun. Oh, and we'll be collecting non-perishable food goods for the food bank. www.brooklinzombiewalk.com Sun., Oct. 30: 7:00 pm Brooklin Pub Quiz Night, $15.00 per person will get you a platter of wings and fries and a mug of beer for your team of 4-8 - teams of 6 are best. Clues are: 1. Paddington Bear 2. Halley's Comet. Please contact Carolyn at 905-449- 1162 for further questions. All pro- ceeds go towards Pulmonary Hyper- tension of Canada Sat., Nov. 12: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Annual Vendors' Sale at St. Leo the Great Parish Hall, 130 Watford St. (off Winchester). Free Admission- Over 30 vendors - Door Prizes - Something for everyone! Sat., Nov. 12: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Re- bekah's Craft Sale - 42 Bagot Street, Brooklin -Vendor tables $15.00. 6 or 8 foot tables. For more information call Samantha Puckrin at 905-620-0538 or Lis Whetstone at 289-356-3913 Sat., Nov. 12: Pre-ordering of Holi- day House Tour tickets has begun - in person at the gallery, by phone or on- line at www.whitbystationgallery.com. The event day is Saturday, November 12th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Tickets are $30 each. Station Gallery is a stop this year with artisan food sampling and a silent auction featuring tabletop holi- day trees decorated by different com- munity businesses and local talent. We are hosting a raffle again this year - tickets are $5 for a chance to win a chauffeur driven town car on event day (for 4) with 'front of the line' lanyards! Tuesdays: Brooklin Toastmasters, 7:15 p.m. for Meet & Greet, Meeting from 7:20 to 9:14 pm. at the Brook- lin Community Centre & Library (NEW LOCATION), 8 Vipond Road, 2nd floor Boardroom (NW corner). For more infor- mation, contact John at 905-683-4439 or jajhj@sympatico.ca or Loran Weston- Smyth at lorn@lornawestonsmyth.com or 416-910-4109. Brooklin Toastmas- ters provides a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communica- tion and leadership skills. Basic Foot Care: Community Care Durham provides basic foot care ser- vices by registered foot care nurses on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of ev- ery month at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. Please call 905-668-6223 for more information. Thursday evenings: Love to sing! The Brooklin United Church adult choir welcomes new voices to join us. Practices are Thursday evenings 7:30 - 9:00 pm. You do not need to read music to be part of the choir. Practice CD's are made available. For more information, please call the church of- fice at 905-655-4141 or by email at of- fice@brooklinunited.ca Brooklin's Guide to Home Based Businesses To advertise in this feature contact Crystal at 416.839.0248 Photos by Dianne www.istockphoto.com/search/portfolio/13554221 CLASSIFIEDS Custom Closets & More www.dream-space.ca 905.409.8681. Authorized HomeAdvisor Guitar Drum Lessons Repair Fret Replacement Leveling, Setup, patricksguitarstudio.com Sarah's Sewing Alterations, Mending, Crafts, Costumes - Call or text: 905 242- 4251 blue.dragonfly@rocketmail.comWORSHIP DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Communion and Healing Service 905-655-3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sunday Services at 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Care www.brooklinunited.ca 905-655-4141 Come catch the Spirit! Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 a.m. 905 655 4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca We're here for Brooklin! ***Now Hiring!*** Weekday, Weekend and Midnight positions. Must be able to work weekends. Management positions available, based upon training and performance. Applications available online at www.timhortons.com or email resume to timsbrooklin2498@gmail.com Brooklin