Accomplishments of the High Park Horticultural Society 



FEW years ago the High Park dis- 

 trict was a Toronto suburb. There 

 were vacant Jots with their ac- 

 mpaniment of refuse and weeds. Av- 

 ues of trees were unthought of and the 

 tision that the section might become 

 le of the finest residential districts of 

 "oronto, was entertained by but few. 



But Toronto grew. It grew with rapid- 

 ;y. It became evident the High Park 

 iction was to become a place of homes, 

 loon the idea was conceived by a few 

 usiasts that by concerted action and 

 ;i little planning it would be possible to 

 ensure the homes that were yet-to-be being 

 planned on lines that would ensure the 

 whole district being made one of the 

 beauty spots of Toronto. And thus was 

 born the High Park Ratepayers' Asso- 

 ciation. 



This was several years ago. The 

 Association ,at first, devoted its attention 

 lo many lines of work. These included 

 the proper opening up of the district, the 

 attracting of a desirable class of resi- 

 lents, the laying out of the streets. It 

 as realized that this was not sufficient. 

 .\ horticultural committee was organized. 

 A campaign was launched for the plant- 

 ing of gardens, the laying out of lawns 

 .ind trees and the general embelishment 

 of the homes of the district. Out of this 

 committee has grown the High Park 



idorticultural Society. 

 The transformation that has been el- 

 ected within a few years borders almost 

 Ml the miraculous. Hundreds and hun- 

 Ireds of beautiful homes have been erect- 

 id. A desire for the beautiful in nature 

 has been created which has permeated 

 the whole district until the neighbors vie 



with each other in doing what they can 

 to advance the cause in which all have 

 shown so much interest. 



Most of the improvements from a hor- 

 ticultural standpoint have been effected 

 within the past four years. In igii a 

 campaign was launched to interest the 

 people in the matter of improving the 

 lawns, gardens and general appearance 

 of the property in their district. Prizes 

 were offered for the best kept lawns, 

 gardens and window boxes. That year 

 Andrew Dods was the successful prize 

 winner in the garden competition. The 

 following year the honor was won by 

 W'm. Mormann, Rideout Street. In ad- 

 dition to the regular prizes a resident 

 of the district presented a fine cup for 

 competition. These competitions have 

 lieen continued each year with splendid 

 results. In addition frequent exhibitions 

 have been held within the past five years. 

 Thus increased interest has been created. 

 When one considers that most of the 

 dwellings have been built within the 

 past five years, the attractive appearance 

 of this part of the city is remarkable. 

 Many of the gardens would seem to have 

 been established for years. A represen- 

 tative of The Canadian Horticulturist 

 had an opportunty some time ago to 

 visit High Park and see for himself the 

 splendid work that is being accom- 

 plished. From among the large number 

 of fine lawns and gardens noticed space 

 will permit of only a few being men- 

 tioned. The endeavor has been to select 

 a garden from a few of the more impor- 

 tant streets and thus have the whole dis- 

 trict fairly well represented. 



One of the first residences we visited 



A High Parle Reiidence, that of Hugh Johnson, before Flowers had been Planted. —No. 1 



was that of Wm. Mormann, who in 1912 

 captured the first prize. A noticeable fea- 

 ture about Mr. Mormann 's place is the 

 absence of fences. Instead, privet 

 hedges have been planted which are an 

 improvement over the unsightly line 

 fences so often seen. The stump of a 

 tree which Mr. Mormann had occasion 

 to cut down, had been put to good use 

 by placing on it a box, three by four 

 feet, from which hangs a profusion of 

 German Ivy. Covering the house is 

 some fine Ampelopsis. Hanging in the 

 front porch is a nice flower basket and 

 flanking the entrance and over the door 

 is some fine Cobia Scandens. To one 

 side of the house is a large pine tree. 

 In this tree a box has been placed which 

 a family of black squirrels have selected 

 as their home. One of these squirrels 

 has become so tame that Mrs. Mormann 

 often feeds it out of her hand. 



A UNIQUE. IDEA. 



Another feature of special interest was 

 a high framework covered with wire 

 netting and over which vines were grow- 

 ing profusely, which Mr. Mormann has 

 erected alongside his neighbor's house. 

 This will serve to hide the unsightly 

 brick wall until the vines which his neigh- 

 bor has planted have attained their 

 growth. 



A splendid lawn and garden is that of 

 Major J. O. Thorne, The house is 

 flanked on either side by a wide expanse 

 of lawn, the borders and corners of which 

 are planted to shrubs, roses and peren- 

 nials. Shrubs and hardy perennials are 

 also planted around the base of the 

 house. At the rear and separated from 

 the lawn by a privet hedge, is a fine 

 kitchen garden. Around the garden are 

 wire net fences backed by herbaceous 

 borders. The kitchen garden proper is 

 laid out in squares, Old Country style, 

 with fruit trees planted in the corners of 

 the plots. The tomatoes are trained on 

 a trellis and pruned back to the spurs, 

 the same as in greenhouses. To one side 

 is the garage. When we consider that 

 the garden had been only two years in 

 existence, it was a splendid one. 



A most energetic member of the so- 

 ciety has been Hugh Johnson, 55 Rad- 

 fow Street. His idea was to do away 

 wherever possible with line fences. Fac- 

 ing the street his lawn is bordered with a 

 Japanese ivy hedge. The house itself is 

 well covered with vines, shrubbery and 

 herbaceous plants, among them being 

 some fine coladiums. Along the boun- 

 dary lines are some handsome Norway 

 maples. At the rear is a fine lawn with 

 herbaceous border. .\ fine pine tree gives 

 ample shade. A bird box has been plac- 

 ed well up the trunk, the entrance being 

 large enough to accommodate a wren 



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