Sports tickets were the raffle prizes at St. Mary tea and bazaar Sunday | www.kingsentinel.com

The daisy I'm crazy about is a variety of Shasta daisy (leucanthemum) called "crazy daisy," which grows about two feet in height and bushes about the same. Its yellow centre is surrounded by fairly large frilly white petals. Two taller Shastas that grow well in my garden are Alaska, a single, and the almost double Aglaya. These plants like average soil to which composted cattle manure has been added. They prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline soil, so they shouldn't be planted with coniferous evergreens. They will not survive long in soggy soil.

One Shasta that doesn't do well at all in my sandy soil, even with added composted manure, is the beautiful double hardy cultivar called "summer snowball," which grew with no trouble in the clay soil of my former garden in Nobleton.

Shastas come in white and cream and bloom throughout midsummer. Erigeron (garden fleabane) is another daisy like flower (actually related to Miachaelmas daisies - fall asters, asters, novae angliae) that makes a lovely show in my Tottenham area garden. The name comes from the Greek words "eri" (early) and "geron" (old man). Some say its "er," Greek for spring, which makes the meaning "old man in spring.") Both versions relate to the early-forming fluffy white seed heads. Erigerons grow about 18 inches high and wide, and bloom from mid-summer to fall with a fringe of rich purple, white, blue or pink narrow petals properly called ray-florets (the same for Shasta daisy petals) around yellow centres. While the Shasta flower measures about three inches across, the erigeron is a little more than an inch wide.

Erigeron varietiescultivars to look for include "darkest of all" - violet blue, "foerster's darling" - double pink, "pink jewel", and long time popular "prosperity" - lavender blue. The common wild fleabane with its tiny white or pale pink flowers is native to much of the northern hemisphere gets its name from olden days when it was gathered and burned so that the acrid smoke produced would clear fleas out of the home. It was also stuffed into straw mattresses for its flea discouraging properties. This is a good time, while the soil is still warm, to plant either or both of these perennials.

Give them some tender loving care for a week or so to get them established and they will prove easy care reasonably drought and heat tolerant additions to the garden.

Seniors'

euchre

Sept. 18 euchre winners were Helen Fleury, Rita Ried, Shirley Jessop, Keith MacDonald, Bob Fleury, Bill Bible and Bill Groombridge. Lucky draw winners were Helen Groombridge, Doris Hill and Murray Hilliard.

There will be a meeting and euchre Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. at the Drop-in Centre. We are trying to organize a series of bid euchre games. The first will be Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Drop-in Centre. Everybody is welcome. If you do not play bid euchre but are interested, come early to practice and learn from some of our experienced players. It is a fun game and we want you to have a good time.

Big thanks to all

who attended Fall Tea

The eighth annual Fall Tea/Bazaar is now over and the St. Mary Catholic Women's League (CWL) would like to extend a warm thank you to all our sponsors, especially all the CWL members who gave so much of their time and donations. The prizes at the penny raffle and raffle centre are too many to mention here. The first prize (Raptor tickets) was won by Mary Ann Spatola, second prize (Leaf tickets) was won by Theresa Roncali and the third prize (Blue Jay tickets) was won by Mary Maccarone. The door prize was won by Lucy Borraccia. Again another successful event that was enjoyed by much of the community.

St. Mary Catholic Church

St. Mary Catholic Church will be hosting a concert Oct. 26.

This is a fund-raising event to take note of, with Andrea Garofalo, Peter Marino and Anthony Macri, Canada's Three Tenors. It is to be held at Marylake Shrine in King City. Tickets are $40 per person, with wine and cheese to be served at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:30., and coffee and dessert at intermission. Call (905) 939-2256 for tickets. Tickets will also be available at mass Sunday's. Please mark this date in your calendar and plan to attend.

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