Frank Ferragine — better known as popular television personality Frankie Flowers — is passionate about gardening with the environment in mind.
Low impact gardening is not only easier for the gardener, but it also has a lower impact on the environment, he explained at presentation in Newton Robinson April 11.
Climate is changing and temperatures are getting warmer, while permitted types of pesticides and other chemicals are becoming fewer, so smarter planning is necessary, said the Bradford native, who is gardening expert and weather reporter for Citytv.
Low impact gardening is all about garden design, said Ferragine, adding, “It’s always the right plant for the right place.”
Rather than going to the garden centre and choosing plants with a nice bloom and colour with the hopes of finding a spot for it, Ferragine suggested first considering the space you have, the light, hardiness zone for perennials, soil type and watering frequency.
“That way you can develop a kind of criteria for the plants that suit your space," he explained.
In terms of the plants themselves, he said to look for ones that are disease resistant, insect free, and mounding rather than having an invasive root system. Plants that need minimal pruning and provide good garden interest beyond flowering are good choices, he added.
Beyond plantings, hardscapes add interest, texture and function to the design, he explained.
Ferragine and his family own and operate the two Bradford Greenhouse locations. He said he was pleased to be talking to a hometown crowd in a space that has community and personal history.
He said the last time he was in the Women's Institute Hall it was to receive Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Volunteer Service in 2012. He also recalled teen dances at the hall when he was a student at Bradford High School.
“I’m sure this building has many memories, and it’s great to add another memory, and to maybe educate some people,” Ferragine said.
"It’s always great to come back to local. We are a community of many new people, but we have lots of history in agriculture and horticulture and we need to celebrate that," Ferragine added.
He talked about his day beginning early on the field at the Rogers Centre in advance of the Blue Jays home opener on Citytv’s Breakfast Television, then to the CN Tower EdgeWalk to talk about WWF Canada’s CN Tower Climb for Nature this weekend, before heading home to Newton Robinson.
"You know, for a boy from Bradford to be able to do Toronto television, and to have all these different experiences is cool. And then I get to promote my passion. If I can motivate people to garden, I am really happy," he said.
At the reception following the talk, WI member Gladys Fieldhouse offered mini-cupcakes decorated with pansies she bought at Bradford Greenhouses in honour of Frankie Flowers.
Ferragine has authored four books on gardening, and he hosts a weekly gardening Q&A on Facebook. For more information, visit frankieflowers.com.
