v v economist sufistoufivilletribunfijlbesday may 18 1999 -z2- sr v v r jjj fst community profile running a garden ten m wmetsskk moncada family hassiiri sicilia gardens for 27 years by joan ransberry and now managed by johrijrmoncada sicilia gardens caters to corporate clientsto the experi- j enced gardener and to the novice green thumber the customer base at this garden centre how- ever ispredominately women in their 50s we cater to the baby boomers the baby boomers take more interest in gardening than do younger women said john moncada 26 baby boomers see gardening as the best hobby in the world women born during and just after the war have the time the money and the interest in trie moncada family owners of sicilia gardens enjoys the closeness of a fam- vjl- u w u w i i t j o l j jl- -i- xl- vvhile the women buy themen browse we ily from left are santo moncada and his wife lina their son addeclthe patio andgaideri stone work and the t h rwi a cor rrr gafden a it wotked to interest themen john said and flower business for a few years the family staff writer rtf found its way to stouffville in 1972 when a need for 7 f flowers mak the earth srnilestouffviile p land prompted the federal government to must be gmiriingfrom ear to ear n expropriate the garden centre property n creating a healthyand colourbspkng today santo and his wife still lend a hand but garderns wilwimmreachsince meres ho me business reigns have been handed over to sons shortagebfnufseriestardenock john and corrado recently johns wife daniela advice in fhe aresc u v w decided to join the family team one favourite garden spbfissicilia gardens on jonn learned the business at his fathers side 10th line a handsiph family- oymedwell- and he took a oneyear greenhouse course at stocked garden centremdre than 20 greenhouses humber college are spread over twoacres making it ohebf the brothers work in advisory capacities largest centres around answering customers questions and helpuig them owned by the moncada family of stouffville cr their gardens we offer friendly expert d now managed bv john moncada sicilia advic and i think thats appreciated john said when a customer seeks advice john takes paper and pen in hand and helps them design a garden on apiece of paper john daughterinlaw daniela and son corrado baby boomers see gardening as the best hobby in the world women born during and just after the war have the time the money and the interest in gardening we walk around theplace i make suggestions on what might be suitable i remind the customer thectribiihe is pleased to present fel 3 4 lr- s- f- iji x- s 7 v- s i i- 2sr vi t i that since some plants growtaller than others they s t need to place the tauer ones at the back choosing turn wmemebusiness die whatt plant depends on shade orhow much full main focus is on annuals new annuals are intro- r r the its new eridaw june 11999 ati 500rm v- v- tfi a i l y t i x v please attach supporting 7 j triitisonsoromrchoicerr v r lki 3sv v after allserious gardeners keep up with whats j n i a v tv urnc r virp yt v- j made up ot top soilpeat loam ana manure jonn jwtheylearn the trends aswell they continue r r mv thewtimegardenerrmghtcoiisiderpianting mss- begonias petunils marigolds and the portujical bsssj iwikomedracaenas forgveenery johnsuggested mmz 1- meariwhue popular floweringshrubs are dogwood howersishrubsandtreesarebig-business- j ijjl- i u vvurtrtffn syutvj ri t r and sand chernes -j- sjjp this springs proven winners arebacopa endan nursenes andtq small garden centres bigenossosirrnum ldbeliascaveola verbesa w-u- j ir x pink wave purple wave and marganta daisy v sicihas busessis madeup of 65 eericent thebigiest rnistake a gardenlr can make is to 5sta plantt66 srly rostkiils als6frequentatering s s impdrtahtlttryokeepwatevoff annuals live one glorious season and may be fej- wmealsvpuu theiweetbt the weeds is ot f geramums remain v pjantihtipjs to ifigxrouple of holes ij 5 aid faimem wimwaterwhile ysuie diggingthe ic bii next bateh of h6lesthepreyious ones will have i i- v n vvs draiiiied and yqu can plant in saturated soil this i v j j tanhing is iinour blood willheppreventr6otsfromo i ps areour nature vvhye me gardener hastodeal with soil and yvuvx water issues the moncadas are always mindful of r vv v u- t v j disease every year thereseems to be anew dis- for the past lpdrplus years every baby borri in ease john said jffinstance if the topso virus mermonradatfayiamved with a green thumbs hits one plant and withina week it can kill every growing runs in the ifamily santo moncadasaid plant we have vtarngismpurbldodplantsareoiriature xanthamonsisone diseasethat discriminates r at home in italystot6sfathef7grandfauier and strikirig only geraniums if we get hveyery single igreatandfather the geranium will be dead very soon john said- gpfapesfotthewine there were no flowers in italy mmegardeningwbrld pests such aswhiteflies isantbsaidvi 4 a x ii l s rnites and thrips are moremana nuisance r i95santo young wife lina ahd they chew away at the leaves and they breed like vi contrary to what many think a garden centre is riot a seasonal business the workstajrts in vmdaysiaitellmnionradasiam noverhberand cames santolanded company it there are ci ioo o ii axompletogaraencentreis expensive work andforthemoncadas lfs a way of i