Chapter 4 My Herbarium

I’m Preparing My Herbarium

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The herbarium is an essential tool for understanding plants. For me, it was really helpful in choosing the right plants, flowers, and trees for my gardens. I learned a lot thanks to my herbariums.
 

Illustration of a Crabapple Leaf.
Crabapple Leaf
  • Step 11
    HandStep 1

    I pick the crabapple leaf.

  • Step 22
    Paper towel rollStep 2

    I place my flower between two sheets of absorbent paper to dry it.

  • Step 33
    WeightStep 3

    I flatten the leaf by placing it under a weight.

  • Step 44
    Step 4

    I attach the leaf to my herbarium page using glue.

I identify the parts of the plant.

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The herbarium is a fantastic reference tool for discovering plants. It helps us identify all the parts of a plant.

The Crabapple Tree

The crabapple tree is a deciduous tree that differs from the orchard apple tree by its smaller, more tart fruits. A wide variety of crabapple trees are well adapted to the Canadian climate.

  • Illustration of a tree trunk
    Tree Trunk

    The trunk of a tree is located between the roots and the crown. It transports sap from the roots to the flowers—if the tree produces any—and to the leaves.

  • Branch
    Branch

    A branch is usually smaller than the trunk. It bears leaves on deciduous trees and needles on coniferous trees.

  • Illustration of a tree crown
    Crown

    The crown is made up of all the branches located at the top of the trunk. Its size, colour, and productivity are indicators of the tree’s health.

  • Illustration of a crabapple
    Crabapple (fruit)

    The fruit contains and protects the seeds. When ripe, it attracts animals and humans, helping to spread the seeds.

  • Illustration of a bud
    Bud

    A bud is a swelling that appears on certain parts of plants. It gives rise to branches, leaves, and flowers.

  • Illustration of a crabapple flower.
    Flower
  • Illustration of a leaf.
    Leaf

The Paradise of Crabapple Trees

The crabapple trees are so beautiful! Their majestic shape, vibrant blossoms, and colourful fruit have truly captivated me. The crabapple is my favourite fruit tree!

Crabapple Tree Garden, 2007
In this colour photograph, a crabapple tree stands prominently in the foreground, surrounded by lush green ferns. Another crabapple tree appears in the background, though only its blossoms are visible. The tree is in full bloom, with an abundance of flowers ranging in colour from deep red to soft pink.

I’m lucky! I have a friend, Isabella Preston, who develops crabapple trees suited to the Canadian climate. As early as the 1930s, she sent me a few to plant. Some of the Rosybloom varieties she created still grace my gardens today. Their pink flowers are abundant and have such a gentle fragrance! They mark the beginning of the warm season. Isabella truly succeeded in creating a stunning tree that can withstand the cold and snow of Grand-Métis.

View of the Stream Garden, late 1950s
In this archival colour photograph, a variety of vibrant flowers fill the foreground. This is the Stream Garden of the Reford Gardens, where Page Stream flows through. A blooming crabapple tree stands proudly at the centre of the image, atop the slope. Beneath its branches, a green chair invites visitors to pause and take in the view of the Garden and Page Stream below. Tall spruces stretch across the background of the photograph.

I’ve grown them in several spots throughout my gardens. When they bloom, their scent drifts across my entire estate. I love them so much that I created my very own Crabapple Tree Garden!

View of Elsie Reford’s Alpine Garden, circa 1938
In this black-and-white archival photograph, a crabapple tree occupies the foreground on the right side of the image. This blooming crabapple is located in the Alpine Garden of the Reford Gardens. A gravel path forms a Y-shape. At the centre, there is a triangular flowerbed with a few emerging plants and a small cluster of pale flowers. Bushes cover a gentle slope, and tall spruces appear in the background.

Hello!

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