Mailbag – Spring 2019

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR FESTIVAL

I’m writing on behalf of the entire Wellington Water Week team to thank Watershed magazine for the gorgeous piece in the current Summer issue, created by Micol Marotti and Tim Zeltner. We were literally stopped in our tracks with delight when we opened the magazine to that centre spread! Thank you for the effort, resources and expertise Watershed generously expended in supporting our festival that brings together incredible music, the community and local environment. We’re riding high on your wave of encouragement!

Sincerely, Maria Gacesa, Wellington Water Week

PROPER REMOVAL OF GRAPEVINES

I love your magazine and look forward to every issue, but I was disappointed in the advice you gave for grapevine removal.

Working in the wild landscapes, I understand the frustration when it comes to grapevines, but the last thing you want to do is to yank them off trees and bushes. This can cause open wounds, and if done in the fall, you could be removing next year’s leaf buds. Open wounds are subject to pathogens, especially in hot humid weather. When I remove grapevines, I sever the plant about 4” to 6” above the soil line and then I prune off any vines going up to the trees. The leaves will die, and the vine will lose its moisture. It will start breaking down and not do further damage.

You want to kill the grapevine roots. If the trunk of the vine has a large enough diameter, I dig it up and drill a small hole in it. Then, I pour salt on the open wound. The vine will still sucker up, so you must constantly cut off the suckers to stop photosynthesis. Later, if need be, use more salt. This method works well and doesn’t damage your trees or shrubs.

Thanks for a great magazine. I just had to send along this advice.

Amy Quinn, Grafton

MONARCH TAG AND RELEASE

Thanks for supporting the Dorothy’s House Museum’s Monarch Tag and Release event. It’s interesting that you mentioned that episode of the Nature of Things (Watershed, Summer, Must Must 2019). Most of that film footage came from the IMAX movie Flight of the Butterflies (now on NETFLIX). I helped with the production of this film, having worked with Fred and Norah Urquhart; visited film locations in the Toronto area; reviewed a rough cut of the film; attended the world premiere in Washington, D.C. and ate a pre-screening dinner with actor Gordon Pinsent and others. In fact, saw 89 year-old Gordon Pinsent last March at a Celebration of Life for SK Films CEO Jonathan Barker.

Don Davis, Toronto

WATERSHED AS MY GUIDE

I travel to Prince Edward County quite a bit to visit wineries and I always bring my trusted copy of Watershed to help navigate the best places to eat, see and do.

Lydia White, Arnprior