18 — Friday, October 20, 1995 ~ North Shore News Snow protects plants From page 15 corrugated cardboard under the plastic also adds insulation value. Large plants such as the hardy Japanese banana (Musa bas joo) and tree ferns (Dicksonia antarcti- ca or Cyathea dealbata) are best - protected using the cage method. Cut off all the fronds or leaves or tie them up in a tight cluster at the top. Using a 10-15 cm (4 to 6 in.) grid wire mesh (or concrete rein- forcing mesh), build a circular fence around the trunk leaving .. about 30 cm or more of clearance. Multiple banana stalks can be lashed together with a wide strap to reduce the diameter of the cuge. Fill the cavity with dry leaves that “are not too flat or inclined to mat . cand then wrap the whole cage in 6 ini! plastic, The plastic sides and’a “top cap can be held together with» . good quality duct tape. Leave an _ air vent-on the side at the top to: allow the plant to breath and mois- ture to escape. ; “If this seems like too much Work to protect a banana, it is pos- ” sible to set up a low fence and pile ‘up a metre (3.3 ft.) of leaves at the base of the plant and allow the top of the Plant to freeze. Remove the _ COMPRUNITY EVENTS om “Compiled by. Ann Hamilton . : “Community Bulletin Board is a free service rovided for non-profit groups, Please fax press release for your community event to 985-2104, The News tries to ensure items appear in: the paper at least once before the -event, takes place, but space constraints may limit the number of submissions print- ‘ed. For guaranteed publication contact ‘ dassified (986-6222) or display advertising a ‘MUSICAL PLAY... “Woman in the | » Wheel”. is .a ‘musical’ play about “magic and mystery, which was writ- .,ten and is performed by entertainer -. “and artist Angela Brown and focus-., es’ on her experiences: ‘working in:a’ “circus.” Showtime:is °8 p.m; -on. : ; Friday, Oct, 20 and Saturday, Oct , door prizes. 21.Also. offered ‘is \a; two-for-one Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. A special -€xhibition of Brown’s paintings will _be on'display throughout October in’ “the; Outer’ Space. Gallery © at “” Presentation house. Tickets, $8, and . $10 ‘reservations are available by : sealing ® 986- 1351. ° ; , St., Van. Info; 739-0339, leaves in the spring and the new shoots will still produce a banana plant, albeit shorter. Where the temperature is likely to go below -10 C the trunk of tree ferns and palms can be protected with three or four layers of burlap or remay fabric. Place four or five bar:boo stakes a few centimetres from the trunk and then wrap the burlap around the stakes. Keep the | burlap 10 to 15 cm from the soil level at the bottom to stop it from soaking up water. In this case the fronds, if left on, can be covered with a plastic cap and allowed to breath. For palms, «the most tender part is the new spear and this can be covered with an old paper roll core and then cov- ered with a plastic garbage bag. Pull the plastic down between the old palm fronds to keep the core . “area as dry as possible. Generally. most young palms in our area need protection until they are about head hei ght. Silke tree (Albizia jitlibrissen) is a border line hardy tree, particular- ly during the first few years, and the trunk will benefit from being _ wrapped in the same way as tree ferns. The Red banana (Musa ensete) is best dug up and brought into an mniunity bulletin ERCDEAYC ANIMAL RESCUE...North Shore -cat: lovers are-invited to the first ‘annual Cat-A-Thon, which is being hosied by the Volunteer. Animal . Rescue Association and the Variety - Club for. Kids, on Océ. 21 at the’ First Lutheran Church, 5745, Wales CAT'S MEOW...The North 3380 Lonsdale Ave., in North :: “Vancouver, is hosting the “Cat’ s Meow Luncheon and Bazaar"’ on Saturday, Oét. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to'2:30 p.m. The event will include _plendy of bargains, home-baked goods, Christmas decorations and - i HALLOWEEN FUN...Spooks, goblins, zombies and other unnatur- ‘al creatures between the ages of four - ‘and seven-‘are invited a special Halloween magic show on Saturday, Oct. 28. Magician Mark Steele will present ; a grogram of taystifying "_ SOCIAL _” Vancovuer Woman's Musical Club ‘Lonsdale United Church, located ats 7 7790. area that has a minimum tempera- ture of 5 C. Keep the soil on the dry side and provide lots of light if possible. New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) and Dracaena (Cordyline australis) both require Winter light but can take a few degrees of frost. Censtructing a cold frame with 6 mim clear plastic or old windows against the side of the house will provide enough protection if some residual heat is provided from house windows. Screen the plastic. with white cloth to cut down the _ solar heating on bright days and ~allow for venting. The leaves from Gunnera mani- cata will not survive the frost but the roots and crown are quite hardy if the dead leaves and other mulch material are piled on top to a depth af 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in.). . Plants with tubers or rhizomes such as ginger, callas, cannas and begonias can all be lifted, washed, dried and stored in a ceol area. Check them carefully, especially begonias. for white weevil maggots before putting them away for the Winter. With minimal effort and maxi- mum ingenuity you can grow and «| hold over a whole variety, of excit- ing new semi-hardy plants.” feats and. amazing activities at Parkgate Library at 1 p.m. and_at ” : Lynn: Valley Library. at 3 p.m. Reserve now for this fun, no-charge event by calling Parkgate Librrary at 929-3727 or Lynn Valley Library at 984-0286. BRIDGE... the is hosting a social bridge evening on Friday, Oct. 27 at Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont : Blvd., North Vancouver, starting at 7:30 ‘p.m. Tickets cost $10 and proceeds: ‘ will go to scholarship and bursary | ‘funs. for - music students. Refreshments - will be available. Book early for this limited-space event by calling 987- 9162 or 988- GHOST WRITERS...North Shore writers and would-be writers are invited to the North Shore Writers’ Association “First Annual Ghost Games”, Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m m. at Capitano Library, North Van. 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