One of Windsor’s premier flower gardens will be a furrow field next spring.
Members of the city’s Horticulture Department has uncovered a fungus in the sunken gardens of Jackson Park.
The fungus, botrytis, is usually caused by cool and rainy weather in the spring and summer but will remain on the bulb, plant debris or in the soil over the winter.
In order to prevent spreading, horticulture staff has decided to leave the sunken gardens in a furrow state, which will lead to the fungus eliminating itself.
This means there will be no tulip floral display for the 2016 season in the sunken garden.
“This is disappointing, because we know how much residents and visitors enjoy the flowers in the sunken garden,” said horticulture manager Dave Tootill. “But by leaving this area furrow, we’ll be able to ensure the rest of Jackson Park remains beautiful.”
City officials say the spores are not a threat to human or animal health.
There will still be approximately 10,000 tulips planted in other areas at Jackson Park and 40,000 bulbs will be placed in other parks around the city including Willistead Park, Coventry Gardens and Dieppe Park.
In order to brighten up the sunken gardens next summer, Horticulture staff will be planting the annuals during the second week of May rather than waiting until the long weekend at the end of the month.
