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 'It’s a parti'
A ‘parti’ is a design term that means a big idea or picture
Landscape architect Christopher Clayton is collaborating with artists’ collective VSVSVS on a 1000-square-foot garden “parti” at Canada Blooms March 2016.
Together they will create a sculptural living green space that explores the concept of garden, informed by a location within a dimly lit old industrial building in downtown Toronto. While very much an urban design, it will also acknowledge the typical elements of a garden—enclosure, security, connectivity and social space. To create a vital link to the outside world, the main orientation of the design is true north-south, with a window to welcome the sun on the Spring equinox on March 20th. 
Christopher Clayton
has created private gardens for almost 40 years. He is a CLD and a director of Landscape Design Group, on the board of the Toronto LO Chapter, a founding member of Canada Blooms (from its inception 21 years ago) and a full member of the OALA. This is his third garden for Canada Blooms.
VSVSVS
(pronounced versus versus versus) is a collective of seven artists, all graduates of the University of Guelph, who live and work in downtown Toronto. They have created installation pieces in many Toronto and area galleries, and most recently participated in Edmonton’s Nuit Blanche. To find out more, visit their website vsvsvs.org.
Art installations (top) "Not Together, But Alongside" seen at Mercer Union Gallery summer 2015, (bottom) "Something, Something Blue" seen at Harbourfront summer 2015.
For more information, or to look at the other feature gardens, check out our website. Keep checking back for more updates. |
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  Unilock was pleased to host the Canada Blooms Volunteer Appreciation BBQ at our Outdoor Idea Center on October 1st, 2015.
Visit the Unilock Outdoor Idea Center to see, touch and experience everything Unilock has to offer. Explore their product installed in life-size settings and get inspired by the many product combinations that can make your project special. The Outdoor Idea Center is a great resource for you to use as your personal sales center to bring your customers out to look at all the various products Unilock has to offer, and leave with free samples! |
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| This eye-catching entrance display uses pumpkins, gourds, hay and colourful grasses to add visual interest in fall. |
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| Yellow works well with orange and red as typical fall colours. |
Fall into colour!
Embrace the fall garden season: what gardeners need to know to make the most of their garden this fall
Look up. Colour is peeking through the trees. Replacing the bright, green leaves of summer are the rich hues of fall. And as Mother Nature changes her colour pallete, it's the perfect time for gardeners to change theirs as well.
With the start of the fall garden season, plants' true colours come out. As Denis Flanagan of Landscape Ontario explains, "Leaves have these rich autumnal hues all year round, but they are masked by the bright green chlorophyll produced by photosynthesis. But in fall, cool weather slows down photosynthesis, and the green fades away leaving way for the hidden hues of red and gold." However, just because winter is approaching doesn't mean we should abandon our gardens.
"Fall is actually a great time to get out and work in your garden. The soil is still warm and full of rich nutrients from the summer season, not to mention the cool air is perfect for working in," urges Denis Flanagan.
To help you make the most of fall gardening, Landscape Ontario has a few helpful hints:
• Add a splash of fall colour.
There are many plants which thrive in fall's short, crisp days and cool night air.
Perennials such as fall asters and rubeckias add a touch of autumn colour to your garden.
• Consider shrubs.
Viburnums and serviceberry have great fall colour and, as a bonus, have interesting fruit for winter interest and a source of food for wildlife.
• Move it.
Fall is the perfect time for transplanting trees and shrubs - preparing your garden for next summer.
The ground is still warm and the cool, crisp air is perfect for putting some hard work into your garden.
• Spruce it up.
Transform you front porch with ornamental grasses, flowering kale mixed with pumpkins and gourds.
• Feed it. 
Trees and shrubs still require water in fall. Letting them dry out will cause stress over the winter. Fall is ideal for feeding your lawn with some organic nutrients. Pull any weeds so they don't come back with a vengeance and apply corn gluten meal correctly to stop weeds from germinating in the spring.
"Living in Ontario we witness one of the most beautiful autumn seasons in this country. This is the season of nature's bounty, when brilliant hues light up the trees. It's a time to celebrate," adds Denis Flanagan.
From Landscape Ontario |
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 “It’s A Party!”
From March 11th till the 20th, 2016, it will be easy to find the Toronto Flower Show at Canada Blooms.  Just…….follow the roadway carpet! The carpet will carry you through Hall B as it did last year, plus a new ‘roadway carpet’ will lead you into the Flower Show through Heritage Court. At the entrance to Canada Blooms and the Toronto Flower Show you’ll see colourful flowers from pickOntario, supporting Ontario flower growers and leading you into our area.
At the Flower Show, here’s something new: we invite you and your friends to test your skills as we tell the show going public: “You Be The Judge!” We’ll choose 1 class in Hort, and 1 in Floral Design for each of the 2 entry days and, after the accredited judges have judged we’ll ask the public to decide how THEY would have judged. Visitors in the past have told us that they have ideas of their own! So look for the signs, the roadway carpet, and displays of flowers, and come to the PARTY. |
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FREE Harrowsmith's Gardening Digest |
 Dear Readers,
Compliments of Canada Blooms and Harrowsmith, we are pleased to provide you, our newsletter subscribers, with a FREE issue of Harrowsmith’s Gardening Digest. It’s packed with how-to information on vegetable and flower gardening - the Harrowsmith way!
For more information on Harrowsmith go to harrowsmithmagazine.com
2015 Harrowsmith Garden Issue download here!
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We Want To Hear From You |
Do you have a quick and easy DIY project that you would like to share? A great garden tips that can save time or money? A recipe for your garden harvest? Or, just a great picture that you think others would enjoy? Well, we would like to hear from you!
Send in your submissions to news@canadablooms.com (please put submission in the subject line) and if we use it we will send you two tickets to Canada Blooms 2016.
Remember to include your name, send pictures and any necessary links. |
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 Fall Soil Preparation with Live Mulch®
Soil is the most important element in the garden, so it is very important to protect it over the winter. Using Live Mulch® is an excellent way to add organic matter, protect the soil from desiccation and erosion, and improve workability for the following spring. Live Mulch® is a composted blend of reclaimed bark and leaf and yard waste, produced to help build soil, replace nutrients, and improve drainage.
Follow these tips to prepare soil for winter: 
• Remove dead plant material
• Rake out soil to create a smooth surface
• Apply an even 2-3 inch layer of Live Mulch® on surface
• Use Live Mulch to hill up tender perennials like Roses
• Apply a thicker layer of Live Mulch® to high yielding vegetable gardens.
• In Spring: till Live Mulch® into soil when frost has lifted.
Call us for more information about soil, mulch and organic amendments.
www.gro-bark.com 1-888-GRO-BARK |
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 Join the celebration and be part of a National Event
The Canadian Garden Council invites all gardens, garden centres, hort societies, garden clubs, garden-focused businesses communities and municipalities to celebrate Garden Days on June 17 to 19, 2016.
Garden Days is an exuberant three-day celebration that takes place annually over the Father’s Day weekend starting with National Garden Day, always the Friday before Father’s Day. The event’s purpose is to draw attention to our national garden culture and underscore the importance and value of public and private gardens and gardening as a whole.
You are invited to organize special Garden Days activities or  promotions – what these are is entirely up to you. Should you already be organizing a June 2016 event, consider holding it during Garden Days and benefit from the vibrant national public relations campaign that supports this program. The intent is simply to profile your celebration of gardens and gardening and your contribution to Canada’s garden experiences.
Whatever you decide to do, register your activity or promotion, at no cost, on the www.gardendays.ca website prior to May 2016.
Niki Jabbour at the Halifax Public Gardens during Garden Days Celebration June 2015. |
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It is the season of gift-giving at the InterContinental Toronto Centre!
Book our special holiday package for two and enjoy hotel accommodations in the heart of downtown Toronto. Begin your  festive shopping or gifting with your prepaid credit card, gift wrapping tool kit and so much more. In the spirit of the season, the hotel will also donate a portion of your stay to SickKids Foundation. Save up to $100 per night!
"Holiday Gift-Giving Package" for two includes:
* Overnight accommodation
* Buffet breakfast at Azure Restaurant & Bar
* $25 prepaid credit card
* Gift wrapping tool kit
* Standard WIFI internet access
* Early check-in and late check-out
* Complimentary upgrade upon check-in
* InterContinental Toronto Centre is a a proud supporter of SickKids Foundation and will donate $20 per night from your stay.
Rates starts at $259 per night*
For reservations call 1-800-422-7969 or book online.
Terms & Conditions:
* Subject to applicable taxes.
* Subject to availability from November 1, 2015 to December 30, 2015.
* Early check-in, late check-out and complimentary upgrade are subject to availability |
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GTA Home and Reno Show |
 Looking for great advice on your next renovation project?
With 300+ exhibitors the GTA Home and Reno Show Feb. 12-15, 2016 has so much to offer! Inspiration, hands-on workshops and expert tips from celebrity pros. You’ll leave confident and ready to tackle any reno tasks! For more information and to get tickets visit gtahomeandrenoshow.com.
Canada Blooms exclusive ticket offer. Use promo code “BLOOMS” and receive 2 adult tickets to the GTA Home and Reno show for the price of 1 regular priced adult. Want more great deals like this? Sign up for our newsletter and visit our blog at www.torontohomeshows.com to receive exclusive offers from Toronto Home Show and the newest trends, inspiration and DIY tips you need to make your space yours. |
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SHOP.CA |
Take the hassle out of shopping this holiday season!
Skip the line ups and forget about circling the parking lot for hours.
Sit back, relax and shop online with SHOP.CA. You will find everything you need for all your holiday gift giving for every age from grandma to junior, and you will save with huge discounts on top items to boot.
You can scratch everyone off your list with the Holiday Gift Guide, visit SHOP.CA now and start saving.
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 Toronto Botanical Garden Holiday Market and Open House
Visit the Toronto Botanical Garden’s Annual Holiday Market and Open House.
The building will be decked with holiday cheer and well-stocked with unique items to fulfill your holiday shopping needs featuring nature-inspired holiday décor, Toronto Botanical Garden honey, seasonal plant material, unique hand-crafted items and treats... and much more. 
Make sure to stay and catch the Festive Florals Face-Off with Emcee Denis Flanagan in the Floral Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Complimentary Cider
| FREE
| Open to the public
For a full schedule of events visit our website. |
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