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Thanks For A Great Festival

CB 150 logo

Thanks to all our Visitors, Exhibitors, Presenters, Sponsors and Volunteers!

The Canada Blooms 2017 festival was a huge success and we certianly couldn't have done it without you. Over 174,000 visitors joined us at the co-located Canada Blooms and National Home Show. Landscape designers and builders, floral artists, Toronto Flower Show competitors and knowledgeable presenters showed a off their creative side with this year's theme "Oh! Canada" in honour of Canada's 150th birthday.

FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:
• Over 30 gardens, including the Oaks by Brampton Brick 'Do Up the Doorsteps' and 'Do Up the Backsteps which showed visitors what could be accomplished in a small space (100-200 sq.ft.) setting; also the impressive Secret Path garden by Genoscape with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack fund, as well as beautiful displays by top garden builders designed to celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial.
• The Toronto Flower Show presented by the Garden Club of Toronto featured the best in Horticulture and Design, showcasing an impressive number of displays from International competitors coming from South Africa, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Italy, Ireland and United States, as well as Ikebana Schools and local challengers.
• 8 professional floral artists showcase their interpretation of theme "Coast to Coast"
• The Welcome Garden, designed by Jennifer Harvey, showcased Canadian Shield™ roses from the Vineland 49th Parallel collection (the Canada Blooms plant of the year) and Canadian works of art from the students of Niagara Catholic School Board.
• Our version of the Canada 150 logo welcomed visitors to the Garden Hall. Our logo was packed with bright spring flowering bulbs donated by Pioneer Flower Farms.
• The pickOntario Flower Market featured colourful flower and plants that you will see in the greenhouses this year -- hellebores, orchids, roses, gerberas and more, as well, visitors could create their very own crown of flowers at the Flower Crown Bar.
• Hundreds of FREE lectures and demonstrations on 3 stages: the Unilock Celebrity Stage, the Hortus TV Garden Solutions and Master Gardners Educational Series presented by Harrowsmith Magazine, and the Marketplace Stage presented by Rethink Tires.
The Gardening Experience by Fafard provided children from 5 to 95 the opportunity to learn about soil, planting and seeds/seedlings (courtesy of Somerville Seedlings, Ontario Seed Company and Martin Farms).
• The Garden Marketplace was filled with a wide variety of vendors promoting products and services related to gardening, landscaping, garden accents, outdoor living and everything else needed to get the garden season started.
The Lechuza Wine Garden, featuring Colio wine and beer, designed by Ginkgo Design and the Isuzu Cafe provided a place to sit and relax and just take in the ambiance of the festival.

Thanks again for a great festival and mark your calendars for nest year:
March 9-18, 2018!

Congrats To The Winners
At Canada Blooms

CB17 Winners

First the garden design/builders:
The winner of the Tony DiGiovannin Garden of the Year (Judge's Choice) Award was Tranquility by J. Garfield Thompson Landscape, who also won the S.G. Ulbright Award for outstanding garden, medium size and the Leslie L. Solty Memorial Award for best overall creativity in garden design.

The winner of the Toronto Star's People's Choice Award was The Secret Path by Genoscape in association with the Gord Downie/Chanie Wenjack Foundation and Vineland Research & Innovation Centre. Genoscape also won The Gordon A. MacEachern Award for outstanding garden, large size and Outstanding use of walkways.

The floral artists:
The winner of the Judge's Choice was Fresh Floral Creations, who also won the Outstanding Use of Artistic Elements Award presented by Canadian Association of Floral Artistry.
Opening Night Flower won the Best Use of Floral Theme Award presented by Oasis Floral Products, and Alma Florist/4165Flower won The Best Quality of Workmanship Award presented by Fiskars.
The winner of the Toronto Star's People's Choice Award was the team of Julie Drago, Sheryl Koss & Bridgett C Brown.

Special congratulations to Rosemary Passafiume McLean who won the Canada Blooms WAFA Award for best floral design of a Garden Club of Toronto member who will be participating in the World Association of Floral Artists competition taking place this June in Barbados, and to Joyce Moffat of Canada who won the Heather Fuller Award for International Design.

Thanks to all participants and congratulations to all winners
of the Canada Blooms Feature Garden Awards presented by Hub International and Aviva Insurance, Floral Artist Awards and the Toronto Flower Show Awards presented by The Garden Club of Toronto.

~ Photos (L - Judges Choice) T - Fresh Floral Creations, B - J. Garfield Thompson Landscape, (C - Toronto Flower Show) T- Joyce Moffat, B - Rosemary Passafiume McLean, (R - People's Choice) T - Genoscape, B - Julie Drago, Bridgett Brown, Sheryl Koss

Click Here for List of Winners

Presentations, Demonstrations and Workshops

Canada Blooms Speakers

We would like to express our appreciation to a wonderful line up of incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic speakers and presenters. This year's Canada Blooms stages saw everything from small space gardening with Paul Zammit's Designing with Succulents, Owen Reeves' Edible Container Gardens, Jennifer Reynold's Having Fun with Container Gardens and Ken Brown's Vertical Vegetables to cooking ideas from Signe Langford's Fresh Eggs and Happy Chickens and Yvonne Tremblay's Cooking with Fresh Coriander to Lawn Care with Mark Cullen, Pollinators, Gardens from Around Canada and the World, Tree Care and proper care of garden tools with Troy-Bilt. Thanks to our sponsors of the stages and education series: Unilock, Hortus TV, Harrowsmith Magazine and Benchmark Building Services, Rethink Tires, and of special programming Master Gardeners of Ontario, Toronto Botanical Garden and PRO-MIX.

Thanks also to Inta Taurins and Jennifer Harvey for helping to coordinate the Floral Challenges. Thanks to Zoomer Media's Marilyn Lightstone, Janice Fedak of Janice Fedak Colour & Design, columnist Rita Zekas, Landscape Ontario's Denis Flanagan and Rogers TV Sandi Grant and the Garden Club of Toronto hostesses for participating in our Celebrity Flower Arranging.

The Fafard Gardening Experience was a huge success, seeing over 2000 seeds and seedlings handed out to kids from 5 to 95, informing them about the do's and don'ts of soil and planting in order to start their gardening season off right.

We also appreciate the great wealth of knowledge supplied by our Fafard workshop instructors who provided special programs: Rosemary Passafiume McLean (Create a Corsage presented by Bout-Stix Floral Magnets), Robert Patterson (Create a Pizza Garden), Bob Martin "The Veggie Guy" (Fun with Vegetables for Kids), Jacqui Miller (Floral Cake), Jennifer Harvey (Create a Terrarium, Floral Centrepiece, Pollinator Gardens presented by Medallion Plants and Fresh Flora Fairy Gardens) and Master Gardener's of Ontario (Children's Workshops).

Jennifer Harvey's Workshop
Veggies for Kids Workshop
Marilyn Lightstone
Educational Sponsors logos

Canada Bloom Donates Flowers

Canada Blooms Donates Flowers by Dan Pierce/Metroland

Canada Blooms celebrates a decade of donations to local seniors
Spring blossomed at one long-term care home in Etobicoke, thanks to the donation of hundreds of plants from Canada’s largest flower and garden festival.

On Tuesday, March 21, Canada Blooms helped bring a little taste of spring to the lives of Kipling Acres residents with a delivery of more than 600 colourful flowers, plants and bulbs.

“I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to carry on this tradition for a full decade,” Canada Blooms General Manager Terry Caddo said in a statement, noting that 2017 marks the tenth year the festival has brought the joy of spring to a City of Toronto long-term care home.
“Every year, after the success of the Canada Blooms festival, I look forward to seeing the joy that this donation brings to the residents.”

Also on hand at the event were celebrity gardener Denis Flanagan and Etobicoke North Councillor Michael Ford.

“The celebration at Kipling Acres means that all 10 of the City’s long-term care homes have now had a chance to experience the beauty of this generous donation,” Ford said in a statement.

Some of the plants will shared with clients of Kipling Acres’ adult day program and clients of the Kendleton Drive Supportive Housing site.
~Etobicoke Guardian

~Photo Top: Canada Blooms Terry Caddo gives resident George Carpenter a potted plant at the Kipling Acres Tuesday, by Dan Pearce/Metroland, Bottom: Councillor Mike Ford with Kipling Acres Resident, Canada Blooms Board Members, Councillor Mike Ford and Kipling Acres Staff.

Councillor Mike Ford
Canada Blooms, Councillor Mike Ford and Kipling Acres

Tips From The Pros

Frankie's Tip: Earwig Trap

eLandscape by Frankie Flowers

Earwigs creeping you out?
Build an earwig trap using an old newspaper and an elastic band. 1st Step roll newspaper and secure the roll using an elastic band. Lightly moisten the roll with water, I use a spray bottle. Place rolls into areas of the garden where earwigs are a problem. Earwigs are nocturnal, as sunrise they search for dark, damp places to hide = they will hide in these rolls. In the morning pick up rolls and discard into green bin or garbage. PRESTO an earwig trap that doesn’t cost much and works!!
Frankie (:

What is eLandscape by Frankie Flowers?
Frank's passion is plants, his mission is to get people to enjoy the outdoors through gardening. Frank says "I’ve worked endlessly in promoting landscape and horticulture over the last 20 years across North America. I’ve had the honour to sit of the board of directors for Canada Blooms and work with some of the best landscape professionals in the world. I know we have the worlds best right here in Canada, in fact right here in Ontario, but at the same time many unqualified landscapers are taking advantage of homeowners.

3 years ago my neighbours got taken advantage of. A landscaper came, provided a low bid, received a deposit, rip up their front yard and never came back. I was mad and upset and I did something. Together with my technology partner eRennovate we came up with eLandscape a website and app that makes building a landscape easy and safe. We help you find and connect with verified contractors in your area, we check their insurance, their business history and insure they have all necessary certifications. Take a look and let me know what you think!"

Click Here to Visit eLandscape by Frankie Flowers

Mark's Tip: Top 5 Tips To
Minimize Weeding

Harrowsmith Fall 2016

Top 5 Tips to Minimize Weeding
1. Start early: Early in the season cut down weeds to keep the roots from taking hold. Take time to keep your garden weed free in May and early June and it will be easier to control the weeds later on.
2. Embrace the miracle of mulch: Mulch minimizes the germination of weed seeds, reducing the need to weed by up to 90 percent during the first year.
3. Plant densely: One of the best defences against weeds is to chock them out.
4. Bet your corn: To prevent annual weeds in your garden use corn-gluten-based weed preventer. Apply it in the spring, to block weeds before they germinate.
5. Mix salt and vinegar: Salt and vinegar is an effective combination of ingredients for controlling weeds.
Read Mark Cullen's full article in Harrowsmith's 2017 Fall Almanac pp 80-83.

At Harrowsmith magazine, we strive to be timeless. There's a term for this in the industry--it's all about creating "evergreen" material. Evergreen stories remain relevant long past their publication date. That's why we want to offer you a free issue of our coveted 2017 Fall Almanac (coincidentally, the 40th-anniversary issue!). You'll find over 75 pages of weather tidbits and night sky events, our must-have seed guide and killer recipes like Beer + Nova Scotia Cheddar Cheese Soup or Brie + Pesto Grilled Cheese sandwiches.

Love us? You can subscribe at www.harrowsmithalmanac.com and "Like" our Facebook page while you're at it. There's lots of evergreen there too!

Click Here to To Recieve Your Digital Copy of Harrowsmith

Thanks To The Experts

Master Gardeners picture by David Ohashi

We would like to extend our special thank you to Adrienne Hanbidge and the members of the Master Gardeners of Ontario for all their hard work in helping to create a unique horticultural experience at Canada Blooms.

Wearing many hats, you might have seen the dedicated volunteers as they shared their gardening tips and how-to ideas at their advice clinics, perhaps you took an early morning tour with a knowledgeable Master Gardener guide, maybe you enjoyed one of the many lectures on the Hortus TV Garden Solutions Stage presented by Harrowsmith, or your children discovered the excitement of gardening in one of the many workshops offered at the Fafard Gardening Experience. Thanks to each and every one of the Master Gardeners who dedicate their time to help Canada Blooms' visitors to unearth any possible gardening dilemmas, thousands of questions were asked and answered over the 10 days.

Ask a Landscape Expert: ExperTrees' Neil Masson and Humber Nurseries provided one on one Landscape advice to visitors while at Canada Blooms.

Ask a Horticultural Specialist: the Ontario Horticultural Association, North American Native Plant Society, Butchart Gardens and Ontario Invasive Plant Society were just some of the specialists that were onsite to answer any questions attendees had.

If you didn't have a chance to take advantage of these devoted and enthusiastic gardeners, landscapers and specialists then start planning for next year!

Garden Days

Garden Days

Canada’s Annual Celebration of Gardens and Gardening
It’s never too early to start planning …

Starting this year, Garden Days – the fun-filled celebration of the vital role that gardens and gardening play in our communities and our lives – will be a 10-day event with National Garden Day being celebrated on Friday, June 16.  

In response to popular demand, Garden Days 2017 will span two weekends, the second being Father’s Day weekend, and the week in between.  This 10-day period will give activity organizers much more flexibility to host a weekday activity or a series of activities and /or to host activities on either or both weekends, the choice is yours.

There will be lots to do
The 10-day period will also give the public much more opportunity to have a whole lot of Garden Days fun.

Gardens, garden centres, horticultural societies, community destinations, garden clubs, schools and even proud private garden owners are all planning wonderful events in celebration of Garden Days. Check the website regularly as Activities will be flooding in throughout May and early June.

There is no cost to you for being part of this national program
To celebrate Garden Days, we invite you to organize special activities and/or promotions at your garden, garden centre, school, library, community facility or business. This is also great opportunity for garden-focused organizations, such as horticulture societies, garden clubs, Master Gardeners and the like, to launch new activities or increase the exposure of what you already have planned between June 9 and 18 by being part of Garden Days. It’s a win-win as your activity remains prominent in your community while having the benefit of national exposure.

Your participation can be as simple as free or reduced-price admission to your garden, a 15% discount in your shop or garden centre, hosting a ‘how to’ garden-themed session, a private garden tour or a special community event. What you do is entirely up to you. 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, we invite you to register your activity or promotion, at no cost, on the Garden Days website .  It’s as simple as clicking on the ‘Register’ button and inputting your Garden Days activity information. As soon as you register your activity, you’ll receive the Garden Days ‘Official Activity’ logo which you can use in promotions of your activity.

Looking for inspiration?
If you’d like to see the wide variety of activities that have been organized in previous years, click on the ‘Activity ideas from previous years’ button at the top of the ‘Activities’ page on the Garden Days website. You will discover a treasure trove of ideas!

Garden Days is supported by a vibrant national Public Relations and Social Media campaign as well as national and provincial spokespeople. We invite youto connect with your provincial spokesperson by visiting the home page clicking on the name of your provincial spokesperson.

Garden Days is organized by: Canadian Garden Council (www.gardencouncil.ca).

Click Here to Find Out About Garden Days 2017

Through The Garden Gate 2017

Through The Garden Gate 2017

Through the Garden Gate: North Rosedale & Moore Park
Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, 2017 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Through the Garden Gate, one of Canada’s largest private garden tours, will celebrate its 30th year by showcasing 30 of Toronto’s most beautiful gardens. This self-guided tour enables participants to discover the gardens at their own pace following a map and garden guide containing descriptions of the featured gardens. A complimentary shuttle bus service is available for participants along the garden route. Knowledgeable Toronto Master Gardeners will be at each garden to answer any questions about the plant materials and design features. There will be opportunities to buy snacks and refreshments along the route with our partners Augie’s Gourmet Ice Pops and Vert Catering Pickle Cycle.

2017 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• MORE GARDENS! 30 gardens for 30 years (Consider a two-day pass!)
• NEW pop up “Celebration Stations”
Headquarters: Chorley Park, 245 Douglas Drive, Toronto

TICKETS

One-Day Pass: Public $45 / TBG Members $40
Two-Day Pass: Public $65 / TBG Members $60
Students $25 (With ID, One-Day Pass Only)
Tax included. Tickets are limited, advance purchase recommended.
For more information call 416-397-1483 and follow #TTGG17

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win tickets to TTGG17, contest closes May 22, 2017.

Click Here to Find Out More About
Through The Garden Gate
Click Here to BUY TICKETS
Click Here For A Chance To Win Tickets

Earth Day

Downsview Park HOH Planting

Volunteers plant 2000 trees at Downsview Park to honour Canadian Soldiers for Earth Day.
As part of Earth Day celebrations on April 23, 2017, the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute enlisted the help of volunteers to honour the Canadian men and women who both served and gave their lives for their country. Volunteers witnessed a special ceremony, hosted by Ziya Tong of Discovery’s flagship program, Daily Planet, which also feature a special performance by JUNO Award winning group, The Trews, who performed the hit song, Highway of Heroes.

“With the 150th anniversary of Canada just around the corner, and this was something special to recognize Canada’s fallen soldiers in conjunction with Earth Day,” says Mark Cullen, Canada’s gardening Guru and Chairman of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute. “This was a perfect opportunity for people to take part in a great cause while also getting outside to enjoy the spring weather.”

HOH Tribute logoIn addition to the tree planting activities a contribution of $50,000 by TD Bank Group was also announced. This contribution will support the Living Tribute's tree planting activities in 2017.

Highway of Heroes wants to plant 117,000 trees -- one tree for every fallen soldier one tree for each of Canada's war dead since Confederation. A living, breathing memorial.
Find out how you can help this great cause by visiting their website.

Blooms Tree Planting for Earth Day

Canada Blooms and Landscape Ontario also celebrated with Earth Day by planting a tree outside of our offices.

The tree is a pin oak donated by Sheridan Nurseries. Also around the offices were lovely tulips and spring flower mix, courtesy of Tradewinds International that were just starting to peek through the ground and now are bursting with colour.

Click Here to Find Out More About Highway of Heroes

Contests

Win a Copy of Mark Cullen's Book

Looking for great gardening advice?
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Mark Cullen's book The New Canadian Garden from Dundurn Press.

Mark keeps his fingers on the pulse of exciting horticultural trends. His years of experience give him a unique understanding of who today’s gardeners are, what information they require, and how gardening trends are changing people’s expectations. A must-have reference for every home gardener in a Canadian climate!

Visit our Contest page for a chance to enter for your Chance to win a copy of Mark's book.

Click Here To Enter Contest

Congratulations To Prize Winners

Victoria Contest Winner

Visitors at Canada Blooms were asked to vote for their favourite Feature Garden and Floral Display, in the Toronto Star "People's Choice" Award, for an opportunity to win a trip to Victoria, BC. Prize included a two night stay at the Oswego Hotel, airfare and a delightful afternoon tea at the majestic Butchart Gardens.

Congratulations to: Mike Intven, St. Thomas, Ontario

Troy-Bilt contest Winner

Visitors to Canada Blooms were invited to visit the Troy-Bilt booth for an opportunity to increase their yard appeal by winning $1800 worth of Troy-Bilt Equipment.

Congratulations to: Frasier MacGregor, Caledonia, Ontario

Upcoming Events

Spring Flowers

Toronto Botanical Garden Plant Sale
Friday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, May 13 & 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Toronto Botanical Garden
Choose from top-quality perennials, annuals, natives, herbs and vegetables, succulents, shrubs, vines, and small trees. Friendly gardening advice from the Toronto Master Gardeners.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
777 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto, ON

A Town and Country Garden Tour
Saturday, July 8th - 10:00 - 4:00 Rain or shine.
CFWU Belleville & District
Self-guided, boxed lunch included. Explore 8 private gardens.
Tickets are $25.00, St. Thomas Anglican Church, Belleville, ON.
Call 613-394-5953 for more info.

 
CanadaBlooms.com

Our address is:
7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8

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Canada Blooms was founded by the Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario
Garden Club of Toronto Landscape Ontario

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