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An exclusive peek at Canada Blooms: The Flower & Garden Festival

Canada Blooms Named In Top 100

Canada Blooms and the National Home Show have been named as the one of the Top 100 Events in Toronto in 2016, and named #3 for Trade Shows & Conventions.
Canada Blooms and the National Home Show together create Canada’s largest home and garden event which will be held March 10-19 at the Enercare Centre in 2017. BizBash Logo
In 2016, the co-located event saw a 6 percent increase in attendance, as over 185,000 visitors enjoyed gardens, floral designs, Canada's largest juried flower show and competition, over 100 presentations, special features, as well as 750 exhibitors.
Photo Contest Winners 2016One of the most popular open classes of the Toronto Flower Show is the photography competition which is open to all amateur photographers.
Each year there are four categories offered and competitors can enter once in each category. In 2016 the categories, in keeping with the theme "It's A Party", were: Uninvited Guests, It's A Gift, One Too Many, and Visitors From Afar. Normally all entries must be taken in Canada, but for the first time Visitors From Afar included entries from outside of Canada.
Entries are judged according to standard criteria including: overall aesthetic quality, interpretation of the class title, composition, and quality of light and centre of interest.
Photos displayed at the festival are chosen by the Judges based on the total number of entries per class category.
First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention ribbons are awarded for each category and First Prize winners receive tickets to the Toronto Botanical Garden's annual 'Through the Garden Gate' tour in June.
The Toronto Flower Show schedule will be available online on the Canada Blooms website in September, be sure to check out this year's categories.
Photos: Left-Top: Linda Davis (1st - One Too Many), L-Bottom: Martha Huffman (1st - Visitors From Afar); Below-Left: Beth Oberholtzer (It's A Gift), B-Centre: Ellen Clark (2nd - Uninvited Guest), B-Right: Ibi Smith (One Too Many)
Photo Contest Winners 2016
Harrowsmth Gardening Digest MagazineDON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE DIGITAL ISSUE!

Dear Readers,
Compliments of Canada Blooms and Harrowsmith, we are pleased to provide you, our newsletter subscribers, with a FREE issue of Harrowsmith’s Summer Issue. It’s packed with how-to information on vegetable and flower gardening - the Harrowsmith way!

Download the 2016 Summer Issue of Harrowsmith here!

For the gardener in all of us, any exploration of Stratford in the warmer months has to include the town's world-class gardens. Topping the list (though it's a challenge to pick a favourite) is the Shakespearean Gardens, which has more than 60 varieties of herbs, flowers and shrubs. Each variety comes from the Bard's era and was selected because he mentioned it in his plays. They're all framed with a pergola, the Perth County Courthouse and the double arched Huron Street Bridge. Keep an eye out for the Stratford's swans, who call the river home in the summer months.
Other gardening enthusiasts might prefer the Arthur Meighen Garden, named after this country's ninth prime minster and funded in large part by the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation. The garden is a series of limestone terraces on the grounds of the Festival Theatre, with the main path winding through the garden over a bridge above a lily pond. It's big, with 21,000 plants expressly grown for the project and place in recurring combinations throughout the beds.
— Maurice Crossfield, Discovering the Charms of Stratford.
For full article check out Harrowsmith's Summer Issue pages: 40-57
Harrowsmith Magazine

Subscribe to Harrowsmith's Almanac and Harrowsmith's Gardening Digest, and you'll receive digital versions of these two issues FREE!
As an ADDED BONUS, THEY'LL INCLUDE 2 NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINES to your subscription for FREE! Harrowsmith’s My Kind of Town and Harrowsmith’s Homes.
Great Canadian Road Trip All economic, anecdotal and industry indicators say that the ‘Great Canadian Road Trip’ will be the vacation theme for the summer of 2016.
Whether you’re travelling by car or VIA Rail, whether you’re planning an overnight trip to discover a part of the province that you’re not familiar with, or a cross-country escapade – like millions of people do every year, you’re probably going to want to visit a few of Canada’s fabulous public gardens along the way. 
Finding the gardens is super easy, they’re all on the Canada’s Garden Route website.  Be sure to bookmark this url on whatever devices you’re travelling with so you can instantly connect to garden experiences on the way to, or at your destination.
You won’t find any defined ‘routes’ on Canada’s Garden Route, but what you will find are all of our outstanding public gardens, garden and flower festivals, garden networks and trails, garden focused communities and a link to an enormous selection of ‘Events for Garden Lovers’ too.
Our country’s public gardens have come a long way since the last century!  Not only will you find some of the finest examples of horticulture on the planet, but you’ll also find all sorts of events and activities that you and your family will enjoy.  How about a session of sunrise yoga, or a free music concert, Canada's Garden Routeor kid-specific activities, pig roasts, afternoon teas and late night fireworks.  If there are gardens on your route that you’re thinking of visiting, be sure to check the ‘Events’ buttons on their websites and you’ll be amazed at the interesting, creative and downright exciting events they have planned just for you.
Wishing you a terrific summer road trip,
Your friends at
Canada's Garden Route
Mark Cullen in the Garden
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK CULLEN
on his appointment to the Order of Canada
for his contributions to promoting and developing horticulture education in Canada. The Order of Canada is one of our country's highest civilian honours and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
Mark Cullen is Canada's most recognized and beloved gardener.
Through his varied media appearances, radio programs, newspapers columns and books he has helped and encouraged countless gardeners and farmers to grow sustainable, healthy produce. Mark is also the founding chair of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute, a tree planted for each of Canada's fallen in times of war since confederation. 117,000 in total. Visit www.hohtribute.ca for more details.
Toronto By Nature Bike TourSpend a day enjoying a "green escape within the city" as you unearth Toronto’s greenspaces, gardens and art on an electric bike. Go beyond the concrete and steel of downtown and be treated to tastings, art and a different view of nature in Toronto!
A part of a small group who is entertained by a guide who will inform you of stories of our city. Biking will give you the opportunity to experience beautiful and unique vantage points and views along the way. Here is some of what you will experience during your tour:
Toronto Botanical Garden: enjoy an experience full of natural beauty, country charm and wild elixirs that will raise your spirits and feed your soul. Belly up to the botanical bar and shake your senses as you sample a flight of local honey along with other daily specials.
Aga Khan Museum: experience an introduction to Islamic art by discovering how nature has inspired exquisite manuscript paintings, textiles, and ceramics. Then let nature be your guide during a treasure hunt through the Museum Collections gallery and Aga Khan Park! Toronto Botanical Garden & Toronto Bike Tours Logos
Lunch: CF Shops at Don Mills: discover Ontario’s first and finest outdoor urban lifestyle centre providing unique, one-of-a-kind experiences, including exceptional shopping and premium, casual restaurants all surrounding a lovely Town Square. Lunch is included in the price of the tour.
Roll through the Don Valley: explore a small river in a big city, the Don River Valley is often overlooked when it comes to explaining Toronto’s growth. As you ride up the valley you’ll learn more about the colourful story of the relationship between the river, the valley, and the city.
If you’ve never tried an electric bike then you are in for a treat! Ebikes are light and comfortable like our standard bikes, with a motor assist to level out the hills and make it easy for us to cover more distance with less effort. Guests must be 16 years or older to operate our eBikes.
Duration: 7 hrs, lunch provided
$150/person + 13% taxes, Level: Medium
Book Today!
Green Lawn Tips and Tricks for Taking Care of your Lawn and Garden in Excessive Heat
Heat advisories have been a regular occurrence for many regions across Ontario this summer. While it’s important to be wary of the high temperatures and humidity levels for health reasons, the heat can also have impacts on the lawn and garden you’ve worked so hard to keep healthy.
“When we go out in the heat, we take a number of precautions to ensure we avoid any potential risks and stay healthy and hydrated,” says Denis Flanagan of Landscape Ontario. “Like us, our lawns and gardens also need to be protected from the hot and dry conditions.”
The realities of the hot temperatures can be detrimental to your outdoor landscape, but there are a number of simple tips and tricks Flanagan has identified that can go a long way in keeping your lawn and garden healthy in the heat.

Lawn Care

“Lawns may seem to be the most affected by the blazing sun, but in reality, lawns are very smart and tend to go dormant when there is a lack of water,” Flanagan says. “Lawns are not dying, they are just napping under a brown blanket and will usually green up with some rain.
”But if a drought should occur and you feel your lawn needs some hydration, Flanagan says it’s important to keep the following in mind:
• Hose-end overhead sprinklers can be wasteful when the spray is watering sidewalks and driveways. Instead, try using a soaker hose to water your lawn.
• The ultimate solution is to contact a professional certified irrigation company who can access your property and develop a water saving plan that will keep your lawn healthy while reducing water use.

Garden Care

Trees and shrubs are typically most durable in the heat, while plants and flowers need the most attention. Nonetheless, it’s important to ensure they are all properly watered and cared for when temperatures are excessively hot. Flanagan suggests the following for keeping your garden healthy in the heat:
Landscape OntarioIf newly planted, pay close attention to deep watering around the root zones of trees and shrubs, and consider a water retention bag that fits around the base of the trunk to keep the roots hydrated.
• Vegetable and flower gardens should be given a good soaking early in the morning. If you’re using a sprinkler, you can avoid wasting water by keeping it low and targeted at the crop.
For more information on summer gardening, water saving ideas, rain harvesting and drought resistant plants, visit Landscape Ontario’s website.
Ski VacationAs we spend our day melting, now is the time to think of something cool.
Take your mind off the heat by planning a ski vacation. We know that planning a ski trip with friends and family can be a daunting task but Merit Travel has done the research for you and have created great deals and packages so you don't have to. Let one of their specialists take care of all the details for you, and recommend the best ski town for both the best snow and best apres-ski. Book early and save.
Merit Travel delivers authentic travel experiences to the world’s top destinations, with a team of passionate and dedicated Travel Consultants at over 25 offices across Canada. Merit Travel has cruised, meandered, trekked, dived, golfed, skied, cycled, worked, and volunteered all over the planet! With thousands of travel options out there, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect vacation for you. Merit Travel knows that not all vacations can be created with a few Merit Travel Logoclicks, and that’s what they’re here for—to put the pieces together, do the research, negotiate the deals, customize itineraries and create the perfect getaway for you.
Highway of Heroes Tree MaintenanceTransplantation is a stressful process for a tree.
Generally speaking, for every inch in diameter of the trunk, a year is required to allow the tree to regain the growth rate it had prior to being moved. That's one reason why smaller trees often do better with transplanting - they can get back to growing more quickly than larger trees.
Part of our annual budget is allocated to the maintenance of our Hero Trees. No one wants the efforts of building a living legacy to Canada's fallen to fail because of neglect. Highway of Heroes (HOH) supports our troops and supports our trees!
HOH spring plantings are doing well in the heat and dry weather that southern Ontario has faced in the past two months. Only about 1/2 of the normal rainfall has fallen in May and June. HOH has been busy watering them using watering trucks, and sometimes by hand too! The maple tree at the terminal building at Highway of Heroes Tribute LogoCFB Trenton planted last November 6th did well through the mild winter and is thriving in it's new home. Plantings in Toronto, Cobourg, and Trenton have also received water. HOH will continue to follow up with our trees to ensure their success through the initial stages of planting. — Highway of Heroes
To stay up to date with the Highway of Heroes or to see how you can help, sign up for the newsletter or visit their website.

Rhea Chudy picture

 

Beautiful picture of a lily with blooms about to burst in a Manitoba garden.
Thanks Rhea Chudy.


Upcoming Events

ENJOY AN EVENING OF MUSIC IN THE GARDEN THIS SUMMER

TUESDAY EVENINGS:
Symphony in the Gardens at Casa Loma: each Tuesday evening from now to August 30 at 7:30pm (doors at 5pm, Castle open late until 10pm), enjoy stunning views of the city, majestic castle and the beautiful estate gardens while listening to the Toronto Concert Orchestra under the stars. General Casa Loma Entrance Fee.

Country and Roots at the Royal Botanical Gardens (Hendrie Park). Now until August 16 from 6pm to 8:30pm, get ready for hot summer nights filled with inspiring performances from home-grown Canadian country talent. General RBG Entrance Fee

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS:

Red Hot Jazz and Cool Blues at the Royal Botanical Garden (Hendrie Park): each Wednesday from now to September 7, 6pm-8:30pm, rain or shine. General RBG Entrance Fee.

THURSDAY EVENINGS:
Edward Gardens' Gardens of Song: each Thursday from now until August 25 at 7pm, Enjoy an eclectic roster of popular artists, set in the natural beauty of the gardens, rain or shine. Some seating available or bring your own. FREE Admission.

Toronto Music Garden's Summer Music in the Garden: each Thursday from now until September 15 at 7pm, let yourself be carried away by the classic sounds of brass, wood and percussive instruments. Some seating but feel free to bring your own. Free Admission.

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS:
Toronto Music Garden's Summer Music in the Garden: each Sunday from now until September 18 at 4pm, let yourself be carried away by the classic sounds of brass, wood and percussive instruments. Some seating but feel free to bring your own. Free Admission.

If you have an upcoming garden related event that is of interest to our readers, let us know at news@canadablooms.com and we might include it in upcoming issues of our newsletter.
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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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