Canada Blooms and Proven Winners are proud to announce the Canada Blooms Plants of the Year for 2018. This year we will be showcase three amazing plants -- an annual, a perennial and a shrub, and purple is the colour to look for in the spring.

These three plants selected were chosen from hundreds that were tested in the University of Guelph Trial Gardens program for hardiness suitable for growing in Ontario's climate.

The Annual - Petunia 'Supertunia® Bordeaux™' has vigorous slightly mounded growth habits that function as both fillers and spillers in containers. They are also excellent landscape plants, best suited to be placed near the front of beds. The Bordeaux has medium to large sized flowers, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

The Perennial - Heuchera 'Primo Black Pearl' has stunning black foliage with ruffled edges, rosy purple undersides, and white flowers that bloom in mid-summer. This salt-tolerant heuchera grows well in both shade and sun. It is also deer resistant and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

The Shrub - Weigela 'Spilled Wine' shares the fabulous deep purple foliage and bright pink flowers of the classic Wine & Roses® weigela but with a shorter growth habit. This beautiful plant grows wider than tall, making it the perfect choice for edging beds or walkways and for incorporating under windows in your landscape design. Like all weigela, it is deer resistant and very easy to care for.

“We’re thrilled that Canada Blooms has graciously agreed to feature our three 2018 National Plants of the Year at their spring festival,” said Marshall Dirks, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Proven Winners. “In just our second year of building this effort, we’ve been pleased that growers and retailers have embraced the National Plant of the Year program, making it easier for gardeners to experience these wonderful varieties. In fact, Supertunia® Bordeaux™, our 2018 Annual of the Year™, was developed by a Canadian, Ken Lander of Sunrise Greenhouses in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.”

Don Burnett, garden expert in Kelowna, BC notes that "if you google world famous flower shows the first thing that comes up is the 10 Most Amazing Flower Shows Around The World" and Canada Blooms makes the list.
#10 Canada Blooms: The Flower & Garden Festival
# 9 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
# 8 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
# 7 Hong Kong Flower Expo
# 6 RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
# 5 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
# 4 Philadelphia Flower Show
# 3 Singapore Garden Festival
# 2 Portland Rose Festival
# 1 HRS Chelsea Show

Canada Blooms also named as one of the top 12 Flower Shows by The Spruce.

Staging the Toronto Flower Show at Canada Blooms... (otherwise known as an exercise on madness)

When do we begin planning for the next show?  We start before the current show is even set up!  By June of the prior year, we are in full swing – drawing up construction plans and nagging others for information so we can develop a floor plan.

Schedule writers from Horticulture and Design, Youth, Special Exhibits, lighting consultants, and plant suppliers are but a few of the people with whom we interact, always staying in touch with Terry Caddo, General Manager of Canada Blooms, and diligently monitoring the budget throughout the whole process.

Once we receive the flower show schedule, we get together over the summer months to review the schedule for the upcoming show and to assess the sets that we have in inventory and how they can be best utilized.  .... continue reading

Fall is a fabulous time to tackle landscaping tasks in your yard. In fact, some seasoned gardeners believe fall rivals spring when it comes to the number of gardening opportunities. Don’t put away that garden spade just yet — you’ve got some planting to do! Here is a list of tips to help you get the job done:

Plant more plants
Fall is a great time for planting because the soil temperature is perfect for root establishment. Perennials, vines, shrubs and trees can all be planted up to six weeks before the ground completely freezes.

Decide and divide
When perennials begin to bloom less, clumps become too large or start dying out in the centre. If you want to increase the number of clumps or move them to another location, it’s time to decide and divide.

Leave the leaves
If you have a mulching mower, mulch fallen leaves right into your lawn, rather than raking. If you have too many leaves, run the mower over the leaves first, then rake them up and apply as organic matter to your garden or simply add to your compost bin.

Water-wise
Be sure to keep within the guidelines of municipal water restrictions, yet keep your garden watered in the fall right until freeze-up as plants are still growing.

Help from the pros
The fall gardening season truly is a busy time! If you simply don’t have the time or the energy to prepare your property for the coming seasons, why not hire a professional to do the work for you? For more tips and advice, or to connect with one of over 2,000 members of Landscape Ontario

Get all the tips and read the full article from Denis Flanagan, Landscape Ontario

Jill Jensen Botanicals share with us their five plants on trend that we can't get enough of. With Pantone choosing ‘Greenery’ as this years ‘Colour of The Year’, it’s really no surprise to see that inspiration trickling down into customers plant choices. Whether it’s a large statement floor plant or a little cluster of small plants, the enthusiasm for plants is growing (#plantpuns) and we couldn’t be more excited for it. Below are our fave five plants on trend this year.

#5 Palms
Palms have really made a large comeback over the past few years. There’s the prestigious Kentia Palm which would inspire anyone to want to live in a tropical rainforest, to Spindle Palms, Triangle Palms, Pygmy Date Palms and everything in between. There’s a palm out there to meet everyone’s design and/or light and watering requirements.

#4 Rubber Plants
Ficus Elastica Decora, the species commonly referred to as ‘Rubber Plants’, offers some great options for low to mid light requirements. With ‘ficus rubber burgundy’ you have a deep green almost black leaf, and with ‘ficus rubber ruby red’ you have a white and green variegated leaf with pink and red overtones. The list goes on, but from low light to bright, indirect light, this species offers it all and is a great addition to any room, dorm or office.

#3 Philodendron Monstera Delicosa
Also known as ‘split leaf philodendron’ or ‘swiss cheese plant’, Philodendron Monstera Delicosa has been a popular choice this summer. Florists love the plant for their beautiful leaves and interior designers love them for this simple but effective tropical look. These plants do require more light than others on this list, which is good to keep in mind when you’re planning on bringing one home or to the office. Bright, indirect sunlight is a safe choice for your new monstera buddy.

#2 Tillandsia
Commonly referred to as ‘air plants’, tillandsia have grown in popularity for the past few years thanks to their versatility. Most are epiphytes, meaning they grow without the need of soil, which makes them great for placing just about anywhere in your home or office. They’re easy to care for and come in literally thousands of varieties making it a top pick for plant enthusiasts everywhere.

#1 Cactus & Succulents
It was a no-brainer to put these guys on the list. They come in a wide variety of shapes, colours and sizes and are easy to care for – assuming of course you can meet their individual light requirements. Generally speaking, most cactus like low water and high light but there are exceptions to every rule. Speak with your local plant shop or tropical nursery to find the best one for you.

Some other exciting news is that Jill Jensen Botanicals have decided after all to return with their pop-up store to Canada Blooms 2018! They look forward to seeing everyone there to discuss all your new plant obsessions and to share some of ours!

The Canada Blooms Volunteer Appreciation Event took place at Mount Pleasant, Canada’s Largest privately owned arboretum. We would like to thank all the volunteers who were able to join us, and those who were unable to come out, for all the hard work and dedication that they have shown Canada Blooms over the years.

Volunteers this year helped us to get in the mood for the 2018 with a “Let’s Go To The Movies” themed lunch where they could dress up like a ‘star’ and take pictures, win door prizes, take in a native container seminar with our own Horticulture Director, David Turnbull, and discover the many trees in the arboretum with a special tour offered by tree expert Jeff McMann.

Thanks to Mount Pleasant Group for the use of their Visitor’s Centre and for the help of their wonderful staff who did an amazing job with set up as well as aiding with food service.  Also thanks to Aldershot Greenhouses who donated the ‘thank you’ plants.

What to do with a vacant lot, while waiting for the construction to begin?
USE THE SPACE! Grow some fresh vegetables!

A progressive property development company in the picturesque town of Collingwood, recently purchased a property at 84 Hurontario Street – in the heart of downtown, directly across from the Town Hall, fashionable shops and cafes. The lot was cleared in the Spring of 2017, but construction on the rubble-strewn site will not commence before Spring 2018. So, what to do with the space?

The most basic option was to put up a chain link fence. Aardvark One owner, Craig Marsh, had a better idea, he contacted The Growing Connection (TGC - also on FB at The Growing Connection). TGC uses its sub-irrigated container – the Caja – to install mini-gardens at schools, community projects, seniors’ residences, etc. creating beautiful, highly productive gardens in “non-traditional” spaces. Craig asked for a garden perimeter to be built, shielding the lot as the Town required, but also presenting a green, positive face to the community.

TGC went a step further, “popping-up” a full-scale edible urban landscape, producing fresh tastes, and providing a living, growing lesson in the best possible use of a very non-traditional space…. a sustainable, organic vegetable garden built on a pile of rubble! All Summer long on that pile of rubble – that future construction site – one hundred of TGC’s sub-irrigated Caja containers have been producing the tastiest fresh vegetables – from Arugula to Zucchini – and transforming downtown Collingwood into a flavourful, aromatic Eden.

The fresh produce is available to everyone who comes to the garden, and community groups have been conducting workshops, treasure hunts and art events in the garden. This “rubble garden” has made the space a benefit to all. With the Caja, it’s easy!

And remember to come see the Caja planters in various displays throughout the Canada Blooms 2018 festival!

For more information contact: robert@thegrowingconnection.com

Have you picked up your Harrowsmith 2018 Almanac yet?

The fall issue covers everything from sky-side high rise potato patches in Saskatoon to Dundurn Castle's secret kitchen garden in Hamilton, Ontario to an exploration of Canada's hard apple cider industry. Mark Cullen's colourful guide to growing your own snacks and book collection is the perfect arsenal for crisp autumn night inspiration. You'll find all the usual Almanac staples too: Mark Sirois' weather forecast for 2018, the Astronomical Almanac and our 39th annual guide to Canada's seed houses and specialty nurseries. Let us know what you think!

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for daily ideas about living simply and sustainably.
Jules Torti
Editor-in-Chief

In keeping with the Canada 150 celebration this year, here are the 10 Best Places To See Fall Foliage according to TripSavvy. They tell us autumn colours tend to be best in the eastern parts of Canada; and if the sole purpose of your visit is to see fall foliage, Ontario, Quebec or the Maritime provinces are probably your best bet.

1. The Rocky Mountains of Alberta (pictured above) - drink in the reds and yellows of the sub-alpine larch and aspen trees.
2. Algonquin Park, Ontario - The aspens, tamaracks and red oaks reach their peak in the middle or end of October.
3. Agawa Canyon Trip, Ontario - The Algoma Central Railroad is another excellent way to see the colours in September/October.
4. Romance by Rail -- Toronto - Montreal - Quebec City - Halifax - There is nothing more spectacular or romantic than the dramatic changes autumn brings to the forests of Eastern Canada.
5. Niagara Parkway, Ontario - The loveliest stretch in autumn is between the small towns of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-lake and reaches its pinnacle of color in October.
6. Bruce Peninsula, Ontario - Some of the trees are more than 1000 years old and in autumn the colors are something to behold.
7. The Laurentian Mountains, Québec - Québec is famous for its autumn colours because of the sugar maple trees.
8. Prince Edward Island - PEI forests have an exceptional range of colours in autumn
9. The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia - Hailed as one of the world's most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail is ful of rewards for fall color seekers in a spectacular way.
10. Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick - Enjoy the vivacious reds and deep pumpkin oranges.

September and October are the best time to see fall leaves. However, this year's warm snap has delayed the leaves turning for a little longer, so you might want to take in a weekend drive to see the magnificent sights that Canada has to offer.

Revisit the Canada Blooms 2017!
Land-Con Ltd. created the 'Year Round Fun'' which was designed to celebrating Canada’s four seasons.

Our garden gnomes Tomlin and Tansi have set out on a trip to see the best gardens of the world.

Every couple of weeks they send us a postcard to let us know where they are. Can you help us find them, If you can guess their location correctly you could win tickets to Canada Blooms 2018.

The first location was Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Congratulations to Dylan Westlake of Toronto, ON who has won two tickets to Canada Blooms.

Look for the newest location on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as our contest page, and you might win tickets as well.

In honour of our 2018 Theme — “Let’s Go To The Movies” we have a movie poster challenge for you. Each Movie Poster has a flower, plant or tree (or something closely related) in the title.

Get all 21 correct and you could win one of two 4-packs of tickets to Canada Blooms 2018. Those who miss the title or get it slightly wrong, you still have a chance to win one of four 2-packs of tickets to Canada Blooms. So give it a try and have some fun.

Contest closes: October 30, 2018 at 5pm E.S.T.

October is a great time to get creative with pumpkins and gourds decorating for Fall and Halloween.
If you are all thumbs like me and worried about chopping off fingers or your carvings go a little wonky when you get the knife in your hand, you might want to consider no carve ideas where paint, glue and accessories are more your thing. There are lots out there, here are a few that I found from Pinterest. You might want to look at GoodHousekeeping.com for some ideas as well.

So get creative and if you are really proud of your creations then share them on our Facebook page and we might share them with our followers.

CAFA (The Canadian Academy of Floral Arts) is celebrating 25 years of floral artistry on October 22 & 23 with a stage show and hands on workshop with featured designer Roman Steinhauer.

Roman Steinhauer who lives and works in Russia is a florist who seems to inspire young florists no matter where he goes. This charming man is a dedicated and highly talented florist who loves Land Art. Roman recently represented Russia in the Europa Cup where he placed 2nd. His work shows a dedication that is inspirational and dynamic. He is as much at home working with plants and nature as he is with cultivated flowers.

All are invited to join CAFA in this celebration which includes:
Stage Show, October 22nd, 3:00 p.m.
tickets: $85

Design Competition, October 22nd
(if you would like to compete, entry is open to all stage show ticket holders, space permitting, contact derrickharryfoss@gmail.com for details)

Hands-on Workshop, October 23rd, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
tickets: participation spots $285

Combo Ticket - Show + workshop $350
Spots are limited, so book now!

For tickets contact:
carolynanicholson@gmail.com
veltab@sympatico.ca
Alma's Florist 416-699-9669

Flower Night with Nicholas Smith at Nordstrom Yorkdale Mall
Monday, October 23, 2017 at 6:00-8:00pm
Workshop includes:
one 6 oz glass of wine & light refreshments
a floral arranging class with Nicholas Smith of Opening Night Flowers
an arrangement to take home
Tickets start at $80
purchase tickets at: workshops@openiningnightflowers.com

Small Garden Design with Frank Kershaw
Small gardens can be challenging for new and experienced gardeners. Frank Kershaw will discuss common pitfalls and how to avoid them, provide tried and true design tips, and offer an extensive plant list for tiny gardens.
Public $30; Members $25
Email for more info: info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Toronto Botanical Garden
777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto ON
T. 416-397-1341
Register today!