The decline of the honeybee and monarch butterfly population has our attention. As gardeners, our goal is to plant something that helps to attract and nurture the beneficial insects in our neighbourhood, provides natural beauty and colour AND is low maintenance. Our solution: planting native plants in our outdoor space. This will provide a source
Delivery of hundreds of plants to Cummer Lodge marks 12 years of donations to City of Toronto by Canada Blooms Residents and staff at the City of Toronto's Cummer Lodge long-term care home were joined by Deputy Mayor Councillor Michael Thompson (Councillor for Ward 21 Scarborough Centre)
Let’s reflect together for a moment on the very popular tradition of giving long stem cut roses on Valentine’s Day. We know that this is a crowd pleaser, but then, are you trying to please the crowd or your sweetheart?
Vegepod, it’s easy to set up, simple to fill and requires little ongoing maintenance. The ideal solution for the busy householder who wants a vegie patch but doesn’t have the time or effort required to build one.
November is not normally a month that is looked forward to. It just is not an exciting month. It is grey and it looks dirty outside. November also gives us hints that winter will soon start. In the flower business...
Canadian gardening gurus Mark and Ben Cullen lend their brand to the country’s largest garden and floral festival They have been involved with Canada Blooms since it was started some 23 years ago; now, they are attaching their brand to the marquee. Canadian gardening gurus Mark and Ben Cullen have reached a five-year agreement to
Fall is the best time to start a new lawn from seed or to lay sod. It is the best time to over-seed established lawns to fill in bare patches and thicken your grass.
We are on the continental divide of the gardening season. On your right is the last four months that you invested and the flowers and fruit that your garden has produced to date. On your left is another four months (or so, depending on where you live). This is when apples ripen and tomatoes are
Canada Blooms is looking for a Horticulture Director. The Horticulture Director is responsible for the for the development of a plant material plan, as well as with the coordinating and assisting with the planning and installation of Feature Gardens.
Canada Blooms and City of Toronto celebrate 11 years of donations. At a March 20th celebration residents and staff of Bendale Acres joined celebrity gardener Ben Cullen to accept more than 600 plants donated by Canada Blooms and transported by Procter's Cartage.
Canada Blooms is now accepting applications from Interior Designers, Landscape Designers and Architects to create Balcony Gardens for 2018.
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!
Daffodils are the sunniest, most upbeat spring flowering bulbs. Their nodding heads, with the trumpet-shaped cup surrounded by a ring of petals, seem particularly full of personality. William Hrycan from The Gardener Magazine provides us with great tips for daffodil care.
Now our beautiful tulips have bloomed and peaked, and we were wondering what to do with them so we reached out to Carolyn de Vries from Tradewinds International for some advice.
Good news: Every homeowner can make a difference! Rain gardens capture rainwater and allow it to filter down where it is needed, preventing serious problems.
Sixteen years into her career, Jennifer Harvey loves doing freelance event work one day, and on the next, either helping a shop customer choose just the right sympathy arrangement or demonstrating a technique to a crowd.That desire to enjoy and share all her job has to offer makes her an enthusiastic champion for the floral and horticultural industries.
National Tree Day will serve as a celebration for all Canadians to appreciate the great benefits that trees provide us - clean air, wildlife habitat, reducing energy demand and connecting with nature.
Just because you don’t have deep pockets doesn’t mean you can’t get into agriculture. It’s a venture filled with both obstacles and opportunities.
Flowers are used to celebrate every occasion. Whether it is a birthday, wedding, or a special holiday, flowers show loved ones we care, and help celebrate life’s important milestones. During Canada Bloom’s 20th anniversary, the festival will showcase that ‘Life is a Celebration,’ and flowers are there every step of the way to help celebrate.
Canada Blooms was excited to take part in the first annual Youth Expo presented by Volunteer Toronto on October 24th at the Toronto Reference Library.
I always seem to get asked the question, “now that the festival is over, what do you do for the rest of the year?” So if you are interested in taking the journey with me, I will take you through what we do each month up until the next festival. So let's start with April.
When at Canada Blooms check out the Piega Benches that will be in the Parklane Speakers Area located in Hall B, near the presentation room. Piega Collection (benches) The Piega (fold) collection is a family of furniture made in solid walnut and ebonized with a steel wool and vinegar solution to give each piece a
On June 18th, 2014, the 11th World Flower Show of the World Association of Floral Artists took place in Ireland. What a spectacular event—31 countries were represented by 670 competitors in 31 classes.
TORONTO, Ont. (JUNE 17, 2014) – The Board of Canada Blooms Horticultural Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Terry Caddo to the position of General Manager of Canada Blooms. Terry brings a wealth of experience in management, marketing and sales, communications, horticulture and trade shows to provide the leadership and strategic direction to
The City of Toronto, Canada Blooms and Procter’s Cartage Ltd. will join forces to deliver a taste of spring to residents of Wesburn Manor, one of the City’s long-term care homes. Flowers and plants that were on display at Canada Blooms will be donated to residents of Wesburn Manor and clients of Long-Term Care Homes
Landscapes By Lucin team arrived at the Cliffs of Moher, met by Flan Quilligan from Feilte Ireland, Geraldine Enright from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, and the ever-illustrious Pat Sweeney our nimble cliff walking guide.
This year's colour of the year is Pantone 16-1546 (Living Coral) so you can expect to see a number of pinky/orangy/coral plants in the garden centres this year.
Drop by the Proven Winners "Must See Plants" Showcase at Canada Blooms for a peak at what is new and exciting for the 2019 growing season.
Did you know the Christmas Cactus is originally from the tropical rainforests in Southeast Brazil?
Winterizing Tips Those of us who love the outdoors and enjoy puttering around the yard are always looking for an excuse to do something in the fresh air. If you thought you were done with this year’s lawn and garden, we have a question: Have you taken care of the following? Wrapped cedars with
We are always happy to hear from gardeners who have jumped on the ‘grow your own’ band wagon. Many first-time veggie gardeners are contacting us to find out what to do with their abundance of tomatoes, squash, carrots and the like.
You have heard the phrase “good things come in small packages”, well whoever coined the phrase must have been thinking about miniatures. You know, those little arrangements that capture the imagination and fit into our ever-growing smaller living accommodations.
Canada Blooms is please to announce its 2019 Plant of the Year – Electric Love™ Weigela from the Bloomin’ Easy® Date Night™ series from by Van Belle Nursery.
We are in the middle of the “dog days of summer”. This means that there is an abundance of Ontario cut flowers available to you. Gladioli are such a favourite as they are nostalgic and come in a rainbow of colours.
The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) 'Hippo Rose', produced by Proven Winners, is a bright and beautiful plant, with spotted leaves that stand out, especially next to other plants.
As a man, there is no other annual ‘special occasion’ that tempts us to play it safe quite like Valentine’s Day. To be clear, the celebration of our love for those nearest to us causes otherwise sane, bold men with a natural inclination to take risks to merely reach for one of the 3 safest material expressions of ...
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.
In planning for 2018, Floral Designer Justine De Bouvier, of Fleurishes by JuJu, thought to shake things up a bit and give Hollywood, and the visitors of the Canada Blooms Show, something to remember!
What happens when you’re in love with the design aesthetic of Fiddle Leaf Fig plants (Ficus lyrata) but not sure how to care for it? Get tips from Randy of Jill Jensen Botanicals.
Part of the joy of gardening is seeing what others are doing: How are they using certain plants? What colours are prominent this year? Do I need to incorporate some non-plant elements like a statue or bench? Is fragrance important?
If you have ever considered building a garden feature at Canada Blooms, now is the time to let us know. Canada Blooms is looking for Landscape Designers, Builders and Architects who can create spectacular, memorable and inspirational gardens.
As much as we try to prepare our equipment to take on winter’s worst, some of us are left with costly repairs and barely cleaned driveways as a result of misusing our snow throwers. Keep your snow thrower winter ready by following these top 5 tips and tricks.
The theme for 2017 is "Oh! Canada" in honour of Canada's sesquicentennial.
Rain gardens provide a good habitat for butterflies, birds and other wildlife and it requires little upkeep because it will contain native plants.
Canada Blooms is pleased to announce that it has chosen the ‘Garvinea Sweet’ series of gerberas as its 2016 plant of the year.
Enjoy a video on the Gardens of Canada Blooms 2015
Get the latest from Garden Guru Mark Cullen about pollinators and what we can do to make our gardens friendlier.
In Canada, poinsettia are the most popular of all Christmas houseplants. Millions of poinsettia are purchased each year during the Christmas season by people who enjoy the colour and warmth they provide to the home. Proper selection will help to ensure a long lasting plant that you will enjoy throughout the Christmas and winter months.
The CANADA BLOOMS Rose is a classic looking Hybrid-Tea rose
Canada Blooms helped bring a little taste of spring to the lives of Wesburn Manor residents by delivering more than 600 colourful plants
Explore Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way at Canada Blooms Rugged and wild Irish west coast is a hauntingly beautiful landscape
Congratulations Jennifer Harvey
Step 1. Fertilize. There is a reason why your lawn looks its best early in spring. Our climate suits the needs of quality grass very well. There is lots of moisture in the ground in spring. The soil and evening air is cool. Grass is a ‘cool season’ crop.
Learn hands-on from Industry professionals and Floral Artists with a new line up of workshops and demonstrations which are available in the Mark’s Choice Gardening Experience area. Demos are offered on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested, consider completing the Demo booking form to reserve your place. Special workshops are offered
On your next visit to the Australasia Pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, keep your eyes peeled in the walk-through aviary for a very special coniferous tree. Planted beside the soft-needled Norfolk Island pines in the first garden bed (between the pathway and the tree kangaroo exhibit) is a Wollemi (“WALL-em-eye”) pine
The Canada Blooms Volunteer Appreciation Event took place at The Toronto Botanical Garden in late September. 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.
What makes Canada Blooms an International Event? It is the competitors that come from around the world to enter a design. The 2019 International Class title is “Relatively Speaking”.
Derrick Hawley is up to the challenge after being named the Head of Horticulture for Canada Blooms. A professional agrologist with extensive experience tending the immaculate fairways and greens in the golf sector, Derrick was most recently a turf management and arboriculture instructor at both Durham College and Humber College.
The Bobo® dwarf panicle hydrangea has been turning heads since it was first discovered in trial gardens in Belgium years ago! This variety is exceptionally floriferous with a compact frame that is smothered with large, lacy, white coned shaped blooms every summer.
When you have a hit or miss in your garden where are you going to celebrate it? In the Three Year Garden Gratitude Journal: Part Diary, Part Personal Growing Guide by Donna Balzer and Chelsie Anderson (2018).
Make your garden come to life with Sunfinity Sunflowers that thrive and bloom continuously all season long. Sunfinity Sunflowers have lots of blooms that can be cut and used indoors, with no mess and without damaging the outdoor plant.
Jill Jensen Botanicals says "time to decorate your home for the holidays! With a wide range of plants out there, lets look at some great alternatives that can be used year-round and dressed up or down depending on your style needs.
When does the Toronto Flower Show 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.
Increasingly homeowners are turning to river rock as part of their decorative landscaping. River rock has a number of practical uses, and once properly installed it requires the least amount of maintenance of any ground cover and is a permanent landscape solution.
The theme for 2018 is "Let's Go To The Movies" celebrating the grandeur of the Silver Screen.
Groundcovers can add a whole new dimension of colour to your garden through their foliage, texture and abundant bloom. Many, with their trailing nature can soften hard stonework when tucked in crevices, or be encouraged to spill down the front of retained beds giving an “aged” feel.
As a landscape designer and certified horticulturalist, I come across a lot of misconceptions when it comes to gardening.
Canada Blooms is excited to announce that it has chosen for its flower of the year the new Canadian Shield™ rose. The Canadian Shield™ rose has been selected from the Vineland Research & Innovation (Vineland) rose breeding program.
Earlier this year, Honey Nut Cheerios launched Bring Back the Bees, a campaign that aims to educate and engage Canadians on the issue of unstable bee populations and inspire them to join Honey Nut Cheerios in its mission to plant 35 million wildflowers to help bees thrive across the country.
Canada Blooms offers a new spin on an old favourite Valentine’s Day is nearly here, and with it comes the pressure of giving your special someone the perfect gift that tells them what they mean to you. While Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic days of the year, it can also be the
The festive season is upon us. Many of us now to turn our thoughts to decorating our houses and even our businesses for the joyous season ahead. A very traditional and beautiful method of doing so is to adorn both the exterior and interior of our dwellings with freshly cut branches and boughs of evergreens.
For the past 19 years Canada Blooms has reached out to the Garden Builders and Landscape Designers who might be interested in building a feature garden at Canada Blooms towards the end of summer, usually September/October.
According to ApartmentTherapy.com, one of the new (& hot) trends for 2015 is Native Plants.
Revisit the Gardens of Canada Blooms 2014
Canada Blooms is excited to announce that 'Let's Play' will be the theme for our 2015 festival. Apart from the meaning of “contending in a sport or game”, play is also the absence of work, a careless behaviour, the undertaking of an activity for pleasure and freedom.
Valleyview Gardens, and his team worked with me to come up with a concept for the stage. Thanks to the generosity of Valleyview Gardens, the stage has been planted with ornamental bamboo originally from East Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, Draceana Song of India, a species a tropical tree native to Madagascar
Sunday, January 12, 2014 Wild Atlantic Way, Day Two Having worked up an appetite after climbing the cliffs of Moher, we headed to the Doolin Hotel and had a fantastic dinner of locally sourced fare, expertly prepared by the hotel chef. Just what the doctor ordered! The next day, fully rested we enjoyed a full
Canada Blooms had its first Media Launch on January 28th. Members of the media were invited to preview the Feature Garden and Floral Artists that will be at this year's festival. Our special thanks to the InterContinental Toronto Centre for creating a wonderful experience,
