Canada Blooms

I got what I was looking for when I visited Canada Blooms yesterday - colour, and more colour. Living in the land of the great beige, it was a complete delight to smell and see such wonderful blossoms.

I was a little concerned as I descended one of many elevators to get the main hall to see how much empty space there was. Everything had been brought down to one floor - and even the main floor was not as full as any other year. The huge to die for fantasy gardens are gone and in their place are smaller replicas of tiny backyards and balconies. For anyone new to Canada Blooms, I'd say they'd just be delighted. Unfortunately for CB regulars, many feel that they're not getting as much for their money - and in all fairness they aren't. It's not an inexpensive thing to do: $18.00 admission, $16.00 parking, lunch and coffee break = $50.00. However, changes are on the horizon for next year. This will probably be the last year at the Toronto Convention Centre - too big, too expensive (rent $600,000) and too many floors. However, Tony DiGiovanni, Executive Director of Landscape Ontario and Co-Founder of the show assures us that the show will continue and talks are underway to find a more suitable venue.

While there weren't as many gardens, there is one area of fantastic improvement: The organizers almost wizard-like ability to force and have ready the most lovely flowers in our difficult, cloudy northern climate under glass.

So, enough words, the proof is in the pudding, here are lots of photos of the day:

Kathy Wood, The Muskoka Gardener, capturing some soft pink roses:

They were fantastic - about the size of my hand.

The front stoop competition - Paul Zammit's entry:

There weren't as many minimalist entries this year, but just thought I'd include one to share to make all the others look more colourful.....

A very sweet little courtyard - Grandma might kill herself when she got her cane stuck in the nice central floral feature, but I thought as long as you went easy on the drinks, this was a very sweet display.

Same garden, different angle.

One of the larger gardens - all this brick would be a killer in the summer, but here in the middle of an exhibition floor - quite pleasant. (again...not so many flowers)

Same garden, another section.

This looks a little cluttered in the photo - didn't feel that way at all when you I visited. Think the flash really picked up all the bright elements and didn't do it any favours.

Here is one of the winning amateur entries:

More amateurs:

A well cared for, prickly little creature:

This is not as photogenic as it looked - lovely colour - of those plants that were there, even I, with no clue as to how things were judged thought that this was the best of a good lot.Don't you just adore how that Home Depot bag in the corner of the shot blends with the blossoms of this crown of thorns?

Very neat looking colours even up close:

I can't even begin to think what goes through some person's mind at home when they think, ok, I'll need a few logs, a whack of orange flowers, some drippy stuff and presto voila:

Wish I had one of these to put up for those special children I used to babysit a million years ago before they went to bed.

Bark and berries:

Just to show that even the Frisbees are more fabulous in Italy - here is the winning entry in the professional international competition:

Four more weeks and my outside will look like this:


I'd never seen a variegated Acanthus:

Aside from doing a great job getting this to bloom on schedule had some more interesting plant material:

Almost 8 weeks until we'll see this in the garden:

And as always the bulbs were great:

All in all, I had a terrific time, saw lots of beautiful plants and can hardly wait until the weather matches the calendar season. Another great day at Canada Blooms.