TORONTO—Canada Blooms, the country’s largest and most prestigious flower and garden show, opens this week in its new home at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.
With six acres of gardens, workshops and seminars by celebrated garden specialists, and a marketplace of garden retailers, Canada Blooms is the place to be for garden enthusiasts—amateur and professional alike. The festival attracts 80,000 people annually both from Canada and the US, and according to manager Gerry Ginsberg, this year promises to be one of the biggest yet.
Now in its 14th year, Canada Blooms runs from March 17-21, opening on St. Patrick’s Day and ending on the first day of spring.
“Canada Blooms will put a smile on attendees’ faces as spring comes alive as soon as you walk into our event. The smells and colour will amaze visitors,” said Ginsberg.
Garden Passion
This year’s theme is ‘Passions,’ and this is a promise the festival intends to keep. The fantasy gardens of Canada Blooms are sure to be a sight to behold. Ginsberg is particularly impressed by the Flower Show of the Garden Club of Toronto, one of the festival’s founding organizations.
“It is the largest in Canada and the quality of the flower displays amaze me this year,” he said. Entitled ‘A Passion for Dance,’ the display interprets various classic and contemporary dances through flowers.
Landscape Ontario, the festival’s other founding organization, represents the various sectors of the horticultural industry. Green for Life is the festival’s most ambitious garden, which according to the program description will “educate and inspire all garden enthusiasts.”
The garden also includes a gem, the Wollemi tree, one of the rarest trees in the world. Believed to date from the time of the dinosaurs, the Wollemi was thought to be extinct until it was discovered in Australia in 1994.
The Canadian Cancer Society also has a garden. Through the use of daffodils and waterfalls, it delivers a message of fighting back. The Home Depot Garden, the show’s presenting sponsor, is also a good resource area for those looking for outdoor gardening supplies and advice.
Family Magic
Canada Blooms has prepared for March break by including several features for families. Both the young and the young at heart can look forward to the Disney feature garden, The Magical World of Tinkerbell. Developed by CITY TV’s Frank Ferragine, Jordan Murfin from Vast Exteriors, and Beth Edney of Designs by the Yard, the garden features four seasons and four fairies. There are also various play areas, including a children’s demonstration garden with hands-on activities hosted by the City of Toronto. The City has its own feature garden, along with many helpful tips to encourage urban agriculture in your own backyard. For those who don’t have a yard of their own, the city offers allotments for rent.
Expert Advice
Those interested in anything related to gardening and landscaping will appreciate Canada Blooms’ array of workshops by experts in the field. Each day offers a different theme, so look out for the workshops that are right for you.
March 17 - Urban Agriculture Day: Fruits, Vegetables and much, much more
March 18 - Foundations for Your Garden: What you need to know
March 19 - Design Day: Must-haves for your garden
March 20 - Plant Day: Environmentally friendly gardening
March 21 - Live Green Toronto: Celebrating smaller spaces
American home style expert Martha Stewart is the show’s surprise guest. She will make a special appearance on Saturday to promote her new line of products to be distributed at Home Depot. She will be on stage discussing the new products and answering questions from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Other featured presentations include a lecture entitled Plants in Space by Dr. Michael A. Dixon (March 18 at 2:00 p.m.), and a panel discussion called Landmarks and Landscapes: Vision of Future Cities (March 20 at 6:00 p.m.).
Tips to Make the Best of Your Canada Blooms Experience
• Visit the website (www.canadablooms.com) to plan your visit. It’s easy to get distracted when there is so much to see, and this helps you decide what is most important to you. You can also save $2 by buying tickets online. Check the seminar and presentation schedule for some helpful gardening tips.
• Bring the children. Admission is free for those under 12, and Canada Blooms promises many educational experiences for families.
• Take advantage of the free parcel check and delivery service, courtesy of Rent-a-Son (booth 301-Marketplace Area). Drop your parcels there if you have too much on your hands or get help carrying them to the car.
• Come prepared with gardening questions. Among the many resources available, visit Scott’s “Ask The Experts” booth in the marketplace to get answers to your gardening problems.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Canada Blooms.
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