Finally, Toronto has their garden show. I have been reading (and drooling over) about all the other garden shows that have been on for the last couple of months. From Philadelphia, to Seattle to Kingston, I have been dizzy with delight. When, oh when, would it be my turn.
It seems like Canada Blooms is one of the last garden shows before spring really happens. Started 14 years ago, it has been in two different locations, with another new one this year. And this location is the best! The light coming into the building (at the entrance at least) makes all the difference, both for the plants and for the people. Everything is on one level this year which makes it a lot easier to get around.
I am not going to waste a lot of time on words, I know, hard to believe, I am such a motormouth, but here, I think the pictures speak for themselves, (mostly)!
Big is always better, lol.
For all those people wondering what to do with a blank wall.
Sea urchins, all the way here from Les Jardins de Metis.
and I thought we had a lot of orchids at the shop,
This would be lovely to mark an altar at a wedding.
I love this!
I am fantasizing about having this in my garden, so I had to show you 2 pictures.
Cob house, I do not think that it would be hardy in most of Canada over the winter.
OK, I loved this too.
It would be a real focal point in my a garden.
Still love all white.
The students at Humber College built this, do you think if I invite them up to Owen Sound, they could replicate it?
But how would you water them?
This is the Canadian Cancer Society’s booth, I love big oversized statements, and I really love three of them.
Pretty, love the colour echo of the white trunks and the white hyacinths.
I know, we have seen it before, but I still love it.
A curly willow hedge will hide the Deliverance house from me!
Not quite sure why you would want a periwinkle mountain, but if you so, here you go.
Serene, nothing like a Japanese garden.
To be continued…
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Edith Hope said,
March 19, 2010 @ 4:30 AM
Dear D, It is always such a good idea to visit shows such as this one to glean new ideas and keep up to date with what is happening in the gardening world. But, dear D, you cannot have it all!!
Like you, I am drawn to all those stands whose colour scheme is principally white. The understated elegance is most appealing. On some of the stands there did appear to be an alarming reliance on electricity – just think of your power cuts [and bills] when considering a purchase!
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:44 PM
Edith, I think it is like the fashion world, good for ideas, but very impractical in real life. I am sure that most of them would not translate on a practical basis, except the all white, a very old love.
gardeningasylum said,
March 19, 2010 @ 5:08 AM
You seem to have a great event with lots of interesting ideas up there – our local show has gotten so sad I don’t bother any more. A curly willow hedge sounds lovely, and you could harvest the branches for arrangements 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:45 PM
You would have to keep them pruned back quite heavily, I am sure that a flower shop would be happy to take any I could not use.
fairegarden said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:47 AM
Ooh, we want more, Deborah! So many ideas here, hope you had a notebook, but of course you took note with your camera. We await more. Watch out for the size of a curly willow hedge, they grow very large very quickly. If you missed a pruning, you would need a crew with ladders and a chainsaw. 🙂
Frances
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:46 PM
My parents had a curly willow tree that grew from a cutting I gave them. Those things grow fast!!!! My dad ended up cutting it down, just a bit too big, lol. It would really hide the Deliverance house though, sigh…
Joy said,
March 19, 2010 @ 7:33 AM
Deborah girl : )
I so wish I could be there too ! All the time we have lived in Kingston I wanted to make the journey .. but with the conditions I have it is impossible .. but my heart is there enjoying it with your pictures girl : )
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:48 PM
I wish you could have come to the show too, Joy. My friend in Kingston took the bus trip through Connans Nursery. But, I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures.
heather @ what's blooming this week said,
March 19, 2010 @ 8:20 AM
Thanks for the sneak peek – I’m going on Sunday to catch the sales. Excited to see the new location. It looks amazing.
Loved the “Japanese screen” idea – it would look great at the far end of my pool deck.
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:50 PM
Sales???? I did not know about this. I have only ever gone during the week, usually away on the weekend, but I could stay home!
Helen at Toronto Gardens said,
March 19, 2010 @ 8:23 AM
Deborah, Thanks for showing me the show I missed — one of the few since it began. Great shots. Glad to hear the new location worked out. I was worried that, without the cooler temps of Level 600, the plant material would expire earlier.
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:51 PM
Helen, it was quite cool in the venue, I think that they might have learned their lesson. One of the vendors in the MarketPlace was complaining about being cold!
Laurrie said,
March 19, 2010 @ 8:34 AM
What are those panels with the starburst blooms lit from the back? Are they glass panels with lights behind (for interior decoration?) or are they outside garden structures? They are really pretty, but I couldn’t figure out what they are!
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:53 PM
I wish that I had taken a better look, because I am not sure. But, I have seen thin sheets of sandblasted plastic for sale at hardware stores. You could cut out a design on them, and mount a light behind. I have also seen a lot of glass used outdoors in Toronto, but that still makes me nervous.
Rebecca @ In The Garden said,
March 19, 2010 @ 9:59 AM
Such beautiful pictures Deborah, you must have had a great time. I bet the students from Humber would come and build one for you, how much fun would that be? Love the cob house! Thanks for the tour. 🙂
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:55 PM
Rebecca, I am sure that would take many, many cases of beer, lol.
Sunny said,
March 19, 2010 @ 1:03 PM
Looks like it was a very interesting visit. Lots of nice things there. That cob house reminds me of a cob building I helped my cousin build a few years back, had a sod roof just like that too, only difference was we built the first two foot out of stone, to help against or wet climate here in Ireland. You would be amazed how well it can cope with severe climates.
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:56 PM
Thank you Sunny, I did not realize they were so tough.
Ceara said,
March 19, 2010 @ 1:09 PM
Oh how I wish I could be there. Thank you for sharing photos with us.
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:56 PM
I am glad that you enjoyed it, Ceara.
SummerHouseArt said,
March 19, 2010 @ 3:00 PM
Wow! this show looks wonderful! It’s one of my dreams to one day show our garden sculptures in a show like this. Thanks for the peek into Canada Blooms. I’m always intrigued by the booth designs as well as the products.
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:58 PM
Helen, I would love to see your sculptures showcased like that. I did find the vendors a bit disappointing in the retail area, not enough unusual items to buy for your garden.
Kimberly said,
March 19, 2010 @ 4:30 PM
What a great show! The colors and interest are very diverse. I like the living walls, but agree that watering may be an issue (unless there’s some secret). I love garden shows…could attend one every weekend, given the chance!
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:59 PM
There must be some sort of secret, otherwise it would be very impractical. I love garden shows as well, wish they were more frequent. When I lived in London the RHS had one every month.
gippslandgardener said,
March 19, 2010 @ 6:20 PM
Ii would like a cob house and one of those light walls too! Do you think they would courier them to Oz?
Wonderful tour of the show, thanks for sharing it with us!
kilbournegrove said,
March 19, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
I am glad you enjoyed it. I think that you could make the light wall for your garden, not sure about the cob house, although Sunny helped build one.
kate said,
March 19, 2010 @ 8:08 PM
It was great to see the flower show through pictures. Wouldn’t it be great if the Humber College students could build this in Owen Sound for you? I’m curious too, how the watering of the greens gets done. The Cancer Society display looks great ~ I just showed my son since he does a lot of volunteer work for them here. The lit panes are gorgeous.
Hope you have a good weekend!
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:41 AM
Kate, it would be amazing, I wonder how many times Humber gets approached. When I studied floral design at Seneca, we designed a wedding for someone. The students get more experience and I am sure the bride got a deal. A win-win for all concerned.
Jim Groble said,
March 19, 2010 @ 8:23 PM
Wonderful pics and post. The sod roof was cool. please post more pics. There is no such thing as too many garden shows. jim
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:41 AM
I so agree Jim, more pictures to come.
The Garden Ms. S said,
March 19, 2010 @ 10:09 PM
Fabulous – I have to sneak away some year to get to this! Great selection of photos – I do love that wall waterfall. Look forward to more!
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:42 AM
It would be a wonderful trip, and you can come visit me at Kilbourne Grove!
Wendy said,
March 19, 2010 @ 11:42 PM
cooool! I love zen gardens. THe periwinkle mountain is definitely…interesting!
There’s this thing in the background of the wall with the espalier pattern – looks almost like a green slide or something. Is it the green roof peeking out or something else?
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:43 AM
Wendy it is a sod roof on a pergola. I should have got a better shot.
Carol Flower Hill Farm said,
March 20, 2010 @ 3:48 AM
What a lovely show… the light really makes a difference. I love the all whites and the Cancer Society booth… the Japanese garden too. Very nice!!
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:44 AM
I have more pictures Carol. The Cancer Society had a couple of interesting flower arrangements inside.
Gail said,
March 20, 2010 @ 9:29 AM
I had fun~thanks for taking us along. So many terrific ideas even for our smaller, less grand scale gardens! Where the Cancer Society planters metal? Talk about a statement! Thanks, gail
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:44 AM
Gail, they are metal, if a bit rusty. I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Karen Sloan said,
March 20, 2010 @ 6:43 PM
Deborah, your photos are stunning. Almost as good as being there! Let me know if the Humber College students visit you in Owen Sound! They can come here next!
Loved the orchid displays. Agree that one would make a nice display at a wedding.
And, “deliverance house”!? that made me laugh out loud, probably because I can relate…! But, betting what you’re describing is not as bad as that. ; )
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:46 AM
Karen, I am glad that you enjoyed it. As for the Deliverance house, you will have to take a look at some of my early posts, there are some pictures there of what I have to look at!(at least until the hedge grows).
Karen Sloan said,
March 20, 2010 @ 6:47 PM
Ooops. Actually meant to write “hoping” it’s not as bad as that.. Re: deliverance. We have our share over here, too.
K
Barbara said,
March 20, 2010 @ 7:52 PM
Hi Deborah, I enjoyed your post as always, especially your comments. I liked the white hyacinths under the trees as well. Was there any pleaching to be seen? Barbara
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:47 AM
No pleaching Barbara, I can’t believe it. I am hoping to start mine this spring.
Kathleen said,
March 21, 2010 @ 12:34 PM
I think I need to get on the board of whoever plans our Garden Shows because they are NOTHING like the ones I’ve seen across blogland. Your show is defiinitely worth waiting for Deborah ~ tons and tons of great ideas. Even stuff I wouldn’t put in my garden (like the periwinkle mountain) is fun to look at. The creativity is awesome.
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:48 AM
I am glad that you enjoyed the show Kathleen, even the periwinkle mountain, lol. It would be interesting to get involved in the planning of a garden show.
Northern Shade said,
March 21, 2010 @ 11:01 PM
I wish we had something similar to get some ideas, smell the flowers, and get all revved up about gardening. The melting snow has me excited about the start of the garden season, but the scent of growing plants, like a fast forward into summer, would be great.
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 8:51 AM
It does get me reved, I just wish that they had more plants to sell, I would have spent a fortune if they had!
Barry said,
March 23, 2010 @ 9:46 AM
Hi Deborah,
You might be interested to check out Matt Mattus’ site . It has an account of the Boston flower show which has similar problems in the past as Canada Blooms. That is to say, too much emphasis on lawns and lawnmowers and not enough horicultural interest.
kilbournegrove said,
March 24, 2010 @ 9:10 AM
Barry, it is sad to know that they have the same problems, they were even selling a kitchen garlic chopper at Canada Blooms.