THANKS TO ALL OUR EXHIBITORS, PRESENTERS, 
PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS
 

As you probably know by now, Canada Blooms had to cancel our 2020 festival due to concerns about Covid-19.

We, along with our partner The Home Show – The Big One – on Thursday, March 12, made the decision that the safety of our garden builders, exhibitors, floral artists, partners, staff, volunteers and our loyal visitors was paramount. And, as we can see from the past few weeks, we made the right decision. However, we were still disappointed as we were set up (with only a few finishing touches left) and ready to go for opening day.

Although we did not open to the public, we did continue with the judging of the Feature Gardens, the Toronto Flower Show and the Floral Alley: The Professional Floral Artist Showcase. Thanks to a few exhibitors who were in the building on Thursday and Friday we ended up with some walk through videos so that people could still see the hard work and innovation that went into the gardens and floral displays.

This year’s Canada Blooms festival had so much colour and creativity for garden and floral designers, that it was so disappointing visitors were not able to enjoy the festival in all its splendour.

We would like to thank all the garden builders, floral artists and exhibitors who not only spent many hours planning and building their displays/booths but who also lost their investment in Canada Blooms this year because they were unable to meet visitors as planned.

Visitors might not be aware of the amount of dedicated people that are needed to put on our event, from partners and sponsors, exhibitors, competitors, presenters, staff, volunteers, facility managers and employees from all the service contractor, all of whom were disappointed in the way circumstances worked out this year.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank :
► Adrienne Handbidge and Brigitte Richter and the other Master Gardeners of Ontario who are responsible for planning the Li’l Sprouts activities at Canada Blooms as well as answering questions to get the gardening season started.
► Our Board Members and Committee Members -- Feature Garden, Education, Design and Ambience, Morning Tours, Toronto Flower Show – all volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the festival look great, relevant and interesting.
► Speakers and workshop demonstrators who donate their time and expertise to provide gardening, floral and industry information that is informative and fun.  
► Competitors in the International Class who came from across the globe at their own expense to participate.
► The celebrities and artists who painted gnomes for Gilda's Club Gnome Garden & Silent Auction and to Margaret Taylor and her team for coordinating this very worthwhile endeavour. These will be available for bidding at next year's festival.
► Hawai'i NeoTropica, Jennifer Harvey and Floral Day Ambassador Hitomi Gilliam for all the planning for the Canada Blooms Floral Artist of the Year Competition. Hopefully we will see all 20 competitors again in 2021. 
► Volunteers who put in long hours to helped design and plant up the planters and feature areas and then had to take them apart just a couple days later.
► Niagara College students who created a garden in one day when it was discovered onsite one of our gardens would be smaller than originally planned.
► The suppliers who provided plants, sand & mulch, equipment and transportation and stepped up  to remove the gardens, sand and mulch when the timing of move-out was changed.
► The visitors who purchased tickets and patiently waited for their refunds, we appreciated your understanding.
► All the facebook, twitter and Instagram fans and followers who sent their many words of comfort, it was so nice to hear from you all.

We are now well under way planning Canada Blooms 2021, as we look forward to our 25th anniversary festival, and we hope that you can all join us next year.

Thanks again and mark your calendars for next year:

March 12-21, 2021!

This year's garden builders took on the theme 'Bird's Of A Feather' and the results were fun and creative.

We would like to recognize the winner of the Tony DiGiovanni Garden of the Year (Judge's Choice) Award, 'Mark's Potting Shed' by J. Garfield Thompson Landscape Ltd., J. Garfield Thompson also won the The Award for Outstanding Use of Natural Stone and Best Use of Plant Material.

'Neighbourhood Flock' by Sylvia Szot Landscape Design won the 'Do Up The Doorsteps' Award presented by Oaks Landscape Products, and there was a tie for the 'Do Up The Backsteps' also presented by Oaks Landscape Products 'The Edible Caja Garden' by The Growing Connection and 'Backyard Birdwatch' by Landscapes by Jodie Munshaw.  Jodie Munshaw also won the Unilock Outstanding Small Garden and the Award for Outstanding Interpretation of Festival Theme presented by Isuzu Canada.

Thanks again to all the participants, and congratulations to all winners. 

Visit our blog for a full list of winners. 

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE GARDENS COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE ONTARIO:

This year, although we didn't have as many competitors, their designs were colourful and creative.

The floral displays were officially judged on Friday, March 13th, and the Judge's Choice winner was Bruno Duarte of Fresh Floral Creations.

Winner of the Best Floral Representation of Floral Alley Theme presented by Ontario Flower Growers Co-operative: Bruno Duarte
Winners of the Most Creative Use of Floral Material presented by Oasis Floral Products: Rada Ristich and Brad Higginson, 4165-Flower/Alma Florists
Winner of the Best Overall Use of Colour: Joezel Yumul

First Place (Tie): Bruno Duarte and Rada Ristich & Brad Higginson
Second Runner Up: Joezel Yumul
Honourable Mention: Melani Nemeskovic, Floresco

We would like to recognize Hawai'i Neotropica and renowned floral artist Hitomi Gilliam who had planned to be the Floral Day Ambassador. 

This year, the front entrance and Parade of Florals, created by Albert Graves of Bloemen Decor, which featured floral material from the Ontario Flower Growers Co-operative would have given visitors their first breath of spring as they entered Canada Blooms. Bruno Duarte provided a floral installation and Jennifer Harvey created an areal floral installation representing the flight pattern of birds.

1. Rada Ristich,  2. Brad Higginson, 3. Joezel Yumul, 4. Melani Nemeskovic, 5. Bruno Duarte, 6. Albert Graves

This year Canada Blooms reached out to celebrities and artists to see if they would help us to create a Gnome Garden for a charitable organization.

Margaret Taylor, who is a member of the Garden Club of Toronto, an international floral design competitor and winner, an instructor and floral judge, took on the project of the Gnome Garden at Canada Blooms.
 
Margaret assembled a team of volunteers who reached out to celebrities and artists who generously agreed to share their time and talent through painting gnomes to be offered in a Silent Auction to bring awareness to Gilda's Club Greater Toronto. The gnomes were to be displayed in the Gilda's Club Gnome Garden and each of the gnomes and then auctioned off, with all proceeds going to Gilda's Club Greater Toronto.

Gnomes: Jeanne Beker (#1), Jayne Eastwood (#2), Colin Mochrie & Deb McGrath (#3), Anwar Knight (#4)

ENJOY THIS VIDEO FROM SAYEH BEHESHTI/SAYEH SUN STUDIO:

In the chorus that is a living garden, our favourite section is the singing birds. A breeze through tall grass, the crunch of gravel underfoot and a frog croaking, all play their part in this living soundtrack.

Nothing can stop us in our tracks like birdsong. We were reminded of this when we walked through the feature gardens at Canada Blooms March 13th. (canadablooms.com for an amazing video) Yes, this was the edition of our famous festival that no one was able to see, other than a handful of us organisers and the contractors.

Back to the birds in your garden. Our favourite way to promote and enjoy birds is bringing them right into the backyard by providing food and habitat.

Here is what we recommend:
► Plants are a one-stop shop for food and shelter. Birds prefer fruits and seeds right off the plant, and most birds either build their nests in a tree, shrub or stand of grass, or they make their nests from pieces of it.
► Flowers such as asters, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Echinacea (purple coneflower) and coreopsis, not only add colour to your yard but attract a range of songbirds from cardinals to colourful finches. Leave perennials standing throughout the winter so they can continue to be foraged and cut them down in the spring.

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Less Mess™ tells us that before getting knee deep in the garden to plant your favourite summer fruits and veggies, remember that not all plants play nice! Companion planting, which involves strategically placing two or more plants together for mutual benefit, is a useful technique to help ensure your garden thrives. Companion planting enhances quality, growth, and is learned through lots of trial and error!

Read on for the do’s and don’ts of this common gardening practice: 
1. PEAS
DO: Plant near beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radishes, and turnips.
DON’T: Plant near chives, garlic, leeks, onions, or peppers.
TIP: Keep this one away from all bulb veggies!

2. DILL
DO: Plant near cabbage, corn, cucumbers, fennel, lettuce, and onions.
DON’T: Plant near cilantro or tomatoes
TIP: Dill cross-pollinates with cilantro, and if that happens both plants will be ruined. It is also one of the few plants that grows well with fennel.

3. TOMATOES
DO: Plant near carrots, celery, onions, and peppers.
DON’T: Plant near broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, or cucumbers.
TIP: Growing basil about 10 inches from tomatoes increases the yield.

4. BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER
DO: Plant near beets, celery, dill, swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, onions, and potatoes.
DON’T: Plant near peppers, squash, strawberries, or tomatoes.
TIP: Planting near dill will help attract wasps, which will improve pest control.

5. CORN
DO: Plant near beans, cucumbers, peas, parsnips, pumpkins, squash, and zucchinis.
DON’T: Plant near tomatoes.
TIP: Tomato worm and corn earworm like both plants, so be careful. Also, beans and peas supply nitrogen, so keep them close by.

6. BEANS
DO: Plant near celery, corn, cucumbers, radishes, strawberries, and summer savory.
DON’T: Plant near chives, garlic, leeks, onions, peppers, or marigolds.
TIP: Anything in the bean family does not grow well with most veggies, particularly bulb vegetables.

(read complete article)

But before you can enjoy your garden bounty you have to choose the right foundation for your garden and that is where Less Mess™ comes in. Their experts can help you determine the type of soil you need and then deliver it right to your door.

Whether you need garden soil, lawn soil, special blends or mixes, Less Mess™ is the ultimate topsoil, mulch, compost, sand and stone delivery solution for less-mess outdoor landscaping and gardening. Rather than have your soil delivery shipment dumped on your front lawn or driveway, leaving a mess that you have to clean up, Less Mess™ is delivered in pre-packed, re-sealable bags that let you use just the amount of soil you need and set the rest aside for future use.

Less Mess™ soils are Earthco Soil Mixtures’ custom topsoil, mulch and compost blends that offer nutrient-rich fertile organic growth environments for your garden. Each bag contains over 1 cubic yard (36" x 36" x 36") of quality garden soil, and the soil is delivered right where you need it. You don't even need to be home – simply mark the desired drop-off area with an "X" and we will arrange a contactless delivery to keep you feeling safe and secure.

Are you a professional landscaper or contractor? We have custom contractor solutions! Material delivery in a Less Mess Enviro Bag™ helps you keep job sites organized and the re-sealable bags keep materials clean, dry, and uncontaminated.

Tight on space? With a 1 meter x 1 meter footprint, the Less Mess™ bag fits neatly into any space. Rooftop garden? No problem. Any material you need for your project can be craned to hard-to-reach spaces.

For all your gardening and landscape solutions, visit lessmess.ca or call 416-789-4749.

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NATIONAL BESTSELLER - GATHER AT HOME
Popular blogger and lifestyle influencer Monika Hibbs shares her favourite recipes and crafts to bring thoughtful touches to all of life's moments--big or small.

Monika Hibbs has found joy in planning gatherings since she was a little girl, but it's not just the hallmark occasions she spends time thinking about. Over the years, she has learned just how important it is to slow down and savour life's simple, everyday moments, in addition to the holidays and milestones.

In Gather at Home, Monika Hibbs shares her favourite relaxed and easy ways to make your everyday moments and seasonal celebrations special. Use Monika's collection of over 100 simple recipes, crafts, and do-it-yourself projects, conveniently divided by season, to turn your Friday family games night, Mother's Day brunch, holiday dinner, or outdoor evening barbecue into something memorable, and to create other effortless moments that your friends and family will cherish for years to come. You'll find breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert ideas to fit the mood of every season, as well as crafts and do-it-yourself projects you can easily get the kids involved with. Draw inspiration from the lush photography, and add Monika's extra-special touches to make every moment a well-crafted one that will show your family and friends just how much you care.

Author Bio: MONIKA HIBBS is the founder and creative director of the blog Monika Hibbs and one of Canada's most influential lifestyle trendsetters. Known for its gorgeous imagery and inspirational content, the award-winning blog provides a lush landscape rich with the latest trends in entertaining, home decor/interior design, beauty and fashion. Monika loves to entertain, and is always dreaming up her next event or finding new ways to make memories and build traditions for her family. She lives in Vancouver, BC.

To get your copy of Gather at Home, visit PenguinRandomHouse.ca.