CANADA BLOOMS CHOOSES THEME FOR 2022

The Canada Blooms Theme for 2022 is "New Beginnings"!

Having reached the milestone of our 25th Anniversary, we are now looking toward the future. The pandemic has been a curse, but it has also been a blessing of sorts as we (and the world) have been forced to take a break, slow down and re-evaluate what is important.

As we slowly (and cautiously) open up again, 2022 will see the world really start up again with new insights, renewed hope, and new beginnings for people, the economy and the planet. 

From January 1 to December 31, 2022, The Year of the Garden, a centennial celebration of horticulture will commemorate Canada's rich garden heritage (visit: Gardens Canada, Year of the Garden). This is a perfect time for Canada Blooms to also start their journey toward the next 25 years, and beyond.

We hope that you will come join us as we celebrate the awakening of Spring, the start of the gardening season, and the New Beginnings of our favourite Flower and Garden Festival.  Full details will be on our website soon.

The Garden Club of Toronto (GCT) is well known for its large-scale projects such as the gardens of Casa Loma, Spadina Museum and Roy Thomson Hall. But during its seventy-five history, the Club has undertaken numerous small-scale projects across the GTA adding beauty and community value through its involvement.

Two of the most recent small projects have centered around much loved, iconic buildings in the downtown core - St. James Cathedral and Metropolitan United Church.

ST JAMES PARK:
In 1981, GCT completed a project which created a 19th century garden in St. James Park nearby the splendid cathedral, in an area bounded by King and Adelaide, and Church and Jarvis. By 2018, the City planned to update and renovate the park and asked for GCT’s help. The Club committed to a redesign of the existing beds to the west – an oval and triangular bed, and the design and planting of new beds to the east.

By 2020 the City had completed many aspects of the plan with their landscape architects, PMA Landscape Architectures. New paths, lighting, and entry plazas at each corner had been installed along with a custom playground and a new pavilion echoing the architecture of the cathedral.

The Garden Club’s budget of $8,000 for plant material and signage for the new and redesigned beds was ready to be activated. The design called for a combination of ground cover for the largely shaded area and a variety of plants to ensure all season colour in the circular garden receiving the sun. Installation took place in June 2021.

The GCT has committed a further 10% contingency fund available for three years to cover the costs of winter dieback and other damage. The City has agreed to ongoing maintenance.

At this literal community crossroad, the Friends of St. James Park aim to make the park lively, safe and fun.

METROPOLITAN UNITED CHURCH:
One of the oldest churches in Toronto, the Metropolitan United Church (MUC) was built in 1872 but had to be rebuilt in 1929 following a devastating fire. This beloved neo Gothic structure stands on Queen St. E. between Church and Bond streets on one of the largest open spaces in the downtown area with mature trees. MUC houses an open, diverse and progressive congregation whose mission embraces outreach to disadvantaged groups in the downtown core.

The church is planning a complete restoration of its green space, and after receiving a grant from the Rotary Club to plant a Pollinator Garden embellishing its main entrance, invited the Garden Club to take on the project. The Garden Club applied for and received a grant from PollinateTO, which together with a further grant from Faithful Footprints, ensured the project would be fully funded.

The Pollinator Garden concept soon evolved into a plan to create a perennial Native Plant Garden. As minimal maintenance was desired, several design principles were established. The plants should be drought tolerant, and wildlife friendly and the variety of plantings should ensure something was happening throughout all seasons. In total, 41 plant varieties and 5 trees were selected.

The garden to the east of the entrance will contain 2 trees, an Eastern Red Bud and a Pagoda Dogwood, and tall perennials near the wall with shorter plants close to the pavement. This garden will contain a permeable pathway so visitors can enter the garden.

To the west of the entrance is the west garden bisected by a ramp. The smaller pie shaped section will contain a “Pride Garden”, planted with the colours of the Pride flag and scheduled to bloom in June. Trees will anchor the larger section including a Nannyberry, a Serviceberry and a Redbud. The remainder of the surface will be planted with grasses and other plants such as asters.

Some installation of the gardens began in the spring but the majority will be completed in the fall of 2021.

The Garden Club of Toronto continues to work closely with the Friends of the Garden Group from the MUC, for more information on the project visit metunited.org/programs/mets-gardens.

For further information on the Garden Club of Toronto’s projects and activities please go to the gardencluboftoronto.ca.

Imagine a future…
… where the air is clear and easy to breathe
… where city streets are shaded and cool on hot summer days
… where being outside in the city means enjoying a healthier, natural environment

Green Cities Foundation – connecting people and plants for a healthier urban climate

The Green Cities Foundation is currently involved in four projects across Canada, and is interested in partnering with communities across the country to increase green spaces in your neighbourhoods.

Phase 2 of #GreenMyCity Project in Hamilton scheduled for late summer 2021
St. Matthews House has been chosen by the Green Cities Foundation to be the first #GreenMyCity project in Hamilton, Ontario, as well as at three parks in the surrounding neighbourhood. St. Matthew’s House is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1967 by the local Anglican churches in inner city Hamilton with a focus on caring for vulnerable populations in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Working together with our major sponsor RBC Insurance, as well as the Barton Village BIA, Beautiful Alleys, The City of Hamilton, The Golden Horseshoe Chapter of Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association membership, this #GreenMyCity project will create a natural landscape that will improve community health and well-being in the Barton Village Community.

Humboldt Urban Garden Sanctuary Breaks Ground
The Humboldt Urban Garden Sanctuary (HUGS) broke ground on June 1st. Over three years ago the community of Humboldt, SK was forever changed by the tragedy involving the Broncos hockey team. Landscape Saskatchewan, Landscape Alberta, Communities in Bloom and the Green Cities Foundation with support from Scotts Canada and the City of Humboldt will be building a garden this summer to honour the victims and families.

Burnaby, BC Greenspace Renovation Coming Summer 2021
Steamworks Brewing Company, Para Space Landscaping Inc., the British Columbia Nursery and Landscape Association and the Green Cities Foundation have partnered to renovate an ignored and underutilized area in Burnaby, BC to transform it into a public greenspace for the benefit and enjoyment of North Burnaby Neighbours and visitors of the area.

Forgotten Corner in Newfoundland
In the spring of 2019 Landscape NL Horticultural Association (LNLHA) began a project “The Forgotten Corner”. The purpose of this project to provide a green space renovation to a “forgotten corner” in a Newfoundland municipality. In 2019, The Town of Bay Bulls was selected, and this summer Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove will see a natural rejuvenation of their own forgotten corner. The Green Cities Foundation is excited to be a part of this project for the second year.

Green Cities Foundation wants to create a greener healthier future – with you. Together we can #GreenMyCity, one green space at a time.

If you would like to help out donations for our projects are being accepted through the Green Cities Foundation.

The National Symposium and Awards are the way Communities in Bloom honour the winners and all of our communities that participated in provincial and national programs this year. Showcasing their efforts toward creating and enhancing green spaces in all of our communities, as well as educating the public on the value of protecting our environment, which is important, especially during these challenging times.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to Communities in Bloom and helped make our communities better places to live, work and play.

Watch the community winners in this short video.







There is still time to be part of the Hope Is Growing Campaign!

Plant, Snap & Share and you can win great prizes.
Share photos of your hope garden on Communities in Bloom's social media platforms with the hashtag #hopeisgrowing – simply tag @CiBCef (Instagram) or @communitiesinbloom (Facebook) to spread hope across Canada in 2021!

1) Register your garden at HopeisGrowing.ca

2) Download Hope is Growing materials – find resources about yellow plants and growing tips for success!

3) Include Hope is Growing signage in your garden, templates available on the website

4) Post your Hope is Growing photo on social media (Facebook or Instagram), tagging @CiBCef (Instagram) or @Communitiesinbloom (Facebook) using hashtags #HopeisGrowing and include your category hashtag:
Residential Small Garden, 500 sq ft and under (i.e. balcony, townhouse): use #CiBResidentialSmall
Residential Medium Garden, 500-1500 sq ft: use #CiBResidentialMedium
Residential Large Garden, 1500+ sq ft: use #CiBResidentialLarge
Residential Professional Garden, designed/installed by a Landscape Horticulture Professional: use #CiBResidentialProfessional
School Garden: use #CiBSchoolGarden
Public Garden (i.e. Public Garden, Long Term Care Home, Hospital, Church, University/College):use #CiBPublicGarden
Children’s Garden: use #CiBChildrensGarden

5) Dates for posting photos: May 1st 12:01 am EDT to August 31st 11:59 pm EDT

Visit the Communitie in Bloom website for information on Hope Is Growing and the Contest Rules

In the Summer of 2020, Landscape Ontario launched the Garden Makeover Program as a way to recognize the dedication of frontline workers across the province.The association received over 1,000 nominations from friends, neighbours, patients and family members, who each shared incredible stories of selflessness, devotion and compassion.

Landscape Ontario is proud to announce the 10 frontline heroes who will receive garden makeovers. Over the coming weeks, Landscape Ontario professional members will be consulting with the winners to create plans suited to each hero’s lifestyle. The projects will be completed this fall or next spring, thanks to generous donations from Landscape Ontario member companies.

Congratulations to all the winners and a heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated front line workers who were (and still are) giving so much to help keep us protected during the pandemic.

$25,000 Garden Makeover: Sandra Lister, Pefferlaw - Sandra is a Registered Nurse at Toronto Western Hospital with over two decades of experience.

$5,000 Garden Makeover:
Jada Parcelles, Bowmanville - Jada has worked as a nurse at Markham Stouffville Hospital for more than 20 years.

Sandra Best, Orillia - Sandra works at the David Busby Centre, a community not-for-profit which advocates for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Rebecca Davis, Grimsby - Rebecca is an ICU nurse at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississuaga for over 20 years.

Lisa Fernandes, St. Thomas - Lisa is a Personal Support Worker at Caressant Care Mary Bucke.

Elise and Marc-Andre Da Ponti, Clarence-Rockland - Elise is an ICU nurse at Ottawa General Hosipital and Marc-Andre is a paramedic with the City of Ottawa.

Alexis Wakelin, Gananoque - Alexis is a Personal Support Worker at Carveth Care Centre.

Jessica Graff, Kitchener - Jessica is a nurse in the Emergency Department at St. Mary's General Hospital.

Shelly Brillinger, Mount Albert - Shelly is the Executive Director of Participation House, a home for adults living with intellectural and physical disabilities in Markham.

Laura and Brad Renaud pay it forward to Megan and Don Monk, Amherstburg - Laura, a pharmacy technichan, and Brad a volunteer firefighter are dedicated frontline workers who made the selfless decisoin to pay the garden makeover forward to firefighter colleague Dan Monk and his wife Megan.

To find out about this fantastic program visit the Landscape Ontario Website.

Let`s build an arbour!
Arbours frame a beautiful garden view, dress up a pathway and they look especially charming when placed across a front walkway. These outdoor structures provide a year-round architectural element that adds interest to any garden — big or small. Add climbing vines like clematis, honeysuckle or wisteria and instantly you’ll have an elegant showstopping feature. Even better, you can build an arbour, trellis or pergola yourself with everything you need to know from Harrowsmith magazine’s DIY guru, Steve Maxwell. Find plans, tips, tool recommendations and more in this feature: Project Pergola.

​Don’t miss an issue of Harrowsmith’s gardening, cooking, sustainable living and DIY tips, subscribe now.

Everyone by now has heard about the Gypsy Moth invasion in Ontario. 

What are Gypsy Moths, you may ask. Well, a quick visit to the Government of Canada Website will provide you with some great information. But, simply put they are destructive pests, and they are hungry. If you looked at most trees in the GTA you probably have seen the hungry, hungry caterpillars everywhere. The adult moths will appear in late July or August for about a week and will lay numerous eggs in their short lifetime, and the potentially whole thing to start all over again.

Gypsy moths are a concern because the larvae feed voraciously, mostly on the leaves of deciduous (leafy) trees, but also on some conifers (evergreens). During the larval stage, a single gypsy moth caterpillar can eat an average of one square metre of leaves.

Leaves play a major role in food production for trees and as caterpillars eat the leaves it reduces the surface available to capture sunlight and make food for the tree. Deciduous trees might be able produce a second crop of leaves, but due to defoliation the tree might die or be weakened to secondary infestations, and evergreens may die after only one defoliation. The gypsy moth has been found on approximately 500 species of trees, preferring broad-leaved trees such as oak, poplar and birch. The destruction of these trees can have a devastating affect an forest wildlife, like deer that depend on acorns as part of their diet.

Visit Canada.ca for full details on how to get rid of gypsy moths at each stage. But here is the gist for those pesky caterpillars: you can handpick and crush them but be cautious of the long hairs of the caterpillar as it can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Wear gloves when handling them. Caterpillars can be successfully trapped. To make a trap, wrap a 45-cm (roughly 17-inch) wide strip of burlap around the tree trunk at chest height. Tie a string around the centre of the burlap and fold the upper portion down to form a skirt, with the string acting as a belt. The caterpillars will crawl under the burlap to escape the sun and become trapped. Later in the day, lift the burlap. Pick off the caterpillars and dispose of them.

Canada.ca also has an interesting tidbit about the origins of the gypsy moth in Canada: The gypsy moths were accidentally introduced into Massachusetts in 1869 by a French naturalist trying to cross the European gypsy moth with North American silkworms. Some of the insects escaped, and have since established themselves in Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada.

Also to celebrate 25 exciting years as Canada's premier Flower and Garden Festival, we along with Landscape Ontario and Mark and Ben Cullen in association with Unilock and Cullens Foods have created the 'Canada Blooms Inspirational Series', 10 Videos showcasing different garden and design ideas.This series takes a fun look back at past exhibitors, garden builders and floral artists while talking about timely topics.

Below is our first video "Colour". Find the full series videos along with other gardening information you find helpful linked to our new web page: Getting The Most From Your Garden.