Canada Blooms December Newsletter

An exclusive peek at Canada Blooms the Flower & Garden Festival

March 16-25 2012

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Daffodil receives honours as official flower for Canada Blooms 2012. Enthusiastic gardeners know that after a long winter, nothing is more welcoming than the sight of the yellow daffodil to mark the arrival of spring. To the Canadian Cancer Society, the daffodil is more than just a flower. It is a symbol of strength and courage, a symbol of life. It says we will fight back. It says we will beat cancer. In honour of the Society, the daffodil has been designated as the official flower for Canada Blooms 2012.
The award winning firm of Miyabi Landscape Design & Construction has been invited back to design and create The Society’s daffodil garden. As part of the fight against cancer, visitors to this inspirational garden can purchase a daffodil pin to wear during the month of April. For more information on the Canadian Cancer Society, visit fightback.ca. Watch the Miyabi Landscape/Canadian Cancer Society Video from Canada Blooms 2011.

Member companies of Landscape Ontario, the Nursery Sod Growers Association and Project Evergreen pulled off an amazing restoration of St. James Park in Toronto over a two-day blitz, at no cost to Toronto taxpayers. All of the equipment, labour and materials were generously donated by companies and individuals in the landscape industry, who understand how vital green space is for local residents and businesses. Organizers are being overwhelmed with letters of thanks and praise from the local community. See more details on this project, including videos, comments and pictures, on the Landscape Ontario website at www.landscapeontario.com.

Park revival timelapse

Check out the great YouTube Video of the Project.

Garden Hall 2010

Look what’s new! The first-ever Photography Competition at Canada Blooms 2012 is a great place to showcase your talents. Any amateur photographer may enter. Photos must have been taken in Canada in the last year and should fit into one of the following categories: Seasons, Flora, At Work or Play, or Reflections of The City. As many entries as possible will be displayed in the Garden Hall. Deadline to submit entries is February 15, 2012. For detailed information, see the Photography Competition Schedule on the Canada Blooms website, and follow the link provided with the Horticultural entry information to the Photography entry form. Find out more about the Garden Hall Competition.

We invite you to join us as a volunteer at the 16th Annual Canada Blooms.
This year Canada’s Largest Flower and Garden Festival is co-locating with The National Home Show

to create North America’s Largest Home and Garden Event. Canada Blooms is a not for profit event and we are excited about this new venture, but we know that expansion means we will need even more help and expertise. Come share your passion for gardening and floriculture with thousands of guests. Join us for a 4 hour shift and then spend the rest of the day at the Festival on us. .Scheduling for volunteers is flexible – morning, afternoon or evening shifts are available. It’s easy to volunteer – just complete the online volunteer application form or update your file if you are a returning volunteer. Go to our website www.canadablooms.com and sign up today!

Note: Due to technical difficulties with the volunteer application, we ask that if you signed up online to help between October 5th and November 27th, that please complete the application again. We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.

Don’t know
what to do
about that
pouting poinsettia,

grumpy gardenia, or amaryllis
with an attitude?
The over 700 volunteer Master Gardeners of Ontario would be happy to help with these holiday horticultural humbugs. It’s not just holiday spirit; we offer this service for free all year round! Check out our website to find out how to contact your local Master Gardener — www.mgoi.ca . And, don’t forget to stop by our Canada Blooms advice clinics, listen to our expert speakers,

or find out how you too could become a Master Gardener. Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving – get to know your local Master Gardener. Help is waiting!

Canada Blooms would like to congratulate the winner of the Shen Yun prize package:
Mary Fran McQuade.

Your are invited to step into a world of beauty, majesty, and enchantment. Inspired by the rich spirit of an ancient culture, Shen Yun Performing Arts brings to life classical Chinese dance and music in a gloriously colourful and exhilarating show. Discover Shen Yun 2012, coming to Toronto’s Sony Centre on January 12-15 and Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre on January 19-22.

Indulge in the lap of luxury in downtown Toronto with a special Canada Blooms Hotel Package from the Hyatt Regency Toronto on King, available from March 16-25, 2012. Enjoy this package which offers a special rate of $159 per night (plus applicable taxes) for a standard room and receive 2 tickets to Canada Blooms and National Home Show. Call 1-877-806-0006 (ask for Canada Blooms) or book online before February 28, 2012 to take advantage of this great offer.

Canada Blooms would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone
a very Merry Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Are you looking for a great Holiday Gift?
Purchase your Canada Blooms Show Tickets now and save $3 off general admission and senior/student tickets (regular price: Adult $20/ Senior $17 /Student $16 /Children FREE). Tickets are available online, at the shopTBG at the Toronto Botanical Garden…and they make great Stocking Stuffers.

As a special thank you to all our supporters, exhibitors and volunteers we invite you to take advantage of our holiday special 2 for 1 ticket offer (valid on adult tickets ONLY – Enjoy 2 tickets for $20, limit 4 tickets, on now until December 26). Use the ticket link or enter Promo Code CBHOLIDAY.

Thanks to all the sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and volunteers
who make Canada Blooms the most wonderful gardening experience of the spring.

We appreciate all your support!

Upcoming Events

Looking for a bus tour coming to Canada Blooms in your area? Visit our website. Remember to keep checking back for more updates.

Stay tunes for information on our upcoming Make-It and Take-It workshops. Visit the What’s New section in January for more details.

If you have an upcoming garden related event that is of interest to our readers let us know at info@canadablooms.com and we might include it in upcoming issues of our newsletter.

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