  A flower-covered piano is among the exhibits at Canada Blooms. (Canada Blooms)
|
There may still be snow on the ground, but spring will be in air sooner than later at Elements, the 11th annual Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower and Garden Show.
Taking place March 7 to 11 in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Canada’s largest horticultural exhibition will be blossoming with colourful flowers and plants, gardening seminars, gardening gadgets and accessories, stunningly landscaped fantasy gardens and much more.
“The appeal of Canada Blooms is that there is something for everyone, whether you’re a super-focused grower or someone who just likes to sit back and enjoy beautiful plants,” says Charlie Dobbin, horticultural director of Elements, which refers to the earth, wind, fire and water behind nature’s creations.
The approximately 100,000 gardening and design enthusiasts who attend this five-day gardening extravaganza will get to feast their eyes and noses on thousands of bulbs, shrubs, perennials and trees of every shape and colour.
More than 30 feature gardens reflecting their own eclectic interpretations of the Elements theme will be on display, including Zen-inspired gardens and gardens for small urban spaces.
Don’t miss Home Depot’s traditional medicine wheel that includes healing native plants and promotes balance and serenity. Home Depot will also feature an interactive stage that will give you the tools and know-how to create your own special space within your garden.
In the Miracle-Gro Do Up the Doorstep, you get to be the judge and vote for your favourite among 10 differently themed front door container gardens, from cottage to farmhouse to condo to urban, designed by gardening or media celebrities.
Exquisite floral creations designed by hundreds of designers, meanwhile, and international entries from countries such as Belgium, Italy and France, will be judged in the Garden Club of Toronto’s Flower Show.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation will be on hand with its Heart Health Garden to show how gardening can not only be fun and rewarding, but also good for you.
With more than 200 exhibitors, you won’t need to go anywhere else for all your gardening gear, equipment, supplies and décor.
Whether you’re a gardening green thumb or an avid gardener seeking to jazz up your outdoor space, you’ll find the advice you need at Canada Bloom’s ongoing workshops and demonstrations. Led by all your favourite gardening gurus, they’ll provide the answers to all your horticultural questions and provide insights on the hottest gardening trends.
Don’t forget to check out Gardener’s Fare, your opportunity to find out about local garden and horticultural organizations and horticultural activities. “Whether it’s an eastern or western cultural interpretation of the elements, the periodic table or the elements that go into a wonderful garden or arrangement,” Dobbin says, “our designers will have plenty ideas for visitors to take away and play with all season long.”
Canada Blooms By The Number:
- It takes about 32 dump trucks to haul enough sand to create the show’s plant beds. Over 14,000 tons of sand and eight truckloads of mulch are used.
- This year’s trees are bigger than ever, averaging 27 feet high (some of the largest trees ever grown for an indoor show).
- About 300 trees, 400 shrubs, 4,000 perennials, 600 potted evergreens, 1,400 flowers and 80,000 bulbs will be on display.
- A group of 100 core planning volunteers and 800 event volunteers make Canada Blooms happen
- More than 200 hours of seminars, workshops and demonstrations taking place on six different stages will be led by some of the best gardening experts in North America.
