e-newsletter

Direct Energy Centre, Toronto

An exclusive peek at Canada Blooms the Flower & Garden Festival

March 15-24 2013

Happenings

Canada Blooms is pleased to welcome back the Hyatt Regency Toronto as our host hotel.

Located in the city's downtown and a short cab or streetcar ride from the Direct Energy Centre, the Hyatt is a first class hotel for business or pleasure.

Visit Canada Blooms and make a weekend of it. The Hyatt is offering Canada Blooms' visitors a special festival rate of $109 (single/double).

Tips from the Pros

FALL PREPARATION FOR ANNUALS/TROPICAL PATIO PLANTS

• Allow very tender plants to die in frost or take indoors to save for next season
• Take cuttings before frost, (3-4” tip cuttings), dip cut end in rooting hormone, then stick cut end into a rooting medium (like moist sand, perlite or water). Once roots have grown, plant into small pots with an appropriate potting soil
• Tropical plants (like Hibiscus, Oleander or Mandevilla vine) can be kept overwinter too.
• Before frost spray entire plant thoroughly with soap solution (not detergent!), either store bought Safers Soap or make you own (40:1 – water to liquid dish soap)
• Let soap sit on plant for 10-15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with hose
• To eliminate bugs from inside pot fill a large tub (laundry, bath or Rubbermaid) with lukewarm water and immerse pot under the water level. Bugs within will abandon pot and float to surface. Allow pot to sit in water for 10-15 minutes, then drain well and take indoors to a sunny location. Or, alternatively take plant indoors to a dark, cool spot in your home and allow it to become semi-dormant (only water very sparingly in winter).
• Empty pots should be stored upside down in left outdoors for winter to avoid breakage
• Unbreakable pots require no special treatment

For more advice listen to Charlie on AM740's Garden Show, Saturdays at 9am
Missed an episode? Don't worry. Catch up on back episodes with AM740's Garden Show Podcasts

Volunteers are the Backbone of Canada Blooms

Thank you to all of the Great Volunteers who devoted their time and energy in making our 2012 Festival a great success!

Did you know...Canada Blooms volunteers are drawn from all walks of life and bring with them much needed energy and expertise?

Did you know...Canada Blooms could not present a program of its size and scope without your help?

Did you know...Volunteers don’t just give to Canada Blooms, they also give to gardening and horticulture projects. Proceeds from Canada Blooms are donated back into community projects. In 2012, Canada Blooms donated $50,000 to the June Callwood Park Project. Plant and floral material were donated to schools, hospitals and nursing homes?

Canada Blooms is a great place to meet new people and have fun while doing something for the world of gardening.

Join us as a volunteer at our 17th Annual Celebration. Canada Blooms will again co-locate with the National Home Show to create North America’s Largest Home & Garden Event.

Come share your passion for gardening and floriculture with the thousands of guests. Scheduling for volunteers is flexible – morning, afternoon or evening shifts are available. It’s easy to volunteer – just completethe online volunteer application or update your file if you are a returning volunteer, or you can easily download a printable version and mail your form into us. Sign up today: www.canadablooms.com!

What's New at the National Home Show for 2013

The National Home Show and Canada Blooms bring you the

largest North American display of innovative products and new ideas for all things home & garden. Seek advice and great deals with over 800 retailers and industry experts. Don’t miss the Dream Home for inspiration and decor ideas, plus shop and save on items for in and around your home and garden at the Shopping Pavilion and Garden Marketplace! Need expert advice? Talk to professional renovators and designers at Destination Renovation by BILD and What’s Your Design Dilemma by Reno & Decor Magazine. Parking is also free Monday-Friday after 4pm!

Upcoming Events

Industry Event: Landscape Ontario's Expo, the leading trade show for the garden and landscape industry is taking place October 17 and 18 at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Canada Blooms is accepting submissions for feature garden builders at Canada Blooms 2013 until October 26th. To find out more visit our website.

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.

Don't forget to like us on ,, and

Canada Blooms was founded by the Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario

For full details visit www.canadablooms.com