Media Event with Peter Cantley

Loblaws is a large “grocery” chain in Canada that features President’s Choice products which are usually excellent quality at a decent price. But this blog is not about groceries, it’s about plants. I generally think that box stores are the worst place to buy plants unless you happen to show up 5 minutes after the delivery truck arrives at their garden centres. Loblaws stores is the exception. Loblaws is one of my favourite go-to retailers for plants and garden stuff. Their lawn and garden division is headed up by garden guru Peter Cantley, who knows and loves plants. And, he’s a smart cookie. For more years than I dare reveal about him, he has been making sure that Loblaws brings in great  plants and garden products for Loblaws’ customers.

Full disclosure here – every spring Cantley and his team invite  garden media to a mix and mingle (at the beautiful Botanical Gardens this year) with his growers. They come out to talk to us about what is going to be offered in Loblaws garden centres. AND, we get to take home plants…as many as we can carry and fill our vehicles with. I call it the Greedy Grab Fest…but, that’s not a fair assessment (though it is the gardening media event of the season!)  The idea is that we trial these plants and report honestly to our audiences what we think of them.

Here’s what  I saw yesterday that has me excited:

Campanula ‘Get Mee’

Campanula – Purple Get Mee™ - It, well, it got me! A clever wall created with small pots of the Purple Get Mee™ Campanula was stunning (and the grower came all the way from Denmark, top hat and all). This hardy perennial acts like an annual, and is covered in rich blooms that come back throughout the summer. Loaded with velvety purple bell-shaped flowers was a magnet for me. It is supposed to be well behaved and doesn’t roam all over the garden as many campanulas tend to do.

Mighty ‘Mato™

Grafted Tomato Plants – This is really big news for veggie gardeners. And what a monster!  Mighty Mato™ delivers abundant harvests from huge plants that grow up to 6 feet tall or more.  Several tomato varieties, including the heirloom Brandywine, are grafted onto vigorous rootstock with an excellent ability to absorb nutrients from the soil and help defend against pests and disease. The large, plentiful tomatoes mature earlier than the same varieties of tomatoes without a grafted rootstock, and keep going all season.

Pixie™ grape
Pinot meunier Hardy vine

A Teeny Tiny Grape Vine – Pixie™  – Developed at Canada’s Vineland Research & Innovation Centre, ® Pixie™ is the cutest little grapevine imaginable.  You can even grow in a pot (if you want)! It has lots of adorable little mini clusters of grapes to eat or make wine with. It is hardy, so of course you can grow it in the garden. A great addition to a small urban property.

Hosta ‘Designer Genes’

Hosta ‘Designer Genes’ – This hosta got my attention right away. Lovely brilliant yellow foliage with rhubarb red stems –wonderful contrast. I have a few shady spots that need some brightening and this one will fit the bill.

Hardy Fig

What the Fig! – I can’t wait to try this one. Steven Biggs, Canada’s fig expert http://www.grow-figs.com  got me interested in growing figs and convinced me I could grow them in places where I thought I couldn’t. He was right, but until now it meant bringing the plant into the garage and protecting it over winter. HOWEVER, this new fig, is hardy and where I live in Toronto (and other Zone 5 to 6 areas) the fig plant can stay outside over the winter and it shoots back up and re-fruits year after year.

Shrimp Tree

Shrimp “Tree” – There were only a few available “Shrimp Trees” (Justicia brandegeana) available at the media event, but I managed to snag one. This “tree” form is created by training several plants up a stake to create what looks like a tree. The plant absolutely drips with shrimp-like blooms. Fascinating!  It will summer on my deck and then come indoors in the fall in front of a sunny window.

The night before the anticipated visit no news was good news and by morning two dozen excited garden lovers boarded a bus and headed to Highgrove. Situated near the village of Tetbury it wasn’t easy to find…no signs…no hint of the place.  In fact, the driver passed by twice before we realized that perhaps the only high stone walls we saw for miles must be the place. We turned in and drove down a long treed lane to be met by a police officer who came on board, checked the bus inside and out, and then took our passports for scrutiny (a list of visitors is submitted ahead of time and it is rechecked at the time of the visit).  After a half hour or so, we were given the ok and off we went to a “holding room” (a very elegant one at that) to await our tour.

Documents must be checked!

Alas, photos are not permitted, even for journalists. We were told very firmly to leave our cameras on the bus. So, the only photo I have is the one I sneaked of the cop walking away with my passport.
“No matter”, I thought, “I have a good memory for gardens” (though admittedly it’s not as good as it used to be).

The tour is a walk of about 2 miles lasting 2 hours and is led by one of His Royal Highness’s garden guides. Our guide, Linda Gunn, said in the beginning she received no pay (just the thrill of it all), but now she gets a stipend.  Linda was well prepared with a binder of photos of all the plants…just in case some smarty pants tried to stump her. We were warned not to go off the path. And yes, there are cameras in the garden (hard to spot, but eagle eye Veronica found a few and resisted the temptation to wander).

Even with all the restrictions and rules, this visit was a highlight of my garden trekking. I’ve long been a fan of Prince Charles and his love of our planet, for growing organically, and for protecting the environment. He may appear to be quirky to some, but I think he was ahead of his time and the rest of us are just catching up.

Once home I requested photos from the Prince’s public relations people, telling them that I’d be using the images for an article in the Toronto Botanical Gardens newsletter (yes, it was in there). The response was, “The Prince will want to know about this. We’ll let you know”. So, after several weeks I received these photos to share with you. I guess the Prince approved. And here they are with my comments.

The Wild Flower Meadow

Stretching from the front of the house to the back, the wildflower meadow is magnificent…my favourite area. In May it was a froth of colour filled with blue camassia, hot pink Byzantine gladiolus (corn flag) and yellow rattle (a pretty but parasitic annual that suppresses the grasses from taking over). This photo doesn’t do it justice.

The Stumpery

The name says it all. The garden is filled with stumps of trees felled during the first and second World Wars and the odd hurricane. They create an environment that encourages wildlife. This shady glade is home to a National Collection of 131 large and small leaf hostas.

The Cottage Garden

Designed by the Prince and the late Rosemary Verey, the cottage garden is a typically English border. A notable plant in the garden is a catalpa tree that was a fiftieth birthday gift to Prince Charles from Sir Elton John.

The Terrace

The plants in the terrace garden were chosen entirely by Prince Charles, the design was a combined effort of the Prince and Lady Salisbury. Where the open oak pavilion stands, a 200 year old cedar once lived. Sadly, it died and was removed in 2007 and replaced with the pavilion.

The Carpet Garden

Inspired by a Turkish carpet at Highgrove House, the Prince translated its geometric shapes and colours into a living garden. But first, the design was exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2001 where the garden won a silver medal. After Chelsea the garden was transferred to Highgrove and rebuilt. It is enclosed by walls reminiscent of smaller urban gardens in the Middle East. The Eastern style is echoed in the ceramics placed among the plantings. The walls are lined with Italian cypresses, a reminder of Prince Charles painting trips to Italy.

For information on visiting Highgrove see http://www.highgrovegardens.com/garden-tours.html

Entrance to Canada Blooms

I love Canada Blooms (the largest Canadian Flower “festival” in the country) because in March I need a hit of spring. Especially this year. The weather has been cold for months and it’s a damp miserable cold. I’m fed up with it. But one step onto the showroom floor at Canada Blooms and the scent transports me to a field of flowers. That alone is worth the price of admission (and the exorbitant parking cost). Once I spend a few moments swooning I get down to some serious looking-about. I’m very methodical about this, not wanting to overlook a thing. I start with the display gardens, then I head for the floral design competition. Lastly I linger in the market place.

Canadian Wildlife Federation’s fun “play” garden

The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s display garden was not really a garden in the true sense, to me at least, but rather a wooded area outfitted as a playground. The structures were all fashioned out of natural materials. The slide made out of a tree trunk was irresistible. If there had not been so many people around, I’d have had a go at it.

Trendy Dog House with a Green Roof

One of the display gardens featured a doghouse with a green roof. Wonderful idea. I could see my dogs forgetting about the doghouse and settling on the roof…so much for the plantings.

“Ode to the Humble Maple Syrup Bucket”

I loved the “Ode to the Humble Maple Syrup Bucket”, an art installation by Emmy Tougas for Reford Gardens…a fetching study in colour .

Yoga anyone?

I liked the Otium garden, a space designed for those who would like to exercise outside…yoga comes to mind, but not so practical though in our Canadian climate. Great in California when you could use it year round.

Poppies…simple and beautiful.

A table laden with old bottles containing stems of orange poppies created a wonderful composed floral design. Anyone can do this with most garden flowers and achieve a similar look. You don’t need any floral design training. Though if you use poppies, you must sear the ends to keep the sticky, milky stuff from seeping out otherwise the stems will not stay turgid (how’s that for a word).

Contemporary Flare

If you like a contemporary look, the Spring in a Box design is appealing. With straight lines, it is fresh and clean looking. I love the natural stone wall with the red cut outs.

Inspiring Floral Designs

The floral competition is a real magnet for me. I used to exhibit designs in these types of competitions and I know the amount of time and effort that goes into putting a design together. The creativity shown is always inspiring.

Toronto Botanical Gardens Booth

And of course the marketplace is a shopper’s paradise. The Toronto Botanical Garden set itself apart from the other marketplace vendors by having its booth close to the design gardens. What a booth! Fun and funky with great products.

My favourite garden centre,  John’s Garden Centre from Uxbridge was at the marketplace with a great selection of bulbs and tubers. And, I could not resist buying yet another primrose.

Blue Zebra Primrose

This one is  Blue Zebra. Aptly named it is navy blue with yellow stripes. John’s Garden Centre is unique. Set in a forest, he offers unusual plants, trees and shrubs (and more) at excellent prices and he knows his stuff.

Mainau Entrance

Mention an island paradise and what comes to mind? Most of us imagine a sunny beach somewhere in the tropics where palm trees sway and a pina colada is the drink of the day. Mainau Island lies just off the shores of Lake Constance in the far south-west of Germany, close to Switzerland and Austria.The climate isn’t tropical (though there are a few palm trees), there’s no beach and I couldn’t find a pina colada anywhere.

Known locally as the ‘The Flower Island’, this forty-five hectare island is one enormous garden filled with glorious blooms all year round…a true paradise for garden lovers. Plants are in bloom from March through October; snowdrops and crocus in early spring – tulips, azaleas, peonies, rhododendron and narcissus in early summer -hydrangea and roses in mid-summer, and late blooming perennials and dahlias in the fall.

August Border

When I visited in August the perennial borders were at their peak. Gorgeous groupings of tall ornamental grasses proved to be the perfect companions for the swaths of deep red heleniums and bright gold rudbeckias that spilled into the walkways.

Pink and Purple Border with Sheep Grazing on the Terrace Above

The typical rusty reds and golden yellow colours of autumn were beginning to dominate the landscape, but there were plenty of late summer bloomers in my favourite colour palette of pink and purple. I adore the fetching, feminine combination of purple Verbena bonariensis (an annual), bright pink coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and dusty rose Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium). The effect was stunning and a magnet for dozens of busy butterflies that were harvesting the flowers’ nectar. Not to mention that on one of the terraces a few sheep were being put to good use as “lawn mowers!

Italian Inspired Water Feature

Perhaps the most unique feature on the island is the ‘Italian Flower and Water Staircase’.  It involves a rush of water tumbling down Italian Renaissance-inspired stairs ending in a pool far below. The water cascade is planted on either side with columnar conifers that are under planted a breathtaking carpet of multi-coloured blooms.

Arena of Fountains

The ‘Arena of Fountains’ was the perfect spot for an unobstructed view across Lake Constance. Highlighted here is a series of fountains circling a graceful metal sculpture of stylized birds.  The surrounding terraces are planted with heat-lovers such as agapanthus, bird of paradise, bougainvilleas, banana, cypresses, palms and agaves, all adding a distinctive Mediterranean flair.

Palm House and Rose Garden

Architecturally unique, the ‘Palm House’ features an unusual 3-tiered curved roof line. It has to be one of the prettiest glass houses I have seen anywhere.  Covering 1,270 square metres, it is 17.4 metres at its highest point, making plenty of room for the 20 types of palm trees that grow there. One of its distinguished residents is a 15 metres tall Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) that was planted in 1888.

Castle, Palm House and Rose Garden

With the beautiful castle in the background, the Italian Rose Garden creates a most romantic picture. Laid out in 1871, the symmetrical design is typical of an Italian formal garden. This exquisite garden features over 20,000 rose plants with 1200 varieties in all. June and July are the peak months for roses, but there were still plenty in bloom during my August visit.

Interior of Saint Marien Church

While the castle is not open to the public, visitors are welcome inside the Baroque church of St. Marien and it is a must-see. The interior walls are adorned with beautiful sculptures by Franceso Pozzi and the ceiling frescoes are a work of art by Franz Joseph Spiiegler.

Annual Border

The beauty of visiting any gardens is that it changes with the seasons and beckons you to return. And so it is with Mainau Island. I saw it at its peak of beauty in late summer, but the dahlias were only in bud. And what about spring and early summer? I missed those seasons. Like so many other gardens I have visited, I yearn to go back.

For more information: http://www.mainau.de/home.html

Rouge Park in Winter

I love getting out in nature when the weather is fine. But, if the weather is frightful, well,  I am usually happy to stay inside by the fire.  This year winter is dragging on  and I’m getting antsy. My husband, Walter, is a volunteer guide for the Rouge Park (located in Toronto, it is Canada’s first urban wilderness park). This past weekend he  convinced me to come out with him on one of his guided hikes. It was just above freezing with no wind and a little light snow falling. Evidently, perfect conditions for a winter walk.

Winter hikers admiring trees in the Rouge Park.

Walter is an expert birder. Alas, we didn’t see or hear one bird. I’m a plant girl…so no plants to report on either…too early for greenery. But, winter is a good time to focus on trees. Without leaves they flaunt their form and shape.  One of the guys who joined our walk is a tree man…so we spent a lot of the time admiring bark.  There’s something hauntingly beautiful about a stand of bare trees silhouetted against a white snow-covered canvas.  And, I’m happy to report that I learned something new in the tree department. Have you heard of a ‘muscle tree’? It is an under-story shrub or small tree that has irregular ridges running vertically up its trunk.  When you stroke the bark it feels like a muscled arm or leg, hence the common name ‘musclewood’ or ‘muscletree’.  The botanical name is Carpinus caroliniana.

Stonefly in Rouge Park (photo credit – Mikal Lawton)

The last thing I expected to see were any insects. But, lo and behold, all over the snow-covered trails we were fascinated with dozens of little insects  crawling around. Since there were no bug experts among us, I waited until I got home to find out what Mr. Google had to say.  It turns out that these creatures are aquatic and called ‘stone flies’.  In the dead of winter the larvae or nymphs crawl up through the cracks in the snow and ice that covers the stream where they lived the previous year.  The stone flies we saw crawling on the snow were at the adult stage and they were out and about looking for mates. If you want to see stone flies, now is the time while the snow is still on the ground. If you wait until the weather is more agreeable you will have missed your chance.

This past weekend was perfect for a winter hike. Once you start moving around, and if you are dressed for winter, then it’s really enjoyable. But, no matter what time of year you visit the Rouge Park, there is something to see. It’s an amazing place…a wilderness…with all the wonders of nature there to be discovered. You don’t need a guide, but by joining a guided walk you’ll learn from both the guide and each other. The guided walks are free. To find out more about Rouge Park see http://www.rougepark.com/hike.

Over 50 seminars and demonstrations are being offered. This year’s celebrity roster includes: Arthur Skolnik, John Reeves, Frank Ferragine, Nicholas Rosaci, Jackie Morra, Shawn Monteith, Mark Aytoil, Marjorie Mason, Jeff Mason, Denis Flanagan, Albert Graves, Kate Seaver, Vicky Sanderson, Lynn Spence, Mary Dobson, Kimberley Seldon and Karl Lohnes.

For those who are into floral design, the Annual Ontario Horticulture Association’s Floral Design and Plant Competition is being held. Here, talented designers and indoor gardeners compete from across the province.

Parking is free and admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children.
Children under eight years of age are free. Advance tickets are available online at a
discounted rate.

Show hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 to 8 pm & Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is free for children 8 and under, $12 for youth (9-17) and seniors, $15 per adult or two for $25 if purchased online. Children 8 and younger are free. www.internationalhomeandgardenshow.ca.

I am pleased to announce that I will be leading a magnificent tour April 14-29, 2013 to visit the gardens of Holland, Belgium, Germany and France.

The  itinerary has been designed to include not only the most beautifully landscaped gardens, but also the important historical sites of Europe.

We  will also enjoy some tasty delights, including a visit to a premiere cheese factory in Holland, a chocolate  factory in Belgium and vineyards in Germany and France to sample the glorious wines of the regions. For the complete itinerary and details visit  Connaissance Travel and Tours.

In the fall I love the punch of colour that chrysanthemums give to the garden. But the truth is that their colourful show signals the beginning of the end of the gardening season in most parts of Canada. If we are lucky those sunshine bright yellows, dusty roses and burnished burgundy shades are vibrant until about Halloween and then it’s over. Winter is waiting in the wings. And so, I often pack up and head south…and not for the sun, sand or the sea, but for gardens that are still at their peak. Last November I found myself at Callaway Gardens in  Georgia.

Before visiting the place, I thought Callaway was a brand of golf clubs (what do I know? I don’t golf) and was surprised to find that there is no connection to the makers of golf clubs at all (though there is a golf course there). Callaway Gardens is an enormous property consisting of thousands of acres of woodland (40 acres alone are devoted to the world’s largest collection of azaleas), a resort hotel, a lake and nature preserve, display gardens and more. My favourite spot was in and around the 5-acre John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, a one-of-a-kind garden glass house filled to brimming with exotic plants. Normally, in a place like this I’d spend hours wandering through the greenhouse lusting after plants that I can’t grow at home. But, from mid-September through to November the chrysanthemum is the ‘queen of the autumn show’ here. More than 10,000 mums are planted to welcome in the fall season and the display is jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

In particular the cascading mums captured my attention. A display of this kind does not just happen. Getting mums to cascade is a painstaking process and takes months. It starts by pinching off all side branches to leave a single stalk. Once the plant reaches the desired height you attach the stalk to a wire frame with twist ties and then allow the side branches to fill in, pinching several times over the summer to adjust the form. When buds form in the fall, it’s time to stop pruning and wait for the show.

The side view of the plant isn’t particularly pretty, but looking straight on the lovely “cascade” of colour is impressive.

Throughout the gardens touches of whimsy add interest to the mum displays, such as the “dragon” topiary that kids and adults alike are fascinated with.

Inside the conservatory, the show continues . Water is always a magnet for little kids. For me the magnet was this gorgeous swirl of fuschia mums floating above the pool.

Just outside the conservatory a reflecting pool enhances the form and colour of a fetching display of bright, butter yellow cascading mums.

Lollipop trees fashioned out of the same yellow mums make a statement near the pergola. Inside the conservatory a gorgeous swirl of mums illustrates what you can do with a few hanging baskets (and a whole lot of talent).

I came away thinking that maybe I’d try getting some of my mums to cascade next year. Whether I do or not remains to be seen, but that’s the beauty of travelling…you bring home inspiration and I found lots of that at Callaway Gardens.

For information on Callaway Gardens: http://www.callawaygardens.com/

The Entrance to the Show…It Starts Here

 The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is without a doubt the garden world’s most anticipated event. Garden lovers come from all walks of life and from all over the world. At Chelsea the latest garden trends are revealed by the world’s top designers and growers. This show is not the largest show in the UK (Hampton Court is bigger), but there is a buzz and an atmosphere at Chelsea that is unmatched anywhere else. There’s a carnival-like atmosphere, and yes, it can get crowded at times, but no one seems to mind. You never see any miserable faces (even when it rains).

Happy Crowds

That first time, the show gardens were a magnet for me. They oozed inspiration one by one. Being able to view different garden styles side by side made it easy for me to hone in on my preferences, helping me to figure out what was “me.” Up until then, I had liked everything I saw and my garden at home reflected this. It was a bit of a hodgepodge (I’m afraid I am predisposed to hodgepodge, but at least now I know it). It’s true; we can’t grow everything the Brits can. But chances are if you fancy a particular colour combo or garden style, you can find plants at home that can be substituted to create a similar look or feel.

Roof Gardens…at Chelsea the trends are revealed

In the Chelsea Flower show marketplace, row upon row of vendors entice you with everything you can imagine…from tools to garden ornaments to furniture. The locals drag carts behind them loaded with the newest in plants and garden gadgets. Alas, (and maybe it’s a good thing) the airlines these days have weight restrictions to help save me from temptation.

 Temptation is Everywhere in the Marketplace

For plant nuts, the marquee is the place to be. Here, the growers’ stands display specialty plants – Streptocarpus (my passion), lavender, foxgloves, roses, chrysanthemums, hostas, vegetables and much, much more. Some of the displays are living works of art. It’s easy to while away a few hours here.

In the Floral Marquee – The Latest in Plant Introductions

As for floral designers?

Inspiration knows no bounds.

Every garden lover should see Chelsea at least once. Chelsea is celebrating 100 years in 2013, making this is an especially good time to visit with many special events planned.

Thanks to the microclimate of Canada’s Escarpment Niagara Peninsula, the area is well-known for producing world-class Vinifera grapes that create superior wines.  Wine lovers can follow the Niagara Wine Route from Beamsville to Jordan and on to Niagara-on-the-Lake, passing (and stopping to taste) through some of the most idyllic countryside found anywhere in the world.

Most wineries offer tastings, some with local artisan cheeses or perhaps a gourmet meal with just the right wine pairings.  Reif Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake has always been a popular destination for discriminating wine lovers.Now, it’s a destination for garden lovers too.  Their Wine Sensory Garden is divided into four sections: A. Cabernet and Merlot; B. Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc; Chardonnay and Ice wine; and Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir.  In each area the plantings have been chosen to reflect the colors, aromas and flavors that are used to describe the characteristics of the different types of wines produced at Reif.

Cabernet and Merlot wines are characteristically deep burgundy and often described as having aromas reminiscent of blackberry, black currant, chocolate, cedar and licorice. This area of the garden features a burgundy color palette to reflect the nature of these wines. Perennials such as Sedum ‘Black Jack’, Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’, Ninebark ‘Summer Wine’ and Chocolate Vine sport dark foliage and wine colored flowers and were selected to represent the dark hue of the wine. Terra cotta chimney stacks used as containers are planted with annuals such as Kent Beauty Oregano, Chocolate Mint and Cinnamon Geranium.

Visitors can take a stroll through the garden enjoying a glass of wine then find a quiet spot under the arbor to enjoy an artisan cheese plate, local charcuterie or even a grilled pizza featuring tomato, basil and fresh bocconcini cheese.

15608 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0
Tel: 905-468-7738
wine@reifwinery.com