This past weekend the Toronto Botanical Garden had their 23rd annual Through the Garden Gate garden tour.  Each year residents of the featured neighbourhood are able to showcase their home landscapes in a two day event that has become a must see in the gardening community. 

With it’s hilly terrain, close proximity to the water and natural green space the Beach was this years outstanding choice.  Spread out between Woodbine Avenue and Fallingbrook Road and hugging Lake Ontario, the Beach is a mixture of older established homes, cute waterfront cottages and the eclectic architecture of multicoloured townhomes. With a short jump to the water you can enjoy the 2 mile long boardwalk on the beach or the refreshing splash pad at Woodbine Park.  Routinely called the Beaches, the local business association recently decided to officially name the area the Beach.

This years garden tour spread over quite a large area of geography including 26 different gardens to be enjoyed.  Organizers for the event did a fantastic job supplying shuttle buses, detailled maps and refreshments, including three different ice cream stands.  Master gardeners, volunteers and in some cases the owners of the homes were at each garden location available to answer any questions or provide more background on each landscape.

This was my very first time participating in one of these garden events so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  The weather was unbelievably cooperative with clear skies and bright sun each of the days (note to self #1-wear a hat next time).  My original plan when starting out was that I would take a few pictures during my route and describe the event as a whole.  One garden and 27 pictures later I knew something a bit bigger was in order (note to self #2-soooo glad I charged my camera battery).  The first loop of homes on the map appeared to be in relative walking distance  to each other so I set off leaving the shuttle buses to the “older folk” (note to self #3- map is not to scale).  After 14 gardens, 2 hours, and 1 very steep hill it was time for a rest stop at the tour headquarters (note to self #4- denim….not such a good idea).

A wonderful caterer A la Carte Kitchen Inc.was on hand selling beverages, salads and sandwiches including one of the best tuna salad wraps I’ve had in a long time.  Washed down with a bottle of diet Pepsi and the tail end of my warm bottle of water (note to self #5-thank god for multiple bathroom facilities) I swallowed my pride, hopped the bus and headed to the second half of gardens.  What a great tour it was.

At one point during my lunch break I was asked by a couple of wonderful ladies sharing their table with me if I had any favorite gardens I had seen so far.  I can honestly say that after seeing all 26 I have to say I have no one favorite but lots of favorite elements that different gardens had.  Between stunning views, gorgeous plant choices, calming water features or quirky little hidden gems there was no one garden that stood out as being the best to me, they were just all that great. 

The final picture total for the day? Over 350 give or take a few blurry shots.  So for the next 26 days I will feature each of the gardens I visited, in the order that I saw them so I can share with you the beauty I was fortunate enough to enjoy and maybe encourage more people to check out local garden tours in their areas.  For the privacy of the home owners no actual location will be mentioned.

So enjoy these next 4 weeks experiencing the view Through the Garden Gate.

Head on over to the Royal Botanical Gardens for the beginning of the month long Rose Festival. Beginning this weekend and continuing until July 3rd and 4th enjoy live entertainment, kids activities and more among 2 acres of these fragrant and exquisite flowers.  Click on the link for more information.

Beginning May 29th and 30th and continuing on June 5th and 6th the Laking Gardens of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton will be celebrating the explosion of colour and smell of their hundreds of iris and peony plants. There will be live classical music, guided tours, kids activities and an art sale to also enjoy.
The show runs May 29th,30th and June 5th, 6th from 10 am to 5 pm. Visit their website www.rbg.ca for directions and further details.

Here are some photos from the last weekend of the Tulip Festival at the Royal Botanical Gardens.   I was fortunate enough that a lot of the late varieties were still in bloom.  This is definitely a show everyone should check out next year.

Take time out this weekend to enjoy the Lilac Celebration at the Royal Botanical Gardens Arboretum.

The lilac dell is home to the worlds largest and most diverse lilac collection and will be hosting a special celebration the weekend of May 15th, 16th and May 22nd, 23rd.

It’s a wonderful feast for your senses with a beautiful variety of colours and intoxicating scents. There will also be food and entertainment while you enjoy the afternoon.

If you are looking for something outdoorsy to do this weekend head over to High Park and check out the Cherry Blossoms.  The petals are already starting to fall so time is short to enjoy this beautiful display.

This past week I was travelling in Las Vegas and had a chance to check out the flowers in the Conservatory at the Bellagio Hotel.  Four times a year a huge team of horticulturalists do wonders transforming the space into a beautiful and whimsical wonderland for tourists from around the world to enjoy.

Here is a gallery of pictures taken from this Springs displays.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed seeing them in person.

Sometimes all it really takes is a change of scenery.

Anyone who remembers my post about last years Canada Blooms will recall how deeply disappointed I was.  Very few gardens, not a lot of Horticultural related booths, I was really on the fence about returning this year.  When I saw that organizer decided to use the Direct Energy Center at the Exhibition grounds I was even more unsure since I preferred the convenience of taking the subway to the Metro Convention Centre in previous years.  But being a good blogger that I am, I knew if anything I should check it out and report back to you guys so you can make the decision whether to go or not.

So this years show…..WOW!!!!!!!!!

Where do I start?  First let me apologize because this post will be big…HUGE! But let me tell you….the pictures you will see just scratch the surface of  what’s there is displayed.  My first hour in and I had already racked up 300 photos and that was just in a 1/3 of the space the show occupied this year. 

Garden Hall

Here is where you get a chance to see the floral designs and plant competitions.  I’m not a big fan of poofy flower displays yet this years definitely drew me in since it integrated a theme that I absolutely love, dance.

Here are some of the dances featured.

Samba

Tango

Waltz

Can Can

The Paso Doble

Hip Hop

Jazz

Flamenco

Limbo

Jitterbug

Contemporary Dance

Local florists also contributed beautiful designs to be displayed.  Some of them are whimsical, some are a bit odd and other so dramatic they take your breath away.  Here are just a few.

Once your senses are completely overloaded you can stop and take a break while watching one of the many speakers at the Celebrity Stage or continue to wander on to the display gardens.

Feature Garden Area

I’m showing you some photos from a few of my favorite designs in this area but remember what I said earlier. There is so much more than what I’ve shared today.

When you look across the feature garden area one sight towers high over everything else.

Yes its Mickey ears.  And its the centrepiece for the Disney Gardens Magical World of Tinker Bell.  With tunnels to run through, grass animals, face painting and crafts this spot is perfect for taking your little ones.  But who am I fooling.  Any kid at heart can enjoy the magic of the fairies.

Landscape Ontario has an amazing design featuring a patio screen that I want…like right now….plus an interesting entrance covered in moss, ferns and orchid flowers.

A flash back to the era of the Flintstones and you get this adobe hut design made out of straw, water and clay by Parklane.

The Canadian Cancer Society has a very piognant and special exhibit.  The Yellow Beacon is a display of daffodil covered walls, a tranquil pond and most importantly a stone wall where guests can leave a chalk message of survival, hope and love.

But my favorite of the whole show is The Cellar from D.A. Gracey.  If I ever moved to Italy this is what my place would look like.  Until that time I have to find myself one of those giant wine glasses, a few tons of grapes and maybe a tall, dark and muscly man to fan me while I lounge.

The Marketplace

Last but definitely not least.  You can find pretty much anything you want here.  There are booths specializing in fertilizer, garden tools, landscape design, different horticultural clubs, garden specific travel destinations as well as plants, plants and more plants. 

Of course The Niagara Wine Garden is back again this year for those in the 19 plus catergory and after all that walking need a beverage or 2. Did I mention I went alone? Completely a comparison study…..

What a great day! 

Canada Blooms continues through the weekend ending Sunday March 21st.  Check out their website www.canadablooms.com for hours, directions and ticket information.  Try to find time over the next couple of days to check out this show.  While the weather has been beautiful and it feels like Spring has sprung, spend a few hours here and then there’s definitely no turning back to winter.

One sure sign of Spring is when Toronto showcases all things green thumb as Canada Blooms: The Flower and Garden Festival rolls into town. Starting Wednesday March 17 and running through till Sunday March 21, enthusiasts can enjoy days over 6 acres of landscaped gardens and 100, 000 square feet of shopping space.

Seminar ranging from Eco friendly home gardening to choosing the perfect water lily, there is something for everyone.

Check the following link for all the information you need: Canada Blooms.

While we have been fortunate enough this winter to not feel overwhelmed by cold and snow, the 16,000 square foot space in Torontos’ Allan Gardens is a great respite from any dreary gray days still to come.

Set in one of Toronto’s oldest parks the central area of the conservatory is a beautiful cast iron and glass domed “Palm House”  built in 1910 showcasing bananas, bamboo, a large Screw Pine and of course gigantic palm plants.

You can enjoy the calm of the Cool house with it’s citrus trees while relaxing near the waterfall or imagine being some where in the islands while visiting the Tropical House that displays a beautiful selection of orchids and bromeliads. 

In another humid tropical room you will find hibiscus and ginger and further along you can enough the desert heat of the Cactus Room. 

October at Allan Gardens gives people the opportunity to enjoy a huge variety of chrysanthemums, while over Christmas time the Conservatory features a holiday show of over 40 different varieties of poinsettias and offers guests wagon rides, cider and treats.  During the last two weeks of December you also have the opportunity to enjoy the greenhouse under candlelight.

Spring bulbs and cooler crops begin decorating the space beginning in February leading up to the popular Easter show.

No matter what time of the year you visit Allan Gardens is a great place to escape the city, relax with a book and surround yourself with beauty.

To get there:

Allan Gardens can be reached by taking Yonge subway to College Street and then an eastbound Carlton streetcar to Sherbourne St.

It is located on the south side of Carlton St. between Jarvis Ave. and Sherbourne St.