Yesterday, my youngest daughter and I went with a bus group from a local garden club to Canada Blooms. The show is put on by The Garden Club of Toronto and proceeds go to support garden and horticulture projects in Ontario. Included in the price of admissions was entry to the Toronto Home Show, also in the huge building. ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) We have had a very long winter and it was so nice to go to a show all about spring! The theme of this years show was 'WILD" This was the very first thing I saw when we entered the building ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) And the first thing I saw inside when the doors opened ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Once we were inside, I was like a kid in a candy shop. I really had no idea what to do first I just wanted to see it all! Thankfully, my daughter was the 10 year old voice of reason and decided we should "go in order" and weave from one side to the other. That meant we would start at the actual 'show'. Class 113 was "Your wildest dream". There were quite a few entries but I will show you the best few ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) I really liked the next catagory "Free Wheeling" which was in wheel barrows ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) The next catagory I found kind of odd, but they did a good job with "Wet and Wild" a design resembling a bikini bathing suit ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) Here is a closer view of the first and third place winners. Remember they are made completely of plant material. ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) "Spring forth Wildly" plants and bulbs blooming in baskets was next. Here they are in order of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and special prize ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) The next thing we saw both my daughter and I loved! It was in the category of "A walk on the wild side" and it was simply a design made predominantly of plant material. This carousel was our favorite and we think it should have taken first place. ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) This was the one that took 1st prize ( photo / image / picture from Netty's Garden ) More to follow in another post
This was such a varied posting this time. A little bit of everything. I have never actually been to a show quite like this. It was quite nice to look at all the flowers and how they were used. I am hoping for more. Thanks so much for this great series from the Canada Blooms show. Was the flower show primarily a show of various flower arrangements? Could one also buy plants, seeds and bulbs? p.s. That carousel was cute, wasn't it.
A bit about Canada Blooms: First off, it is held at the Direct Energy Center in Toronto, which is Canada's largest convention center. It has over 1 million square feet of space. Canada Blooms shares this space with the Toronto Home show and admission covers entry to both shows. The home show is actually much larger than the garden show, I think by about 4 times the space. I think I was worn out before I saw everything! The garden show consists of the Toronto Flower Show, Several Feature gardens, workshops, vendors, demonstrations, celebrity speakers, anything to do with gardens. There were 3 different stages set up around the building with many different topics and speakers. You could buy anything there from seeds and bulbs to gazebos. Heading into the other side to the Home show, you could get anything from construction material, doors, windows, BBQ's and trampolines to actual home builders, architects, anything you need for your home. Last year over 200, 000 people attended the show! I took almost 400 photos felt like I missed a lot. In the afternoon it was so busy there it was shoulder to shoulder walking through the show and hard to take photos.
Thanks for the description of the show. I see now that it was even larger and more varied than I originally thought. It really does sound like a great day out. I can see how you got worn out. Well, you can prop those footsies up today for a while. Thanks again for these wonderful posts.
I'm a little green Netty as I'd have loved to have ben at Canada Blooms with you. I really liked the 'Your Wildest Dreams' and my favourite picture was the 4th one down. The 3d shot in the 'Free Wheeling' was also a favourite of mine. I don't know that I was all that impressed with the bikinis but I can appreciate the work that went into making them up. 'Spring Forth Wildly' were all lovely and I actually agreed with the judges choice this time around. They were all very pretty though. My all time favourite 'photo has to be that wonderful carousel though. I think it deserved to be first as it's so inventive and beautiful. I really enjoyed all your photographs and can see why you enjoyed yourself so much. Many thanks for putting a smile back on my face.
I wish you could have been there too Eileen! The bikinis struck me rather odd as well, and my daughter was giggling the whole time we were looking at them! I did love the mini wheelbarrows as well and the carousel had us standing there in awe.
