27.2.14

Toronto spring garden cleanups for the 2014 growing season!

Toronto has gone through a really rough winter and your garden beds are showing it! A spring garden cleanup is in order to get your garden off to a great 2014!


I'll help with your gardening needs by:

  • removing leaves and debris from your garden beds left over from last fall
  • pruning away the dead stalks and leaves from old perennials
  • gently turning over and cultivate the soil in your garden beds, adding new compost or topsoil as necessary to rejuvenate the soil without chemical fertilizers
  • removing any annuals from last year
  • pruning shrubs and small trees for diseased, dead or crossing branches
  • edge, with a spade, your garden beds to create a crisp and tidy look

Call me at 416-515-2780 or email me  info@pauljunggardening.com to set up an appointment soon as my calendar becomes quickly filled!

22.2.14

Centennial Park Conservatory 's Tropical House

Warmth, colour and high humidity in late winter?


My last post titled "Centennial Park Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show: Colour riot in Etobicoke!" showed many gaudy blooms, for this time of the year, in this west-end Toronto public greenhouse. Toronto experienced this past week a thaw (over zero Celsius/ 32 F for a couple of days anyway) and with the melting snow and runoff, all the debris and garbage previously buried now emerges. It's actually quite disgusting to see and dodge around the countless cigarette butts, coffee cups and piles of dog excrement: out of sight, out of mind.

Or better yet, take a look at these pictures and imagine being in a warm, quiet and tranquil place.



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house amaryllis by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
 tropical house amaryllis 




This Conservatory has three separate buildings open to the public: the entrance leads you into the main "tropical house" and from there you can go into the "cooler" section that displays the seasonal flower shows and another section that displays desert plantings like cacti and succulents. Something for everyone and with the total area being around 12,000 square feet (sorry, no metric here!), you needn't spend the entire day.


Here are some highlights of my visit to the tropical section. With the sound of the waterfall, the automatic misting system and resident parrots, it's not that hard to suspend your disbelief and imagine you're in warmer climates--until you step outside and face the dreary weather.

Anyway, enough whining, spring supposedly is around the corner so just enjoy!



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house path by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house path



Centennial Park Conservatory path tropical house by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
path tropical house



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house bed  by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house bed 



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house 



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house amaryllis bed by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house amaryllis bed 



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house white amaryllis by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house white amaryllis




Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house amaryllis bed by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house amaryllis bed 



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house waterfall by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house waterfall



Centennial Park Conservatory waterfall tropical house by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical waterfall 




Centennial Park Conservatory moth orchid  tropical house by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
moth orchid  tropical house 



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house Phalaenopsis orchid by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
 tropical house Phalaenopsis orchid  



Centennial Park Conservatory tropical house pink moth orchid by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
 pink moth orchid 



Tropical yellow orange impatiens Centennial Park Conservatory by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tropical yellow orange impatiens
 at Centennial Park Conservatory 




Variegated tropical hibiscus Snow Queen Centennial Park Conservatory by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Variegated tropical hibiscus "Snow Queen"
at Centennial Park Conservatory 



Centennial Park Conservatory statue tropical house by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory
tropical house's statute 

13.2.14

Centennial Park Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show

Colour riot in Etobicoke!


Are you sick of the snow yet? Can't afford to fly south this year (like me)? Well, I'm doing my bit with my version of colour therapy. My last post showed some life-affirming green pictures from Allan Gardens Conservatory's Spring Flower Show but I would be negligent for not mentioning that there's a "sister Conservatory" (my words) out in Toronto's west end that displays similar seasonal flower shows and permanent tropical and desert plantings. The Centennial Park Conservatory offers a wonderful respite in winter as well for west-enders.


Today's post will cover the spring bulbs and arrangements in CPC's north wing. (It's a separate area dedicated to the seasonal flower shows.) You wouldn't know about the Arctic blasts going on outside the glass panes: trust me, it was a trek getting there from downtown Toronto but well worth it.

Design-wise, nothing too elaborate. Just effective use of massing cyclamen, daffodils and kalanchoes.

Enjoy!


Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoe by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoe
 





Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoe garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoe 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoes by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 cyclamen kalanchoes 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 cyclamens kalanchoes by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
 Show 2014 cyclamens kalanchoes 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 daffodil cyclamen by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
 Show 2014 daffodil cyclamen



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 daffodil cyclamen garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 daffodil cyclamen 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 white cyclamen kalanchoe by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
 Show 2014 white cyclamen kalanchoe



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 white kalanchoes daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
 Show 2014 white kalanchoes daffodils 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 yellow daffodil by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 yellow daffodils



Clivia miniata Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
 Clivia miniata Centennial Park 
Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 cherub statue by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 cherub statue



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 Dutch Iris by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Dutch Iris (Iris x hollandica)
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 



Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 Pink Charm daffodil  by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Centennial Park Conservatory Spring Flower
 Show 2014 "Pink Charm" daffodils

3.2.14

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014

Toronto gets blooming early!


And I'm not referring to Canada Blooms, the national (some consider) flower show, held next month. Tucked between New Year's Day and "Blooms", as the locals call it, the downtown Conservatory puts on its yearly Spring Flower Show with much less fanfare. Sorry, no opening night galas or celebrity speakers. But if you're in the mood for a quick hit of colour, warmth and tranquility, Allan Gardens Conservatory is for you. It's very accessible by public transit and admission is free as well.

I live close by and spent a quiet hour or so taking these pictures, among others.  If you're stuck in the middle of a harsh winter like I am and would like to see "purty flowers" instead of dead browny bits of 2013's vegetation (aka "winter interest"), here you go:


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 yellow daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 yellow daffodils.
Signs of things to come, you have to trust me on this one
!






(Just a note: the following pictures are "cyclamen and daffodil" heavy. I imagine tulips, paperwhites, squill, grape hyacinths, etc.,  will be planted later as the show progresses. I'll post more pictures later. For now, enjoy the following:)


Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamen by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamen 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamen dusty miller by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
cyclamen and dusty miller 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamen massed by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
cyclamen massed 


Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamen persicum stirling  by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
cyclamen  persicum "stirling"

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show persicum cyclamens by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
  cyclamen persicum 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show cyclamens by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
 cyclamens 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show pink cyclamen by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
 pink cyclamen 


Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show pink stirling cyclamen by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
pink "Stirling" cyclamen



Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show white cyclamen persicum by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
white cyclamen persicum

Cyclamen persicum En Vogue Purple Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cyclamen persicum "En Vogue Purple"
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show yellow daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show
yellow daffodils 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 daffodils 

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 helleborus niger Jacob by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014
Helleborus niger "Jacob"
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014  Jacob Christmas Rose by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
Spring Flower Show 2014
 "Jacob" Christmas Rose



Helleborus niger Jacob at Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014  by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Helleborus niger "Jacob" at
Allan Gardens Conservatory 

Spring Flower Show 2014 


These orchids are not part of the Spring show, per se, but they're beautiful nonetheless. (If you happen to know the genus and species, let me know and I'll update.)


Phalaenopsis white moth orchid Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Phalaenopsis white moth orchid 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
2014 Spring Flower Show 


Phalaenopsis pink moth orchid Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Phalaenopsis pink moth orchid 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
2014 Spring Flower Show 



Cattleya labiata semi-alba Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cattleya labiata semi-alba 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
2014 Spring Flower Show 


White moth orchid Phalaenopsis Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White moth orchid (Phalaenopsis
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
2014 Spring Flower Show

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show Vectis Glitter pelargonium by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
2014 Spring Flower Show
"Vectis Glitter" pelargonium 


When you hear "geranium" you may think of the annuals sold by the flats every Mother's Day weekend at your local garden centre. They're more accurately named Pelargonium instead of (perennial) Geranium. I had to google to determine this type of tender zonal geranium. The pink and red flecks and venation is very cool. The cultivar is called "Vectis Glitter" and the full botanical name for those plant geeks out there is Pelargonium x hortorum "Vectis Glitter".

Do me a favour: don't plant these encircling a dracaena spike in your container.



Vectis glitter pelargonium Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Vectis glitter" pelargonium 
or zonal geranium at
Allan Gardens Conservatory 

2014 Spring Flower Show



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