Well, at least it's blooming here in Toronto!
Inside of course.
Winter is sloooowly leaving us and we may reach double digit (Celsius) temperatures next week. I'm seeing a flood of florist mophead hydrangeas in supermarkets and hardware stores in blue, pink, white and variations. Easter is around the corner so Easter lilies are ubiquitous as well. Outside, tips of tulips, crocus and daffodils are poking up.
The Allan Gardens Conservatory in Toronto exhibits five types of flower shows each year, free of charge. Since the focus is on plants (annuals and tropicals) and not interlocking brick or McMansion boulder arrangements, I wonder why anyone would rather go to Canada Blooms than this inner-city horticultural jewel. True, the area is kind of sketchy (nice Harveys down the street, wink!) and the city staff don't make eye contact with you but you're there for the plants, not to be accosted by hot tub and hot sauce salespeople.
I digress.
During my visit today, the mass plantings of tender hydrangeas and Easter lilies were not fully in bloom yet so I'll have to go back in a week or so. In the meantime, please enjoy these pictures of hydrangeas, daffodils, cyclamen and a blooming rhodo.
Wishing you a happy Easter for those who celebrate (and a good long weekend for those who don't!)
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| Variegated lacecaps, blue mopheads and variegated English ivy |
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| White mopheads, blue variegated lacecaps and variegated English ivy |
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| Blue lacecaps with white florets |
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| A blooming (Catawba?) mauve rhododendron |
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Poet's Daffodil (Narcissus poeticus) at
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Easter Flower Show 2013 |
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A composition of deep blue (and fragrant!) hyacinths, pale blue agapanthus, egg-yolk yellow primula, nestled among asparagus fern (?)
A contrast of colours and textures |
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| The pink is much more vibrant in real life: the halo around the yellow just kills me! |
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| This should satisfy the delphinium masochists out there |
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| Same grouping as above from the other side of the bed: the pink cyclamen cheers things up |
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| Your spring container? |
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| Down one path... |
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| From the other side: you can imagine the smell coming off this drift of blue hyacinths! |
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| A simple pastel palette, perfect for Easter |
By Paul Jung, author of "garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog"Google Google Find us on Google+ Find us on Google+
Paul, I love Allan Gardens and (almost) always go to the spring show for a hit of sensory delight – but do we really have to choose?
ReplyDeleteHi Helen,
Deletewe can have both! They're just two different beasts, with different agenda and vibes. I went to CB last week and, at times, thought and felt I was at the Ex..sigh.
But we do love our plants!