29.3.15

"Garden muses" turns four!

Baby, you're a big girl now!


Every March 29, I get kind of emotional. This blog that you're reading gets another year older, smarter and sassier (unlike the author who's simply getting older.) Like most parents  (indulge me while I anthropomorphize), I didn't know what the future held for my creation for the first few years--whether she would survive, what her personality would be, how long it would take her to be diaper-trained, etc.


Fourth birthday lemon loaf by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Sorry, a lemon-poppy seed mini loaf
from the freezer will have to do 




 "Garden muses" is doing fine. As my real kids will attest to, my parenting skills comprise of Chinese-style nagging and benign neglect. I'm a classic Panda dad, which doesn't always play well with my better half, a Tiger.... Yet, the blog grows a bit every day ( with every post?) and I have to thank you, the reader, for providing the incentive, motivation and psychic compost for me to write.

Believe it or not, I do get compliments occasionally.  This number is less than the spam requests from recently-found relatives in Nigeria asking for financial aid, but a few nice readers have taken the time to write. Here's what Patricia from somewhere in the U.S. Pacific North West wrote recently:

(Note: for all you skeptics out there, you'll have to trust me that "Patricia" really does exist!)

Hi Paul -- I share your enthusiasm for plants and gardening...I haven't read any of your fellow garden bloggers but I can't think any are more fun and interesting than yours. I have forwarded some of yours to my former sister-in-law who lives in Alaska. She enjoys your photos. You must be a well kept secret. Keep up the good work. I appreciate receiving your muses.

Now, if a reader in Alaska can find value and entertainment in my posts, I'm doing something very right or very wrong!

Again, I appreciate you taking the time and effort to read my posts.  And, as I promise on every birthday, I'll do my best not to write about vegetable growing.

Ugh!



27.3.15

Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show

Spring blooms in Etobicoke (under glass)


"What am I going to do with the kids during March break this year?" was a question that many parents in Toronto had to grapple with.  After a couple days of  being couch zombies staring at their devices, enough was enough.  So, off to another Flower Show!


Tulipa Green Wave Parrot tulips Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tulipa "Green Wave" Parrot tulips 
Centennial Park Conservatory 
2015 Spring Flower Show 


We, Torontonians, are spoiled with having two Conservatories that:

  • offer seasonal flower shows
  • charge no admission fee
  • accessible by public transit

I've written many times about my visits to the Allan Gardens Conservatory which is very close to home but there is another "sister" Conservatory in the west side of Toronto called the Centennial Park Conservatory which also holds similar seasonal flower shows. (Here's my post from the Centennial Park Conservatory's 2014 Spring Flower Show ). 

It's a bit of a trek to get out there by subway and bus but the kids and I did it anyway. It was quid pro quo: I got to take some nice pictures of spring blooms and the kids got to eat at their favourite restaurant. Kind of a win-win-win:

  • I experienced more wonderful blooms without having to run through a gauntlet of vendors shilling this and that
  • my kids received some visual stimulation that didn't originate from a screen
  • you take in some more pictures of pretty flowers (I just wish you were able to smell the hyacinths and freesias. Absolutely divine!)

Isn't spring wonderful?


Fancy Frills fringed tulip Centennial Park Conservatory 2015  Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Fancy Frills" fringed tulip
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show
Pale blue freesias Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pale blue freesias
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Pale yellow narcissus daffodil Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pale yellow narcissus (daffodil)
 Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Pale yellow narcissus daffodils  Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pale yellow narcissus (daffodils)
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



Pink freesia Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pink freesia
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Purple tulips Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Purple tulips
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Red freesia Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Red freesia
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Red tulips Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Red tulips
Centennial Park Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 



Red and white tulips (a kumquat tree tucked behind)
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



Tulipa Fancy Frills fringed tulip Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tulipa "Fancy Frills" fringed tulip
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Tulipa Gavota Triumph tulip Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tulipa "Gavota" Triumph tulips
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Tulipa Green Wave Parrot tulip  Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tulipa "Green Wave" Parrot tulip
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 




Tulipa Green Wave Parrot tulips Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Tulipa "Green Wave" Parrot tulips
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



Voltage yellow osteospermum African daisy Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Voltage" yellow Osteospermum (African daisy)
 Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



White freesia Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White freesia
 Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



White freesias Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White freesias
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



White red freesias Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White and red freesias
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



White tulips Centennial Park Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White tulips
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Crown Imperial Fritillaria imperialis Centennial Park Conservatory 2015  Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)
Centennial Park Conservatory
2015  Spring Flower Show 

20.3.15

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2015 (part three)

Toronto's other Flower Show

According to its website page,
"Canada Blooms is an annual world-class festival that connects people to the joys and benefits of nature through experiences with gardens and flowers, by promoting, educating, inspiring and celebrating all aspects of horticulture...(sic) "
After spending about 90 minutes on opening day; however, I didn't make the connection. However, if one replaces "horticulture" with "landscape construction" in the preceding quote (mission statement?), I'd wager that connections were more likely to be made.

Reviews have been mixed, as usual, according to the Canada Blooms  Facebook page. If a hybrid Flower-Home Renovation Show (which Canada Blooms has become in spirit, if not de facto)  isn't your thing, there's still time to drop by the Allan Gardens Conservatory for its annual Spring Flower Show which finishes at the end of March. 

Here are the rest of my pictures I took a couple of weeks ago at the Conservatory--a quiet place devoted to flowers and foliage.

100% flowers and foliage(or just about), 0% vendor booths.

Spring container Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Spring container
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show



Yellow and white daffodils Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Yellow and white daffodils
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


Yellow and orange daffodil Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Yellow and orange daffodil
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show

White and orange daffodil closeup Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White and orange daffodil closeup
 Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

Daffodils and Fleur en Vogue cyclamen Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Daffodils and "Fleur en Vogue" cyclamen
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show  


Vanguard Crocus  Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Vanguard" Crocus
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 

Crocus  Vanguard Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Crocus  "Vanguard"
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 

Crocus vernus Vanguard Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Crocus vernus "Vanguard"
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 

Coral tulips Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Coral tulips
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

Peach tulip Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Peach tulip
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


Peach tulip detail Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Peach tulip petals in detail
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Primula acaulis pink primrose Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Primula acaulis (pink primrose)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show

Red Schizanthus Poor Man's Orchid Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Red Schizanthus (Poor Man's Orchid)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 


White Schizanthus Poor Man's Orchid Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White Schizanthus (Poor Man's Orchid)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

Fleur En Vogue Pink Cyclamen persicum Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Fleur En Vogue" Pink Cyclamen persicum
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show  



Red tulips Fleur En Vogue Purple cyclamen  Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Red tulips and "Fleur En Vogue Purple" cyclamen
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

Blue Florist's Cineraria Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Blue Florist's Cineraria
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show  



Dietes iridioides African Iris Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Dietes iridioides (African Iris)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Now look up a hundred feet or so...


Palm House dome Allan Gardens Conservatory by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Palm House dome
Allan Gardens Conservatory 

Allan Gardens Conservatory Palm House dome detail by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 Palm House dome detail 

12.3.15

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show (part two)

Beautiful on the inside, ugly on the outside


March is turning out to be shi*ty (sorry to offend) month, literally. Temperatures are above zero and walking around downtown Toronto is depressing. As the snowbanks melt, incredible volumes of spent cigarette butts, dog excrement and crushed coffee cups emerge to the surface. The garden beds are, of course, rock solid and will be so until late April but I hope to see some crocuses and snowdrops soon outside. For now, I'm enjoying these blooms on display at the local Conservatory.

The hyacinths were in full bloom and their scent wafted throughout the display section. I like their strong odor--it's a smell I definitely associate with spring.


Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show yellow and white daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show
yellow and white daffodils  


I have 40 pictures that I'll break over this and another post to make things manageable.

By the way, a local paper, the Toronto Star, recently printed a short article about the Conservatory's increased attendance  due to the harsh weather over the winter: Allan Gardens gets boost from bad winter

That's good news since greater attendance should mean greater or stable funding by the city (there's no entry fee so the operations are funded through our taxes, I guess) but bad news for me, personally, as all these pesky guests are getting in the way of my picture taking! 

Just kidding, I love them all...


Crocus and cyclamen Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Drifts of crocus, hyacinth and cyclamen
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 

Grape hyacinth and daffodils Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Grape hyacinth and daffodils
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


Peach tulips Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Peach tulips
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 



Peach tulips backlit Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Peach tulips backlit
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show
 

Pink hyacinths Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pink hyacinths
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


Pink Schizanthus Poor Man's Orchid Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Pink Schizanthus (Poor Man's Orchid)
 Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

Red tulips Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Red tulips
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


Vanguard crocus Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Vanguard" crocus
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show  



Vanguard crocus vernus Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
"Vanguard" Crocus vernus Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


White and orange daffodil backlit Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White and orange daffodil backlit
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show 


White daffodil  Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White daffodil
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 



White daffodil detail Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White daffodil detail backlit
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show

White daffodils Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
White daffodils
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show

Yellow daffodil Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Yellow daffodil
Allan Gardens Conservatory
2015 Spring Flower Show


Yellow double daffodil  Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Yellow double daffodil
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show  

Zonal geraniums Pelargonium x hortorum Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Zonal geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 2015 Spring Flower Show 

The next two plants are not part of the Spring Flower Show, per se, since they are not hardy and are found in another section of the Conservatory dedicated to "tropical' (to us) plants on permanent display. I was lucky to catch the African Iris (Dietes iridioides) in bloom and had to show you.


African Iris Dietes iridioides Allan Gardens Conservatory by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
African Iris
(Dietes iridioides)


Agapanthus africanus Albus White Lily of the Nile Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Agapanthus africanus "Albus"
(White Lily of the Nile)


The main entrance of the Conservatory leads into the "Palm House" and if one looks way up, you'll see the metal framework supporting the large dome and cupola. Palms and bananas frame this shot.

A different perspective for you to consider...

Allan Gardens Conservatory Palm House dome by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory Palm House dome 


Want to see more spring blooms? Here are some links from the Spring Flower Show in previous years:




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