|
Greetings!
Welcome Spring! Our gardens may still be sleeping under three feet of snow but that doesn't stop our enthusiasm! Dufferin Garden Centre dug out our doors this morning and we are now open for the season and celebrating the arrival of Spring. Yeah!
What better way to start dreaming of spring than planning for a garden full of flowers and vegetables? Our seeds have arrived and we have everything needed to get you started. Join us on Saturday March 23 for our "Seedy Saturday Seminar" to find out the basics of starting your garden from seed. Are you looking to try something new in your garden this year? Some of the more unusual flowers can only be grown from seed. Join the discussion of the practical benefits of growing our veggies from seeds. Learn the basics of growing your food at home. Register for this popular seminar online or instore (519-941-5081). Dufferin Garden Centre is committed to help you grow the garden of your dreams in 2013! Our qualified and talented staff is available to answer your questions and offer solutions to any plant quires. We are pleased to offer quality plant material from our trusted suppliers as well as offering new products from locally-sourced companies. Stay tuned for details!
Hours:
Monday - Saturday :: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday :: Closed
Be sure to join our gardening community on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest 'dirt' at the Dufferin Garden Centre.
|
2013 is shaping up to be a fantastic year!
Colour of 2013 :: Emerald Green
 We, at Dufferin Garden Centre, are applauding the people at Pantone for choosing Emerald Green as their 2013 colour of the year. What a wonderful colour to celebrate but of course, we (who love plants) are a little biased! Pantone Inc is a company from New Jersey who is best known for their Pantone Matching System which is a standardized colour matching scheme. Each year they choose a colour that makes quite an impression on fashion, inspiring artists, designers and stylists. This year we are celebrating Pantone colour # 17-5641 :: Emerald Green. This brilliant green colour has been observed and admired since ancient times. In earliest Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. Today, the brilliant shade of emerald green represents harmony and a love of Nature, especially Spring. This colour is perceived as fresh and clean and often signifies health, renewal and re-growth. Dufferin Garden Centre looks forward to celebrating Emerald Green this coming season, especially as spring is almost here. We will be looking for the first green shoots coming up through the snow! Do you know another gardener who might enjoy this article?
|
Perennial Plant Association's 2013 Perennial of the Year 
Perennial of 2013 :: Variegated Solomon's Seal
The Perennial Plant Association started a program in 1990 showcasing a perennial each year that displays excellent qualities such as multiple-season interest, relatively pest/disease-free and requiring low maintenance. This year, our 2013 Perennial of the Year is Variegated Solomon's Seal ( Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'). This perennial is a must have for shady woodland gardens as it will tolerate a partial to full shade. It looks great with ferns and hostas. The dangling bell-shaped flowers appear in late spring beneath the beautiful green leaves that are edged in creamy white. This plant grows 20-23" tall in graceful arching branches and although slow to establish, will spread to 18" over time. Great for cut flowers, containers, deer and rabbit resistant, however, please be aware that they are toxic if eaten.
|
American Hosta Growers Association's 2013 Hosta of the Year
 | |
web photo
|
Hosta of 2013:: Rainforest Sunrise
The chosen hosta for 2013 is Rainforest Sunrise, with crinkly golden-yellow leaves contrasting with streaky dark-green margins. This smaller hosta will grow to 12" in height and spread to 22" which is the perfect plant for the front of the border in a shady garden. The flowers are a light mauve colour, lily-shaped and appear above the foliage. This Hosta would be a great addition to shady containers, rock gardens, woodland gardens and as a ground cover.
|
International Herb Association's 2013 Herb of the Year Herb of 2013:: Elderberry 
The International Herb Association established the first Herb of the Year in 1991 and has chosen herbs as far ahead as 2015. These selections are based upon outstanding qualities in culinary, medicinal or ornamental categories.
This year, our 2013 Herb of the Year is the Elderberry (Sambucus) which is reputed to be a very useful plant! This native shrub is a fast growing multi-stemmed shrub reaching 10' in height, spreading to 7' and does well in moist soils. White flowers, in June-July are used for making an herbal tea, followed by fruit that is good for jellies as well as attracting birds.
Note: The leaves and branches of the elder are toxic for internal use.
|
British Association of Rose Breeders :: 2013 Herb of the Year 
Rose of 2013 :: You're Beautiful
Floribunda Rose 'You're Beautiful' ('Fryacy') has been chosen as the Rose of the Year 2013 collecting some of the top awards in the Rose World!
It has a neat busy habit (3' high and 3' wide) with good resistance to diseases and produces fabulous sugar pink, lightly scented blooms over a long period of time. This rose would do well in containers and at the front of a sunny border.
|
Feature Plant :: Gerbera Daisy  The American National Garden Bureau Inc. has chosen the Gerbera Daisy as the flower of the year for 2013. Each plant is chosen because it is popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, diverse and versatile.
Our wonderful customers certainly agree that this spectacularly colourful tropical plant is a popular flower choice at the Dufferin Garden Centre. This plant is considered an annual in our climate as it is native to South Africa and most often seen in container arrangements, annual plantings or given as gifts and kept as houseplants.
The name 'Gerbera' can be traced to an 18th-century German naturalist (Traugott Gerber) and not connected with Gerber baby food!
Zone: 9-11
Light Requirements: full sun to part shade, avoid reflective heat from brick walls
Watering Suggestions: water early in the day to avoid excessive moisture at night (encourages powdery mildew)
Height: about 12" high
Flower Power: large 2.5 - 8" blooms with yellow centres surrounded by rayed petals in a wide range of colours including pink, orange, yellow, gold, white, red, cream and bi-colours
Tips: good growing Gerber Daisies do not suffer much from pest attacks, but when stressed can be susceptible to crown rot so avoid planting too deep, also susceptible to powdery mildew, watch for small flying insects such as aphids or spider mites (can be controlled by spraying soapy water)
|
Cedar's Corner :: Seminar Planning 
Happy Spring to all my friends!
I am looking forward to seeing all of you again. Oh, I am quite aware that there is still snow on the ground...not to worry, I am still sporting my winter coat. I was an active participant at our latest meeting. We were setting all of the dates for some great seminars! Be sure to visit our website and see which ones fit into your schedule. There is a little bit for everyone; beginner gardeners to the more experienced. Is there something you would like to know more about? Feel free to send us your ideas via email and we will see what we can do! All seminars start at 11:00am and are free of charge (unless noted). Registration is available online for seminars, by phone or in-store. March 23 :: Seedy Saturday Seminar April 6 :: Garden Start Up April 20 :: Rejuvenate Your Garden (Pruning)The days are getting longer, the temperatures seem more seasonal and here at the store, plans are being made, the seeds and supplies have arrived. We are optimistic that spring is really right around the corner. Looking forward to seeing you soon!Love, Cedar
|
