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A 'Hole' Lot of Fun.
As we wade into the first full month of summer I count myself lucky.
No, not just lucky. I am the most fortunate person that I know. When I tell people what my spring schedule looks like they often gasp and say something like, 'How do you do it?' My secret is simple: I focus on the seasonality of my business. You see the one great advantage of working in a business like gardening is that you know that there is an end to it - or at least, an 'easing up'.
Things kick off with a bang in mid March with Canada Blooms and end in late June when the phone stops ringing. Literally. All of that stuff that I put off for 4 months can be considered more seriously - like book writing and all of the optional e mails and phone calls that I have been putting off finally get some attention.
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The Enjoy Centre - St. Albert
The Hole family have built the most spectacular retail gardening complex on the continent. Maybe in the world. 240,000 sq. feet [that's about 5 acres] of indoor selling space for plants, garden supplies, locally produced food, Canadian wine, indoor décor, a restaurant, banquet facilities for 600, 150 and 20 depending on the room that you choose to book. And, as Valerie says, "The most expensive production greenhouse in North America.".
Plus a full service spa that is designed by a man who consults to the Royal Family in the UK.
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You Must Go
If you have plans to travel to the Edmonton area this is a must see. You can forget the West Edmonton Mall as this is better. That is, if you like to garden.
If you are from out of the province of Alberta it will help for you to know that the Holes have an amazing horticultural pedigree. Raised on a carrot farm, doing the 'pick your own' thing for years, they decided in the late 70's to get into the retail gardening business in a big way.
There is a section of the Enjoy Centre that celebrates the past. A kind of museum if you will. The day that I was there people were lined up to see it.
The Enjoy Centre, as they call it, overlooks the massive Lois Hole Provincial Park. The second largest urban wetland in North America.
Understated Meeting.
I remember the day that young Bill and Valerie asked me for lunch, while attending a convention in Vancouver in 1980. I had no idea who they were or how committed they were to their future in the business.
In time they would prove to be leaders in the business, providing an outstanding example of how to run a first class retail garden centre in Canada. Buses full of people would come from Calgary each spring to load up on perennials from Holes. And it is not as if they don't have some good garden centres in Calgary!
Their Mom Lois meantime had developed a name for herself as the #1 garden communicator in Alberta. She travelled the province spreading the good word in her own engaging style. On a number of occasions I would have the privilege of speaking with her. She provided a fabulous example of what is possible in this business of garden writing/speaking and broadcasting. Son Jim has since picked up the communications gauntlet.
One and Only Lois Hole
Lois would go on to become a much beloved Lieutenant Governor of the province. She became well knows in virtually every corner of the province for her warmth and sincerity. She would hug everyone as she moved through a crowd, spreading her own brand of love everywhere.
Ted stayed home, for the most part: the shy one. He was steady at work doing what needed to be done. And he was good at it.
I mention all of this as I believe that most Canadians outside of Alberta really have no idea that there is a family living in northern Alberta that, if you could only meet them, visit their place business and enjoy a meal at their new restaurant you would swell with pride and say, "These folks are Canadians. Great, ordinary, hard working Canadians who are living their dream."
And all of us who take the time to visit the Enjoy Centre benefit.
Go to The Enjoy Centre website for more information.
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I am feeling good right now as I reflect on a wonderful June full of travel across Canada courtesy of Home Hardware and the Mark Cullen Approved Garden Centres that we cut the ribbons for in June. 
My visit to Hole's Enjoy Centre was just one of many wonderful events in June that made me pause as I sat down to write this month's newsletter. I know that there are people in Pincher Creek, Rocky Mountain House and Rimbey Alberta that hosted my Home Hardware visits. All of them were most welcoming and full of the western hospitality that we hear so much about.
Here at home it is time to get busy in the garden. 
Climbing plants and tall perennials need a support structure for their vertical growth. Not all climbing plants are self-clinging which means they need help 'attaching' themselves to these supports. Mark's Choice flexible plant ties are extremely useful for training plants. They are designed and manufactured in Canada which means they are suitable for our Canadian environment. The supple grip insulating material used to coat the wire remains pliable to minus 50 degrees Celsius. They are reusable for many years and easy to twist. Available at Home Hardware in 16' and 50' lengths (item# 5010-436 and 5010-301).
Roses work very hard to produce beautiful blooms so it is important to provide them with the proper nutrition. If you took my advice early in the season and fertilized with Smarcote Rose Food you can rest assured that your roses are receiving the correct amount of nutrients. If your roses were not fed with Smartcote you must continue to feed them throughout July. Vigoro Pink is a great organic-based fertilizer, ideal for use on your roses to produce beautiful blooms.
Available now at all Home Hardware, Home Building Centre and Home Furniture locations is this year's edition of the Harvest Ontario guide.
