Roots of Our Obsession
As we witness the slow melt of winter and the even slower awakening of spring, I am finishing up my off-season garden reading with a winner. Soon the seeds that I ordered will arrive and I will be sowing them in my new greenhouse: no time for much recreational reading.
This week I read a great book about our obsession with gardening. I don't mean to suggest that everyone who reads this newsletter is obsessed with gardening, but you might be shocked at how many of us are. And if you are not one of them it is instructive to know a few things about your friends and acquaintances that are.
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Canada Blooms
If you don't live within driving distance of Toronto, I urge you to consider flying in for this event. Many people do. Canada Blooms is the premier [read: largest/best] event of its kind in North America.
Last year over 200,000 people visited the 10 day festival and the adjoining 'National Home Show' at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. Friday, March 15th through Sunday, March 24th.
No need for me to go on about it too much here as they have a great website that lays out all of the details of the big event. Be sure to visit this site before you go to help you plan out your day or 'days' there. Go to www.canadablooms.com
I will draw your attention to a couple of 'Blooms events that I am involved in:
- Denis Flanagan, the affable, laughable character who is everyone's friend will join me on the main stage [Unilock Celebrity Stage] on Friday the 15th, Saturday the 16th and Tuesday the 19th at 11 a.m. Join us as we help you plan your day with an overview of the 6 acre event.
- Daughter Heather and I speak Friday, March 15th at 1 p.m. in the Grey Power lecture hall. We will reveal our thoughts on garden design as we take you on a journey Through the Garden Gate in Forest Hill, Toronto and through some wonderful gardens of Boston.
Based on our garden travels together, Heather [Landscape Architect grad] and her Dad [gardening guy] offer differing opinions on garden design and what meant the most to each of us as we toured some fabulous gardens.
Please carve some time out of your busy schedule for an early spring at Canada Blooms.
Please keep reading and be sure to join me at one or several of the events that I plan to be attending this month.
Have a great March!
Keep Your Knees Dirty,
Mark
p.s. Look for the fresh, new look to my weekly blog at www.markcullen.com. My editor, Marette Sharp, has vetted your suggestions for topics and we are tackling them with a vengeance. Pertinent stuff lies in wait for you in my blog.
p.s.s. for a chance to win free tickets to Canada Blooms be sure to 'Like' my facebook fan page.
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Where is Mark this Spring
* Friday, March 1, 2013
Markham Spring Home Show
I speak at 4:00pm on Friday. The Home Show runs Friday through Sunday.
* Saturday, March 2, 2013
I am the key note speaker in Windsor NS at the Urban Tree Conference
* March 15 to 24, 2013
Canada Blooms
Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday at 11:00am Denis Flanagan and I open the largest garden festival in Canada with an overview of the 6 acre event from the main stage.
Friday, March 15th at 1:00pm daughter Heather and I use pictures from various garden tours that we have taken together in 2012 to illustrate our points of view about great garden design.
* Saturday, March 30, 2013
Niagara Lifestyle Home Show
To view my full schedule
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Ode to My Garden
By Mary-Ann Gibson
Whimsy and Wild Abandon
in my garden grow.
Yellows, red, purples, blues,
Nothing in a row.
Whimsy and wild abandon,
Growing wild and free.
Mallows, Pinks, Violets, Sage,
Happy just to be.
Whimsy and Wild Abandon,
No toil, care or goal.
Escape of generations,
Echo in my Soul.
~ Mary-Ann Gibson
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