Very nice Pics Jroot! Glad you enjoyed the show. My sister is taking her two young daughters to see the Barbie Garden display. Maybe I will have her pick me up a brugmansia cutting.
Last week our local college had "Winter Blooms" where David Tarant and Dennis Flanagan were guest speakers. This was very enjoyable and it saved me a trip up to Toronto.

I went to CB twice this week :o) Im a sucker for punishment lol. I convinced friends from out of town to attend so I had to go .. oh poor me :o) I had a great time on both days but I dont think my friends will attend again .. they drove five hours to be there ... but it was a wonderful visit.

It was nice to see that there were more tropical plants available and at fairly reasonable prices. The gardens were lovely and most of the speakers were fairly good but the information was pretty basic.

Laura

I went yesterday (Saturday) & found it much too crowded for my liking. I'm glad you posted those pics, John, so I can see what I missed. I vow never to go on a Saturday again. I did manage to get one of those brugs you mentioned. Now if only I could find out how to care for it.

Summer

I went one Saturday, and vowed never to do that again, especially when March Break is on. LOL

Summerday, there are many helpful tips on the site below, part of Garden Web. Check it out. If you have further questions, perhaps I can help. Send me an email. I have TOOOOO many brugs and will probably downsize this year. What variety did you get? Maybe I have some you might be interested in trading.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of help with your brug here.

I've been attending Canada Blooms for many years now. don't know why but from my perspective, there were not that many attendants this year compared to last year. I rather found it to be not as crowded this year which is in a way good for me because I can easily enter the showcase landscapes, but in another sense, worrisome. Less crowd means less money coming in for the organizers and so what should it mean for the future. I also sensed less excitement or electricity in the designs.

I also notice some differences in the marketplace vendors when I arrived. Loblaws wasn't there, nor was Richter Herbs. At least Patrick Studio was there -thank goodness and so was Florabunda. Other regulars used to have larger booths and more selections - this year, I saw smaller booths and smaller selections. I cannot figure out why things seemed to have downsized but that's my impression of it. Also the same items are being offered as with last year's offerings... There was hardly any changes.

So these are my thoughts -- what do you think?

Ianna

Ianna wrote:

".........I've been attending Canada Blooms for many years now. don't know why but from my perspective, there were not that many attendants this year compared to last year. I rather found it to be not as crowded this year which is in a way good for me because I can easily enter the showcase landscapes, but in another sense, worrisome. Less crowd means less money coming in for the organizers and so what should it mean for the future. I also sensed less excitement or electricity in the designs.
I also notice some differences in the marketplace vendors when I arrived. Loblaws wasn't there, nor was Richter Herbs. At least Patrick Studio was there -thank goodness and so was Florabunda. Other regulars used to have larger booths and more selections - this year, I saw smaller booths and smaller selections. I cannot figure out why things seemed to have downsized but that's my impression of it. Also the same items are being offered as with last year's offerings... There was hardly any changes.

So these are my thoughts -- what do you think?"

I've been reading a lot lately about how the gardening industry is in decline because so many seniors find gardening too strenuous and have given it up (or died), with not a lot of yuppies taking up the hobby to replace their declining numbers. Apparently, the revenue of garden centres actually went down last year as a result. So this could explain why attendance is down at Canada Blooms.

On the other hand, it could be that a lot of people are choosing to attend other garden shows instead, such as Successful Gardening, which takes place this week. I went to both last year and, while Successful Gardening (which used to be called "Success With Gardening," I believe) isn't quite as elegant as Canada Blooms, the marketplace is better and there is free parking, so it is easier to cart away your purchases than at Canada Blooms. Many vendors told me they prefer this show because they say Canada Blooms charges exorbitant fees to exhibit, is a logistical nightmare, and the staff are unpleasant to deal with.

I wonder if the high attendance prices are a factor? We don't have anything like Canada Blooms here in Montreal, but there are a couple of smaller scale things that I don't attend because if I'm going to spend $10-20 on garden related things, I'd rather buy a book or a plant.

But then again, maybe I'm just cheap :-)

BP

John,
There is a lot of info available but I wasn't able to find what I was looking for. I will email you, thank you. The brug I got is the yellow one from HD which I beleive is a versicolour. This is my first brug. They aren't addictive, right?
Ianna,
Richter Herbs did have a booth.

Summer

I was there Wednesday evening - I found it quite great. Took away an elepant ear (alocasia odura) and checked out the Brugs and Bananas. Good thing I was on the subway or I would have loaded up (LOL). Came away with some great contacts for getting plants and seeds. Did not find Kong sunflowers but took some others home. I did love the displays - and the scent of flowers was great. Chatted with some lovley ladies from Ottawa who were part of the Peony Society. Maybe some year we could wear "Garden Web " nametags!
Compared to the Michigan Home and Garden on Saturday it was superior. I was underwhelmed as they had very few flowers and plants and mostly landscape companies with very lame displays.

I missed out on Richter Herbs which makes me feel a bit frustrated... I guess that may be because I didn't receive a floor plan with the names of vendors in it. In fact there were no people by the entrance to the exhibit area so I was just out of luck then. Maybe I ought to have gone out to ask information services but then I'm inside already and so why bother...

I don't have much of an opinion for the entrance area - it looks sad despite all that gerber daisy and empty bottle displays.. It looked like someone tried to look ultra modern and this one fell flat. Maybe it is a lighting issue but it certainly had not felt inviting instead it felt cold. I cannot help but feel as if someone was trying to ram in modernism in me. Ultra modernism which has been the primary trend in just about everything from furniture to gardens to architecture for the past few years. This year, I found I am finally not into it. I prefer eclectic and rustic over ultra modernity. Is this just me feeling this way?

Still I would say that Canada Blooms despite my earlier opinions are worth going to. The cost of entrance is no more than the cost of going to a movie - think of it. The costs haven't gone up from last year and I thing from teh year before that. Perhaps at issue had been the cost of setting up booths which do go up year to year. AT the rate of $18 you get thrusted in an underground park which does feel magical... Think of it.

Next year, I will be there once more and I hope the organizers continue to strive for the best.

bulbhead, when you said the marketplace at Successful gardening is better - can you elaborate on it? I've never attended the show and perhaps if there are more vendors at this place of interest, it may be worth my travelling over.

Canada Blooms coincided with a working trip to Toronto, so I got to go Wednesday afternoon. I miss Loblaws being there, and had hoped to get some annuals that I could do cuttings from. I bought some scented geraniums from Richters, and some other plants we can't get in Ottawa (Oakleaf Hydrangea and Fargesia Robusta - not hardy here? I'll give them a try). I liked the bottles water feature, but didn't think there were as many flowering plants as in other years (missed last year). You are lucky in Toronto to have so many options - even though the HD at the show said all HDs would have the brugs in stock, our local stores don't yet. Not even bulbs are available here yet, when I really want to start something!

If I lived in Toronto, I would probably go to Canada Blooms, however, when add add the cost of the trip from Ottawa, it is not worth it. I admire the landscape wonders, yes money can buy a lot, however, for the average gardener there is not that much to buy. Jancarkner, Ritchies has a lot of bulbs available for at least two weeks and so does Costco. I am jump starting now colocasia (black elephant ears) in my basement from Costco, some liles and begonias that I purchased a couple of weeks ago along with some dahlias left over from last year.

Loblaws was not there. But Sobey's was. Sobey's is a higher end form of Loblaws...same company, I believe.

I have to agree with you regarding the entrance to Canada Blooms. I thought it was really not well done at all. The columns of batteries, light bulbs, etc did NOTHING for me whatsoever with respect to stimulating my creative urge to garden. My neighbours would shoot me if I constructed anything like that here. LOL

In the past, I have found that there is more emphasis on the market area in the Success with Gardening show. ( Note new name is Successful Gardening). I really like the displays that are shown at Canada Blooms, and less the markets, but one never knows if one will find something that one just has to add to his/her garden. I'm not too far away, and I got the day off, so it is no biggie for me to go.

I will be going to the Successful gardening show starting tomorrow. As I said, I get a day off, so I'll be there on opening day. With the link provided below, you can get an extra $1.50 off the regular price of admission of $12.00 Every little bit saved means more $$$ for plants. LOL

It seems that the theme once again is to marry the indoors with the outdoors. There are three buildings, with ideas for useful home products, as well as gardening. I understand admission to this show also includes admission to the Home and Garden Show in the same building, the International Centre on Airport Road. Parking is free. More $$$ for plants LOL.

Here is a link that might be useful: Successful gardening link

My wife and I got to go the the Successful Gardening show, camera all ready, but did not take a single picture. Lots of things to buy for the Home Show, but we both left disappointed with the gardening aspect of the show. Most of the vendors were at Canada Blooms. No purchases, no new ideas, but a nice day out of the house.

I wonder if you were the one with the camera around his neck? I had a great time. Took 44 pictures, bought 6 hostas (only intended to buy one) 3 coleus, lots of seeds, spoke to a gentleman who admired my camera & wanted to know all about it, talked to a very lovely lady who had entries in the floral design & since I have spring fever -- whoopy, love to see anything green, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

Summer

{{gwi:525691}}

Nice picture. Wow, if that was at the Successful Gardening show, I must have missed a room, because I don't recognize it.

I went to the Successful Gardening show yesterday. I was a little disappointed in it, it seems to be getting smaller every year. However, that did not stop me from buying plants! I bought 4 hostas, 2 peonies, 4 types of cannas, and Heuchera 'Lime Ricky', 'max Frei' geranium. I already have one of the geraniums but I liked it so much I bought another. I've never grown cannas before. Do you have to start them early indoors? I also bought about 8 pkg. of seeds. Marg

marric, I usually start mine indoors. I will be starting in a couple of weeks. It is a little cold now. I start mine under lights, and during April and May move them outdoors when it is sunny and warm, but keep them in the garage when it is cold.

Thanks jroot. I'll start mine in a couple of weeks. Usually I can't wait and start things to early! Marg

"Loblaws was not there. But Sobey's was. Sobey's is a higher end form of Loblaws...same company, I believe."

Actually Sobeys and Loblaws are owned by different companies. I found the Sobeys booth to be the busiest as they seem to have very good prices.

In regards to the show, they really need to increase the number of merchants in the marketplace. Also, most of the vendors sold similar things. I went there looking for hardy exotics and was disappointed.

All in all, I would go again next year.