Canada Blooms - Mark It On Your Calendar!

For those suffering from gardening withdrawal, I strongly suggest a visit to Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower & Garden Festival.

This year Canada Blooms takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 12 to 16, 2008. And with over 6 acres of amazing gardens, presentations and demonstrations, there will be something to satisfy all of your five senses!

SIGHT

View spectacular displays and inspiring fantasy gardens. The Miracle-Gro Do Up the Doorstep presentation will showcase 12 ideas for container gardens to dress up the front door of any home.

Programs & Tours - Get a behind the scenes tour led by a specially trained guide. Morning tours are offered beginning at 8:30 am and allow you the opportunity to view the gardens before the doors officially open at 10:00 am.

Opening Night Celebration - Colin McAllister & Justin Ryan, the flamboyant, Scottish interior design duo of How Not to Decorate, The Million Pound Property Experiment, Trading Up and most recently Home Heist fame will be appearing at the Opening Night Party

SOUND

Speakers, Demonstrations and Talks are scheduled for each day of the festival and each day has a different theme.

• Wednesday March 12, 2008 - Garden Travel Day
• Thursday March 13, 2008 - Plant Day
• Friday March 14, 2008 - Design Day
• Saturday March 15, 2008 - Ecology Day
• Sunday March 16, 2008 - City of Toronto Day

TASTE

The CN Tower cooking stage will feature Executive Chef Peter George of The 360 Restaurant who will demonstrate how to make several unique and wonderful dishes as well as offer valuable cooking tips.

Sit back and relax amidst the flowers. Enjoy mellow music from the grand piano and sample some of the best wines made in the Niagara region at The Niagara Wine Garden.

TOUCH

Visit the Marketplace to find and purchase the latest garden products, decorations, structures and services. Special themed areas that are new for the 2008 show include: Artisan Alley, Living Green, Little Buds, and The Green Corner and Plant Market.

The kids can explore with their senses at Can You Dig It? For Kids! - a program where they can get their hands dirty painting garden pots, planting seeds and learning how worms make soil. They will have sand pits to dig in and gardens to tend. There is also a book nook for curling up and reading a story about nature.

SMELL

The smell is what does it for me. After months of going without, the tantalizing scent of fresh flowers and soil is pure Heaven! I’d go to Canada Blooms for that alone. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Tickets & Show Hours

Tickets are available for purchase at any Ontario Sobey’s Store, online, or daily at the Canada Blooms ticket booth located on the 600 level, South Building, Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the duration of the 2008 show. Tickets purchased in advance at Sobey’s and online are offered at a reduced rate of $16.00 CDN.

For a detailed explanation of ticket prices, show hours, and to order tickets online, please click here.

Going to the Canada Blooms garden show is like stepping into another dimension. One minute you’re outside fighting traffic, noise, snow and cold and the next minute you’ve entered an oasis of remarkable beauty. If you’re anything like me, you’ll leave the show reluctantly, but with a head full of garden design ideas and inspiration and feeling invigorated by your brief encounter with spring.