Can't Wait for Spring

Charlie Dobbin, the horticultural director of Canada Blooms spoke at the Etobicoke Horticultural Society last year about the Canada Blooms show.  I was fascinated by the forcing greenhouses and the work it takes to get the materials ready on schedule.  I asked to visit the forcing greenhouses and this week had the opportunity to see the large greenhouses with trees, shurbs and perennials leafing out. 


Here's what the balled, bagged trees look like.

Of course, here's what's coming out.

And here is a sour cherry in bloom.

Countdown to Christmas - Winter Solstice

Today's countdown marks the WInter Solstice which occurred yesterday.

“Solstice literally means 'Sun Stands Still', for a few days around the time of the winter solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky in that its elevation at noon does not seem to change.


The winter solstice date is normally considered to be the 21st of December in the northern hemisphere, however at the winter solstice the position of the sun remains the same for three days.”

Countdown to Christmas - Join in the Decorations!

So many colours, lights, reflections at Christmas in the trees and displays.  Today's countdown photo encourages to go out for a stroll to see it all. 

Last Fruit Standing

These rows of old apple trees are near Ralph Suttell's place in Beamsville.  Ralph is the dahlia grower whose dahlias have been showcased here and on my website.  These photos were taken on the weekend - the first time in December that I can remember everything still looking like autumn.  The late afternoon light made long shadows across the field and turned everything golden.

Dogwood Kousa Blooming

Blooming right now is the lovely and delicate Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa).  It blooms later than the Florida type varieties which bloom before the leaves come out. My brother Brian Bergman (lily hybridizer) and Frank Kershaw (horticulturalist) have trees in bloom right now. The fruit that sets from these blooms is itself an interesting sight, and is edible. 

I hope you get to see this delicate flower!

Fringe Tree

I live in Toronto near Royal York and Bloor Street.  Just south on Royal York at Meadowcrest is a magnificent Fringe Tree in bloom - it looks like it is more than 50 years old.  In the Sweet Olive family, the flowers are distinctively scented.  It is worth a drive by to see this lovely small tree in bloom - it's just 2 doors in from Royal York on the south side of the street.