The National Home Show and Canada Blooms are on in the Direct Energy Building at Toronto's C.N.E. this week, till March 24th. This is the second year these two premier events have shared space under one roof, creating the largest home and garden event in North America.
My daughter and I went yesterday with her friend and mother. I have to say, this is the best Canada Blooms I've been to.
When you walk in the main doors, these gorgeous bougainvillea vines greet you.
Impressive Rhododendrons line an aisle as you make your way into the Canada Blooms show.
Medinilla magnifica care was demonstrated at a large booth. An epiphyte originally from the Phillipines, these beauties are fairly new to North America as house plants. I was first introduced to them at work last year and they became very popular due to their incredible flowers, which can get up to 50 cm long! I saw more people walking around with Medinillas than any other product at the show.
Rogers Custom Greenhouses is right around the corner in the village where we live. They also do metal garden art which they had displayed at their booth, Steel Garden Art. Lovely...
I especially love these rustic pieces.
Floral Dimensions has a large booth with stations set up so children could plant their own garden in a pot. They also had this succulent frame art on display. A trip to their garden centre is definitely on my agenda this spring.
I love this display garden with Heuchera, Helleborus, Digitalus (Foxglove), and Euphorbia Diamond Frost.
Look at this floral art created using Bird of Paradise.
My younger daughter is getting married next year and the reception will be at our home. I was collecting ideas for decorating the gardens on her special day.
Some were a little strange...
...and some were very unique.
Don't you love how the succulents seem to be growing on the branches above the main part of this arrangement?
I had to pick up this magnificent Helleborus. I have one a different colour in my garden and want to add more. In the meantime, it sits in the dining room bringing a little colour to the gloomy, stormy day.
There was a booth selling Plumeria cuttings and plants. I've never had one so this was another purchase I made.
I have no idea what colour mine will be, I do know it will be heavenly; very aromatic and the perfect addition to my tropical collection during the summer months (it is a deciduous tree so it will loose it's leaves in the winter). This gives you an idea of what the flowers could look like. They are used to make leis in Hawaii.
I didn't get as many pictures at the home show, but this stunning 'teardrop chandelier' at the Home Ideas booth caught my eye. I need to figure out how to make one of these, the price on it was marked down 1/2 price to $349.00! They had quite a few chandeliers on display, all of them gorgeous.
I met a couple of women who have an antique & furniture store in Bracebridge, if you are ever in the area, you must check them out. And they are one of the new stockists in Ontario for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! A little too far for me to shop at, but next time we go north, I'll be making a stop at Simply Cottage. Of course, I had to pick up some paint while I was at their booth. I didn't think to take a picture, but here is a sample of their wares from their website.
Who doesn't love Amish furniture? The craftsmanship of their pieces is top quality. I didn't get a picture of their fused table that everyone was crazy over, but here's a copy of it from their site, Amish Furniture Designed. Can you notice the 'live edge' this table has? It's even more spectacular in real life.
We left from a different exit to walk under a large, beautiful arbor decorated with red velvety Amaryllis. Now this I can make for Tanya's wedding!
I have a slew more pictures, however since the post is already long, I think you've seen enough. lol
If you're in the Toronto area, I recommend paying a visit to Canada Blooms and the International Home Show, on till the 24th. Two shows for the price of one. I promise, you won't be disappointed!
Have you visited a home & garden show in your area this year? Did you buy anything for your gardens?
