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Sunday 6 March 2011

Bits of the Kingston Garden Festival

Our garden festival is not big ... our city is quite small for the moment still .. I dread it when we spread far enough to meet both Toronto and Ottawa (we are the middle child)
The garden festival is small but it does have a few highlights with garden art and landscaping companies .. plants, well .. saying nothing is better than saying "my" something.
I would be in heaven if for once we could have a booth from a plant provider .. say Proven Winners or at least a Canadian nursery that could display information on new plants and upcoming breeds .. but no .. we have some potted Spring bulbs and what nots.
Casting aside my gloomy attitude ... cool garden art .. rooster is a HOOT !
An ostrich or that other BIG bird, I can't think of its name !!
Fun things for the garden
I meant to come back and buy that little guy ! he is too cute : )
I want that dragonfly too !!
There was an herb garden which was nice !
The orchid society's display
Some other goodies meant to buy ?
Why didn't I pick up one of these !!! (price tag included ;-)
Simple flower arrangements ...
An orchid hanging or is that a hanging orchid ? giggle snort giggle
See the cute gecko ? lizard ? .. to the right .. very yellow character !
White and green is not so bad ...
Wood art has always intrigued me .. I love it !

They all have a life of their own don't they ?
This looks like me at the end of the little walk about here ... time to go home ! ... and I still can't believe I didn't buy anything !!!!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I admire your resistance to purchase, that is a hard one for me to do. It looks like they had some nice crafty items. Our show is coming late March. Hope it is as nice as yours appears.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I like your show's garden art better than mine, it's classier looking.

Eileen

Linda said...

At least Kingston has a garden show. We don't have one here in Belleville anymore.
How depressing to wake up to snow this morning after the rain of yesterday washing away lots of it.

Bonnie said...

It seems to have been the weekend for garden shows. I went to our local show in Syracuse, NY. It was smaller than usual and although I enjoyed what was there, I came away feeling a bit disappointed. I posted about it on my blog. There seems to have been more items available to purchase at your show, I can't believe you didn't buy anything!

Lona said...

Hi Joy. They had some fabulous garden decor and displays. I love the carved pieces and the critters. LOL! For a small show they offered a lot of garden decor. Makes me even more discussed by our Capital cities little offerings. You should have brought that little fella home with you girl!

Barry said...

Joy:
While small, this looks like it was a very enjoyable Garden Festival! I do love the arrangement that housed the chartreuse gecko, the orchid and moss creates a wonderfully tropical ambiance! As for the Rex Begonia, they have the most amazing foliage for sure! I have tried a couple in pots but keep forgetting to bring them in for the winter, thus they tend to be somewhat expensive annuals for me! I am looking forward to attending Canada Blooms on the 17th with the Hort Society. I only pray that they have more vendors selling plants this year! Fingers crossed!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Donna : ) I have to laugh about the resistance to purchase anything .. I simply forgot because I became over tired .. they did have some really cute stuff I missed out on darn it !
Take lots of pictures girl so we can see your show too : )

Eileen girl now isn't that sweet! It was very understated for sure but I guess better that then over the top ? LOL

Linda I know exactly what you mean about the snow .. I was so happy to see rain washing it away and there it is back again damn it !!
You should have come to Kingston to see the show it rain from Friday to Sunday !

Hello there Bonnie : ) I'm coming over to see your post .. and yes Kingston has quite an artistic community living here .. I can't believe I forgot to buy something too girl ;-(

Lona I am so mad at myself for not remembering to go back and buy that little guy .. but I know where their shop is so I will be dropping by to see if there are any left ! I love the wooden pieces too .. but they are pricey eeekkkk !! LOL

Barry that really caught my eye too with the gecko .. some one really put some artistic flare to it there : )
YES ! those begonias are eye candy and I meant to bring one home with me .. I am not sure how fast I will kill it though ? LOL .. they are expensive annuals but what wow factor : )
I am so jealous of you going to Canada Blooms .. it would be such a hoot to meet up with you there and tour the exhibitions .. I can imagine all the sarcastic nonsense that we could come up with ? LOL
Hey .. let me know about the plant vendors situation .. I am curious!

Vetsy said...

I want the rooster and the dragon fly! Thanks for sharing.

Marguerite said...

I think your ostrich is actually a crane. Very beautiful though, I wouldn't mind having him for my garden. I can relate to have a somewhat non-existant flower show. Last year I went to our local show and was very disappointed with the lack of information and booths. But in a smaller centre I'll take what I can get.

Lola said...

Sounds as tho you had a good time even tho you got tired & forgot to make a purchase.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I'll leave a thrift store with nothing and it always kind of surprises me. Me the shopping addict with nothing? Well maybe we're not quite so addicted after all. Sometimes just looking is good enough. :) Great post.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

Cool stuff! It is always fun to go see what is new for the garden(-: I always think...how can I make one myself?(-:

Tessa said...

It is such a great thing that other people I know go to these things- I can enjoy the show from home and not come home with so many ideas I end up a basket case! So many beautiful things- so little time! Hope you are well, Joy- happy almost spring :)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Vetsy girl so do I !! .. I think the rooster was very pricey though but I should have gotten the dragonfly for sure darn it ! LOL

Marguerite .. I think you are right about the crane .. it is the pose tha got me thinking the puffy body was an ostrich .. yup .. we have to grab what we can get type thing ! LOL

Lola it was a quick walk through .. well quick when I could manuver around slow walkers ? and I am shaking my head about not buying what caught my eye ;-( LOL

Thanks Grace girl I think that is true .. it is an affirmation that we only buy what is useful and we truly enjoy : )

Cindee girl I have no doubt that you can replicate anything you set your mind to ! You are one crafty person girl !

Hey Tessa girl that is true ! You have a front seat to the wonderful world of garden fairs and you don't have to worry about spending money there ! LOL .. we are very white here again but more rain coming this week .. I hope so !!

Donna said...

what lovely things they had at the show..I would have left in debt..I saw lots I would have had to have...

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

That must have been such a nice treat this time of year. Good for you, Joy, for managing to keep your wallet intact - Strong lady! :)

Darla said...

Joy, such self control! There was a lot of great things to look at though.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello there Donna :-) .. believe me if my brain hadn't gone to sleep on me I would have been buying more than a few things .. I just got too tired and walked out with empty hands !!LOL

Ms S .. I am in shock that I didn't kick start my wallet for a few treats .. just one of those days I was in the Duh? zone ? LOL

Hi Darla girl .. I'm such a fast walker I have to go around twice to actually see what I whizzed by ! I am sorry I didn't buy a few things believe me ;-(

Christine said...

Even though a bit commercial, as I'm sure you were alluding to, your show is very springlike and garden art inspiring! Thanks for the photos - love that little gecko! :)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Christine : ) that little gecko has a lot of fans ! haha
I think what disappointments me the most is that there are no actual plant reps or vendors .. I would love to have a nursery rep with some plants on hand or even information on up coming plants if you know what I mean ? I NEED PLANTS !! haha

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I just returned from the Chicago Flower & Garden show. I only purchased some Hardy Cyclamen bulbs. I enjoyed seeing the displays. I am sure you did too. Even if you didn't find something to purchase. I like the wood spirits. I would have had a hard time not purchasing one of them.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lisa girl I loved the wood spirits too .. and the only reason I didn't buy anything was because I became overwhelmed and exhausted .. I have a few medical conditions that can wipe me out very quickly under stress or excitement .. so believe me girl I am kicking myself for not buying anything !! hey .. I don't have those .. the hardy cyclamen !!

Pat said...

Loving the garden fest week. There always good for ideas.
Wish there was a bloggers "garden fest week"...you know for all over the world...then I'd know exactly week to stay tuned.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Patsi an international garden bloggers week would be fabulous ! I think we should forge ahead and get that organized ? hehehehe
Actually I think it would be really fun : )

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately any nurseries/garden centres that actually grow anything themselves (i.e. Burt's, Minakers etc) are too busy propagating at this time of year, and there isn't really any plants that are sale-ready in early March. any later than March and the nursery vendors would be too busy to leave their workplace!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello eu.phorbia : ) are you from Kingston ? I can't find a blog attached to you ?
I wouldn't mind that there would be no plants to display BUT .. they might be interested in passing on information of new plants that they are growing as well as the standard .. because, if people had an idea of what they will have to offer, they could build a bigger client base because we would know they have certain plants we are interested in ! Now that is a great method of gathering "plant/nursery fans"!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi. Do you have any pictures of your Sumac that is cut to look like a palm tree?

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Larry I do have pictures of my Sumac looking like a palm tree .. i tried to back track on your name but you don't have a blog or locater ? .. I will try to post a picture so if you check back you can see what it looks like .. it is a pollard cut in the Spring to make it leaf out at the top for the canopy. Check back ?