Canada Is Ready To Bloom

The snow is melting fast and the birds are returning to our land. Canada will soon burst into bloom! Just yesterday, I spotted a flock of robins huddled in a sunny patch of dry leaves by my back door. I took a walk around and heard the familiar screeching of blue jays and crows calling. Looking up, following the sound, there was a bright red cardinal on a treetop singing a song of spring.

Unpack your spring bonnets and dust off your garden tools. Gardening season is approaching. Time to pretty up your houseplants and enter them in a spring garden show exhibit.

Wouldn't a spring basket of tools like this make a welcome Mother's Day gift? I'm not handy with fabric, but I know many ladies who can sew, and they love the color pink.

Crocus. . .one of the first spring flowers to poke up through the last traces of snow each spring.

Here's Mother Nature and of course she's dressed for spring in a vibrant green. I wonder if we'll catch sight of her at our Annual Spring Garden Show held in Toronto in March.

If you've never been to Toronto, aka as the Greenest City in Canada, then this is the time to come, especially if you are a gardening and flower enthusiast like me. Canada Blooms opens with a party in honor of St. Patrick's Day. To celebrate our 175th Anniversary, the City has ordered up a spectacular garden display for the show.

Even if you're not the type of person who likes to 'get her knees dirty' there's lots of fun things to do at Canada Blooms: flower arranging and design, wine tasting, flower and plant judging, speakers and demos, photo gallery, feature gardens, marketplace, and more. Show runs March 18-22, 2009.

Not to be missed if you love the whole garden adventure is Ontario Garden Show at the Hamilton Convention Centre, March 13-15.

Looking for a good book to get you into the swing of gardening? You'll find them here! Check out the Amazon ads, click on them for complete information about prices and ordering.

Enjoy the spring weather!

SPRING BREAK IS AROUND THE CORNER. March Break Children's Program for kids and parents, here's the link: http://hopecommunitygarden.wordpress.com/.

Gardening With Kids

A garden gift for a teacher. . .Personalized Stone. . .Iron Hanging Basket with Coco Liner. . .Welcome to My Garden Sign. . .A Flowering Plant To Get Started.

The year is 1940. British school children are starting a garden. The mounds of earth behind them is an air raid shelter.

A new life right in your hands all ready to grow up toward the light.

This drawing says it all doesn't it? If they see you planting a garden that's all the incentive a child needs to get interested in plants and how to grow them.

Children actually enjoy eating vegetables. . .especially the ones they grow themselves. An easy project to introduce to your kids is starting seeds indoors. Beans and spinach seeds can be started now. As soon as seedlings have two leaves, move them to bigger pots and put outside as soon as the snow and ice disappear and the night temperature stays above freezing.

Kids love to water the little plants. Give them the job.

Happy Pink Valentine Saturday

Welcome Pink Saturday Visitors! Wishing you a deliciously Happy Valentine's Day.

Enjoy some chocolate bonbons. . .and your bouquets of Pink and Red Roses. Don't forget to say "I Love You" to a special person in your life.

Leave me a comment on my Valentines (see below) and visit Beverly too at: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

The Story of Saint Valentine

Who was Saint Valentine? Why is he remembered to this day? Robert Sabuda has written a delightful book about the Saint Valentine Legend. A librarian who reviewed this book says, "I was handed this attractive story about Saint Valentine by a 3rd and 4th grade teacher who is using it in her classroom as part of her Valentine's Day activities." The text emphasizes Valentine's role as a physician and his relationship with the blind daughter of a Roman jailer, who seeks healing. The "Notes on the text" at the end of the book explain Valentine's connection with the celebration of love. (See details & order info. just below)