Sandbox Firsts for Mosaic Monday

We have had the most perfect weekend weather wise. Today I decided to get after the scourge of my front garden…the Vinca Minor or Periwinkle.  It has taken over the front bed and it has sunk it’s little tentacles into all the plants until nothing else can grow.  So, I went out with my favourite tool the copra head and dug as much out as I could until my back gave out.  I did manage to fill one of the large paper garden waste bags with it and some honeysuckle branches that was also taking over.  There is a lot more to do but I if the weather holds it will give me endless hours of play in the Sandbox. I am so glad to be finally able to get outside again.
My mosaic reflects more firsts.  The Hellebore Niger is beginning to bloom and so is the little Primula. The fish have appeared from the bottom of the pond and out came one frog to sun himself on the rocks.
I will be joining Mary for Mosaic Monday. I hope you have a great week. Valerie

March is Daffodil Month

 

 

 

Canadian Cancer Society kicks off Daffodil Campaign at Canada Blooms

On March 16, Canada Blooms will kick-off the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month by presenting the iconic yellow flower as the official flower of this year’s largest home and garden festival.

All flowers hold symbolic meanings.  From love, to strength to fertility, flowers tell a story greater than themselves. Each year, Canada Blooms chooses a flower as the symbol of the festival.  This year, Canada Blooms has partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society to feature the daffodil. Synonymous with spring, the daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings, heralding the arrival of the life and better time ahead.

“The daffodil is the flower of spring, but more than that the daffodil is a symbol of hope.  We are proud to partner with the Canadian Cancer Society and to launch their daffodil campaign to bring promises of a better tomorrow for all of those affected by cancer,” Gerry Ginsberg, General Manager of Canada Blooms stated. 

Every three minutes, another Canadian is faced with fighting cancer. In April, Canadians across the country fight back. Thousands of volunteers across Ontario will work together to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society by selling fresh daffodil pins, and knocking on doors in their community to collect donations.

To highlight the campaign, the Canadian Cancer Society has joined with the award-winning firm Miyabi Landscape Design & Construction to showcase why the yellow daffodil is more than just a flower.

“The daffodil is more than a beautiful flower to us. The daffodil is a symbol of strength and courage, a symbol of life. It says we will fight back. It says we will beat cancer,” explained Martin Kabat, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society.“We are thrilled to be able to launch the campaign at Canada Blooms, and we hope our garden helps spread the message of hope and recruits more people to join the fight against cancer.”

Visitors to the Canadian Cancer Society Fight for Life garden will have the opportunity to join the fight against cancer and purchase a daffodil pin to wear throughout April as a show of support for people living with cancer.

NEW! Get your daffodil pin from a local celebrity at Canada Blooms!

Marjorie Harris, garden writer, blogger, Globe and Mail and House & Home

Friday, March 16 at 2:00-2:30 p.m.

Sonia Day, gardening columnist, Toronto Star

Saturday, March 17

Jane Lockhart of Jane Lockhart Interior Design and host of W Network’s Colour Confidential

Tuesday, March 20 at 11:00 a.m. to noon & 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22.

I am going to be at Canada Blooms on Saturday March 17 for a Garden Writers lunch and have volunteered to escort a tour on the March 21st.   It will be interesting to see how the two shows, Canada Blooms and the Home Show, can enchant the garden lovers and the DIYers among us.   It is ten days this year.  Many of the plants and flowers will not be able to survive for that long as the trees, shrubs etc are forced out of dormancy.  The various flowers shows will have trouble keeping their prized specimens in prime form. 

Valerie

A Bit of Green

 

This week the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Today I thought I would add my own bit of green with a photo of one of my violet plants.  The green border and little bit of embellishment was from Betty Jo Martin.  Betty Jo was a scrapper but I do not know if she blogs anymore.   The texture I used on the leaves is a Kim Klassen Café texture called teastained linen. 

I will be joining Kim Klassen Café for Texture Tuesday and Lisa Gordon for The Creative Exchange.   You can feel spring in the air here this week.    You only need a sweater today.  Valerie