In This Issue:
Solves My Shopping Problem
Canada Blooms
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Roots of Our Obsession
As we witness the slow melt of winter and the even slower awakening of spring, I am finishing up my off-season garden reading with a winner. Soon the seeds that I ordered will arrive and I will be sowing them in my new greenhouse: no time for much recreational reading.
This week I read a great book about our obsession with gardening. I don't mean to suggest that everyone who reads this newsletter is obsessed with gardening, but you might be shocked at how many of us are. And if you are not one of them it is instructive to know a few things about your friends and acquaintances that are.
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'The Roots of My Obsession' is a written compilation by 30 gardening big wigs from around the world, mostly the U.S. and Britain, who wax eloquently about how they became gardeners and why they carry on. Each of them was asked to answer the question, "Why do you garden?" The book offers 30 distinctly different answers.
I found that their stories helped to shed light on my own gardening experience. In some cases they revealed some truths about gardening that had not occurred to me before. Reflection on the subject helps me understand myself and some of the crazy people that I surround myself with.
Some people see the activity of gardening as merely physical, which explains why not everyone is bitten by the gardening bug when they experience their first garden success. I live in hope that these people will come to realise that it is not the stretching and wracking of ones body while in the garden that provides the ultimate benefit but the journey to no where in particular. Like the health club member who fights for the parking spot nearest the door, one hopes that they will one day get the point of it all and park as far away as possible. Or walk there.
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Solves My Shopping Problem
One of the contributors, Amy Stewart, explains that she gardens, "To find a place to put the plants I've bought." she explains, "It is the second phase to shopping".
Now I have worked in retail gardening circles all of my life. I can name the top 5 independent retail garden centres in the country and I know each of the owners by name. All of them would describe Amy as their dream customer.
There are many very quotable characters in this book. Here is a small sample:
"I don't garden of my own free will. I am held hostage." Tovah Martin
"A garden is made up of a thousand small interventions, but each small act is a defence [defiance even] against a world without anchor or safe harbours." Anna Povard
"I am a doubtful gardener with a good memory. What I mean to say is that my memory is good within the parameters of my passion." Daniel Hinkley
Should you happen to belong to the club of non-gardeners the last quote will help you understand those of us who are obsessed with it. Consider the word 'passion' and remember that, while every gardener has it, every one of us has our own story.
The Roots of My Obesssion
Thirty Great Gardeners Reveal Why They Garden.
By Thomas C.Cooper
Timber Press $14.95
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Windsor Area Readers - take note!
I have big news for my newsletter readers in the Windsor, Ontario area. The Windsor Star newspaper will carry my weekly gardening/environment column starting next week. Look for it each Saturday and feel free to comment by connecting with me either through my facebook fan page or through www.markcullen.com and hit the 'Ask Mark' button. I am really excited to be a part of the #1 newspaper in the Windsor area.
[That makes two 'Windsor' papers that carry my column, including the Hants Journal in Windsor, Nova Scotia!]
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Canada Blooms
If you don't live within driving distance of Toronto, I urge you to consider flying in for this event. Many people do. Canada Blooms is the premier [read: largest/best] event of its kind in North America.
Last year over 200,000 people visited the 10 day festival and the adjoining 'National Home Show' at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. Friday, March 15th through Sunday, March 24th.
No need for me to go on about it too much here as they have a great website that lays out all of the details of the big event. Be sure to visit this site before you go to help you plan out your day or 'days' there. Go to www.canadablooms.com
I will draw your attention to a couple of 'Blooms events that I am involved in:
- Denis Flanagan, the affable, laughable character who is everyone's friend will join me on the main stage [Unilock Celebrity Stage] on Friday the 15th, Saturday the 16th and Tuesday the 19th at 11 a.m. Join us as we help you plan your day with an overview of the 6 acre event.
- Daughter Heather and I speak Friday, March 15th at 1 p.m. in the Grey Power lecture hall. We will reveal our thoughts on garden design as we take you on a journey Through the Garden Gate in Forest Hill, Toronto and through some wonderful gardens of Boston.
Based on our garden travels together, Heather [Landscape Architect grad] and her Dad [gardening guy] offer differing opinions on garden design and what meant the most to each of us as we toured some fabulous gardens.
Please carve some time out of your busy schedule for an early spring at Canada Blooms.
Please keep reading and be sure to join me at one or several of the events that I plan to be attending this month.
Have a great March!
Keep Your Knees Dirty,
Mark