Tag: Topiary Creations

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A Christmas Garden Show

We’re so fortunate in Toronto that we have our own Christmas Garden Show.  Allan Gardens had the opening of their Christmas Flower Show last Sunday.  The gardeners there did a magnificent job decorating the entire greenhouse which houses many different kinds of poinsettias and other flowering plants.  The theme this year is winter and you will be able to see the skaters and the tobogganer in the collages below – all beautiful topiary creations using plant material.  There were horse and wagon rides for old and young alike, carollers, and a visit from Santa himself.  The hot apple cider provided was a welcome treat but the cookies were gone by the time I got there.  Apparently this show was recognized as the “Garden Event of the Year” at the 2015 Canadian Garden Tourism Awards.  Hope you enjoy the collages!

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? (Dr. Seuss)

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? (Dr. Seuss)

Maybe the Grinch was doing a little bit of ice-skating!  The Show runs until mid-January and there are some weekends when it can be enjoyed by candlelight.  The stores have their own kind of feeling and here, at the Flower Show, you are sure to have another.

The Poinsettia received their name in the United States in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. He sent cuttings of the plant he had discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it is named after a person. (myhoneysplace.com)
The Poinsettia received their name in the United States in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. He sent cuttings of the plant he had discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it is named after a person. (myhoneysplace.com)

This is the other skater. In this collage, you can see the horse and wagon and get some glimpses of some of the other display areas at the Conservatory.  There were over 30 different varieties of poinsettias on display.  They were very beautiful.

Allan Gardens (toboganner)

Here is the tobogganer – another exquisite topiary creation!  There was a sign there that said: “Celebrate Winter.  Go Tobogganing.”  I think that’s a good idea when the snow comes.

Topiary is the art of training plants (typically evergreen shrubs and trees) into intricate or stylized shapes and forms. The term may also be used more loosely to describe a number of garden features that rely on the close clipping and shaping of plants. (hrs.org.uk)
Topiary is the art of training plants (typically evergreen shrubs and trees) into intricate or stylized shapes and forms. The term may also be used more loosely to describe a number of garden features that rely on the close clipping and shaping of plants. (hrs.org.uk)

This collage shows some close-ups of the topiary creations.  Everything from cactus to ivy, evergreens, and red and yellow flowers, completed the design.  The gardeners here are artists.  I’m sure you agree!

Caroling, caroling through the snow. Christmas bells are ringing. Joyous voices sweet and clear, sing the sad of heart to cheer. -Nat King Cole Caroling, Caroling
Caroling, caroling through the snow. Christmas bells are ringing. Joyous voices sweet and clear, sing the sad of heart to cheer.
-Nat King Cole Caroling, Caroling

I did mention that there were carollers there. They sang the beautiful songs of Christmas and added to the Christmas spirit that was already present there amongst the plants and flowers. It did feel like a Victorian Christmas with them there.

Allan Gardens (with statue)

As you can see from the above collage, there are many other areas at Allan Gardens that deserve as much attention and praise as the topiary creations.

There's No Man Like A Snowman.
There’s No Man Like A Snowman,

……except that this one isn’t made of snow.  A beauty though!

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown
May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown

That’s all for this year’s Show at Allan Gardens.  For those of you in Toronto, this is worth a visit.  Hope you enjoyed all the photos.

 

 

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