pickOntario display

The Direct Energy Center in Toronto was filled with the hum of conversation and the wonderful aroma of flowers as Canada Blooms set the stage for a wonderful floral experience.

Canada Blooms, held March 17-21, 2010, is a flower and garden festival, open to floral experts and consumers alike. pickOntario simply could not miss out on the opportunity to gather with such companies as Landscape Ontario and Home Depot, to bring about this event.

The pickOntario display showcased designs from 13 different flower growers from all over Ontario. Albert Graves created displays that best complimented each grower’s specialty flowers. All of the products used in these displays were available within the pickOntario booth for purchase.

On Thursday morning, some Ontario floral designers showed off their talent in pickOntario’s Floral

Albert Graves

Superstar show. Host, Neville MacKay, engaged the audience with his uplifting personality, as the florists each created their own masterpieces using Ontario grown flowers.

One of the many attractions at the show this year was The Magical World of Tinker Bell. This miraculous garden produced by Frankie’s Flowers and sponsored by pickOntario showcased fairies made out of flowers and plants. This garden attracted the younger audiences and children participated in face painting while learning all about flowers and plants.

Floral design shows, sponsored by pickOntario, were done daily by renowned floral designer Albert Graves. Albert got women out of their seats and onto their feet, dancing, to win one of his custom made bouquets. This year, not only did women rise for the dance challenge, but so did men in the audience. A gentleman celebrating his 92nd birthday danced his way to receive Albert’s last bouquet of the day. Albert wowed the audience with not only his design talents, but also with the knowledge of where each flower used was grown. Albert takes great pride in supporting local products, and promoted growers such as VanGeest, Pioneer Flower Farms, and Rosa Flora.

Dean Shoemaker, executive director of Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc, commented that “We are so pleased with the turn out of this year’s Canada Blooms. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of buying locally grown flowers and potted plants.” The reasons are clear, when you pick Ontario, you are ensured freshness, variety, and quality. pickOntario looks forward to continuing the buy local campaign for 2010.

For pictures of floral displays created by Ontario florists, visit our photo gallery. We've also got another gallery showcasing other garden displays and floral arrangements here.