Investing in Your Garden

Mar 11, 2015

Over 100 Verona area gardeners were offered a sneak peek at what's new for gardeners this year thanks to Karen MacLean, a new financial consultant with Investors Group of Kingston.

MacLean, who is a long-time Verona resident, sponsored and hosted the free event titled “Investing in Your Garden”, which took place at the Verona Lions hall on March 8. The event was catered by Joyce Casement and in lieu of an entrance fee, guests were invited to make a donation to the Southern Frontenac Community Services food bank. MacLean's aims were twofold: to bring the local community (especially gardeners) together, and to introduce herself to the community as a new member of Investors Group.

Front and centre at the event was guest speaker Denis Flanagan, director of public relations with Landscape Ontario, a not-for-profit horticulture trades association that has over 2000 member companies from across the province, and whose aim is to promote professionalism in the garden landscaping industry.

Every year the organization partners with the University of Guelph and prepares trial gardens where seed companies plant their new varieties for the year. Flanagan’s presentation highlighted a number of these new plants and also outlined what he believes will be some of this year's trends in gardening.

Orange is in this year and the new “Oh So Orange geranium and the new “Summer Fling” patio rose have that colour in spades. Flanagan cited berry shrubs as a new trend to watch for, with new varieties of ornamental edibles like the “pink icing blueberry” and “glaze blueberry” exciting many growers in the audience. Other new noticeables included the “L.A. Dreamin' Hydrangea”, the “Ambassador” crab apple tree, proving that both species are making a comeback this year along with a number of vibrant rose varieties. Flanagan also spent time highlighting a checklist for gardeners looking to hire a landscaper. He cautioned them to make sure the service provider is properly insured, and can provide sufficient proof of their past experience and expertise. Flanagan also opened up the floor to questions and spoke about using copper wire to control slugs and about how to over-winter perennials. One audience member suggested using East Indian neen oil to keep pests off of lilies.

A number of local businesses had tables set up in the Lions hall displaying their gardening-related goods and services. They included Asselstine Hardware, Memory Lane Flowers and Gifts, and the Silverbrook Garden Centre, and Simply Landscaping from Odessa. Representatives from the horticultural societies of Kingston, Collins Bay and Lennox and Addington were in attendance and the work of two local artists was also on display.

Door prizes included six free tickets to the upcoming Canada Blooms Garden show, which takes place at Toronto's Direct Energy Centre from March 13-22.

As an avid gardener himself Flanagan has his own work set out for him this summer. He will be hosting his daughter's wedding in his own garden, which he said will be a feat considering his almost total lack of lawn.

Judging by the turn out, and the enjoyment had by the over 100 guests, MacLean said she might just consider making the event an annual one.

For more information about Landscape Ontario visit landscapeontario.com