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Gardening trend continues this year

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association was formed in 1922 to support and promote the landscape industry in Canada. To celebrate its 100th anniversary the Canadian Garden Council (CGC) has declared 2022 the Year of the Garden with the slogan “Live the Garden Life.”
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Linda Tomlinson

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association was formed in 1922 to support and promote the landscape industry in Canada. To celebrate its 100th anniversary the Canadian Garden Council (CGC) has declared 2022 the Year of the Garden with the slogan “Live the Garden Life.”

The Canadian Garden Council is asking anyone involved in or with links to the horticultural commercial or not, to become involved in the year of the garden and promote the benefits or gardening. Horticulture has deep roots in the Canadian community including; businesses, garden clubs, schools, community gardens, municipalities and individuals. At present time the CGA is asking for municipalities to sign declarations supporting the year of the garden. Individuals and organizations to sign up their garden as a celebration garden opening it to the public. Gardeners are encouraged to use red in the garden to help unify the gardens across Canada. The plan is for everyone to do a little contributing to a larger celebration and Live the Gardening Life.

Garden Days will Run from June 11 to the 19, with the 18th being National Gardening Day. Expect an unveiling of the rest of the plan on the first day of spring on March 20.

Gardening, cultivating plants, has taken place for centuries in Canada. The first written mention of gardens in North America are in journals kept by Jacques Cartier as he travelled up the St. Lawrence River in the 1600s. He wrote about land planted to corn, beans and squash that were called the Three Sisters.

Corn provides support for the beans and the occasional squash plant that climbs. Most of the squash plants cover the ground and keep in the moisture and the weeds at bay. The beans, a legume that captures nitrogen from the air adding it to the soil which in turn feed the squash and corn.

Fur traders, planted gardens at Forts. Many of the forts like Rocky Mountain House, were not manned during the summer months and the men came back to harvest the meager garden in the fall.

Settlers brought over seed and planted gardens. Many relied on the garden for much of their food. A good garden kept them from starving.

The railways put up demonstration gardens and farms along the rail lines to encourage settlers to homestead the prairies.

The government funded agricultural/horticultural research stations throughout Canada starting at the beginning of the 20th century. Staff developed fruits and ornamental plants that were hardy to the prairies. Many of the varieties are still for sale examples being the explorer rose series.

Private nursery people spent years developing their own varieties and continue to do so.

There has always been a core ground of gardeners in Canada but their numbers increased substantially in 2020 with the pandemic. People were forced to stay at home and began to purchase tropical plants. They spent time nurturing them and found it improved their environment and their wellbeing.

Spring saw people who rarely or had never gardened start growing plants in ground, raised beds or in pots. People signing up for community garden plots tripled.

People worked in their yards to make it a more enjoyable living space.

The gardening trend is continuing. It could be due to the worry about food security, global warming or just the enjoyment of interacting with nature through gardening.

Join in in the Year of the Garden by encouraging your municipality to sign the declaration, visit, parks, public gardens or open houses at private gardens. Plant trees, flowers, shrubs and or vegetables. Join garden clubs or community gardens.

Trade plants with friends and neighbours. Eat locally grown food bought at markets or directly from the grower. “Live the Garden Life” https://livethegardenlife.gardenscanada.ca/

Linda Tomlinson has gardened in Central Alberta for over 30 years. She can be reached at your_garden@hotmail.com.