Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre’s annual ice sculpture display is a celebration of Canadian gardening.
Next year will be the Year of the Garden, and the local business, located just east of the city, will celebrate with several ice sculptures featuring aspects of gardening, such as flowers, bugs and a scarecrow.
“This is our Christmas card to the community and the sponsors. Especially with the times we’re in, we hope people will come out and enjoy them,” Gloria Beck, Parkland owner.
Twenty-two businesses, including The Advocate, sponsored this year’s ice sculpture display, which opened Sunday afternoon. The display will be open every day and evening – admission is a donation to the Red Deer Food Bank.
“At night, they’re all lit up, so you can see the lights shining through the ice. Then if you come during the day with the sun shining, it’s quite something to see,” said Beck.
Parkland has put together ice sculpture displays for more than 30 years, Beck said, adding artist Lee Ross has been the one to build them every winter.
“He’s got these frozen blocks of ice … and he carves some of them in his shop in Calgary,” said Beck
“Then he brings those (sculptures) up to Red Deer and there are others he does the carving for right here.”
Due to COVID-19, attendees are encouraged to wear masks and maintain physical distance of six feet from others. Families must stay together when viewing the ice sculptures as well.
The Year of the Garden will be a centennial celebration of the country’s horticulture sector, according to Gardens Canada.
Garden-related celebrations and activities will take place in throughout communities across the country during the year, which aims to engage Canadians on the following:
- Garden culture and history
- The importance of public and private gardens and our urban landscapes
- The health and well-being benefits of gardening
- The value and aesthetic benefits of gardens
- The positive environmental impact of gardens
- The important contribution of horticulture professionals in our garden culture
For more information on the Year of the Garden, visit www.gardenscanada.ca. For more information on Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre, visit www.parklandgarden.ca.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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