Canada Blooms recognizes feature garden builders

There is no doubt the feature gardens built at Canada Blooms each year are worthy of many awards. Sporting cutting-edge designs, colourful plants, quality materials and superior craftsmanship, the outdoor oases are inspiring to all those who attend the 10-day festival each March.

On March 15, the hardworking men and women who created the gardens were recognized in front of an audience of peer and family members at Canada Blooms Professional Awards Night.

Judging of the gardens took place at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto a week prior on March 8 — the day before the 22nd edition of Canada Blooms opened to the general public. The volunteer judging panel of well-respected landscape professionals scored each garden on criteria such as: overall visual impact, quality of materials, outstanding creativity, innovation, imagination, aesthetic appeal, technical hardscape/constructed aspects, harmony of design elements and detailing, unique use of plant material, organization and completeness and environment (ie: cleanliness, safety, etc.).

At the conclusion of judging, each judge then voted on their favourite feature garden by secret ballot, to be included in the tally for the Tony DiGiovanni Award, Judges Choice Garden of the Year 2018.

On awards night, Terry Caddo, Canada Blooms Festival Manager, welcomed garden builders and guests to the Unilock Celebrity Stage. “Our 2018 theme of “Let’s Go to the Movies” has provided a great opportunity for fun aspects to be incorporated into our gardens and floral displays,” Caddo said. “I am more impressed every year how the garden builders express their creativity and interpret our festival theme; they truly have taken us to the movies this week.”

Tony DiGiovanni, LO Executive Director, commented, “Each builder in this room deserves credit for their commitment, industry leadership and beautiful final results… not to mention sponsors who supported materials and supplies. On behalf of the association, I would like to thank all contributors for their tireless passion and commitment to volunteerism that made these gardens possible. Thank you all for your awe inspiring and amazing contributions.”

Awards were then presented to the following companies:

Greer Design Group for Alice

• The Unilock Award for Outstanding Garden, Small Size
• The Do-Up-The-Doorsteps Awards. Presented by Oaks By Brampton Brick

Modern Landscape Designers and Trimatrix Construction for Midnight in Paris

• The S.G. Ulbright Award for Outstanding Garden, Medium Size
• The Tony DiGiovanni Award, Judges Choice Garden of the Year 2018

Genoscape for Never Forgotten, Highway of Heroes Living Tribute

• The Gordon A. MacEachern Award for Outstanding Garden, Large Size
• Best Use of Bulbs. Presented by Pioneer Flower Farm
• The PremierTech Award for Best Overall Use of Plant Material

Aquaspa Pools and Landscape Design, and Royal Stone Landscaping & Design for Movies by the Pool

• Outstanding Interpretation of Show Theme “Let’s Go to the Movies” Presented by Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada
• The Landscape Ontario Award for Best Overall Quality of Workmanship
• Dig Safe Builders Award. Presented by ORCGA

Land-Con for Hollywood After Party

• Outstanding Outdoor Entertainment Area
• The W.E. Bridgeman Award for Best Overall Use of Hard Landscape Elements

Landscape Ontario and Parklane Landscapes for Fusion Oasis Under the Stars

• Most Imaginative Garden Design. Presented by Niagara Escarpment Views

Mountainhill Landscaping for An Inconvenient Garden

• Outstanding Use of Artistic Elements in a Garden

LO Growers Group, Double Tree Landscaping, and Duralock Interlocking and Landscaping for Ontario Growers Grove

• Outstanding Use of Trees. Presented by Gro-Bark Ontario

J. Garfield Thompson Landscape for The Samurai Garden

• Outstanding Use of Lighting. Presented by Landscape Ontario’s Lighting Group
• Outstanding Use of Natural Stone. Presented by Beaver Valley Stone
• The Leslie L. Solty Memorial Award for Best Overall Creativity in Garden Design

AKA Designs for Champagne and Caviar

• Outstanding Use of Interior Plants. Presented by Jill Jensen Botanicals
• Outstanding Balcony Garden

City of Toronto for The Pollinator

• Outstanding Use of Annuals and/or Perennials. Presented by Ontario Flower Growers Cooperative
• The Garden Club of Toronto Award for Best Overall Use of Colour

Jackson Pond for This is Our Movie

• Perry Molema Award for Outstanding Use of Water. Presented by Aquascape

Stanley Roszak for Welcome to the Front Yard

• Outstanding Use of Walkways

Bancheri Bros. Interlocking and Paving for Oscars After Party

• Outstanding Outdoor Living Space

Skai Leja Landscape Design, and Ecoman for Found Treasure Island

• The Do-Up-The-Backsteps Award. Presented by Oaks By Brampton Brick

AKA Designs for Champagne & Caviar

• Outstanding Balcony Garden

Maynooth Granite

• Hard Landscape Supplier of the Year

Rodger Tschanz and the University of Guelph

• Soft Landscape Supplier of the Year

Organizers would like to thank feature garden judges: Christine Gracey OALA, CSLA, DA Gracey & Associates; Ben Cullen, Mark’s Choice; Jeff McMann NPD, ISA, CHT, TRAQ, Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries; Heather Cullen BA, BLA, PMA Landscape Architects; Alistair Johnston ISA, Strybos Barron King Landscape Architects; convenors: Ron Koudys BLA, MED, OALA, CSLA, ASLA, RLA (MI), CLD, Kristen McIntyre CHT, CEM, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association; Haig Seferian, ceremony emcee; Canada Blooms co-chairs Janet Ennamorato and Celia Roberts, LO President Warren Patterson for presenting winners with awards. Canada Blooms wishes to thank HUB International and the many sponsors who support the festival.

At the conclusion of the festival, the People’s Choice Award, presented by The Toronto Star, was awarded to Genoscape for Never Forgotten, Highway of Heroes Living Tribute.