Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces in community settings.
“People, plants and pride… growing together” is our slogan, and it captures the essence of the program.
Visitors might mistake the Town Hall and Museum building for a garden center because it has so many flowering plants at the entry. The museum opened in 1985 has accreditation as a Recognized Museum in Alberta and professional quality and varied nature of the exhibits, research and archives leave no doubt that the designation is deserved.
The Telford Lake Boardwalk completed in the spring of 2017 provides the residents of Leduc a number of benefits. If your interests lie in exercise you now have an extension of the 80 km multi trail system. The boardwalk is around 150 meters long just skirting the western end of Telford Lake. The exciting aspect of this project is that it allows the Trail to be extended around the entire north shore of the lake passing through a naturalized area.
The Town of Maple Creek’s landfill has undergone such a transformation that it has been selected as The Business of the Month by the business sector. Under the diligent and committed care of the new caretaker, the landfill presents a pristine business front with neat compartments of sorted garbage and a friendly entrance with potted plants, birdhouses atop fence posts, recycled ornaments, a tempting 3-hole golf course, and seasonal lighting..
Stonewall is known for its limestone quarries. In 1983, one of the abandoned quarries was developed into the beautiful historical site and natural area known as the Stonewall Quarry Park. This park is adjacent to Kinsmen Lake, a man-made lake developed after the closure of the quarry in the 50’s. Stonewall Quarry Park site is very much used by locals and visitors for education and recreation purposes. New activities are added (i.e. pumpkin trail) as well as improvements to the landscaping.
Cobourg, Ontario’s Feel Good Town, has plenty to celebrate with an outstanding harbour, sandy beach, waterfront promenade, brilliant floral displays that include a Floral Clock and majestic tree-lined streets. Local groups focus on the preservation of Cobourg’s diverse natural heritage. One such group is the Cobourg Ecology Garden whose members increase awareness and share the need to protect and maintain green space and native species while beautifying the community.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a very beautiful and historic municipality on the Niagara escarpment in Southern Ontario that attracts a massive number of tourists plus is enticing to many people choosing to call it home. The active volunteer community is one of the many draws as well as critical to the development, maintenance and programming in the area.
A Tree Canada grant helped Tignish Elementary School to plant 14 new trees this year, including native species American Elm, Maple, Ironwood and Oak. Of particular note is that each classroom in the school has now been designated a specific tree to gather under whenever there is a fire drill.
Toronto Music Garden , Toronto, Ontario
Gardens of North Bay Heritage Gardeners, North Bay, Ontario
Halifax Public Gardens, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Maison Saint-Gabriel, Museum & Historic Site, Montreal, Quebec
Jardin Daniel A. Séguin, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Rideau Woodland Ramble, Merrickville, Ontario
Toronto Botanical Garden, Toronto, Ontario
Milner Gardens & Woodland, Vancouver Island University, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
The Arboretum, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Queen Victoria Park , Niagara Falls, Ontario
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ontario
International Peace Garden, Boissevain, Manitoba
Les Jardins de Métis, Grand-Metis, Quebec
Jardins publics d'Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia
UBC Botanical Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia
Roger-Van den Hende Botanical Garden, Quebec, Quebec
The Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Ontario
Le Jardin A.M. (Mac) Cuddy, Strathroy, Ontario
Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens and Peony Festival, Oshawa, Ontario
Jardin botanique Roger-Van den Hende, Québec, Quebec
Ferme expérimentale centrale, Ottawa, Ontario
Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens , Annapolis Royal , Nova Scotia
Maison Saint-Gabriel, Musée et site historique, Montréal, Quebec
Le jardin des provinces, Ottawa, Ontario
1814 Treaty of Ghent Rose Garden, Ottawa, Ontario
Le domaine Mackenzie-King, Old Chelsea, Quebec
Jardins historiques d'Annapolis Royal, Annapolis Royal , Nova Scotia
Les Jardins du Centre Horticulture du Pacifique, Victoria, British Columbia
The Arboretum, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Centennial Park Conservatory, Etobicoke, Ontario
Domaine Joly-De Lotbiniere, Sainte-Croix, Quebec
1814 Treaty of Ghent Rose Garden , Ottawa, Ontario
Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia
Joan of Arc Garden, Québec, Quebec
Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Ontario
Place Nathan Phillips, Toronto, Ontario
Daniel A. Séguin Garden, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
Patterson Garden Arboretum/ Department of Plant Sciences University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Parc de la reine Victoria, Niagara Falls, Ontario
International Peace Garden, Boissevain, Manitoba
Serre des parcs du Niagara , Niagara Falls, Ontario
Jardins botaniques royaux, Burlington, Ontario
Le jardin de Maplelawn, Ottawa, Ontario
Les Jardins Butchart, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
The Gardens at Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tangled Garden, Grand Pré, Nova Scotia
Calgary Zoo Botanical Garden, Calgary, Alberta
The A.M. (Mac) Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario
Royal Roads University and Hatley Park, Victoria, British Columbia
Jardin botanique de la Commission des parcs du Niagara, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Le jardin Chinois classique Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Vancouver, British Columbia
Kingsbrae Garden , St Andrews, New Brunswick
Corktown Common, Toronto, Ontario
The Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, Victoria, British Columbia
Jardin botanique de la vallée d’Oshawa et Festival des pivoines, Oshawa, Ontario
Serre du parc du Centenaire, Etobicoke, Ontario
L’Arboretum Patterson / Université de la Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Jardin Jeanne D'Arc, Québec, Quebec
Conservatoire du jardin Allan, Toronto, Ontario
Rideau Woodland Ramble, Merrickville, Ontario
Jardin botanique de l'Université Memorial, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Commissioners Park, Ottawa, Ontario
The Mackenzie King Estate, Old Chelsea, Quebec
Tangled Garden, Grand Pré, Nova Scotia
Toronto Music Garden, Toronto, Ontario
Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus, Truro, Nova Scotia
Jardin botanique Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario
Université Royal Roads et le parc Hatley, Victoria, British Columbia
Parc Corktown Common, Toronto, Ontario
Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse , Niagara Falls, Ontario
Jardins édouardiens au Government House, Regina, Saskatchewan
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia
Casa Loma Gardens , Toronto, Ontario
Jardin botanique de l’Université d’Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Domaine Joly-De Lotbinière, Sainte-Croix, Quebec
Jardin Kingsbrae, St Andrews, New Brunswick
Whistling Gardens Botanical Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario
Milner Gardens & Woodland, Vancouver Island University, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Les Jardins des Jardiniers du Patrimoine de North Bay, North Bay, Ontario
Maplelawn Garden, Ottawa, Ontario
University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Edmonton, Alberta
Ottawa Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario
Parc des Commissaires, Ottawa, Ontario
The Gardens at Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Jardin botanique et zoo de Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jardins de Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario
Garden of the Provinces, Ottawa, Ontario
Royal Botanical Gardens , Burlington, Ontario
Jardin botanique de Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Allan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto, Ontario
Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
Government House Edwardian Gardens, Regina, Saskatchewan
Elsie's Vegetable Garden, Grand-Metis, Quebec
Reford Gardens , Grand-Métis, Quebec
Larry Hodgson
Canada's Garden Route Spokesperson
Author of "A Garden Lover's Guide to Canada"
Spring in the Gardens
After what has been a very long winter for many Canadians, spring is finally well on its way. Tree buds are swelling, spring bulbs are bursting into bloom and there is a scent of spring in the air, but are you missing it? You just can’t soak up the earthy, greeny smells of spring from your armchair: you’ve got to get outdoors. And why not do so in one of Canada’s public gardens?
