Creative Fire: Artist Garden Tour

Part one of June 8th's meeting was a garden tour of Creative Fire Studio.  Artist Beverly Oliwa showed how she integrates her beautiful Paverpol sculptures in the garden for a whimsical and magical effect.  Sylvia and Aimee were so enamored by her work they purchased one to celebrate their wedding anniversary!

Dionne shares her photos and a few words on the visit:

It totally torrentially down poured when we arrived at Bev's house.  We got soaked & huddled in her living room looking out into the garden & learned a bit more about her sculpture making process. 

We wandered the garden, & enjoyed. 

ARLS's 31st Annual Lily Show 2016

Posted on behalf of The Alberta Regional Lily Society

The Alberta Regional Lily Society (an affiliate of the North American Lily Society) presents its 31st  ANNUAL LILY SHOW 2016 at the GREENLAND GARDEN CENTRE (23106 Highway 16 East at Clover Bar Road - Sherwood Park)

PUBLIC SHOW HOURS
- Saturday, July 23, 2016 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, July 24, 2016 - 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Everyone Welcome.

For more information and updates:
www.arls-lilies.org
www.facebook.com/Albertaregionallilysociety

July Meeting at Margaret's: Business in the Front, Blooms in the Back

Slightly overcast skies hinted at storm, but we were lucky -- the meeting wasn't rained out and we had plenty of time outside again to explore Margaret's garden.

This time (a month earlier than last year), the kale was a little less monstrous and a different set of flowers were in bloom. 

Happy bees buzzed around as we checked out some native beauties in the far far back -- no space wasted, flowers and plants right into the alley! 

We later convened back to the front yard to enjoy tea and treats.


We discussed upcoming events: The tour of Wilf Maul's acreage is on!  Also of interest is Alberta Open Farm Days at Northlands on Aug.21st.  There will be farm tours, demonstrations of honey harvesting, and talks on beekeeping, keeping chickens, and backyard farming. 

 

 

 

 

Neonics in the News: Lawsuit Launched!

Ecojustice* has launched a lawsuit to challenge the federal permits given to two neonic pesticides!

This class of pesticides has been linked to mass die-off of bees and is controversially still available in Canada. According to the lawyer for Ecojustice, Charles Hatt, "The (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) does not have reasonable certainty about the risks of these products, which they're required to do."

For more on the background of these permits and other related articles visit CBC News's post.

* Representing The David Suzuki Foundation, Friends of the Earth Canada, Ontario Nature and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee

Blooming Beautiful!

Bang!  It's summer, every day what-was-a-bud is suddenly a bloom.  It's hard to catch flowers in the garden just as they're blossoming, but some patient and talented people have and shared!

See how lilies, Phalaenopsis orchids, Love-In-A-Mist (Nigella damascena), peonies, irises, dianthus, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, and others unfurl with this National Geographic video:



Katka Pruskova created a number of mesmerizing video Flowers Timelapse compilations.  Below, is Flowers Timelapse I of Amaryllis, Lilies, Easter cactus, Rose, Gladiolus, Tulip, Gardenia.  (Flowers Timelapse II and Flowers Timelapse III are also stunning.)
Flowers Timelapse from Katka Pruskova on Vimeo.

Beautiful and breathtaking... and plenty interesting for scientists to look into just why and how flowers open and close.  To find out more visit:
- Wired "The Physics of the Flower's Bloom"

- Proflowers "How do flowers open and close" 

- Live Science "Why Do Flowers Close Up at Night?"