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Quebec Gleanings by Rita Truba: October 2007
Now You Can Eat It Too
The trend of edible floral centrepieces is picking up speed in Montreal. Floral Designer Nathalie Lachance, Fleuriste Mille et un Bouquets, brought on gasps at the realism of her flower carvings out of various vegetables at the Alzheimer Society Ball held recently at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in downtown Montreal.

Picture Perfect
A new floral designing concept has hit Montreal. Galerie Flowerbox on St. Denis Street is looking outside the box when it comes to traditional railing flower boxes. The store specializes in flower boxes that feature works of art using live plants in a frame, which can be hung or used as a table centre. Simon Dauphin has taken the do-it-yourself approach with his customers and lets them choose plants that personally appeal to them. For the idea check out www.flowerbox.ca.

Changing the World, One Balcony at a Time
Rooftop gardens and balcony flower boxes are producing more than just flowers. McGill’s Edible Landscape Project is a joint venture project between McGill University’s School of Architecture, School of Urban Planning, and the School of the Environment. Their goal is to bring city agriculture into Montreal. During a downtown stroll in the city, you can see climbing tomatoes, zucchinis and cucumbers growing alongside the vines of clematis and roses. The project has inspired immigrants from India and Bangladesh who put their agricultural knowledge to work and expand on the growing space through the use of trellises and other building structures.

In Passing
Active in the business well into his 89th year, Don Belvedere of Don Belvedere Florist passed away on Sept. 2 at the age 91. Don will be remembered for his active participation in many floral industry activities.  He was also a prominent member of the Montreal Italian community. Several members of his family remain in the flower business.

Flora International/The Montreal Garden Festival
The second edition of this event featured four completely new activities this year. From July 6 to 15 the “Arts Rendezvous in the Garden” was where 100 artists created their works throughout the venue, at the Locks Garden in the Old Port of Montreal.

This was followed by “Fifteen Days of Residential Gardens,” from July 27 to Aug. 12, where visitors were given the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with the creators of the gardens, on site. From July l7 to Aug. 26, “ The Gourmet Garden Feast” was a daily gastronomic banquet where 25 renowned Old Montreal and Eastern Townships chefs cooked up a storm using the Eastern Townships Gourmet Route’s regional produce.

Finally, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 the feature will be “Kyoto in My Garden – where one can discover the essentials of sustainable development in/from one’s garden. New flower varieties abound.

Name-a-Rose
A rugged wild Rosa Rugosa Varietal has been named after Michel Trudeau, who was swept away in an avalanche near Kokanee Lake, B.C., in l998. Five bushes were planted in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Rose Garden/Park located within the traffic circle near the Town of Mount Royal train station.

Florists in the News
Florist Gilles Lord is living up to his reputation by continuing to convey elegance and sophistication in every thing he touches. Flore’s ad in Plaisirs de Vivre has drawn rave reviews. A photo of a bouquet of soft pink cymbidium orchids and pale green baby roses sits as a perfect bijou in a jeweler’s ring box of soft gray velvet in the centre of the page. Flore’s name and address are discreet in pale silver-gray print at the bottom of the ad-page. Check out the new website, www.flore.qc.ca.

Healing Through Flowers
After last year’s September shooting, overnight Dawson College’s steps were awash with flower bouquets. Prior to the college reopening its doors all were gathered, ribbons, cellophane, rubber bands removed, and the wilting flowers and greens were set aside in a secluded area of the College campus. The mulching mound has now been reduced to compost and will serve to create a peace garden where students can reflect and relax. Montreal’s Malaka Ackaoui, the internationally acclaimed landscape architect, has offered to design the area, free of charge.

St. Justine’s Children’s Hospital
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St, Justine’s Children’s Hospital, the hospital’s foundation, along with the Flora International team, are creating and developing therapeutic gardens to assist children and their families staying in Saint Justine’s CHU. Children who grow up appreciating flowers become adults who buy and give flowers.
 
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