Winterberries - a Splash of Color in the Darkest Time of the Year

On my yearly pilgrimage to sunnier shores, I enjoyed the lovely colorful shrubs before leaving Nova Scotia, Canada. Then I met them again everywhere around the Appalachians and then - o wonder - in NW Florida.  They can be seen in gardens and in the wild.  In December they are perfect for attractive winter bouquets, mixed for example with dark-green Pine or Boxwood twigs.
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Ilex verticillata – the American winterberry – is prized as an ornamental plant in gardens for the midwinter splash of bright color from densely packed berries.  Winterberries grow from Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 in the Eastern part of North America.

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Winterberries are easy to grow, with very few diseases or pests. In July they are showing white blooms. Berries appear from November on.  Although wet acidic soils are optimal, the winterberry will grow well in the average garden.  Important: At least one male plant must be planted in proximity to one or more females for them to bear fruit.  For best color impact, plant five or seven shrubs in a group in your garden.

Apple Blossoms - Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

When was the last time you have been standing in front of an apple tree? Or an apple orchard in bloom? And when did you see dozens of apple orchards with thousends of pink flowering apple trees, bearing millions of blooms - all in one afternoon???

Come at the end of May (May 27 to June 1, 2009) and enjoy these spectacular apple blossoms along with flowering cherry and peach orchards, that are enchanting visitors of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and visit the Apple Blossom Festival.

Wolfville on end of the "Valley" and Annapolis Royal on the other are my favoured towns in Nova Scotia. Why? They are so beautiful, have a lot of charm and a certain heritage feeling (Annapolis is more than 400 years old), boast wonderful restaurants and wineries and some of the friendliest people in Canada. And not to forget the surroundings orchards, wine yards, and its lush, outstanding flower gardens and parks.

Visit Wolfeville, the charming Acadia University town with it's Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, vineyards, welcoming bed and breakfast houses and even a coffee roastery, Kentville, the areas main shopping town, Middletown with its beautiful heritage homes and certainly historic Annapolis Royal with its famous Royal Historical Gardens - Motto: Smell the Roses.

Apples everywhere...

Early colonists from Europe introduced the sweet scent of apple blossoms to the Annapolis Valley as they brought seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables to the new land. From the 1600's on, production of apples was an industry with both the planters and later the Loyalists planting orchards up and down the Valley. In peak years, nearly 3 million barrels of apples were harvested, many of them dried and sold as far as Great Britain, the only "fresh" fruit that soldiers in war could carry with them.

The aroma of the blossoms in May and June, along with the natural beauty of the bloom, makes the arrival of spring even more exciting. There have been many changes in apple production since the first Apple Blossom Festival in 1933. Old orchards have made way for newer varieties of apple trees. Most trees now are smaller than the traditional umbrella-shaped trees, but there are more to the acre and more fruit to the tree.

Over the years, the Apple Blossom Festival grew to include towns and communities from Windsor to Digby, along the Evangeline tourist trail, with generations of families who have proudly hosted princesses, watched parades and been a part of nearly eight decades of celebration. The annual Apple Blossom Festival opens Nova Scotia's tourist season and continues to enjoy national and international recognition.
The Friday night Coronation of the Apple Blossom Queen is at Acadia University Hall in Wolfville, followed by the Queen's Scholarship Ball. Many of the princess candidates are studying at post-secondary schools and this financial contribution is most welcome. The Grand Street parade on Saturday afternoon is in Kentville and is truly one of the Festival's premier events as thousands line the streets to be a part of this celebration.

Where to stay and dine:

Wolfville has numerous charming Bed and Breakfast, such as the Blomidon Inn with its famous garden, the Garden House, or the Delfthouse , just to name a few.

Of the many good eateries in Wolfville, my favoured is Tempest Restaurant, (902) 542-0588, 117 Front St.

For fresh fair trade coffee go directly to the roastery Just US! at the eastern outskirts of Wolfville and browse their outstanding Fair Trade Coffee Museum.

Only a short walk away is the (Swiss) Domaine De Grand Pré, were one can taste the latest wine creations - and buy them directly from the producer. They are hard to find at the provincial wine shops.

There are quite a few great wineries in the area, Blomidon, Sainte-Famille or Bear River Vinyards near Annapolis and Digby, check out the Wines of Nova Scotia website.

The Hillsdale House Inn is located in an 1856 heritage building in Annapolis Royal and offers not only warm hospitality in authentic heritage rooms with private baths, but also a delicious full hot breakfast, including Hillsdale’s homemade brown bread and jams.


For Seafood go to the Garrisonhouse Inn & Restaurant and try their Acadian Chowder.

Apple blossoms, gourmet food & wine, beautiful gardens - what a wonderful long weekend...

Maple Syrup Outings

Hmmh - Maple Syrup Season
It's this time of the year when you are heading out to the sugar bush... For many visitors to Canada, it is something uniquely Canadian. For those of us fortunate enough to live here, it's still special.

Last Sunday I went with friends to the only one that is located in the down town core, right here in Ottawa, just 2 minutes from busy 4-lane Montreal Road, at the Richelieu Park, home to North America's only urban sugar bush where I took the images above.

Visiting a sugar bush or sugar shack is a great experience: the country air, the folk music, the friendly workers’ know-how and a delicious meal aka: traditional comfort food ...

Enjoy the maple syrup season in any of these Canadian provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec or Ontario.

Janice Kennedy's "Maple hot spots", at the Ottawa Citizen from March 14, 2009:
Sucrerie de la Montagne is about a 90-minute drive from Ottawa.
Take the 417 east and, shortly after crossing into Quebec, take Exit 9 to Rigaud. Turn right on to Rte 342, then right on to Rte 325. Shortly after Mont-Rigaud ski hill, turn left on to rang St-Georges. The Sucrerie is nearly five kilometres down this road, well-marked on the left.

Chef's Nights at Sugar Moon Farm, Earltown, Nova Scotia

North of Truro on HWY 311, between Trans Canada HWY No 4 and the Tatamagouche Bay. Guest chefs from throughout the Maritimes fire up their imaginations at this working maple farm to create multi-course gourmet dinners highlighting the magic of maple. Skiing and snowshoeing; brunch complete with maple cocktails.

Festival beauceron de l'érable, Beauce region, Quebec

Now in its 20th year, this festival south of Quebec City recreates the spirit of earlier times, drawing about 50,000 annually." March 18 to 22.HWY 173 south of Quebec City towards the US.

Cabane à sucre Constantin Grégoire, St-Esprit, Quebec.

At this low-key cabane (HWY 158, 30 minutes northwest of Montreal), food is the highlight, not a frill. The pancakes come with all the fixings: ketchup aux fruits, cretons (pork spread), oreilles de crisse (the infamous pork rinds) and tarte au sucre - all homemade.

Wheelers' Maple Heritage Museum, Lanark Highlands, Ontario

Set on a 295-hectare forest (about a 65-minute drive west of Ottawa, just SW of Carlton Place, next to Trans Canada HWY 7), Wheelers holds the largest collection of maple-syrup-related artifaces in North American, including a century-old sugar shack, boiling kettles and a set of production equipment and tools.

Maple in the County, Prince Edward County, Ontario

More than 30 venues, including wineries, restaurants and food producers, participate in this self-guided tour." March 28 and 29; about a three-hour drive from Ottawa, south of HWY 401, exit Picton or Belleville.

How it all began:

Native Canadians were the first to recognize the maple sap as a source of energy and nutrition after long winters. They used their tomahawks to make v-shaped incisions in the trees and inserted concave pieces of bark to run the sap into buckets made from birch bark. The sap was only slightly concentrated by adding hot stones in the bucket. It was a sweet drink or used in cooking. Later they used clay pots to boil maple sap over fire. In the early days of colonization Natives showed French settlers how to tap the trunk of a tree at the outset of spring, harvest the sap and boil it to evaporate some of the water. It became an integral part of colony life and during the 17th and 18th centuries, syrup was a source of pure sugar and much needed vitamins to survive.

Warm sunny days (above 40º F) and frosty nights are ideal for sap flow.The maple season in March and April lasts about 4 to 6 weeks. The harvest season ends with the arrival of warm spring nights and early bud development in the trees. 30-50 gallons of sap are evaporated to make one gallon of syrup. Maple Syrup contains Carbohydrates, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Thiamin and Riboflavin.

Not only delicious, but healthy too!

Canada's most beautiful Botanical Gardens

Canadas Botanical Gardens

Amazing - even the New York Times writes about Canada's Botanical Gardens and named the Top Ten! To visit them all in one journey you might have to drive well over 7,000 km from coast to coast. Most of them are either near the Atlantic or Pacific or not far from the St. Lawrence stream.
But there are many more wonderful gardens to explore than those ten, have a look at www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/in/canada
Just for Quebec there are listed 22 gardens well worth the visit.

Memorial University Botanical Garden - Canada's most easterly botanical garden, is located in St. John's, Newfoundland, and is a resource centre for botanical research and education with a particular interest in the flora of Newfoundland and Labrador. The botanical garden is also used for environmental, botanical and horticultural education and research.
Don't miss another garden in St. John's: the Bowring Park in the Waterford Valley, which was donated to the city in 1911, by Bowring Brothers Ltd., and opened by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1914.

Nova Scotia's Annapolis Royal Garden features many themed gardens linked by picturesque paths that display plant collections, such as the Rose Collection. The collection contains over 230 cultivars. Annapolis Royal is four years older than Quebec City, the colony was called l'Acadie. The name was changed to Annapolis Royal when it became British.

The New Brunswick Botanical Garden north of Edmundston and near to the Trans Canada HWY, spreads over an area of more than 17 acres, showcasing over 80,000 plants. The rose garden, rhododendrons, luxuriant annuals and perennials offer a symphony of colour. Visitors love the spectacular arboretum. The alpine garden is a replica of a mountainous environment found in different parts of the world. It also serves as the starting point for one of the main attractions of the Botanical Garden: the waterfall.

The Kingsbrae Garden is in the seaside resort of St Andrews by-the-Sea and has been named one of Canada's Top Ten Public Gardens as well as Attractions Canada's National Winner for "Best Developed Outdoor Site in Canada" in 2001, after just 3 years of operation. The Garden was created on the grounds of several grand old estates, incorporating mature cedar hedges, flower beds and an old-growth Acadian forest. The garden also features a genuine Dutch windmill.

The Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the best in the country and is very popular in spring as a background for wedding ceremonies or photoshootings. Visitors to the Montréal Botanical Garden are captivated by the colors and fragrances from around the world as they wander from the delightful Chinese Garden to the heart of the Sonoran desert, from the peaceful oasis of the Japanese Garden to the classically designed French garden or the woodlands of the Laurentians.

Explore 12 award-winning themed gardens that are spread over four acres when visiting the Toronto Botanical Garden. This garden also hosts tours, programs, nature day camps and field trips.

Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario is full of colour all year long. "Escape to Paradise" is it's motto. Enjoy winter in the indoor Mediterranean Garden and spectacular spring and summer outdoor displays that burst into bloom.

The Crofter's Cottage in the English Garden of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is one of Winnipeg's finest attractions and a popular site. This heavily planted area of one of North America's largest urban parks has more than 4 million visitors annually. Both locals and visitors love The English Garden for its spectacular seasonal colour and texture, as well as the wide variety of plants. Assiniboine Park is stage for concerts during the year. On Canada day they have a huge fireworks celebration.

Visitors to Lethbridge, Alberta's breathtaking Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden come here to enjoy the peaceful grounds. It's an authentic Japanese meditation garden with many formally pruned trees and shrubs and it's well worth the visit to escape the stresses of everyday life. The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden offers you an unforgettable experience, combining the beauty of nature in a serene setting. From the first spring blossom to the final autumn leaf, the Garden is an oasis of tranquility.

Located in Victoria, British Columbia, is the Hatley Garden, one of Canada's National Historical sites. Aside from the stunning Edwardian estate, this historic site features hundreds of heritage trees, including 250-year-old Douglas firs. Use the many hiking and biking trails to explore 600 acres of forest. The most popular gardens are the Rose, Japanese and Formal Italian. Situated near the Pacific Ocean at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the 565-acre property reflects the richness and diversity of British Columbia. At the heart of the property is the famous Hatley Castle a 40-room mansion built in 1908 by James Dunsmuir, a coal baron and the former Premier and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Located beside the 7,000-foot Mount Chem, Minter Gardens is one of British Columbia's many stunning attractions. It features 10 different Canadiana gardens intertwined with waterfalls and waterwall, such as a Formal Garden, an Alpine Garden, a Fern Garden, a Lake Garden and a Fragrance Garden. Dazzle your senses...

The David C. Lam Asian Garden is the largest area in the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, Canada's oldest continuously operating university botanic garden. Visitors can explore the many plants and trees from Tibet, Japan, China, Korea and other regions of the world. Favourites include the stunning magnolias and rhododendrons.

55 acres of gardens can be explored at The Butchart Gardens in Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Established in 1904 on a former quarry the gardens are now considered a National Historic Site.

Vancouver's VanDusen Botanical Garden is a pleasure to visit year-round. The garden has 55 acres worth of plants gathered from around the world. Best time to visit are the six weeks from late May to end of June when the Laburnum Walk is in full bloom. There are also a number of Theme Gardens including a Meditation Garden, Rose Garden, Stone Garden, Korean Garden, Perennial Garden, Herb Garden and Canadian Heritage Garden.

Glendale Gardens, located in Victoria, British Columbia, calls itself the "garden for gardeners". This six acre garden is located on a large nature conservancy, which is also home to the Pacific Horticultural College. Explore the grounds along its many trails. Glendale Gardens boasts 10,000 varieties of plants in 28 demonstration gardens, including perennial borders, Japanese and Zen gardens and a romantic Winter Garden.