A Trip to the Atlantic Superstore Flower Market

I recently went on an excursion to our local Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Limited (BTN); they are the supplier of tropical plants, perennials, evergreens, trees and shrubs found in the Atlantic Superstore Flower Market. Four other BTN locations across Canada supply the Flower Market for the other Loblaws chain of stores.

A couple of weeks ago, I also had the unique opportunity to interview Peter Cantley, he is the Vice President Floral & Garden, Loblaws Companies Limited. I was able to ask Peter some gardening related interview questions.

All of my recent gardening adventures inspired me to once again head to my garden! It is not too late to pick up some great annuals,  perennials, trees and shrubs from your local Superstore {Loblaws} Flower Market.  There is still a big selection of wonderful looking plants, shrubs and trees available.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up two beautiful hanging baskets.  I don’t have a place to actually hang them, my intent was to move them to the two planters we have on either side of the garage.  I have done this many times in the past and have always found it to be a simple, expertly designed and inexpensive way to get a gorgeous planter.

 Here is what I did:

• To facilitate drainage, place some pottery shards (you could use stones) in the bottom of your container.  (Be sure your container is large enough to accommodate the growing plants)
• Depending on the size of your planter, fill it about 1/3 to 1/2  full with PC Magic Soil for Planters. (The potted plants should sit an inch or so below the top of the pot.)
• Snip and removed the hanging part of the basket.

• Ease the entire grouping of plants, as one, from the basket and centre the grouping in the new pot.
• Fill in around the grouping with more soil, firmly press the soil into the pot to remove any air pockets. {Air pockets may cause the roots to rot and die}
• Water plants daily and enjoy!

 This is how they look today!  

We have a deck off our kitchen and I always fill a planter with herbs and place it on the deck for easy access.  A week or so ago I picked up some herbs at the Flower Market and planted them in a pot.  We have already been snipping the thyme, rosemary, chives and Italian parsley and adding them to some of our recent culinary attempts!

I used a similar technique with my herbs, except I purchased them as individual plants.  The process is the same except you plant them individually and space the herbs throughout the pot.

They already look fabulous and by September will be a tall, lush and cascading array of delicious herbs, most of which I dry and use all winter!

I hope you have some fun, get out into your garden and plant some pretty flowers, trees or shrubs; maybe even create a beautiful container of annuals or herbs.

What are you growing this year?

What are some of your favourite plants?

Do you grow your own herbs?

~ Happy Gardening ~