Celebrate spring by getting outside
ACCESS NIAGARA
Forsythia, pansies and daffodils all say spring to me. And leaves? Don’t talk to me about leaves. If there are leaves on the trees I don’t care what the weather does, I’m happy.
Being on a scooter full-time and having exceptionally weak, almost paralyzed hands doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy spring flowers and gardens. I’ve found garden centres that are accessible and most also sell already planted spring window, wall and balcony planters. You can bring home a bowl of pansies, put it on your balcony and they’ll stay bright and cheery through June.
I can’t physically garden, but I do like to manage our garden areas and have found a lovely lady who likes to garden who will give me enough time every year to get the garden cleaned up, planted and then sorted out in the late fall.
I save my spending money all win- ter so I’ll have enough to pay her, buy seeds, annuals, sprays and fertilizers. Just thinking ahead about what I want to plant and change keeps me going during the winter when I can’t get out at all.
When spring weather does arrive, I can’t think of a better place to go than one of Niagara’s many accessible garden centres. Here are my favorites:
Vermeer’s Garden Centre, 684 South Pelham St., Welland. I can spend hours there on my scooter. They have all manner of ready-togo planters, a large selection of seeds, indoor tropicals, large outdoor plants, furniture, fountains and everything you’ll need for gardening, including footwear.
They are the only one I know of that has an accessible washroom.
Sunshine Express, 18 Carlton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, just after the Welland Canal bridge, has all of its annual and perennials indoors plus a huge selection of hanging baskets, planters, trees and flower and vegetable seedlings.
Niagara College greenhouse, Niagara-on-the Lake campus, has taken a new tack and offers a differ- ent selection of annuals and perennials plus orchids, seeds and other necessities. The students are being taught hydroponics, and their interesting projects are on display. Open Sundays. Construction has eliminated all but one curb cut.
Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse, Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls. A beautiful spring show, plus a tropical area. Open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s a fee for parking and a small admission charge. Accesible washrooms. Feasting is for your eyes and soul.
Sometime soon, the fruit and flowering trees will be in bloom at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. The grounds are accessible. Heading north, go past the main entrance and you’ll see a sign leading you back behind the butterfly conservatory to accessible parking.
If garden centres and parks aren’t to your liking but you’ve been indoors all winter and want to get out and mingle, the Seniors Review: Over 50 and Loving It! has pages of clubs and groups to join plus listings for organizations that need volunteers.
Seniors often require access due to everything from arthritis to wheelchair use so chances are good your disability can be accommodated. A yearly subscription mailed to your home can be had for $11.30 by phoning 905-687-9861 or you can pick one up free at local stores.
And if you’re looking for something specific, like new mobility and helping aids or want to check out wheelchair/scooter-accessible vans, look to the free People in Motion show May 27 and 28 in Toronto at the Queen Elizabeth Building on the CNE grounds.
There is plenty of parking, the building is accessible as are the washrooms, St. John’s Ambulance people will help if needed and food is available.
For a bit of local fun, bring your children or grandkids down to the Lakeside Park Carousel opening day May 21. There will be popcorn, balloons, carousel posters and rides, all free.
The opening ceremony is at 11 a.m. and five new interpretive panels commemorating the history of the park, the carousel and thanking Sid Brookson and Dorothy Crabtree for their part in saving our priceless ride back in 1970 will be unveiled.
I only wish this gentle pastime was accessible. They’ve made carousels accessible in several U.S. states so perhaps someday ours will be. See you there.