HOME + GARDEN: THE NEW PERENNIAL FAVOURITE
Plant experts converge in Vancouver to explore how much the region has grown horticulturally
The world’s top perennial experts are coming to Vancouver later this month for a weeklong symposium. It is a fairly big deal because this is the first time in 10 years that the Perennial Plant Association — the group responsible for introducing all the latest and best perennials — has been here, and a lot has changed. In fact, that is one of the reasons it is coming: to see the changes, because it has heard B. C., especially in and around the Lower Mainland, is a cuttingedge hotbed of gardening innovation and creativity. Who told the association that? Well, for one, Gary Lewis, the owner of Phoenix Perennials in Richmond. He is on the PPA board and when it came time to decide where to hold the group’s annual symposium, Lewis lobbied pretty hard to win it for Vancouver. “It’s an honour to have horticulturalists from around North America and the world come here to see what we have to offer. “We really do live and garden in one of the best horticultural destinations in the world. “The experts coming to their symposium are going to be wowed by Vancouver, our sites, our sounds, our nurseries and our gardens.” Lewis says he told the PPA board that Vancouver had moved ahead considerably since 1993 — the last time it was here. “I showed them all that had taken placed horticulturally since then, such as the stunning Visitor’s Centre at VanDusen, the Vancouver Convention Centre green roof, as well as other green roofs and living walls popping up around the city. “I also told them about new parks like Hinge Park on the southeast corner of False Creek and they were quickly convinced.” As well as meeting to discuss the state of the perennial industry worldwide and get acquainted with all the new plant hybrids and specialties, the group will tour local gardens and nurseries, and some have even agreed to go hiking into the alpine meadows at Whistler with esteemed American plantsman Dan Hinkley. The last symposium was held in Boston, with Atlanta, Portland, St. Louis and Philadelphia before that. Lewis did a lot of great work to get the symposium here, but he didn’t put the program together all by himself. He had a lot of help from other leaders in the B. C. gardening industry, notably Brian Minter, of Minter Gardens in Chilliwack, John Schroeder, of Valleybrook Gardens in Abbotsford, Leanne Johnson, one of the owners of the GardenWorks chain, Lambert Vjrimoed, of Free Spirit Nursery in Langley, and Renata Triveri, of Grow and Gather nursery in Maple Ridge. “It has been a lot of work, but made easier by the experience and wisdom of my great committee,” says Lewis. In Abbotsford, Schroeder has planted a garden at his nursery specifically to showcase the varieties of new Echinacea to give PPA members an idea of which ones perform well in this part of the world.
About 500 people are expected to attend the weeklong symposium, which starts July 21 with a special day of public lectures at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel on Burrard Street. These are open to all gardeners, amateur and professional, as well as “green- industry and landscape enthusiasts,” says Lewis. The program for the day comprises six lectures by top garden experts. Admission is $ 99. “I think if the quality i s high enough — and it certainly is in this case — then it warrants a summer Sunday indoors,” says Lewis. “I think the PPA Public Day will have a broad appeal for the general gardening public since there is a focus on design, edibles, small spaces, local personalities and new plant introductions.” Lewis points out that the Hardy Plant Group recently charged people $ 180 for a weekend of lectures, so he feels $ 99 is a deal considering the quality of speakers. “Whereas the Hardy Plant Group is for fairly sophisticated gardeners, the PPA Public Day is relevant to all levels from beginner to expert.” For more information, go to www. perennialplant. org. Here’s lectures: the timetable for the day of
• 8: 30 a. m. The Layered Garden:
Design Lessons for Year- Round Beauty.
Speaker: David Culp, of Sunny Border
Nurseries, Inc., Downingtown, Pa.
• 9: 30 a. m. The Best of the Best: Edible
Trees, Shrubs and Plants to Use in Your
Landscape. Speaker: Senga Lindsay, of
Senga Designs, Vancouver. • 11 a. m. From Jewel Box Garden to Rural Estate: Creating a New Vision From Scratch. Speaker: Thomas Hobbs,
of Southlands Nursery, Vancouver. • 1: 30 p. m. Creative Solutions for Small Spaces. Speaker: Beth Edney, of Designs
By The Yard, Toronto. • 3 p. m. New Plants From Canada’s Far East: Plant Breeding at the Memorial
University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden. Speaker: Todd Boland, of Memorial University, St. John’s, Nfld. • 4 p. m. Full Frontal Gardens. Speaker: Lucy Hardiman, of Perennial Partners, Portland, Ore.