Notebook Purple is the 'must have' colour for 2015


determining the popular colour of the season, and Canada always follows suit. Based on where the Dutch have been, expect a lot of shades of purple on garden centre shelves as the spring of 2015 nears, says Nikki Gomes, Market- ing Director, Flowers Canada. “Colour has always been extremely


P


important, it triggers emotions and generally makes people feel better,” she says. “People are visual, they want bright and vibrant. But you can’t just


urple is the “it” colour for 2015. Flowers Canada says Holland is the trendsetter when it comes to


the Alberta


elm-pruning ban is now over


E Purple phlox.


throw a bunch of colours out there. It is important to stay ahead with leading edge colours, and this year people will be looking for purple.”


the vibrant and hardy Never Alone rose A


fter a long and dreary Cana- dian winter, the burst of colour that comes with spring is most


welcome. Coming off of one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, with some forecasters predict- ing a similar frosty, white chill this winter, garden wholesalers and orna- mental horticultural growers are seeing increasing demand for vibrant colours. One of the key florals bringing that colour for 2015 is the Never Alone rose, a hardy Canadian variety that will not only look amazing in your garden, but is


also a symbol of the compassion shown by the Never Alone Foundation. The charity provides a variety of supports to cancer patients, everything from spruc- ing up their hospital bed to making them quilts or meals. “It’s a super hardy, disease resistant rose that will give you colour all season long,” says Larry Vandermolen from J.C. Bakker & Sons Wholesale Nurseries. “This rose has survived three Manitoba winters, so you know it’s tough as nails. The Never Alone rose will bloom in spring and will keep its colour until the first frost.”


lm sanitation is essential to an integrated Dutch Elm Disease (DED) prevention


program. In order to help prevent DED, the only time of the year to prune elms in Alberta is between Oct. 1 to Mar. 31. This is when the three vectors: the banded, native and smaller European elm bark beetles, responsible for spreading the deadly DED fungus are not active. Elm bark beetles feed on healthy


elms during the summer and breed and over winter in dead and dying elm trees. If elm trees are pruned between April 1 and Sept. 30, these vectors of the disease will be drawn to the scent of the fresh pruning cuts, potentially attracting infested beetles and infecting your other- wise healthy elm. Having your tree pruned prop-


bold strokes CALGARY’S DESIGNER BOUTIQUE-STYLE HOTEL


erly is important. The Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease recom- mends that all trees are pruned by a professional arborist such as an ISA Certified Arborist. They will determine what type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance and safety of your trees. Improper pruning, topping or removing an excessive amount of live wood is not recom- mended, will weaken the tree’s structure and shorten its lifespan. It is essential that all elm dead wood be removed and properly disposed of by burning, burying or chipping by Mar. 31. To prevent the spread of DED, do not store elm firewood. Alberta is still free of DED,


although its borders are being pressed from two sides, Saskatch- ewan and Montana, both battling the disease. There is no cure once an elm is infected but DED can be prevented. We must stay vigilant to keep our elms healthy. For more information, call the


YELLOW DOOR BISTRO | RAW BAR BY DUNCAN LY | HOTELARTS.CA 4 • Beautiful Gardens 2014


STOPDED hotline at 1-877-837- ELMS or check out the web site at www.stopded.org. To find a ISA Certified Arborist in your area go to www.isaprairie.com.


localgardener.net


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