Meet Canada Blooms 2011 Speakers:

Canada Blooms' incredible line-up of speakers includes the industry's best-known horticultural specialists. Learn from their wealth of knowledge and experience through educational seminars and interactive demonstrations on every garden-related topic you can imagine!

Donna Balzer	Donna Balzer has a broad background in horticulture and 30 years experience in everything from native perennials to cultural landscapes. She has been a home vegetable gardener throughout Alberta and in British Columbia. Donna has a horticulture degree from the University of Alberta. She created a busy career as a freelance garden writer and consultant. Recent large projects include horticultural consulting for historic landscapes including Central Memorial Park and Reader Rock Garden in Calgary. Her television Show Bugs & Blooms is in re-runs on HGTV and around the globe. She answers callers' inquiries on CBC radio in Alberta and writes local and regional books and articles for magazines and The Calgary Herald. Follow Balzer’s blog at donnabalzer.blogspot.com. Donna recently joined forces with garden writer Steven Biggs in their new Two Garden Gurus series of books. Their first title, Two Garden Gurus: Serving Up…No Guff Vegetable Gardening will be in stores March 2011
Steven Biggs	Steven Biggs is a Toronto-based horticulturist, farm and garden writer, and garden educator. With commercial horticultural experience spanning plant propagation, greenhouse and nursery production, biological controls, and horticultural supplies, his favourite aspect of horticulture is the home garden. His favourite crop this year is figs. Steven loves of getting his hands dirty which is a good fit with his horticultural degree from the University of Guelph. Steven runs the hot-to gardening website www.The-Locavores-Garden.com along with a monthly e-zine, Homegrown in Toronto, where he gives readers no-nonsense advice about growing edibles and engaging kids in gardening. As a freelance journalist, he focuses on gardening, farming and food. He is a contributing editor to the Canadian farm business magazine Country Guide and writes frequently for Edible Toronto and Small Farm Canada magazines.
Arthur Beauregard	Arthur Beauregard has worked in the field of horticulture, natural environment and urban forestry all of his life. As Executive Director of the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, he has celebrated the urban forest through the production of the annual Toronto Tree Portraits Calendar. Arthur is currently Manager of Urban Forestry Management with the City of Toronto. Arthur is presenting with City of Toronto Landscape Architect Ruthanne Henry.
Ruthanne Henry	Ruthanne Henry is a landscape architect and arborist who works with the City of Toronto as an Urban Forestry Planner within the Policy & Standards section of Urban Forestry. Ruthanne has also worked in environmental consulting in a variety of jurisdictions across the U.S. and as well as for other municipalities and governmental agencies.
Wolfegang Bonham	Wolfegang Bonham earned Honours Certificates from Mohawk College in both Landscape Design and Horticulture. To further his plant knowledge he worked for Fernridge Landscaping under renowned gardener Sean James, and then as a Nursery Manager for Terra Greenhouses. Following this he stepping out on his own to form his design/build company, Peace, Love, and Landscaping, based in Burlington, Ontario. Several of his installations have achieved both garden industry and community awards. He is also one of the very few certified Dry Stone Wallers in Canada, and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Oakville Horticultural Society. Most recently he has just returned from Japan where he was studying Japanese Garden Design, a garden style he favours above all others.
Sheila Boudreau	Sheila is a landscape architect with du Toit Allsopp Hillier in Toronto, with over 15 years experience designing parks, playgrounds, and urban spaces. Raising her three young children in Toronto, she began to see city spaces differently, experiencing them through a child's eyes. Sheila will discuss the need to get kids outside to play, to experience nature in the places where they live, and the ways in which we can "get there from here" in our own communities and backyards.
Ken Brown	Ken Brown is a horticultural consultant, writer and photographer. He received his bachelor's degree in horticulture from the University of Guelph and has a horticulture teaching degree from the University of Toronto. He owned and operated "The Plant Manager" an interior landscaping company for 20 years, where he built and maintained a wide variety of public and private interior gardens. Ken is a certified horticultural judge and a frequent speaker at meetings and seminars. Ken has been published in several magazines and papers and you can visit his website: www.gardening-enjoyed.com for great gardening tips.
Connie Cadotte CLD	Connie is a well established Certified Landscape Designer who owns Garden Retreats Inc. -- www.gardenretreats.ca. For the past 12 years, Garden Retreats Inc. has been creating landscapes across the GTA with an aim to create a garden that will reflects a family’s lifestyle and provide years of enjoyment. Ultimately to achieve a balance between the client’s wish list and the actual implementation; to create a sustainable garden, one that will work with the existing site and minimize the environmental impact. Past projects have included: Designer/Project manager for Dream Garden Installation; National Home Show 2007, Canada Blooms Award Winner 2008 best representation of the theme and Designer/Project Manager MacLean Coach house Garden restoration spring 2009.
Veronica Callinan	Veronica has gardened in East York for almost 25 years. Her on-going labour of love is turning a large lot-of-lawn into a bird-loving, private retreat. Currently the President of the East York Garden Club, she also Chairs the Club's public garden Committee, which oversees planting and maintenance of a public garden at the Stan Wadlow Park, off the Taylor-Massey Creek. As a Toronto Master Gardener, she shares her knowledge - particularly on how to have a beautiful garden without time consuming labour. "Lazy Gardening" is her specialty. On top of all this activity, she works full time. Veronica is as passionate about gardening as she is about enjoying the garden, relaxing in it and sharing it with friends.
Margie Campbell	Margie Campbell is a Master Gardener in Training with the Etobicoke Master Gardener's of Ontario, and comes from a long line of amateur gardening enthusiasts. Since retiring 7 years ago, Margie has devoted most of her spare time to her garden, and to the challenges of gardening under the every-increasing canopy of her neighbor's Black Walnut tree.
Beth Cook	Beth spent decades in the IT industry before escaping a few years ago to play full time in her garden. She's been a member of the Durham Master Gardeners for about three years and has recently received the Horticulturist Certificate from the University of Guelph. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with the public and helping solve the gardening problems presented by contemporary urban environments. Beth operates a boutique garden design business, Sweet Results, focused on creative design and plant selection.
Mark Cullen	Mark Cullen is Canada's best known gardener. Each week he reaches over 1 million Canadians through various media outlets. You can also hear Mark's message on CTV/Canada Am and on Newstalk 1010 CFRB. Mark's book 'The Canadian Garden Primer, An Organic Approach' features information both the vegetable garden and the ornamental garden. Visit Mark's website www.markcullen.com for great garden advice.
Yvonne Cunnington	Yvonne is a keen gardener and garden writer and photographer, living on a country property of 10 acres near Hamilton, Ont. She loves ornamental grasses and easy-care, contemporary garden styles. In her garden she trys to work with nature, instead of fighting it. Visit Yvonne's blog for more information: countrygardener.blogspot.com
Sonia Day	Sonia Day is a gardening columnist for the Toronto Star and author of six books. Her latest is "Incredible Edibles: 43 Fun Things You Can Grow In the City", is a national best seller and will be on sale at this show. Her previous books include the bestseller, "The Urban Gardener" and "Middle-Aged Spread, Moving to the Country at 50", a humorous memoir published last fall to rave reviews. Sonia is currently working on a new book due out in October. You can find out more about Sonia on her website soniaday.com. Sonia will reveal to us unusual veggies that grow in the city.
Charlie Dobbin	Every Saturday morning, Charlie Dobbin hosts the GARDEN AND HOME SHOW on The New AM 740. Charlie is an internationally known horticulturist and landscape designer. During her two-decade career, she has become well known for her professional gardening seminars and demonstrations, as well as for her prolific articles in newspapers and magazines on the subject. On HGTV, Charlie cohosted the very successful show ONE GARDEN, TWO LOOKS, and is a popular guest on a multitude of other television shows where she dispenses practical and entertaining gardening tips In 2002, Charlie started her own design and horticultural consulting company, Garden Solutions by Charlie Dobbin. She is also the Horticultural Director for Canada Blooms, Toronto’s celebrated Flower and Garden Festival.
Beth Edney	Beth Edney is a certified landscape designer. With 20 years experience in landscape design, her work has been published in Gardening Life, Canadian Gardening, Chatelaine, Horticultural Review, Readers’ Digest, Metro News, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, and the Globe and Mail. Her work has been seen on HGTV, the Wnetwork, and CityTV. Beth has built several award winning gardens at Canada Blooms. She also has won Awards of Excellence for her residential designs.
Edythe Falconer	Edythe is an elementary education as teacher and administrator who enjoys gardening, music, quilting and reading. Edythe has volunteered with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton, Friends of the Central Experimental Farm and Senior fitness programs.
Frank Ferragine	Frank Ferragine aka Frankie Flowers is arguably Canada's only and favorite weather and gardening personality. As Weather and Garden Specialist on Toronto's number one morning show Breakfast Televisions Frank's no nonsense weather and practical gardening advice can be seen daily on CityTV Toronto. Nationally Frank can be seen on Canada's longest running lifestyle show CityLine and his advice can be read within the pages of Canadian Living Magazine. Twice Frank has been awarded Landscape Ontario's Garden Broadcaster of the year and for the last 4 years Toronto Sun Readers have voted Frank as their favorite weather personality. In his spare time Frank is a proud father, husband and continues to work within his family business Bradford Greenhouses.
Denis Flanagan	After graduating from Horticulture in Surrey, England Denis was involved in many projects including work for the Royal Family and achieved a Gold medal at The Chelsea Flower Show. Following a successful transplant to Canada, Denis continued designing award winning gardens including many for Canada Blooms, he has taught at several community colleges including Humber and Seneca. Denis is well known for his Gardening shows on HGTV and continues to promote the joys and benefits of horticulture through the ‘Green for Life“ program at Landscape Ontario .com
Lorraine Flanigan	Lorraine Flanigan is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in leading gardening and lifestyle publications and websites, including Canadian Gardening. She is editor of Trellis, the magazine of the Toronto Botanical Garden and writes the City Gardening column in the Town Crier newspapers. Lorraine has recently launched citygardeningonline.com, a blog-a-zine with articles, tips and news for urban gardeners.
Belinda Gallagher	Belinda is an avid grower of rare, unusual, native and the more common perennial plants, as well as vines, grasses, shrubs, trees and fungus and she experiments with plants of all hardiness ratings. In 1998 she officially opened Triffids Plants and began to sell many of her unusual, rare and rarely grown plants, which were predominantly seed-raised. In 2008, Belinda closed Triffids Plants and took on the role as Head of Horticulture at Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. She is responsible for the 250 acres of cultivated gardens, along with horticultural outreach and horticultural education. With thirty years as a public speaker, her gardening and flower design talks are both educational AND entertaining. She never forgets that humour is the only thing that sets us above the intelligence level of a hosta.
Marsha Gettas	Marsha taught for many years part time at Ryerson's School of Fashion and The Haliburton School of the Arts. She has worked in apparel design, costume, textile design and now garden design. A member for 6 years of the Etobicoke Master Gardeners, Marsha studied horticulture at the University of Guelph and has an award winning garden that is part of Toronto Open Gardens charity tour for four years.
David Garcelon	David Garcelon, Executive Chef at The Fairmont Royal York is at the helm of Canada’s largest hotel kitchen. He brings over 20 years of culinary experience to his brigade of over 110. From the kitchen he ensures that Fairmont's award-winning environmental program encourages guests to think green when traveling and dining by offering healthful and delicious menu choices that highlight organic products, VQA wines, sustainable Oceanwise seafood and local purveyors. The hotel’s on-site roof-top herb garden and apiary are natural extensions of his interest in sustainable food sourcing and purchasing. What Chef Garcelon’s menus can do for the earth is just as important as what he expects his kitchens to deliver to the palate. David will be joining Marjorie Mason, as they discuss the wonderful Fairmont Royal York Project
Marjorie Mason	Marjorie Mason is an enthusiastic gardener who enjoys sharing her ideas with others. She started gardening at a very early age on her parents market garden farm near Peterborough. After a career as a pubic school teacher, she worked for 19 years at Pine Ridge Garden Gallery in Pickering where she amassed a collection of over 500 different varieties of Pelargoniums. Marjorie lectures across Canada and the U.S. on a wide variety of topics. In addition to authoring “Amazing Annuals” in 1999, she has written articles for Canadian Living, Canadian Gardening, Harrowsmith, Canadian Wildlife Federation, and Landscape Ontario magazines. In 1990, she was given the Garden Communicator of the Year Award by Landscape Ontario. Marjorie hosts “Let’s Get Growing” every Saturday morning from 9-10am on 1580 CKDO and 107.7 FM. Marjorie also leads tours in association with the Toronto Botanical Garden.
Helen Gordon	Helen’s life in the garden began very early in life when her parents gave her a child’s garden tool set for her second birthday. The family had a large vegetable garden and they all worked in it, preserving the things we grew and supplied our dinner table all year long. She enjoyed an era when primary school children were the recipients of free seeds from the Horticultural Societies and always tended them carefully, basking in the glory of prizes won at the Fall shows. After a busy professional life, she joined the Master Gardeners organization in 1996. She has learned much, both from study and from the public with their varied questions.
Albert Graves	Albert was born in Holland but is a native of Canada. These past fifteen years he is the highly popular professor of floral art at Humber College and has taught some of the most talented young designers in the industry today. Continually searching for the new and novel he has the unique talent of keeping things within a strict design ethos, but always eye-catching. Whether its decorations for the Dutch Queen’s birthday, flowers for visiting dignitaries, glamorous celebrities or an appearance on various television shows, you can be sure that Albert’s designs always bear his unique signature.
Kerry Hackett	Kerry achieved the UK equivalent to a BSc in Herbal Medicine after five years of intensive education in Herbal Studies, Medical Science, Nutrition and supervised clinical training. She also holds a diploma in Veterinary Homeopathy and has worked with both domestic and wild animals. In addition, Kerry is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK), the Ontario Herbalists Association (Past-President) and the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association. She is also a certified Master Gardener.
Christine Halbot	Christine Halbot, originally from Nfld., where storing root crops & root cellars were common place, now for 24 years has been living with her family on a 400 acre organic farm growing and storing crops for all seasons. Also, she has recently founded the Canadian Organic Seed Co. which specializes in rare vegetable/fruit crops, medicinal/culinary, and flower seeds.
Darren Heimbecker	Darren worked at a nursery for 18 years as a propagator, shipper and field manager before branching out on his own. Whistling Gardens got its official start in 2006. Since then, he has attracted garden savvy plant collectors from across Canada and the United States. Whistling Gardens is located in Wilsonville, ON just minutes south of Brantford. The 56-acre property features a 1881 fieldstone home and a unique garden centre. Darren is working on the unveiling of Canada’s newest horticultural show garden. He is hoping that the eighteen landscaped acres will be open to the public in 2012. It will feature many neoclassical garden styles, some of which are replicas of once majestic formal gardens at various villas in Italy, Middle Eastern Gardens and the Palace of Versailles. Most gardens are surrounded by natural settings of planted native trees and /or water features. His conifer collection is the largest in Canada with over 1500 different species and cultivars. When the gardens officially open, it will be one of the largest public collections in the world. More information can be found at www.whistlinggardens.ca.
David Hinton	David has been gardening on a 5 acre country property near the village of Orono, Ontario since 1976. He is a charter member of the Rhododendron Society of Canada and a member of the American Rhododendron Society since 1972. Growing rhododendrons and azaleas from seed and hybridizing them has been his hobby and passion since then, and has made his gardens in Orono a “Rhododendron Woods”. His garden has been featured in both Canadian Garden and the Ontario Gardener magazines and has now been open to the public in the spring for more than 25 years. In 2003, David joined the Magnolia Society International and has now made these plants his main passion. The magnolias complement the rhododendrons to make the garden a natural setting with little maintenance.
Jim Hole	Jim Hole lives in Edmonton, Alberta and works nearby at his family’s greenhouse and garden centre in St. Albert, where he divides his time between writing about what he does and doing what he writes about. Explaining what makes plants tick is Jim’s specialty, and he does it without ever losing sight of the beauty and wonder that make gardening enjoyable. In addition to writing bestselling books, newspaper columns and a twice-yearly magazine, Enjoy Gardening, Jim can be heard regularly on CBC radio. Jim’s current challenge is the relocation of Hole’s Greenhouses to a new state-of-the-art facility next to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park. The Enjoy Centre is a community of partners: a spa, a restaurant, a bakery, a garden centre and a convention space—everything you need to create a lifestyle about you. For more information, visit www.enjoygardening.com.
Liz Hood	Liz is an outdoor educator and naturalist. She is passionately committed to inspiring learners of all ages through education opportunities that are grounded in the workings of the natural world through experiential teaching techniques. Liz works towards developing a stronger link between the role natural and horticultural education can play in reaching out to urban learners and those living in high needs communities. When urban dwellers re-engage their curiosity and reawaken their senses it creates the foundations for a lasting and influential relationship to nature. You can learn more about TBG’s education programs at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
Maureen Hulbert	Maureen Hulbert, a Toronto Master Gardener, operates a garden design business called Down to Earth. She enjoys educating the public through advice clinics, the children’s program Growing Under Glass at Allan Gardens, and talks to community groups. Her main interests are plant identification, woody plants, and pruning.
Connie Hunter	Connie Hunter is a member of the Toronto Master Gardeners and the Garden Club of Toronto. After many years of entering flower show competitions, Connie has enrolled in the RBG School for Horticulture Judges. Connie is a past co-chair of Canada Blooms – she was co-chair for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 shows. Connie gardens on the top of the Niagara Escarpment – in that small zone 4 area north of Orangeville. Connie thinks that she inherited her gardening genes – she was born and raised on a dairy farm in Elgin County
Catherine Kavassalis	Catherine Kavassalis is a member of the Oakville Master Gardener group and the President of Oakville Horticultural Society. An advocate for tree conservation, Catherine was bestowed the 2010, Joyce Burnell Tree Champion Award and the 2009 Oakville Environmental Spirit award. A scientist, educator and inspirational speaker, Catherine endeavours to share her passion for trees and fascination with the plant world.
Dr. Clement Kent	Dr. Clement Kent researches honey bee behavior at York University. He's the author of "Planting a Pollinator Garden" and President of the Horticultural Societies of Parkdale and Toronto.
Georgie Kennedy	Georgie Kennedy loves tropical plants. In 2008, she and her husband started a complete house renovation and garden makeover at their seaside property in Jamaica. Although she is a Master Gardener in Ontario, taking a Caribbean property from lacklustre to lush took her on a steep and winding learning curve. She needed to become familiar with the tropical trees, shrubs and vines that would do well on poor rocky soil in dry, windy and salty areas. Every garden is a work in progress, but Georgie is fairly sure you will agree that all the work is paying off and that their garden now exudes a certain tropical glamour. Georgie retired from Toronto District School Board to garden, travel, write, read and enjoy time with family and friends. She is presently taking Yuan Ji classes. Her most recent project involves raising funds to rebuild a school near her home in Discovery Bay, Jamaica.
Joan Kerr	Joan Kerr is a Social Entrepreneur who specializes in community engagement. In addition to joining the Master Gardener Program, Joan also embarked on initiating the Windfields Community Garden (2010) and a Teaching Garden. The Oshawa Legends Centre Community Gardens will be operating in 2011. Joan has spent over 20 years designing interspersed gardens, container gardening and xeriscaping using organic methodologies with creative flair.
Frank Kershaw	Frank Kershaw is an award winning horticulturalist with more than thirty-five years experience in the parks, environmental and horticultural fields. Prior to his recent retirement, he worked thirty plus years as a director in the parks field with both the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and the City of Toronto. Frank was one of the founding members of the Canadian Wildflower Society and has in the past served as one of its directors. He now spends a great deal of his time teaching at George Brown College in Toronto and the Toronto Botanical Garden. He has been a horticultural contributor to many garden publications and is a popular garden speaker at many horticultural events. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Garden Club of Toronto's "Award of Honour" for his outstanding contribution to horticulture. In the year 2000, he made a presentation on behalf of Toronto to the Nations in Bloom Contest in Japan, wherein Toronto won first place for cities over one million population.
Cathy Kozma	Cathy Kozma is a current member and the Past Chair of the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative. A lifelong downtown Torontonian, an avid gardener, and Toronto Master Gardener, Cathy noticed dwindling honeybee and native bee populations in her own Annex area garden, and decided to do something about it! Also the founder of Garden for Good, she started urban beekeeping as a hobby in 2004. Working in partnership with FoodShare the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative now manages beehives in the City, including 24 beehives at Downsview Park, Canada’s first National Urban Park, and 6 on the rooftop of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, with more beehives to be established at the Toronto Botanical Garden this spring. A Realtor by profession, Cathy will teach you the about basics of beekeeping and the importance of bees to our ecology.
J.Paul Lamarche	J.Paul Lamarche is an avid gardener, landscape designer, and Horticultural Consultant, who practices a kind of gardening, implemented by humans up to approx. the turn of the century, and has fun with it!! Through the use of Herbs and Perennials, as well as the attraction of predator insects he has been able to garden pest and disease free. He gardens without the use of any fertilizer, except his own compost. He has never needed to use either chemicals or organic products to control the pests in the garden. He also gardens with extreme minimal use of water! The key, is understanding that for every action there is an equal or even greater reaction and that nothing lasts long without a good foundation! J.Paul Lamarche is co-author of "Common $ense Ecolutuion" newly released in 2010. His last book, "A Notebook for Gentle Gardners" a Canadian bestseller, has been retired. He has spoken across North America on this topic as well as lecturing at most major schools of Horticulture & Horticultural Associations.
Kathleen Lang	Born in S. Africa and was brought up in Niagara Falls – a short bike ride from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. Presently lives and gardens in Kilmarnock, on the banks of the Rideau River, just southeast of Smiths Falls, ON. She inherited her gardening talents from her maternal grandparents and her Uncles George and Jim who specialties were pelargoniums and Orchids respectively. They were all greenthumbs and would be relieved to know someone inherited that gene. They would also be extremely proud to know that she was indeed paying attention when they shared their expertise with her all those years ago. She graduated from Algonquin College Horticulture and Landscaping Program in 1993. She has been a Master Gardener with the Lanark County group for over 5 years. When asked about her gardening style, she replied, “I’m a collector, I just have to have some of those, and a couple of these and oh, is that a new colour in …”. Kathleen is obviously a really busy lady, and has limited time to spend in her own garden, so she has adopted many schemes and developed lots of tricks to do the most in very little time and effort.
Jeffery Lowartz	Jeffery is a CHT turf specialist working in lawn care and landscape management for over 20 years. His innovative ideas have been adopted by many others in the field. He has worked on designing many fertilizers commerically available today, and currently is working on designing userfriendly lawn care products.
Neville Mackay	“That Bloomin’ Neville!” is a highly talented floral Designer who is well known throughout the Canadian Industry for his creativity, flair, workmanship and entertaining personality. He has appeared on many national TV and radio talk shows across the country. His floral creations are loved by celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Glen Close, Kelsey Grammer, Princess Anne, and many show producers. Neville has also designed florals for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and the G-7 Halifax Summit Japanese and Soviet Delegations.
Erin McLaughlin	Erin McLaughlin is editor in chief of both Style at Home magazine and Canadian Gardening, which she has held at Transcontinental’s Home & Garden group since 2008. She started her career at TV Guide as a staff writer, moving to Canadian House & Home and Redwood C.C.’s Real You with stints feature and deputy editing. As editor, she relaunched Century Home as Canadian Home & Country and in 2008 moved to Canadian Gardening.
Helen MacLean	Helen is a horticulturalist working for Halifax Regional Municipality. Planning and installing perennial beds, propagation in the greenhouse and seasonal garden displays are some of the tasks she performs at the Halifax Public Gardens. Helen is a graduate of the University of Guelph Horticultural Technicians Program and specialized in Park Management. She started her career in Calgary at Big Horn Tree Farm. Returning to Atlantic Canada, she trained with the premier residential landscape company in Halifax – Edmond Brothers Landscaping. Helen then attended Algonquin College in Ottawa studying for a year the Landscape Technicians program which she completed through the University of Guelph. During this time Helen earned a placement at the Governor General’s residence followed by a two year position at Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau. Helen’s career spans 30 years including all aspects of horticulture. From sod installation to project management it has, and continues to fascinate her imagination and inspire further exploration.
Jeff McMann	Jeff has worked for several large scale landscaping operations in the Toronto Area, both in the Maintenance and Construction sectors. He is a graduate of the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture. He is also a certified ISA Arborist (International Society of Arboriculture) and is the Supervisor of Forestry for the Town of Markham. Jeff's work has appeared in such magazines as Turf and Recreation, the Toronto Star, the Ontario Teachers Magazine and Horticulture Review. He has also received a number of honours and awards, and has judged for Communities in Bloom, Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence, America in Bloom and the CNLA National Awards. He has been a presenter at the Niagara Parks Alumni and Landscape Ontario Conferences as well as at the National Parks Symposium. Jeff is a member of Landscape Ontario’s Grounds Maintenance Commodity Group and also an instructor for the winter seminar series. He has volunteered his time to the developing of the Landscape Ontario Standard.
Astrid Muschalla	Astrid Muschalla is a community activist, educator and garden designer promoting biodiversity conserving indigenous plants in the home landscape and public areas. She has a holistic approach, promoting a conscious way of living through sustainable and organic practices. She is also a Professional Home Economist, nutritionist and chef with over 20 years experience in the food industry. Astrid led the development of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Healthy Lifestyle Recipes Cookbook. A core theme to Astrid's work involves fresh herbs - she believes that the secret to healthy gardening and cooking lies in using a great variety of herbs. Indeed, her garden boasted over 120 herbs at one time! For more information, visit her website: www.oasishealthylivinginstitute.org
Prof. Laurence Packer	Laurence Packer obtained a B.A. in zoology from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He has been at York University since 1988, where he is currently a professor of biology. Professor Packer is also Author of the insightful book Keeping the Bees.
Robert Pavlis	Robert grew Orchids for over 10 years, and gave presentations on the topic to several horticultural societies as well as the KW Orchid society, London Orchid society and the RBG Orchids society. He also wrote extensively about orchids for society publications. Robert is a Master Gardener with the Guelph, Wellington group and has published gardening articles in the Ontario Gardener, the Puslinch Pioneer and the Vineland Research Blog. Robert has been gardening for over 30 years. In 2005, he purchased a large property south of Guelph, and is developing Aspen Grove Gardens, a 5 acre private site. His interest is in perennials, shrubs and trees. Aspen Grove, has large perennial beds in both sun and shade, a large ‘wet’ waterfall, and a ‘dry’ waterfall. Flower beds are supported by numerous shrubs. A Japanese Tea House and sand garden compliment a large pond on the hill. The garden has been featured on yearly garden tours.
Marco Piccoli	Marco grew up in North Eastern Italy in one of the world’s most established wine regions. This is where Marco’s passion for wine and winemaking started. After working his way up from cellar hand to assistant winemaker in some of Italy’s great wineries Marco went on to receive a joint Master’s Degree in grape growing and winemaking from the University of Udine in Italy and the University of Applied Science in Weisbaden-Geisenheim in Germany. Marco came to Canada and studied at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute at Brock University where he gained a passion for the unique terroir of the Niagara Peninsula. Having over 10 years winemaking experience from Italy, Germany and Argentina Marco brings enviable knowledge and skill that he applies to his award winning winemaking at Jackson Triggs. Including several major accolades for ‘Best LCBO White Wine (2x)’ ‘Best Icewine Vinitaly’ and ‘Best Syrah-Shiraz at Cuvee’
Tony Post	Tony Post has been working in garden retail for over 20 years. He often ignores his own advice in his zone 6, St. Catharines garden and plants zone 7 and 8 plants. It doesn't always work, but when it does the result is a landscape unlike any other in the neighbourhood. Tony works and sells many of these plants at Coles Garden Centre in Grimsby. For a taste visit his blog at niagaratropicals.blogspot.com
Tamara Robbins Griffith	Tamara Robbins Griffith, Managing Editor at Style at Home, loves to talk design trends and share insights into inspired design, clever home décor solutions and affordable dreams. Tamara, former Design Spokesperson for IKEA Canada, and Associate Design Editor at Style at Home, has produced fresh and innovative floral and home décor stories for National magazines such as Style at Home, Canadian Living, Canadian Family, Fashion & Canadian Gardening. Tamara has appeared on television shows such as CityLine, Breakfast Television, Global Morning, Pure Design, Three Takes, Kitchen Equipped, CHCH Morning Live & Urban Rush (BC). Drawing on her past experience as a floral designer, Tamara has taught many seminars on floral design throughout the GTA, including a well-loved Mother’s Day Tea seminar at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. Tamara brings her unique sense of style and flair to everything she does and always enjoys sharing her styling secrets!
Lorraine Roberts	Lorraine Roberts and her husband Robert are owners of Plant Paradise Country Gardens, a unique garden centre and organic perennial nursery that is located on 24 acres in the Albion Hills area of Caledon. At Plant Paradise Country Gardens you can tour the extensive perennial display gardens of continuous bloom that showcase the many rare and unusual varieties of plants they grow and sell. Visit www.plantparadise.ca for more information. Lorraine has a wealth of knowledge in the field of horticulture, landscape design and writes gardening articles for the "Caledon Living Magazine". She lectures at many horticultural societies, and has presented workshops in collaboration with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. She is a member of the Orangeville & District Horticultural Society and the Ontario Delphinium Club. Lorraine has a new book coming out in March, "A Recipe for Continuous Bloom". The book will be available at the show.
Ron Rossini	RRon Rossini is a Master Gardener with the London/Middlesex Master Gardeners. He has appeared frequently in the local media on A Channel Morning, Rogers Community Broadcast and Radio 980 London and London Free Press offering up gardening advice to the public. He is a member of the Garden Writers Association and written numerous gardening articles in local and Canadian journals. Ron is a popular speaker for gardening interest groups in Southwestern Ontario and has previously spoken at Canada Blooms and the Landscape Ontario Congress. He is also very involved with the local health groups in providing community gardening advice to recent immigrants to Canada. Previously served as the Vice President for the Master Gardeners of Ontario.
Edel Schmidt	Edel is the owner and operator of Edelweiss Landscaping providing professional plant maintenance and design consultation for homeowners and small commercial establishments; specializing in redesigning and rejuvenating neglected gardens. Edel’s interest in gardens began as a hobby and a short career as buyer with a wholesale flower distributing company. Edel started her present business in 2000 and completed a horticultural program at Sheridan College. Her professional knowledge of plants and their environments, ‘hands-on’ experience and dedication to individual garden owners, has enabled Edel to build up a list of very satisfied clients. Edel is a member of the Oakville 'Master Gardeners' Group and is currently president of Cloverleaf Garden Club in Mississauga. Edel speaks and conducts workshops at horticultural events and she also teaches at Sheridan College at the Continuous Education in Horticulture Studies.
Kate Seaver	Kate Seaver, M.Sc. is a Horticulturist, Floral Designer and Garden Décor Expert. After almost twenty years as a corporate executive, Kate followed her passion for gardening and created Kate’s Garden; a Botanical Retail Studio which specializes in Perennial Gardening Services and Botanical Seminars and Events. Kate is a professionally trained speaker, a frequent television guest, charity fundraiser and magazine writer.
Claudette Sims	Claudette Sims is a retired educator and a member of Halton Region Master Gardeners. She is passionate about gardening and attracting wildlife to her garden.
Christina Sharma	Christina Sharma has been a volunteer educator with the Canadian Wildlife Federation since 2001. In 2002, Christina received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for public education on how residential properties can support wildlife conservation. In 2009, Christina was nominated for the 1st Annual Urban Hero Award by Toronto Community News, Etobicoke. In 2007, Christina founded Project CHIRP! (Creating Habitat In Residential areas and Parkland). Her initiatives have been featured in the Toronto Star, on CBC Radio and television and in a variety of publications.
Veronica Sliva	Veronica Sliva is a passionate gardener with a lust for travel. Her articles appear in a variety of magazines and newspapers, and she creates gardening content for HGTV.ca. Veronica appears regularly as the “Garden Guru” and the “Armchair Traveler” on Daytime, a Roger's Cable TV program. Veronica travels extensively and seeks out destinations that feature interesting public or private gardens. You can read about her adventures in both gardening and travel on her blog at www.gardenersworld.ca. Veronica is the National Director for the Garden Writers Association.
Elizabeth Stewart	Elizabeth Stewart harvests three vegetable crops yearly from a tiny downtown back yard, the beautiful and bountiful urban mini-farm that was featured in Canadian Gardening magazine, February 2009. There, heirloom vegetables, herbs and fruits are surrounded by an exuberant jungle of perennials, shrubs and vines. An active member of Toronto Master Gardeners, where she serves as Communications Coordinator, Elizabeth is also one of the instructors at the Toronto Botanical Garden’s (TBG) wildly popular Urban Edibles workshop series. The TBG’s 2011 demonstration kitchen garden will focus on Irish cookery, for which Elizabeth researched the history of Irish vegetable gardening.
Trish Symons	Trish is a photographer, speaker, writer, judge and instructor. To find out more about Trish visit her website: www.trishsymons.com
Rodger Tschanz	Rodger Tschanz (pronounced Shantz) has worked in the field of horticulture at the University of Guelph since graduating in 1989. For the last 10 years he has been supervising the Ornamental Trial Garden program at the university. Since it's humble beginnings in Guelph, the trial program has expanded its trial grounds to include the Landscape Ontario Office in Milton, the Vineland Research Station and the Royal Botanical Gardens. Breeders from all over the world send new cultivars of annuals, perennials and vegetables to be evaluated in Guelph and elsewhere.
Frank Turco	Frank Turco is the Senior Manger for Trend and Design for Home Depot.
Tena van Andel	Tena is delighted to have been a Toronto Master Gardener since 2003. She enjoys talking to anyone and everyone about anything horticultural, although orchids, large trees and the exotic bring a special gleam to her eye.
Suzanne Zacharczyk	Suzanne was born and raised in Downtown Toronto, where at the time her family's garden was a small patch of lawn. It was not until she married and moved to Etobicoke, and found a White Trillium in her backyard, that her interest in gardening and landscaping began. Suzanne has been an active member of the EMGs since September 2009. By day, a full time Project Manager, by night, a part time student of Horticulture and Landscape Design studies. In addition Suzanne has been involved with multiple fund raising plants sales, with the focus on putting 'gardens' back into the downtown neighbourhood where she grew up. Currently living in Mississauga, she actively gardens at what her family call their 'Cottage in the City', a bungalow tucked in Orchard Heights. She is also an active member of the local garden club.
Paul Zammit	Paul Zammit, a graduate of the University of Guelph, is the current Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Formerly, he was employed at Plant World, a large retail garden centre where he was the perennial department manager for almost two decades. He is a regular speaker at garden clubs and horticultural trade shows both in Canada and the United States and has appeared both on television and in print. Paul and Uli’s home garden has been featured in Canadian Living, Gardening Life, Canadian Gardening and Gardening How-To. The garden was awarded first place in the environmental garden category in the 2001 City of Toronto Garden Contest followed by an award in 2003 for the Best Use of Plant Material in the City of Toronto West District Garden Contest. Paul’s container designs have also been showcased several times in assorted gardening magazines. In 2008, he won first place in the Scotts Miracle-Gro, Do Up the Doorstep competition, for his container entry at Canada Blooms. Paul has been awarded the Young Professionals award by the Perennial Plant Association.