HortWestNov07
11/14/07
1:14 PM
Page 7
7
continued from cover
Merchandisers at Plant Paradise Garden Centre craft attention-getting gardens and displays in and around their product offerings. Their creativity granted them the title of “Best Garden Centre of the Year” for 2006.
No garden tour of South Africa is complete without a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Kirstenbosch spans 528 hectares, 36 of which are cultivated with only indigenous plants of the country, including the glowing orange, red and yellow pincushion plant (Leucospermum) pictured here.
Leeways Garden Centre features colourblocked displays, and emphasizes the themes with sizable but inexpensive accessories painted in bright hues. Each colour-blocked display also includes a sign board to indicate, in this case, purple-flowering plants.
and the company created a warm, cottagegarden atmosphere within the shopping centre. Another, Flora Farm, included a wellness centre/spa and wholesale showrooms for Christmas, floral and container imports. Lifestyle Home Garden combined a horticultural college and a gigantic DIY hardware division, shops and topof-the-line restaurants with its plant selections, and was the only garden center
with a two level parkade. Its recent renovations, following a devastating fire, have included state-of-the-art water and energy conservation elements. Topping off these unusual businesses was Safari Garden Center, with a huge stone chapel, fabulous restaurants and bars, and water features that are out of this world. Gardening was a sideline to its wedding and corporate events.
South African garden centres are exceptional at creating welcoming display gardens and diversifying what attracts people to their stores. Flora Farm leases a portion of their buildings to All Senses Wellness Centre. To support its integration in the garden centre, Flora Farm maintains an “All Senses Herb Garden” from which herbs are harvested for use in the spa’s baths, oils, and steams.
It was a real treat to see such diverse, innovative and visionary garden stores. The South Africans brilliantly blended their history, culture and music, adding incredible value, and throwing down the gauntlet for future garden center congresses. It’s our turn next September 8th to 12th in Vancouver, and we look forward to showcasing our part of Canada. For more information, visit www.igcaCongress.com, or contact Renata Triveri (rtriveri@telus.net). To become a sponsor, contact Donna Budd (donnabudd-igca@telus.net). ■
The frothy blooms of Jacaranda trees tower over Safari Garden Centre’s thatched-roof buildings and outdoor nursery. Safari’s plant sales comprise the smallest portion of its business with a thriving convention centre and wedding facilities, chapel, game farm, several restaurants and a popular pub now attracting the bulk of its customers.