Time to Work Your Green Thumb Again

Forget the Wiarton Willie. Gardeners like to see and hear the birds chirping because they want to start exercising their love of flowers and digging into pots.For most of the summer – when the days are favourable and the rain stays away ushering the warmth of spring and the sweltering days of summer – you can find Ms. Goodfield in her garden.Before gardening season starts she carefully goes through fliers and also calls around to garden centres to see which have the best products and offerings. She’s somewhat of a bargain hunter too and likes to see which garden centres provide excellent prices.The ones at convenience stores sometimes have good flowers and special balcony garden mix soil. But, in the last few years she’s found the garden centre at Super Store on Dufferin St. to have the most optimal offerings. Plus the staff are nice, congenial, knowledgeable, and friendly.She usually takes the Dufferin bus up to The Super Store and cabs it back to her condo. She spends a good 30 minutes at the garden centre perusing the inventory before meticulously selecting what she will choose for her garden. She has an affinity for colour and certain types of flowers to accent her balcony.Ms. Goodfield has been gardening for years and last summer populated her garden with many varieties. “Last year I was a bit more eclectic I mainly planted impatiens, begonias, hastas, roses, variegated grape ivy, petunias, morning glories and sweet peas.” Quite a collection. “Being surrounded with flowers makes me feel connected to nature and free but still right in the city.”Here are some tips she provided for anyone wanting to start a garden on their balcony. “First, you want plant to whichever way you’re facing the sun. The more sun, the better is a myth because it depends on the flowers or plants. Basically, you must give ample water depending on the heat and feed them regularly,” she says. Her choice of plant food is Miracle Grow which she gives her plants every two weeks.Ms. Goodfield further discloses, “Nature’s rain is the best water for your plants to flourish.” She continues, “If you’re the type who does not water plants on a regular basis, gardening might not be for you, because they are going to get dried up and die. And don’t forget to ‘dead head’ which is cleaning off the dried up leaves and dead flowers.”Gardening, for her, is a form of meditation, a great way to absorb Vitamin D from the sun, plus she loves to become immersed in her garden while relaxing in a chair. That is her true oasis. Her cat Ashleigh also loves to meander amongst her plants. She advices, “Be sure to check which plants and flowers are poisonous to dogs and cats if you happen to have one. For example, begonias are extremely toxic.”

Ready, Set, MAP

The past two Saturdays included early mornings waiting in line at the Toronto Public Library in hopes of obtaining a Toronto Library Museum + Arts pass. My beautiful mother requested a trip to the Ontario Science Centre for her upcoming birthday and I made it my personal mission to make this happen-within budget.As it happens the Toronto Public Library and Sun Life Financial provides MAP passes which offer free entrance to vast array of attractions and museums within Toronto. If you’re like me and budget conscious you can plan your summer activities with the assistance of this great program.Now, you and the family can visit the new Panda cubs at the Toronto Zoo or check out the newly discovered dinosaur at the ROM. Passes are valid for 2 adults and 2-4 children depending on the venue and good for one visit. Each week libraries are provided with a new set of passes. This means you can check out a pass to a new attraction every seven days.There is one caveat. Passes are available in limited quantities. Some branches offer the passes on a first come, first serve basis.  At these locations you may find those who are willing and able; waiting outside the library doors first thing in the morning.On my first attempt I was ninth in line which seemed pretty reasonable. Unfortunately for me the Ontario Science Centre is one of the most popular passes alongside the Toronto Zoo, The Gardiner Museum and Black Creek Pioneer Village. Normally three passes each, are available for the Zoo and the Ontario Science Centre which meant ninth in line was not early enough.I did not want to take any chances so I tried the Yorkwoods library again the following Saturday arriving at 7:30 a.m. This time I was third in line. Perfect! When the doors opened at 9:00 a.m., I was able to check out an Ontario Science Centre pass.There is another option if waiting in line early Saturday morning is not for you.  Some branches have the option of a draw. Everyone who arrives at one of the branches between 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. are placed in a selection pool. Names are drawn at random, and MAP passes are distributed in order of the numbers drawn.If early Saturday morning draws or first come first serve options are still not viable for you; a select few locations offer passes during the week. Barbara Frum -hursdays at 9:00 a.m.: City Hall -Mondays at 10:00 a.m.: and Forest Hill -Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.For more information on this great program, check out your local Toronto Public Library or ask your local librarian for more information.  

Opening of the Mao Art Gallery in Downsview!

Mao Correa, a local Downsview artist, has really proven that art has no limits. After transforming his 700 foot flat into an art gallery. Every wall and surface from every room on both the interior as well as the exterior of the house is covered with pieces of art.  The gallery is open to the public and showcases his spectacular pieces along with other works from other up and coming artists.Mao, is a recognized plastic artist, photographer, and graphic designer who was born in Bogota, Columbia. After receiving much recognition for his work in Columbia and Central America, Mao brought his unique style to Canada. Toronto is now where Mao calls home.Mao uses art to illustrate his internal journey as a new immigrant in Canada.  He does this by, creating pictorial pieces made entirely from recycled materials. Mao states “Mirroring my own experience, and re-signifying my esthetics through the view of diversity, I’m now not only breaking down pre-existing materials, reinterpreting and offering them a new form with a new purpose, but also reintegrating my soul to a new country”Visiting Mao’s Art Gallery truly is like watching the story of his life narrated by the pieces on every wall and surface of his home, with every piece offering new insight to his experiences in Canada.  The gallery is the only newcomer artist-led gallery in Downsview area, and attracts a wide diversity of artists in the community.Mao has been an active leader in the art community. In 2015 Mao was the recipient for the RBC Arts Access Fund and the 2015 Finalist, for the Neilson Park Creative Centres 23 annual Juried Exhibition in Toronto. Mao is an advocate for for other immigrant artists struggling to showcase their art work here in Canada. The Gallery hosts art work from other artists in order to promote their work. The gallery also provides art classes for those who are interested. Mao has truly gone above and beyond for his community and is Downsview Advocate’s ‘Community Spotlight Leader’ of the month.Mao’s art and listings for upcoming shows can be viewed on his website at www.maocorrea.com