Area florist wins Front Yards in Bloom
Area florist wins Front Yards in Bloom
riverbend
Morgan Messelink
P
ractically the minute the snow starts to melt, Edmontonians get to work making their yards come alive. Because of the efforts of these green thumbs, neighbourhoods like Riverbend are infused with colour every summer. Since 1999, Front Yards in Bloom has celebrated the most beautiful front yards and patios in neighbourhoods throughout city. A partnership between the City of Edmonton, The Edmonton Horticultural Society and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and supported by Realtors Association of Edmonton, the program has become increasingly popular. In its first year, it received 150 entries; this year, it received more than 2,000 nominations. Leon Langlois is this year’s Riverbend winner. His narrow, L-shaped yard, located in Ramsay Heights, is a very small space but “every inch of it is utilized.” The low deck is covered in colourful potted flowers and a small lawn space bordered by perennials and shrubs. When he first moved in, the former florist’s backyard had to be completely ripped up and he was living in mud for several years. Finally, his space is his own “secret garden,” and not unlike the acreage where he grew up. “Growing up on the acreage I was very involved in with the gardens as a child,” says Langlois. “I became a florist because of the background I had in horticulture and the interest in it, knowing all the Latin names and things like that.” He likes that the program encourages community members to create their own beautiful green spaces. On his travels overseas, Langlois has always enjoyed seeing the natural beauty in new places. “It was always so nice to see the gardens and things and how much people put into them,” he says, “but coming
This year’s Front Yard in Bloom winner utilized every inch of his small, condominium garden. (Photos: Sue Trigg)
back home I [thought] it would have been nice to see the same thing here.” He’s happy to see more Edmontonians taking creative risks in their gardens now, and programs like Front Yards in Bloom encouraging and celebrating that. Langlois is enjoying his beautiful yard while the summer lasts. A 5- ft banana tree, a passion fruit vine, and gardenias are some of the plants that make his garden unique. Come winter, he will face the challenge of trying to maintain his many plants over the cold months. Lucky for Langois, his condominium offers interior garden space where he can re-locate and maintain many of his flowers. His
Edmonton’s Newest Great Clips
is NOW OPEN at Currents of Windermere
(on Windermere Blvd by Safeway) • Great Opening Discounts! • No Appointment Needed! • Family Oriented • Local stylists welcome to apply at salon! 4
AUG/SEPT 2013
A 5- ft banana tree, a passion fruit vine, and gardenias are some of the plants that make his garden unique.
garden has been continually improving year after year, and he’s pleased that “people always say it looks nicer than last year.”
riverbend
Morgan Messelink
P
ractically the minute the snow starts to melt, Edmontonians get to work making their yards come alive. Because of the efforts of these green thumbs, neighbourhoods like Riverbend are infused with colour every summer. Since 1999, Front Yards in Bloom has celebrated the most beautiful front yards and patios in neighbourhoods throughout city. A partnership between the City of Edmonton, The Edmonton Horticultural Society and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and supported by Realtors Association of Edmonton, the program has become increasingly popular. In its first year, it received 150 entries; this year, it received more than 2,000 nominations. Leon Langlois is this year’s Riverbend winner. His narrow, L-shaped yard, located in Ramsay Heights, is a very small space but “every inch of it is utilized.” The low deck is covered in colourful potted flowers and a small lawn space bordered by perennials and shrubs. When he first moved in, the former florist’s backyard had to be completely ripped up and he was living in mud for several years. Finally, his space is his own “secret garden,” and not unlike the acreage where he grew up. “Growing up on the acreage I was very involved in with the gardens as a child,” says Langlois. “I became a florist because of the background I had in horticulture and the interest in it, knowing all the Latin names and things like that.” He likes that the program encourages community members to create their own beautiful green spaces. On his travels overseas, Langlois has always enjoyed seeing the natural beauty in new places. “It was always so nice to see the gardens and things and how much people put into them,” he says, “but coming
This year’s Front Yard in Bloom winner utilized every inch of his small, condominium garden. (Photos: Sue Trigg)
back home I [thought] it would have been nice to see the same thing here.” He’s happy to see more Edmontonians taking creative risks in their gardens now, and programs like Front Yards in Bloom encouraging and celebrating that. Langlois is enjoying his beautiful yard while the summer lasts. A 5- ft banana tree, a passion fruit vine, and gardenias are some of the plants that make his garden unique. Come winter, he will face the challenge of trying to maintain his many plants over the cold months. Lucky for Langois, his condominium offers interior garden space where he can re-locate and maintain many of his flowers. His
Edmonton’s Newest Great Clips
is NOW OPEN at Currents of Windermere
(on Windermere Blvd by Safeway) • Great Opening Discounts! • No Appointment Needed! • Family Oriented • Local stylists welcome to apply at salon! 4
AUG/SEPT 2013
A 5- ft banana tree, a passion fruit vine, and gardenias are some of the plants that make his garden unique.
garden has been continually improving year after year, and he’s pleased that “people always say it looks nicer than last year.”
