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Welcome to the March edition of the pickOntario Newsletter ! We are pleased to offer all users of the pickOntario.ca website valuable information on floral care and trends as well as keeping everyone up to date on the goings-on of the Ontario floriculture industry.
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pickOntario along with the Ontario Flower Growers Auction are proud to help sponsor The Lung Association Ontario's "Tulip Day". Tulips are being sold in communities all across Ontario with proceeds going towards lung disease research as well as other important programs that are in place. "Help Line" answers calls from people looking for advice on different lung health issues.
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Love Lilies All Year
 The genus Lilium are herbaceous flowering plants normally growing from bulbs. They comprise a genus of about 110 species and are important as large showy flowering garden plants. Lilies are also Ontario's 7th most important cut flower and the potted Easter lily is Ontario's only indoor potted lily. Despite a sales window of a couple of weeks each year, Easter Lilies are the fourth largest potted plant crop in North America, ranking just below poinsettias, mums, and azaleas as a favorite blooming plant.
In 1919, Louis Houghton, a World War I soldier, brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon and gave them to family and friends to plant. The climate there was ideal for growing this lily, a native of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and by 1945, over one thousand growers were producing bulbs for the commercial market.
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| Growing Green
 Not only does March mean the beginning of the Spring, but also St. Patrick's Day. Many people go all out in green to celebrate but pickOntario takes going green to a whole new level. The greenhouse industry is held to some of the highest "green" standards in the world. Greenhouse growers are under strict regulations by several agencies, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Environment Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and many more. This means that Ontario flowers and plants are some of the safest products in the world. How does pickOntario support the reduction of energy use and water? We encourage consumers to buy locally grown flowers and potted plants. Buying local produces fewer emissions from shipping, transporting and production to be released into the air we breathe, which is a great goal to strive towards. pickOntario centers on promoting local growers to ensure that customers realize Ontario grown products help accomplish this goal. Read More >> |
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If there is anything that you would like to see included in future mailings, don't hesitate to drop us a line and let us know.
Don't forget to check out the website, blog or forum for more information!
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Until Next Time!
Stay Fresh. |
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PS -Don't forget to tell your friends and family!
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February Contest Winner
Evelyn M.
Mississauga
Evelyn received a lovely bouquet of Ontario grown flowers. Thank you for your continued support of pickOntairo!
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Top 3 Florists in Floral Design Contest
**in no particular order
Florist: Kay's Petals and Plants
Florist: Alma Florist
Florist: XQZT Floral
These 3 designs along with the florists who created them will be showcased at the Canada Blooms Show. Consumers at the show will vote on their favourite design. Come on out to vote on your favourite design!
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