Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre was transformed into a horticultural oasis this weekend for Canada Blooms, Toronto’s flower and garden festival.

Now into its 14th year, the show offers something for everyone, whether they are into high-end landscaping or casual dalliance with growing things.

As usual the festival offers seminars, lectures and demos, including a presentation by gardening goddess Martha Stewart. Its marketplace features a wealth of vendors and flora-related artwork.

A key element to the show’s success is the competitions. Landscapers can not just simply buy space to exhibit. Indeed, they have to submit a competition design by the September prior to the show. Once winners are selected, they are invited to create a design build.

Arvils Lukss, who owns the business Landscapes by Lucin, has featured his designs in Canada Blooms for the past 4 years.

“You want to show what you can do functionally, but also have showmanship,” he said. “It’s prestigious [to be chosen]. They turn down a lot of contractors. We spend anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 on 1,200 sq. ft. for this show.”

There is also a serious time commitment. Planning takes several months.

The collective result is a show that spotlights the best of Canada’s planting world. It’s worth a visit whether you are a giddy green-thumb itching to get the garden growing or looking to hire a top-notch professional to tend to your landscaping needs.