We’ve enjoyed a sunny weekend here in Manitoba and are excited that people might still be interested in gardening afterall! Retailers tell me that it was a great weekend overall. We have completed a count of all perennial inventory and have added a fair number of new items to the list as well as highlighting the items in bloom. Contact us soon to have your order delivered before the weekend.
Updated Availability and Premium Plants
June 6th, 2011 by vanstoneNo Flooding Yet
May 11th, 2011 by vanstoneSome are wondering and asking how we are doing with all the flooding that is happening in the Portage la Prairie area. We are located about 7km east of the Assiniboine River diversion which has been running to capacity for weeks and is now running well over capacity, and the danger is that water is expected to flood out from this channel and move overland from there. The forecasters have advised that water will likely come 4 or 5km in our direction. We hope that they are right! We also feel great sympathy for those adjacent to the river and floodway which will lose everything in the flooding. Some of you live in regions where you have experienced these things too and we appreciate your concern.
Booked a ship date yet?
April 16th, 2011 by vanstoneHere’s a quick post from a white nursery in April. It seems odd to be covered again in snow when we are wanting to be busy loading plants up and shipping them out! But by the time Monday rolls around I’m sure there will be only faint token to remind us of this little unexpected weather event, so we are not too concerned. What we do want though is for you to get your plant order when you need it. If you have not confirmed a ship date with us yet, please get in touch one way or another and we can work it out. Have a great weekend everyone!
Ready for Spring
April 8th, 2011 by vanstoneIt seems like we just got started, and yet this Friday afternoon we are looking at the greenhouses and nearly every square foot is filled up. We have enjoyed excellent staff again this year so far and are excited about the weeks that lie ahead. It is a little concerning that we have still been unable to access our container fields due to snow that just refuses to disappear, but the forecast is promising and we are confident that next week will see us out there uncovering a few things.
I have also included another video of what is going on at the nursery this week. The potting machine remains a key piece of equipment in our operations both now and throughout the summer production season.
Now is also the time to check over your spring orders and make sure that you have all your bases covered. We still have a nice availability of product and would be happy to adjust your order to meet any newly discovered needs. Be sure to check the Order Now page for up to date inventory.
Back at it!
March 11th, 2011 by vanstoneHey everyone, yes, we are still here! It seems like through the winter season we get distracted with other things and keeping in touch here falls by the way. But we are definitely fired up for spring again and the greenhouses are filling fast with new plants. There are loads of new plants that we have on offer this year, check out the availability lists to see what you can try out this year.
It’s been an exciting winter for sure. I was able to visit the IPM show in Essen, Germany and see what is happening in horticulture on the other side of the Atlantic. There are some terrific new developments in production technology as well as plant varieties and hopefully we will be able to learn from what was there. It was also good to spend a few days here and there relaxing and getting recharged for the season. It is always great to meet folks like Paul and Kat Coatesworth who rode a gondola with me at Kicking Horse and told me about their great B&B called Canyon Ridge Lodge.
Have you made sure that you have ordered the hot items for 2011? Have another look over your orders and give us a call if we can help with anything else or give you ideas for plants or marketing.
Merry Christmas!
December 24th, 2010 by vanstoneThe Vanstone family wants to wish you the very best at this special time of year. We all work so hard throughout the year to get things done, but it is wonderful to come to this season and set work aside for a short time to enjoy the truly meaningful things in life. We are excited to have our entire family home for the holidays. The last one just arrived late last night after several days of delays due to winter weather in Europe. We are thankful for this especially when we know that there are thousands of others still waiting in airports. We are particularly thankful though for a baby that was born in a manger so many years ago. Luke 2:11. A very Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for the New Year.
It has been great to see so many of you throughout the fall season and to hear about your year. Thanks to everyone who has confirmed their bookings for 2011. We’re looking forward to a good year filled with new plants and renewed enthusiasm. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We will be closed from now until the new year, but availability lists and price lists are always available for download.
Fantastic Fall Colours
September 29th, 2010 by vanstoneIts the time of year when plant material catches your eye from great distances with great displays of yellow and orange and red. The sumacs are glowing with rich reds and the maples are dazzling as well. The hydrangeas are loaded with massive blooms and the snowberries are loaded with fruit. Now is a great time to bring in seasonal material to fuel the fall planting trend that is well underway.
I have spend time recently in NW Ontario as well as Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is always inspiring to visit our different customers and see their tireless enthusiasm and constant vision for the future. Despite record levels of rain and cool weather throughout western Canada, many retailers are still coming up with new ideas and have plans for an even better 2011. I hope to continue visiting garden centres throughout the fall season. Maybe I’ll see you soon!
Catalogue Coming Soon
September 7th, 2010 by vanstoneWe are excited to announce that our reference guide for 2011 should be in the mail by the end of the week. There are many new varieties listed in both perennials and ornamental shrubs. We are also in the middle of a complete inventory review and adjusted lists will be uploaded and available for download in the next day or two. Now is a great time to stock up on fall flowering plants to get the garden centre ready for the fall traffic increase once the kids go back to school next week.
Happy Canada Day!
July 2nd, 2010 by vanstoneHere we are already at the 2nd of July. It seems like the year is flying past, but I suppose it always does. We are pleased with the progress of our summer work and are thankful for all of our valued customers who helped the first half of 2010 to be even better than that of 2009. We have now essentially finished our summer potting and the maintenance work like weeding and trimming is well under control. We are also close to the end of our summer propagation work and so far it looks like an excellent crop of cuttings is coming on for sale in coming years.
Last night I was in to watch the fireworks in our small city of Portage la Prairie and was quite impressed. I’m not sure what percentage of the annual operating budget went up in smoke in the space of 20 minutes or so, but as far as I’m concerned it was money well spent! It is nice to arrive at this time of year and enjoy time with family and friends and to be thankful for the great country in which we live. There are many countries in which I have been where people can only dream of having the opportunity to own a small business and make a decent living and enjoy the freedoms that we do. Happy Canada Day!
Pretty excited about sunshine
May 15th, 2010 by vanstoneSo it seems like we’ve been waiting for a year or two for a perfect weekend in the garden centre in May and now it’s here! From our perspective as growers we are also loving the way this year is going. Warmer and drier weather means fewer disease problems in the greenhouses and more clean growth on everything. We have had virtually no insect pest problems either. This week we’ve been trying to shift a little bit more into the summer production work like potting and spacing shrubs, but it’s been tricky because we’re too busy loading trucks! It’s a problem we’re willing to endure. We would love to show you around the nursery sometime if you are passing through Portage, just send me a note or give me a call and we’ll be ready for you. But for now, enjoy the sunshine.
