May 13. Beautiful blooms from peonies to roses to savoury herbs are up for grabs at the 23rd annual Mother’s Day plant sale. 9 am to 4 pm. Canadian Mennonite University-North Campus, 500 Shaftesbury Blvd., gymnasium. 204-895-4560 or gardensmanitoba.com.
May 10-31. Mary Anne Rudy’s One Woman Show of abstract mixed media monotype prints occasionally features the realistic influence of flowers and landscape at Birchwood Gallery.
By CARISSA BLUESTONE
Tulips of the Valley Festival, Seabird Island, BC (Photo: Dru!)
The winter jackets may not be in storage yet, but April brings a few harbingers of spring in most of Canada, in the form of daffodils, tulips, flowering trees and those first hardy wildflowers. (more…)
Truffles Fine Foods Cafe. Photo by KK Law
Even though it’s not quite patio season, these blooming spots still prime the taste buds.
1 Shaughnessy Restaurant Enjoy bucolic views and West Coast fare in the heart of VanDusen Botanical Garden. Pop by Truffles (pictured) in the dramatic new visitor centre for more casual bites.
2 Seasons in the Park In the tranquil surroundings of Queen Elizabeth Park, savour West Coast cuisine along with downtown and mountain views.
3 The Fish House in Stanley Park Sustainable seafood is on the menu at this quaint house in the heart of the park.
4 Horizons Restaurant Head up Burnaby Mountain for regional cuisine in a stunning, vista-kissed setting bordered by rose gardens.
5 Hart House Restaurant This Tudor-style mansion, nestled among flowering shrubs and manicured lawns in Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park, caters to classic tastes.—Tim Pawsey
photo by Liz West
One needn’t wait for April showers nor May sunshine to start thinking about flowers. The annual Canada Blooms floral and gardening expo is just days away (it opens March 16), and year-round you can visit numerous quality florists for everything from a gorgeous bouquet for a date night to perfect arrangements for your home or event. Check out our
10 handpicked favourites after the jump. (more…)
"Garden II" (Flowers Come and Go) by Michael Abraham
“Garden variety” is not the way you’d describe Vancouverite Michael Abraham’s oil paintings. His super-saturated, expressionistic works straddle the line between real and surreal (“Garden II [Flowers Come and Go],” pictured), making them truly one of a kind. See Abraham’s larger-than-life characters in Inspiritus at Gallery Jones Fine Arts (Oct. 5 to 29).—Kristina Urquhart
More information:
GALLERY JONES FINE ARTS Contemporary gallery showing Canadian and international painting, sculpture and photography.
1725 W. 3rd Ave. 604-714-2216.
1531 Marine Dr., West Vancouver. 604-926-2233.
www.galleryjones.com
"Your Abstraction Brings Clarity" by Bobbie Burgers
A thousand flowers bloom in A Memory Emerges at Bau-Xi Gallery (Jul. 9 to 23), which highlights gorgeous floral art and pastoral landscapes by local painter Bobbie Burgers. A feeling of movement permeates her complex acrylic-on-canvas pieces, which range in colour from richly saturated to softly understated (“Your Abstraction Brings Clarity,” pictured). For more floral art on South Granville’s Gallery Row, check out Marilyn S. Mylrea Art Gallery.—Kristina Urquhart
Bright veggies dominate Vancouver's farmers' markets. Photo copyright Andreas Kaspar/istockphoto.com
Savour the first tastes of summer with a visit to one of the city’s newly reopened farmers’ markets. On the west side, head to Kitsilano for fresh flowers and artisan bread. The east side location sets up shop at lovely Trout Lake with stall after stall of in-season fruit and veggies. For something out of the ordinary, head to Chinatown for the always interesting Night Market. Or venture out of town to picturesque Steveston Village’s community market that features more than 50 vendors.—Jennifer Patterson
Stuart's Bakery in Granville Island Public Market is a delicious pit stop, serving tarts, cakes, cookies and breads. Photo by KK Law
Join locals and visitors at bustling Granville Island Public Market for a day of fun-filled shopping and good eats. Find sweet treats aplenty at Stuart’s Bakery (pictured). Artfully stacked fruit sits ripe for the picking at numerous produce shops. Grab handmade ravioli for later or fresh-cut flowers to use as a thank-you gift. Souvenir-worthy items line the shelves at Edible BC, including honey, jam and chocolate, all made in British Columbia.—Jennifer Patterson
Photo copyright Kickstand/Istockphoto.com
It’s just plain wrong for Mom to do any cooking on May 8, which means pretty much every restaurant in town is holding a special brunch, buffet, tea or dinner. Popular brunch destinations for Mom include Fleuri Restaurant, Oru, Italian Kitchen, Market by Jean-Georges and Bacchus Restaurant. To avoid maternal disappointment, make your reservation early—and don’t forget the flowers.—Sheri Radford
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