Communities in Bloom

Community Gardening Day 

Calling all gardening enthusiasts, both seasoned green thumbs and budding beginners! We warmly invite you to join us for a delightful Community Gardening Day at the picturesque Doug Barnes Cabin on May 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Get ready to be inspired as our expert gardeners will be there to demonstrate their gardening skills and share valuable tips and tricks for a flourishing garden. Bring along your cherished indoor and outdoor plants and engage in a lively exchange with fellow attendees, discovering new botanical treasures to adorn your green spaces. And, don't forget to grab some free seed packets of this year's beautiful Flower of the Year, the Purple Alyssum.

Schedule for Community Gardening Day

• 10 a.m. – Welcome 
• 10:15 a.m. – Know the dirt! Tips and tricks for a successful garden.
• 11 a.m. – Turf-rific grass! How to create a green and healthy lawn.
• 11:30 a.m. – What a re-leaf! Simple ways to take care and maintain trees.  
• 12 p.m. – Gardening Demonstration and Plant Swap 

We can't wait to see you there! Together, let's celebrate our love for gardening and create a flourishing community of green thumbs.

Nominate your Neighbour 

The Nominate your Neighbour summer program will be launching soon! Stay tuned.

Nominate your Neighbour

Growing great places together

Wood Buffalo Communities in Bloom is the local chapter of the national Communities in Bloom program. Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-for-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national competition, with a focus of enhancing green spaces in communities. 

In 2022, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo received 5/5 Blooms and was named the winner of the International Challenge in the Medium/Large category with a special mention for Cultural and Natural Heritage and Indigenous Community Involvement. The region also received two outstanding achievement awards, the Communities in Bloom Heritage and Conservation Award and the National Capital Commission’s Plant and Floral Displays Award.

The awards recognized the efforts of staff, council appointed committees, community organizations and countless volunteers in creating initiatives that engages, enhances, and beautifies the region.

2023 Flower of the Year is Purple Alyssum / Lobularia Maritima

This year's Flower of the Year, the magnificent Purple Alyssum, is sure to bring bursts of vibrant colour to your flower beds. The 
seed packet also contains Purple Beans seed.

Alyssum growing instructions:

• Start seeds on soil surface.
• Seeds require light to germinate – do not cover.
• Seeds can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting.  
• Transplant after last frost.
• Select a location with full sun or partial shade.
• Plant seeds on well-draining, loamy soil.
• Space seedlings 10” apart.
• Germination takes 5 to 14 days.

Alyssum care instruction:

• Water plant frequently.  
• Cut back plant to encourage second growth.

Purple Beans growing and care instructions:

• Plant seeds directly into soil after last frost, 1” deep and 20” apart.
• Select a location with full sun, and well-draining soil.
• Beans will be ready for harvesting in approximately 55 days.
• Water often and harvest beans regularly.

About this year's Flower of the Year:

The variety of Purple Alyssum selected this year contains short, moss-like mauve flowers that are suitable for flower and vegetable gardens. They are easy to grow and great for filling in garden spaces. Alyssums attract pollinators and grow 2" to 4" tall.

Where to find Flower of the Year seed packets:

The Flower of the Year seed packets will be available at the Community Gardening Day event at Doug Barnes Cabin on May 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stay tuned for more locations to pick up your seed packets!