The wait is almost over, with Saturday morning (March 7th) bringing the return of the Lawn and Garden Journal for another season. Carla Hrycyna, from St. Mary’s Nursery and Garden Centre, is back for another year of conversation about all things back and front yard.
“It’s exciting to be back, and we’ve had some people actually asking, ‘Are you coming back,” shared Hrcyna during a conversation with Morning Show Host Chris Sumner. “It’s kind of that initiation back into gardening. We’ve already been growing here (at the greenhouse) for a few weeks, (It’s time) to help people get inspired back into the garden, or even start talking about it, because it’s a big thing to think Spring and to think of the anticipation of putting your hands back in soil.”
And what is Carla team planting and preparing for the coming busy growing season?
“We are starting to seed some of our earlier cucumbers for hanging baskets,” she said. “Our annual plugs are coming in. Back in the day we used to start seeding in December. Now we have some of those products coming in for us, but at the same time, our germination chambers are heating and we have our own production of seeds going as well.”
As for perennials, Hrycyna noted much of their bare root products come from Holland, and will be arriving soon, meaning they will be planted and growing shortly.
What’s the hot colour this year?
Whether you feel white is a colour or not, according to Hrycyna, that appears to be colour palette of choice this season. She noted St. Mary’s Nursery and Garden Centre closely watches the Pantone paint Colour of The Year as an indication of what may be popular from a colour perspective in the garden for annuals. This year that colour of 2026 is called Cloud Dancer. It’s described as a “billowy, balanced white” that is a soft, airy, and versatile designed to offer a sense of calm, serenity and quiet reflection.
“White is actually really pretty, it’s elegant and it has a reflective characteristic, especially if you’re in a shadier location,” she explained. “The one thing about using white in the garden, think of a moon garden, because white is always highly reflective in the evenings in the Summer.”
Now, if white isn’t quite the colour you’re looking for this season, Hrycyna points to what she describes as “refreshing” options in softer tones like canary yellow, butter yellow, softer blues and icy blues.
“Blue is back with a vengeance,” she said. “You’re going to say blue flowers? There are a few blue flowers out there.”
Petunias expected to be popular
Meanwhile, Hyrycna believes petunias will be a very popular choice this year.
“There’s going to be a lot of new petunias on the market, and the Headliner series of petunias I kind of fell in love with,” said Hrcyna. “There’s a new one I really love. It’s called Strawberry Picotee. So you know it’s going to have a little bit of a red and white tone. I think I’m showing my Canadian side there.
You can listen to the Lawn and Garden Journal on CFAM Radio 950 Saturday mornings at 915am with host Carla Hrycyna. If you’re out of radio range, you can listen online through PembinaValleyOnline. Be sure to call in your questions, and chat with Carla, at 1-800-374-3315.
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