The International Home _ Garden Show and The Successful Gardening Show is pleased to present Trish Symons.

After retiring as a high school principal, Trish wanted to share her passion for gardening and photography. She is an accredited judge of floral design, horticultural and roses. Trish claims to be expert on nothing, but enthusiastic and well-versed about most things related to gardening and enjoys sharing ideas and experiences through her lectures, floral designs classes, photography workshops and giving demos.

Trish Symons creates at least 50 planters each year for the decks to compliment her large country garden on the Niagara Escarpment. Most of the plants are started in her greenhouse. The past few years Trish has experimented with cactus and succulents to conserve water and cut down on maintenance.

The International Home Show _ The Successful Gardening Show is pleased to present Jacky Shah.

Let’s Get Planting Theatre
Friday, March 7 at 2:15PM
Miniature Garden Design

Jacky Shah is a dedicated gardener, who has been a long-time member of the Streetsville Horticultural Society.

 Jacky Shah is a psychotherapist in her professional life and often refers to the teachings of nature and the cultivated garden as a metaphor for therapeutic work. Jacky also operates a small garden design company, Articulate Garden Design , and works casually with Gardens Central magazine. She has been a “Best in Show” winner of both Cultural and Design sections at Successful Gardening Show.

Seminar: Japanese Maples in the Home Garden: Design and Culture

Many homeowners are intrigued by these jewels for the garden. With more than 700 cultivars available, how does the gardener make an informed choice? Discover some design combinations to highlight your maple. Learn pruning techniques to accentuate its natural beauty. Become familiar with dwarf maples for rock gardens and small space gardens. Bring questions and a notebook. 

Miniature Landscapes for Tabletop or Entrance

The miniature landscape incorporates plant material and objects, matched in scale, and brings a new dimension to container gardening. The design may involve a serious, historically correct model of a Japanese strolling garden or a more whimsical contemporary garden.

It may make use of the designer’s found objects to tell a story. The combination of plants will represent trees, shrubs, flowering ground covers and annuals to create a full garden

The International Home _ Garden Show is pleased to present Ursula Eley, an accredited Design and Horticulture judge and a long-time member of Beach Garden Society.

 Let’s Get Planting Theatre
Sunday, March 9 at 1:00PM
Simple Floral Designs for the Home

 Ursula has joined Beach Garden Society approximately 15 years ago. Shortly after joining, she tried entering a design in their flower show. The design was a disaster but the judge and fellow members were so encouraging she decided to do it again, and again, and … Now, not only have Ursula’s designs been published in magazines in England and New Zealand but she is highly desired as an instructor of workshops and courses by clubs and Horticultural societies.

In 2006 Ursula graduated as an accredited Design judge and in 2011 as an accredited Horticulture judge. She enjoys learning about plants and flowers, both in her garden, in natural settings, and in design.