As mentioned in a previous post, one of my favorite things to do in the Spring is go to all the garden centers in the area. A couple years ago a friend introduced me to Holland Park in Burlington and after one visit I fell in love with this place. After-all it was the only place I could find heirloom tomato plants… the absolute “best” tomato you will ever eat.

Seems the norm this year,  it was another chilly spring morning when we visited Holland Park. And the wind was something fierce so browsing the outdoor area was a bit uncomfortable. Hey! I could care less for the cold though I’ve been living in Canada for over 20 years now.

Rater than go on about how nice this place is or how well stocked it is, I’ll touch on a few areas that stands out as compared to my visit to “Terra Greeanhouses“. Both places do stand out when it comes to being complete garden centers. But where Terra takes the prize for the widest selection of potted plants, shrubs and hanging baskets, Holland Park makes up in the following areas.

- an amazing selection of tropical plants (see the wonderful Croton in the pictures below)

- garden ornaments and water features

- birding (food, water and feeders)

- hostas – I’ve never seen a wider selection

- a huge selection of high end garden furniture (very pricey.. we saw loungers priced at $1500 and above)

As I ventured outside (I brave the cold to bring you the reviews) I was awestruck at the wide selection of perennial and annuals, especially when I hit the vegetable and herb section. I assure you, this place stocks the widest selection of herbs I’ve ever seen in a garden center (the pic below is just one of the sections of herbs available) . However this year I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get my precious heirloom tomatoes. What I did find though were Habanero plants, those blazing hot peppers that’s the base for all spicy Caribbean dishes. Nice strong plants similar to ones I remember my dad growing when I was a kid. But like everything thing else at Holland Park, they were pricey.

You get what you pay for? Maybe this saying is true for Holland Park, but I still think that they’re overpriced when compared to Terra Greenhouse and more-so if you compare them to smaller nurseries that sprout up every spring. Don’t let the price keep you from visiting… even if just for a browse. Grab a cup of coffee and reserve some time to take in everything. Like me, I’m sure you’ll be agape by what you see.

Departments include:

annuals, nursery,
perennials, vines & roses
bag/bulk goods
birds
fertilizers & pesticides
floral
fruits vegetables & herbs
lawn care
patio furniture
tropical plants & pot flowers
seeds & accessories
silks/everlasting flower
statuary/pottery
tools & accessories
water gardening

Locations:

Burlington
2243 Fairview St. (905) 639-7740
Mon. – Fri. 8am – 9pm
Sat. & Sun. 8am – 6pm

Dundas
294 York Rd. (905) 628-8562
Mon. – Fri. 8am – 9pm
Sat. & Sun. 8am – 6pm

You know you’re Canadian when… you’re in enough clothing as if it’s winter and you head over to the dairy for ice cream. But there’s more… there’s a huge line to be served and the patio area is so packed you’ve got no choice but to head back to your car to finish up before driving off.

Summer (any temp over 10c) and Stoney Creek ice cream goes hand in hand in Greater Hamilton. I grew up on homemade ice cream so I was never interested in going to the ‘dairy” for ice cream with my cousins. However as our girls came along, we started taking them during the warm months to get their freeze on (be prepared for long lines.. they mover fairly fast though). To date I’ve tested several of the 40+ flavours they’ve got listed.. run and raisin, pineapple, orange pineapple, black cherry and vanilla to name a few. Caron and the girls usually try the different flavours of sherbert they stock and there’s never been a complaint.

For some reason I find that the ice cream usually leaves a greasy sort of feel in your mouth, with a weird aftertaste that’s difficult to explain. Now bear in mind that as I mentioned I grew up on rich home made ice cream, so maybe I’m subconsciously comparing the two and finding fault. However after today, I don’t think I’ll be giving Stoney Creek Dairy’s ice cream another try. That said. Caron and the girls are very pleased with the sherbert they get, so our family trips to Stoney Creek Dairy will continue!

Stoney Creek Dairy Ltd.
135 King Street East
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada  L8G 1L4
Phone: (905) 662-4934
Fax: (905) 662-6599

Website: http://www.stoneycreekdairy.com

Overall a nice outing to enjoy some frozen treats with your family on a warm day (or cold). A kid size scoop will run you about $3 (trust me it’s huge)  and you’ll be amazed and confused by the number of flavours you have to choose from. As mentioned above do be prepared for long lines and limited parking since the parking lot is shared with the “Hutches” near the side of the same building. BTW, “Hutches” is famous for their fresh cut fries and onion rings so if you’re like me and not interested in the ice cream… grab some fries from around the corner.

A bit of Stoney Creek Dairy history:

In 1929, a young George Dawson began the original Stoney Creek Dairy from a small garage at the back of his home on King Street, collecting milk from surrounding farms, bottling it and  providing his neighbours with fresh milk from their own community.  Right from the beginning, the Dairy delivered only the highest quality products and the highest level of service to its customers.  Over the next several years the dairy installed new equipment, developed its own ice cream recipes and began manufacturing and serving its own delicious flavours of ice cream.

To be a teen again! We had moved to Canada in the fall, so dealing with my first experience with a Canadian winter was quite an ordeal. I recall listening to my cousins speak about how nice it is in the warmer months and how excited they were to take me to the “wave pool”. Before that time came around, I remember one weekend they mentioned that we were going to the beach. Beach? I did pretty good in “Canadian geography” in school so I knew I had to be either on the east or west coast to see a beach. Ontario is packed with lakes and little did I know, they meant lake when they said ‘beach”. I still remember my legs going numb as I entered the water at their “beach”. Cruel joke!

But what fun did we had at the wave pool… they had to promise me it wasn’t just another lake they were taking me the first time we went that year.

Located in Confederation Park, just off Centennial Parkway in Hamilton, Wild Waterworks offers a perfect place to spend a summer day. Ride the four tube slides Night Rider, Blue Demon and Vertigo and Sidewinder, new in 2008. Go solo or with a friend!

The fun continues with the heart-pounding twists of the Corkscrew and the Kamikaze – the park’s six-storey body slides, also revamped in 2008.

Move on and surf the waves in Canada’s largest outdoor wave pool. Over a million gallons of heated water splash down every minute.

Toddlers will love Little Squirt Works, a fun wading pool with computer-controlled sprays, mists and fountains.

Please note the following height restrictions on the waterslides:

Night Rider, Blue Demon, Vertigo and Sidewinder Tube Slides: 47 inches (119.38 centimeters) or successful completion of a swim test.

Body Slides (Kamikaze and Corkscrew): 42 inches (106.68 centimeters).

Where?

Wild Waterworks in located in Confederation Park, To get there, take the QEW to Hamilton and exit at Centennial Parkway (Highway 20).  Turn North towards Lake Ontario and follow the signs to Confederation Park.

Wild Waterworks Main Number 905-547-6141 or 1-800-555-8775, ext. 5007

Costs?

General (ages 11 to 64) $23.10
Children (10 and under)/Disabled $15.10
Senior $19.10
Children 3 and under FREE FREE

Sun Down Rates:

General (ages 11 to 64) $12.00
Children (10 and under)/Disabled $10.75
Senior $12.00
Children 3 and under FREE

A parking fee of $9.50 per car also applies.

*Sundown Rate , Based on hours of operation. Sundown rate starts at 4:00 p.m. when the park closes at 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the park closes at 6:00 p.m.

Tube and Lifejacket Rental

Tube per day (includes $2.00 refundable deposit): $10.00

Tube (sunset special after 4:00 pm): $7.25

Lifejacket per day (includes $5.00 refundable deposit): $7.00

Lockers

Per opening $1.00

Daily rental (includes $3.00 refundable deposit): $7.00

Locker opening if key is lost: $5.00

For more information on Wild Waterworks in Confederation park, Hamilton including hours of operation : Wild Waterworks Hamilton Hours Of Operation 2009. Make it a great summer!

Without any doubt, Spring is my favourite season of the year. After a long harsh winter, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday morning than grabbing a large double-double from Tim Hortons and heading to a garden center. Just so happens, that last weekend we were at Terra Greenhouses in Waterdown and I brought my camera along.

Terra is known for being a bit higher priced than the garden centers that pop-up every Spring at each corner, but the quality and selection of plants you get at Terra Greenhouses is way superior. Mind-you there’s just some things that I can’t justify paying for at Terra, so I take the window shopper approach.

Terra Greenhouse is your one-stop location for all you’ll ever need to make your outdoor living space just as comfortable as your family room.

Looking for ideas for that water feature you wanted to add to your outdoor living space?

How about some evergreens or shrubs to add a bit more personality to your yard?

Did someone say Tropicals? Without a doubt, Terra stocks the best selection of indoor tropical plants in Southern Ontario. This year they have a advertising campaign centered around these massive indoor lemon trees. Just wished I took a couple pics to share with you. However I did get a nice pic of a Bougainvillea.

Some info…

Hours:

Saturday – Wednesday 9am – 6pm

Thursday & Friday 9am – 8pm

Address:
#8 Fifth Concession E.
S.E. corner on Fifth Concession at Hwy #6
(3km north of Clappison’s Corners)
T: 905.689.1999
F: 905.689.1770

Departments at TERRA

Perennials
Pond Life
Lawn and Garden
Greenhouse
Gifts and Decor
Birding
Outdoor Living
Nursery
Annuals and Bedding Plants

More info… Daisy Club
Every dollar you spend is another Petal Point in your Daisy Club Member Account and is our way of thanking our loyal customers for their continued business. Use your Daisy Club Card every visit to collect points.

To Redeem your Petal Points, simply visit the Daisy Club Kiosks at any TERRA store. Print out your Daisy Dollars and present it to the cashier with your purchase. As a valued and loyal customer, our Daisy Club Members program let’s us thank you for your business.

As long as go with the knowledge that you will find that the prices are a bit higher that non specialty garden stores, you’ll love shopping or browsing at Terra Greenhouses.