Mr. Peter Cantley reports

PRESIDENT'S CHOICE LAWN & GARDEN INSIDER'S REPORT OFFERS GROUNDBREAKING GARDEN DISCOVERIES FOR 2011!

Just in time for planting season, Loblaw Companies Ltd.'s 2011 President's Choice Lawn & Garden Insider's Report is in stores tomorrow. Available from mid-May until the end of August, Loblaw's banner store garden centres across the country offer all of your go-to garden favourites, plus an exciting range of new must-try North American and Canadian exclusives like the trendy variegated pink-petalled President's Choice dahlia, Dahlinova Hypnotica, and cherish pink and exquisitely coloured new PC supergigantico Red Fox Dragone Sunset begonia.

"Whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, our garden experts are always looking for new and innovative ways to get our customers excited about gardening," says Peter Cantley, vice-president, floral and garden, Loblaw Companies. "This year, we've dug up the hottest trends and brought unbelievable new and exclusive products to our garden centres. They're sure to bring excitement and colourful flare to Canadian gardens."

100-per-cent Canadian grown

Each year, Loblaw partners with more than 25 Canadian growers for its garden centres and has worked with some for over two generations. "Loblaw values the expertise of our growers, and when our garden experts travel the world for emerging trends, some of our Canadian growers travel with us," says Mr. Cantley, vice-president, floral and garden, Loblaw Companies. "In many cases, these growers act as advisers to Loblaw regarding selection of products that will suit both the Canadian climate and customer preferences."

Forest Glen Greenhouses, a central Nova Scotia-based grower, has been partners with Loblaw for more than 25 years, supplying its very first crop from its modest greenhouse facility to a local SaveEasy store in 1985. Today, it continues to grow exclusively for the Atlantic Superstore chain from its beautiful five-acre complex and oversees President's Choice specialty products sold to 54-plus Atlantic Superstore locations in the three Maritime provinces.

"We are extremely proud to be associated with Loblaw as growers of their incredibly high-quality plants, and we have grown so much as a business through our relationship," says Judy Thompson, president, Forest Glen Greenhouses. "Since we are constantly striving to learn more and be better at what we do, we have wholeheartedly followed the example set forth by Loblaw in terms of their commitment to the environment. We are proud to say that, since our participation as a President's Choice specialty grower, we have expanded and invested in technology to become more efficient and environmentally friendly. We also participate in the pot recycling program and have reduced our carbon emissions by using alternative heating fuels."

North American exclusive

Be one of the lucky few on the continent to enjoy this dazzling new PC supergigantico Red Fox Dragone Sunset begonia. When this beauty was revealed for the first time, Mr. Cantley and his team took one look and had to have it. Having a North American exclusive makes it even more spectacular. With big dreamy blooms and the hues of creamy yellow and pink, it glows like a romantic sunset.

Black magic

Last year, horticulturists grew the world's first-ever black petunia, and Loblaw garden experts were captivated by its beauty. This year, they are excited to introduce the Farmer's Market Black Velvet petunia. Gardeners have been waiting for black blooms forever because the colour combinations are endless. Lush and velvety, this is a vigorous plant that will add instant drama to your garden. And of course, black goes with everything.

Pump up the patio

In Florida, Loblaw garden experts discovered tropical plants pruned into designer shapes they have never seen before like the exotic two-ball hibiscus that blooms with tropical colour all season. Also part of the tropical mix is the Ixora Maui bush, a lush evergreen with deep red or yellow tropical flowers, and the exotic Hawaiian-style Columnar hibiscus that is meticulously groomed to grow tall and narrow. All exclusive to Loblaw in Canada, these beauties cannot be grown in Canada due to their tropical nature; however, they have been acclimatized here in Canada. Perfect for condo or apartment dwellers, they will add life and colour to balconies without taking up a lot of space. When the cold weather comes, these plants can transition indoors to brighten a room all year long.

Garden fresh salad -- literally

Home growing is all the rage right now and the new PC Simply Salad Bowl will surely be a hit. Great for decks, balconies and porches, just snip the greens to create fresh salads. They will grow back again and again. Choose from three mixes: Global Gourmet, Alfresco Mix and City Garden.

Patio-ready veggies

PC already offers great tomato and pepper plants but now they can be grown more conveniently by adding a vegetable cage. PC Patio Planters with Cage make gardening easy and ensure vegetables grow upward. The cage is attached to the pot so it will not fall out and acts as a handle for easy transport. That is good thinking and good value.

Bright idea

Exclusive in Canada, the new PC Solar Illuminated Planters are sleek and stylish, and trendy in Europe right now. Use them to bring instant ambience to your garden, to illuminate walkways for nighttime visibility or to hold and chill beverages. Best of all, they are solar powered so they need no other power source, and they turn on automatically at dusk. Loblaw garden centres also carry a beautiful range of planters to suit any space or taste; choose from traditional, classic or contemporary silhouettes, in a variety of looks, from sandstone to wood and more.

Recycling

Loblaw is about more than just making backyards beautiful; it wants to make the whole planet more beautiful. In 2008, as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Loblaw launched Canada's first and only national recycling program for gardeners. Exclusive to Loblaw banner stores, gardeners across the country can drop off their used plastic pots and flats which are not accepted by the Blue Box program. These plastic products are recycled to create new pots for next season. The program has already recycled more than two million pounds of plastics and every pot counts. To learn more, visit the company website.

Learn more

Canadian gardeners can find expert assistance at Loblaw garden centres and helpful tips from the Loblaw master gardener on Facebook, just search for President's Choice.

President's Choice products are available at Atlantic Superstore, SaveEasy, Freshmart, nofrills and more. Product pricing and availability may vary by banner and region.