Style & Decor Blog

Yes, you read it right. The doyenne of dreamy domesticity is heading north of the border for a very brief stint at Canada Blooms - Canada’s largest flower & garden expo.

Miss Martha’s gracing the Grey Power Stage at the Direct Energy Centre from 2:00 - 2:30PM on Saturday, March 20, where she’ll be giving a demo on gardening, planting projects, and ideas for arranging inspiring outdoor spaces.

Get your tickets for Canada Blooms here!

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Tracy and I didn’t intentionally coordinate outfits on today’s CityLine. I swear!

Image courtesy CityLine

On today’s broadcast, I showed host Tracy Moore how to craft no-fuss flower arrangements with a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up here at Style at Home - watch the clip by clicking here!

Everyone in the audience was asking me about the gorgeous green tulipiere at the top of the segment. It’s the Aorta flower arranger from Abbott - one of the most chic wholesalers in the country - and retails for about $15 (what a STEAL!). To find a retailer close to you (Abbott supplies some of the best home & gift stores across Canada), just give them a ring at 1-800-263-2955. I loved this tulipiere so much, you’ll be seeing more of it in the May issue of Style at Home, on newsstands the first week of April!

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Forsythia, tulips and pussy willows… It must be spring!

I’ll be turning these simple stems into stunning “Instant Arrangements” on the next Style at Home Day on Citytv’s Cityline. Tune in at 9AM EST on Tuesday, March 9!!!

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Spring is in full bloom at the flower shops at Avenue Rd. and Davenport…

I bought these tulips this afternoon, re-cut the stems and am now actually watching them unfurl before my eyes as they soak… Magical.

As longtime Style Sleuth readers are aware, toxic houseplant awareness is a cause near and dear to my heart. Last summer, my precocious little kitty (Buddy) nibbled the tips of an aloe plant while staying with his unknowing sitter, and almost died as a result. It was a real wake-up call to the potential dangers of mixing pets with houseplants. Thanks to the efforts of his wonderful vet, he made it through and has bounced back to his cuddly, ever-curious self.

But with lily season just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to reiterate how dangerous certain greens in and around the house can be (as I mention in the March 2010 issue of Style at Home). To get the inside scoop, I called up Dr. Erica Gehring, a veterinarian at Marineland in Niagara Falls who also serves as a small animal vet. Seeing as how we hear all about lilies (and poinsettias, come to that), I asked Dr. Erica about plants that don’t play well with our four-legged friends.

“Interestingly,” Erica says, “The poinsettia is only a mildly toxic plant, despite its reputation. There are other plants that are much more toxic, and have a higher potential to cause death, depending on dosage.”

Topping Erica’s list of pet-unfriendly plants?

* Rhododendrons

* Azaleas

* Oleander

* Lily of the Valley

* Foxglove

* Milkweed varieties

* Castor beans

* Cycad plants

…and of course…

* Lilies (”in cats specifically,” Erica says)

Please keep this list in mind before bringing these greens home and when planning your garden this spring!

I got the prettiest floral arrangement delivered to me the other day from Earthwork – one of Toronto’s premiere floral design studios – and had to share it with you.

What a refreshing take on a festive floral arrangement! Pairing chocolate brown cymbidium orchids with cedar sprigs is so deliciously irreverent, and doesn’t hit you over the head with its seasonal vibe. The question is, can I keep it alive until the holidays?

No need to wrap these great giftables! Glammed-up in gorgeous etched green glass, Windsor Forest is the latest addition to Crabtree & Evelyn’s Festive Home Fragrance Collection. Inspired by the evergreens at Royal Windsor Great Park, bordering Windsor Castle, this set of three fragranced candles blends the fresh scent of Fraser fir, balsam and spruce - with a touch of English holly. At only $40, and with a burn time of 25 hours each, this is the perfect prezzie for the Anglophile in your life!

And speaking of British flavour… I’m loving C&E’s holiday hamper! A too-cute wicker basket that’s dying to be repurposed for picnics in the park, loaded with scrummy quintessentially English nibbles.

The artistes at Teatro Verde provided the floral arrangements for Crabtree & Evelyn’s holiday preview, where I took these snaps. They do such a fantastic job of putting fresh new spins on old holiday favourites. The arrangement on the cocktail table below is absolutely stunning…

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Catch the clip of my latest CityLine gig here!

I always feel bad for the carnation… It’s easily the most detested cut flower on the market, and it’s such a shame seeing as how they’re so inexpensive and so hardy. This particular arrangement can last about two weeks with proper care.

I was seriously impressed with Tracy’s floral arranging skills… I think she has a secret calling in the floral design field!

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Catch CityLine today to see me teach host Tracy Moore how to make a quick and inexpensive floral arrangement!