Ed Lawrence invades Verona...

At the beginning of April, I had the opportunity to

attend a speaking event

featuring Ed Lawrence.

I have to admit, I have never caught Ed's radio show on CBC.

I was worried it would be all talk about flowers.

Boy was I wrong!

This man was very humble and approachable.

A gardener with a liberal dose of puns.

As his front flap bio goes, Ed just retired from his position of the last 30 years.

He was the Chief Horticultural Specialist to the Canadian Political world.

I bought his book and he was kind enough to sign it for me.

It was 2pm on a Saturday.

All of the winter-worn gardeners gathered at the Trinity United Church in Verona.

Everyone just giddy to be talking about planting.

 

Ed gave a rousing talk about his favorite and, 

as he puts it, a very misunderstood and mishandled tool, 

the hand trimmer.

After his 20 mins, he took questions submitted before the talk

and took over and hour to patiently answer every

single one of them.

From reviving house plants and flowers outside in the garden,

to vegetables and trees, to getting rid of pests like deer and voles.

This guy seemed to know everything!

He had along a friend too.

(But he wasn't nearly as informative)

Ed gave words of wisdom on such a variety of topics.

I understand it played out much like his radio show.

People phoned in with a random question, generally around a topic of the day.

Today we just wanted to talk about anything but snow.

Afterwards there was a immense amount of delectable sweets and confections.

Tickets were $15 and well worth it. 

The whole event was put on as a fundraiser for the Grandmothers by the Lake.

If you want to know more about what this amazing organization does...click here.

Basically, the grandmothers are raising their grandchildren in Africa.

A whole generation is being lost due to HIV and AIDS.

The women of those countries cannot own land, work or get health care benefits.

The grandmothers here and all over Canada, through the Stephen Lewis Foundation,

are constantly fundraising to help these courageous women. 

My seedlings are popping up at home...and the positive gardening vibes continue...