SASKATOON — Clinton Shane Ekdahl tells SaskToday.ca that the Mann House, located on the corner of McKinnon and University Drive in Saskatoon has offered its fourth year of an informal tulip festival.
The flower patch’s blossoming beauty was showcased in every petal and it came from inspiration to create it from the residents’ love of gardening, flowers, pollinators and honey bees.
Ekdahl says, “Most tulips and daffodils have been in bloom for about a month due to the cooler weather. The idea is to get each bed to have flowers blooming at different times throughout the spring and summer, into fall.”
The creators of this perfect perennial garden thoroughly enjoy when people come to visit and these flowers can put a smile on their faces. The duo also enjoys the social aspect as like-minded visitors share their love of gardening when they visit.
“At times, our yard is also a balm for ailing mental health while lifting spirits,” adds Ekdahl. The Saskatoon location is a showcase of nature’s palette in full bloom and as the saying goes, ‘Where flowers bloom, so does hope.’
The floral garden and the beauty it offers has been shared mostly through word-of-mouth, as well as discovery from the location’s proximity to the University and University Hospital, in addition to Luther Tower nearby. Visitors are eager to share this positive place with others and Ekdahl said that has resulted in busloads of people stopping to view the flowers.
“We have had 12 buses come so far this spring,” exclaims Ekdahl.
The gardeners say they don’t formally track visitors’ numbers but guess by increased attendance year after year that there are thousands, and have understood some are from out of town or other provinces.
“We made our sidewalks extra wide so that people in wheelchairs can turn on a dime and not get stuck. Currently, we are getting an average of 157 people each day this past week, May 27-31 as I specifically have been counting every day,” adds Ekdahl.
The spectacular Saskatoon floral garden showcases up to 80 different varieties of tulips and daffodils but Ekdahl confirms that as every gardener knows, some do better than others and their team modifies their bulb orders each year, offering new varieties to view.
“Approximately, we have 24,500 tulips and daffodils, 2,000 lilies, 125-day lilies, 165 bee balm, 50 lupine, 25 balloon flower, 25 anemone, 175 hosts, 175 irises, 30 astilbes, 175 sedums, 20 peonies, 50 blue delphiniums, 100 dwarf alliums, 25 giant alliums, and 25 globe thistles. Also included are thousands of ornamental poppies and other self-seeding flowers, like California poppies, swamp milk weed, peony hollyhock, and poor man's orchid, “affirms Ekdahl.
“Both my partner and I maintain the place, which we had designated a Municipal Heritage Site in 2018 - now called the Mann House (Formerly the W. E. Walter House). We also had the site designated a "YXE Pollinator Paradise" and so we do not use chemicals of any kind and encourage growing Native plant species.”
The gardeners have appreciated all the smiles and thank you’ s received as people experience this gardening flory. They have also received numerous notes of thanks, cards and even little gifts in the mail.
“Highlights of this creation include the chance to experience and enjoy pollinators when Monarch and yellow swallowtail butterflies visit; or when the humming bird and the hummingbird Moth visit the Bee Balm and Honey suckle,” states Ekdahl.
There is a downside to such an open, public space as Ekdahl confirms they have been challenged by those that come with shovels and steal their plants that has resulted in the need to invest in motion activated security cameras to cover the entire yard to prevent theft.
“We look at it as stealing the joy from those that come just to appreciate the colours that nature provides.”
While there is no monetary collection to view this spectacular floral display, nor do the duo accept donations, they do sell seeds, plants, jewellery, fossils, wreaths, geodes, amber and smudging wands, that will conclude on June 1. Ekdahl says he will open a table again to sell bulbs and seeds in the fall.
Always wanting to grow their glorious garden, Ekdahl says they have one little strip of grass on the front boulevard that they will dig out to plant ornamental poppies.
“We advise people to visit often as the flowers are always changing. We encourage people to take pictures, but from the sidewalk only. It is unfortunate and unkind if people trample our flowers to get that one picture they want from the middle of the bed.”
Some of the captions shared on social media about this floral wonder included, “A flower garden is a poem you can see.” “It’s like walking through a living canvas of color and creativity and showcases nature’s artwork at its finest.”
There is still time to find solace in these floral wonders as you are captivated by the colors of nature.
You can read more details on this location on their Facebook page, The Mann House.
