CBC Newsworld (after)

I made my appearance on CBC Newsworld this morning at exactly 11:37am EST. Television news runs like an efficient machine. The first order of business was makeup where I was fake tanned with a hefty dose of bronze powder. We then ran to the set where my props were waiting all neatly displayed on a table. I was hooked up to a mic and ear bud by the camera guy. Then someone was talking into my ear asking me to count to ten. Thankfully I knew how.

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The process was a little disconnected as the host and I were not sharing the same space. Instead I was on a set affectionately referred to as “The CBC Garden”, an island holding two chairs and backed by a row of pothos plants. My job was to sit still (except when displaying the containers) and talk into the camera but boy am I a visual talker. I just can’t seem to help turning my eyes north while pondering my next words, and I just can’t not use my hands to talk. Sitting perfectly still feels too robotic!

Anyway it was fun and the whole thing was over in a matter of minutes. Thanks to Nazima who allowed me to peer into the newsroom during a commercial break and to the hosts Suhanna Meharchand and Andrew Nichols who indulged my sentimental need to document all aspects of the book stuff by allowing me in the room to pose for this photo:

This photo was taken by the camera woman. You can really see the fake tan powder next to my own skin in this shot. Yikes.

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CBC NewsWorld Appearance

I’m scheduled to appear on CBC NewsWorld this Sunday, May 15th at approximately 11:30am EST. I’ll be talking about the book and gardening in containers.

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Toronto Events This Week

It has been a busy week. On Wed I gave a container gardening workshop at GrassRoots. The turnout was great and I had a good time!

On Friday I went out shopping for plants with Daphne Gordon of the Toronto Star. We went over to Fiesta Farms on Christie and wandered around the plants talking about plants, containers, and tools for container gardeners. It was my first visit to a garden centre this season! I planned to get a few herbs since they were only 5 for 10 bucks but it the weather was so cold and miserable I decided against it. You should check it out if you’re a car-less downtownie like me ’cause they have some slightly less usual herbs this year including lemon grass, lemon verbena, orange mint and bay laurel.

Later in the afternoon we met up with a photographer and shot a bunch of photos of me. Sadly the sun had gone down, the wind picked up, it was bitterly cold and to make matters worse it started to rain at times bringing the fun level down a notch. The piece should be out in the LIFE section of the Star next Saturday May 24th.

Here’s a picture I shot of the Fritillaria imperalis growing in the Fiesta Farms garden while the sun was still bright.

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Toronto Container Gardening Workshop

I’m giving an urban container gardening workshop this week at GrassRoots on the Danforth.

Urban Gardening: No Backyard Required
When: Wednesday, May 11th 2005. 7:30-9:00
Where: Grassroots 372 Danforth Ave (at Chester subway)
$10 (5$ students/seniors/unwaged)
PRE-REGISTRATION is necessary!
To register please call 416-944-1993 or visit either Grassroots location

Details: Your patio, balcony, or fire-escape is a potential garden waiting to happen. In this workshop Gayla will guide you through the ins and outs of growing lush flowers, herbs, and tasty organic vegetables in containers. Learn thrifty techniques, how to deal with problem areas, and find out about plants suited to container growing.

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Venus Magazine, Spring 2005

- From: VENUS Magazine Spring 2005

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-page 75

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