Toronto Flower Show, Rhodos and the Japanese

How interesting that today's postcard is dated February 23rd, 1972 - which was only a week ago (today is March 2). This seems to be one of those postcards that used as note-cards or greeting cards. You know, you go somewhere local and you pick up a postcard or two and send them. In this case, Irene is sending a card from Islington (Toronto) to another Irene who has been sick. Here's what it says:
"Dear Irene, Gordon and I are just home after visiting the "Garden Show" at O'Keefe's. It was worth seeing and the Centre was crowded with people. We had lunch there and enjoyed it. I hope you are feeling well again. Take good care of yourself. I hope that Ena is better too. Love Irene"

This year, 2012, the Toronto Sun reported that "Canada's largest flower and garden fest, Canada Blooms, will run side-by-side for the first time with the National Home Show. It's coming March 16 to 25 at the Direct Energy Centre (100 Princes Blvd.) at Toronto's Exhibition Place. There are now six acres of stunning creative gardens in a dazzling display of colour, texture and fragrance, along with free lectures and demonstrations."

Coincidentally, the Rhododendron Society of Canada was begun in 1972, and the newly formed Society was given donated space at the Spring Flower and Garden Show that Irene attended. There, at a space at the entrance to the lounge on the lower level, azaleas and rhododendrons bloomed for the thousands of visitors. As reported in the the new Society's first Bulletin,
"The most consistent reaction however was "Aren't they gorgeous - but of course they can't be grown outdoors can they"?! (Members please note - spread the word that rhodos can be grown in cold climates!)
These days you can see an Ikebana display at the Flower Show. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging. Interestingly, the current President of the Toronto Chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana says that she immigrated to Toronto in 1972, after being taught by a Master teacher at a temple in her second year of mid-school in Japan. She now teaches ikebana 2 days a week in fall and spring, and is doing displays and demonstration in Japanese and Canadian Communities in Toronto.

Rhododendrons, by the way, were "discovered" by the 16th century Flemish botanist Charles l'Ecluse. The Japanese were raising hybrids of  two species of rhodos in the 17th century. The Japanese book "A Brocade Pillow" which was published in 1692 carefully describes and classifies the color patterns of these plants which are called Satsuki Azaleas today.  You can buy an illustrated copy of "A Brocade Pillow" by Ihei Ito on-line from Amazon.