Happy Easter

Seems like everyone is celebrating the 4 day long weekend. Easter seems to come way too early for me, I somehow expect warm weather, green grass, and fuzzy-wuzzy yellow chicks, RIGHT NOW. Not in 2 months.  Have lots of  memories of racing off to the seawall/ beach to go Kite flying, the vehicle loaded up with all my cousins and large containers of food. Reality here has been snow and ice, and mucky mess outside, and no sign of Mr. & Mrs. Robin.

I want to see Flowers, and green grass. How about you? 

Pansies are so cheerful 

We are now taking orders for Willow wreaths...all sold out at the moment. Call 475-3551 to put your name on a waiting list.

Cheer someone up this Easter with  some flowering Spring bulbs.

Can't wait until the Robin shenanigans...they build their nests in the most unsafe locations, then start clucking at you in annoyance because you need to use whatever it is that they have built their nest around. Of course there is that moment of sheer delight when you spot Robin babies in their nest. 

Come visit us at The Camellia -- we are Open Easter Saturday, April 4th.2015 from 11-5p. Sunday from 12-4p. phone (807)475-3551. 

www.thecamellia.com

Don't forget The Spring Home And Garden show is coming up next weekend - April 10, 11, 12th. 2015 at the CLE & Sportsdome. 

www.springhomeandgardenshow.wordpress.com

Flower Power at Canada Blooms 2015, Part 1

A visit to Canada Blooms is a must for winter-weary Canadians. Flowers always  make you feel better. This show is held  every year  at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto. Orchids have such showy blooms, and the flowers last for a long time. You can purchase Potted plants, fresh flowers, spring & summer bulbs, and a huge variety of products related to the Backyard & Gardening. A love of Orchids was instilled in me by my father, who collected rare orchids in the interior of Guyana, on his expeditions into the Rainforest. Of course, as a kid you don't pay too much attention to plants and flowers, except maybe to use the blooms in a pretend Tea party. 

Colour is so welcome after the dreary whites and greys, Even if you have killed every plant, you should try these Primulas. And they smell really nice. 

I was pleased to see Canadian seed companies, carrying native seeds. It makes sense to plant varieties that thrive in our Canadian climate. 

Tall planters filled with green foilage welcome you to Canada Blooms. Don't you just love the way the designers used ribbon streamers?

Tulips and Rhodos. So exciting to think that Gardening season is coming soon. I can't wait. How about you? What are you thinking about planting this Summer? 

Beautiful Hellbores. These plants like full to part shade.

Some of the spectacular Floral designs. 

You could buy Plumeria from Hawaii, this is usually a plant that grows in the Tropics, also known as Frangipangi. 

I choose a blue variety. On the way home, I sat next to someone who lives in Hawaii who was working at the show. She told me that the plants will not bloom unless they are outside and can get pollinated. And when you bring them in for the Winter, they have to be in high humidity, and a bit cool. I have potted my Plumeria stick, and nothing is happening so far.

That's all for now, we will continue visiting Canada Blooms in another post.

Visit The Camellia at the upcoming Spring Home & Garden show, taking place April 10,11,12 at the C.L.E. and  Sportsdome

www,springhomeandgardenshow.wordpress.com

The Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On

p.(807)475-3551

Hours at The Camellia, March Break week

It's March break and if you are wondering about our hours here at the Camellia, we are Open. 

Wed. 12-5, Thurs. 12-5, Fri. and Sat. 11-5. Sun. 12-5p .

Spring is just around the corner! Visit Canada Blooms in Toronto, on until March 22nd. at the Direct Energy Centre.

We are in love with this Kitchen, seen at the National Home Show 2015, in Toronto.

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Happy March break, stop by The Camellia! 30, Hacquoil Rd. p -(807)475-3551

Caribbean Beach style, Part 1, the Camellia, Thunder Bay

The Beach ..warm tropical breezes, sand crunching under your toes, sunshine, relaxation... 

The look this Spring is Beach ...water, blues, aquamarines, ivorys, sisal, jute, seashells, huge lanterns.

This was taken at Rick's Cafe, in Jamaica. 

The Palm tree more than anything symbolizes the Tropics. 

To achieve this look, you need lots of flowering planters, this is a bouganvillea vine. 

Caned furniture is a must, allowing ocean breezes to cool a person off. As seen at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach.

Colour is a must, perk up winter-weary rooms with punches of bold colour in cushions and accessories. 

Jamaican mangoes..... very sweet and juicy. 

Fresh fruit juices served at breakfast made from real fruit - at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Decorate with seashells - lots of them, these are mostly caught by fishermen out in the ocean. 

Sunrise in Montego Bay, in Jamaica 'mon.  

Come visit The Camellia, for Caribbean styled accessories, seashells, and other goodies. 

open Wed. 11-5, Thurs. 12-5, Fr. and Sat. 11-5, Sun. 12-5

During the week of March 9th - March 16th. hours are variable, call and listen to the recording

p-(807)475-3551

30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Thunder Bay, On. Canada.

This Valentine's Day....

Love yourself This Valentine's give yourself the Gift of_____________. View this email in your browser

Camellia's favourite "Gifts to Self" this Valentine's Day

How many of us beat up on ourselves? if only we could lose that 30 lbs., exercise more often,have a cleaner house, and so on. And Valentine's Day comes along, and if we haven't found our special someone, our self-worth is well, let's not go there. Treat yourself this Valentine's Day to a bouquet of Flowers that will last all Spring ( you can purchase this Vase design at Thunder Oak Cheese Farm). Take some time for youself, and soak in the tub. Luxuriate in a bar of Beekman's SPRING Goat Milk soap! Beekman's 1802 is in stock at The Camellia.  Smells like the green grass sprouting in the dirt, fresh and Springy. Take a drive and walk along Lake Superior,we just saw these neat ice formations last weekend along the shore. So go ahead, fill in the blank above, this Valentine's Day I will give myself the Gift of _______. ( More sleep, a night out, I will not work past 9pm, I will spend time with my kids, etc.)  This week,  we are open Thurs. 12-5, Fri. 11-5, Sat. 11-5. and Sunday 12-5p. Please note that we will be closed from Feb. 10-25th. 2015. If you need any supplies, please call or text 807-472-8193, or leave a message at 475-3551.  for fresh flower delivery, call Bloomers at 807-624-9005.   Visit our website for information athttp://www.thecamellia.com   Twitter Website Email Come Visit The Camellia. How do I get there?   We are 10 mins. from the Thunder Bay Airport, heading south on Hwy. 61. Turn left onto Hacquoil Rd. We are 1.6km. on the left.    Phone 807) 475-3551 OPEN:  Call and listen to the message. Shop online at http://www.thecamellia.com Visit our blog at http://www.fromnaturetohome.blogspot.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Camellia-From-Nature-to-Home/145600168837975 http://pinterest.com/thecamellia/boards/

Share Tweet Forward to Friend Copyright ©2015|* *|THE CAMELLIA|*, All rights reserved. *Why did I get this email? You have either signed up at our store, The Camellia, or at one of our Trade show booths. If you would like to be removed from our list, no worries! Simply click on the Unsubscribe button. Our mailing address is: *30 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, On . Slate River, Oliver Paipoonge, On. P7JOE2 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

So you going on a Holiday, a vacay.

The idea of a Winter Holiday sounds wonderful, especially when it's snowing and very, very cold, like minus whatever is at the very bottom of the thermometer. You don't even want to look at the guage.  

So you pore over catalogues, wondering why there are no more last-minute deals. Well, now you get rewarded for booking early, and there is some deal where if the price drops after you book, then you can get a refund. 

You finally decide on THE PLACE - the Caribbean.

You are determined to not be packing the night before you go on holiday. After all, you don't want to get there half dead, you want to be full of energy, yeah!

But before you go, you start to engage in insane behaviour. ( and I am not talking about you, I know you don't do any of these things)

• cleaning out the inside of your cupboards so your house sitter doesn't think that slobs, and dirty people live here
• you have been meaning to change your will so you drive yourself crazy with that , you never know your plane might fall out of the sky and you may perish in the ocean. Just so you know,  stats show you have  a greater chance of  being killed in your car. 
• you set yourself impossible goals - I want to get this done by the time we go on holiday
• you have to clear the desk at work and finish all undone projects
• you have to cancell the newspaper, arrange for someone to pick up the mail, get your hair cut, arrange for a dogsitter, omg, this list is getting longer by the minute
• you may even think, why did I think I could even take a holiday?

Onward to clothes - what to pack. you want to look glamourous, after all you'll be next to those perfect 10's, twenty-something year old bodies that never had any kids and are perfect. No time to shop? Just run to the fabric store, grab 1.5 m of some stretchy fabric, and make a sarong.

Click on the link to find out how to make a sarong. Buy some brightly coloured fabric, none of that black or brown nonsense. 

http://www.diy-enthusiasts.com/diy-fashion/ways-tie-sarong-dress-pareo-beach/

 You press on, visions of the beach dancing in your head.

BY SOME MIRACLE, you mange to get out the door, and so  you are finally  on holiday and it takes you 3 days to unwind because you drove yourself at 150% to get everything done, does any of this sound familiar?

STOP...relax..prioritize

It's ok if your house is not clean when you come back.

No-one is going to look in your cupboards. 

The house sitter just cares about where is the food, how to lock the doors, the security system, how to work the TV, and the all important WI-FI PASSWORD!!

 

Some DO's : 

• There have been some cases of Chikungunya virus  reported in the Caribbean, it is a mosquito borne illness, that attacks your joints. If you are out in the evening, do use a bug spray, wear long pants and long sleeved shirts . Most resorts fog on a regular basis, 
• if you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, and eating from a buffet, you will be serving yourself with the same spoons other people have used. A yoga teacher I met at one of the resorts said : don't use your hands to eat your food, e.g. use your fork to eat a bread roll. Use hand sanitizer before eating your meal.
• drink bottled water, most Caribbean islands have a desalination plant, and the water is probably safe. However, as one pharmacist said, your intestines get used to the bacteria in the water where you live, when your travel you are exposed to different bacteria, so you may end up an upset stomach. Who needs that on a holiday? Take some probiotics with you. 

         

 If you see an ant in the hotel, it doesn't mean the hotel is dirty. Expect to see an ant and small               lizards. 

 Beach in Cuba.

No work, no timetables, no meals to prepare, warm weather , sand and sun.

• Enjoy your Holiday! For help in decorating The Island Way, stop in at The Camellia or arrange for an in-home consultation. 

The  Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. p-(807)475-3551