In response to the White Rock fire disaster, Art’s Nursery is shifting its focus from Blooms & Bling to host Flowers, Friends & Family, a fundraising event to help the victims of Sunday’s massive fire at White Rock’s Five Corners.
Vanilla Clothing, which co-hosts the event each year with Art’s Nursery, was among the businesses lost in the fire, which destroyed a building under construction and spread to a nearby complex housing more than 60 residential units, as well as several stores on its ground floor.
Art’s Nursery & Garden Centre will open its doors to the public on May 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to host an evening of food and wine with an opportunity to shop in the garden with Art’s resident horticulturist experts as your guides.
In addition to accepting donations of clothing to help residents who lost their homes to the fire, 20 per cent of all sales at the event on May 18 will be donated to help the victims.
Local horticulturalist, blogger and radio host Shelley Levis, of Sow & Dipity, and Chef, John D Walls, will demonstrate garden to table recipes and show you how to do it yourself.
Items may be dropped off at Art’s Nursery & Garden Centre any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“Our hearts go out to our Blooms & Bling event partner and friend Deanna Corea from Vanilla Clothing and to all those that lost their homes and businesses today,” said the staff of Art’s Nursery in a statement.
Blooms & Bling ticket holders are asked to contact Art’s Nursery to receive a full refund or to donate the cost of the ticket to the White Rock Fire relief.
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It’s where haute couture meets horticulture.
Whether you’re a fan of fashion or forsythia; clothing or clematis, the annual Blooms & Bling Spring Fashion Event is the place to be, when it returns to Art’s Nursery on Wednesday, May 18.
The annual fundraiser combines a high-end fashion show with gardening and cooking advice, live entertainment, cocktails and appetizers in a pleasant, plant-filled setting.
“The nursery looks absolutely fantastic,” said Art’s Nursery owner and event organizer, Rebecca van der Zalm.
During Blooms and Bling, the nursery will be open for guests to wander through at their leisure — minus the usual crowds.
In the past, the event has drawn between 100 and 150 people. However, van der Zalm expects it will be “more intimate, more exclusive” this year.
“It’s a nice, casual event — quite fun,” she said.
Spring sprang up rather quickly, this year, said van der Zalm. As a result, event planners didn’t have the chance to form a partnership with a local charity, as they have done in the past.
Instead, proceeds from this year’s fundraiser will be donated to victims of the Fort McMurray fire.
Guest speakers — Langley horticulturalist, blogger and radio host Shelley Levis, of Sow & Dipity, and White Rock chef, John D Walls — will offer garden-to-table demonstrations — lessons for preparing the food we grow.
Fashions will be provided by White Rock’s Vanilla Clothing, who are once again co-hosting the event.
Tickets for Blooms and Bling are $30. They’re available here or by calling Art’s Nursery at 604-882-1201.
The event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on May 18 in the nursery, located at 8940 192 St.
