I want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding this week with the sporadic shop hours.

Joan Zaruk

my mom

On February 21, 2012, Joan died peacefully in St. Catharines in her 84th year. Predeceased in 1983 by her husband, soulmate and favourite dancing partner, Peter. She was very proud of her five children: Carolyn Thomas in Victoria, Catherine O'Neill in Kelowna, Beverly and her husband Gary Smith in Mt. Hope, Brian and his wife Donna in Grimsby, and David and his wife Mitzi in Brussels, Belgium. Joan was "Baba" to 11 loving grandchildren: Ben and Larissa Thomas, Conor, Liam and Hailey O'Neill, Matthew, Allison and Daniel Zaruk, and Celine, Clarissa and Jordan Zaruk. She is survived by her sisters Jean, Mary and her brother Tony.

She was "Joanie" to her many friends, especially during the years devoted to volunteering in the St. John's Ukrainian Church kitchen. She inherited her fierce work ethic from immigrant parents on the Manitoba farm where she was born and spent her lifetime practicing it, at the Red & White grocery store she and Peter ran on

York Street

in St. Catharines, and on their 40-acre Midway Farm in Jordan Station.

Somewhere in heaven today is the aroma of her famous home baked chelsea buns and an apple pie or two, there is a jigsaw puzzle on the go, and the sounds of polka music as she finally gets to once again dance with her beloved Peter.

Joan's family will receive friends at the George Darte Funeral Chapel, 585 Carlton St. on Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Panachyda will be held in the funeral home chapel Friday evening at 8 p.m. Funeral Liturgy will be held in St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church, 91 Lakeshore Rd. on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. Rite of Committal to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.

life after february 14

This week, it is all about plants. No, really... check the blackboard.

ivy and snake plants



primroses basking in the window



succulents with new containers

cyprus trees the right size for your table

the flowers this week

Yes, it is February - traditionally the month for only one flower, in only one colour.

We can do better than that!

Here are just a few of the freshest arrivals - and there are gerbera daisies and delicately fragrant freesia, ranunculas and always the most interesting leaves, grasses and greens.



beautiful blue iris

 

agapanthus





 

everyone's favourite: craspedia

sea holly / thistle

 

bright green button mums - they look great with the thistle







anemone



fresh cut amaryllis







 

long vase-life ornithogalum



classic white spider mums



And there will always be roses in the shop - white, red and whatever seems irresistable...  



fragrant deep pink roses









and if you must have roses - why not these cream and blush bi-colour roses?

Simply beautiful.