For 25 years, Brenda and Blaine Johnson have poured their hearts and souls into Westway Gardens, creating a seasonal haven for gardeners in Bittern Lake, just outside Camrose, Alberta.
Starting in early February for more than two decades, they’ve risen before dawn - often trekking through snow and ice - to begin the busy process of growing more than 500 varieties of bedding plants, flowers and veggie starts. Everything is carefully nurtured from seed or cutting in their five greenhouses, all in time for a late-April debut.
“Supporting your local growers is so important. It’s not like a truck pulls up every Friday with more plants. Everything we sell is grown right here in our greenhouses. It’s a labour of love - but it’s still a lot of labour!” Brenda says. “Growing our plants from seed and cutting brings plenty of rewards, but it also means keeping a tight schedule to ensure everything is ready when the weather finally warms up. With our short growing season here in Central Alberta, we have to make the most of every warm day.”
Starting plants in their own greenhouses allows the Johnsons to control quality and ensure each one is strong, healthy and well-acclimatized to the region’s unique climate. In addition to a wide variety of flowers and vegetables ready for planting, they also handcraft more than 700 hanging baskets each year - bringing an instant pop of colour to patios, porches and gardens across the area.
“Creating the hanging baskets is one of my favourite parts of the job,” Brenda says. “We have everything from standard plastic planters to the coveted moss baskets that make a real statement on the patio. Each one is handmade with care - and we also offer hanging baskets with strawberries, cucumbers, and tomatoes, which are always a hit.”
For those looking to add an easy splash of colour to their garden or containers, Brenda recommends a seasonal favourite that’s currently on sale.
“Our zinnias are marked down from $5.95 to $4 throughout May,” she says. “They’re a favourite for good reason - with bold, long-lasting colour and an easygoing nature, they’re a hardy little annual that thrives in both the ground and planters.”
Visit Westway Gardens in Bittern Lake - just a 10-minute drive west of Camrose or 15 minutes east of Wetaskiwin on Highway 13. For more information, visit westwaygardens.com and follow along on Facebook for seasonal updates.
