HOURS OF OPERATIONS
Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am to 5:00pm
Thanksgiving Day (Oct 14th) – CLOSED
403-346-5613
Ice Sculptures
Come out and visit us mid-December to view our world famous ice sculptures. Each year our sculptor chooses a new theme and creates a winter wonderland right here at Parkland Garden Centre. And make sure to visit the gift shop for an amazing array of Christmas treasures, giftware, poinsettias and more.
AMAZING ICE SCULPTURES, FASCINATING CLASSES AND ART & CRAFTS MARKETS HIGHLIGHT THE SEASON
BY BRIAN MCLOUGHLIN
As published in the Red Deer Advocate’s Perfect CHRISTMAS insert, Nov.22, 2014.
For almost 25 years, the great people at Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre have been helping Red Deer and Central Alberta residents celebrate the Christmas season in style, with their phenomenal display of life sized ice sculptures created by world renowned ice sculptor Lee Ross of Calgary.
Ross has been carving in ice for over 30 years and in the past competed around the world in ice-carving competitions. He now spends most of his time on his business, Frozen Memories, which creates a vast array specialty ice sculptures. Ross has developed a special process for creating the clear ice he sculpts and he completes the majority of the work in his Calgary studio, finishing each individual creation at the Garden Centre at Red Deer. Each year, the sculptures can include up to one hundred 270 pound blocks of ice and can be over 10 feet tall. Further information on Lee’s work can be found at www.icesculpture.ca.
“We like to think of the ice sculptures as our Christmas card to the community”, says Gloria Beck of Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre. “We develop a new theme every year with Lee and we think this year’s design will be one of our best ever. We’re also delighted to be seeing parents who came to the displays as youngsters bringing their own children to see them now”, she adds.
With Ross’s specially prepared ice, the sculptures can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to two months, depending on weather conditions. Beck recommends that anyone interested in the sculptures come by to see them as soon as possible after they’re installed. The best time for viewing the sculptures is at night when they are lit up with an array of different colored lights. The sculptures will be free to visit and Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre will be accepting donations to the food bank.
While the ice statues are a major highlight of Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre’s Christmas season, they are not the only feature planned. Parkland’s well known Christmas Craft Sales begin in the greenhouse at 10:00am on Saturday, November 15th and continue every Saturday until December 13th. The sales will feature 40 to 50 local vendors and will be a great opportunity to pick up a special present for that special person. While you’re there be sure to check out the excellent selection at Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre’s gift shop too.
Parkland Garden Centre will also be offering a series of Christmas craft workshops that will feature everything from wreath and table arrangement design to creating a Christmas Fairy Garden. These workshops will run from late November until the week before Christmas and further information is available at www.parklandgarden.ca or by calling 403-346-5613.
If it’s a Christmas tree you’re looking for, the Garden Centre has a great selection of prime Balsam and Fraser fir, with some up to 12 feet tall. Check out the Garden Centre too for a great selection of wreaths and decorations to make your Christmas sparkle. Located 3 minutes east of 30 Avenue on Hwy.11, Parkland Garden Centre is your source for Christmas!
Everyone at of Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre would like to wish all their customers and friends a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2015.
