The Cannor Nursery offers retail hort therapy

Credit: Carol Pope

Abbotsford’s garden nursery offers up plenty of pleasant surprises

For me, retail malls are daunting work and no fun at all – I even admit to mail-ordering most of my clothes so I don’t have to face a strip of storefronts on a precious day off – but there are two shopping stops I consider to be a bit of a mini-break: garden nurseries and quirky secondhand bookstores stuffed to the rafters with musty volumes.

Upbeat accessories for the garden.

This year I am making a point of touring more nurseries as I bump around B.C. and I am seldom disappointed. On a recent wintery day I was elated to feel like I was stepping right into springtime when I checked out Cannor Nursery’s Abbotsford location. I loved manager Debbie Ego’s enthusiasm and philosophy: “I am a huge organics person!” Plus, she is totally committed to “supporting neighbours” by stocking local products.

Manager Debbie Ego’s enthusiasm for her work shone through.

On a grey day, it was nice to take a walk through primulas and glowingly-yellow mahonia, then sit back inside the tropical greenhouse for some fair-trade organic coffee and a basil-vegetable panini.

A quick stop for lunch at Tamaringo’s Cafe inside the Abbotsford Cannor Nursery. Eat right inside the greenhouse!