by susan on November 7, 2011
Hello and welcome to my blog on gardening tips! I shall try to inspire you in some small way, perhaps, or at least give you some new ideas for your garden design, as well as, plant tips that I hope will help you beautify your own gardens. I am passionate about anything to do with plants, garden spaces and design and I hope that by using my own garden images I can illustrate my points. As the season goes on, I will be putting up whatever is happening in my gardens that might be of interest.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
by susan on February 15, 2012
Well, certainly here on the West Coast winter fragrance is a given! And these two plants, below, offer fragrance just when we need it most! Both of these plants have been blooming in my own gardens for about 3 or 4 weeks now, and as soon as a bit of sun appears, the fragrance wafts across the gardens.
At my front door I have Sarcoccocca ruscifolia (Sweet Box is the common name) and in the back yard my Hamamelis X intermedia ‘Jelena’ is planted in front of a hedge of Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’ where its winter flowers show up so well. It has turned into a small tree and is certainly a great favourite! (See above.)
Here is my Sarcoccocca ruscifolia under the front windows, right by the front door, where its fragrance can be appreciated every time we go in or out! Although the flowers are very small, they have a wonderful fragrance.
by susan on February 8, 2012
Well, for those of us who live here, on the West Coast, the weather has taken an unexpectedly mild turn. This is good news, as long as it stays mild and we do not get a sudden hit of cold, nasty frost! However, I think that I am going to take the positive approach and expect good weather. Yesterday I did a clean-up in the front gardens by raking out the last of the fallen leaves and I discovered that so many of my Hellebores are really budding up. Below are some of those shots. These two Hellebores are in what I call the ‘Blue Garden’. This garden has been almost completely renovated this past year. As well as moving most of the plants around to better accomodate the large Fir, I added a number of large stepping stones throughout the garden. This is necessary in a garden of this size as it is otherwise almost impossible to groom and care for all the plants that are there. It is also a very good way to see all of the plants up close, especially when they are blooming!
Below, you will see the ‘Blue Garden’ which has a lot of Junipers and Blue Spruce, as well as other very ’blue’ plants such as the Euphorbia myrsinites ‘Donkey’s Tail’ which is trailing over the garden edge.
Here are other views of the ‘Blue Garden’ as it is to-day.
Notice the stone ‘steps’ that permit grooming of the plants.
by susan on January 12, 2012
Several of my clients have asked me for lists of my “best” plants and so, I have put together a soft-cover book, ” …the Best Trees, Shrubs and Perennials”, for zones 5 to 8. For more information scroll down to the right bottom ad.
by susan on December 22, 2011
Yes, why not have fragrance near your front entry! It is one of my favourite gardening tips and I do have fragrance at my own front door, even in December….The plant that I am referring to is Mahonia X media ‘Charity’. Mine, as seen below, is just about to open, as we have had a very mild autumn, up to this point, (December 22 2011). It really does have a most beautiful fragrance and certainly is a treat at this time of year as its flowers are such a bright yellow-green. Another great feature of this plant is that it is evergreen and will provide needed structure in a shady location. Most people would not usually think about gardening tips for December, but we are a bit spoiled, here on the West Coast of Canada, as our winters are not all that harsh.
Next post’s gardening tips will be about other plants that provide interest in the winter and some even have fragrance, as well.
The fragrant Mahonia X media ‘Charity’
by susan on December 9, 2011
These planters, below, show how using live plants can add colour and interest during the coming winter months. In the first two, I have used Skimmias and Bergenias. The Skimmia buds will stay looking great, well into the early Spring. For colour, there is the dark red of the Leucothoe leaves, and they also add some height to the whole design. The wide, green leaves of the Bergenia have begun to turn a deep burgundy, on their edges. Sometimes, if the weather is just right, these leaves can become almost entirely red! Beautiful!!
Note the unusual white-coloured buds draping over the edge of the planter. These are Eucalyptus buds. They certainly add an interesting twist.
by susan on November 24, 2011
My white Enkianthus was in great form this Autumn. It has only bloomed twice for me in about six years, but this autumn it was especially lovely. Look closely and you will see the woodland ‘spirit’, quietly watching.
by susan on November 7, 2011
This beautiful Barberry has turned this amazing orange/red in November. It is one of the most brightly coloured plants for the late Autumn or early winter. It is complimented by the evergreen Bergenia which also turns colour. Some years, depending on the severity of the weather, the edges change to a bright wine or even red. Some leaves turn completely red!
by susan on October 20, 2011
Well, where has the summer gone? However, here on the West Coast, it is really still very beautiful in the gardens. My Tuberous Begonias are still doing so well! I must admit that I am putting up my large umbrella overnight to help keep the morning dew from soaking them. If they become wet, as well as cold, that will be IT for sure! But, as this photo shows, they are keeping up appearances, quite nicely.
Last week, while carefully walking through what we call the “Woodland Garden”, I was so very pleased to see one of my rare Arisaemas poking up out of the woodland floor. It is one of the variegated-leaf types and it is getting bigger each year. This is its third year in my garden. It is one of those plants that can be stepped on so easily as it begins to emerge, hence my “careful” walking through this part of the gardens. Most of my Arisaemas do not have these unusual, variegated leaves, and, of course, the centre of this plant, is also most unusual, being pure white with almost black surroundings, is particularly striking. When we were kids, we called this plant ‘Jack in the Pulpit’ and it is easy to see why when you look at the photo below.
These plants have proved themselves to be excellent performers. With over 40 pages of text and photos, as well as botanical names given, this source book serves as an excellent guide for any garden renovation.