Christmas Day Massacre

Tomas destruction Oct 30 2010 Hot Pools

Planted new Dec 23 2010
Christmas Day mess


Tomas aftermath October 30 2010 Waterfall area
Fern Delivery from collecting on roadside
Native Tree Ferns and Banana Planted Dec 20 2010

Christmas Day aftermath




All planted and starting to grow. New paths rebuilt , garden beds amended . UNTIL yesterday (Dec 24th) afternoons rains made the waterfall and stream a raging torrent not unlike the hurricane of Oct 30th. All the new plantings and beds/paths were ground up and spit out down stream. So disheartening. With all other garden staff off on holiday , Bruce , the manager and myself assessed the damage christmas morning. We closed washed out paths , cleaned off walkways and hotspring pools for todays visitors to the gardens. One of the new garden beds actually sank 3 feet from being eroded underneath by storm waters. I had to remove all the plant material carefully in this unstable situation. A busy morning, now time to have lunch and relax for the day,,,,,a busy week ahead..............The new plan is to build a wall along the stream edge from the waterfall down the length of the garden. This will hopefully keep storm surges in the river and not overflowing into the garden.

The Tale of Tomas

A SERIES OF BEFORE DURING AND AFTER.....this is of Diamond Waterfall A major tourist attraction on the island of St Lucia and the star of the show in the Botanical Garden.....As you see its taken a beating with the October 30 2010 hurricane. More pics to follow.....Ive just heard that we have more damage in this area after last nights rains.......

Tropical Treats

Calliandra haematocephala

A tropical reminder outside my door of the Albizia I used to grow in my Toronto garden. It is a buzz of birds all day especially hummingbirds.

A Return Engagement

I have returned to St Lucia this week, after leaving toronto on a cold -13C morning. 5 hours later transported to 30C. The heat and humidity are so welcomed and to see familiar places and faces. I have returned to help out with rebuilding and replanting at the Diamond Botanical Garden following Hurricane Tomas Oct 30th. It was a very destructive storm moving slowly at 8mph with 110 mph winds dropping 2YEARS!!!! of rain in 24 hours. Which resulted in catastrophic landslides and flooding the majority of the damage was in the Soufriere region of the island. I was amazed in 5 weeks how much work has been accomplished to clear roads and terrace the new landslide slopes. The gardeners of the botanical garden have worked tirelessly to bring the gardens back for the important tourist season. The majority of the garden was impassable from fallen trees and mudflows. The waterfall area was hardest hit due to the massive amount of water , with an entire hillside along the stream giving way to fill in the watercourse rerouting all the water to the garden walkways. The stream is all dug out and new paths built. Now its time for planting and making things lush and green again. So much open sky now and bare earth. We will be keeping the waterfall area in its natural "green " state using ferns and climbers. but further downstream we will incorporate a riot of colours in a gradated colour scheme to mimic the patterns of colour present on the walls of the waterfall stained from the mineral deposits of the volcanic waters. This will be a fun task for the next few months before my return back to Toronto for spring. More to follow inthe coming weeks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bullet Proof

Im always amazed at plants that can persevere through the harshest of conditions. Hellebore is just such a plant once established its comfortable in dry shade and minimal care. This species is the first to bloom or would that be the last to bloom for the season??? Praecox is a chance seed strain that blooms extra early and this variety has its flowers presented well above the leathery green foliage. A show at the close of fall , beginning of winter. This is a plant in Barrys garden

Final Curtain Call

Hockley Valley and Windy Ridge have now gone through successive days of below freezing temperatures. The pictures are evidence of the beauty of ice crystals, creating mosaics upon the chosen leaves.



There are still standouts in the crowd brushing off any frost and cold. Gentians seem to be the star in this category.

Plant Profile

Hebe pinguifolia "Sutherlandii"



Hebe pinguifolia "Sutherlandii"

This was a surprise survivor at Windy Ridge. Hebe sutherlandii a cultivar developed in its native NewZealand in 1925 from the species that grows throughout the country called "local lilac". It has a domed well behaved shape that never needs pruning about 18"high after 5 years. It has flowered for the first time this summer.Cuttings have successfully been made.

Hockley Valley Ontario
Fall Composition

A great combination of Red Sumac and Miscanthus by a stream on the Hockley Valley on my way to work one day. If you look at the landscape picture , in the top middle is where I have gardened for over 6 years for a client.

Fall Labyrinth

Glistening milkweed seeds on field


The seeds of milkweed have dispersed on the high winds all across the cut grass with a strange almost even spacing. They were reflecting in the late day sunshine this week, quite beautiful but foreboding for the growing season to come.

A bowl of Witches Fire
Hamamelis intermedia "Diane"

I couldnt resist the purchase of this stunning show of colour.

A Blaze Of Glory

Euonymous elatus Burning Bush
Euonymous atropurpureus Eastern Wahoo


Fall colour this year has been reported to be lacklustre, From what ive seen there have been some special standouts.Yes forests in the Hockley Valley have been more yellow /gold with some rare red. We are adding lots of new fall colour in hues of fire engine red to Windy Ridge to offset the majority of gold in the forest.

Lavender 'Hidcote'

One of the nicest well behaved Lavenders. Grey foliage stout and strong withstanding the full frontal assault of wind throughout the year in this Zone 4 - 5ish garden. Situated on one of the highest points in southern Ontario it is a rare day when its not windy.

Southern view of Circle Bed

The view looking south towards the Hockley Valley. A circle bed originally designed by Landscape Architect and mentor David Tomlinson. A mix of perennials trees and shrubs. In the foreground is 3 rows of Lavender 'Hidcote'. The beds are still being filled in now that the terrible russian lilacs have been ground out. Poor performers and a waste of realestate.

Labyrinth of Green

A wonderful property i have worked at for over 6 years...... 16 acres on the Niagara Escarpment. We are creating lots of interesting plant communities that still fit well in this open environment. The picture is from the roof looking north towards the grass labyrinth and open fields. I spend 2 days a week here planting and perfecting.

Fall Foliage Fireworks

The change has begun. This is the foliage of Hamamelis "Arnold Promise"

This shot was taken in Queens, NewYork this month on the subway back into Manhattan. A derelict building covered completely in grafitti. I assume it was commisioned as some of the images are on impossible to get to walls. Not my fav type of art but appreciated non the less.

Primer in Urban Composition