Fall surprise

This was a great surprise this fall a new Chrysanthemum cultivar "Matchstick" the handiwork of Rika Bronsther of Hempstead, Long Island.I purchased this plant from www.garden import.com

A Visit with Vita

Sissinghurst : A Clearing in the Woods

 Vita's Private Study in the Tower

Under a cloudless sky and 29C...in the Kent countryside I had the special opportunity to visit Sissinghurst. It was the highlight of my 3 weeks in the UK. This home and garden was the passion of aristocrat Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicholson.From a dilapidated Saxon / Elizabethan manor rose a garden and personal home in the 1930's that rivals and sets the standard of innovation in garden design. It is a garden I could visit again and again....food for the mind and soul.

THE NIGHT BEAUTY

If only there were smellovision...the scent of the this night flowering Cereus (Hylocereus undatus), is heavenly, filling the entire house. This is the first blooms of a year old division.

Surreal Sunrise

Magnolia sieboldii

Taming the Serpent

These are some examples of the " beasts " I have tamed into behaving, except for the young one above that has been well behaved......so far.



This one grew along the ground for 50 feet as well as up a neighbours fir tree the same height.It was always a dependant bloomer but this year has been an exceptionally good one. Some of the ground runners were layered and are now growing in pots on their own.



Several years ago this one was never pruned for a dozen or so years growing up above the second floor windows and eaves. Its now happily tamed back onto its metal frame.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall..........

A most unusual form of Trillium? was found here in a clients woodlot north of Toronto. any suggestions as to what it is????

Snowdrop Surprise

I did some botanizing with Barry Parker at an Ontario Heritage House. The property has a very well established mass of Galanthus nivalus ,singles and doubles. As you can see by the pics below there has been some cross pollination and colour forms evolving over the century theyve been growing. Maybe rare and unusual??? It was fun checking out all the clumps to see what was different.

2011 Peterborough Garden Show

A truly gardener's garden show, always a treat to go to each year with a great selection of local vendors. Unlike Canada Blooms it is horticulturally based and relevant. An easy picturesque drive from Toronto. Picked up some choice Clematis, Hellebores and other perennials...all at very very reasonable prices. How do they do it??? I gave the person in charge of putting on the show some positive feedback and im already look forward to next years event......

The Good ,The BaD and THE UgLy...........

THE GOOD



THE BAD


AND THE UGLY....


A ROAD TRIP TO THE 2011 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW. The largest indoor flower show in the world, established in 1829 the oldest for north america. It was a fantastic show with a high level of quality garden displays using not youre run of the mill plants successfully forced for the first week in march. The set design and eye for detail was evident as was the focus on horticulture not hardscape. A welcome relief from shows that are staged in Toronto on the decline. Philadelphia is a wonderful city to visit, easy to explore on foot and tasty restaurants abound.


















PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL The second tallest masonry building in the world, one of many fine examples of incredible architecture in the city.



The city is adorned with many fantastic murals of the highest quality and variety of materials.




MACY'S GRAND ORGAN , The largest operational pipe organ in the world. It plays twice a day monday to saturday.

Adieu St Lucia

Well 3 months have already passed and I've escaped some of toronto's tough winter. Now back to the cold and snow. We have accomplished alot since my arrival. Huge sections of new garden and hopefully a more stable river from the waterfall to take the coming rainy seasons storm water safely out of the garden. Its been a challenge creating and planting up new areas, time will tell how successful they are.