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.

Heaven Scent

The sweet and alluring odour of Ylang Ylang ( Cananga odorata ) wafts through the humid air. A very inconspicuous yellow flower dangling in clusters high in the leafy branches. It is a scent that has to be experienced to describe. But it comes with good pedigree as its a base note for the famous Chanel No.5 perfume. Im not about to describe the scent but I had to laugh at Wikipedias description " rich and deep with notes of rubber and custard, and bright with hints of jasmine and neroli " Rubber and custard it is not...........Where im staying the past matriarch of the family always had blossoms in her clothes drawer. I have taken 2 blossoms into my room and the intensity of the scent increased as it dried, very interesting.

From tiny "acorns" grow mighty Mahogany

Throughout the Diamond Botanical Garden and Soufriere Estate are towering Honduran Mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla) planted by the present owners father decades ago. The estate house where I stay has many fine pieces of furniture and cabinetry made by her father. The pods that fall from 100 plus feet crash to the ground and shatter open spreading maple key like seed. You do not want to be under these trees when pods fall. Sections of the garden have to be closed off during leaf drop and "pod season". This picture is of a seedling I found while weeding.

Explored Discoveries

This week I took a walk at the end of the days work. I went along a hiking trail closed due to the large amount of fallen trees and slides from Hurricane Tomas. This trail links the botanical garden to the old mill and estate house. A very interesting and quieter route than taking the road back to the estate house where im living. I had to do alot of up and over fallen trees and diverting around several landslides. Along the way I discovered some interesting plants that could be used in the botanical garden so I was glad to have taken this route back. Here are a few of the things i discovered along the way.



Alpinia zerumbet Shell Ginger



Unknown


Unknown Shrub



Unknown Vine


A small African Snail

Putting back Paradise......

December 24th 2010 Heavy Rains

Cleared and cleaned for planting


A new garden planted now a second time from the October Hurricane then December 24th heavy rains.