This is the third season for this garden and it's filling in nicely!
If I can grow these in a fairly dry spot next to a spruce tree, they should do well just about anywhere in Calgary! The more sun the better, though:
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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How lovely to come home from holidays to this:
Got any recipes with dill you'd like to share? :-)
And how's your garden doing this summer?
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Even when the irises aren't flowering, I like this mix of textures - in particular, notice the rhubarb behind the irises! I think rhubarb can look quite pretty if it is contrasted with some finer-textured plants. Would you consider planting rhubarb in your ornamental garden?
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I've been tweaking this garden since I first designed and planted it 6 years ago, and this year I think I am finally pretty happy with it and done moving things around! RIght now you will see catmint, lady's mantle, siberian iris, perennial geraniums and roses blooming. This has got to me my favourite time of year for this garden!
Above: siberian iris in fron of El Dorado feather reed grass.
Above: ornamental alliums (plant as bulbs in fall) in front of El Dorado feather reed grass.
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I'm particularly enjoying spinach and arugula at the moment - how 'bout you?
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Both of these toughies grow in dry shade and need little care. They do not need to be cut down each year.
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Yum! Just gotta remember to finish cutting the chive flowers off (they are edible!) before they go to seed, or else chives everywhere!!
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... blooms late May to mid-June. I took this photo with my iphone and did not filter or modify it in any way. I swear! Isn't it gorgeous?
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Sheesh. I thought I'd better get a photo posted of the Adventure Garden before the tulips are totally finished! Sorry for the lack of posting lately!! What's blooming right now: tulips, grape hyacinths, bergenia, dwarf bearded iris, iceland poppies, leopard's bane, cherries.
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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(Well, early for a shade garden in Calgary!) And even better - each patch gets bigger every year!
Chionodoxa and tulipa tarda are bulbs and can be planted in fall. Bergenia is an "evergreen" perennial which means the leaves overwinter (they look a little tatty in spring but are perking up now and will be their beautiful, glossy green selves again soon!)
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At this time of year I usually chuckle at the people complaining about the weather. As an experienced Calgary gardener, I always say - don't get excited about spring until at least early May and then you won't be disappointed! Okay, well it's early May and my garden still looks like this:
Argh.
But before we got this big dump, I did manage to get my cool-season veggie seeds planted:
My spinach, kale, lettuce, peas, chard and arugula were planted on Apr 27 and, unlike me, they will be completely unbothered by this weather!!
For resources on vegetable gardening in Calgary, see my posts:
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Above: view of the front Entry Garden from the living room window -designed for sitting pleasure in summer and viewing pleasure in winter!
On days like today, I'm very happy with the fact that I designed my garden to look interesting in winter as well as summer, in particular from inside the house! Here's the front entry garden with morning light making the feather reed grass glow. I enjoy this view from my living room with my morning coffee. :-)
Do you have a favourite winter view of your garden?
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I have been thrilled with my front Welcome Garden this year. Everything is filling in and the little cuttings of dogwood shrubs I planted a couple years ago are finally looking like, well, shrubs instead of sticks! And when I walk down this path I really have a sense of being enclosed IN a garden.
That's sedum 'Autum Joy' in the bottom right corner, just starting to turn colour. Such a tough plant for being out at the drier, exposed edge of the yard.
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Do you plant flowers to co-ordinate with your house??
You should!!
To see this garden area at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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What's blooming right now: liatris, roses, sedum, eupatorium (joe pye), perovskia (russian sage), achillea (yarrow) and self-seeded, annual borage.
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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To see the evolution of this garden and what blooms at other times of the year, click here and scroll down
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Many (but not all!) of my shade-loving perennials in this garden are spring-blooming, so I paid close attention to foliage when planting here. The dark foliage of actea (bugbane) is up front in this picture, with ninebark 'Coppertina' in the bakground. Also lamiastrum 'Hermann's Pride', brunnera 'Jack Frost', epimedium rubra, hostas, and bergenia provide interesting foliage in this garden and seem to handle the dry shade.
Here's another view (re-routing the downspout over the arch is on the to-do list for this summer):
To see the development of this garden and what's blooming at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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Each year I try to grow at least one new thing in the veggie garden, and this year it was arugla.
(Note: Last year it was kohlrabi, which I had read was a fun veggie to grow for kids since it looks like Sputnik. Well, they were underwhelmed, and so was I, frankly. A guess it would be good with dip but by itself it was nothing to write home about. I won't bother growing it again.)
Anyhoo. I have discovered that I LOVE arugula! Why have I never tried it before?!? It is delicious! I love the nutty flavour with a bit of zing. However, from what I have read, it will get bitter in the heat of summer so should be pulled and started again from seed towards the end of the summer for a fall crop. Too bad, as I will miss its pretty flowers too! Maybe I'll leave it for just a few more days or until it becomes unpalatable...
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I've been meaning to move my painted daisies for a while because they used to be behind some siberian iris, which were so tall that the daisies couldn't really be seen. So, today, on the spur of the moment, I moved them in front of this golden coloured grass - a nice combination, don't you think?
Generally I don't move plants in July but the daisies hiding behind the irises were really bugging me.
What's working or not working in your garden right now?
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This is my favourite time of year for the back Shade Garden! Lots of spring blooms happening at the moment. There's pink bergenia, yellow leopard's bane, white anemones, and orange geums. BTW that's a new gate in the back corner - the previous one was old and incredibly ugly so I always cropped it out of pictures. Now you can enjoy a wider view!
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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This little garden area is actually on the edge of the sunny Adventure Garden, but gets shade until early evening, so I'm never sure whether I should classify it under the Adventure Garden or the Back Shade Garden (which is right next door on the other side of the path). Maybe I should call it something completely different, like the Bird Bath garden?
But anyhoo, it doesn't really matter, does it? The point is, I love it at this time of year with the pink bergenia and yellow leopard's bane in bloom, and the feather reed grass adding lots of contrasting texture. So while this looks like a sunny garden, these are all plants that will do well for you in a fairly shady spot.
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This is the only real sunny garden area in my yard so blooms are coming along much more quickly here than anywhere else. I am purposely not showing you any close-ups because I haven't done any weeding here yet and in fact, I STILL haven't finished cutting down some perennials from last year! Life is busy. The poor garden is going to be a little shabby for a while, but as I always say, this is a REALITY garden blog. Fortunately, the plants I grow are all pretty low maintenance and a little neglect won't cause any permanent damage.
If you look closely, you will notice:
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
How is your garden coming along?
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I picked up a couple of these little cuties, also known as Dalmatian bellflower, in the grocery store the other day. Did you know they are hardy perennials in Calgary? And also very long blooming. They'd make a great hostess gift or Easter decoration, and then later can go out in a sunny garden spot where they'd make a perfect groundcover or edging plant. In fact I think I want more than 2!!
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I sure am enjoying the colourful view of my neighbour's crabapple, mountain ash tree and dogwood shrubs at the moment! I planted my own little Saskatoon shrubs this year which will add to the fall colour in a few years when they get to a more substantial size.
But while I am enjoying the beautiful colours, I am already scheming about what to do with those leaves after they've fallen. Each year at this time I wish I owned a shredder so I could chop them all up into little bits which would make even better mulch for the garden. But each year at this time I have already more than blown my gardening budget for the year. So I do not yet own a mulcher.
The leaves I do have, I rake onto the garden for the winter. I also check the local leaf drop off regularly and sometimes manage to snag some pre-chopped leaves to put on the garden! If not, I choose bags of small, curly leaves such as birch, which make better winter mulch than big flat leaves like poplar.
In any case, I certainly do not get rid of my own leaves! They are extremely useful for winter mulch and for adding nutrients to the garden. You may think you are being a good environmental citizen by taking your leaves to the drop off, but leaving them in the garden has a zero footprint and provides nutrients for your soil. So don't bag 'em unless you want to make leaf mold!
You can read about leaf mold and how I first got hooked on stealing leaves here:
What did you do with your extra hour? ... and how to make leaf mold in a bag.
And read more about the benefit of leaves on the garden here:
After the Party's Over on Garden Buzz
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I haven't got around to posting too many pictures of the garden this year, but the grasses at this time of year are just fabulous so I just had to!!
Those are groups of calamagrostis (feather reed grass) 'Avalanche' that are acting like vertical exclamation marks in the garden. That's sedum 'Autumn Joy' looking pinkish in the bottom right corner. Both plants I highly recommend for a fall garden. Closer up, echinacea purpurea adds colour on the left side:
...and on the right,a pot tucked in behind the grasses adds extra interest.
The pot also makes a nice view from the house:
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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This garden area up beside the front steps is all new this year. Eventually, shrubs and perennials will dominate the garden, but for this year, I planted some large annuals (from seed) to fill the space while the shrubs and perennials are still small. They're doing a great job, I'd say! Too bad there is snow forecast for this week...
Above: nicotiana sylvestris behind love-lies-bleeding (another annual) and helenium 'Mardi Gras' (perennial).
Pretty soon the flowers will be gone but I'll be enjoying the memories all winter! I am especially happy about my new view of the garden from inside the house:
and even though the nictotiana will be cut down after frost/snow, I'll be able to enjoy the view of the grasses all winter long.
Garden views from inside the house are such an important consideration when designing a garden - especially in Calgary when we're typically look out from inside for at least half the year! Here's what this view looked like last year before and after I took down 2 spruce trees from this area - what a difference!
To see how this garden looks at other times of the year, click here and scroll down.
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Echinacea and liatris are two of my late-summer favourites for a sunny, prairie-style garden. These plants are growing in my Adventure Garden and that's bearded iris in the bottom left corner, but they'd also look great teamed up with ornamental grasses.
Liatris also comes in white and echinacea comes in all kinds of red, orange, pink, purple varieties to suit your garden - as long as you have a sunny spot!
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I'm just back from holidays - I've been out of town and offline for several weeks - and am excited to see corn doing so well in my garden!
I planted it this spring on a whim - I usually like to try growing at least one new and different thing each year, and I've never grown corn before. It was more for the novelty and for the kids - I planted an ornamental variety and a baby corn variety - and didn't really expect to get anything as corn needs such a long, hot growing season and doesn't typically do well in Calgary unless you have a hot micro-climate. But with the hot summer we've had mine is doing quite well and I might even get a small harvest! That's what I love about vegetable gardening - it pays to diversify and every year there are surprises.
So if you've sent me a message in the last few weeks, my apologies for not responding yet and I'll get caught up in the next couple of days. I don't put a vacation message on my email as it just doesn't seem like a good idea what with pictures of my house on the website, etc.
How is your garden doing?
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I am by no means a flower arranging expert (understatement of the year!), but here are a few things blooming right now that make a colourful, fragrant bouquet from the garden.
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The fruit season in my yard started with Haskap honeyberries, followed with strawberries which are just finishing, and now the first cherry bush 'Carmine Jewel' is starting to ripen. It is 4 years old now and really starting to produce. (Cherry 'Crimson Passion', also planted in 2008, didn't produce this year but it died to the ground last year and I subsequently moved it to a less exposed spot and I expect better next year.) The raspberries are ripening now too, and soon it will be Saskatoon time... I love summer!
I haven't tried making anything with these cherries since my kids eat them off the bush and don't leave any behind. But that's the point, for now. Maybe someday I'll have enough extra fruit for a pie!
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Delphiniums are my absolute favourite flower (how could they not be for someone who loves the colour blue?) but they are a bit of a pain as they need to be staked, so I grow them here in the Side Garden on the south side of my house where it is sheltered from the wind. That way I don't have to be quite so meticulous in my staking method. Also, they aren't very much in view here so I have no hesitation cutting them and bringing them inside for bouquets!
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I have Therese planted at the top of my Adventure Garden, on a hill, where she is planted near the height of the back fence and fully exposed to the west wind. She is super hardy and does just fine over winter. In fact, I appreciate her in winter just as much as summer, as her lovely red stems add colour to the garden in the long winter months. So if you're looking for a tough, flowering shrub which will provide winter interest as well, consider Therese!
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Here's a straight-on shot of the Adventure Garden taken yesterday, with painted daisy, peonies, blue salvia, catmint, perennial geranium, pinks, and roses in bloom.
However, the thing I love about this garden (and the thing that makes it most challenging) is that it is seen from so many different views. Here it is from 'England' (the vegetable garden) looking toward the back Shade Garden in the bright afternoon light:
and here it is, backlit in the evening, looking the opposite direction:
Gotta love that evening light!
Here's one more close-up of the catmint, blue salvia, pinks, irises (not in bloom), and peonies, as they are some of my favourite plants. I'd highly recommend any of these plants for any sunny Calgary garden!
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Above: looking up at the 'Blue Bird' clematis growing under a spruce tree in my backyard.
This vine was one of the few things growing in the neglected, overgrown garden I inherited with my house 8 years ago. It is growing under a spruce tree i.e. extremely poor, dry soil and shade. I never water, fertilize or do anything to it except maybe cut back a few stray tendrils once in a while. This plant just amazes me! If you have a tough, dry, shady spot that needs something with a little height, try a trellis or obelisk with one of these vines. I don't think you will be disappointed!
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These two plants grow with almost no care in the dry shelter of a spruce tree in the front Welcome Garden. They don't exactly go with my new colour scheme (understatement! they couldn't clash any more than they already do!), but they are tough, suit the conditions, and don't bloom for too long. And they are so cheery in spring! So, at least for now, they stay.
Editing the garden is a constant struggle. It is hard to edit out plants that "don't go" especially if they are doing well! Plus, there are time and budget issues. I'm sure many of you will understand! I have vowed that at least whenever I add new plants, they must go with the new scheme. That's the best I can do.
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Above, l to r: bluish-purple dwarf bearded iris (iris germanica) in front of blue oat grass; reddish-purple dwarf bearded iris in front of cherry blossoms; both in the Adventure Garden
My dwarf bearded irises have been blooming for a couple of weeks and I wanted to show you them before it was too late (nothing like a rainy Sunday morning to catch up on the garden blog!)
These are one of my favourite "repeat plants" for spreading around a sunny garden. Even though their blooms only last a few weeks, the flowers are spectacular. But not only that, their flat, fan-like leaves add interesting texture to the garden all season long because they contrast well with just about anything. The only potential drawback of these plants is that they are so vigorous that I find they need to be divided every few years. However, since they are shallow-rooted that is easy to do, and plus it is another reason why they make a great repeat plant! Spread them around or give some to friends!!
The taller bearded iris bloom a little bit later than the dwarf ones, so plant some of both for a longer bloom period if you like iris. Many have a wonderful, sweet scent, too.
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This garden area is finally starting to fill in, after struggling along in the shade of a spruce tree for many years (one spruce has been removed, but another is still nearby so this spot gets only very early morning sun.) Above you will see:
To see this garden at other times of the year, click here.
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I can't let May go by without posting about my favourite plant of the month - bergenia! This is one tough, beautiful plant. It was one of the few perennials left growing in the neglected, overgrown garden I inherited when I moved into my current house - and that says a lot! Also, it
If you've been thinking that you've needed something to give your garden a little oomph at this time of year, but want a low maintenance plant, try bergenia!
P.S. I have one friend who thinks the flowers are incredibly gaudy (hello Michael, are you reading this?) Personally, that's what I appreciate at this time of year! But I told him to keep the plant for the texture, and cut the flowers for bouquets for his wife since the flowers do well in vases, too!
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Honeyberry is a fruit-bearing shrub which is so frost-tolerant that there is no worry about it leafing out so early. It will have flowers on it very soon! Hooray for spring!
Update: one week later, on April 29, the honeyberries are blooming and several big fat bees have been coming to visit!!
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Hooray! It is finally the time of year when I can start posting pictures of what's blooming in my garden. I planted these crocuses years ago under some snow-in-summer, which seems to protect them from squirrels. They are in my side garden, another south-facing hotspot where things come up earlier than most other areas of my garden. Plant these bulbs in fall.
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