Friends of the Library Garden Tour - Site #6 Aqualine Aquatic Plants and Water Features

tower garden of vegetables

Lunch break!  Donated by Sobey's, hot dogs and pop were available for a toonie at Aqualine. If you had six stamps on your garden pass, (you get one at each garden you visit as you enter) you received a free water hyacinth as well (we did!). Aqualine Aquatic Plants and Water Features is located out in the countryside, just as site #5 was.  This is a lovely site for a lunch break as you may sit on any of the benches located overlooking ponds and water features. It had rained a bit earlier so the seating was wet but it was just as nice to stand pondside and enjoy a yummy hotdog with the library's secret sauce!  A draw for a gardening books or a bonsai was here as well.  I wonder if I'll win? 

Aqualine Aquatic Plants and Water Features sells tropical and hardy water lilies and marginal aquatic plants.  Feature gardens show you how you can incorporate water into your garden.

Any ideas what this plant is?  The flowers are a delicate pink.

Above, future expansion of the main water feature.

Answering the Enticement of Nature

During the last days of summer, I had the distinct urge to be out in nature.  Sure I work outside all day, but I couldn't ask for a better day to remain outdoors.  It was one of those late September evenings where it had warmed up to 20 Celsius and the warmth lingered in the air, though the crispness of an impending fall tinged the atmosphere.  The sun was warm still, a few clouds lingered in the skies and nary a breeze could be felt.  

On my way home, I diverted to Rundle Park, a lovely park featuring wide expanses of nature, fountains, lakes, boat launches, mini-golf, tennis courts, day camping areas, playgrounds, frisbee golf course. There's even a swimming pool in the valley here.  First I visited the recreation area which houses the boat launch and mini-golf course. Circling the pond, I meandered on, breathing the cool air, feeling the crunch of leaves underfoot (though not many).  Still wide expanses of green grass, towering spruce, pine, birch and aspen spread before me.  The evidence of this year's drought was highly visible in the birches and some aspen. Even the spruce had browning.  

It's been a very dry spring and summer here. I'm sure we've set or at least matched records for lack of rainfall.  The city crews have been around painting the pink line of doom for severely stressed and dead trees.  It's sad to see so many but that is the way of nature. Autumn is proving to be wetter than all of summer.  Vancouver, does this sound familiar?

After photographing the fountains and ponds, I drove up the hill to the river where I then walked the Ainsworth Dyer Bridge which spans the Fort Saskatchewan River, connecting Rundle Park with Gold Bar Park on the south side.  I took several photos from this raised vantage point, relishing the quiet as the warmth slowly receded.  What a glorious vantage point!

I'm so glad I took that detour.  It was an incredible little bit of a last hurrah for summer.

Greenland Garden Centre Part III Going Indoors and a Peek at the Tree Nursery

In the adjoining courtyard between the greenhouse and the exterior tree nursery one can be lulled by the soft trickle of water in the fountains and water features.  Some outdoor furniture and decorations add to the outdoor room atmosphere.

A peek at the tree nursery...

In the rose house....

Evergreens....

Trees.... a beautiful oak 

An overview of a few trees and shrubs as seen from the perennial house...

Perennials....

Ligularia, above and below  (Rocket above, possibly Britt-Marie Crawford below)

Grasses....

More perennials and a lovely clematis...

Japanese Painted Fern above and astilbe below...

Ablaze in colour, lilies and daisies and more....

 Beautiful arches.....

I love this white garden vignette:

Terrific ideas for planters.... there's always next year....

Orchids:

Edibles:

Planters:

Decorating:

Above, my favourite scented sachet at Greenlands.

Cute and different....

Houseplants.... orchids and bromeliads, ferns too....

I've wanted to successfully grow a bonsai for a long time.....

 Cozy place to enjoy the garden....

Wall planters...art...and more wall planters

I love this painting that hangs in the gift shop area.  It's colours are dynamic and alluring and yet relaxing.

If you stop by Greenland Garden Centre in Sherwood Park, I highly recommend the cinnamon buns served at the Garden Cafe.  Best I've had in years!!!

This ends the tour of Greenland Garden Centre and Botanical Garden for 2014.  It's always a "treat" to pay a visit.  Hope you found some inspiration and enjoyment along the way.

Weekend Reflections