Brilliant Days of Summer Blooms

The colours of summer blooms are vibrant and pop in the garden, well most of them anyway.  There are a few muted tones in the campanula and some delphiniums and hollyhocks but then there are those that are sizzling hot, just like summer days.  Echinacea, for instance, consists of many cultivars that are brilliant shades of yellow, orange and pink.  As spring begets summer, summer soon begets fall and often the flowers of August continue to bloom right through September.  Some just linger on the stem, drying in place.  They liven the garden landscape wherever they are found.

 Echinacea Hot Papaya (coneflower)

 Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry (coneflower)

Delphinium 'Guinevere'

Echinacea 'Cantaloupe' (coneflower)

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'

Osteospermum 'Blue Eyed Beauty' (annual African daisy)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root) cultivar unknown

Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' (Dwarf spike speedwell)

 Alcea rosea (Hollyhock) - cultivar unknown

Larkspur (Delphinium) - cultivar unknown

Lychnis (Maltese Cross)

Rosa 'Campfire' (Campfire Rose)

Rudbeckia ' Cherokee Sunset' (gloriosa daisy)

Veronica spicata (possibly Red Fox)

Campanula 'Light Blue Clips' (bellflower)

Delphinium

Delphinium

 Alcea rosea (Hollyhock) cultivar unknown

Trollius 'Orange Globe' (globeflower) 

Digitalis 'Dalmation Purple' (foxglove)

Digitalis 'Dalmation Peach' (foxglove)

Alcea rosea 'Queeny Purple' (Hollyhock )

Phlox and Monarda (bee balm)

Hydrangea macrophylla (mop head) (possibly 'Endless Summer')  photo by SWM

#Augustblooms  #zone3summerflowers 

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The Gardens of Smeltzer House (1920)

Maurice Smeltzer settled into this home in November of 1892.  The homestead at the time was comprised  of 480 acres.  In 1899 Maurice married a descedent of Robbie Burns, the Scottish poet, a Miss Eliza Pithie.  Their son Frank lived here until 1976 at which time Strathcona County purchased the property.  It was designated a visual arts centre in 1985.  Pottery classes, art shows and other visual arts programs are held here regularly.  In 1985 Smeltzer House was designated a Registered Historic Resource by the Minister of Alberta Culture.

Smeltzer House is enroute to work and I always admire what I can see of the gardens.  For the last few months I have wanted to go explore the grounds so the other day I turned into the parking lot to explore the gardens and the heritage of Smeltzer House.

In addition to a pottery studio, the grounds also have a gazebo which is available to rent for events.  At the time I was there a banner was strung up at the entrance announcing an upcoming wedding.  

I've included a link should you be interested in any of the programs Smeltzer House has to offer.  Pottery seems like an interesting craft to try.

 http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/recreation-parks-and-culture/arts-culture/smeltzer-house/smeltzer-house-history/


#Strathconacounty  #SmeltzerHouse  #ArtsinSherwoodPark  #SherwoodPark

Friends of the Library Garden Tour 2016 - Site #5 - Garden of the Phoenix

This is my favourite "natural" garden on the tour.  I absolutely love the levels, the pairings, the design, the plants, the pondless waterfalls.  This property was devastated by fire six years ago and in the past five years has been completely rebuilt.  The owners hired a couple to work with them in designing and building the landscape.  The landscapers have since moved to the west coast where they operate their landscaping business.  It's truly what I consider a loss to our area to have them in another province.  

The plants, the owner tells me, were selected from a local greenhouse which is no longer in business but was known for their one of a kind items, exquisite plants and overall serene atmosphere.  That atmosphere translated here with the plantings and the design.  It's an extension of the woods beyond and is one of those gardens you hate to leave.  

The owner said they took the ages of their now teenagers in account when planning.  No tree houses or play sets here.  An expanse of grass immediately behind the house for relaxation was considered a must.  Beyond the lawn is a stunning wall of plantings and a pondless waterfall.  Above this wall is an in-ground fire pit with a semicircle of built-in seating.  The rock work and dry-stacked walls add to the natural feel of this property.

The front exposure includes a circular bed with spruce, shrubs, perennials and grasses.

Leading to the back garden, dry-stacked rock walls enforce the level changes. The remaining photos speak volumes to me so I'll let them speak for themselves to you too.  Enjoy!

#StrathconaCounty #phoenix #naturalgarden #pondlesswaterfalls #gardentour #friendsofthelibrary