Friends of the Library Garden Tour - Kudos to the Neighbour

Previously, I mentioned that neighbours to those who garden at Site #2 opened their garden to the tour.  It was extraordinarily generous of them to give up their day to host the hundred or so who toured through.  I'm so glad they did because their garden was lovely, most notable was the pond stocked with koi.  Here are some photos I took but I didn't take many as I was so busy admiring the view.

Lupines are a popular choice as evidenced in the many gardens they were in.

I can't enough of ligularias!  It's good to see this lovely shade and moisture loving plant in the occasional garden on the tour.  Here the "Rocket" sits at the top of the waterfall near a mature hosta.  Have you ever stopped to smell the fragrant flowers of a ligularia?  I never thought to until this year.  It's not at all overwhelming and you have to be fairly close to smell it but it's a divine somewhat sweet fragrance.  Another reason to love this shade plant!

Cascading down a gentle slope, the waterfall is broken into tiers.  Here it flows past another hosta, and lilies.  Ligularia flowers peek into the scene at the bottom of the photo.

My daughter-in-law would love this as an admirer of lighthouses!  The placement of the tall grasses offer privacy around the pond and accent the cute lighthouse at the water's edge.  Koi and waterlilies are plentiful here.

I didn't get a chance to speak with this homeowner as others had  his attention, so I can't tell you if this beautiful pond was designed and built by himself or if he hired it out.  It was magnificent though!  Probably the best pond on the tour and he wasn't even officially on it!  Thank you again neighbour for letting us visit.

#generousneighbour  #watergardentour  #Strathconacounty #friendsofthelibrary #gardentour

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July Begets Hydrangeas and Hosta Blooms

Hi there everyone!   It's official...we are moving.  We just got word yesterday morning that our house sold.  Possession dates are yet to be determined for the new owners and for our new home. Though good byes are sure to be tearful, our new home offers opportunity aplenty for this gardener.  There is a lot of landscaping to do...tearing out poorly planned deckside plantings, removal of a couple dead trees, and ultimately a complete makeover of the front and back yards.  Photos will come later, I promise.  In the meantime, lets take a walk around my current back garden while I psych myself up for the good-byes.

 The juxtaposition of Summer Wine Ninebark and Pink Diamond Hydrangea offers a pleasing contrast of colour and foliage.  

 This has been our favourite feature in the garden!!  Our son M installed it a few years ago and we still love to sit by the fire pit and enjoy the gentle tumble of water over rocks.  This will be missed the most!

 Pink Diamond Hydrangea  -  how I will miss you!  Just as you are coming in to your own, bushing out and blooming your heart out, I will be leaving you behind.  Hopefully the new owners are gardeners!

 Hostas at the side of the house have grown enormous!  Apparently this is the perfect area for them!

 This amur maple seeded itself so I potted it up.  I am still undecided as to whether it will go with me to the new house or not.

 Big leaf hydrangeas such as Endless Summer (above) tend to wilt in the heat of the afternoon sun, even as far north as we are.  And still no blooms!!  

 This planter will be situated on the front deck at the new house.  The nice thing is, the Karl Foerster grass planted here is perennial and it will be planted into the new yard at summer's end.

Memories....light the corners of my mind......

Who Says Hostas Are Only for Shade?

Hostas seem to be synonymous with shade.  At least that's what we've been told.  A few years back I was on a garden tour and saw a profound garden.  Profound in that she, the owner/gardener, was growing hostas in full sun!  When asked how she was able to grow such healthy looking specimens in the full sun, she said "water".  Don't let the soil dry out and they'll be fine.  That was the first but not the last time I was to see this.

This year, while touring a botanical garden, I saw several varieties of hosta planted in full sun.  They were not scorched nor wilting.  So much for the theory of hostas being solely shade plants.

If you decide to try growing hostas in the sun, there are some varieties that will do better than others.  Gold leaved plants and heavily variegated specimens, more white or cream than green, can tolerate sun if the soil is moist.  REMEMBER:  ADEQUATE MOISTURE.  Some hostas, though, may still scorch, even in moist soil.

Blue leaved or solid green varieties tend to scorch, even in moist soil.

I have two hostas that are very similar in foliage, the photo above is one of them. They are planted on the east side of a fence where they receive at least six hours of direct sun every day.  This is a moist bed, the last to dry in the entire yard, which could explain why both seem so happy here.  I only wish I could remember the names of them.  They were purchased a few years ago when they were new introductions but the tags have disappeared long ago. ("fire" is part of the name)  If anyone recognizes this variety, please let me know in the comments section.

Some varieties you may consider are:

Sum and Substance

Sun Power

Gold Standard

Guacamole

Fragrant Bouquet

August Moon

Check your local garden centre for further suggestions of sun tolerant hostas.  There are some varieties like August Moon that some direct sun exposure will emphasize more yellow tones.  

If in doubt, plant in a part-shade garden, with morning sun and afternoon shade, remembering the sun is at its strongest between 11 am and 4 pm. Note:   The southern states' sun may be far too strong for any hosta in full sun. 

* I am participating in Mosaic Monday today.  Stop by for more mosaics.  Mary's blog, Little Red House, has some magnificent photography.  Take your time and browse around.  You can tell her "The Gardening Life" referred you.