Showing posts with label lupine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lupine. Show all posts

20 July 2016

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


17 July 2016

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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