Get Growing

My green thumb friend (GT) says that it's time to plant your Nasturtium and other large annual seeds.

Let's start planting!

Garden To Do List

Compost, Mulch, Lay Hoses. Everywhere.

I think I can clean out the grass and plant something under the diningroom window without too much trouble. But what? Something big like ligularia or smaller like Solomon's Seal? Maybe a nice bed of Monkshood. The dogs walk through that area all the time. I'm tempted to move one of the double file viburnums there.

Then I have to edge the bed that runs around the front corner of the house. and decide what I want to plant on the side of that bed facing the house. I've been pondering that one for five years.

Then there's those sale rhodos in the brick bed. Are they alive? Do I cut them right down?
Also, the little rhodo I planted in the backyard last year, has no buds. Do I move it?

And what to do with ll the snowberry bushes everywhere?

Remove the grass from under the prune plum and replace the two clematis that didn't make it.

I'm still fixated on a small water feature for the patio bed in the back.

First Mission Accomplished

As you will see if you scroll down, I spent yesterday learning how to size and post pictures on my blog.
Next task, wraparaound text!
Meanwhile, I hope you'll enjoy the first pictures of my puppies, as well as a peek at Spring in the garden.

Sophie @ 11 Months

Spring in the Garden

Samson @ 16 Months

Hepatica - Pink and White

My Home and Garden Part 1

Here's a bit of our garden's - home's - history.

When we bought this house five years ago, we discovered that we were - amazingly - only the third owners. The first family was a doctor and his wife and son. I would love to have a picture of this beautiful house, which was built in 1926, with its original windows.

After almost 40 years of ownership, they sold the house in 1965 to an Italian family. I am most grateful that this family left almost all the original oak trim, wainscotting and floors intact. However, they replaced the windows with horrible cheap ones that I know we will never be able to afford to replace.

Now to the garden - This house is a corner lot, practically a double lot as well. When we bought it there were about a dozen fruit trees on the property. The backyard had a large, raised bed vegetable garden.

Now, we love trees. In fact, we hoped to recreate a bit of the Bruce Trail right here in downtown T.O.

But we don't love - or know how to tend to - fruit trees.

So, we cut them down. All but two - one I'd already planted a flourishing Clematis beside and the other tree bears purple plums, which are a thing of beauty. Let me say, in our defense, that these fruit trees were all relatively young - the surviving prune plum is definitely the oldest.

So, no great loss and a fresh palet to draw upon.

I Watch Too Much TV

Maxim of the day:
Tell the truth and keep your sense of humour.

Welcome!

Spring in early April, after the Winter that never was. Already the Witch Hazel's shredded pompon blooms have come and gone.

There's a small section of garden where I have Native Ontario Woodland plants. Liverwort (Hepatica Nobilis) is in bloom - both white and pink. The Spotted Trilliums (Trillium Cuneatum) are pushing up. Likewise, Lungwort. Fingers are crossed for the return of Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Last summer, the puppies ate through them like they were Snausages.

Hubby has now fenced in the entire upper garden and I can see the brave return of the Tree Peony that was eaten down to the ground.