The Kavassalis Garden, Oakville

"No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden." Hugh Johnson

A Hollyhock from the side garden

On the evening of our visit to the Kavassalis's garden in Oakville, a blonde haired little girl, not much older than 3 or 4, had abandoned her pink bicycle on the sidewalk and despite her mother's entreaties, set off to explore the flowers beds in the Kavassalis's front garden. 

Now, wasn't this same little girl delighted when she was invited in to see the back garden as well. And wasn't she over the moon, when Cathy Kavassalis picked her a bouquet of fresh flowers to take home with her. I tell you, if it was not fate already, a future gardener was born that evening.

Certainly there is lots to discover and admire in Cathy's garden. When you enter the garden from the side gate, among the plantings are sunflowers, hollyhocks (above), brilliant orange-red crocosmia.  And its not just pretty, there are red raspberries for the picking as well.

One side of the allee of daylilies in the back garden.

Cathy has a great way for creating pretty mixes of flower and foliage. Here pink Astilbe (foreground) mix with Sedum (middle), Heuchera (lower right), Ribbon Grass and white Astilbe (distant right).

A closer look at that pink Astilbe.

One of Cathy's Oriental Lilies in full bloom.

A small stream (lower left) feeds the pond, where a male and female turtle swim happily.

A towering evergreen makes a nice shady retreat in one corner of the garden.

Another lovely combination from left to right : Heuchera (Coral Bells), Ribbon Grass and white Astilbe.

Purple Phlox, Sedum and dove colored Lamb's ears.

Isn't this a fabulous little flower? 

This is Spigelia Marilandica or Indian Pink (common name).

A bee on the lavender colored Bee Balm.

A cream colored Rose of Sharon. 

This summer Cathy has been having problems with the Japanese Beetles, who have devouring parts of the garden including this lovely Rose of Sharon. I have yet so see any of these beetles in my garden. How about you? Have the invaders made it to your garden yet?

(Apparently Japanese Beetles were accidentally introduced to New Jersey in 1916, where they quickly become a serious pest. Now they are found in Ontario, Iowa, Missouri, Georgia and Alabama just to name few states.)

The delicate beauty of the herb Borage.

(Below) Cathy lets her cilantro go to flower so she could collect coriander seeds.

Isn't the cilantro flower pretty? I am not sure if this is a bad bug or a good bug, but he certainly looks like a happy bug lost in the marvel of this flower top.