Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A Walled Garden of Peonies & Roses



The guide for the 25th anniversary Through the Garden Gate tour advised, "If you can see one garden, make it this one."

Many of the gardens on last year's tour were designed and planted by professionals. They were fabulous, but often somewhat impersonal. 

This garden was different. 

The design and the choice of plants all had a definite personality behind them.

When the homeowners bought the property 15 years ago, there was little in the front garden and just a few structures in the back, but no plants. New garden beds were dug down as much as a meter, and the clay soil was replaced with a combination of clay, peat and sand.

At the front of the house, the garden gate opens to a curved path and a collection of barberries, spireas and perennials. A climbing hydrangea winds its way up the pillars of the double verandah.


A huge glass vase filled with peonies greeted visitors on the front porch.


At the back of the house, the land falls off steeply into a ravine. A path leads visitors along the edge of the ravine to a small brick folly.

Turning to our left we enter an expansive walled garden.


Here there is a solarium, a greenhouse, fruit trees, roses, peonies and assorted perennials.









The homeowner and gardener spends her summers working in the garden. You can feel that personal touch throughout the space.


This year, Through the Garden Gate offers garden lovers a peak into 19 private gardens in Forest Hill and South Hill in Toronto. 

For those of you living in the GTA, mark June 8 and 9th on your calendars for this two day event. For more tour details on tickets informaton click here.

28 comments:

  1. Your photos are beautiful - a much needed reminder that Spring is almost here. -- Jan

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  2. What a fabulously luxurious garden - the peonies are lovely and look great in the vase as well.

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  3. Peonies and roses...so inspiring. What a great write up about a beautiful garden and yes, it has a personal touch that is for certain.

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  4. How beautiful Jennifer. I so want to be setting on that bench in the sunshine surrounded by flowers. LOL! I needed this spot of colors and escape today. :)

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  5. Terrific photos, thanks for posting and giving us a taste of Spring. I'm with you, professionally planned gardens look great and all, but I'd much rather see a decades-long labor of love and exhibition of gardening personality. All of my favorite gardens from garden tours over the years clearly demonstrated the personality of the owner.

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  6. Hi Jennifer....what a beautiful garden. I really wish I could attend this garden tour. 19 gardens...what a deal!! I just love visiting other gardens. I get so many ideas. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. *Sigh* - I can feel the scents through the screen..!

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  8. The height of spring is the smell of peonies and roses...fabulous pictures!!

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  9. It looks exactly like the garden I dream about - full of roses, peonies and clematis nestled amongst a gorgeous setting. One day, one day.

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  10. I swear I can smell those fragrant roses and peonies from Seattle!Just gorgeous and such vibrant colors.

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  11. Peonies and roses, my favourite early summer combination! Such a lovely garden, we are all so lucky to have people willing to share their gardens with strangers.

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  12. Realmente un precioso jardín!!.Hermosas todas tus imágenes, como siempre.Un abrazo grande.

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  13. Thanks for sharing photos, marvellous garden. Beautiful colors with pinks and reds.

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  14. Oh wow....breathtaking! I do wish my garden looked like that.....I'll dream on....xxxxx

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  15. What a beautiful garden you showed. I wish I had one like this. So colourfull.
    Have a wonderful day Jennifer.

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  16. Missing my peonies now. C'mon spring.

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  17. A beautiful garden! So nice to see it on this snowy day. I love the brick building... just perfect.
    ~julie

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  18. Just beautiful! I love the sense of serenity in a walled garden.

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  19. Hi Jennifer
    We were at this one - it was lovely and your photos really show it off!
    THANKS for the Through the Garden Gate dates! I thought I would buy tickets to both days this year but then thought I should check my other favourites and sure enough: the Niagara on the Lake tour is on Saturday June 8th, so i think I'll go to that and then do Toronto on the Sunday. Also, FYI - the Cabbagetown garden tour is Sunday June 2.
    Oh! I am already getting excited about touring! A bit premature since we've still got minus 14 wind chills…brrrrr!

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  20. I thought this garden was delightful. My favourite spot was that blousy vase of peonies - both my friend Peggy and I took photos with it. Next life I'll have a garden with more sun and more peonies. On a separate note, if you're going on Saturday, be sure to bring a bundle buggy of sorts to the lunch - in the past there has been a tremendous amount of product/samples to take back to your car.
    Barbarapc

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    1. Today was positively crazy. I will be in touch shortly Barbara.

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  21. Great photos! It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who loves peonies. They seem to be out of fashion in some circle which is a shame. Makes me yearn for last year's warmer weather.

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  22. You can tell this is a very special garden. I am having trouble remembering what a garden looks like right now!

    The Japanese Beetle trap is made by Tanglefoot, sold in my area on Amazon.

    Eileen

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    1. Thanks Eileen for the information on the beetle trap. I will definitely check it out.

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  23. This garden is just amazing! It makes me hope that my peonies will actually bloom at some time! I, too, love that personal touch that the gardener gives.

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  24. Gorgeous, what an amazing garden, peony heaven! The colours in your first photo are stunningly beautiful.

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  25. How very beautiful.

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