Third Time's the Charm (Part 2)

Musk Mallow, Malva moschata

Today, I will pick up where we left off in my previous blog post, and we will tour the two remaining garden rooms at Merlin's Hollow, while taking a look at how the garden transitions from spring into summer.

On the upper left, you can see the plan for The Fragrant Garden, which is the first room 

we will walk through.

Heading through the arbor, here is The Fragrant Garden as it looks in June.

Columbine were blooming throughout this part of the garden in the early part of the summer.

As you stroll around, a carpet of creeping thyme fills the air with fragrance.

On my last visit in July, the carpet of thyme was covered in small white flowers.

To the delight of bees and butterflies, lavender flowers also filled the air with their fresh perfume.

Now we will take a quick look at The Rock and Water Garden as it transitions from spring to summer. 

Here is the entrance to this area of the garden as it appears in May.

Spring Pea, 'Lathyrus vernus' in May

In June, there are more delicate Columbine flowers in this part of the garden.

Now here is the same arbor at the entrance to the garden in July. As you can see, a maroon-colored Clematis now covers much of the rustic, wooden arbor.

In July, the garden has filled in so much you can barely see the back door to the house!

Creamy-yellow foxglove, digitalis grandiflora

Musk Mallow, Malva moschata reaches to the top of the bungalow's low roof.

As in the other sections of the garden, there are more delightful, bell-shaped Clematis.

Here is a perennial that I am dying to add to my own garden: Queen of the Prairie or Meadowsweet (as it is sometimes called), Filipendula rubra. 

This variety has pink, cotton candy flowers in summer. Full sun/part shade. Height: 120-180 cm Spread: 90-120 cm. Queen of the Prairie likes moist or wet soil.

Here is the white blooming variety of Queen of the Prairie.

These are a summer blooming allium known as Nodding Onion or allium cernuum. 

I have never had this type of allium in my own garden, but apparently they are very adaptable, and will grow in sun or part shade in dry to medium-well drained soil.

David Tomlinson

So what is the secret to having a beautiful garden just like this one?

Merlin Hollow's big secret is now revealed.

It's not a pretty picture, but make no mistake, this stuff is gold. Rich, black gold!

All along the garden's back fence there are numerous piles of composted leaves and vegetation.

A white Hollyhock

Though it is a private garden, Merlin's Hollow is open to the public on a number of occasions each year. 

You can tour the garden located in Aurora, Ontario free of charge on the 2nd Saturday in May, the 2nd Saturday in June, the 1st Saturday in July and 2nd Sunday in July.