Little Moments

Over the years, I have amassed such a huge archive of garden images that I often can't see the forest for the trees (pun fully intended). For today's post, I thought I would go back and show you gardens that have been missed for one reason or another. Each has a special moment that I think you'll enjoy. The ideas are largely self-explanatory and there are lots of pictures so I will keep the text to a minimum. 

The first set of images is of a home in the countryside near Guelph, Ontario. The pictures show the entrance at the side of the house and a courtyard at the back of the house.

Wishing wells are not a new idea, but I thought this one was nicely done. The star of the show is a patio Clematis (sorry I don't know the specific cultivar) that will only reach a height of five or six feet. 

The purple pom-poms are Verbena Bonariensis (an annual flower).

Salvia is the other flower at the base of the wishing well.

I thought that propping an old door against a blank wall was a rather fun idea. The horseshoes are no doubt for luck. In the foreground, there is a moss-covered stone with a jet of water that empties into a reservoir hidden under a covering of river rocks.

In the courtyard, I liked the baskets hung on the wall. On the table, there is a cute wooden box that you can see in detail in the next shot.

A nice mix of perennials and grasses. Private garden in Caledon, Ontario.

Penstemon 'Dark Towers'

The whimsy of the figure carrying the weight of the flowerbox made me smile.

  Private garden in Stratford, Ontario.

Private garden in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Yet another bit of whimsy that repurposes antiques.

Private Garden Toronto

A little reminder that a vigorous groundcover is not always a bad thing...


Lamium maculatum 'Shell Pink' is a nice change from the more common purple variety.

Although I prefer to play it safe.

  Private garden in Stratford, Ontario.

This arbour at the side of the garage marks the entrance to the back garden. The inclusion of a bench is a nice anchor for the tall structure and elevates the duck container planting to a place where you'll notice it. 

 Private garden in Stratford, Ontario.

Private garden in Stratford, Ontario.

Not every yard or budget has room for a big gazebo. This small wooden structure is just the right size to work in the small space and still offers enough room for a few comfortable chairs.

Private Garden Mississauga, Ontario

Perhaps your taste is more contemporary– then how about this covered deck. The mix of metal and wood is very attractive.

 Private garden in Stratford, Ontario.

And how nice is this firepit area? Imagine sitting by the fire and listening to the pleasant sound of cascading water. 

To be brutally honest, this rental property didn't have the most attractive facade, but boy oh boy did the front garden ever make up for it. The whole yard was wall-to-wall flowers. If I remember correctly the landlord's daughter was a horticultural student (with an obvious gift).

Single Hollyhocks

 Daylilies, Shasta daisies and the silver-grey plant on the right is Lamb's Ears.

It's not often I am stumped by a plant these days, but I have no idea what this purple flower is. A herb perhaps? If you know it, please leave a comment below. I'd love to grow it myself.

 Double hollyhocks

Even in a middle-sized garden, you can have a series of pathways and still have room left over for a lawn.

A small pond in a private garden in Toronto.

A closeup of the Peonies.

Private garden in Toronto.

The only thing going on in this particular front garden was a big patch of bearded Iris. It just goes to show you that even a single type of plant can create a special moment.