A Weekend Trip to the Toronto Islands

We have lived in the Toronto area for almost 30 years and yet there are still popular destinations that we have never managed to visit. 

Last weekend we used the Toronto Islands Spring Garden Tour as an excuse to check off one more spot on our list of points of interest we haven't explored. 

As you can see here on the map, there is a crescent-shaped cluster of islands just off-shore in the Toronto harbour. 

There is no bridge to the islands. If you want to get there, you have to take a ferry ride.

As well as being a  popular recreational destination, the Toronto Islands are home to a small residential community. Our ferry took us out to Ward's Island. 

The weather couldn't have been better for our first visit! 

Other than service vehicles, there are no cars on the Toronto islands. Bikes are as motorized as it gets. 

The houses are largely cottage style with picturesque lane ways in between them like this one.

Though the view of Toronto's busy downtown core is often within eyesight, 

the atmosphere on the island is relaxed and casual. 

Everywhere we looked it seemed that there are quaint cottages with pretty gardens. 

Today, I am going to show you one of my favourite gardens on the tour.

A flagstone path lined with ferns leads into the core to this garden.

At the heart of the garden, there is a shallow pond with rustic bench under a Redbud covered in 

small magenta-pink flowers.

A stone bridge leads you across the pond.

This is a shady garden and so there were lots of ferns among the plantings, as well as this white 

flowering Epimedium on the right.

I loved this delicate ferns with its fine black stems. I have no idea of its name, but am going to make a point of looking for a plant to purchase at my favourite local nursery.

This is the view looking back to the entrance gate.

A closeup of the entrance gate.

We'll pause for a break at the Island Cafe before touring a few more of gardens on Ward's Island.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

P.S. I promise to post the winners of the Loblaw gift cards up next.

The Garden in the first days of June

Is it just me, or is June passing by at lightening speed? 

With a second chest cold keeping me from my garden, I found that the early summer flowers came and went before I had much of a chance to take any pictures. Already the peonies are almost finished and I have very few records of them.

Let's take a look at what I did manage to document in the first days of the month.

Baptisia nicely anchors the corner of the front garden.

As you can see, it is quite a sizeable perennial.

In the center of the front flowerbed, there is a pretty clematis that only reaches 4' in height. 

I like its small size so much that I have decided to collect more of these shorter varieties.

I have two clumps of Oriental poppies. I find their vivid, orangey-red color clashes with the blues, pinks and purples that dominate the garden in June.

So next year, I am going to move them to a new spot in the backyard and replace them with these soft, pink poppies that I saw on a recent garden tour.

One of my favourite plants of the moment is this Penstemon.

And just behind it I have a delpinium.

The Korean Lilac by the white picket fence was spectacular this year, but all the other varieties of lilacs were a bust! I had very few blooms in the back garden, so I had better do some pruning to renew them. 

This year I had more peonies than ever. 

As always, they look amazing for a few days. Then rain sends them sinking to the ground.

Gas Plant, Dictamnus fraxinella

The gas plant in the front garden.

The shrubs along the driveway have put on a nice show this month.

This one has a lovely honey scent. 

(This shrub and the previous one were here when we moved in. 

Sorry, I do not know their names. If you do, please be sure to let me know.)

A John Cabot Explorer Rose overhangs the driveway as well.

In the back garden, there is Dame's Rocket that has self-seeded itself everywhere. 

(That's Beauty Bush in the background.)

It get a bit messy looking and is prone to mildew when it finishes flowering, so I yank most of it out. I always manage to miss enough plants for the Rocket to reseed itself for next summer.

Beauty Bush

There are several shades of Spiderwort including mauve and white.

Tall, feathery Thalictrum Aquilegifolium in half-shade.

Tiny Epimedium in full shade of the back garden.

The geraniums are almost finished flowering.

Last year, I was so excited to have one foxglove. This year I have almost ten! 

So what's blooming in your garden? I will be around to visit and see.

I am going to link this post to May Dreams Gardens Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. 

I will also link to Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time. 

To see what is blooming in other gardens around the world, please click the links.