The Flowers Garden, Oakville Ontario

This week I am celebrating the first anniversary of my garden blog. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all those kind people who allowed me to photograph and share their private gardens. 

Today, I would like to show you another garden we photographed on last year's Water Garden Tour.

The Flowers family of Oakville, Ontario had not one, but two ponds in their small suburban garden. The first, a more formal pond, had a square shape framed by paving stones and was filled with white water lilies, when we visited (shown above). 

The second water feature, a more casual design, was constructed at the bottom of an old, unused swimming pool. At one end of the old pool, the Flower's created a cascading waterfall, which tumbled down several feet to a small pond, which they installed at the bottom of the former pool. Opposite the waterfall, a short flight of stone steps was built to lead visitors down to pond level.

The second pond in the backyard is fed by a cascading waterfall. 

If last summer's Greater Toronto Water Garden Tour was any indication, there seems to be a bit of a trend to turn under used, high maintenance backyard swimming pools into garden ponds. 

The pond at the bottom of the old swimming pool.

The plantings at the edge of the pond included a ferny astilbe that was about to flower.

The garden had a number of inspirational ideas. Above, a light weight bamboo screen was used to disguise a standard back yard fence.

A set of wooden chimes added to the Japanese theme and was a nice reminder to layer sound into a garden's array of sensory pleasures.

Here is another rather fun idea. Standard copper pipe was used to construct the arbor which framed the entrance to the back garden.

A daylily from the front garden.

A canopy of mature trees somewhat limited the plantings in the back garden to shade loving perennials like hosta and ferns. The front yard, on the other hand, enjoyed all the advantages of full sun and was planted with a wide range of flowering plants.

There are so many different varieties of clematis available these days, aren't there? I thought this one was quite striking.

A birdbath vignette from the front garden.

We weren't the only visitors to the garden that day.

Isn't this lovely? I don't know why you don't see white echinacea in gardens. 

I also think white phlox is underused in preference to more popular pink varieties. 

Again, my thanks to the Flowers of Oakville and to all the other gardeners who were generous enough to allow me to share their private gardens through this blog.

The Sperling Garden, Hamilton Ontario

Deep in their roots,

All flowers keep the light.

                                                                                                            Theodore Roethke

Debbie Sperling has many plans for her large property located just outside of Hamilton, Ontario and considers her garden very much to be a work in progress.

The three year old pond was one of the first projects that she and her husband tackled. An old swimming pool located just off the back deck was transformed into a large figure eight shaped pond. A japanese style wooden bridge crosses the pond at the narrowest point and links the two sections of the pond.

A flagstone path encircles the pond. In this picture Joe Pie weed, rust colored daylilies, Ligularia and assorted grasses are planted just beyond the waters edge.

 At the far end of the pond, water bubbles to the surface and then cascades down a series of waterfalls.

Variegated Weiglia and ground cover evergreens are planted alongside the path that leads to the top of the waterfall. 

The pond attracts lots of wildlife including hawks and eagles. Here a dragonfly keeps watch over the pond on the curve of a slender reed.

The water buckles into ripples as the excited koi scramble for food.

A frog surfaces what the fuss is all about.

There are many places to sit and view the garden including this quite corner.

Though in the early stages of creation, Debbie's garden is already one of the nicest I have seen. 

The Fraser Garden, Burlington Ontario

The Fraser's of Burlington have meet the twin challenges of deep shade and a steeply sloping lot head on.

Rock was brought in and a series of terraces terraces and a stepped path were added.

At the bottom of the ravine, a wooden bridge was built over a natural stream. The area was planted with shade loving ferns, hosta and astilbe.

The result is a garden fits seamlessly into the natural landscape.

The Garnet Garden, Oakville Ontario

An intimate view of a Hydrangea flower.

Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Garnet's have a breathtaking view that is simply priceless. Here adirondack chairs are positioned to look out over the lake.

This is got to be one of my very favorite pictures from the Greater Toronto Water Garden Tour. I love the mix of the pink hydrangeas and the cool blue tones of Russian Sage.

A bee discovers the Russian Sage flowers.

Shade and moisture loving Astrantia makes a abstract fairy tale image.

The Garnet's have transformed an old concrete pool into a pond. Don't the water lilies look like a painting by Renoir?

The back garden has a second smaller pond as well.

Astilbe (left) and daylilies create a pretty color combination.

A final piece of eye candy- a Hydrangea from the front garden.

The Jason Garden, Mississauga Ontario

Imagine the pleasure after a long day at work of coming home, collapsing into a comfortable chair and sinking your toes into the warm sand, while staring wistfully over the a cool, blue body of water.
Well that is just what these lucky homeowners do! This sublime garden features a large backyard pond, complete with a sandy beach and comfortable adirondack chairs. No need to head to the cottage. Just light the torches and you are in their own private paradise right in the heart of the big city!

Water cascades from the back of the property into the large five foot deep pond.

Koi dart in and out patches of sunlight under the dappled shade of a large ash and crabapple tree.

And the front garden is just as wonderful! Pondless streams fall over rock wind their way among charming plantings.

The creation of the stream beds were so thoughfully and artistically done that they look absolutely natural.

Sparkling water- crisp, fresh and cool!

A robin takes an early morning bath in the cool water.

The contrasting color and textures of Lady's Mantel (top), burgundy Barberry (right) and a flowering hosta makes a pretty picture.

The morning sunlight dances exquisitely on the leaves of an about-to-bloom hosta.

A sedum in bloom looks amazingly like an underwater creature on an exotic coral wreath.

The star-eyed blooms of a Moonbeam Coreopsis.

Do you get the impression that this must be a large property? Well, its really quite modest. Its just that the owners has done tremendous things with a little imagination and a good deal of hard work. The garden was simply magnificent.