Welcome to my Spring Garden

In the middle distance: maroon colored Clematis 'Bourbon' reaches a height of 4-5 feet.

Wild, untamed and wonderfully fragrant! Welcome to my spring garden!

Gas Plant with blue Amsonia in the foreground. Manchurian Lilac 'Miss Kim' in the distance.

Gas Plant with blue Amsonia.

Gas plant, Dictamnus albus forms a bushy, upright clump of bright green leaves and has tall spires of white flowers in late May/early June. The plant gets its common name from the tiny amount of methane gas its flowers produce. A lighted match will flair if held near the flowers.

This plant is very slow to establish. Average soil is fine. Height: 60-90 cm ( 23-35 inches), Spread 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

Catmint, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' 

Catmint, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' 

Deutzia x lemoinei 'Compacta': has an upright habit and white flowers in spring. Plant it in sun to part-shade in average garden soil. It likes growing conditions to be on the moist side. Height: 4-6', Spread: the same. USDA Zones: 4-8. No serious diseases or problems. Prune in spring after flowering.

Lychnis viscaria 'Splendens': When not in flower forms Lychnis viscaria 'Splendens' forms a low mound of grass-like foliage. Then in early spring magenta flowers appear on tall stems. Height: 45-50 cm (18-20 inches), Spread: 30 cm (12 inches). USDA zones: 3-7.

Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow' has shaggy white flowers with a purple centre. The foliage has a downy texture and a silver-grey-green color. Full sun and average garden soil. Cut the plant back hard after it finishes flowering and it will bloom again. (Note: the common blue form of this plant, Centaurea montana has proved to be problematic in some areas of the Canada and the States. I could not find an notations about this cultivar being invasive). Height: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm (12-23 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9.

Just inside the back gate is the beginnings of a white garden.

The almost-blind, 18 year old Buddy who we've nicknamed "Old Man".

Looking toward the back garden. 

One of the birdbath planters.

Sweet Rocket and Anemone canadensis.

The infamously invasive Anemone canadensis from my last post.

Piper

The first of the Siberian Iris.

Columbine and alliums with a hosta in the near distance.

An apartment style birdhouse and a Dogwood tree on the right.

Columbine

Lupins grown from seed.

Columbine and Lupins.

Pink Columbine and and an Allium.

The path leading toward my four raised beds. 

Dwarf Korean Lilac tree form, Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' in the near distance.

'Boomerang' Lilac on the left. 

'Boomerang' Lilac blooms in the spring, and then after a short rest through the heat of summer, again in the late summer/fall. Fragrant. Full sun. Height: 4-5 ft, Spread: 4-5 ft. USDA zones:3-7.

Scraps

Not sure of this one. Geranium cantabrigiense ' Biokovo Karmina' maybe?

Prairie Smoke, Geum triflorum is a western native with decorative seed heads that look like puffs of smoke. Well-drained soil is crucial for this plant. Full sun and summer weather that is not too hot are best. Once established Geum triflorum is pretty low maintenance and is very drought tolerant. Height: 25-30 cm (10-12 inches), Spread: 40-60 cm (16-24 inches). USDA zones 3-7.

Read more about types of Violets here.

Viola sororia 'Freckles' has white flowers with china-blue speckles and heart-shaped, bright green leaves. This violet is native to Eastern North America. Part-shade or full shade. Average garden soil and average moisture levels will suit this violet. Viola sororia 'Freckles' will spread through self-seeding. Height: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches), Spread: 15-30 cm (6-12 inches). USDA zones:3-9.

The herb garden.

Pinks, Dianthus are sold as an annual here, but they usually come back the second year. 

My fairy garden project from a few weeks ago.

Tall bearded Iris with a Columbine in the background.

 Columbine

Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata

Blue Forget-me-nots, Geranium 'Sambour' (burgundy flowers) 

and a white variety of Woodland Phlox on the right.

Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata 'May Breeze' has fragrant, star-shaped white flowers in early spring. Unlike more familiar Phlox paniculata that blooms much later in the summer, this plant has fine, delicate foliage. Phlox divaricata 'May Breeze' slowly spreads to form a small clump. Divide in the fall. Moist soil and part to full shade are this plants preferences. Height: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm ( 12-23 inches). USDA zones: 3-9.

My picture does not do the unusual blue-grey color of this hosta justice.

Hosta 'Joy Ride' not only has great curves, it also has foliage with a wonderful powdery, blue-green color. Light lavender flowers appear mid-summer. Part-shade to full shade. Height: 40-45 cm (16-18 inches), Spread: 90 cm ( 35 inches). USDA zones: 3-9.

An island-shaped shade garden in the back part of the yard.

A Buddha meditating in the same island-shaped bed.

Mourning Widow Cranesbill, Geranium phaeum 'Samobor' has deep red flowers and green foliage splashed with maroon. One great thing about many geraniums are their versatility in terms of sun exposure; full sun, part-shade or full shade will often work for them. Geranium phaeum 'Samobor'  is a prolific self-seeder. Cut the plant back hard to the ground after it flowers and you'll get rid of unwanted seedlings and have nice, fresh green leaves in a week or two. Height: 60-80 cm (23-31 inches), Spread: 60-70 cm (23-27 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia is a short-lived perennial that takes a year or so to flower. Typically they put on their best display in year three and then they disappear. Plant it in rich, moist soil. Full sun to part-shade. Height: 20-30 cm ( 8-12 inches), Spread: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

Pots of Pansies at the very back of the garden.

Such a weird color combination, but I love it!

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my spring garden!

A Garden as Theatre

A vase of white peonies dress up the trellised seating area

Generally I am not a huge fan of perimeter planting where the garden follows its way around the outer edge of a piece of property. 

It not that there is anything wrong with this type of layout. It's just that there are so many other more interesting and creative approaches to garden design.

The garden I am about to show you would be an exception to this point of view. Here the well executed perimeter planting seems to work in perfect concert with the formal style of the design. 

The fenced-in area between the house and garage.

This garden is a side yard rather than a backyard, but the same approach could easily be taken in a backyard.

Between the house and garage is a private walkway that the owner has transformed into narrow courtyard complete with a patio table and chairs. 

The walkway leads you around the back of the garage to a seating area with a large overhead trellis. 

It is from this vantage point that you get your first glimpse of the garden that stretches out in front of you. Here is a very rough plan of the garden:

Sitting comfortably in the wicker chairs and looking out at the flowers in bloom, listening to the water splash in the fountain, watching the bees flit amongst the flowers seems almost like a bit of garden theatre. 

Certainly, watching the coming and goings of insects and birds must provide hours of relaxing entertainment.

And after you have sipped your morning coffee and want to stroll into the garden to better appreciate what's in bloom, there is a path the leads you all the way around the garden.

These first two images were taken in May when pink tulips were flowering. Clematis vines have just started to make their way up a number of supports that run the length of the fence.

Here we are in June. 

The Clematis have come on strong and are almost hiding the wood fence. There is even a Clematis flower or two.

Gorgeous pink peonies have replaced the tulips.

Opposite the peonies there are more pink flowers. This time it is the tall spires of pink Lupins.

Briefly on growing Lupins:

Lupins do best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil that is on the moist side. They will tolerate average or sandy soil, but dislike clay soil. Plant them in full sun. 

Lupins will sometimes fail to come back a second year, so to maintain the vigour of your Lupin deadhead it once it flowers to prevent it from going to seed. 

Growing Lupins from Seed:

If you want to grow lupins from seed, direct sow them into the ground in the fall. Lupins sown in spring will need cold stratification (a short period of time simulating cold, wintery conditions. Put lupin seeds in a ziplock bag and place them in the refrigerator for approximately 7 days).  Just before you sow them, soak them overnight in lukewarm water. Sow the seed shallowly (about 1/8" deep).

Lupins have long, fragile taproots that don't take kindly to being transplanted. For this reason, it is a good idea to grow them in peat pots.

The pathway leads all the way back to the cool comfort of the shade.

In the corner, there is a small terra cotta fireplace for cool evenings.

Here warm June days have also brought out the first pink roses which climb their way up

 the trellis supports of the seating area.

One of the things I like best about this garden's design is that it's laid out in a way that really enhances the owner's ability to enjoy her garden. 

And isn't pleasure what gardening should be all about?