A Poolside Garden in Forest Hill, Ontario

Swimming pools are a wonderful luxury in summer, but in terms of garden design, they can really become a big, hulking presence that can dominate a backyard- and not necessarily in a good way. 

It is possible however, to combine a swimming pool with a garden and do it tastefully. Here is just one example.

Flowerbeds dress up the stone-colored perimeter fencing in this Rosedale, Ontario garden greatly adding to the home's curb appeal.

In the half-shade, there are peonies, hosta, foxglove (above) and a number of varieties of salvia (below).

The clipped box hedging means that the public face of this garden is always tidy and presentable.

On the left, we see the entrance to the garden. (I believe these are two Weeping Copper Beech on either side of the walkway to the backyard, but please correct me if I am wrong.)

On the right, we are just inside the back gate. 

Inside the fence, the garden feels like a secluded oasis. 

Boxwood hedges flow seamlessly in from the property's exterior and keep the area around the pool looking neat and tidy. 

The backyard has quite a bit of tree cover and shade lovers like hosta (below, top left), brunnera (below, bottom left) purple colored Meadow Rue, Thalictrum (bottom right) and this Japanese Fern (above) have been incorporated into the plantings.

This flower-filled urn adds an extra punch of bright color and an interesting variance in 

height to the formal planting.

The boxwood hedge frames this little seating area beautifully.

The greenery also helps to soften the hard edge of the pavers around the pool. (Even if you don't have a pool, this might be a nice way to treat a patio area.)

Set above the pool is a large, vine covered pergola. 

Now, wouldn't this be the perfect spot to relax on a lazy summer afternoon? (Even if the pool area were just plain grass, this pergola would work just as nicely into a garden's design.)

The Wisteria was just starting to fade when I took these pictures.

Hanging baskets of flowers and potted plants are used for summer-long color.

Every area has been considered including this spot on the far side of the pool. 

You will note there is always just enough decorative touches to be pleasing, but not so many things that a space might become cluttered. 

Even if, like me, the only swimming pool you can afford is one of those blow-up kiddie pools, there are still lots of great ideas to take away from this superb garden.

And the latest winner is...

My dear husband helped me to pick the winner of the latest book giveaway. The winner of 66 Square Feet: A Delicious Life is....

Elaine whose blog is named Ramblings from Rosebank. Congratulations!

Elaine, I will be in touch with you shortly to get your mailing address. I am sure you are going to enjoy reading the book and trying the recipes.

Woodland Flowers in May

Woodland Poppy or Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum

Common, humble flowers will always have a place in my garden, but I am always on the lookout for interesting, more unusual plants.

These aren't necessarily new varieties. On the contrary, they are sometimes old favourites that have, for whatever reason, fallen out of fashion. Many times I find they are just plants that I have simply overlooked. Then I will see it in some fresh garden setting and think: wow, isn't that nice! 

I am not sure which is more fun: the hunt or the new discovery. 

Woodland Poppy or Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum Height: 30-45 cm, Spread: 45-60 cm. Prefers moist soil and part to full shade. Beware it is a good self-seeder in the right conditions (although young seedlings are easy to remove). Zone: 4-9

One weekend in early spring 2013 the warm, sunny weather seemed like the perfect excuse for a drive in the country and a visit to a local nursery I haven't yet seen. 

Plant Paradise Nursery has a number of display gardens, but in mid-May, it was the flowerbeds that skirt a tall stand of pines caught the attention of my camera most.

As you can see from the pictures, this is a shaded area with dappled sun.

Foam flower, Tiarella wherryi

Does it get more delicate or pretty than these sweet little Foam flowers? 

These plants make a great groundcover in a moist, shady border or woodland garden. The cloud of starry, white flowers appear in late spring and continue into early summer.

Foam flower, Tiarella wherryi. Height: 20-30 cm, Spread: 25-30 cm Moist, shady conditions.

Creeping Speedwell,  Veronica 'Waterperry Blue' Height: 3-5 cm. Spread: 25-30 cm. Zones 4-9.

I like the dark reddish stems and tiny mauve flowers on this groundcover. New foliage can also have a bronzy-red cast. As you can see from the picture, it was in a somewhat sunnier spot (Full sun/part shade). 

Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis, 'Alba'. Height: 70-90 cm, Spread: 70-90 cm. Part or full shade. Average to moist soil. You can refresh the foliage after it flowers in early spring, but even so, it will go dormant by late summer. Hardy: Zones 2-9.

Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis, 'Goldheart'. Height: 60-90 cm, Spread: 60-90 cm. Part or full shade. Average to moist soil. Will go dormant by late summer. Hardy: Zones 2-9.

Every spring I add a Bleeding Heart plant or two. I just love them! The white variety is my favourite, with 'Goldheart' a strong second. 

As the name suggest 'Goldheart' has the most amazing golden foliage (even more buttery-yellow than my picture shows), but I find the pink flowers clash a little with the leaves. My only wish is 'Goldheart' had white flowers!

Silene, Rolly's Favourite Height: 40-45 cm Spread: 25-30 cm. Full sun/part shade. 

Average to moist soil. 

I have often admired this plant and must put it on my wish list for spring. (Note: It is not a woodland plant and needs a bit more sun.)

Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon' Height: 30-45 cm, Spread: 30-40 cm. Part shade. Fragrant flowers. Zones: 4-8.

Isn't this lovely? Like groundcover Phlox, Woodland Phlox blooms in spring. It looks happy growing in dappled sunlight at the nursery. I made the mistake of planting mine in too much shade and it eventually perished. Fortunately for me, it managed to re-seed itself in a slightly sunnier location.

There is also a fragrant white variety, which I tried out last year. Sadly, it too died and I will have to give it another go this spring.

How I wish Brunnera were not so darned expensive! There are so many nice cultivars.

I have resolved to try to add one new one each year. Here are a few of the varieties on display at the Plant Paradise Nursery:

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' Height: Spread: Heart-shaped silver leaves. Blue flowers in 

spring. Part to full shade. Moist soil. Zones: 2-9.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata' Height: 30-40 cm, Spread: 30-45 cm. Sprays of blue forget-me-not type flowers in spring. Part to full shade and moist conditions. Zones 2-9.

Sedum 'Jose Aubergine'  Height: 48 -70 cm, Spread: 50-70 cm. Full sun. Zones: 3a- 8b

I like the greyish foliage of this sedum I spotted at the nursery. The plant has deep rose flowers in late summer.

 
Our stunning provincial flower: Trillium grandiflorum Height: 20-50 cm, Spread: 30-50 cm. Part shade to full shade. Rich, moist, well-drained soil. Zone: 4-8.

Cowslip Primrose, Primula veris 'Sunset Shades' Height: 15-20 cm, Spread: 25-30 cm. Moist soil and part shade conditons. Zone: 3-9.

My success with Primula is modest at best. Harsh winters and dry summers are not ideal for these cottage garden favourites, but I keep trying. Here are just a few of the charming Primula growing in the shade of the Pine trees at the nursery.

Primula 'Gold Lace'

Cowslip Primrose, Primula veris 'Sunset Shades'

Cowslip Primrose, Primula vers 'Sunset shades'

Have a great weekend everyone! 

P. S. Please click the link if you want to see the nursery's display garden in summer. I promise to have the winner of the 66 Square Feet book draw up next.

More Information and Links:

Plant Paradise Nursery, Garden Centre & Display Gardens is located in Caledon, Ontario. The nursery website. Lorraine, the nursery co-owner's book: A Receipe for Continuous Bloom. Sign up for the monthly newsletter. The events and workshops for 2014. Visit Lorraine's blog. 

Spring Flowering Trees in all their Glory

One weekend last May were driving from here to there when, quite by accident, we came across a field filled dandelions and long rows of ornamental cherry, plum and crabapple trees. None of them were identified. I hope you will forgive me for leaving them as such and appreciate them just as they are.

I have also included a few photographs of magnolia trees in flower that were taken 'round about the same time.

With this post I am answering Les's (A Tidewater Gardener) challenge to select 10 favourite photos from 2013. And if your counting, there are actually 11 pictures in the post, but hopefully that's close enough. If you would like to participate too, please click the link.