Beginning at the End

This past weekend Toronto hosted garden bloggers from around the world. For me, the Garden Bloggers Fling was a wonderful opportunity to meet some many of the bloggers I feel I know well, but have never actually met.

The final event of the three day Fling was a buffet dinner held at the Toronto Botanical Garden. As well as great food and good company, there were marvellous plant combinations to be seen in the gardens. Here are a few highlights:

Blue Star, Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia + Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' 

+ False Indigo, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' + Salvia nemerosa 'Amethyst' 

Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' has deep violet-blue flowers. This medium sized Salvia tolerates heat and humidity and is drought tolerant once established. Cut back the plant hard after it blooms to rejuvenate the foliage and encourage a second round of flowers. Full sun. Normal, sandy and clay soil are all fine for this plant. It can also tolerate anything from moist to dry conditions once established. Height 45-60 cm (18-23 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9

False Indigo, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a recent introduction from the North Carolina Botanical Garden. This plant forms a nice upright mound of bright green foliage. Smoky-blue flowers are carried on dark green stems mid-spring. Normal, sandy and clay soil are all fine for this plant. It can also tolerate anything from moist to dry conditions once established. Divide plants every 4 to 5 years. Height: 100-135 cm ( 39-53 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

Masterwart, Astrantia major 'Roma' has wonderful pink starry flowers. This perennial likes moist conditions in sun or part shade. Sandy or clay soil is best. Remove spent flowers to encourage more buds and to prevent it from self-seeding everywhere. Height: 60-70 cm (23-27 inches), Spread: 45-50 cm (18-20 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9.

Angelica 

I love the height and architecture of this plant.

Amsonia ciliata 'Spring Sky'

Perennial Sage, Salvia 'Madeline' was bred and introduced by Piet Oudolf. This sage has violet-blue flowers with a white lip. It will grow in a range of soil types and is drought tolerant once established. Height:70-85 cm (27-33 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' is a recent introduction to North America, so the bad news is that this particular cultivar may be a little hard to track down and find. When not in flower this plant makes a large mound of coarse green leaves. Flower shoot skyward on these incredible reddish colored stems. Once finished flowering the spent flowers continue to add architectural interest well into winter. Normal or sandy soil that is on the dry side is best for this plant. Full sun. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

Peony lactiflora 'Krinkled White' + False Indigo, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' in the distance

Perennial Sage, Salvia nemerosa 'Amethyst' has tall spikes of rosy-purple flowers mid-spring. Full sun and well drained soil. Height: (12-30 inches), Spread: (24-36 inches). USDA Zones: 5-11.

Purple Smoke Bush + Astrantia + Allium

Purple Smoke Bush, Cotinus is a shrub that left to its own devises can grow into a tree. It can reach a height of 12 feet and can spread to 12 feet. It requires full sun and can be grown in a variety of soils. USDA Zones: 4-9.

I have never grown these, but believe them to be Stars of Persia, Allium christophii.

Stars of Persia, Allium christophii are a bulbous perennial.  They have grey-green leaves and a flowerhead with star-shaped flowers that have a slight metallic sheen. Flower heads dry well. Full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Height : 45-60 cm (18-24 inches), Spacing 15-22 cm ( 6-9 inches) USDA Zones: 4-9.

False Indigo, Baptisia (Specific yellow colored cultivar unknown) + the tall pink spires of Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone' + blue colored Baptisia australis (on the left).

Some yellow cultivars of Baptisia you might want to consider: Baptisia 'Solar Flare', Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' and Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue'.) 

Unknown peony cultivar. Quite likely Peony lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Unknown single white Peony.

Unknown variety of Catmint. Here are two cultivars you may want to consider:

Blue Catmint, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' is a long blooming perennial (if regularly deadheaded) that has a mounded, bushy habit. It has grey-green foliage and blue flowers. Full sun. Height: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm ( 29-35 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9.

Nepeta x faassenii 'Blue Wonder' is a bit more compact. Height: 30-45 cm (12-18 inches), Spread: 38-45 cm (15-18 inches). USDA Zones 3-9.

Catmint, Nepeta + Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night'

Many thanks to the Fling Committee: Helen Battersby, her sister Sarah Battersby, Lorraine Flanigan, and Veronica Silva. Thanks also to all the bus captains and other volunteers who worked so hard to make this year's Garden Bloggers Fling so much fun! 

To see some other Fling highlights check out the Garden Blogger's Fling Facebook page.

Many apologies, I am well behind on returning visits. 

I promise to catch up with everyone in the next few days.

A Peek Through the Garden Gate

It's the one garden tour I wouldn't ever want to miss!

This spring Through the Garden Gate explores the Lawrence Park area of Toronto.

The tour takes place this Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th from 11am to 4 pm. As always there are lots of gardens to see, but the convenient shuttle bus that runs between gardens makes it easy to cover a lot of ground in one or two days of touring.

Tickets are as follows: 
One-day Pass: Public $45 / TBG Members $40
Two-day Pass: Public $60 / TBG Members $55
Students:$25* (One-day Pass only. * Students must show a valid I.D.)

HST is included in the ticket price.

Tickets will also be available at tour Headquarters on the days of the event starting at 10 am.
Tour headquarters: Blythwood Junior Public School ( 2 Strathgowan Cresent).

Or you can order a ticket online.

 If the media preview was any indication this year's Through the Garden Gate 

looks to be very promising!

Two old Dogs in a Garden

The garden in May was lovely, and at the same time, a bit of a disaster. At the front of the house, the white picket fence was taken down and is still sitting in the driveway waiting to be painted. 

We live on a busy street corner, so the garden always feels a bit exposed, but with the fence down, it feels more so.

Salvia 'Caradonna' with its deep purple stems.

Last winter the city's sidewalk plow removed about a foot of soil off the front of the garden along with the snow. With their roots exposed, many of my roses perished.  

But as you can see from the picture above, many other plants held their ground and continue to flourish.

Amsonia tabernaemontana

In May and early June, Blue Star makes a great companion plant for Gas Plant, Dictamnus albus and the indigo colored flowers of Baptisia australis.

Blue Star, Amsonia tabernaemontana has green willow-like leaves and clusters of sky-blue flowers. Full sun or light shade. Average soil is fine and it will tolerate dry to moist conditions. Height: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9.

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.

At the far end of the front garden, Baptisia australis just coming into flower. Blue Star, Amsonia tabernaemontana is in the foreground.

This Dwarf Korean Lilac smells absolutely divine!

Duetzia "Yuki Cherry Blossom' is a relatively new addition to the garden.

Deutzia 'Yuki Cherry Blossom' preforms best in moist, well-drained soil. Prune in spring after it flowers. Height: 30-36 cm (12-14 inches), Spread: 30-36 cm (12-14 inches). USDA Zones: 5-8.

Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow' has shaggy white flowers with a deep magenta centre. The foliage has a downy texture and a silver-grey-green color. Full sun and average garden soil.  The plant reference I found suggests this plant likes moist soil, but mine seems happy enough in a fairly dry sunny spot. The front of a border is the perfect spot for this plant. Height: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches), Spread: 30-60 cm (12-23 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9.

The backyard is in a state of upheaval. The area just inside the gate has been dug up to address concerns with our septic system. A temporary shed is half-down and a new replacement shed is half-built. Everywhere there are tools, piles of wood and other building materials.

Despite the mess, there are pockets of pretty.

All my Bleeding Hearts were fabulous this year.

Self-seeded Sweet Rocket

Siberian Irises

Columbine

We went for weeks without rain in May, so the garden hose has had to come out earlier than usual. 

Already this spring there have been a few days of 30 degree weather.

The vet surprised me the other day when he told me Scrap was 10 years old. I was fully convinced he was 8! 

He is still pretty spry for an old dog.

Buddy is 15. 

He still likes to follow me out into the garden, but unlike Scarp who always wants to play, Buddy plunks himself down in a comfortable spot in the shade and takes a nap.

Clematis 'Hyde Hall' is a Raymond Evision clematis.

This poor neglected clematis is growing up through a tomato cage. I meant to move it this spring to its final home, but never got around to it. Now the move will have to wait for fall.

The white flowers are huge!

In spring Clematis 'Hyde Hall' has nearly white flowers that are 5-7 inches in size. It reaches a height of only 5-6 ft. Prune all top growth by one third in late winter/early spring. USDA zones: 4-9.

I have been growing Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' in my nursery bed. I'll move it to its final home in the front garden next spring. 

Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' forms a vase-shaped mound of bright green foliage with canary-yellow flowers mid-spring. This plant prefers moist, slightly acidic soil. Full sun to light shade. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread:75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9

 
Euphorbia epithymodies 'First Blush'

Euphorbia epithymodies 'First Blush' tolerates hot dry conditions and yet pulled through a very cold Canadian winter. It likes light, well-drained soil. Full sun. Height: 30 cm (12 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-24 inches). USDA Zones 4-9.

Euphorbia Polychroma

Cushion Spurge, Euphorbia Polychroma has become one of my spring favourites. It has fresh green foliage and bright yellow flowers. Full sun. Average to sandy soil work best for this plant. Once established it likes dry conditions. Height: 30-45 cm (12-18 inches), Spread: 45-60 (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 2-9.

Geum triflorum will grow in most soils, but like many perennials, it will be happiest in well-drained soil that has been enriched with some organic matter. Full sun is best. Once established Geum triflorum is pretty low maintenance and is very drought tolerant. Height: 30 cm, Spread: 40-60 cm. USDA Zone: 3-9

There is a sea of plum Geraniums at the back of the garden. There are a mix of two varieties of geranium: Geranium phaeum 'Samobor' and Geranium phaeum 'Mourning Widow'.

I have learned the hard way that it really pays to cut these prolific self-seeders to the ground the moment the flowers start to go over. Not only do you eliminate unwanted seedlings, you get a fresh flush of new growth that keeps the plants looking attractive all summer.

Geranium maculatum 'Chatto'

What a pretty geranium this is! The color is so light and delicate.

Geranium maculatum 'Chatto' forms a bushy upright clump of green leaves and is among the earliest geraniums to flower. Mauve flowers appear mid-spring and the plant may repeat bloom mid-summer if you cut it back hard after the first flush of flowers. Full sun to light shade.  Average garden soil is fine. This plant prefers slightly moist conditions. Height: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

The weather has been more unpredictable than ever. 

I wonder what June will bring?