Well this has been a strange spring. We are in the last day of June and I still have paeonies blooming together with roses, a first for me! Normally the paeonies come first with their ephemeral but glorious blooms then I get to enjoy the first wave of roses before the japanese beetles hit! Now I have both but no beetles (fingers and toes crossed) … Continue reading In the Garden this Week
This past week was pollinator week across North America pollinatorpartnership.ca and the emphasis was on raising awareness on the importance of pollinators and how to attract and protect them. We should all know about the effects of pesticides like neonicotinoids on bees and gardening more responsibly. After all, whats a few holes in leaves and hand picking pest only brings you closer to nature! Go … Continue reading Pollinator Week
Back in mid April (how time flies…) I went to England to see the glorious woodland bluebells and a sample of the stunning gardens that dot the fair isle. The first few days I spent in London in the up and coming area of Southwark. As I wandered the streets, I noticed the sheer number of green spaces crammed in tiny corners, small garden areas, … Continue reading Urban Landscapes
In spite of our slow spring and chilly wet weather and everyone having a lousy spring cold, the plants are coming in. I’m as dribbly as the rain! A few highlight you may find in your local garden center… First off, my all time favourite, a magnolia 🙂 This one is Centennial Blush, a star magnolia with large white flowers blushed pink at the base. … Continue reading In the Garden Centre this week
Spring is on the way!! Nothing like snowdrops to chase away the winter blahs. My new website and blog page are now live. Please visit me at Garden Graces Plantscapes and subscribe to my new blog postings on the blog page or at gardengraces.ca/blog 🙂 Welcome to a new season! gardengraces.ca Continue reading Spring
As I reflect on the past New Year’s eves and where I have been: Canada, South America, Europe and Dubai; I thought I would share with you the gardens I’ve seen around this time. Some are in the dead of winter and others in the height of summer. Chile My garden at the time and others in Santiago are in their full glory at this … Continue reading Happy New Year!
It is a bright sunny -8deg celsius here in southwestern Ontario, or 17deg fahrenheit for you Americans enjoying your Thanksgiving today. May your day be warmer than mine! My hectic landscaping season came to an abrupt end with a snowstorm and plummeting temperatures but such are the vagaries of weather in our times of climate change. My season was success as a garden designer, head … Continue reading End of another Season
A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the palace and gardens of Versailles. The palace itself is a baroque wonder but sadly jammed with people most of the time now. The gardens are another matter, built on a grand scale by André Le Notre to showcase the Sun King’s power and ambition. André, a gardener and landscape architect was first commissioned … Continue reading Garden of Versailles
Words fail me… Next week could be warm…pray for us poor souls up north 🙂 Happy gardening! http://www.gardengraces.ca Continue reading A Canadian spring
Memories fade as time passes into the future and soldiers of the two great wars pass into the mist. But war does not fade and new battles take their place. Let us not forget. Continue reading Remembrance Day
Garden Graces 