Spring Forward!

Did you remember to change your clocks? I know you, like my teenage daughters, might meet this grand day with some moans and groans as you realize you just lost an hour of sleep. But for me, today has all the excitement of Christmas morning, the clocks moving ahead that wonderful hour means that I have the gift a "normal" life again.

For reasons unknown, my body decided four years ago that it simply didn't care what time it was anymore. The time would change, but I would not. I have always been an early riser, and grateful for it... up before the sun, usually between 4 and 5 a.m. With a house full of kids, a very busy husband, two cats, a dog and a japanese fighting fish named Princess, two hours alone every morning with my coffee and my thoughts is a much cherished ritual. In the fall when we turn the clocks back an hour, my body wakes itself up at 3 a.m -  not nearly so desirable and it can be hard to keep busy that early in the morning when there is nothing but snow and darkness about.

But today I am just giddy with anticipation and I hope wherever you are that you can share in my happiness! In addition to the time change, it seems Mother Nature has finally decided to smile upon us and deliver a balmy day of 9 C and with a warming trend the rest of the week. As far I am concerned, today is MY first day of spring, and I am already wandering around in my blundstones waiting for the sun to come up so I can get outside and do something.

And there is so, so much to do!

My list is rather long - I will be out there brandishing the pruners, tackling the shrubs, cutting back the grasses, and picking up all the stuff that was left behind in the fall and tossed around in the wind storm two weeks ago. No doubt I will calling out to my son to pick up dog poop he missed over the winter and for my husband to please help me clean and sharpen the tools. The patio chairs will receive their cushions, the bbq will be cleaned, and perhaps the waterfall will be started up in the pond. We will be looking (praying) for the coi and trying to decide if the frog floating around on its back is just sleeping or has met an untimely demise (whereupon we will distract my five year old so that said frog can be gently removed).

I will walk the gardens seeking signs of life...the sweet cabbage-like buds of sedum, the dainty strands of crocus, buds swelling on the lilac, plum and apple. I have been writing this long enough that the song of robin and whip-poor-will have started up and it is now time to go.

It is going to be a glorious day!

So until next time when I may have some lovely shots of my own garden to share, all spick and span, and bursting with life, I would like to share some photos from other gardeners who have been enjoying spring a little longer than I have.

From the lovely blog Wife, Gardener, Mother we have these gorgeous snowdrops and crocus...

Just love this cheerful little crocus surrounded by sedum acre:
http://wifemothergardener.blogspot.com

And from Sweetbay are these shots from her garden taken last April and May - she has the most beautiful woodland gardens...

White iris are stunning

A lush planting

And an elegant Alabama Azalea

And from a blog I found just yesterday, Rhone Street Gardens, we have these beautiful photographs from Scott Weber...

Snowdrops

vibrant hues of sedum welcome spring

I hope you enjoy this glorious Sunday and all that it has to offer. Happy gardening!

Simple Pleasures

Good morning! It is Family Day in Ontario which means on this sun-filled February morning my house is bustling with the comings and goings of my wonderful husband and four of my gorgeous children (and so far everyone is getting along and the decibel level is bearable). We often start feeling a little cramped this time of year, and we are aching to get out into the backyard where freedom reigns and there is plenty of room for everyone.

The spring and summer months are filled with so many delights, but I cherish the simple joys most of all...those that add a richness and wholeness to daily life, the tiny but powerful anchors that bring us back to earth and remind us of our humanity.

In the hammock under the maples, summer 2010

The garden is our summer house. The kids run through pathways, count frogs in the pond, pick mulberries and currants, and sit and swing. We bbq almost every day and wonder at the stars on bonfire nights, swatting mosquitoes and inhaling the fragrance of night-scented nicotiana.

We need a new hammock to hang between the only two perfectly spaced maples...I do believe I could fall in love with this one and wonder how much time I can find to hide away and read a book...

this one is lovely too, and perhaps a little more durable...

the view is breathtaking and reminds me that a summer vacation is long overdue...

A basket of cozy cushions on the patio would be nice....

but first to see the grape hyacinth...

frokeniknopp.blogspot.com

and how I look forward to the scent of lilacs...

and the graceful spires of delphinium...

frokeniknopp.blogspot.com

and tucking in pretty pots of begonia to the shady corners...

I would like to create a romantically wild refuge in the 

back corner where little girls can hide from their big brother....

from biba.blogspot.com

and plant more cosmos this year between the grasses...

and incorporate more herbs into the mixed beds like anise... 

then end each day with a family dinner in a space like this...

Penelope Bianchi's garden

Thank you so much for stopping in today...wishing you all the best of life's simple pleasures. I would love to hear what inspires you and invite you to  leave all thoughts & comments below.

Deciphering your garden style

Show me your garden 

and I shall tell you 

what you are.

~ Alfred Austin

My Mom was the gentlest of souls. She was quiet but creative, shy but powerful, and her touch spoke volumes.  She was a passionate gardener, though a little careful in her decisions. In her front gardens (the bit the public could see) she allowed only geraniums, begonias, dusty miller and sweet alyssum. But in our back gardens she adored a profusion of peonies, roses, tiger lilies, asters... soft pinks, punches of colour and summer fragrance. A true romantic. Often shy, my Mom was able to express herself with greater clarity and confidence in the garden.
Gardens are a reflection of who we are. For the new gardener it can all be very confusing and the biggest challenge is just trying to figure out where to begin. 
To that I would say, you must begin at the beginning. Before a shovel so much as touches the earth you have to make some decisions...many actually, but we are going to take this one step at a time.
You have to decide what makes you content, fulfilled, at peace...at one with your own universe.
A good place to start is your wardrobe. How do you like to dress: is your closet filled with simple lines, muted tones, the perfect black dress, a touch of silver, everything refined and polished. Or do you love prancing around in prairie skirts, ruffles and flip flops. Does vintage make you swoon or are you a jeans and t-shirt sort of gal (or guy). Now head out of the closet and take a look at the interior of your home - what is your style, do you like modern, classic, shabby chic? What are your favourite colours, textures, patterns?
These are all good places to look for clues that will help you blend your garden harmoniously with your house and your lifestyle. And, dear friends, that is our illustrious end goal.
Lets explore this a bit more with some pretty visuals:
If you love modern sensibilities and nothing pleases you more than simple, clean lines and a distinct lack of clutter then you might just like the modern style of gardening. This is characterized by strong geometrical shapes and straight lines in pathways, patios and gardens. The use of hard materials is used extensively and plant material is carefully selected to give maximum effect with limited selection. The planting scheme is often monochromatic. 

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Modern

or maybe.....

Or maybe you are a girly-girl at heart and pinks, peaches and other pastels make you happy. Your interiors could have a touch of vintage, classical or french charm - floral patterns, sumptuous pillows and sparkling crystal bring daily joy. A bit of ruffle, a touch of cashmere, a beautiful brooch... you are a romantic. 

Romantics often find a kindred spirit in cottage, english and french garden styles. These approaches include carefully orchestrated colour palettes and colourful borders bursting with perennials and annuals. The style can range from the flamboyant to the charmingly controlled with pleached hedges, boxwood topiary and gorgeous urns to add structure and interest.

janenorman.co.uk
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susancohangardens.com
English style/ Cottage style/Romantic

or maybe like this.....
If you're like me, then you feel most at home in an old pair of jeans. Your casual style might be reflected in the use of natural materials in your home...distressed oak floors mixed with leather furniture mixed with wrought iron fixtures. If you tend to have a relaxed personality, find total bliss in sunsets, hiking, and just watching the butterflies float by then the Prairie style might appeal to you. This style of gardening is very much in tune with the rhythms of nature and also goes by the names "New Perennial Movement" and "sustainable". 
Your garden would consist of the perfect blend of ornamental grasses, native species, and drought tolerant perennials. These gardens mature later in the season, looking their best from July through until early winter and careful attention has to be paid to adding some spring interest. Gardens are densely planted in large drifts...mulch is not wanted or needed here.

Gorge

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Natural prairie style

This has been fun for me...and I could go on like this all day. I know its not always easy trying to figure out what you like, but it is a journey you must take. Edit the stuff out of your life that you've put up with, or inherited, or bought on sale...all the things that drive you nuts for whatever reason when you look at them. 

To find harmony, we must have honesty and bravery.

There are many official styles of gardening. We will not all fit into a box, and I am no exception. I also thank goodness for that, life would be pretty boring. Work through your collection of inspiration photos and see what is floating to the top and taking dominance...then look at what you like next and so on. 

For example, I simply adore many of the french characteristics, the peace I receive from straight lines, the shelter of perfectly spaced trees, (not to mention the little chateau in the south of France)...  I also like the gentle sway and movement of ornamental grasses and the serenity offered by a more monochromatic planting scheme. Styles can be combined, and maybe we should just all call ourselves eclectic and be done with it. There are ways to unite everything you love into a cohesive whole.

That is a lesson for another day.

Thank you so much for reading, I wish you all a very beautiful day.

Scenes from my Shade Gardens

I thought I would share a few shots of my shade gardens with you today. I prefer shaded gardens to any other having never been much of a sun worshipper and possessing a terrible aversion to heat (I'm very fussy for a Canadian).

Under the canopy of trees and tangle of branches the shade garden provides another layer to the garden experience...the movement of shadow and sparkle of light as they play across the textures of hostas and hakone, the cool breezes that provide refuge and tranquillity, the contrast of colour and flower against a subdued backdrop.

A tremendous variety of plants thrive in shade or partial shade - there is plenty to delight here, much more than just hostas (which I love, but they do like lovelier with interesting friends about them).

These photos were taken late spring 2011...I hope you enjoy!

In partial shade at the side of the house I have this sunny combination
of hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Japanese forest grass)  
and Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' (golden oregano)

This small triangular bed beneath two young maples is home to hosta "elegans"
and a new planting of hosta "fragrant bouquet"... love the apple green foliage and
the white flowers are deliciously fragrant as the name implies

This is one of those plants that I look forward to with great anticipation...
deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' looks fabulous in light, dappled shade. Sprays of white buds
last for weeks in late spring before they finally burst into full flower for another two-three weeks.
Dainty and elegant, the lime green foliage adds sparkle to the spring garden,
slowly ripening to a deeper tone by the end of the summer.

A Miss Kim lilac getting reading to bloom last spring. She is in the sun, the 

black chokeberries in partial shade have just started to bloom.

Hosta 'Sum and Substance' backed by a mixed planting of
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (variegated solomons seal),
geranium phaem 'mourning widow' and geranium macrorrhizum 'bevan's variety'...
one of the best behaved ground covers for dry shaded areas.

 

I love ferns...this is ostrich fern with a pretty maidenhair fern,
hosta and a touch of heuchera for a bit of contrast.

Another shot of the chardonnay pearls with spiderwort
and more of that lovely heuchera 'Plum Pudding'. A foxglove left some seedlings for
me and they are just starting to show themselves.

Geranium 'Espresso' (cranesbill)

A cheerful little perennial (makes a nice ground cover too):
Anemone sylvetris in the spring

I would have to add lady's mantle to my top ten list of plants...
adore the crinkled leaves, chartreuse flowers, and that once established is fairly
drought tolerant and easy to divide...
I borrowed this photo from Pinterest, having no idea where mine are at the moment.

I wish you all a beautiful day!

A touch of light

I've found some lovely ideas to bring a little lightness and a touch of sparkle into our lives. Our gardens deserve just a little bit more than those perfect plantings and rhythmic walkways...we need more layers. Adding lighting is one of those layers than can turn a beautiful space into a unique and stunning space.  Extravagant, modern, simple, homemade...you choose the style that makes you feel like a diva, a romeo, or a child at heart with attention captured by the dreamy glow of candlelight and memories of fireflies, bon fires, and the man in the moon.

What could be more glamourous than hanging a chandelier from the rough and twisted limbs of a grand old tree.  The photos below really speak to my inner princess, this contrast of old and new is divine.

We deserve a little decadence
bring a touch of the indoors outside to create
this perfectly inspiring space
PINTEREST

A rustic candelabra & fairy lights dancing in the trees
create a magical effect. I love the log stools but I do believe
I would leave those for the kids.
PINTEREST

An overhead chandelier sparkles over this perfectly laid table.
I can't think of a nicer way to spend a summer afternoon. 

How fun is this!

Now for a little DIY. With a very small investment and some time devoted to creative play you can construct your own wonderful lighting fixtures. Here are some suitably charming ideas below, a few with links that will lead you to the diy instructions. Have fun coming up with your own project , then let us know how they turned out!

recycled light bulbs make charming hanging vases
instructions here

chicken wire and crystals -
how pretty would several of these be hanging
from the trees or the overhead beams of a pergola

pulleys & mason jars - charmingly industrial
instructions here @ http://www.instructables.com/id/Vintage-Pulley-Chandelier/

a simple wire basket (a clam basket in this case)
serves as a very simple candle holder
http://yourcozyhome

and here's another cute little wire basket
with jam jars and crystals
http://www.shelterness.com/

Go forth and measure

It's a lovely, milder day today with temperatures just above zero. I have promised my chiropractor that I would not over-exert my shoulder so I am temporarily sidelined from working on the front porch. What a perfect opportunity to prepare a lesson plan for my students, which I am happy to share with all of you.

This is really all about the initial planning. When we're designing gardens and outdoor spaces there is a long list of questions that we need to ask in order to get things right. You'll need a measuring tape, a level, a notebook, and a camera for taking pictures. Before and after photos are not only a fun keepsake to leave for the grandchildren, but they are incredibly handy when you are working inside away from the project.

Here is a list of features that you should take note of...



The practical:

• Size of your property - enlist the help of a husband, friend or small child to help you hold the tape measure

• Property lines -VERY IMPORTANT...always plan on staying inside your property line by at least 4-6". If you have a fence or hedge directly on the line your neighbour now shares ownership and could tell you to take it all down. Very sad, but it has happened.



Designer Susan Welti, Foras Studio

• Style of your house


• Sun/shade exposure


• Exposure to winds


• Water restrictions: well or city water, rain and weather patterns


• Drainage...are you flooded every spring, does water run toward the house


• Depth and quality of existing soil


• Grade: are you level, sloped, bumpy (sudden grade changes)


• Existing features that cannot be changed: trees to keep, utility poles, fire hydrants etc.


• Borrowed views - a beautiful forest, rolling hills, a water view, or perhaps a tree in your neighbour's yard


• Views to be hidden - this is usually the next door neighbour


• Utilities ( below ground or above): hydro, gas, phone, water, septic, well...these need to clearly marked, always call before you dig so you don't accidentally blow up your neighbourhood


• Accessibility - wider pathways and raised beds can be incorporated for anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues


• Dogs - do you own very big dogs that like to dig, or tiny dogs that could get caught up in the barberry


• Allergies to pollen or bees (this will affect plant choices)


• And perhaps one of the hardest questions of all - how much is your budget

The Emotional:

• Use of space...an area to entertain, a play area for children, a dog run, a secret garden, a vegetable garden, a cutting garden, a pond, a pool, a fire pit, a clothesline, an area for storage, garbage bins, recycling bins, the composter...you may need just one or all of those things


• Desired building materials: natural stone, gravel, cedar... 


• Favourite plant materials


• Do you want it all done now, or can you work with a five year plan


• How much time do you want to spend in the garden - do you look forward to planting, pruning and weeding a la Martha Stewart or do you dream of low maintenance 


• Is this your dream home or are you planning to move in a few years

I know it all seems a little dry, but answering the above is so incredibly important to creating a successful final product and a very happy you that is thrilled to wander around outside, glass of wine in hand, patting yourself on the back for a job well done!

By the way - always check into your local building codes which can dictate how high a fence can be for example, or regulate the construction techniques for retaining walls.

I hope the sun is shining where you are...have a beautiful day!