Kiwi Gardens, Perth

I am slowly making my way through the hundreds of pictures I took last summer, scattered between the Canon and the Blackberry. Waiting to edit summer photos while yet another January snow falls softly outside the windows is a reward in itself, and I am thoroughly enjoying the escape to some of the beautiful places and spaces we were able to visit in 2013.

At the end of the first week in June, Paul and I were able to sneak away for a quiet drive to Kiwi Gardens in Perth. Though it is only an hour away, this is the first time we had been there. I was on a quest  for Persicaria Polymorpha, and their website had it listed…the only garden centre, it seemed, anywhere near Kingston that had this particular perennial available...but that is a post (or rant) for another day.

As we pulled into the parking lot, the gardens began, and I instantly regretted leaving the Canon at home.  I said a small prayer to my husband's Blackberry and hoped it would do some justice in capturing what I was seeing. The garden centre is surrounded by lush forest, and overcast skies gave contrast to the vibrancy of the perennial beds, most designed with shade loving perennials and native shrubs…I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Parking lot border

A lesson in the effective use of ground covers,
colour and composition.

Beautiful flagstone pathways -
hostas clearly thrive here

The nursery - I was impressed with the staff as much as the gardens.
Everyone was incredibly friendly and possessed a genuine, passionate
knowledge about the plants they sell. 

Pathways lead you through tantalizing display gardens,
many perennials are identified along the way
for gardeners of all abilities.

Hostas!

Beautiful artwork is displayed along the walkways.

Display bed - perennials are grown and propagated on site.

Kiwi gardens is situated on ten acres near Perth, Ontario. The owners have been in business for twenty-five years and though I did not have the opportunity to meet them, their love of the plants and nature is evident in every beautiful nook and cranny. I look forward to visiting again this spring and perhaps wandering a little longer.

Theirs represents the dream of a life I hope to have someday, working and living amongst gardens, sustaining, nourishing and cherishing diversity. Kiwi Gardens offers a refuge for 3000 perennials, many unique and not easy to find on the tables of our mainstream garden centres. A plant list is available on their website, and I urge you to browse through it as we sit and wait, planning for spring. If you are lucky enough to visit and shop, I urge you to bring your camera and comfortable shoes for strolling the trails.

By the way, I did find my Persicaria, and purchased three healthy plants along with five Carex Rosea and a few more perennial treasures.

Wishing you lovely day!

Blood, Sweat & Tears: The Making of a Shade Garden

I thought I would share the project that kicked off my gardening season last March. I had been working on design plans all winter for our own property, and redoing the side yard took priority as I knew I wanted to move some mature plants early in the spring. Our side yard is actually a good size, and you can see in one of my first posts about my lovely twisted sisters that it is also rather bare with a slope of approximately three feet. The previous homeowner had used this area for a daycare and had 12 yards of sand dumped in for the kids to play on. Not so good for lawn or garden, but with perseverance and a great deal of compost I have slowly been able to improve the growing conditions.

Even though the grass now grows, this portion of our property is hardly used as it is completely visible to the neighbour who frightens the kids and the dog. Perhaps I'll enlighten you more in another post, but I'll be be charitable today and spare everyone the ongoing saga of the fight for privacy from said scary neighbour.

I planned the new shade garden to consist of two tiers to address the slope. Each tier measure 8' wide by 24' long. As our property sits perched on fractured limestone, the first order of business was to search for the ever prevalent rock that plagues my gardening enjoyment. This first find proved to be a challenge. Barely sticking out of the soil, I had no idea what I was about to get myself into...a battle with a three foot triangle of limestone that did not want to go quietly.

There is nothing like a pair of steel-toed boots to make a girl feel like superwoman! Armed with a shovel and a pry bar, and a weak knowledge of basic physics, I started off feeling rather invincible. Two hours later, exhausted, and utterly annoyed I called in back-up. My son Jo was 13 in that photo, and had sprung up to 6'2" over the course of the winter. His new found strength came in handy though he enjoyed gloating a little too much that he was finally stronger than his mother. (In my defence I do believe the rock was still wet, and therefore heavy, from the spring thaw...I can normally do this on my own.)

Triumph! With Jo's help (he's still in his pajamas!) the rock was shimmied over to take the corner position of the first tier. To finish off, stone was unearthed from this garden area and other various locations, and after four days of digging, lugging, preparing base, and levelling I was ready to start prepping the soil...and have a very long nap.

Lots of compost went into the beds as well as five yards of Gro-Max which is a fantastic product I order from my local supplier. The garden filled in with a lovely mixture of textures and my favourite vibrant hues of green from emerald to chartreuse...perennials include hostas, ferns, brunnera 'Jack Frost', heucheras, polemonium (Jacob's Ladder), Alchemilla mollis, (Lady's Mantle), hydrangea 'Annabelle'. I added two clipped yews for vertical accent and two Japanese maples which my wonderful, thrifty husband had bought for me at an end-of-year blowout sale for only $8.00 each.

Here are some photos of the finished product as it started to fill out in May and June:

Upper tier

My elegant $8 japanese maple looking pretty in the morning sun

A hedge of Annabelle hydrangea back the lower tier

Though it looks like fall this photo was taken at the beginning of July - the effect of the drought can be seen with falling leaves littering the curved pathway between the garden and the house. Two large rain barrels sit to the right of this picture which helped keep everyone alive.

I am so looking forward to seeing this garden spring back to life over the next two months. Until next time I wish you sunshine, warm days, peace and joy!

The Peace of Wild Things

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me 

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, 

and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. 

I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. 

For a time I rest in the grace of the world, 

and am free.

by Wendell Berry (1968)

Quite by accident, I stumbled across this poem this morning by Wendell Berry and I was completely drawn in by those few simple, perfectly ordered words. "...into the peace of wild things". 


Ask gardeners why they garden and you will hear many different and wonderful reasons, but I believe those reasons are all rooted to the same basic need. Beyond the beauty and the joys of creation lies a profound, inescapable connection to the earth; an ancient yearning that draws us in and commands us to stay away awhile. It is a seductive undertaking to conjure up and make real our own version of paradise. 

A garden offers escape, hope, healing, reassurance, a chance to breathe.


In the mornings I am lured by the perfumes of freshly turned soil, the scent of lavender, lemon balm and thyme, bird song and water trickling, the sparkle of dew and a serenity that comes from being witness to all of those things. 


Your version of a peaceful setting will be different than mine, this is a very personal thing. For me, woodland and Japanese (or zen) gardens are two gardening styles that perhaps best incorporate this bit of alluring wildness into the mix. I love trees and of course they are valuable for so many important reasons. They provide us with structure, rhythm and movement, an assortment of colour and interest, shade and protection, and bring a voice to the wind. They can be small and graceful, or large and stately and no matter the size of your space one can be found that will make your heart sing.


Here are a few of some of my favourite inspirational gardens - I think they all capture the essence of peace and serenity in the garden.

(Photo: The Honey Tree Nursery, PEI)

Grace in the garden with a planting of gorgeous Japanese snowbelles (styrax japonicas).


Hardy in zones 5-8, this smaller tree grows to height and spread of 25'...perfect for smaller yards. Dainty white blooms add beauty to the garden in late June. A touch of formality is offered up by the boxwoods. I love the curves of this rustic gravel pathway 
...leads the eye to the sculpture and fountain and what lies beyond.

Rick Darke's American Woodland Garden. The thoughtful design of this garden
created a truly spectacular and peaceful setting. Native plants were used extensively.
I would love to take a stroll beside the stream and meditate with nature for a while.

Image ⓒ Dency Kane from Barbara Pleasant’s Garden Stone

A small pond and fountain tucked away in the corner of the garden
brings pure pleasure to even the smallest yard or balcony. Natural stones smothered in moss anchor the dainty textures of ferns and grasses - a lovely, tranquil spot.

( Photo via finegardening.com)

Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringe Tree):

I adore the wild and charming nature of this native tree which gifts white spring flower to the garden. Like the Japanese snowbell, this graceful beauty reaches heights of 12-20' and is hardy to zone 4. Last summer 

Utilities Kingston Water Conservation Garden: spring 2011
A little bit of peace in the midst of the city.


This is a project is very near and dear to my heart. 
My husband I designed and installed this section of the garden in 2009-2010. 
(Would you believe there is parking left just to the left of this photo.) 


Flagstone pathways lead to sitting stones overlooking the swale.
Sweet woodruff as ground cover, mingles through the hostas and tiarella - 
a contemplative space under the shade of silver maples 
for employees and the public to enjoy.

(Photo via houzz.com)


That wild and peaceful feeling can still be found within a more modern setting.
This lovely design by Samuel H. Williamson Associates incorporates simple lines
with a relaxed atmosphere created by a soothing palette. A water feature provides the soothing musical overtones to this alluring courtyard garden.




I would love to hear your thoughts 
and cherish your comments!


Have a beautiful day!