Thanks Sue and Bea for the lovely compliments.
Sue, There's a couple of Azaleas in the garden, no Rhodies yet, but I have a new shady bed under some pines I'll be planting in the spring, and I thought I'd like to plant a couple of Rhododenrons there. I remember reading about some very hardy varieties from Finland. I'll have to do some research as I don't know enough about them, like how much sun do they need to flower well?
Bea, how many years, you ask? Why, just a mere couple of years! LOL you know I'm kiddin'! It's been about 15 years with some areas newer than others as I make my way around the house. You only see the parts that are landscaped! I started in the front, then the side where the hot border is fairly recent, and now I'm making my way to the back yard, where I planted a new bed last year. I still have the whole north side of the house to do. So, on one hand it's great to have lots of space, on the other hand it's also not so great, unless you have LOTS of energy, and LOTS of moo-la. LOL Not complaining... I love my garden and I'm proud of what I've managed to get done and I know I'd feel very restrained in a small area. To me, that would be the most challenging of all....to garden in a small space. How to edit down and decide, out of the hundreds of plants that you love, which ones to grow!
Sandy
My garden retrospect '06
Hi Sandy
This is a link to our Rhodie Society here in Halifax. It has some great links and info on it. I have a Rhod. 'Mikkelli' and 'Helliki" spelling ? that are finnish and very hardy. The Mikkelli I bought from Garden Import about 6 years ago. I don't think I've seen Rhodies in there for a couple of years now. They should do well under a pine tree with some winter protection. The Rhodies here in the spring are spectacular! The more sun they get the better bud set but still will bloom fine in some partial cover. Captain Steele (hybridizer) has a gorgeous place in Bayport, NS and has them planted all through the woods. It is a site for sore eyes in the spring!
Sue
http://www.atlanticrhodo.org/
Hi Sue, thanks for the link and the info! I'll go back and have a better look soon. So far, I've found out that Mikelli is the hardiest and Hellikki is a nice deep pink. There's a nursery in Ottawa that always seems to have a large selection of Rhododendrons so I'll check that out in the spring.
Sandy
Hi Sanannie,
Great garden ! Wow !
You have the same rusticity zone than me, here in Québec city.
Let me show you my little garden.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v377/Libi/?action=view&slideshow=true
Wow, Libi. What a lovely lot of peonies. I like the High Noon. Better start looking for one of those. If you have as much snow as usual (or even close) I bet you need those pictures in Québec City.
Ann
Hi Libi. So nice to meet you! Your peonies are fantastic, as are all your other flowers. I hope you don't mind but I peeked at some of your other albums too. Your garden is beautiful and needs to be seen. It looks well thought out, and the structures, pots, ornaments and chairs on the lawn make it look complete. Oh, I like your cedar rail fence too, lol. Please consider starting a thread to showcase your garden and plants! We all love looking at photos. That way, many more people would be able to see them. If you need help posting pictures, let me, or any of us know and we'll be glad to help.
How long have you been gardening? What is that orange vine in the first picture on the second page of your garden album?
You'd never guess where I was this past weekend.... Quebec City! For the Winter Carnival. We stayed in the Old City and walked everywhere. We had so much fun. It was c-o-l-d though. I believe the news said it dipped down to -35C on Friday night! We just dressed very warmly, went to a concert and danced to keep warm. It's a wonderful place and people are very friendly.
In honour of the winter carnival and meeting you, here is a photo of Daylily 'Ice Carnival'.
Hi Libi
Your peony's are awesome! Just love all the different varieties. I definately have a wish list now too. Oh how I wished I had the space to put in all those things.
Nice to meet you glad you stumbled into the group. Thanks for sharing the great photos.
Bea
Wow, You have really nice gardens Sandy, they look just as good in the spring as they do in the fall!
Have you ever thought of trying to get into a magazine, like Canadian Gardening?
I really like all the different paths and how you used different types of stone, it works really well.
Steve
Thanks, Steve for your compliment.
Hey that's an interesting comment. No, to tell you the truth I don't think a magazine spread would turn my crank. My friends tease me about it sometimes, but they are my friends and therefore tend to be very generous with their comments. When I say "no, no" they think I am being modest. A lot of soul and sweat and, yeah, the odd tear has been shed out there and, holy mackerel, how could a magazine article ever convey what I feel when I walk around my garden. Only I know all it's most intimate secrets.... and I know you ALL know exactly what I mean.
Sandy
You bet we know what you mean! There is nothing quite like strolling through your gardens checking on each of your "babies" - knowing which ones are needing a helping hand, being surprised by the runts that suddenly come on like gang busters, mourning the loss of an old friend.......and just feeling that quiet sense of satisfaction with the peace and tranquility you have managed to create in your own little oasis.
--Ginny
Yes, exactly Ginny!
There's the bad that is part of the whole garden story too .... like feeling guilty when the red lily beetles decimated the lilies because I had something better to do; anger when a plant was stolen, frustration when the chipmunks dug city under my rock garden, dissappointment when a thoughtful combination turned out awful, distress when the snowplough backed over and beheaded my little crabapple, etc, etc.... and who but me notices all the plants and knows their story, not just the flashy ones. I have this vision while I'm typing this of the magazine people speeding out of the driveway on to their next assignment and there I stand with my hand up and mouth open saying something like "that's it? but what about....? you forgot such and such...." LOL What's that saying 'there's more to a book than just it's cover', or whatever it is.
Anyhow, luckily the good feelings wipe out all the bad, kind of like life, eh?
Sandy
Sandy, that is so true! A magazine could never express how any of us feels about our gardens.
Sometimes I feel they're a little 'know it all-ish' too. I was looking through the latest issue of Gardening Life and it had the "Top 5 Sins of Gardening", and one of them was that "you should never just go to a garden center and buy one of everything cause this gives your garden a mishmased look with no sense of style!" was something like that anyway....It personaly annoyed me, cause thats just what I do (hehe) and I think my garden looks good. Hmph. Rules can't really be made about that sort of thing.
I really like your description of the magazine people, is probably very accurate :)
Steven
Sandy
I have throughly enjoyed your tour and I too think that heart and soul is in gardening. I have found gardeners to be very nurturing otherwise so many treasures would not make that extra zone or as Ginny puts it " the runts suddenly come on like gang busters".
I also believe in renewal and have found that the garden shows us the way with its rejuvenation each year.
I have dreams of my garden looking like yours someday ! I look forward to seeing the new spring photos
Thanks for the inspiration!
Ann, from the other winter city with a ton of snow.
Steve, I admit to a bit of design-itis, but I don't know how anyone could say a particular style of garden is better than the next. That's like saying the potatoes and veg on your plate should not touch because it looks better and not considering that some people like it all mashed together. Silly really, isn't it?
Thanks, Ann. I like the positive words you used like nurturing, renewal and rejuvention. If I remember correctly, you're going to Chelsea in the spring, so we'll all be looking forward to those pics for sure!
Sandy
Your garden is very well designed, and my own would probably look more like yours if I had more room. Hahaha.
I like your illustration (makes me think of my Dad who mashes it all together) and it is really silly all those rules...
Should have said this in my first post, Thanks for the tour!
Steve
Steve - I love the rationalization "if I had more room". LOL Maybe all of us on suburban lots can use that. I would LOVE to see Sandy's garden written up in Canadian gardening, but I can understand her reasoning too. Meanwhile, I renew my vow to go and visit it once a month or so.
Ann
Ann, you come anytime and we'll have a good garden gab. You guys are kind but you know, the garden wouldn't even be considered for a magazine, I was just playing with the idea. lol
Sandy
You are far too modest Sandy. Your gardens would stand up to almost any I have seen in the magazines. Try to take another look at your second photo at the top of this thread - only do it with complete objectivity. That is a perfect magazine spread shot.
--Ginny
As someone who has seen Sandy's garden, I'm also convinced that she's far too modest. It truly is a work of art (and heart and soul).
Ann
Ann, I concur.