The Garden Within and the Garden Without

As mentioned last post, I did go to a local garden centre last weekend to see their annual installation of an "inspiration garden". I took my crappo camera - my nickname for it, not the brand name!:-) so I wouldn't look like a spy from another garden centre (I worry about these things). Well, going there was as good as a dip in a jacuzzi - muscles relaxed, a smile hovered on my lips and I just felt "Springier"! This year's garden loosely follows a Japanese Garden theme and I loved it. Beautiful use of texture, structures, foliage and stunning water features.



I loved the understated statuary tucked in amongst the greenery - it was very well placed as you could see it from several vantage points but it didn't compete with the star, the water feature.


The pond had Koi fish in it - probably not something I would try at this point, but they do look like jewels in the water. What I really liked was the reflective quality of the water, always shimmering the sky back at you. Fabulous.



I was so excited to see more than one hosta with almost pure white blooms. Rebecca, I knew you would like this so I got the photo for you. :-) There was no tag so I even approached the owner of the garden centre and asked him its name. He happily brought me a slip of paper with the name of this pretty hosta, ‘Olive Bailey Langdon’. I have never heard of it but it is hardy here and I love the colours of the foliage....so yes, I will be getting some!



The arrival of Spring here this weekend beckoned me out to my own garden. I cleaned up, did some pruning and took a peek around the edges of the snow to see how things looked after a winter that had an exceptionally cold spell, followed by warmer than usual temperatures. There wasn't a lot visible yet, but I was pleased to see my Woolly Thyme I planted among some stepping stones looked as fresh as it did last Septemeber. Yay!

My Vinca minor 'Alba' also looks as fresh as it did before the snow fell. I understand these can be invasive in warmer zones and are ubiquitous and often scorned. However, here, under my spruce they are a welcome patch of green and the little white flowers are charming.

I have to say, it felt great to be out putzing in the garden. Although much of it is still under snow I am enjoying these fresh days - and dreaming Spring dreams. ;-)


I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

The bald guy and the flowers...oh, and a chicken

And no, I’m not referring to that strange man who wooed me back in the day… ;-)

I’m taking a photography course right now to get more out of my DSLR. So I just had to post my favourite photo from my most excellent weekend.



Ugly photo, you say? Well yes, yes it is – but it is of a bald eagle I spotted on Saturday! So that makes it a winner in my books. Sometimes the substance outweighs the style. I have a little secret place by the river I think of as my contemplation spot. I was there in January and spotted this fellow then. I have been back almost weekly and haven’t seen him since. Well, on Saturday he was waiting for me – on the same branch of the same tree! I couldn’t get any closer to him because of the terrain (hence the horrible shot) but it was still thrilling! I think we must be buddies now – should I name him? Any suggestions?

My weekend continued with its all-around awesomeness. On Sunday I went to Dim Sum with a group of friends (my darling hubby took our little guy to his “sea turtles” swim class) and then a couple of us headed off to a garden centre to see this year’s inspiration garden. (More on this later!). Here are some photos from last year’s garden if you need a boost of green delights.

Did I shop, I hear you ask? Of course I did! Silly rabbit...

I got myself these three little primulas [I've heard they are hardy - does anyone know if that's true?]


and got my little guy an inchworm foam kneeling pad for helping me in the garden this summer and a plush chicken dressed in a frog costume tied with a ribbon under his chin – too cute!


And on the way home I stopped at a second garden centre that carries a good selection of fountains at decent prices. Not that I’m planning any more shopping…nosiree…not me….whistling as I exit this post.

Hope your week of garden dreaming is going great!

Ray, A Drop of Golden Sun

This has been a glorious week of sunshine and melting. The earth is stirring.

The sap has begun running in my white spruce trees along the back of the property. If you click on this one you can see the reflection of the blue sky in the droplet.


The birds are loving it (and when I went down to the river today it was opening up and two geese were honking - they're baaaack!)

Last year's wild purple asters are gleaming their last stand before they are replaced by this year's growth.

And best of all - the great retreat is on! I can see mulched beds and lawn! This is the first spring we have seen this thrilling sight here as it was just last summer that we had the gravel (left by previous owners) taken out of the yard and good earth and beds and sod put in. Believe me, this is so much more exciting to see.

Welcome back garden! We are going to have so much fun together this year! :-)

If You're Happy and You Know It....You Must be a Gardener!

Clayton, a Northern gardener (and genius with Clematis!) over at A Prairie Journal in Saskatchewan, has invited me to share 10 Things that Make Me Happy. Well, I couldn’t be happier to join in! This is really the time of year to turn towards the joy and light that spring brings. And I do feel its imminent arrival. As this is a gardening blog, I shall of course include among my 10 items those gardening things that bring a smile to my face.

1. First of all, I have to mention my little garden helper. He makes me smile every day. Especially when he is batting the fluffy blooms of the Little Lamb Hydrangea and laughing his gurgling, hilarious laugh.

2. My sweet hubby who makes my world go ‘round, and does the heavy lifting in the garden. (And is secretly falling in love with gardening - I just know it!)
3. My back garden, which is still in the early stages of being developed. I feel very blessed to have this space to work with as I dream of making it my ideal garden.

4. The resources to create this garden. I know I am lucky.
5. Three dear long time friends, two of whom are gardeners, and one of whom shudders at worms and all things dirt but loves that I am being creative.
6. Walks in the woods, walks snooping at other’s gardens, and walks in public gardens.


7. Visiting your gardens via your blogs. You are all soooo talented!! Yes, you!

8. The opportunity to enjoy the amazing beauty of our world.

9. The anticipation of waiting to see if the first bulbs ever that I planted in the fall will come up.
10. Of course, my plans this year for my garden. More on those later!

I won’t ask any of you to share your lists of what makes you happy; however, I look forward to the cheerfulness of your posts as spring makes her way to your garden. Thanks for the inspiration, Clayton.

Cheers to you all!

Wishing on the Sky

My wee toddler (almost three!) has a new saying. When he sees a bird he says, “There’s a bird. She’s wishing – she’s wishing on the sky.”


I think he may have gotten this idea from the enchanting picture book he so loves, Starlight Sailor, which plays off of the old poem, “Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight…”


Well, I think the birds must have something going on with that wishing on the sky.

I wish I may, I wish I might, see a sign of spring tonight.

Ah! I see catkins emerging in the late afternoon light.

On behalf of all northern gardeners, Thank You, little birds. We are thrilled you thought of us. Best wishes to you for a wonderful spring!