Finally I got around to doing this! Have a look and tell me what you think. Next task in the garden is to get rid of ALL of the rest of the evil grass, and make a patio instead. something I wanted to do from the very beginning but the neighbours were too anal retentive and wanted all the townhouses to look THE SAME. How boring is that! Happily, after 6 years of being here, some neighbours have moved on and those who are left have mellowed. Each townhouse is taking on its own look, and the sky has not fallen in.
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You live in Paradise beside Artsy don't you? What beautiful earthly delights abound in your garden!! It is truly inspirational and lets be honest enviable, boohoohoo, I'll never have anything remotely as pretty as that!
Your neighbours should get down on their crummy knees and thank the sweet lord above for you and the contribution you have made to the neighborhood. If they don't my husband's steel pointed boot is headed their way like a boomerang!!!!
Thanks for the treat!!!
I am certain the residents are glad to see homeowners in the community, especially those townhouses, which are charming - so much nicer than the type of townhomes which proliferate in Edmonton. So nice to be across from a park, and I can imagine you enjoy a bunch of senior citizens as neighbours...I bet they never have "scream all night" parties like the children of one of my neighbours! Sounds like your neighbourhood has gone through a great transformation!
By the way, whenever I am accused of spending too much time and/or money on my garden, I tell my partner I am increasing his property value! A garden like yours probably boosts the value of the neighbouring homes too.
If you inspire a little competition in the neighbours, so much the better - let everyone try to match you and you can have the pleasure of having beautified the entire neighbourhood!
Thanks, Lisi, yes, I may try them in a bed next year. Alas, for me here in Ottawa, they will be annuals, and not the glorious *weeds* they are for you!! you are so lucky to have that wonderful climate. I would love to have lots of roses too, and that is the best climate for them (they will grow here, but are more work). And, believe it or not, I am lazy and would prefer not to work. LOL
Dreamer -- thanks, come on over any time. I did live in Edmonton and garden in a front perennial bed there too -- down in Cloverdale in the river valley. I am sure it was the pics of the garden that helped sell the house in the dead of winter! I have neighbours who also have lovely gardens (I think we are a little competitive, to be honest).
Re: neighbours, I do have fun here -- the fronts of our townhouses are on a sidewalk that is beside the city park. There are several apartment buildings around us, where there are lots of seniors living. They take their *constitutionals*, with or wihtout doggie friends, along the sidewalk, and often stop to admire our gardens. They will also say so, if we are outside, which is very nice. Where our townhouses are, for many years was a sort of wasteland behind a military building and the park was also neglected, since it is in the downtown, so many of the longer-term residents have been very happy that these townhouses were built, because they now feel safer in this area, and in the park, and the city has also sort of taken more of an interest in the park's upkeep.
We have crocosmias in flower beds along the fence, in pots and little rock garden. I find they spread fast and take over the area when not controlled but maybe this only the case here where the climate is so mild. I remember the first year when we had them, they were not producing many flowers but now we have almost too many, have to find new spots for lots of them and probably give some away but I really like them, they look great in cut flower arrangement and once the bloom is over they form those attractiv brown buds, very elegant plant. Maybe you should try some in pots and some in a border, just to find out which works better for you.
I agree with Junebug, your pictures are inspirational! Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden with us, Mary Anne, I love it. I appreciate the work of my gardening neighbours and I think your neighbours should be THRILLED to have you and your little Eden nearby!
just gorgeous...one can see how hard you work at them. you say you "can't stop" - want to visit and do my garden??? hee hee :)
your pics are very inspirational. thanks for sharing...i hope i can make my garden work as well as you have made yours :)
keep planting!
You have really workrd the beds to their best advantage as all are so lovely. I also need to know of some hardy part shade perennials with white blooms.... about 12"-15" tall. Thanks again. Summer blooming time.
I am a person who cannot leave a patch of ground alone! my DH used to think I was obsessed -- altho' one night there was a show about orchid enthusiasts on TV - you know the ones who have people go into the wilds of the jungle to get them that one special orchid for their collection - so, he turned to me and said "well, I guess you're not as obsessed as that!" LOL!
Dawn: you are so lucky to be in that lovely climate on the west coast, I am sure your rhodo will look lovely. Make sure there is enough water for both the tree and the plants under it. This is the hardst thing for me to remember, that, even when it has rained, I need to water under the tree, because it dries out so quickly!!
Lisi, your annual baskets are absolutely fabulous, and your little shed. Perennials would be a great foundation for your garden. I love your crocosmia - I planted some corms in the spring, in a pot, and the lone plant that came up (!) is now about to bloom ;-) I had also bought a pot of them that already had leaves about a foot tall, but it doesn't look like doing ANYTHING. do they like to be pot bound when they bloom or do they like lots of room?
Anyhow, thank you everyone. I love gardening, for me it is therapy and an oasis of calm and, besides...I can't stop!!
Wow...impressive! You must be very proud.
I love the look of your gardens. You really planned the plantings well, and it's fun to see the progress through your photos.
I'm just at the point of getting a few shrubs and perennials in my bare back yard gardens this year. I dug out all the turf myself to create a new bed under some trees, and only today I added the first: a rhodo called Hoppy. Tomorrow I will continue with a hydrangea and a heuchera with pretty foliage. That will be it for this year, except for a few things I can move or divide from the front yard gardens. I can't wait to achieve a similar lush and full look as you have!
I really like your garden. I'll have to talk to you about perennials, as you know ours is mostly annuals but we definitely want to add more perennials. I'll go back to your album again when I have more time. Thanks for letting us peek!
Mary Anne, your garden is lovely :) And it's interesting to see the progression over the years.
I have two campanulas, a tall one like yours and a low, bushy one. For some reason, my tall one didn't grow tall this year, and only had a few flowers in bloom at a time. My low one has been blooming for more than a month now, and looks healthy & happy. Not sure what's going on there, but at least my hydrangeas bloomed, and that's the flower that I love the most!!
Keep posting garden pics, and house pics too if you have any that you'd like to share :)