My name is Alice and I live in Sweaburg, which is in southwestern Ontario.
This year I had trouble again finding all the bedding plants, such as salvias, that I would have liked. But now the yellow marigolds (Tagetes sp., annual) are putting on a show, and they look cheery with the hot pink geraniums (Pelargonium hybrids, annual).
These flowering kale (Brassicaoleracea, cool-season annual) don’t have much color yet. The mums (Chrysanthemum, hardiness differs by variety) are still in pots, but as soon as the flowers start to fade the plan is to plant them in the garden and see if they will come back next year. Some do and some don’t.
Hydrangeas (pictured, Hydrangea paniculata, Zones 3–9) are among my favorite flowers. Year after year they bloom so nice.
This is a picture of our backyard. The blue spruce (Piceapungens,
Zones 2–7) was totally in the wrong spot, but we did not have the heart to cut it down because the birds love it. We trimmed the bottom, though, and it is now sturdy enough for us to put some hanging baskets on the bottom branches. This is what we see from our family room’s big and low picture window. We have not had a frost yet, so everything looks super nice still. I can’t start clearing till we have frost.
This is a view from the other side looking toward the deck.
The sedums (Hylotelephium spectabile,
Zones 3–9) are so nice right now, and the honeybees love them. The purple kale is the edible type (Brassica oleracea, probably the variety ‘Redbor’),
but I planted it for color. It grew back from last year after I cut it back in the spring. It flowered with yellow flowers, which was something new to me.
These pictures of the front entry were taken at the beginning of October.
The yellow sedum (Sedum rupestre
‘Angelina’, Zones 5–9) at the bottom used to be a lovely orange-brown color, then it reverted back to this yellowish-green. (Editor’s note: This sedum tends to have more of an orange color in cooler weather, dry conditions, and very full sun. In wetter, shadier, warmer conditions it has more of a yellow-green color.)
The lavender (
Lavandula × intermedia, Zones 5–9)
was cut back after flowering, and this is a second bloom. The older plants don’t seem to flower twice. Does anyone know why all the lavender does not flower twice? (Editor’s note: I think the difference in rebloom depends on the specific cultivar, but I’m not sure. Anyone who knows, please share in the comments!)
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Comments
Alice, I would feel like I was in wonderland with that spectacular garden. You have done a marvellous job. Just beautiful and speaking as another resident of Ontario, don’t even think of changing anything until frost, you are quite right!
Keep uploading such amazing information.
Ted lasso jacket
Alice, your gardens are lovely and charming! Please do keep sharing. Love how you have integrated the rocks and plantings, and the whimsical decorations throughout.
So much color and green everywhere. Nice!
Hello fellow Ontarian!! What diverse and pretty gardens you have!! In particular, I love the rock garden parts. Don't change a thing until necessary - until it starts to freeze. Have a lovely day :)
I especially like that distinct character of the gardens made by the choices about bed edging. I especially love the areas where the lawn and beds are given a beautiful line of separation. The light gravel becomes a canvas on which the composed forms of the succulents and rocks. And those compositions are surely artful!
I like all the textures and bright colors. Well done!
Beautiful and I love that you kept the spruce for the birds! Also love your outdoor crystal chandelier!
Oh I love your garden crystals & chandelier!
I hung crystals in winter in my bare limb lilac but had to take 'em out when the squirrels liked investigating them and became tangle mess.
I might try your idea!
Your garden is beautiful!
Gorgeous garden! Love the integration of the rocks, especially the dry waterfall.
You have a wonderful eye for combining plants for color and texture. Thanks so much for sharing your space with us!
Oooh- so many things to mention, but especially the container of tuberous begonias, the dahlias, and I love the (I think) yucca with the stringy edges. Wish there had been more pictures. Maybe next time?
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in