We built the new deck last year. You can see some roses in bloom - 'Rosarium Uetersen' and 'White Dawn' on either side of the arch and 'Winchester Cathedral' by my potting bench. 'Kiwi Arctic Beauty' is climbing up my neighbour's garage. The brick patio and pathways were all constructed with donations from friends.
Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-Besner
Today’s photos are from Helene Brule-Besner in Ontario. She says, “Bonjour! I live in Hamilton, Ontario. I got serious about my back garden 3 years ago. I love abundant cottage gardens and with help from my family and friends, and some wonderful brick donations, here we are.
–BEFORE–Other than one walnut and two birch trees, the mockorange shrubs,and the shed (which is next year’s project), around the perimeter, everything needed doing!As you can clearly see, my son’s trampoline took up most of the yard. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-Besner
“I had it all carefully planned, that is, until we started laying the brick, and then, beds and paths morphed to accommodate the brick I had available. So, I ended up with more beds and different ‘garden rooms’, yeah! The garden is in Zone 5b and is about 50′ x 30′. Next year, we re-do the shed and I have plans for an arbour and swing where the blue glider is in this year’s pictures.”
–BEFORE–I started out with the potager on the left – adapted half circleraised beds. That side also happens to be under the clothesline, so anything growing there must be under 4′. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-Besner
What an amazing transformation, Helene! It’s so lush, colorful, and inviting now!
View into the garden, coming around the deck. All the raised bed were made with 2×8 cedar boards and rocks collected in our travels. I love Delphinium elatum for their intense colour. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerGarage border again, with the purple butterfly bush, ‘Pomponella’ and rose of Sharon ‘Sugar Tips’ in bloom. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerMy ‘Secret Garden’ view from the corner by the house. Purple butterfly bush and ‘Pink Delight’ butterfly bush are in bloom. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerView toward shade garden. White butterfly bush and Phlox ‘David’ are blooming. I like having something in bloom all the time…and fragrance if possible. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerCaryopteris ‘Dark Knight’, a hardworking dwarf shrub, looking bright in front of ‘Pink Knockout’ rose. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerFall view from the shade garden, by the birch tree. ‘Pink Knockout’ rose is still abloom. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerThis is part of my shade garden by the birch trees and behind my potting bench. ‘Brunette’ bugbane and ‘Midnight Rose’ heuchera provide the lovely purple colour contrast amidst hostas and impatients. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerKordes rose ‘Pomponella’, Geranium ‘Jolly Bee’ and Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ in the border by the neighbour’s garage. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-BesnerThis is the border along the edge of the patio. ‘Pink Knockout’ rose is in the foreground. Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Helene Brule-Besner
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What an amazing transformation...truly worthy of an episode on an HGTV show that features such total turn arounds. Your birch looked so lonely and forlorn in the before picture and now it anchors a lovely garden. It even has a charming stone pathway leading to a seating area near it. "YES", it says, "This is how I was meant to exist...surrounded by beauty!"
Sincerest congrats, Helene,to you and all those who helped on a great job!
You've got some really pretty plant combinations - the shrub and knockout rose are just eyepopping together as is the geranium and rose. Really pretty together!
pattyspencer: I'm waiting to hear from you. I think with you being in Ohio we are in similar growing zones. It was 9 degrees here at six this morning, but the sun is out and is now up to 30 degrees. I'm hoping the temperature reaches the projected 40 degrees today so more snow melts and Newt's buddies can come to visit.
Wow, what a turnaround and in such a short time! I love the blue deck. It's so much more interesting than a plain stained one would be. How nice that you decided to amend your carefully laid plans and incorporated those planting beds along the way----they really make the area look spacious and bountiful. Serendipity often works well if the gardener is courageous enough and willing to let the project play out on it's own terms. A great job!
I love this! The touches of blue draw your eye from the deck to other points in the yard. I too would have never thought to paint a deck bright blue but it looks great. Makes me feel happy just looking at it.
I love the new blue deck and your beautiful coordinating plant combinations. The pink and blue plants are truly lovely together. I love the blue fescue near the blue glider. If they are not already hiding in there, some blue hostas,dwarf blue spruce, blue star juniper,or other blue hued ornamental grasses would continue the great theme you have already started. I also love the pink seed heads of the ornamental grass you have pictured, and your plants with maroon foliage play off the color theme well too. You might also consider painting some other things blue. It is a really fun use of color and ties everything together. I think it was a good move to stick with just a few colors in a small space. It keeps it cohesive instead of chaotic. There is such a great difference between the before and after and it sounds like you have great friends too.
Thank you very much everyone.
It’s a joy to be able to share my garden.
The idea for those shades of blue came from the colour of the delphinium elatums and the fact that I have always loved blue and green together :D
meander1 – That’s why I made sure to include the before picture! My friends gave me all their leftover bricks and cement slabs and my family provided the muscle to move it all.
pattyspencer – There are 3 of those blue Dark Knight shrubs and they bloomed steadily from the beginning of September well into late October.
wittyone – As for all of my winter plans...they tend to improve wonderfully come garden time! I also very quickly got over the ‘you can’t change your mind and move the plants’ fear!
deechurch – My garden makes me feel happy too: happy to work in it and happy to revisit it through pictures.
cwhea000 – I had a great time finding interesting blue plants last year.
I’m really looking forward to the spring now since I also have tulips planted in every bed.
Helene, thank you for sharing your beautiful yard. What an amazing transformation! I am enchanted with all the "blue" you have incorporated in your deck and garden. I guess you can tell by my name that "blue" is my favorite!
Beautiful sanctuary you have there! I can only hope to create such a tranquil place in my back yard some day. A place where butterflies, birds, bugs and the like, can come, live, thrive while they live out their lives. And I will only be a visitor in my special place. Great Job and Good Luck in your future endeavors!
Comments
It is all beautiful, but I never thought of a blue deck to coordinate with your other outdoor furniture. Love it!
The delphinium elatum combined with the pink roses looks fantastic. I like how you have continued the touches of blue furniture throughout the garden.
Helene, you've carved out a lovely oasis and your two blues work well.
What an amazing transformation...truly worthy of an episode on an HGTV show that features such total turn arounds. Your birch looked so lonely and forlorn in the before picture and now it anchors a lovely garden. It even has a charming stone pathway leading to a seating area near it. "YES", it says, "This is how I was meant to exist...surrounded by beauty!"
Sincerest congrats, Helene,to you and all those who helped on a great job!
You've got some really pretty plant combinations - the shrub and knockout rose are just eyepopping together as is the geranium and rose. Really pretty together!
Tractor1 - Michelle is working on it for us and we should be connected this week. Got an email from her on this last night.
pattyspencer: I'm waiting to hear from you. I think with you being in Ohio we are in similar growing zones. It was 9 degrees here at six this morning, but the sun is out and is now up to 30 degrees. I'm hoping the temperature reaches the projected 40 degrees today so more snow melts and Newt's buddies can come to visit.
Wow, what a turnaround and in such a short time! I love the blue deck. It's so much more interesting than a plain stained one would be. How nice that you decided to amend your carefully laid plans and incorporated those planting beds along the way----they really make the area look spacious and bountiful. Serendipity often works well if the gardener is courageous enough and willing to let the project play out on it's own terms. A great job!
Night and Day! What a difference.
I love this! The touches of blue draw your eye from the deck to other points in the yard. I too would have never thought to paint a deck bright blue but it looks great. Makes me feel happy just looking at it.
I love the new blue deck and your beautiful coordinating plant combinations. The pink and blue plants are truly lovely together. I love the blue fescue near the blue glider. If they are not already hiding in there, some blue hostas,dwarf blue spruce, blue star juniper,or other blue hued ornamental grasses would continue the great theme you have already started. I also love the pink seed heads of the ornamental grass you have pictured, and your plants with maroon foliage play off the color theme well too. You might also consider painting some other things blue. It is a really fun use of color and ties everything together. I think it was a good move to stick with just a few colors in a small space. It keeps it cohesive instead of chaotic. There is such a great difference between the before and after and it sounds like you have great friends too.
What a change you have made. You've truly turned your backyard into wonderful get away. The colors combo's are smashing!
Thank you very much everyone.
It’s a joy to be able to share my garden.
The idea for those shades of blue came from the colour of the delphinium elatums and the fact that I have always loved blue and green together :D
meander1 – That’s why I made sure to include the before picture! My friends gave me all their leftover bricks and cement slabs and my family provided the muscle to move it all.
pattyspencer – There are 3 of those blue Dark Knight shrubs and they bloomed steadily from the beginning of September well into late October.
wittyone – As for all of my winter plans...they tend to improve wonderfully come garden time! I also very quickly got over the ‘you can’t change your mind and move the plants’ fear!
deechurch – My garden makes me feel happy too: happy to work in it and happy to revisit it through pictures.
cwhea000 – I had a great time finding interesting blue plants last year.
I’m really looking forward to the spring now since I also have tulips planted in every bed.
Helene, thank you for sharing your beautiful yard. What an amazing transformation! I am enchanted with all the "blue" you have incorporated in your deck and garden. I guess you can tell by my name that "blue" is my favorite!
Beautiful sanctuary you have there! I can only hope to create such a tranquil place in my back yard some day. A place where butterflies, birds, bugs and the like, can come, live, thrive while they live out their lives. And I will only be a visitor in my special place. Great Job and Good Luck in your future endeavors!
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