Garden Photo of the Day

Ruth & John’s all-by-themselves garden in Toronto

Today's photos are from Ruth and John Powell in Toronto, Ontario. They say, "Our garden is a traditional garden including trees and shrubs for year-round appeal. We use staged perennials to balance the garden from April to October and supplement with annuals to provide lots of vibrant colours. Hedges, a large rock, and beautification of pots with flowers and greenery are included for garden art. Overall, we utilize reduced pesticide use and no garden chemicals. We pull out weeds by hand in the grass. Importantly, we do all the gardening ourselves–cut the grass, trim, prune, etc., and hire NO contractors. BONUS…. our neighbours have allowed us to take over the garden beside our driveway and we designed and created the garden. Also note the annuals bordering the fence line beside the driveway to to the back yard. Hope you enjoy our garden from Canada." Wow, your garden is so lush and colorful–and so nicely done! We need LOTS more photos. I know this is just a glimpse! It's so nice to put faces to the names, too. Ruth, has anyone ever told you that you look a little like Cybill Shepherd?

Help me keep kicking out posts all winter long–send me photos of your gardens NOW! Email me at [email protected]. Thanks! –Michelle

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Comments

  1. Nurserynotnordstroms 10/16/2014

    It is nice to be able to tend your own gardens isn't it. Your hard work has paid off and your yard is beautiful. We too pick weeds by hand in our lawn I'm sure our neighbors think we are crazy. Only a true gardener can understand! right? Did you do your stone wall in the front also? Since you add annuals every year do you change it up every year? Or keep it the same?Is that a large white hydrangea plant along the fence? It looks so pretty and healthy. Were these taken this summer or early fall? It is so nice to see the faces of the happy gardening couple.

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 10/17/2014

    Well, Ruth and John, no wonder you look so happy...you have a charmingly lovely home (love, love love that handsome stonework around your two arch tops) surrounded by an abundance of beautiful flowers. Must be delightful to walk out on your back deck/porch, take in that great view and then, ha, get to work! You obviously have very high standards since all your areas look so impeccably maintained and you are doing what you love.

  3. perenniallycrazy 10/17/2014

    Wow, such a prolific garden Ruth and John! Congratulations on all your hard work. I love the design of the gardens. It flows so well with your beautiful home. Like meander1 and nurserynotnordstrom, I'm also drawn to the stonework and wondering if you designed and built that as well. Looking forward to more photos of your garden. Thank you!

  4. imsoshy 10/17/2014

    Sensational, just sensational!

  5. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 10/17/2014

    So appealing and floriferous! Looks great!

  6. NCYarden 10/17/2014

    Very well done. You have a very vibrant and tidy garden. Feels good to do it yourself, doesn't it? That's gardening. Hand pulling is without a doubt the surest and safest way to keep weeds down. Congratulations on your efforts. What cultivar of Japanese maple is that peeking over the back deck? How great you got the opportunity to take over the neighbor's bordering area - keep going! Thank you for sharing.

  7. hontell 10/17/2014

    Love the use of flowers (are those begonias or impatiens?) separating the lawn from the beds - I have to steal that idea.

  8. VikkiVA 10/17/2014

    Not only am I envious of your beautiful gardens I'm envious of your stunning home! The stone work and pavers set the stage for all your beautification. I know how much work (love) you have invested in your garden. BRAVO! Vikki in VA.

  9. Spring_y 10/17/2014

    What lovely gardens. I love the combination of colors and texture, I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. Great job.

  10. wGardens 10/17/2014

    Great Curb Appeal! Love it~ You have done a wonderful job with colors, textures and, and. and..... It is ALL just lovely! Definitely, a need for more photos! Thanks for sharing!

  11. wittyone 10/17/2014

    Wow, what a beautiful show. I love gardens where the owners actually do all the planning, planting, and tending----it makes them seem more real somehow. Great work!

    Do you have a green house to provide all those annuals that you use? They certainly do add a lot of continuous color among the perennials coming and going but also create a good bit more work I know.

  12. GrannyMay 10/17/2014

    Wow, not only is your garden full of happy and vibrant plants, you are a vibrant gardening couple as well! No weed would stand a chance. Thanks for sharing, Ruth and John.

  13. sheila_schultz 10/17/2014

    Gardening is a lot of hard work, but it brings such joy and satisfaction. Your gardens match the beauty of your home. It's all simply gorgeous.

  14. greengenes 10/17/2014

    What a team! Good job!

  15. GrannyCC 10/17/2014

    Wonderful garden Ruth and John. When you say you stage the perennials do you keep them in pots and move them around or do you plant them in the ground. I have done that with pots where I pu smaller pots into the bigger ones. Works well to keep colour going.

  16. user-7007140 10/17/2014

    Such a beautiful labour of love! It is wonderful that you both share the passion of gardening and are able to do the work yourselves, for nobody else would do it quite so well.
    Lovely to meet you via the great gardening and personal happy pictures. Thank you so much.

  17. Meelianthus 10/17/2014

    WOW! So many flowers, so much color, just beautiful !! Thank you for sharing your gardens Ruth and John.

  18. foxglove12 10/17/2014

    Stunning curb appeal!

  19. tamiestanberryray 10/18/2014

    What a talent. I love to garden.

  20. ClareRocky 10/18/2014

    WOW! I just love the lushness and color. Absolutely perfect!

  21. ruthpowellsympaticoca 10/18/2014

    I wish to thank you all for your encouraging comments. John has tendonitis in his shoulders and you wonderful Americans really cheered him up. Now to answer some of your questions. The tree is a red Japanese maple. We do change the annuals each year. This year it was begonias as there is a soil problem from the nurseries with impatients. Geraniums are our favourite as they are colourful and last the longest. We do not have a greenhouse and purchase most of our annuals at Home Depot or Cosco. We plant the perennials in our garden and they come up every year starting Spring and continue to bloom all summer at different times, i.e. Hostas, Black-eyed Susan's, etc. We bought the house 7 years ago just as it is...lucky et? We were out for a drive on a rainy day, not looking, and there was an open-house and we fell in love with the house and here we are!

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