Hi GPODers! Today we’re getting an update from a frequent GPOD contributor, Alice Fleurkens in Ontario.

This is Alice again, from Sweaburg, Ontario. Here are some recent pictures of my garden.

To get up to speed on Alice’s gorgeous garden, check out some of her previous submissions: Good Friends Make a Great Garden, Alice’s Front Garden in Canada, Summer in Ontario, and September in Alice’s Garden.

This clematis was given to me by a friend. It does not seem to have issues like clematis wilt etc. I did not cut this down in the spring and don’t really know if I should or not, but it seems to be thriving for now. Any advice on that would be appreciated. (Hi Alice, we have an article on clematis pruning that might be helpful for you, but I’m also curious if any readers have advice to give in the comments.)

This morning when I saw the view out of one of the bedroom windows, I thought I should take a picture of the view we never see because we are on a hill.

This mugo pine (Pinus mugo, Zones 2–8) has a lot of the brown things on it (don’t know what they are). It sprays clouds of pollen when I trim it. There is another one of the same tree in the garden that is only green and does not get those things. (Hi Alice, sounds like you’ve got both a male and a female pine on your hands. The one pictured must be male; males form cones at the base of new growth that produce pollen. Females have seed-bearing cones that form at the tip of new growth and are the more recognizable pinecone structure.)

I have been collecting crystals and blown-glass balls over the years and have hung them on two old metal hanging baskets. (Hi again, Alice—just popping in to say, “Stunning!”)

A small garden under the blue spruce (Picea pungens, Zones 2–7) that we wanted to keep but was too big, so we trimmed the bottom over the years. We have lite balls and a fern hanging on the bottom branches.

One year we had so many aphids on our lupins that I got rid of them all. Eventually I saw the odd one coming up. After three or four years I let them stay, and they look nice. If they get aphids again, though, they will be gone.

Another clematis (I believe the variety ‘Nelly Moser’ [Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, Zones 4–11]) is not doing so well but is coming along slowly. Should I cut it down in the fall or not?

This homemade birdbath is now in the front garden. (I’m absolutely obsessed by your garden art, Alice!)

The iris did well this year because we removed a messy cedar from the front garden, enabling it to get more light and water.

My sister-in-law Ria brought some tulips from Holland. We planted them together, and the frilly edges really surprised me. The heuchera in the background was a piece gifted by a friend. Heucheras do very well in the sun. I multiplied them, and now there are quite a few waiting to grow because they are so low maintenance, which is what I need now.

It’s a bit of a mess, but the daffodils and tulips are lovely.

These tulips are amazing and are among the ones that Ria brought.

Alice asked for an ID on this plant, and I’m pretty sure it’s a ‘Cheerfulness’ double daffodil (Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’, Zones 2–9).

Thanks so much for the update, Alice! It’s always a treat to see what’s growing in your garden.

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 [email protected] 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.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.

Buy at Amazon

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.

Buy at Amazon

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon