In the warmer parts of Canada spring has already sprung, but in colder regions, it’s still a few weeks away. My own Zone 5 garden in south-central Ontario (about 62 miles/100 km north of Toronto) lies somewhere between the two extremes. The minor bulbs of early spring are in flower, as are the hellebores. Early daffodils are about to pop and magnolia, forsythia and lilac are in … [Read more...] about The first flowers of spring
Magnolia
The sweet scent of magnolias
Creamy magnolia blossoms in the crisp spring air are the fulfillment of a gardener’s winter dream. But their alluring scent exceeds our expectations of what these lovely trees offer. I learned this on a trip to Washington, D.C., where I came upon a mature specimen of Magnolia grandiflora, the great bull bay or evergreen southern magnolia. It is a prominent member of the family … [Read more...] about The sweet scent of magnolias
Design a white garden
Think of the colour white and the image of a wedding dress, eggs or snow will likely spring to mind. But with a little stretch of your imagination, visualize instead a small corner bed or a border around a patio filled with white plants. Single-colour schemes are sometimes referred to as “monochromatic” — a term that takes the romance out of any flower arrangement — but be … [Read more...] about Design a white garden
‘Susan’ magnolia still blooming
Many of the early-blooming magnolias (such as cultivars of M. stellata and M. x soulangeana) were tricked into opening early, only to be burned by sharply falling temperatures a few days later. Magnolias are fools when it comes to sudden warmth and throw caution to the wind, rapidly popping buds and splaying open their flowers. I was fortunate to avoid this fate with my ‘Susan’ … [Read more...] about ‘Susan’ magnolia still blooming
Garden design: glory is in the details
Looking at the cover of the winter issue of Garden Making magazine reminds me that intelligent garden design is so often executed in small and personal details, with plants that blend into comfortable landscapes and show the gardener’s skill and attention. All gardening involves design, even if we’re only placing plants in a border or curving a formerly straight line. In the … [Read more...] about Garden design: glory is in the details
