Saginaw Rest Area

As a Master Gardener in Manitoba, I was awestruck by the fabulous volunteer work of the Saginaw Master Gardeners who maintain the rest area north of Saginaw.  It is spectacular!  We were enroute to Waterloo, Ontario for my dear lifelong friend's funeral.  This was a sudden passing and in my mind discovering such an oasis along the way was a treasure. 
The plants are unique prime specimens, both perennials and annuals.  Who would find a black and white themed annual garden at a rest area?   Here it is!  Hopefully, someone out there can identify a plant that I did not recognize.  It is black leaved in a maple shape with a single-petalled dark pink flower.  There were beautiful perennial specimens--black lace elder, ligularia, hostas, butterfly shrubs in white and purple to name a few.

Many thanks to those MG volunteers who dedicate countless hours to this lovely rest area for all to enjoy who stop along the route, a truly 'restful' area.

Victoria Beach Area Garden Tour

This past Saturday, the Friends of Gardens Manitoba organized a garden tour of this area with support from their local garden club.  I had always heard that there were numerous beautiful gardens in this area, so I was very excited to see them being offered this year.  Every expectation I had was fulfilled!  The gardeners of these gardens are truly dedicated and can certainly grow everything.

Three of the gardens were on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. This I am sure is a challenge in itself with the sandy soil and winds.  It was nice to see the gardens incorporating local rocks and driftwood of the area.  A lovely wind sculpture made of driftwood was intriguing.  Mushrooms made from the local rocks.  One garden had an outdoor 'pizza' oven.  Its design was taken from the Ukrainian bake oven style.  I came too late for the pizza sampling!  This garden was also the home of a stained glass artist with beautiful examples of her work.

Most of these gardens were built and are maintained by husband/wife teams.  One husband had a glorious Hosta garden.  I had not seen such a beautiful and extensive Hosta garden as this one since a tour in England many years ago.  Plus, on the hot day it was noticeably cooler, and a nice peaceful respite.  Being thickly planted keeps the weeds away and as he says....'more time for a beer'!  The wife's part of the garden is huge and could quite well compete with Assiniboine Park's English Garden. 

On reading an English magazine and their Open Garden program they have, any of these gardens could well have qualified.  The magazine even spoke of  the best garden to have a refreshment, tea and cake.  I could say the same for one of these gardens, a wonderful cherry/coconut slice with fresh raspberries from their garden.  Thank you to the gardener who also shared her recipe.

String Gardens

The European plant/flower market seems to always be the forerunner in great plant ideas.  This spring my daughter sent me a link about String Gardens.  I instantly became fascinated with this new idea and wanted to try making some for myself.  The plants I used were a variegated ivy and a big leaf wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris).  These are my first two attempts for my own 'String Garden'.  For more visual temptation try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stringgardens.com%2F&h=wAQHJwsgf

Merlebleu

Yesterday I visited a wonderful Canadian Iris Display Garden, Merlebleu.  I belong to the East Kildonan Garden Club and this was the location of our June meeting.  Actually not a meeting but rather a get together at a great destination.  It is located just outside of Winnipeg along the River Road to Lockport, a nice easy drive.

This garden has also been designated with the Historic Iris Preservation Society and the Dwarf Iris Society.  It is comprised of gardens on 3 acres with 500 different cultivars.  The gardens hold not only iris but also lilies, daylilies and a variety of perennials.

Although most iris were finished blooming due to the early spring, with her first iris blooming on April 30, a record,  there were still some looking glorious and along with many perennials in bloom the garden is more than well worth a visit.  The striking Peony'Prima Vere' with its beautiful perfume welcomed us along with the owner Sandy. 

Sandy gave us a very informative presentation on iris and the history of her gardens and showed us her real passion for these spectacular plants.  Who knew about the heels and toes of iris and that the toes should be planted to the outside.   Her website is:  www.merlebleu.net   This garden is well worth a visit and we thank Sandy for catching the iris bug.

Succulent Vertical Garden

My love for succulents led me to a wonderful succulent nursery/grower many years ago.  As I am preparing to give a presentation on succulents to the East Kildonan Garden Club I wanted to show the members the photos I had taken at the time of this spectacular nursery.  The nursery is Succulent Gardens in California.  Here is a great vertical planting youtube at the nursery:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u4QksnFKPc0

The tasteful garden - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

The tasteful garden - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

April Fool's Day

This was no April Fool's trick. Today I was planting up my overwintered canna rhizomes and dahlia tubers outside. At this time of year we would still have snow on the ground and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. Not this year!!

Winnipeg had a very mild winter and this spring continues that trend and hence a first in my gardening career. Normally I am restling with the peat moss and deteriorated paper bags that have kept them in my cold room over the winter with dirt and dust all over my basement potting area. Today this planting was blissful....no mess anywhere except where it belongs, outside.

Still taking advantage of this gorgeous spring day, I pruned my Virginia creeper. I do this every few years and make a huge vine wreath with the trimmings. Now or in autumn is a good time to do so as the plant is very pliable and there are no leaves on it. After cutting I stretch the stems out on the lawn and then start making the circular wreath form. I begin with the thick stem portion and then near the end I take the thin stems and wind them around the circle to keep the wreath together. I leave it 'au naturel' but it can be decorated.