Ten Minute Gardening » Photographs

Bulbs, Naturally!

Bert — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:57:47 +0000

Grape hyacinth and daffodils naturalized

Images Of Spring – Bulbs

Bert — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:54:15 +0000

Blushing Beauty

: Narcissus

: Tete-a-tete

: Scilla

Winter Gardens Part I

Bert — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:15:32 +0000

: The last of the sweet peas of 2008

Photos of the plants still blooming after our 6″ snowfall.

Winter Gardens Part II

Bert — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:07:54 +0000

: Black-eyed Susans blooming under a blanket of snow

Another garden surprise.

Winter Gardens Part III

Bert — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:01:01 +0000

The biggest surprise of all – “The Fairy” rose – covered in snow, but still blooming!

Korean Spice Bush

Bert — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:41:00 +0000

As much as perennials, herbs and annuals combine to create the ambience in our gardens, in the spring, it is the flowering shrubs and trees that are the mood makers.

In keeping with the age of our house, mostly old fashioned flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, Mock Orange, Lilac and Bridal Wreath Spirea bring colour to our spring gardens. Over time, we have added Ninebark, Rhododendron, Weigela, and Korean Spice Bush. They all put on such a pretty show while we await the blooming of our herbaceous plants.

This week, it is the Korean Spice Bush (Viburnum x carlcephalum) that is stealing the show. Its fragrance alone is enough to make one stop in mid stride to inhale the soft, spicy scent of the pale pink to white flowers. After the flowers are done, the shrub will leaf out and provide privacy to the back garden.

Deciduous shrub

Height up to 10’

Width up to 3’

Heart shaped, dark green leaves with good autumn colour

Trumpet shaped flowers in ball like clusters

White flowers open from pink buds

Hardy in Zones 6 – 8

Prefers moist, well drained soil

Sun or part shade

Prune after flowering

Can tolerate hard pruning

Susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew and rust – provide good airflow in and around the shrub to reduce the possibility of disease

Aphids, mealybugs and scale enjoy this shrub. Ours have never been attacked, but encouraging wildlife to your gardens can control any infestations that may occur.

Spring Gardens

Bert — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Is there a garden blogger out there that isn’t struggling to balance the desire to garden and the desire to blog about their gardens? The pouring rain we are having today is the only reason the computer is my gardening tool of choice at the moment. Just like housework, the computer gets pushed aside during gardening season in favour of putting my hands into the soil, planting, or trimming while inhaling the fragrance that is spring. The work (and I hesitate to call it work) of preparing the gardens is usually accompanied by the sweet chorus of song birds. Today, being stuck indoors, that sweet sound is missed. But, since I am a gardener, and gardeners define the term “Eternal Optimist”, I know that tomorrow I will garden again and listen to the birds as they serenade the neighbourhood.

Sign Of Spring

Bert — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:36:00 +0000

The robins have arrived!! – In B.C. !!

Nevermind, it won’t be long now before the robins are here in

S-W Ontario too.

Thanks to the B.C. branch of the family for the picture.

Bert — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Enough already! As I write this it is -16C. With the wind chill, it is -30C. The sun is quickly setting, and the warmth from the sun that has been pouring through the windows is fading as well. Frankly I am tired of the frost on the windows, pretty as it is. I am tired of bundling up in every piece of outerwear I own just to take the garbage out! I want spring! A petition calling for the return of spring, or the banning of winter occured to me, but who would I send it to? Parliament? Hardly! Mother Nature? Perhaps, but who has her address? Anyone?

So, as I contemplated this week’s blog instalment, putting up more pictures of snow, ice and desolation depressed me so much, I couldn’t bring myself to do it! Going through all the photos on the computer, I saw the irises and was immediately transported to spring. I thought of their sweet fragrance, their lovely flowers and all thoughts of winter disappeared. Hopefully the photos help will bring some spring to your mind too.

The Garden In Winter

Bert — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:35:00 +0000

Mother Nature has decided to dress our dreary gardens up in white a full month before winter officially begins. She’s quite a trickster isn’t she?

The shrub border (above)

Larch cones (right)

Euonymus complete with berries (left)