Early Spring

Bergenia cordifolia

Sunny warm SPRING just doesn't seem to want to come to Ontario. Today, May 17th, it's 7C outside. Last summer on this same long weekend it was 26C.

WHAAAATTT????

Grumble grumble sad face.

But Mother Nature always seem to come through anyway. I really can't believe how things are getting green and plumping up despite these unseasonable temps.

Climbing Hydrangea

Ladies Mantle - Alchemilla mollis

Magnolia tree blossoms

Scattered magnolia blossoms

Bleeding Hearts - Dicentra spectabilis

Muscari - Grape Hyacinths

Deep Fuchsia Tulip

Red Darwin Tulips

Dandelion (!) (weed)

Red Twig Dogwood

Serviceberry - Amelanchier canadensis

The garden really is changing for the better, despite the weather. Let's just hope for warmer temps soon!

Please check my food blog - one of the latest posts was for Lasagna and the newest is for Zucchini Bread.

Identifying Plants in the Garden

Spring has finally Sprung in Southern Ontario! It's been a looooong wait.

But now that stuff is popping out of the ground, do you know which plant is which?

Here are some hints:

Bearded Iris

Monkshood

Ladies Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Daylilies - Hemerocallis

Peonies

Foxtail Lilies

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Bleeding Heart

Walk around outside - I'm sure "stuff" is popping up in your garden daily!!

Please be sure to check my food blog - the latest recipe posted is Pan-Seared Veal Chops with Rosemary.

Spring is REALLY emerging…at last!!

I just walked the property, with my camera around my neck, and here's what's emerging in my spring garden (hyacinths above):

Bleeding Hearts - Dicentra spectabilis

Crabapple 'Profusion'

Chionodoxa and Scilla

Climbing Hydrangea

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Primrose

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)…an Ontario Wildflower

Trillium…another Ontario Wildflower

Forsythia

Pink Lady Quince - Chaenomeles sup. 'Pink Lady

Viburnum Burkwoodii

Muscari

Peony shoots

Please take a look at my recipe blog - the last posts are Red Peppers stuffed with Saffron Rice and Pine Nuts as well as Broccoli and Potato Soup.

Garden Year in Review

Dianthus - name unknown

I spent this past weekend cutting down the garden. I would have done so sooner except for the rain, our Florida vacation, rain, lots of other stuff to do and the rain. Putting the garden "to bed" pretty much signifies the end of the garden season for this year. Today the high was 5C and it's going down to -2C overnight (that's 41F and 28F respectively). It's darn chilly out there now, which isn't conducive to spending many pleasurable hours in the garden.
This past year I have started following a lot of garden blogs and besides having made many new "virtual" friends, have also learned to be more attentive to how I take garden photos. Many of their blogs and photos are so outstanding, they should be winning awards!! But I just observe and attempt to imitate.
So as a finale to autumn 2012, I would like to present 15 of the pictures I am most proud of.

Peony - a gift (therefore, name unknown)

Red trillium

Daffodil 'Tahiti'

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'

Autumn crocus - Colchicum autumnale

Violets - name unknown

Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart - Dicentra spectabilis

Parrot tulips - a gift - name unknown (maybe 'Starfighter?')

Clematis probably 'Multiblue' seen on a garden tour

A vase of Ladies Mantle, Coral bells, Euonymus, Stachys byzantium, and Columbine

Climbing Rose - New Dawn

Petunias and Browallia

Pink Gerbera daisies

Polyantha rose 'The Fairy'

Pin Oak - Quercus palustris