For many, Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada is the weekend when people start planting in their yards. Our neighbours are mostly Italian, and known as landscaping enthusiasts, they were outside cranking up their curb appeal long before today. Luckily I enjoy gardening so our neighbours' work only gave me all the motivation and inspiration I needed. Before I take you through the part III of my 2015 spring refresh series, I would like to show you this brass sculptural sphere I picked up from West Elm the other day, and the fuchsia Phalaenopsis orchid from Ikea. I think I might have developed a slight obsession for orchids over the past few months. Two of the Phalaenopsis orchid plants from February are gone, and I know given my skills, chances for them to rebloom are close to none. But they gave a solid 3-month of nonstop gorgeous flowers when it was gloomy and cold outside, and for that, I will continue to replace them and enjoy them throughout the year.
Now let me take you outside. I don't know about you but I spend most of my summer in our yards when we are not up at the cottage. When it comes to gardening, the kinky garden hose was by far my single biggest challenge. I've tried many "never kink" and "heavy duty" vinyl hoses but they were either to difficult to wind up and release, or at some point all tangled up. I heard a lot about the expandable hose, read all the positive and mostly negative reviews, and decided to give it a try anyway. I bought the Big Boss Xhose from Lowes. So far it's living up to all its promises. It has made watering my garden a breeze. I only hope it doesn't burst like it happened to many other users. Let see how long it will hold up.
As a result of the harsh winter we had, a few shrubs in my yards never came back this spring. A good lesson learnt is always to burlap the not-so-established plants before the first frost. So I replaced/added a few plants including this gorgeous pink Perennial Sage "Lyrical Rose". I love flowering shrubs; I have about 20 of them throughout my garden, planted there to take advantage of a sequence of blossoming times throughout the season. When picking perennials, I look for those long blooming types that give showy flowers from late spring through early fall; and flowering shrubs that bloom multiple times like Bloomerang Lilac.
Veronica "Royal Candles" in royal blue was another perennial I added this spring.
I stumbled upon this rectangular one in black at PC Garden Centre. I was pleasantly surprised by the plant selections, and the stylish yet inexpensive planters from the President Choice.
While there, I also picked up a few perennial Campanula plants for the said planter.
I also added Potentilla "Gold Star", Lavender "Hidcote Blue", and a few Rhododendron shrubs. I can't wait to share with you my Jardin de Fleurs this year!
I hope it was also an amazing long weekend for you. I am going to sign off for now and enjoy a glass while appreciating the fruits of my labour.
Now let me take you outside. I don't know about you but I spend most of my summer in our yards when we are not up at the cottage. When it comes to gardening, the kinky garden hose was by far my single biggest challenge. I've tried many "never kink" and "heavy duty" vinyl hoses but they were either to difficult to wind up and release, or at some point all tangled up. I heard a lot about the expandable hose, read all the positive and mostly negative reviews, and decided to give it a try anyway. I bought the Big Boss Xhose from Lowes. So far it's living up to all its promises. It has made watering my garden a breeze. I only hope it doesn't burst like it happened to many other users. Let see how long it will hold up.
As a result of the harsh winter we had, a few shrubs in my yards never came back this spring. A good lesson learnt is always to burlap the not-so-established plants before the first frost. So I replaced/added a few plants including this gorgeous pink Perennial Sage "Lyrical Rose". I love flowering shrubs; I have about 20 of them throughout my garden, planted there to take advantage of a sequence of blossoming times throughout the season. When picking perennials, I look for those long blooming types that give showy flowers from late spring through early fall; and flowering shrubs that bloom multiple times like Bloomerang Lilac.
Veronica "Royal Candles" in royal blue was another perennial I added this spring.
I stumbled upon this rectangular one in black at PC Garden Centre. I was pleasantly surprised by the plant selections, and the stylish yet inexpensive planters from the President Choice.
While there, I also picked up a few perennial Campanula plants for the said planter.
I also added Potentilla "Gold Star", Lavender "Hidcote Blue", and a few Rhododendron shrubs. I can't wait to share with you my Jardin de Fleurs this year!
I hope it was also an amazing long weekend for you. I am going to sign off for now and enjoy a glass while appreciating the fruits of my labour.
