We moved into our house in August 2006. We being my mom, dad, my son and myself. (Strange living situation I know, but that’s a story for another time.)

There were gardens here, but they had been pretty much ignored and the plants, shrubs and trees within those gardens had been left to fend for themselves. Mom and I spent much of last summer trying to shape things up. Through ruthless trimming, the removal of ancient shrubs, and new shrub and perennial additions, we are finally making some headway.

continue reading "Front Yard Makeover"

One of my favorite herbs and the first one I ever grew in my garden was thyme. I think it was Doone Valley Thyme - one of the taller versions with dusty purple blooms on fine foliage that just begged to be touched to release it’s fresh fragrance.

I’ve grown lemon thyme for using snipped - fresh or dried in meat dishes or stuffing. I love the look of creeping thyme especially in a rock garden or between stepping stones. And the silver or gold tipped foliage of some decorative thymes mixes so well with other gray and blue herbs in the garden or in colorful mixed pots with summer flowers.

continue reading "Favorite Herbs - Thyme"

The two green thumbs of 2greenthumbsup.com added a couple of new gardens and a few new items to their existing gardens in 2007. We (okay, I) have a weakness for garden plants on sale. My mom, the other green thumb, has a little more self control, but can be persuaded, cajoled, heckled, and pressured into making the odd purchase. She’s a planner and I’m a bit more spontaneous - together we make an awesome gardening team.

continue reading "2007 - The Garden In Review"

With the hot and dry summers we’ve been experiencing in Southern Ontario over the past few years, it only makes sense to plant perennials that are drought tolerant or heat resistant. The move to conserve water is even more incentive to plant perennials more suited to our individual environments.

1. Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart)
2. Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
3. Armeria maritima (Thrift)
4. Sedum spectabile (Showy Stonecrop)
5. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
6. Coreopsis verticillata (Thread-leaved Coreopsis)
7. Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower)
8. Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)
9. Achillea filipendulina (Fern-Leaved Yarrow)
10. Artemisia absinthium (Common Wormwood)
11. Nepeta x. faassenii (Catmint)

Some of my favorite pairings are Lavender with Catmint and Purple Coneflower with Russian Sage. The different colors and types of foliage add interest and texture to a perennial garden.