Korean Spice Bush

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

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

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.

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

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)

And A Good Time Was Had By All...

Some of the amazing planters being created at the Winter Planter Workshop! Many thanks to Julie of the Camlachie Library and all of the talented women who participated!

Virginia Creeper

This Thanksgiving Day, I'd like to share with you some of the fall colours we are enjoying in our garden this year.

Juniper

Just look at all the berries on this juniper! If folklore is to believed, we will have a hard winter this year.

Does anyone know how to make gin?

Sugar Maple

Fall Sumac

Before this growing season comes to a grinding halt, I'd like to share with you some of the plants I grew from seed in my back yard greenhouse this year. On the left is Gazania. On the right is something new for me, Convolvulus, which is a vining plant and supposedly quite invasive. Well, in my garden of clay, it is not.

On the left are the flowers of an annual climber, Mina Lobata. Usually you won't find red or orange flowers in my garden, but this plant, I can't resist.

And to prove that veggies can be ornamental, on the right is a flower from our pumpkins.

Both these plants were started from seed in our greenhouse.

Two varieties of Datura (also grown from seed in my greenhouse). On the left is Ballerina Yellow. On the right is Ballerina Purple. The yellow was the star of our gardens this year.

This is "Graham Thomas" one of my favourite from David Austin Roses

Rosa Rugosa "alba". It's stunning beauty lies in its simplicity. It only blooms once, but is well worth a special place in the garden.

A foundling I rescued. No idea what its name is. Can anybody help me identify it? So far it has not appeared in any of my rose books.

This cute little rose is a miniature named "Angel Wings". I started it from seed in my greenhouse in 2006. We're still getting to know one another and so far, we are getting on famously.

With Canada Day just around the corner, what could be more appropriate than the rose "Oh Canada" blooming in time to celebrate the holiday?

No Gardening information, no advice, no opinions this time.

Our apple tree is in full bloom and I just wanted to share it with you.