On Wednesday I hosted my first garden tour with a visit from an Ottawa garden club. I was really quite nervous in the morning ... OMG, they came by coach bus... there were 40 of them ... they were from an upper class area of Ottawa! Yikes. But it couldn't have gone any better, really. The weather even cooperated.
Thought I'd post a few pics.
Sandy
Originally, the bus was to park at the gravel pit just past our place, but once the bus driver saw our driveway, apparently he just uttered something in French and backed
that puppy up like it was a tinker toy. I have a new respect for bus drivers. :-)
It was a fun answering all their questions, and they had many.
A shady corner.
What a nice group. Even though it was a garden club group, there was quite a range of questions; from "what's your favourite hosta supplier?" to "so that's a hosta, right?"
Part of the rock garden.
The most asked about plants were Brunnera 'Jack Frost', japanese primrose, and Hosta 'Liberty'. You can see 'Liberty' in the background.
Closer pic of Hosta 'Liberty' and companions.
They are congregating down by the fairy's garden.
Here's the fairy's garden.
A bit of early June colour.
My fave shady corner, by the gate.
It looks as if this lady is checking out my unfinished walkway, lol. Actually, DH and I worked on it that very morning hauling and spreading stone dust, trying to finish it.
I used to have a pebble mosaic in the circle centre that I was never quite happy with but didn't know what to replace it with, until one day I happened to capture a fairy ....
This garden was newly planted last fall. It's mainly hostas and shade plants as it faces east. The bed in front of the shed gets more sun and is mostly daylilies and peonies.
It was a good day and overall it was a very gratifying experience.
Hi Sandy,
Which garden group came to see your garden? I didn't see anyone I knew in the pics, but ...
It looks great. I think I should come and see it while it's still in garden tour prime condition except that your garden always looks garden tour ready. Did they also tour the gardens by the museum? LOL at "so that's a hosta, right?"
Anyway - are you going to be in Ottawa this week? If not, I'll try to find a time slot to bring your plants and pick up mine. If you are, I might defer to next week to make a trek out to your place.
Ann
Hi Ann,
It was the Rockcliffe Garden Club(!). The Museum was a rest stop before they descended on the Castlegarth Restaurant for lunch (I don't know how they managed 40 people at once in that little place!) and then it was on to Whitehouse in Almonte.
I have to get to Ottawa within the next two weeks but haven't decided when as yet. If next week suits you, that'll be fine - except for Friday.
Sandy
Ooh - Rockliffe. Posh! They probably mostly have gardeners!
..... now you know why I was n-n-n-n-nervous? lol
Those lucky gardeners! Wish I'd been there for a tour. Your gardens are beautiful Sandy!
Joanne
Thanks, Joanne! Would have enjoyed having you here, too.
Sandy
It is great fun having people tour your garden! I have had many tours and I always enjoy them, even if the weather does not cooperate.
Lovely garden Sandy - looks like it would be a great spot for a roundup!
Hey maybe if I ever get back down to visit my DB in Miss. I can make a little tour around Ontario to visit shelties and gardens! ( I lived in Ottawa for 8 years a long time ago!)
Well, you know you would always be welcome for a visit, Carol! We have no shelties but my dog loves company. Besides, how hard is it for plantaholics to find something to talk about 24/7! ViolaAnn is not too far away, either, we may be able to talk her into teaching us the viola or handbells.... could be quite a cultural experience :-))
Sandy
Joanne and Carol - all you need to do is plan a trip to the Nation's Capital - Ottawa and we'll go see Sandy's garden. Take 1 hour from my house to hers and I'm planning to get there on Tuesday. I have to see her garden at least once a year. She gets to see mine occasionally because Ottawa is the BIG city nearby and she comes in periodically, but she doesn't learn much from mine like I can from hers.
Oh Ann, you way undersell yourself as usual. I would think if we had a Roundup, we'd have to offer a workshop esp. for Calgarians ... how to grow plants in a place where there is no snow in June and July!
Sandy
Didn't YOU have snow last week, Sandy? Or was it the last of May?
Yes, we did and it was very unusual for this area! I used to live in Calgary and remember the weird weather, but I also rememer the sunshine. We did relocation packages when I worked for one of the oil companies out there and one of the big plusses they stated was that Calgary has the most sunny days in all of Canada.
Sandy
Sandy
Wow , Your garden is outstanding!!!!. What a lovely honor for you to host all the folks who may have gardeners. LOL
If I ever get out that way I think I would have zone envy. I think we have +1 or 2 tonight. When the heck are we getting spring?
Anyway you seem to have the right weather and I enjoyed seeing your photo's.
Thank you
Ann
Sandy, you're right about the sun in Calgary. In fact, I think after getting an inch of snow this past Saturday at my place, it was downright sunny later in the afternoon. :( LOL.
Never mind visit Ottawa, I may just MOVE there. I've lived in Calgary all my life and I'm getting sooooo tired of this short growing season.
Having said that, it sure would be great to visit all of you ladies from Ontario at a round up one of these days.
What a beautiful garden!!
Ann (annabell52) - and I thought I was the only one with zone envy. I would SO love to grow lots of Japanese Maples. Lost another one this year, even though I wrapped it with the Geotextile. Hope you get your spring soon! Actually, we're having a cool spring so far, but it's better than the +30C temps we usually get in June, and all the thunderstorms with the heat. Peonies don't last very long.
Grow_Jo - a roundup would be fun; you westerners will have to teach us how to say a convincing "yee-ha".
Thank you joannabanana.
Sandy
Well, I think you guys are talking of a Calgary RU aren't you? And there's talk of one in the Ottawa area as well though I haven't heard much about it lately - Mona in Metcalfe was asking about it and offering to host it.
sanannie simply bogglingly beautious! I'm sure the visitors were awed. Thanks for sharing your pics.
I just got back from a trip up the Valley to visit Sandy's garden and have lunch and exchange Hostas. In addition, she picked up a lovely "Liberty" for me at her local nursery since mine was sold out.
Her garden is more stunning for real than in the pictures and she's got room to expand. I'm so jealous!
Ann
I can tell from the pics that there are more wonderful things just out of the camera shot. I'm droooooling over the shade areas. My deep shade spots seem to be taking FOREVER to come together sigh.
LOL ~ Thanks for the unique compliment dahlianut. 'bogglingly beautious'! .... still chuckling.... I know you like hostas, but how much shade do you have on your property, or do you have mostly sunny beds for your dahlia addiction?
Ann, glad to know you made it home safe. I can't wait to see future pics of your Liberty, it should be a real stunner in the spot you've decided to put it. I'm looking forward to planting my 3 new lovelies. Thanks.
Sandy
I am a very shady lady. A good mix of full, part and dappled shade. I am gradually making more sun beds by ripping things out like grass, raised decks and the driveway.
A truly awesome garden, Sandy. Thanks for sharing with us. You'll have to keep updating us through the summer on the changes. ^_^
Thank you, Don :-)
Wow the gardens are absolutely beautiful Sandy. Fabulous hostas and I love the fairies!
Theresa
