Category: Garden Bay

This is a new planting plan for the original garden bed in the front yard. The bed was created by the previous owners and was filled with great plants. The right half was planted with bearded iris that had stopped flowering and needed to be divided. Given that it meant tearing up the bed I decided that I needed a design.

My first step was to measure the area to create its outline on a drawing. I was surprised by how symmetrical the bed is. The previous owners did an excellent job in its construction. Two years ago I removed some non-performing shrubs on the left side and planted two David Austin own root cuttings that I had made. As this bed is prime rose territory and I continue to propagate my favourite roses, I decided to fill this bed with roses, shown as large white circles above.

I then plotted one foot circles around the roses to mark the spaces for perennial plants. Using the palette of plants I already have I used colours to indicate which plant goes where. The planting is very symmetrical with lots of repetition. Creating the drawing was the easy part.

As August is the recommended time for dividing iris, I dove in even though this is the wrong time to move anything else. I only dug where necessary and tried my best to salvage everything. I ended up with a large number of surplus irises and spread them around the other front beds.

We continue to have hot, dry weather and I am chomping at the bit to continue the replanting, but I know better and impatiently wait for rain. We are flying to Ottawa on October 4 to visit my sister, and to Mexico October 12 for five months. With so much to do in the garden I am feeling the pressure already.

I am spending most of my free time in the garden this year as I purposely do not have any other projects on the go. While this makes me very sensitive to the weather, it also focuses my thoughts on the garden: the good, the bad, and the problems.

I have been gardening here in Garden Bay for seven years now, and the yard has been transformed. I started by adding shrubs for structure and solving the deer problem with fencing. Then I started my rose collection which stands at 48 varieties and 60-odd bushes. I then greatly expanded the perennial beds in the front garden. Today there is a solid design and the whole yard is garden.

Now I am propagating my favourite roses instead of buying new ones. I have a handful of problem rose bushes that *maybe* would be better on their own-roots. Before I “shovel prune ” a rose I ‘d like to give it a second chance. I have learned what gives me the most joy in a rose and replacing non-performing roses will probably start this fall.

After seven years I’ve had to learn how to prune shrubs as I prefer a light touch and many have grown to become problems. I’ve got books and the Internet, but trial and error is how I’ve learned the most. And yes, I ‘ve killed a shrub or two along the way. I did a lot of pruning this year and now have a clearer annual pruning plan.

A great example of evolution is the wisteria that came with the house. I enjoyed cultivating the plant on a trellis. The light touch soon got me in trouble and I had to learn how to prune and train the beast properly. This year I realized that for my garden the wisteria was too much work with insufficient reward and was in the way of my real interest of growing roses. I recently removed the wisteria and have no regrets.

Another example is a row of three lilacs that I planted at the side of the house for structure. I chose lilacs for their fragrance and memories of growing up. As the rose collection expanded I planted roses in between the lilacs. Now the lilacs are large, shading the roses, and occupying prime rose territory. I have decided that shovel pruning those lilacs is best. I do have two other smaller lilacs in the garden anyway.

Our annual summer drought started late this year and we are in the middle of a heat wave. There is lots of colour in the garden but most of the roses are resting. The climbing roses that I planted for the pergola are putting out strong new canes 🙂 There’s not a lot to do in the garden in the summer but watch and enjoy, and add to my TODO list for the fall.