17.8.12

Toronto's James Gardens, in Technicolor


Why do people love bedding plants so much?

Every summer visit I make to my client D.'s house in the western part of Toronto called Etobicoke, I  spend a few minutes at James Gardens nearby. Why? I can be assured that the flower beds will assault my retinas with electric blasts of yellow, pink, and orange foliage and petals. A little masochistic, I admit, but after tending a few "white and green only!" gardens, a little colour therapy is helpful to jolt the creative juices. So, if you are blessed/cursed with a ton of space, full sun and deep pockets,  follow the lead of the Gardens' planners and go Victorian with these bedding annuals I seen used (the list is not comprehensive, I'm sure I missed some): catharanthus, celosia, angelonia, zinnia, canna, salvia, gerbera daisies, gloriosa daisies, gazania, ricinus.

Catharanthus, zinnia and castor bean bedding plants at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening  blog
The castor bean plants are always impressive with their foliage

Angelonia, red salvia, cannas at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Same feeling with the dark cannas!

Coleus, rudbeckia and gladioli at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Coleus in full sun, with the requisite irrigation system in place

Yellow gazania, phlox against miscanthus backdrop at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Pink and yellow, pink and yellow....

Detail of lantana blooms at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Why I love lantana!

Russian sage and luna rose hibiscus at James Gardens Etobicoke  by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Softer pastels with the Russian sage and pink hibiscus

Hydrangea paniculata, Russian sage and Echinacea at James Gardens Etobicoke by garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog
Late summer means Perovskia, Hydrangea paniculata, Echinacea, Hibiscus


By Paul Jung, author of "garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog"Google Google Find us on Google+ Find us on Google+

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