29.3.14

"Garden muses" is 3 years old!


Thank you for reading this


Well, not only this post but perhaps some of the other 100 or so entries I've written over  the past three years about gardening (most of the times) in and about Toronto and other places.


Garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog celebration cake with three candles
Getting older, not necessarily wiser...

I'll strive to write/muse more about "gardeny" related topics.

Maybe, just maybe, even one post about urban veggie farming.

No guarantees though!

Onward and upward in 2014-2015, my fellow garden muses!

25.3.14

Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis): garden muses plant profile

Chinese dogwood: why you need to plant it


Looking for a medium sized deciduous tree that offers interest throughout the seasons? Look no further than Kousa (aka Chinese) dogwood! Hardy in zones 5-8, Cornus kousa var. chinensis is not native to North America (originally from China, Japan and Korea) but offers the following ornamental characteristics:

a) White/cream coloured bracts that can cover the tree. It's a wonderful sight to see a Kousa dogwood laden with these white bracts in May-June. Here's my tree covered with bracts in spring:

Cornus kousa Chinese dogwood bract by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cornus kousa (Chinese dogwood) bract 



Cornus kousa Chinese dogwood blooms by garden muses- a Toronto gardening blog
Cornus kousa (Chinese dogwood) blooms 

Cornus kousa var Chinensis Chinese dogwood bracts by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cornus kousa var chinensis (Chinese dogwood) bracts 

Chinese dogwood Cornus kousa var Chinensis  bracts by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa var chinensis)  bracts 

Chinese dogwood Cornus kousa var Chinensis bracts by garden muses-a Toronto gardening blog
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa var chinensis) bracts 


Chinese dogwood Cornus kousa var Chinensis berries by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa var chinensis) berries 

Flowers often produce these warty and somewhat edible fruits (berries) by autumn. I profiled these soft fruits that have a mealy consistency in a post titled "Maybe you do need a scoop of vanilla ice cream... Fresh Toronto Cornus kousa fruits in the raw!" Likely the squirrels and birds will eat them before you can harvest them.

I tried eating one and, while edible, wasn't an amazing gourmet experience!



Cornus kousa var chinensis Chinese dogwood autumn foliage by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cornus kousa var chinensis 
(Chinese dogwood) autumn foliage 

Cornus kousa's fall foliage is very ornamental as shown above. Colours range from plums, wines, russets, oranges and golds on the same tree.

Common cultivars we see in Toronto include "Satomi" with pink bracts and "Wolf Eyes" which has wavy variegated leaves. They can be planted as small-medium sized trees, shrubs and standards and can fit into most landscape garden styles.

Cornus kousa prefers full sun (6 hours of direct sun) with ample watering in the first several years after transplanting. My tree takes care of itself more or less, no fertilizing required and is pest free. Just leave it alone to achieve its natural vase shape and don't prune them into meatballs!

21.3.14

The Royal Botanical Gardens: a spring visit

Tulips, peonies, and wisteria from a warmer time...



Well, not this spring (yet) but from 2009. Going through my archives, I realized I never posted about my visit with Linda (my better half) to the RBG about five years ago. For the currently flower-deprived readers out there, I'm sure you'll appreciate the following pictures of spring blooms from warmer days in the past. (Who knows, we might even see similar sights around town in May but I wouldn't bet the farm on this given the severity of winter 2013-2014.)



Royal Botanical Gardens pale pink tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens pale pink tulips 





The Royal Botanical Gardens is the
 "largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature" and "located at the western tip of Lake Ontario. Four distinct formal gardens are contained with 1100 hectares of nature reserve, nestled into the slopes of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve." 


My visit didn't cover the entire 110 hectares--just a quiet afternoon on a pleasant May day. The RBG is only about 30-45 minutes from Toronto located near Burlington. It's very well-known for its herbaceous perennials display (especially peonies), tulips at the Rock Garden and the mature specimens in the Arboretum.

I think a visit is long overdue!

(p.s. I apologize in advance for not providing the correct cultivars for the peonies and tulips. If you can help, just send me an e-mail. Thanks!)



Royal Botanical Gardens dark purple wine tree peony by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
dark purple wine tree peony 



Royal Botanical Gardens pink tree peony by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens pink tree peony


Royal Botanical Gardens purple peony by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens purple tree peony 



Royal Botanical Gardens massed tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens massed tulips 



Royal Botanical Gardens orange tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens orange tulips 



Royal Botanical Gardens pale orange tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens pale orange tulips



Royal Botanical Gardens Japanese wisteria floribunda Lawrence by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog.JPG
Royal Botanical Gardens
Japanese wisteria
(Wisteria floribunda "Lawrence")

Royal Botanical Gardens doublefile viburnum plicatum lanarth by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
doublefile Viburnum plicatum "Lanarth"


Royal Botanical Gardens doublefile viburnum plicatum lanarth blooms by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
doublefile Viburnum plicatum "Lanarth" blooms 


Royal Botanical Gardens purple lilac syringa vulgaris by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
 purple lilac Syringa vulgaris

Royal Botanical Gardens syringa vulgaris purple lilac by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
Syringa vulgaris purple lilac 

Royal Botanical Gardens tulips Rock garden by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
tulips in Rock garden 

Royal Botanical Gardens pink tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
pink and red tulips in the Rock Garden

Royal Botanical Gardens red tulips by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens red tulips 

Royal Botanical Gardens yellow tulips red streaks by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens yellow tulips red streaks

Royal Botanical Gardens clipped boxwoods Laking  knot garden by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
 clipped boxwoods Laking  knot garden 

Royal Botanical Gardens clipped boxwood knot Laking  garden by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
clipped boxwood knot garden at
the Laking Garden 

Royal Botanical Gardens Laking  knot garden by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Royal Botanical Gardens
Laking Garden knot garden
 with topiary and thyme


15.3.14

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014: primulas, cinerarias, grape hyacinths

Toronto blooms (without the distracting home renovation booths)


Canada Blooms, I guess our country's national flower show, kicked off yesterday. I may join the hordes of flower-deprived gardeners but given the garden show simultaneously shares the same facilities with the "National Home Show", I haven't enjoyed myself. I found previous visits very commercial and there are only so many ways you can look at concrete pavers and retaining walls as aesthetically pleasing.

But I've been promised free tickets so we'll see...

My previous two posts displayed spring blooms at a local public conservatory's Spring flower show. With very few visitors during my visit (before last week's student spring break!), it was a quiet and peaceful experience.

I can guarantee that the same adjectives won't apply to Canada Blooms this weekend!



Muscari armeniacum Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Muscari armeniacum  and
blue and pink cineraria
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 





Primula malacoides Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Primula malacoides
Allan Gardens Conservatory
  Spring Flower Show 2014 




Primula malacoides and aculis at Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
Primula malacoides and P. aculis
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show





Primula malacoides Fairy primrose detail Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
Primula malacoides (Fairy primrose) detail
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show



Primula polyanthus Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Primula polyanthus
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014



Royale Red Salpiglossis sinuata Painted Tongue Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
"Royale Red" Salpiglossis sinuata 
(Painted Tongue)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014



Yellow crocus Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
Yellow crocus
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014



Yellow crocus Florist's cineraria Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
Yellow crocus and Florist's cineraria
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014



Florist's cineraria Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Florist's cineraria
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 




Fairy primrose at Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Fairy primrose (Primula malacoides)
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 



Pale blue grape hyacinth Muscari armeniacum Florist's cineraria Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014
Pale blue grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) Florist's cineraria and Variegated Leopard plant
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show




Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show purple tulips cineraria by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory 
Spring Flower Show 
purple tulips, cineraria and foxglove



Purple tulips schizanthus Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Purple tulips and schizanthus 
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show  




Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 narcissus container by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 Spring Flower Show 
narcissus and primula container 

5.3.14

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014: part two

It's official: This Toronto winter sucks!


Well, as official as can be (and since I'm writing this post, that makes it very official!) I mean, going into four months of continuously sub-zero weather is maddening. Maybe a few readers like you are going a wee stir-crazy dealing with the snow, wind-chill and our fair city's mayor. Some "floricultural therapy" is in order. As I promised in an earlier post, here are more updated pictures from the Conservatory's Spring Flower Show. (I'll break up the close to 30 pictures in two posts to keep the colour flowing.)

Warning: heavy primula and cineraria content to follow, but there you have it.

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 container by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 container 








Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 Fairy primrose by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 Spring Flower Show 2014 Fairy primrose


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 florist's cineraria by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower
Show 2014 florist's cineraria 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 hyacinths on topiary by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 hyacinths on topiary
 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 Pink Charm daffodils by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 Pink Charm daffodils 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 pond by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 pond


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 Primula polyanthus by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014 Primula polyanthus


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 red azalea Pink Charm daffodils
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014
red azalea Pink Charm daffodils


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 yellow daffodils purple pansies
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014
yellow daffodils purple pansies


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 yellow freesia by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show 2014
 yellow freesia 


Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show pale blue Fairy primrose by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Spring Flower Show
pale blue Fairy primrose 

Cineraria at Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Cineraria at Allan Gardens Conservatory
 Spring Flower Show 2014

Allan Gardens Conservatory Spring Flower Show 2014 blue purple hyacinths by garden muses-not another Toronto gardening blog
Allan Gardens Conservatory
 Spring Flower Show 2014
blue purple hyacinths



The Spring Show runs until Easter when the, um, Easter Flower Show starts. Who knows? By then, maybe it will stop snowing.

Maybe.

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