An Old Boxwood Facing Its Final Days...
The spring cleanups are in full force and several homeowners are hiring me to prepare the garden areas with the aim of designing with and transplanting new perennials and shrubs. But to get to the "finished" garden, a little tidying up is needed for me to even see the blank canvas we're working with.
This Riverdale, Toronto back garden is very small (and may be one of the smallest I've dealt with) and peculiar. Although the pictures immediately below don't suggest it, the garden will be in shade once the neighbouring maple trees leaf out in a month or so. There's also a very tall spruce tree in the garden that blocks out most of the southern exposure.
I describe the light conditions "peculiar" because the raised deck between the garden and house is in full sun for most of the day. I can only imagine how hot things get during the middle of the day up there while only a few feet away below the stairs, the garden will be in part to full shade.
From a functional perspective, the garden simply connects the house (via the deck) to the parking area. There's a great place to put a bench but my feeling is that the homeowners simply want to get to and from the house and their car quickly with something half decent to look at.
Currently, two forlorn Euonymus and one ancient, unpruned and decrepit boxwood greet the homeowners to and from work. They'll have to go but first, let's tidy up things!
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Backyard Before |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Backyard After |
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Yes, that's a boxwood in the picture
above on the left side.
Not what I call an ideal focal point. |
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| Toronto Riverdale Backyard Spring Cleanup After |
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| Toronto Riverdale Backyard Spring Cleanup Before |
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Under the spruce, only some
Lily of the Valley manage
to eke out an existence. |
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Ideally, a bench or a small lounge chair
could be placed to the right in
the above picture. You can see how
shady this lower garden is at
noon while the deck above is in
full sun all morning and most of the afternoon. |
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| Riverdale Toronto Spring Cleanup Back Yard After |
And in the Front Yard...
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed Before |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed After |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Yard Before |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Yard After |
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| Riverdale Toronto Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed Before |
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| Riverdale Toronto Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed After |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed Before |
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| Riverdale Spring Cleanup Front Raised Bed After |
I'm finalizing the new plant choices with the homeowner so stay tuned for an update about the new garden!
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