Downtown Toronto's Garden District Courtyard Fall Cleanup

Hosta La Vista, I Hardly Knew Yew

Repetition in the garden can be a good thing, from a design perspective. The technique can reinforce a specific story, theme or message. However repeating the same two types of plants (yews and hostas) in over a dozen raised beds doesn't tell me any story (at least, one that is compelling.)

Maybe you will have better luck in determining a narrative!

Downtown Courtyard Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

I've been hired once again for a fall cleanup of the raised beds in this condo's inner (secure) courtyard. While the raised beds have a wonderful and organic free-flowing feel to them structurally, it's all wasted with mundane plantings which scream "landscape contractor discounts!" Continuous use of yews, hostas, spirea, and euonymus certainly reduce the need for fine gardening maintenance labour. (I believe the custodian trims the yews into meatballs, UFOs, gigantic matcha macarons, etc. Perhaps it's his one chance to express any on-the-job creativity, who knows?)

Downtown Courtyard Toronto Fall Cleanup After 

But, as usual, I digress. These pictures primarily tell the story of my fall cleanup efforts which mainly comprise of cutting down (soon-to-be) dormant hostas, raking leaves from the beds and removing weeds growing from my last cleanup visit in the summer. There's no dedicated gardener aside from the custodian as the plants are left to their own devices. Since most of the perennials and shrubs are mature and enjoy the automatic irrigation system during the hottest days of the summer, the plant material is quite healthy.

But visually boring!

Downtown Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

Downtown Toronto Fall Cleanup After

Toronto Downtown Fall Cleanup Before

Downtown Toronto Fall Cleanup After

Downtown Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

Downtown Toronto Fall Cleanup After 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup After 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup After 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup Before 

Garden District Toronto Fall Cleanup After 

Garden District Toronto Fall Courtyard Cleanup Before 

Garden District Toronto Fall Courtyard Cleanup After

Toronto Downtown Fall Cleanup Before

Toronto Downtown Fall Cleanup After

Toronto Downtown Fall Cleanup Before 

Toronto Downtown Fall Cleanup After 

Toronto Garden District Fall Cleanup Before

Toronto Garden District Fall Cleanup After 

Toronto Garden District Fall Cleanup Before 

Toronto Garden District Fall Cleanup After 

Toronto Garden District Garden Cleanup Before

Toronto Garden District Garden Cleanup After

There's plenty of potential to create "pollinator oases" by removing some of the yews and putting in colourful and functional native perennials and shrubs. It just takes money to design, install and maintain these interesting pockets, money which the condo management company would likely not like spending. You know the saying, "if it ain't broke,...."