Be Careful Around Me (Opuntia!)

Thorn in My Side/Finger: Eastern Prickly Pear

While this native cactus won't exactly reach out and punch you, if you work around it, you'll need to treat it with (very thick) kid gloves.

I have a somewhat love-hate relationship with these impressive clumps of Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) I "look after" for my Riverdale, Toronto client, although there's minimal fussing around required for these winter-hardy perennials. As shown below, these clumps are located between two driveways at curbside, in full sun. I never water this area and the plants thrive on my neglect. Excellent soil drainage due to the area's sandy soil helps, of course.

Finally, over the past five years working for this client, I've never noticed even once of "evidence" left by cats and dogs. The spines and barbs usually deter our four-legged friends from depositing gifts at curbside!

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
in a Toronto Riverdale Ecological Garden

The flowers are exquisite when they bloom in June. The wax-like yellow petals and orange-red centers practically glow when the flowers fully open during periods of full sun. The reddish fruits developing later are edible and one can make jellies and candies out of them.

Riverdale Ecological Garden Eastern
Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) flowers

Opuntia humifusa (Eastern Prickly Pear)
in a Toronto Riverdale Ecological Garden 

So, what's to hate? The reasons are found very noticeably on the cactus's flattened stems or "paddles": a multitude of spines and the more irritating tiny brown barbed bristles which make working around them quite tricky. I can attest that the bristles are a real pain to remove so wearing thick padded gloves is highly recommended when weeding in and around the paddles.

Toronto Riverdale Ecological Garden
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) blooms

The flowers are favoured by many pollinators like this green fly below.


If you're looking for a perennial that's as "low maintenance" as you can go for a xeriscape or rock garden, Opuntia could be your answer. Consider planting a few Eastern Prickly Pears next spring: just pick up some thick leather gloves while you're at it. You'll thank me later!

Toronto Riverdale Ecological Garden
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) 

Spring Time in a Riverdale Ecological Garden

Gardening with Native Plants in Toronto: Spring Can Be Beautiful, Just Don't Expect Lilacs

What a spring it has been so far! Like last year, we've seen ornamental Flowering cherries, crabapples, magnolias and others display their glorious and short-lived blooms. Of course, tulips, daffodils and other seasonal bulbs offer their much-needed colour too, notwithstanding squirrel vandalism. But what if you don't want such traditional trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs in your garden? Could it be beautiful too in the spring?

A garden I visit weekly to look after shows you that the answer is a resounding "yes!"

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
spring flowers in a Riverdale
ecological garden

I'd describe the philosophy behind this garden's plant choice and maintenance as "ecological" as the clients want a variety of insects and birds while choosing perennials and shrubs native to southern Ontario only. There's no use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, mainly due to the absence of a lawn.

White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
spring flower in a
Riverdale ecological garden

I've profiled this garden many times in my blog's history (search "ecological garden"). It's one of my favourite gardens to work in due to omission: the plants here are simply absent for the most part in all the other gardens I maintain. So from purely a maintenance aspect, I find it very interesting to see how the garden changes from April to November. Buddha knows, I can look at mophead hydrangeas and boxwoods so many times before boredom ensues.

Wood violet (Viola odorata) spring flowers
in a Riverdale ecological garden

In May, many shrubs and perennials in this Riverdale garden offer their nectar and pollen to hungry pollinators. In high summer, the frenzy of activity peaks when other perennials like asters, Ironweed, and coneflowers are covered with hoverflies, many species of bees, moths and butterflies.

American Plum (Prunus americana)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
in a Riverdale ecological garden

It's not only flowers which are attractive now. Like any "great" garden (well, to me), foliage plays an equally important part. Several clumps of Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) like the one above have really established themselves over the past few years. The soft richly-veined new leaves are very ornamental. They remind me of Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla). 

Canadian wild ginger
(Asarum canadense)
leaf detail in a Riverdale
ecological garden

Golden currant (Ribes aureum)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden 

Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

These nodding flowers will turn into "smoke" later. The fuzzy flower reminds me more of a Dr.Seuss character than anything else!

Prunus americana (American Plum)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

I'm mildly irritated when I read or hear the claim that using native plant species will automatically and magically mean much lower maintenance requirements (no pests, dieases, etc.) All I can say is "it depends." While the great majority of plants in this garden don't need fussing about, this Plum is the exception. It suckers everywhere and is very prone to scale, leaf curl and blight damage so parts of the tree look crispy later. The clients spray a mixture of horticultural oil mixed with a fungicide to control the damage to acceptable levels. If it was up to me, this plum would be replaced with a Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) but...it's not up to me!

Red baneberry (Actaea rubra)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Another shady character above. The globular flowers will produce brilliant red berries in autumn. Perhaps I should collect them and try to germinate them?

Serviceberry
(Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance')
spring blooms in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Sharp-eyed readers will look at the above and ask: "if native species are only found in this garden, why is a tree-form Serviceberry (Amelanchier) cultivar here?" That's a great question and I don't have an answer. If it's any consolation, there are three medium sized multi-stemmed Serviceberry shrubs nearby which fruit profusely (I enjoy a few ripe berries before the robins and squirrels beat me to them in July.)

And, yes, the fall colour is excellent on this small tree!

Serviceberry
(Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance')
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Trillium grandiflorum (White Trillium)
spring flower in a
Riverdale ecological garden

Our provincial flower above in full bloom. We're trying to establish a colony under a cherry tree but it'll take time.

Below is a closeup from a clump of Wood violets. They can be "weedy" but since there's no lawn here, that's never an issue. The two patches of violets always die back (go dormant) in August's heat but recover nicely in the fall with fresh foliage.

Viola odorata (Wood violet)
spring flowers in a
Riverdale ecological garden

A Riverdale Toronto Spring Garden Cleanup

Cleaning Up Your Garden in the Fall Isn't Necessary

There's one garden I look after in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood that never experiences the glory of what's known in the landscaping business as a "fall cleanup." Typically, every October or November, a garden is "put to bed" or "closed for the winter" (amusing metaphors!) by having all dead or dying perennial stems, stalks and flowers removed or leaves raked (more likely blown) out. For most gardens, this isn't necessary. The seedheads and stalks can feed overwintering birds and provide homes for beneficial insects while a layer of leaves acts as mulch and protects your perennials somewhat from heaving due to freeze and thaw (especially if a thick blanket of snow is absent.) Lastly, the dead stems can also provide some "winter interest" by catching a bit of the snow and wind (when you experience four solid months of winter like I do, you'll take it!)

I've profiled this "ecological garden" in the past in a post titled "A Tale of Two Toronto Gardens--An Ecological and Formal Garden: And Never the Twain Shall Meet?"  which has only native (to southern Ontario) species and no cultivars. It's actually a "lower-maintenance" garden to look after as the perennials and shrubs are pest and disease free (except the American Plum (Prunus americana)  which always gets scale and needs some horticultural oil sprayed on at this time of the year.)

Coming out of winter, however, all of last year's stalks and flowers need to be cut down in preparation for another season full of colour and pollinator activity.

Riverdale Toronto spring garden clean up before

Riverdale Toronto spring garden clean up after 

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup before

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup after 

Toronto Riverdale spring garden clean up 

Toronto Riverdale spring garden clean up after 

Toronto Riverdale spring garden cleanup before 

Toronto Riverdale spring garden cleanup after 

Riverdale ecological garden spring cleanup

Getting ready for the pollinators with a spring garden clean up in Riverdale

I've profiled this Riverdale garden previously but those posts showed the garden during in its August glory. Here are some links showing the many native species of perennials and shrubs in this garden:

• Ecological gardening in Toronto with native plants: Not your typical Toronto garden?
• Another tale of two Toronto gardens A Toronto ecological-based garden: functional or ornamental? Or both?

Coming out of winter, there are remnants of last season's Agastache, Penstemon, Rudbeckia and Vernonia (and many others) which I did not cut down last autumn. The client wanted the seeds to be available for hungry birds during a long and harsh winter.

This spring cleanup is straight-forward: cutting all the perennials to the base. The only weeding to speak of is removing the many baby Siberian squill trying to establish themselves and taking over the beds.

It's amazing how fast these beds will be filled with flowers and pollinators in about a month. There will be a frenzy of activity soon enough...

Toronto Riverdale spring garden cleanup
before by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Toronto Riverdale spring garden cleanup
after by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Toronto Riverdale spring garden clean up
before by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Toronto Riverdale spring garden clean up
after by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup
before by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup
after by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup
before Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden cleanup after  Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden clean up
before by Paul Jung Gardening Services

Riverdale Toronto spring garden clean up
after by Paul Jung Gardening Services

A native Geum that is just emerging:

Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) in a
Riverdale, Toronto spring garden

Ecological gardening in Toronto with native plants

Not your typical Toronto garden?

I've been in business as a gardener over the past 12 years and worked in many different types of gardens for as many different types of clients. No two gardens are ever the same just as no two people are identical. (Ok, identical twins excepted. Maybe such gardens belonging to identical twins would be similar?)

We have our strengths, weaknesses, preferences and idiosyncracies. Same with our gardens since they are a reflection of our values. Even having no garden implies a certain set of values.

I work in mainly small to medium-sized gardens in Toronto's central core, more or less, and many sites have similar plantings and designs.The shrubs, trees and perennials are often inherited by the new owners or simply bought at local garden centres. In zone 5 Toronto, I see many common plants like boxwoods, yews, "Emerald" cedars, lilacs, rhodos,  hostas, etc. as I travel to and from job sites I also take care of gardens  which contain these ubiquitous plantings and, not surprisingly,  they are common because such plants are relatively inexpensive, readily available (especially in big box stores during the spring retail rush) and generally easy to maintain. 

Seriously, when was the last time you successfully and willfully killed a hosta?

April is around the corner so likely (hopefully?) I will get a call to return to one garden I've been weeding and watering for several years in Toronto's  Riverdale neighbourhood. I profiled this garden originally in a post titled Another tale of two Toronto gardens A Toronto ecological-based garden: functional or ornamental? Or both? back in August 2014. What I find atypical about this garden, in my limited gardening experiences throughout the city, is the diversity of wildlife I see every visit. The reasons for the presence of birds, insects and other pollinators lie in the type of native plants found here.

Agastache foeniculum (Giant hyssop)
Toronto ecological gardening 

The plants shown in this post are found in and around the clients' rain garden that was built to collect rainwater from the garage and part of the house's main roof. These pictures were taken last August to give you an idea of what is blooming in late summer. There was so much activity going on with the bees, hoverflies, and butterflies feeding everywhere.

(I also looked after two raised beds containing tomatoes, kale, cucumbers and nasturtiums in case you're worried that food production was not involved. I just don't find pictures of staked vegetables particularly beautiful!)

Blazing star (Liatris spicata)
Toronto native plants 

Are there "problems" found in this garden? Sure, if you define some pest and disease damage as problems: the American plum usually gets leaf curl, we had to remove an American cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum) due to persistent Viburnum leaf beetle damage and the slugs I don't collect chew up the kale. The owners, though, accept this rather low threshold of damage and don't use herbicides.They see the gardens as part of the larger ecosystem that accepts the reality of "pests" (a human definition). There's a high level of resiliency built into the space, partially accomplished by choosing and planting a large number of different native plant species.

I think resilient gardens are part of the future. For me, they require fewer inputs and maintenance needs while still being beautiful and functional. Xeriscapes and rain gardens are examples of resilient gardens that should be more common in Toronto but are property owners open to the idea?

Common fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Toronto native plants 

Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp rose mallow)
Toronto native plants 

Impatiens capensis (Spotted Jewelweed)
Toronto native plants

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)
Toronto ecological gardening 

Rudbeckia laciniata (Great coneflower)
Toronto ecological gardening 

Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea )
Toronto ecological gardening 

White wood aster (Eurybia divaricatus)
Toronto ecological gardening

Blazing star (Liatris spicata)
 Toronto ecological gardening 

Common fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Toronto ecological gardening 

Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp rose mallow)
Toronto ecological gardening 

Impatiens capensis (Spotted Jewelweed)
Toronto ecological gardening

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Toronto ecological gardening 

(Lobelia siphilitica) Great Blue Lobelia
 Toronto ecological gardening 

(Rudbeckia laciniata) Great coneflower
Toronto native plants

Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
Toronto native plants 

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)
Toronto ecological gardening 

If you're in the Toronto area, the North American Native Plant Society holds a plant sale every May. Details for 2016 haven't been posted on its website yet so check it out later in spring. (The plants shown in this post were bought at the NANPS sale in the past.) 

It might be worth a visit. Who knows? You may think about your garden and the gardening process in a new light afterwards.