Garden Club Tour

Oh What a Weekend!

Earlier this spring I signed up to go on a three day garden tour with the Fundy Gardeners, a local garden club that I belong to. While I knew that it would be well organized and interesting (not to mention a chance to "get out of Dodge" for a bit), I had no idea that we would see such unique plants and stunning gardens. I am truly inspired! 

One of the gardens we visited featured masses of Rhododendrons (Roddies for short!). The property was very hilly almost terraced and incorporated oodles of interesting groupings.

All the gardens were well established and created by passionate gardeners. While this might have been quite humbling to a beginning dabbler like myself, I managed to find an idea or tip that I could incorporate into my own little patch, albeit on a smaller scale.

A few of the interesting items I noticed in the garden with the "roddies": top- European Ginger with green shinny leaves used as ground cover, bottom left: fallen tree branches (smooth and weathered) used as support for climbing plants, bottom right: twigs of dogwood and other plants woven around a few stakes as a barrier or support of unruly plants (natural fencing!)

Garden Art?

Our first stop was a property near Moncton not too far off the beaten path to visit a man who works with discarded metal to created some very cool works of art. Who knew that such master pieces lurked in the jumble of castaways above!

How cool is this guy? Wouldn't he look great among a bed of zinnias? The collage above shows my companion, Juliette with another work of art by the same man.

A Feast For the Eyes

Every garden was a feast for the eyes! In all we toured five private gardens, one public one and one at the agricultural college in Truro and every one was just as spectacular as the next.

Scree Gardens?

Do you know what a "scree garden" is? I didn't until I visited the Nova Scotia College of Agriculture and listened to Dr. Bernard Jackson. A scree garden is a garden that is designed for alpine plants and others that like well drained soil that is usually a mixture of soil, grit or gravel. (Just Google it and you will find lots of info!)

A beautiful alpine flower growing in the scree garden at the Nova Scotia College of Agriculture

Dr. Jackson (at the age of 90 something!) took us on a stroll through the scree garden that he designed at the college, sharing his wealth of knowledge.

Dr. Jackson (middle) giving tips to our group.

Always Learning Something New!

As I strolled through magnificent gardens that were clearly beyond anything I could accomplish, there was always a something new to learn or idea to take home.

Asarabacca, or European Wild Ginger. A lovely ground cover that we saw everywhere in Nova Scotia.

Hellebore - a sweet plant perfect for a woodland garden. I brought one of those home with me!

How sweet are these Hens and Chicks growing in a hollowed out log!

The Best Tip of All!

In one of the gardens there was a bench with a little plaque that had the following saying, and I think it's one that all gardeners should keep in mind!

"What is this life, if full of care

We have no time to sit and stare"