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Gardens for the 2008 Tour
We would like to thank the gardeners in the 2008 Garden Tour for making the Tour such a success. The feedback from visitors was that each garden was uniquely beautiful and that there was such a range of unique and diverse gardens. New gardeners felt they had many models of gardening and experienced gardeners felt they were given a “new look” at new plants and new ways to arrange and use garden mainstays.
24Yale Street, Old North, Karen Bailey and Lynn Heinitz
Our garden, a haven for our cats, is ironically also home to numerous birds, fish, toads and squirrels, (all part of the "cat-chasing" game). It's a garden that is always under construction with ths year's projects being the creation of a "natural butterfly habitat" and a "people patio". Three ponds and two fountains add to the serenity of our "little piece of country in the city". Assorted copper, clay and wood creations add to the eclectic mix of heritage plants and familiar, easy-grow perennials. If you like cats, gargoyles and dragons, this is the place to visit!
1060 Colborne Street, Old North, Margaret and Bob Martin
This twenty five year old green and white garden is a backyard oasis with a screened gazebo, a waterfall and a pond. The entrance to this garden is through an arbour which is flanked by two large container plantings. Living walls of euonymous sarccoxie, climbing hydrangea and clematis are dominant aspects of this mature garden as is the manicured bent grass lawn planted when the house was built in the 1930’s lovingly maintained today. A magnificent mature 40 foot white birch tree dominates the garden and is under-planted with lush groundcover. Featured perennials include clematis, hosta and hydrangea. The focal point is a kidney-shaped centre bed with mass plantings of annuals, hosta and astilbe. The three tall wrought iron garden structures in this centre bed provide support for clematis and white dipledenia vines. Margaret’s fascination with textures, colours and shapes of foliage is demonstrated in her choice of plants. Her passion for creating original container plantings – which she views as living works of art- is evident in the fifteen container plantings in her backyard as well as in those on the front porch and beside the arbour.
Two master gardeners will be present throughout the day to address your gardening questions.
Container garden raffle at this site.
383 Cheapside St, Old North, Gail Wall
A fence was erected, a patio poured, and a truck load of black soil delivered. The planting of shrubs and flowers began and I stated the creation you observe today. Gardening has been and will always be my passion. It is never a chore but always a joy, giving me a keen sense of accomplishment. The secluded area behind the garage allows me to escape to my swing and relax with my spaniel and enjoy the picture I have created.
Come and see what can be done to make a small area a very lovely garden. Welcome to my garden.
2 Carrothers, Blackfriars area, Shirley and John Clement
This Blackfriars area garden surrounds a heritage home beside the river. A weaver, Shirley has created a tapestry of colour and texture that draws the eye between the interior of their home to their garden, The garden is one that meanders from the back patio area to the treed side lot where semi shade beds contain perennials and a remarkable collection of lilies which will be at their peak during the tour.
Faerie Chairs will be displayed and raffled at this site.
183 Forward Avenue, Old Riverside Area, Nancy Pollard
There are two secrets to this garden. The first secret is that the green roofed house is built into the hillside and topped with 3 feet of earth planted with crown vetch. The earth bermed, passive solar house faces the sunken front garden filled with various perennials that are able to survive beneath the many local Black Walnut trees. The second secret is a hidden gate in the cedars that leads to the woods. This is a constant work in 'progress' with wood chip paths wondering through more walnut trees, wild flowers, ground cover and brave perennials mixed with whimsical found objects.
44 Marley Place, Old South, Archie and Mary Young
At 44 Marley Place, there is a small back yard where the owners have created a garden room enclosed by a wall of cedars and a decorative iron fence. The room contains a few areas for sunny plantings, and others for shade, but all are related by a system of formally organized boxwood hedges. Within these hedged areas is a casual assortment of perennials with many hydrangeas, lilies, roses, and other plants selected for the beauty of their leaves and flowers. Outside the garden’s iron fence and close to the kitchen door there is a small fountain which overlooks a garden reserved for herbs, greens and a few vegetables. A long driveway leads to this area, and there the owners are developing a container garden for annuals.
481 Ridout Street, North, Downtown, Eldon House
Since the mid-1800s, Eldon House has resided as the premier home and residence in London, Ontario. It’s lawns and gardens reflect its heritage. The grounds are tended year-round by a full-time gardener, and seedlings are started in the greenhouse on the property. Look for Geraniums, Foxglove, Aubrietia, Bergenia, Lavender, Iris, Lily, Lily of the valley, Peony, Roses, Lamb’s Ear, Phlox, Garden Phlox, Bee Balm, Hosta, Candytuft, Echinacea, Delphinium and Coral Bells to grace the summer gardens.
Consider a picnic lunch in one of the neighbouring parks at the Fork of the Thames.
421 Ridout Street North, Downtown, Museum London
The Wolf Sculpture Garden features As The Crow Flies, a garden installation by London artist Ron Benner. Since the early 1970s, Ron’s work has been inspired by his frequent travels and study of indigenous cultures in Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Of particular interest to Benner is the examination of the erosion of indigenous culture and knowledge in the wake of corporate and commercial domination. Benner’s work engages the transmission of local traditions and customs, and is appropriately motivated by the politics of London Regionalism. His artworks often situate local issues within international cultural, environmental and political concerns. This garden is part of a series of works first begun in 1984 under the title of As the Crow Flies. The work depicts site, along the meridian of longitude 81.14, located on bodies of water due south of London, Ontario: Port Stanley, Ontario; Cape Sable, Florida; Playa Larga, Bay of Pigs, Cuba; Puerto Mutis, Panama and Talara, Punta Pariñas, Peru. Images of these sites are accompanied by peripheral photographs and plants indigenous to each region. Port Stanley is represented at the north end by Spatterdock and White Water Lilies while the south end of the pool is populated by Rosa de la Noche and Panama Pacific Lilies, typically found in tropical Central and South America.
Launch for Ron’s book, Gardens of the Colonial Present, will be in the Sculpture Garden at the Museum at 2:00 pm.
Public washrooms are available here.
122 Fourwinds Place, Byron, John and Sue Allan
What was once a sparse-looking yard, is now a lovely English- style garden retreat for the homeowners and visitors alike. It contains a variety of perennial herbs, grasses, ground covers, flowers, vines, shrubs and trees obtained from family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and local garden centres. Various tall coniferous and deciduous trees accent this large, private lot. This
16-year old work-in-progress yard is comprised of stone/grass pathways, vined arbors, numerous gardens and a fenced pool/deck area. A very relaxing and tranquil getaway awaits all guests. (Faerie Chairs and Butterfly Houses for raffle are on display here.)
The Circle - Fourwinds Place - Byron
Bob and Mary Aldworth
John and Sue Allan
Jim and Bobbie Brooke
Doug and Nancy Brown
Steve and Monica Cashen
Keith and Jan Gibbons
Al and Barb Glover
Claire and Norma Lockman
Edna Olbryschski
Tim and Laura Owens
This picturesque circular garden at the end of a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, was designed and cultivated by ten energetic households five years ago. Gravel-lined pathways accent four quadrants filled with colourful annual and perennial flowers, ground covers and grasses all donated from the neighbours’ gardens. In the centre of this delightful May-October display, is a Linden tree - planted in memory of a well-liked and respected gentleman of this neighbourhood. This is truly a lovely oasis to live beside or visit any time of the day - rain or shine.
14-1337 Commissioners Rd.,W – Byron Woods Condo Complex-Bev Carruthers
PLEASE PARK AT ST. ANNE’S ANGLICAN PARKING LOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF COMMISSIONERS ROAD OPPOSITE BYRON WOODS. PLEASE WALK IN AND EXPLORE THE GARDENS AT UNIT 14.
Byron Woods condos were built in 1999 and we arrived in September of that year with my 25 pots of transplants and several young trees. The front unit gardens were planted by the builder but gradually the owners have made changes to their own landscapes as well as plant their own annuals. I seem to be the “condo gardener” and plant and maintain the common area gardens. Every year I increase my “own space” and as #14 is an end unit this means along the flagstone walk down the side and at the back. Fortunately I have this marvelous large common area at the rear where the condo residents hold a yearly potluck. Every year I find ways of adding gardening enhancements to the area. During the summers of 2005 and 2006 I hand dug this whole common area and planted grass seed. Deer are very frequent visitors which present a challenge. They love cedars and have eaten the cedar row I first planted around the perimeter and they also love to munch on hostas. Therefore I am replacing hostas with more “deer resistant” plants. Please note Brunnera plants, especially “Gold Strike” which is rare. I try to find plants suited to a woodland setting and that like a dappled amount of light. Another challenge of this area is the very fine woodland soil so I try to add compost materials and new soil when planting. My husband plants and maintains the planter around the back deck. Every year is a new surprise!
1128 Commissioners Road, Byron, Lila and Jack Phillipson
Welcome to our 4 year old garden-- treasures from our previous garden and gifts from dear friends and neighbours. We had 3 goals for our landscaping plans-- to beautify, conserve energy and integrate additional parking. Jack planned a tiered rockery (50 ton of stone), flagstoned walkways and edged a new circular drive with paving stones. Walkways were lined with cotoneaster, icy blue junipers, sedums and grasses. Our garden focus is an aged flowering crab providing shade for hosta, bleeding heart, pachysandra, solomon’s seal and toad lilies. A hoopsi blue spruce anchors the sunny side with spreading evergreens, carpet roses and annuals.
The sidewalk bed hosts a young redbud, sedum and annual portulaca.
A shared side garden has redbuds and perennials leading the way to our back garden with a shaded stone patio. Two large maples shade our screened- in porch while posing a continuing challenge ---presently ivy and periwinkle fight to thrive in their dense roots. The perimeter is banked with emerald cedars and rockery edges beds with a beautiful, old smoke bush and a graceful redbud. New garden sheds provide access to gardening supplies and rain barrels. A large deck provides a sunshine living room and the screened-in porch with outdoor living in any weather.
42 Ski Valley Cres, Byron, Jim & Judi Newman
Starting off as a totally wooded lot when the house was first built, this garden has been a 30 year work in progress. It is a mostly shady yard due to the many mature Oak, Maple and Black Cherry trees. The garden is mainly filled with perennials such as Ferns, Hydrangeas and Hostas. The shade conditions are perfect for the various ground covers which add texture to the garden. Impatience and Begonias are added to bring more colour into the yard. The raised back yard deck receives a great deal of sun to allow for a wider variety of sun-loving plants grown in planters. The front yard is still mostly shady but is able to sustain some different sunny plantings such as Asiatic Lilies, miniature Roses and Geraniums. There are also many shade loving plants such as Astilbes, Coral Bells and Ferns which appear lush under the large oak.
Links related to the Tour
In support of the
Children’s Festival’s CHILD FUND
Our CHILD FUND provides subsidized tickets for performances and
workshops to children, families and community services groups.
It enables all children to fully experience the joy and wonderment
of the London International Children’s Festival.
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