Sunday, April 26, 2015

ONTARIO COTTAGE ROUNDUP - 2014

In less than a month we will be going to our Ontario cottage again and I have not even posted about what we saw there last year, other than a look at how I redid the 'garden-on-the-lake'!


Last year we had trees cut down that will allow more light to this garden.
The Forget-me-nots & native Columbine blooming in this photo will be followed by hardy Geranium & Oriental Lilies in  summer.

By September it was clear that the transplanted native Asters from last year's test were doing well  and so I harvested and transplanted two dozen more from the side of the road.
My vision: late summer 'purple haze'.


 Admittedly it feels a bit odd raking the rocks sometimes, but it is well worth it to uncover the dry creek bed each spring. Every spring I am committed to adding a few more ferns, thickening the 'fern hedge' running along the far side of the creek bed.

Would you guess that I have planted every one of those ferns, or does it just feel natural? My goal is the latter in case that is not clear.

Ideally guests do not even notice that the ferns happen to cluster around focal points like the creek bed and that they naturally trend to grow alongside the path.


The daylily/fern combination has recovered from the last time we saw them, freshly transplanted and looking rather bedraggled. I can be confident they will fill in as planned, a perfect no-maintenance solution, but unless our renters help by snapping some photos I will never know how well the daylilies bloom under there, if at all!

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Sharing with Today's Flowers, Floral Friday Fotos, Outdoor Wednesday, Tuesday Garden Party, Maple Hill Hop, and Garden Tuesday 
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12 comments:

  1. Hannah26 April 2015 at 15:22

    I like your beds and plant combinations, I just love the Columbines when they start blooming in spring, mine are early this year, they give me what I call a 'Hobbit garden'. Then the hardy geraniums take over and make magic all summer. Your rock dry creek is gorgeous, worth raking, and makes it look like a hiking trail in the mountains!

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:49

      How great that we share the hardy geranium columbine combination! Thanks for popping by Hannah.

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  2. cedarmerefarm26 April 2015 at 20:58

    I really like the way you use stones and rocks in designing your landscape. I bet you can't wait to go to your cottage! Nice meeting you Derek.

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:08

      Christa,
      Nice to meet you too. Luckily my husband can be overzealous and we had enough real gravel delivered to not only do the fire-pit but also redo all the paths and we had enough small rocks delivered to not only shore up an incline as intended but also to create 2 dry creek beds, line the paths and shore up a second incline.

      Lots of work but I love the look. Glad to hear that you do as well.

      Delete
  3. DeniseinVA27 April 2015 at 15:11

    Very enjoyable post and I too enjoy how you use the rocks for the design. Looking forward to your cottage photos. that sounds so lovely! Thanks for once again sharing with Today's flowers Derek, and enjoy your week and also have a fabulous time at the cottage.

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:09

      Denise, thanks for hosting and taking the time to visit, much appreciated.

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  4. Melbourne Australia Photos29 April 2015 at 02:34

    Delightful garden. I love how it blends in with the surroundings and how you've carried the "wild" theme into your plantings too.
    Thanks for participating in Floral Friday Fotos, I look forward to your next contribution!

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:49

      Nick, thanks for stopping by and for hosting FFF.

      Delete
  5. daisy g29 April 2015 at 04:58

    I love the naturalized areas you've created. What a splash of color will be greeting you! So glad you stopped by The Maple Hill Hop this week!

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:51

      Daisy, when visiting for only a short period what is in bloom each year is an annual surprise I look forward to.

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  6. Light and Voices29 April 2015 at 15:35

    Everything looks lush and green. Nice job gardening and taking the images for this post.
    JM, IL

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    1. astudentgardener30 April 2015 at 20:04

      Thanks for the kind words JM, come back any time.

      Delete

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