The World Through Our Lens
On a sultry summer day here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I went out to the garden to tend to some chores. Imagine my surprise, as I bent to the task of deadheading my Gaillardia, when something clipped the side of my head. Seconds later, I noticed a pair of Dog-Day Cicadas mating where they lay on the pavement of the street. Read more
The grandeur of Kylemore Abbey extends well beyond the opulence of the original Castle to the expansive Victorian Walled Garden that rises from the heretofore boggy moorland in County Galway, Ireland. It is a magnificent example of what can be achieved when creative engineering is combined with tenacity and inspiration. Read more
One summer, Bob and I drove to Montreal in Quebec, Canada, to take in the Mosaiculture competition underway at Montreal Botanical Gardens. The Garden had so much more to offer, including 31 specialized gardens. When we hit upon the Daylily Garden, I could not believe the number and varieties of daylilies covering endless flowerbeds…daylilies such as this ruby red beauty. Read more
When I read Sonia Day’s article in the Toronto Star, about Mosaiculture 2013, an international competition being held at the Montreal Botanical Garden, I was consumed with intrigue. Competitors from around the world had created giant living “sculptures” using plants as their medium, and the theme for 2013’s competition was Land of Hope. Bob, and I just had to go and check it out. Read more
After touring the ancient monastic retreat in Glendalough, Bob and I drove up towards Kilmacanogue to visit Powerscourt Estate, the home of Powerscourt House and Gardens in County Wicklow, Ireland. The Palladian mansion provides the perfect backdrop for the dramatic gardens and statuary that occupy the property. Read more
April showers bring May flowers, and true to that adage, the forests in Cootes Paradise in Hamilton, Ontario, were already liberally sprinkled with clumps of Round-lobed Hepatica (Anemone Americana). We had been enjoying very warm temperatures in Southern Ontario, and in combination with the odd April shower, it has given rise to these early spring wildflowers. Read more
On a sunny morning, Bob and I drove south out of Amsterdam towards the village of Lisse where we planned to visit the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Read more
