Central Grade School.........

When we took the kids out the other day we took them to play at Central (grade school) that is just around the corner from me. Well come to find out they have a lovely garden there. So we had a nose around. Awesome......here are some of their lovely flowers. I must find out more from the teachers there, who and why and all that. Its very well tended and has some vegetables growing, and strawberries as well as the lovely flowers.This is Allium.



There were some lovely Dutch Iris. I have them in my garden, I love them, actually more so than regular Iris


I dont know what this is, but this is a close up

I think these are Lambs ears but not sure


This is Laura and El Chubso (Cooper)



Also a pretty Iris


Some pictures of a few gardens on the way from my house to the school







I love looking at other peoples gardens


I could post pictures forever there were so many pretty gardens on just 1/2 block. More another day perhaps.

June garden............

The weather has been cool and so the garden does well. The flowers are all late but they thrive. I have taken a lot of pictures. The Deadly Nightshade is doing very well. I don't yet have the heart to destroy it, it's so pretty

The Honeysuckle next to it is still growing as is a Trumpet Vine but neither one are ready to take over.
Well this is the front path to the house. I am still working on the gardens out there.

The Geraniums are doing well too even though there is not a lot of sun of late. I liked this picture.

I put in a new Lily. I like it's paleness. When it first opened it was darker but the new flowers are pale again. I don't know if they will bloom again this year, the others in the garden have not bloomed yet

In the corner where we pulled out all the shrubs I am growing some Lavender in the big blue pot. Its doing so well too. I have that climbing Hydrangea and I still don't know where I want to plant it. I have found and planted some Garlic Chives in a pot and also a Cilantro. We shall see how they do in pots. I have previously planted herbs in the garden and they grow like weeds and take over. I am still pulling mint that was planted Donkey's years ago. Well as soon as I get some more pots the remaining plants will be pulled and potted. Laura wants some and I want to keep some but not in the garden. I did have some Sage but I planted it in its pot in the garden. That's doing well.

Under the Pine trees out front the Azaelia is thriving and thats where I put the pink lily. I also put one of my several old ploughs there. I think it complements them.


Along the side of the front path I have a path through the Pines to the side by the road. In that small garden I have roses. They have not done well but have come back again so will see how they do this year

The back garden is flourishing even with the dogs, cat and kids to do it in. It's a challenge. This is the path from garage/shed to the deck and back door.

Looking to the patio area from the garage/shed.

This is the garden behind the pond, looking to the patio and across to Buds house.

Coal skuttles are very useful. This one has some nettles in it and the other some Petunias.


Here is the other one with the Petunias and in the background you see an old cigarette stand with a plate on it to use for water for the birds and bees

There is much more to see but this is all for now. Enjoy my garden

The Iris are out..........

My Dad used to call them Flags. We call them Iris, I love them because they remind me of Dad. I wish I could grow Peonies. He had some lovely ones in his gardens. I may just have to try one but never before has one grown for me. So, for now I will be happy seeing my Iris spreading and flourishing. The man across the back ally has a whole garden full of them for some reason. I want to get some new colours as they grow so well for me.

There is an Iris farm not too far from here, along M72 going towards Empire. The only thing about that is you have to wait. I prefer to get my stuff now when I want to plant it. I did buy a white Iris this year but its not going to do anything now until next year. These next ones are doing really well this year.


I am never sure if I love the amber one or not. Sometimes it looks dull but then again its so pretty in the sun

I am never sure what will come up and where. I know I have some pale lavender ones. I saw one out back and it really needs to be moved because its very lanky. Not enough sun, so when its done I will move it. The next two are the neighbours. I must get a yellow one like this, now that one I do love


The white is very pretty and I hope it does well and spreads

Then I have my water Iris. She is doing very well and has doubled in size since last year. I may try for a purple one when we go out to the Water Garden this year.

So for now those are my Iris and a few of the neighbours. I will see if he sells them, that would save me some research.

A walk up the ally......

Tristen has been trying to learn to ride his bike. Its sort of difficult to do that in the back garden. He had a new tricycle last winter but it was too tough for him to learn on. So, as we still had an old trike that was Lydia's he learned with that. I took him up the ally one day and he had fun with that. So yesterday I took him again. Here are some pictures........I took them while he was riding back and forth.

He loves riding out there where he can get it going and feel he is going somewhere. Hard to do in the garden.
This was taken across the ally from me............we called it London Pride not sure what the real name is?

More pictures of the old horse barn at the other end of the ally


One home down there had lovely lilac and it smells divine.


The ally is usually full sun and so the Iris are blooming, where as in my garden they are still in bud.


I love looking at the flower close up, the details are wonderful. The center of a flower has directions for the bee's to get to the pollen. In the case of the Iris its plain enough, a fuzzy landing strip. On this next flower the stamens are so bright they cant be missed.



So as we went up the ally, I had to carry his trike over the grass to the front path back to the house........then we turned around and went back the way we had come. I knew he would insist.

That afternoon we got the other trike out and he rode that for the first time. I let him out on the drive way to practice. He did it so that evening he showed Grandpa Dan his accomplishment and Dan took him back up the front path to practice.

close ups.........

I do so love getting close up shots. Its amazing what details lie within a flower. I took Tristen for a stroll up the ally. I took pictures of things I found beautiful
These tulips growing in Bud's garden. Lovely colour

No idea what this is but at first I thought it was a Tillium but its not

Beautiful colour this Iris........

The money plant has a lovely colour

The close up on this begonia brings the colour out perfectly

Along the ally is a horse barn, back from the days when horses were kept in town. When we moved into this house we were told the old lady had the windows in the sitting room cut down short so she didnt have to look out on the horse mess outside. Its nice to see some of the barns still intact

The blossoms are beautiful


There are many beautiful things in the gardens along the ally. I will have to go again another day.
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