By Thea Hegland

It is a lively time at The Gardens. The gardening staff have been very busy transforming the flower beds from the spring to summer show, switching out the spring containers and hanging baskets to the summer ones and planting tender shrubs and delicate accent plants amongst the garden displays. Warm, sunny weather has produced an early burst of gorgeous, glorious Roses and just like that, it is suddenly summertime in the beautiful Gardens.

280 varieties of Roses blooming in the Rose Garden

We make it all look so easy…

First and foremost, we have experienced staff, a fantastic climate and excellent resources. Planning is a key part of the success of The Gardens; there are hundreds of flower beds to coordinate and design. Our master planting list has over 1900 entries, 700 different varieties and more than 300, 000 plants that are planned for this summer season. Communication between the designers, the growers and the grounds staff is critical. With so many variables to consider (poor drainage, soil conditions, sun, shade, bloom time, colours of plants planted nearby, crop failures, deer, greenhouse space etc.), we have become skilled at dealing with the glitches and improvising when things do not go according to plan.

The Sunken Garden is home to 151 garden beds, many of which are freshly planted

The idyllic setting here is another thing; from the picturesque natural surroundings, to the century-old collection of mature trees and shrubs in the garden, rich with perennials and fernery, manicured lawns, meandering paths and garden features all playing a part of the tapestry that makes this one very special place on earth.

Aside from the award-winning Rose Garden, flowering highlights include the amazing Fuchsia collection at The Gardens. We grow approximately 50 different varieties, including hanging baskets, garden standards and hardy shrubs. We grow our own Fuchsia’s here from cuttings which we take from our own plants in September and again in January. The standards are returned to the safety of the greenhouses each fall and return to the garden for the blooming season.

One of the many Fuchsias found throughout The Gardens

With Father’s Day this weekend, what better place to come for a stroll, relax and admire the beautiful plants and perfect lawns of The Gardens.

Plants that are currently blooming

• Abutilon
• Alocasia (Elephant’s ear)
• Astilbe
• Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’
• Aquilegia (Columbine)
• Astrantia
• Baptisia (False indigo)
• Begonia
• Brugmansia (Angel’s trumpets)
• Calceolaria (Scotsman’s purse)
• Cephalaria gigantea (Yellow scabious)
• Centaurea montana
• Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe tree)
• Cladatris lutea (Kentucky yellowwood)
• Clematis
• Colocasia (Taro)
• Cornus kousa (Korean dogwood)
• Delphinium
• Deutzia
• Dianthus
• Digitalis (Foxglove)
• Disporum (Fairy bells)
• Eremurus (Foxtail lily)
• Fuchsia
• Heliotropium (Cherry pie plant)
• Hemerocallis (Daylily)
• Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea)
• Illicium
• Impatiens
• Iris
• Kalmia (Mountain laurel)
• Kolkwitzia (Beauty bush)
• Laburnum (Golden chain tree)
• Lantana
• Lobelia
• Maglieta
• Matthiola (Stock)
• Meconopsis (Blue poppy)
• Nectaroscordum
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Paeonia (Peony)
• Paeonia lutea (Tree peony)
• Papaver (Poppy)
• Pelargonium (Geranium)
• Pentas
• Petasites
• Philadelphus (Mock orange)
• Phlomis
• Polemonium (Jacob’s ladder)
• Podophyllum (Mayapple)
• Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)
• Primula (Primrose)
• Prostanthera rotundifolia (Mint bush)
• Rheum
• Rhododendron
• Rosa (Rose)
• Salvia
• Schizanthus (Butterfly flower)
• Skimmia japonica
• Spartium junceum (Spanish broom)
• Spiraea (Spirea)
• Stachys marcantha
• Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)
• Syringa reticulata (Japanese tree lilac)
• Thalictrum (Meadow rue)
• Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
• Viburnum
• Viola
• Weigela
• Wisteria