Join us on a short scenic voyage through the Gulf Islands to visit this wonderful garden on Salt Spring Island. The owners of this 10 acre property have created in a glacial rock outcropping drought tolerant plantings, ponds and even a tropical section! There is the organic Potager garden with its vegetables, fruits, flowers and a small orchard. Under the limbed up Douglas Firs there are lush woodland plantings, while along the fence lines there are clambering vines and mixed perennial beds.
You will admire the creative design of the outbuildings, gates, fencing and rock terraces. After visiting this garden we can tour this scenic island and visit some of the artist studios that have contributed to the naming of Salt Spring as one of the top artistic communities in North America.
 The trend setting tropical look through the planting of hardy plants including a palm in large landscape cloth lined rock edged container within the outcropping.
|
 Glacial outcropping that has been cleaned out with power hose, blackberries removed, soil replaced and rock moved to provide the setting for these plantings. Drought tolerant plantings such as sedum, lavender and rosemary are included.
|
 Pond (covered by net to protect fish from Herons) incorporated into the rock outcropping, a drought tolerant white Rose of Sharon is incorporated and Japanese Woodland Grass (Hakonechloa) softens the rock.
|
 Drought tolerant thyme plantings surrounding an armillary within the glacial rock outcropping.
|
 Woodland planting including variegated Pieres japonica, cryptomeria and rhododendrons provide year round structure to the plantings. Trees were limbed up to provide extra light and soil amended for these plantings. The woodland comes into bloom in late winter/early spring with cyclamen, snowdrops and hellebores. |
 Pond surrounded by the rock outcropping. |
 The purple leafed foliage (another trend for 2005!) of a cotinus is the perfect foil for the dusky pink bloom of the Eurpatorium. |
 Glacial outcropping that has been cleaned out with power hose, blackberries removed, soil replaced and rock moved to provide the setting for these plantings. Drought tolerant plantings such as sedum, lavender and rosemary are included.
|
 The rose-purple flower spikes of a Dwarf Chinese Astilbe are given the foil of glossy dark green cutleaf foliage of the Acanthus ‘Summer Beauty.’ The picture is completed by the acanthus’s spires of white flowers surrounded by wonderful purple calyces.. On the right is the foliage of a Rodgersia. |
 In this rich tapestry of colour, texture and shape together with the dark green of the rhododendron is the acid yellow of the golden locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia') and the bright yellow foliage of Choisya ternata 'Sundance' bringing out the blue undertones of neighbouring plants. For additional summer interest there is the variegated hosta.
|
 Year round structure is provided to the woodland planting by the large leaves of the hellebore and the soft pendulous foliage of the Cryptomeria japonica. The hosta ‘Frances Williams’ adds an extra zing to this combination.
|
 The ochre red-brown peeling paper bark of a young Acer griseum (Paper Bark Maple) adds year round colour and texture Southern Hemisphere plants include the ‘New Zealand Wind Grass’ or Stipa arundinacea (now renamed as Anemanthele lessoniana!) and Aceana ‘Blue Haze.’ The orange-red foliage of the stipa provides texture and movement to the plant combination. The Aceana with its powdery blue-grey leaves is a great ground cover. The rhododendron ‘Teddy Bear’ a compact hybrid growing to just over 1m (4') tall echoes the bronze theme with furry, teddy-bear-brown indumentum (felt) on the lower sides of its glossy, deep green leaves. In May the rhododendron will produce showy pink blooms that will fade to white.
|
 Gate to the Potager one of the entrances the The perimeter fencing of the vegetable gardens acts as a support for the evergreen Clematis Armandii together with roses and other climbers. |
 Background plant of a ligularia with its purple black stems and deeply toothed leaves continues as a great background foliage plant even after its blooms has finished (tall spires of yellow blooms). The orange blooms of the crocosmia are complimented by the yellow grass with more grasses continuing to add interest in this late summer planting.
|
 Cattle looking in one of the other gates of the garden that has vegetables, herbs, flowering plants and a small orchard.
|
 A small fruits such as these raspberries are grown in the Portage.
|
 Flowering plants such as these marigolds are planted in this organic garden. |
 Tomato and asparagus plantings in raised beds.
|
 Close up of Potager fence with rambler roses.
|
 Potager garden and meadow The fenced in Potager garden includes vegetables, herbs, flowering plants and a s small orchard.
|
 Thalia dealbata (water canna) in the pond surrounded by large rocks and the glacial rock outcropping. |
 Flowering plants such as these marigolds are planted in this organic garden.
|
 Peppers are grown under plastic to hasten ripening (sand and cannary grass are used for paths in the planting area.
|
 Canna and Angels Trumpet have also been planted within rock edged containers incorporated into the outcropping. The canna with its dramatic large colourful leaves towers above its companion plants. Note the softening background provided by the yellow foliage of the Japanese maple. Cannas are staying as a trend for 2005 since they contribute to the popular tropical look and are useful as container subjects.
|
 To handle heavy clay in the area of the vegetable garden. Clay was dug out, drainage tiles laid and then raised beds built out of rock from the property.
|
 Netting cage with a skeleton of pvc pipe provides blueberries protection from birds.
|
A small orchard including this plum tree is within the fenced Portage area.
|
 The scarecrow in the vegetable garden is a protest scarecrow. It was made to raise money to support the group that opposed further clear cutting on Salt Spring island.
|
