I became quite a fan of these ambitious little climbers at our last house, as they provide an important vertical element in the garden.
Though a perennial (not annual) most clematis feature a long blooming period, or alterntively bloom twice per season. They come in a variety of colours and petal types as the photos above(from my last garden) can attest. They also have the added benefit of doing well in partially shady parts of the garden.
Last year I picked up some small plants at Home Depot but I fear they may not have been well enough established before they were planted to survive our cold winter and my dog's attempts to bury her bones.
And so I was delighted to pick up "Rouge Cardinal" at Costco yesterday:
My new plant is already about 3 1/2 ft high, has a large root ball and already has some flower buds. I'm thinking of planting it in the front yard against the house (to the left of the front window), to soften the corner. I think the red blooms will be a nice contrast against the dark blue of the house and will also tie-in nicely to the red of our front door:
What are you planting this season?
My new plant is already about 3 1/2 ft high, has a large root ball and already has some flower buds. I'm thinking of planting it in the front yard against the house (to the left of the front window), to soften the corner. I think the red blooms will be a nice contrast against the dark blue of the house and will also tie-in nicely to the red of our front door:
What are you planting this season?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Planting a garden...in my head
Well, I'm still dreaming of spring (which is helped by the fact that the sun is out and it has warmed-up from last week). Today I planted some lily bulbs which will hopefully make an appearance in June or July.
I also took a retrospective journey through my digital photos of plants from my last garden:
The hot Toronto summers and the well cultivated soil (I added compost every year) were the secrets to my success.
I also put in a little pond about ten years ago which we enjoyed every summer...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Dreaming of Spring
Well, the weather here has turned cold and winter-like (just when we thought Spring was here). I'm longing to tackle my garden.
We bought our house just about two years ago. The first summer was consumed with the move itself (across the country), having the floors re-done and painting almost every room in the house. Last summer we were into full-on renovations of the kitchen, back porch and basement. We also had a new puppy. In short, the garden has been neglected since we moved in.
So, 2010 is the year of the front garden and enhancing curb appeal. The back yard will have to wait since we plan to build a new (detached garage), erect a new fence on one side of the property and build a deck or patio.
As you can see from the photos, our front yard is a very small (city lot) space but I have visions of a London or Paris style front garden. I envision boxwood (but I'm not sure how well it will grow in Calgary), a little fountain, lillies, climatis and roses.
We also need to address more practical matters like the peeling paint on the front concrete steps, beautifying or covering the concrete foundation beneath the siding, replacing the lattice with ballisters and figuring out new decking for the porch.
Here are some before photos (the first photo is from before the house was painted) and some inspiration shots.
BEFORE: (Note that we have added shutters to the upstairs windows since these photos were taken)
AFTER (?):
Any and all advice is welcome!
We bought our house just about two years ago. The first summer was consumed with the move itself (across the country), having the floors re-done and painting almost every room in the house. Last summer we were into full-on renovations of the kitchen, back porch and basement. We also had a new puppy. In short, the garden has been neglected since we moved in.
So, 2010 is the year of the front garden and enhancing curb appeal. The back yard will have to wait since we plan to build a new (detached garage), erect a new fence on one side of the property and build a deck or patio.
As you can see from the photos, our front yard is a very small (city lot) space but I have visions of a London or Paris style front garden. I envision boxwood (but I'm not sure how well it will grow in Calgary), a little fountain, lillies, climatis and roses.
We also need to address more practical matters like the peeling paint on the front concrete steps, beautifying or covering the concrete foundation beneath the siding, replacing the lattice with ballisters and figuring out new decking for the porch.
Here are some before photos (the first photo is from before the house was painted) and some inspiration shots.
BEFORE: (Note that we have added shutters to the upstairs windows since these photos were taken)
AFTER (?):
Any and all advice is welcome!
Friday, December 25, 2009
In the Beginning
I've had a long standing facination with old homes, renovation and vintage design. I suppose it can be traced back to my childhood, when we lived in a small Samuel McClure-designed house in Victoria, BC. That house contained many of the features that fueled a romantic facination for old homes -- a fireplace in the dining room (as well as the living room), a claw foot tub, and a pull-down access hatch to the attic.Growing-up, I watched This Old House with my parents and enjoyed re-arranging the furniture in my bedroom.
Later-on, my husband and I bought a early 1950s bungalow in Mississauga, Ontario. It didn't quite have the charm of the turn-of-the-century homes I loved, but the hardwood floors, crown mouldings and large windows were strong selling features. Then there was the yard which I slowly transformed over the years. First came the planting of rose bushes and clematis (in the new planter boxes my hubbie constructed), followed quickly by the installation of a fish pond. Later hubbie constructed a large concrete patio (which we colourized) and along with my brother-in-law, constructed a cedar walk-out deck. We lived in that home for 15 years and truly made it our own (renovating the kitchen, refinishing the floors, adding a walk-out to the backyard, and several landscaping projects.
Then, in 2008, the opportunity came to move to Calgary for my job. We were up for a change, and so began a new adventure...
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My beloved clematis
London Calling
Puppy love - our little Juno
Juno - All Grown Up
About Me
- Timeless Style Design
- I'm fascinated (some may say obsessed) with interior design, old homes, gardening and real estate. In particular, I'm attracted to opportunities to improve, restore and transform.
