More on Stratford

The town of Stratford, Ontario has many lovely gardens to enjoy. Near where I stayed at the Bard and Breakfast is the Stratford Gallery. Surrounding this gallery are some lovely gardens one can stroll through or just sit and contemplate whatever one wishes to contemplate about. If you have never been to this city, then do plan to visit it some day. You will certainly enjoy yourself here.

Among the many chores I have to do in the fall is digging up the potatoes, cleaning and drying them so I have potatoes to eat all winter long. This can be quite a chore as the cat seems to think they are footballs for her to play with. This year I planted heirloom varieties: All Blue, German Butterball, Purple Viking and La Ratte Fingerlings. Now to make potato and leek soup!





Another chore I managed to get done this past weekend was return the houseplants indoors after their summer vacation outside. They seem to enjoy the out of doors more than inside (don't we all) but since they can't survive Michigan winters they necessarily need to be moved back inside. I spray them with water first to hopefully dislodge any critters before bringing them in. Now they are enjoying comfortable companionship with my other true love, books.

Garden cleanup continues of course. It is never over with until the last leaves are raked. But I don't mind. Especially now that I am retired and can do whatever I need to do outside any day of the week.

Staying in Stratford Ontario at the Bard and Breakfast

I recently made a trip to Stratford, Ontario to see some plays. The plays are not the only reason for visiting this beautiful city. I have been staying at a bed and breakfast place called "The Bard and Breakfast" the last few times I have visited because I so enjoy the gardens. I also enjoy my host, Elizabeth, a congenial lady, which is what you might expect since she is a wonderful gardener.

Elizabeth makes excellent use of color in an area that includes a lot of shade. The Bard and Breakfast was on the garden walk in Stratford last year so you know these gardens are special. So here are a few pictures I took while I was there and if they entice you to visit this city I am sure you won't regret it. You might also want to see one of the wonderful plays while you are there. I thoroughly enjoyed Jacques Brel and Evita, but whichever plays you see, don't miss Elizabeth's gardens!

Good Things Come if You Wait

I didn’t really expect anything from the nasturtiums I planted since I planted the seeds late. I am always running behind it seems. But lo and behold (if I may be so quaint) one of the plants is actually in bloom right now! So the lesson learned here, is never give up. It isn’t too late. It may be the ides of September, but what the heck. Take the color whenever you can!




I planted some of these giant colchicums a couple of years ago and they seem to be spreading. If you want a bulb for fall, this one is for you. They may not last long, but they are spectacular while in bloom. Just the shot of color to boost the gardener’s happiness level. And happiness is what it is all about.



I’m inclined to cut glads when they flops and stick them in a vase. This glad is giving a nice accent to the deck.



The fall sedums are coming into their own these days. Sedum Autumn Joy is so reliable, year after year.



The cardinal flowers have been blooming for quite awhile now. I have to stake them a bit so I don’t mow them down when I cut the grass.



This variegated phlox has just rebloomed. And to think that it isn’t suffering from powdery mildew! What a great phlox this one is.



I just planted this Luna Pink Swirl Hibiscus this year. It started blooming two months ago and it is still giving me some blooms. What a good choice I made here!



Fall would not be complete without that tomato red color on the many plants I managed to tuck in here and there and everywhere in the garden. Whether it is this striped roma, or the purple smudge which has provided me with lots of tomato sauce, I can’t complain. It is an everyday thing since that bright red color says “pick me, pick me!” I will take color wherever I can get it.



Okay, so the birdhouse gourd is worth it. Yes indeed it is. Even though it annihilated the cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant and everything else in its wake. Okay, it seems to be getting along with the green beans; they like to crawl up each other with the sunflower stalks to balance them. I don’t know if I will actually succeed in making a birdhouse out of this gourd, but I am so excited to see three, yes three of them out there! I patiently waited, and now I am stuffing myself with homegrown potatoes, overindulging on the best tomatoes ever, and yes I even have some birdhouse gourds to look forward to.



Some folks may look at fall wistfully, thinking there goes summer for another year. I am thinking, life is good, the harvest is plenty, and all is right with the world.

What's in Bloom

One doesn’t usually think of September as a month with lots of color in the garden, but it is really surprising just how much color there actually is. I took a walk around my garden Saturday and this is what I saw.

Annuals are sure winners when it comes to color lasting the whole season. Calendula has been going strong for me since June.






The Amaranth is now taller than me and the sunflowers are being supported by the corn stalks. They both have been blooming since June.





Cosmos and Snapdragons are annuals that self seed and keep coming back for me every year. They start blooming by July and will continue to bloom until a hard frost kills them.



Cleome blends nicely with these Gladiolus and the Bee Balm that is blooming again.









This Purple Coneflower started to bloom at the beginning of July. It isn’t over yet. The delphiniums are repeat bloomers once I cut them back. Even the foxglove hasn’t quit yet.



The Stella 'd Oro Daylilies started blooming at the end of May and have not really quit blooming since then. Pretty darn good for a perennial!







The Butterfly Bush and Balloon Flower still have a few blooms left! And even this Clematis has bloomed again.









Fall bloomers include Goldenrod, Japanese Anemones, Black-eyed Susans, Asters and Chrysanthemums.



So keep looking at that garden in the fall. Yes it is harvest time, but take time to enjoy the roses too.



And even when the snow flies, there is always the blue of this bottle tree to make a gardener feel right at home.