Dec. 21-Jan.4

In the Garden Hall Courtyard:

Cotoneaster dammeri (Bearberry Cotoneaster) with Picea pungens 'Procumbens' (Colorado Spruce); the red berries of this fast growing groundcover cotoneaster are striking againt the prostrate, cascading blue branches of the spruce

In the Show Garden:

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aureovariegata' (Sawara Cypress); low growing conifer, strong bi-colour in this variegated form of false cypress, with long thin thread-like foliage

In the Show garden:

Pinus sylvestris Aurea Group (Golden Scots Pine); Golden form of Scots Pine, the thick needles are a bright golden colour in winter

In the Nature Garden - Ravine

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' (Gold Twig Dogwood); has best winter colour when planted in full sun, exceptionally hardy Zone 3

In the Water Garden North:

Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill' (Magnolia); a small deciduous tree grown for large white star-shaped flowers in spring on bare stems; buds seen here on beautiful framework of branches are susceptible to late winter frosts

Dec. 9-21

In the Nature Garden you will find:

Myrica pensylvanica (Bayberry); leaves are aromatic when crushed, waxy blue berries in late fall and winter, native to open forests of Ontario

In the Nature Garden:

Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Beauty' (Bloodtwig Dogwood); will tolerate a wide range of soils however prefers an organically moist, rich medium; noted for its orange-yellow stems tipped with red in fall and winter

In the Knot Garden:

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (American Arborvitae) framed by Buxus 'Green Velvet' (Boxwood); a narrow upright evergreen with dense foliage held tightly upright, remains bright green year-round, surrounded by a box hedge

In the Garden Hall Courtyard-Water Channel:

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) ; oakleaf's thrive with little attention and are a true four-season interest shrub; here the brilliant red leaves of fall stunning against the white snow

In the Westview Terrace:

Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' (Burkwood Daphne); semi-evergreen variegated foliage with fragrant pink blooms in spring, here against a backdrop of the first snow fall

Dec.2-9

Because of the warm weather, wonderful blooms continue at the TBG!

In the Garden Hall Courtyard you will find:
Helleborus niger 'Maximus' (Christmas Rose) ; normal bloom time is late winter/early spring but this year it will be in bloom for Christmas here.




In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape); evergreen shrub with thick dark green holly-like foliage, buds begin to form in winter; belonging to Barberry Family; yellow pigment from its roots was used by First Nations of British Columbia as a dye .

In the Garden Hall Courtyard:

Leucothoe fontanesiana (Drooping Leucothoe or Doghobble); broadleaf evergreen shrub with glossy dark green foliage turns to red-green and purple in winter

In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' (Elephant's Ears) a British selection with deep maroon winter colour; reliably evergreen and winter hardy for North American gardens.

In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire' (Japanese Pieris); this variety is thoroughly evergreen with the new bright red growth appearing in late winter & early spring, which change to green by fall

Nov. 17-24

In the Entry Garden you will find:

Anemone x hybrida 'Robustissima' (Grapeleaf Anemone); this plant attracts wildlife to feed or nest; tolerates heavy clay soils; here the dark pink flowers have gone to seed

In the Floral Hall Courtyard:
Larix kaempferi (Japanese Larch); light green needle-like leaves turn bright yellow to orange before dropping in fall so that the shoots are left bare until spring

In the West View Terrace:
Bergenia purpurascens (Winter-red Bergenia) with Itea virginica 'Little Henry' (Sweetspire); Bergenia is incredibly hardy and reliably evergreen, excellent deep red fall and winter colour; the Itea (on the left) has already dropped its blood red autumn foliage

In the Floral Hall Courtyard:
Prunus maackii (Manchurian Cherry/Amur Chokecherry); a four-season tree for northern gardens, with lemon yellow fall colour; once leaves have dropped the bark holds its own a rich bronze to cinnamon colour, sometimes peeling like birch, and is stunning in winter

In the Entry Garden:
Molinia caerulea 'Moorhexe' (Moor Grass); attractive form and foliage for year-round interest, strongly vertical architectural flower spikes with great winter colour

Nov. 10-17

In the Terrace Garden you will find:

Cotoneaster nanshan 'Boer' (Creeping Cotoneaster); an excellent berry bearer with bright long-lasting orange-red fruit

In the Nature Garden:

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' (Golden Twig Dogwood); also commonly known as Yellow Twig Dogwood, this variety demonstrates its best winter colour when planted in full sun

In the Nature Garden:

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Flower), also known as Butterfly Milkweed, an Ontario native (North American wildflower) and a primary source of food for adult and juvenile Monarch Butterflies; orange or gold flowers turn to showy brown seed pods, shown here bursting with seed

In the Show Garden:

Pinus mugo 'Aurea Fastigiata' (Mountain Pine); a semi-dwarf Mugo Pine with light green needles turning golden in late and winter; Hardy to Zone 3

In the Show Garden:

Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' (Stonecrop) an award winning chartreuse ground cover, proving her year-round charm

Nov 3 -10

With the coming of autumn as the leaves begin to fall, the "good bones" or structure of the garden are shown at their best, much of which depends on the choice of trees and shrubs.

In the Show Garden you will find:
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' (Winterberry). Stunning bright red berries produced in profuse quantities hold well into winter

In the Show Garden:

Cotoneaster horizontalis var. perpusillus (Rock Cotoneaster). Bright scarlet berries over rounded dark leaves from late summer through fall; will withstand considerable drought once established.

In the Show Garden:

Spirea japonica 'Little Princess' (Japanese Spirea). Bright green leaves of summer change to red for fall; another pick that tends to hold its leaves late into the season.

In the Knot Garden:

Fagus sylvatica forma purpurea 'Cuprea' (Copper Beech). Paler leaves than the true Purple Beech, hence its name, and holds its leaves long into the fall and winter.

In the Entry Garden:

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (Smoke Tree). Dark red-purple foliage turns scarlet in autumn.

Oct. 27-Nov. 2

In the Garden Hall Courtyard Water Channel you will find:
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea); a white-blooming shrub with four seasons of interest, leaves turn brilliant orange, red, yellow in fall if planted in sunny location




In the Westview Terrace:
Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Witch Alder). Compact, slow-growing, deciduous shrub with fragrant spring flowers and superior fall colour.

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In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' (Switch Grass).; upright blue-green foliage shorter than other varieties, bright yellow for fall




In the Westview Terrace:
Acer palmatum var. dissectum (Dissectum Viride Group) (Japanese Maple) ; dwarf, mounded with cascading branches; green leaves turn yellow to red - orange here! for fall




Also in the Westview Terrace:
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Inaba-Shidare' (Japanese Maple); deep purple-red in summer, leaves turn brilliant crimson in fall

October 20-27

In the Garden Hall Courtyard, you will find:

Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen' (Japanese Maple); known for its lacy dissected leaves, this variety is considered a dwarf reaching four to six feet in height with dark red summer leaves turning crimson in autumn.

In the Waterfall Garden:

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' (Maiden Grass); a favourite since Victorian days with silver-veined leaves. A late-bloomer, flowering well into winter




In the Garden Hall Courtyard:

Betula nigra (River Birch); Zone 4, prefers moist areas, may be grown as a muti-stemmed plant. This species is better known for its beautiful, peeling bark than its foliage




In the Garden Hall Courtyard:

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' (Golden Fullmoon Maple); yellow-green leaves of summer turn gold on inside and red on the margins in autumn

In the Show Garden:

Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut' (Stonecrop Sedum); a selection of Dragon's Blood Sedum, a groundcover mat-forming with larger deep bronze maroon leaves

October 13-20

In the Knot Garden you will find:

Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' (Creeping Juniper). It is one of the finest groundcover junipers, in this photo touched by an early Autumn frost

On the North Side of the Kitchen Fence:

Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura Tree). A large forest tree native to Japan, Zone 4, outstanding Autumn display of yellow to apricot fall colour

In the Show Garden:
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' (Purple Beautyberry). Delicate pink flowers in summer are followed by beautiful purple berries in fall. A difficult combination to beat!

Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' (Burning Bush) Spiral Mound; a dense, compact variety great for small gardens

In the Arrival Courtyard:

Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens (Flame Grass). Silver flowers sit atop foliage which has changed to brilliant orange-red for fall. It will remain standing through winter.

October 6-13

In the Garden Hall Courtyard you will find:
Acer palmatum dissectum 'Waterfall' (Japanese Maple). A beautiful weeping laceleaf Japanese Maple perfect as a specimen. Brilliant colour in the fall!

In the Show Garden South:

Cotoneaster divaricatus (Spreading Cotoneaster). Briliant red berries on strong stems of glossy green foliage. This plant is great all-season!!

In the Entry Garden:

Geranium wlassovianum (Hardy Geranium). Its foliage has changed to a rich red for fall

Also in the Entry Garden :

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia (Blue Star) with seed heads of Stachys macrantha 'Rosea' (Big Betony). Both will be left standing as part of the Winter garden. The amsonia has changed to a golden yellow for fall.

Sept. 29-Oct.6

In the Entry Garden you will find:
Tricyrtis formosana 'Samurai' (Toad Lily); the most popular cultivar, it has variegated foliage with creamy almost gold edges.



In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Actaea simplex 'Black Negligee' (Black Bugbane); Black foliage and stems with purple-tinted white flowers.



In the Garden Hall Courtyard:
Aconitum 'Cloudy' (Monkshood). This cultivar is characterized by its upright habit. Soft blue and white flowers are held upon thick, strong, flowering stems.



In the Show Garden:
Pinus thumbergii 'Oculus-draconis' (Dragon's Eye Pine). It gets its name from the banded yellow and green needles which give the illusion of an eye.



In the Nature Garden:
Aciepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed); An Ontario native, it has striking orange flowers in summer followed by these spectacular seed pods. This plant is a primary food source for Monarch butterflies.




In the Knot Garden:
Iris germanica 'Immortality' (Tall Bearded Iris). A beautiful white iris known for its consistent rebloom in late summer/early fall.