March 1

Today on March 1st, we went looking for signs of spring and found some!

In the Nature Garden, you will find:
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill' (Loebner magnolia) As we await the star-like blossoms of Merrill magnolia, we can admire the buds as they form on this very hardy tree which will eventually mature to some 40ft.

In the Westview Terrace:

Helleborus niger 'Maximus' (Christmas rose); these ever-popular semi-evergreen perennials are must have's for any late winter garden. For weeks now Maximus has pushed its head through the frozen ground, waiting to unfurl its pink-flushed white flowers.

In the Garden Hall Courtyard - Bank:
Erica carnea 'Golden Starlet' (Spring heath) New buds are forming on Golden Starlet heath, one of many varieties in the TBG collection.

Feb. 1-8

This weeks picks highlight "winter interest" in the garden as snow provides a dramatic backdrop for many plants.

In the Show Garden- South you will find:

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aureovariegata' (Sawara false cypress); this variegated thread-leaf form of Sawara cypress has excellent green and golden yellow foliage making it an an instant eye-catcher in the winter garden

In the Show Garden- South:
Pinus mugo 'Aurea Fastigiata' (Mountain pine); this cultivar of mugo pine is distinguished by its relatively upright growth and golden-yellow winter foliage.

In the Knot Garden:

Fagus sylvatica forma purpurea 'Cuprea' (Purple/Copper beech); these beautiful slow-growing trees with attractive ,smooth silver bark will hold their leaves through the winter.

In the Entry Garden:

Sedum spectabile (now Hylotelephium spectabile) (Stonecrop); this clump forming perennial known for its succulent-like fleshy leaves and stems, holds up well in Canadian winters with flattened flower heads held until chopped down in spring

In the Entry Garden:

Liatris spicata (Blazing star) with Echinacea 'Sunrise' (Big Sky series) (Purple coneflower); Liatris is a native prairie flower, here with the hybrid coneflower Sunrise; these two plants will hold their seed heads up under a blanket of snow until we gardeners cut them back in spring

In the Entry Garden:

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' (Switch grass); valued for its red-tipped foliage in summer, turning deep burgundy by fall, this native prairie grass stands up well through winter - bring on the snow!

Jan 10-17, 2011

In the Nature Garden you will find:
Pennisetum with Echinacea purpurea (Fountain Grass with Purple Coneflower); both these plants hold up well under snow and winter conditions and make for long-lasting winter interest in any garden.

In the Nature Garden:
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry); this small tree or shrub is native to Ontario and eastward, reaching to 10metres. Iit is an excellent choice for city gardens! In this winter shot, one side of its bark is thawed by the sun while the other is frozen with ice crystals.

The Knot Garden:
The Knot Garden is hard to resist in winter when snowfall highlights the many architecturally pruned forms of this garden, in particular the evergreen yew and boxwood hedges, as well as the deciduous privet
















In the South Show Garden:
Berberis thunbergii forma atropurpurea 'Concorde' (Japanese Barberry); this dense thorny shrub is popular for its colouring, and produces berries which are carried through the winter, Here it is seen with a glistening of frost on its arching branches.

In the South Show Garden:
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' (Winterberry); this wetland holly loses its leaves each year and bears an abundance of bright red fruit which is carried through the winter. Here they stand out brilliantly against the snow.

A friendly reminder regarding Winter Garden Etiquette: Even though they are now under a blanket of snow, please respect the garden beds and stay on the groomed paths! It is very tempting to walk in to have a closer look at sites like the rich red berries above - but remember you are stepping on plants to improve your view!

December 2-31

Winter may be moving in to the TBG but some stalwart plants are still showing their brightest colours and others are blooming!


In the Nature Garden you will find:
Cornus sericea Flaviramea (Golden Twig or Dogwood) ; Also known as Yellowtwig dogwood, this shrub displays its best twig colour when planted in full-sun and pruned regularly.
















In the Nature Garden:
Cotoneaster horizontalis (Rockspray); this semi-evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub has purplish winter foliage and attractive red fruit which covers much of the branches and is held through winter.
















In the Show Garden South:
Chamaecyparis pisifera Sungold Show (Japanese false cypress) ; this dwarf golden cultivar of Japanese false cypress has semi-weeping branches. Like many conifers, its colour changes with the seasons, and here shows good winter yellow due to its sunny location.

In the West View Terrace:

Helleborus niger Maximus (Christmas Rose); Hellebores are long-lived, drought and heat tolerant semi-evergreen perennials. In recent years they have most deservedly grown in popularity, thriving in shady gardens . But here at the TBG, a few selections are remarkably suited to the sun. Here H. niger Maximus is poking through in very early winter.

In the Show Garden South:

Crocus speciosus (Autumn Crocus); One of the first of the autumn crocuses to flower, this one has particularly clear bsky blue flowers on bare stems. The leaves are produced in spring.

Nov. 15-25

In the Nature Garden you will find:

Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Beauty' (Bloodtwig dogwood); aptly named, this bloodtwig dogwood is noted for its orange-yellow winter stems tipped with red and for its golden fall foliage; its berries are not showy but attract birds.

In the Garden hall Courtyard:

Pinus strobus (Weeping white pine/Eastern white pine); this white pine generally tolerates urban conditions well and is the only species of pine to have five needles per bundle. This cultivar is a semi-dwarf whose weeping branches may trail the ground. This year it is boasting beautiful cones.
















In the West View Terrace:

Viburnum carlesii 'Diana' (Koreanspice Viburnum); this rounded, multi-stemmed shrub is very hardy, tolerating a wide range of soil conditions except very wet. It is invaluable for winter interest, here displaying great fall colour.

















In the Entry Garden:

Molinea caerulea ssp. arundinacea Transparent (Purple Moor Grass); the flowers of this deciduous clump-forming grass reach well over a meter tall with an open and airy habit, thus the name 'Transparent'. The foliage turns a fine yellow in late fall.
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In the Entry Garden:

Bergenia purpurascens (Winter-red Bergenia); True to its name, this bergenia species has excellent fall and winter red colour. Bergenias are incredibly hardy and reliably evergreen.

Oct. 28

Late fall colours are still in full bloom at the TBG, thanks to our wonderful autumn weather!All these selections are featured in the Entry Garden:


Tricyrtis formosana Samurai (Toad Lily); Samurai is the most popular cultivar of toad lily, growing best in shady areas; this selection has purple flowers with darker spotting held above green foliage edged with gold - perfect for the autumn garden as is a later flowering perennial



















Sedum Autumn Fire (Stonecrop) ; similar to S. Autumn Joy but with a tighter growth habit so it is less prone to flopping over. Autumn Fire was developed in Quebec and also displays brighter rose-coloured flowers than Autumn Joy. It is shown here with a touch of frost



















Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple love grass); hardy to zone 5, this tufted grass is short at 10" with plumes reaching up to 2'; an underused perennial very unique! it prefers a sandy situation.


















Geranium phaeum Album (Mourning widow cranesbill) ; this geranium is mound-forming with deeply lobed foliage and delicate white flowers, a very hardy selection tolerating dry shade better than most, excellent for woodland gardens. Here the leaves are touched with the first fall frost.

Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree) ; Native to the southeastern United States, this small tree is hardy to zone 4 with autumn foliage in a variety of colours from yellow and orange to reddish purple,making it one of the best fall colour small trees. With its interesting bark, it makes a great specimen!



















Viburnum nudum (Northern Wild Raisin or Witherod); this native shrub belonging to the honeysuckle family, is definitely underused in home gardens. It has edible fruit and its glossy leaves turn a rich burgundy in autumn.

Oct 7 - 17

In the Water Channel you will find:

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf hydrangea); these shrubs provide four seasons of interest with dramatic white flowers. They perform best in hot climates but are extremely hardy to Toronto gardens and will tolerate drier conditions better than other hydrangeas

In the Perennial Border:

Aster laevis 'Bluebird' now known as Symphyotrichum laeve 'Bluebird'; displays cone- shaped clusters of violet-blue flowers exhibiting clean foliage compared to most asters

In the Nature Garden:

Gaillardia aristata (Blanket flower); this species blons to the sunflower family and is commonly known for its red and yellow pinwheel

In the Nature Garden:

Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda dogwood); also known as an alternate leaf dogwood, this species is native from Manitoba eastward, displaying excellent fall colour

In the Terrace Garden:

Iris germanica 'Double Your Fun' (Intermediate bearded iris; at 21 inches this repeat bloomer is a new intorduction with a violet-flushed mid-rib and butter yellow on a white background

In the Knot Garden:

Iris germanica 'Immortality' (Tall bearded Iris); this pure white iris is a re-bloomer flowering twice a year in early summer and again in late summer/early fall