Garden hardscape elements

This arbor is one of the main features of the garden. In time, it will be covered with ... I don't know, perhaps Virginia Creeper or a hardy Clematis, or maybe even a climbing rose.

We used steel fencepost anchors, driven into the ground, and then slipped the feet of the arbor into them. It worked great - nice and solid. And it should prevent moisture from deteriorating the wood.

Four hangers were installed for hanging baskets.



Several lattice screens also help provide more interest to the garden design. One hides a large propane tank, and this one covers a large part of the back fence that would look pretty bleak without it. A narrow bed at the bottom holds enough soil to sustain the Canary Bird Vine.

Plastic clips were attached to the main uprights to hold these flower pots filled with Chalon pansies. These pansies are unique because the petals are very frilly, and they are strongly scented.

Garden Progress Inspection

'Blue' is sitting on the newly installed stepping stone inspecting some of the recently planted annuals. The Prairie Joy rose is already in bloom behind her.

2008 Season

This was the first season for the garden. The beds were ready for planting and we were anxious to see an actual flower garden materialize.

Roses had been bought early in the season, potted up, and put into the greenhouse. Several varieties belong to the Explorer series – Champlain, McKenzie, JP Connell – and others from the Parkland series – Winnipeg Parks, Prairie Joy, Persian Yellow. All are hardy to –40 winter temperatures, with nothing but a good snow cover.

We arranged them for planting in the rose garden about mid-June.

We started about 45 trays of annuals, many of them pansies. The pansies, from the Atlas series, filled in the pansy bed in alternating ribbons of yellow and blue. There are over 300 pansy plants in this bed.