The Front Entry Garden Room
The photo album for The Front Entry Garden Room
The Magnolia Tree Garden Room where the Trilliums grow.
The photo album The Magnolia Tree Garden Room where the Trilliums grow.
The Inner Garden Room, including The Sun Dial Circle, Thyme Circle and Center Garden
The photo album for The Inner Garden Room, including The Sun Dial Circle, Thyme Circle and Center Garden
The Smoke Tree Garden Room that is part of the Inner Garden Room
The photo album for the The Smoke Tree Garden Room that is part of the Inner Garden Room
The Front Garden Rock and Alpines
The photo album for The Front Garden Rock and Alpines
The Boulevard Garden
The photo album for The Boulevard Garden
The Strip between the Driveways
The photo album for The Strip between the Driveways
The Woodland Garden Room
The photo album for The Woodland Garden
The Fig Tree Bed, including the bed next to the old sidewalk, in the back garden
The photo album for The Fig Tree Bed, including the bed next to the old sidewalk, in the back garden
The Japanese and Moss Garden Room
The Japanese and Moss Garden photo album
The pond and surrounds Garden Room
The photo album of the The pond and surrounds Garden Room
The plants in the pond Room (note: This is a list page for the plants in the pond)
The photo album for The plants in the pond Room
Water gardening list page for the Larix Landscaping pond. (note: I had Larix Landscaping rebuild the waterfall, pond and surrounds after the pond sprang a leak in November and December of 2024. This newly lined pond includes a new Aquascape Ultra 1500 Water pump.
The photo album for the Larix Landscaping rebuild of the waterfall, pond surrounds and the pond in January 2025.
The Back Garden Rock and Alpines
The photo album for The Back Garden Rock and Alpines
The Cutting Garden including vegetables, herbs
The Cutting Garden Room photo album
The deck and patio plants, including some of the plants also listed in the Moss and Water Garden Room
The photo album for The deck and patio plants, including some of the plants also listed in the Moss and Water Garden Room
The Fish Pond Note: this is a new water page, not a Plant list page
Pond Plants Note: this is the list page for the Plants in the Pond and the deck tub.
The photo album for the Pond Plants
The Light garden and Orchids
The photo album for The Light garden and Orchids
B. C. INVASIVE PLANTS list.
Perennial Pruning
A good look at how to prune a few perennials
Not only do perennials make a statement, they’re also relatively low-maintenance and give you a bang for your buck with their yearly return.
However, some perennials don’t thrive when pruned in the cold weather and others don’t thrive if they’re pruned too early in the season. So, which perennials are best to cut back in the fall and which ones are good to keep until the spring? Read on to find out.
Perennials to cut back in the fall
YARROW (Achillea)
This long-blooming perennial is often used in butterfly and rock gardens as an edging plant. They come in a variety of colours and are known for their vibrant, feathery foliage.
Yarrow doesn’t thrive in cold or wet soil and often stops actively growing in the fall. This is a great time to cut back its lowest leaves to give the plant enough time for its new growth to emerge in the spring.
Tall Garden PHLOX
Tall garden phlox is another perennial that adds a pop of colour to any garden. They often grow in tall clumps and are known for their cluster of blooms at the top of their stalks.
Unfortunately, phlox is prone to powdery mildew so cutting the stems and foliage back in the fall can prevent the plant from getting infected. This can also help the plant increase airflow and prevent disease.
PEONY
Peony is a magnificent addition to any garden space. They are captivating, have large, full blooms and come in over 30 different species. With this plant also comes careful handling and care in order for them to thrive in your garden.
Similar to phlox, peonies are prone to mildew which is why cutting them back in the fall is important. This will also give your peonies enough time to set buds for the spring season.
Tall BEARDED IRIS
Tall Bearded iris is an easy and stunning plant to grow. Their sword-like leaves offer a unique display to your outdoor space, and come in a variety of solid and bi-colours.
As the foliage of this plant begins to flop early in the growing season, it may become prone to pests and fungal diseases. As soon as the plant is done blooming in the fall, cut the flower stalk and remove any damaged or diseased leaves.
DAYLILY
If you’re looking to create a pollinator habitat in your garden, daylilies are an attractive plant to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
Removing spent flower stalks of daylilies in the fall can encourage new flowers in the spring and save you garden cleanup time during the spring season. Removing diseased parts of the plant can also protect the plant from getting infected.
GAILLARDIA
Gaillardia is a perennial that is often compared to daisies due to their shape and rich coloured-flowers. They’re relatively easy to grow, and their red and yellow shades are guaranteed to make a showy display during the warmer months.
Pruning these perennials in the fall can result in a fuller, healthier plant and steady blooming.
Perennials to prune in spring
LAVENDER
Lavender is a fragrant garden favourite for many reasons including its attractive display, aroma and versatile uses.
A lot of areas struggle with over-wintering due to moisture and the cold, however, they can benefit from pruning winter dieback after new growth has appeared in the spring as new growth can be sensitive to the cold.
GAYFEATHER (Liatris spicata)
Gay feather, also known as blazing star, is known for their signature grass-like leaves and reddish-purple colour varieties. Rather than being sensitive to cold weather, they are more sensitive to cold, wet soil.
During the winter, their flower heads can be left in place for winter-feeding birds. Any garden debris in the spring is important to clean before new growth begins.
MUMS (Chrysanthemum)
Mums are great, vibrant plants for potted plants and garden use. They come in several colour varieties perfect for creating an enchanting arrangement when placed together in any garden.
Mums are a perennial that can benefit from keeping their foliage over the winter in order to protect their root crowns.
LAMBS EARS
Lamb’s ears are known for their silvery foliage and are extremely drought-tolerant. They love the sun and work well in rock gardens or dry spots in garden beds.
With these perennials, it is best to leave them as-is for the winter as their foliage can protect the crowns of their plants. In the spring, garden cleanup will be relatively simple while you’ll only have to rake loose foliage.
SAGE (Salvia yangii)
Sage is another perennial that is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. Similar to lavender, sage doesn’t benefit from cutting back in the fall as its growth is sensitive to cold weather.
In the spring once new growth of this plant appears, it is best to cut back to about 6 to 8 inches to allow their growth buds to resprout.
CORAL BELLS (Heuchera)
If there’s one perennial that is the epitome of fall, it’s coral bells, also known as heuchera. They have show-stopping foliage and new varieties of this plant are introduced every year.
These perennials are best to keep until spring as they are adept at protecting themselves during the fall and winter. Leaving the foliage of coral bells intact during the fall can help mulch the plants through the winter season, making it best to prune in the spring season.
The Plants in the Pond Garden Room
The photo album for the garden paths and art helps define each of the garden rooms. Also shows some of the renovations to the previously existing garden rooms. There is garden 'art' such as the Mermaid that sits on top of the waterfall. See the the changes 2 page for more defination of this Pond Plants Garden Roon and the Pond Surrounds garden Room. On the side of the Cutting Garden this area has the yew hedge, the small boxwood hedge in front of it. With the entry way to the pond area by the bay laurel. It has the cement and field stone paths surrounding the area. Next to the pond there is a small area of pondside plants on each side, and includes the waterfall with the mermaid. There is another entryway into the pond area from the Cutting garden. This side of the pond has some evergreen trees and shrubs screening the pond from the neighbours. On the opposite side, this garden room borders the moss garden room, parts of the drystream and the viewing platform, as described in the Deck and Surrounds photo album. We continue around the corner on the cement pavers back to the waterfall. There is more history of the water garden on: the Old water page, the new water page, and the continuation of the water pages on the fish pond page.
See the photo album of the plants surrounding the pond.
See for the plants IN pond
and see for the photo album of the Plants IN the pond.
The Plants in the Pond
OXYGENATING POND PLANTS:
Oxygenating pond plants are given their name for the way they release oxygen into the water during photosynthesis. These plants grow partially or completely underwater and can add both functionality and beauty to any landscape.
HORNWORT(Ceratophyllum demersum)
Ceratophyllum demersum is known by many common names, such as rigid hornwort, and coontail. It grows very tall in the wild and will easily reach all the way to the top of your aquarium or pond. Normally hornwort is found floating at the water surface, but when planted in the substrate, it looks like a fluffy underwater bush with many long branches or side stems. The bright green leaves are thin and rigid, similar to pine needles. Much like water sprite and java moss, hornwort has dense foliage that provides excellent protection for baby fish and shrimp.
Hornwort seems to have a number of different latin names. This looks like the one I bought.
WATER CELERY OR EEL GRASS:
Vallisneria americana (Water Celery) is an evergreen, submerged aquatic perennial with clusters of attractive ribbon-like leaves, about 1 in. wide (2.5 cm). This might be the other oxygenating plant I have in the pond. I do not have a record of what this plant was called when I bought it. I just have the two of them and they are doing a fine job of keeping the water clear.
MOSS
The Mosses and Lichens growing all around the water garden area and in the pond are all volunteer plants. I will be trying to get moss to grow on the Japanese lantern, on the mermaid, on the sides of the waterfall, along the cement pavers, on the big mossy rock in the dry stream.
GLOBE FLOWER (Trollius Chinensis)
There is a globe flower growing in very shallow water at the edge of the pond, in the old plum tree stump.
More information on the globe flower.
MARSH MARIGOLD: (Caltha palustris)
Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium sized perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family. It grows compact and mounding. It ranges from 1 to 2 feet in height and width, producing clusters of golden, showy flowers that are 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches wide in early spring. It grows in boggy, wetland conditions, thriving in full sun or shade. The leaves contain protoanemonin, which is toxic to humans, pets, and livestock. My Marsh Marigold grows beside the waterfall, in a pot on the shallow water plants ledge. It certainly is at least 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. It is covered in golden flowers in the spring and thereafter has its glossy big leaves covering the pond edge.
WATER IRISES
There are 2 Japanese Iris – Kaempferi – unnamed white and Kaempferi – beni-botan - royal purple. (now called Iris ensata). These water irises grow in pots in two places in the pond.
More information on the Japanese water irises.
WILLOWS:
Boyd's Pendula BOYD'S DWARF TRAILING WILLOW (Salix repens Boyd's Pendula)
Aka Alpine Willow. This weeping pussy willow originally introduced from China is now found throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Willow is an old world tree, much celebrated in poetry. Twigs and branchlets divide into thin stems that hang in pendulous curtains to the ground. Leaves sometimes with whitened or silky undersides. The stubby catkins are silver maturing to cream. Only 16" to 20" when fully grown. Likes sun. Deciduous. Keep outdoors.Can be staked up or made into a bonsai.
Mine is next to the waterfall, with its roots in the water. It is spreading across the pavers path and hanging over the water and growing up the rocks at the bottom of the waterfall.
SALIX HELVETICA: Swiss Willow
The one with large pussywillows and cinamon bark. Looks like it would make a good bonsai just now. This one grows at the edge of the pond in the old plum tree stump bed, with its roots reaching into the pond. A lovely willow that is also growing a bit taller and wider.
WATER HAWTHORN:(Aponogeton distachyos)
Aponogeton distachyos (Water Hawthorn) is an aquatic perennial with long, oval-shaped, often mottled, green and red leaves, 3-6 in. long (7-15 cm) and small white flowers held just above the surface. The deciduous or partially evergreen leaves float on the surface of the water from a petiole up to 40 in. long (100 cm) arising from tubers growing at the bottom of water bodies. Profuse vanilla-scented, forked inflorescences bearing white flowers with brown anthers bloom from fall to spring but go dormant in the heat of the summer in warm winter climates. In colder winter climates, Water Hawthorn typically flowers in summer and early fall but dies back in winter unless it is brought indoors. Native to frost-free areas of South Africa, Water Hawthorn is commercially grown for its edible tubers that may be added to stews. My plant blooms from early spring to late fall. It has spread around the pond and looks really good. It goes dormant and over winters in the pond.
Performs best in full sun or partial shade in water 12-36 in. deep (30-90 cm). May be grown in either the bottom mud or in containers placed on the bottom. Good for ponds or water gardens or other small bodies of water. No serious pest or disease issue. Keep an eye out for water snails.
ANNUALS IN THE POND:
WATER HYCINTHS: (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant (or hydrophyte) native to tropical and subtropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinth may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 m (3 ft) in height. The leaves are 10–20 cm (4–8 inches) across on a stem, which is floating by means of buoyant bulb-like nodules at its base above the water surface. They have long, spongy, bulbous stalks. The feathery, freely hanging roots are purple-black. An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8–15 conspicuously attractive flowers, mostly lavender to pink in colour with six petals. One of the fastest-growing plants known, water hyacinth reproduces primarily by way of runners or stolons, which eventually form daughter plants. Each plant additionally can produce thousands of seeds each year, and these seeds can remain viable for more than 28 years. Common water hyacinths are vigorous growers, and mats can double in size in one to two weeks. In terms of plant count rather than size, they are said to multiply by more than a hundredfold in number in a matter of 23 days.
I occasionally buy a water hycinth for the pond. It does spread to cover the water surface quite quickly.
DUCKWEED: (Lemnoideae)
They can cause problems for wildlife, because they blocks out light to submerged aquatic plants. Surface cover of duckweed or water fern can also prevent exchange of gases with the air so that the underlying water can become de-oxygenated and noxious to many aquatic animals. Duckweed seems to arrive in my pond magically. I can scoop it out with the pond skimmer, but there always seems to be some left to grow again.
FEATURES in the Pond:
The waterfall with the mermaid is a feature of the pond.
Annual Gardening pages
January - we occasionally get snow.
February - more rain, and some
bulbs up
March - first spring bulbs
blooming
April - rock plants blooming,
grass needs mowing, fruit trees blooming
May - the garden is in full
swing
June - lovely warm days of
medium temperatures and roses in bloom
July - we need to water a lot
in the summer as we do not often get rain.
August - the Fall perennials
starting to bloom and fruit is ripening
September - harvest time in the
vegetable garden and time to plant the winter garden
October - glorious fall colors
and sunsets, fruit ripening and rains begin again
November - sometimes a lovely
month with the Fall colors and warm rains
December - more rain, the garden
is mostly greens and browns, very peaceful.
Annual Journal Notes - This is the first page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2012 when I began to keep my garden notes on my computer. See the bottom of this first page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2013 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2013 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2014 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2014 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2015 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2015 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2016 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2016 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2017 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2017 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2018 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2018 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2019 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2019 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2020 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2020 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2021 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2021 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2022 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2022 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2023 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2023 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2024 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2024 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2025 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2025 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Annual Journal Notes 2026 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2026 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year.
Outline of the garden changes - This is the first page of a series of three giving a tour of the my garden.
A description of the garden rooms - This is the second page of a series of three giving a tour of the my garden, and showing the creation of the garden rooms as well as some of the renovations over the years.
Annual Garden changes photo albums The third page of the series will be annual photo albums of the changes in the garden for the year, beginning in 2009.
