Grand Durand in All Its Glory

Last Saturday was a grand day for a grand tour put on by the Durand Neighbourhood Association in Hamilton, Ontario.  The area is bound by Queen Street South/Main Street West/James Street South and a gentle diagonal on James Mountain Road.  

There were so many things to recommend about the tour - the first, was the homeowners were there at most gardens - a real plus if you had any questions, or just wanted to thank them in person for opening their garden to the public.  It was walkable.  There was free street parking.  And the gardens seemed to really reflect the personality of the owner rather than that of a hired landscape architect - nothing wrong with those gardens, but a tour of looking at pristine pools, polished stone and boxwood doesn't feed my gardener's soul.  There were coolers filled with water, that they handed out if you wanted one.  And, there was a little tea & entertainment in the gardens of one of the old homes - Whitehearn - that's now a museum.  Nine gardens + the tea - all for $20.  And if you hold onto your ticket, you can tour Whitehearn for free until December 31st.

We decided to start in the middle of the tour #4 - 141 Markland - the owners of Lose the Lawn.  All sorts of good ideas to try in the garden.

The back garden was quite diminutive, but they still managed to grow herbs and tomatoes in the pocket garden (made of pop bottles).  The metal stand was made for them - hopefully if you expand the photo you can see the little nobby thorny features the artist has added.  She had some of the prettiest pots - both these blue pots with the basil and the more formal ones pictured in the next photos.

I wouldn't have thought of doing such large walls in this little space, but it worked perfectly, and they were at a sit-able height if you had friends over.

#5 was 7 Ravenscliff - designed by William P. Witton built on a severed lot.  Needless to say back in 1910 if you lived in a posh neighbourhood, the severed lots were not as mean as they are today.  According to the blurb, the front garden was reshaped by boxwood and floral design inspired by the Conservatory in New York's Central Park.

This dear little creature lives in the 'hood and what you don't see is that she was wearing her soccer boots.

Now how's this for a back veranda:

The lucky cat who lives in the big house.  The tiles were redone with clay-extruded tiles imported from the same company in Wales that supplied the originals 103 years ago.

This gives you a better view of the house and the formal gardens that have been recently replanted.

One of two of the beautiful ladies who stand next to the fence at the back of the garden.

Not on the tour - but the lovely garden next door.

Aren't the lamps beautiful?  Looks like a very fancy hotel.

Not on the tour, but across the road.

Again, not on the tour, but a great collection of styles - and a huge backyard (excuse me, lawn) that was just begging for a croquet party.

The garden at Chilton was elegant and charming.  And the hardest to photograph given the number of visitors that just didn't want to leave.  Here's my friend Joan trying to get her shot.

It had formal elements and some wonderful old-fashioned perennials.

I'm the orange caution in the mirror at the back of the garden.

Don't you love the pots tucked into the formal box hedge.

The shade beds on the side of the garden - and look how he's kept the area open for the neighbours to be able to enjoy.

This is the front of the house - the original portion build in 1880.

40 St. James Place was built by the owners parents.  They had several Dandy Dinmont puppies that drew as many viewers as their magnificent black walnuts and hosta.

Note the doggie-bow in the shutter.

Quite cute.

On to 316 James Street South.  Ballinahinch built in 1850 is now 6 condominiums.  There were two little gardens to see.

Here's the shade garden belonging to one owner.

And a sunny garden belonging to another owner.

Not on tour - good to see guard dog hard at work.

Joan and I took a break at Whitehearn for our tea - really a great place to catch your breath and enjoy the garden.

From there we walked over to Bold Street.  This was an old 1889 Victorian home that has been restored by the owners.  A view of the rooftop garden.

The main garden below.

I think the garden on Duke was my favourite from a design perspective. Great planter.

The rear garden.

Excellent sight lines, sculpture, plant material and pathways.

A swishy curtained deck.

And then to our last garden on Robinson Street - and just one photo of Josephine to end the day.

All in all, a great day at the Grand Durand Garden Tour.

Am off to Hamilton Today

The Durand Garden Tour is today - will head off shortly - Kevin to keep Bart company.  I'd tried to go a number of years ago, and unfortunately even though it was being advertised on the radio that morning, it was completely sold out by the time I got there.  Much wiser this year, got my tickets a couple of weeks ago in Dundas.

The construction continues.  Am looking for an implement to cut grass and not the dreadful orange snow fence (that I'd like to blow up).  I think I've worn out my clippers.  Time to get them sharpened.  It has been a difficult year for starting things from seed.  I'm glad I've got some experience under my belt.  Had this been the year I had started, I don't think I would ever be thinking of doing it again.  Vegetable germination for the most part about 10% - too cold and too wet.  If my tomatoes were armed, they'd have me shot at dawn for such cruel treatment.

So here to prove I can grow things from seed - at least to myself - here are  the Martagon Lilies and some cream coloured Digitalis.

Such a lovely time of year - the greens are so perfect.

Last week you couldn't see either of these ferns, although I think I've got even more pulling out so that they can stretch out and be seen.

'Hyde Hall' Clematis.  It's second year - first to flower, should be much better next year.

Tricyrtis 'Lightning Strike' has really spread out this year.  Time to divide and move.

A little Oenothera that I've never seen open.  It truly is the perfect drinking plant.  In early evening, get yourself a beverage, and sit down to watch as it opens in front of you.

The Aralia cordata needs to be cut back to help 'Butterfly' spread its wings.

This gerbera daisy is now in year #3.  I allow it to go dormant/dead in the basement every year, and each year when I add a bit of water it springs to life.  The sad brown nobby thing is a Brugmansia.

Here's something I hadn't seen before.  Looks like a black mould.

Two days later this is what the flower bud looked like.

The little yellow shrub is Genista 'Bangle' from Loblaw.

A very persistent self seeding annual Bupleurum I grew many years ago.  I'm always certain to scatter some of the seed heads around just to help it out a bit.

Hosta montana macrophylla with its odd flower heads.

There are good parts of this cool spring - every single early-blooming bush is fabulous without exception.  Unfortunately the roses took a real hit, and I've lost parts of, or complete plants.   A 2012 Proven Winners Trial - Oso Happy Smoothie Rose.  And, the second one is looking considerably less jolly given its name.

'Dream Catcher' Kolkwitzia amabilis looks good.

My grown from seed Hydrangea.

And last of all the Aruncus - yet another perennial that loves cold winters.  The best plants I've ever seen where growing in Quebec City.  Not quite as big as those, but still quite beefy all the same.