Happy Friday, Gpoders!
We conclude the week in Canada as Deborah Sanders shares the trials and hardships that led him to create this sweet garden on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. If gardening on an island with a very unique ecosystem was not enough, her property is in a small mountain. However, some trial and error along the way gave her the vibrant, charming and unique gardens she has today.
Hello,
I live in Triangle Mountain, just outside Victoria Island on Vancouver Island, Canada. I often joke about doing yoga in the garden and made some major mistakes early on in planting my garden. When the mountains were developed, they fell a few trees, brought in lots of stuffing, and built a house on the trees. The “slant” in the front was in a deep tint of cedar and Douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii, zones 4-6), only grown by the English ivy (Hedera Helix and Cvs., Zones 5-11). I had a great idea and broke all the ivy and planted seeds. Things didn’t grow. Next I cut out cherry, cedar and two Douglas fir. Yikes – All weed seeds grew in the sunlight. I still had Cedar and Douglas fur giving me full shade through the part-sun, but I ran with it.
I bought everything and started planting it. Climbing the slope is challenging as you return without stepping into it. Did you say yoga? The first mistake wasn’t to go through the course. The second is that after I planted all one, I take the Master Gardener course.
Photo from 2017, when we were using a dip hose in the base of sand, we installed an irrigation system with the help of my husband and friends, up to now
The continuity came with waterfalls of Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa Macra, Zones 5–9) descending through the rhododendron.
Another view of the grass waterfall in the Japanese forest from under one of Deborah’s Rhododentrons – a lush green scene.
I then put a microrover (Trifolium Repens var.’pipolina ‘and’ pirouette’, zones 3-10) instead of grass, and then developed a lower garden around a slate patio where I could sit and watch the garden growth.
It was a journey of learning, exposure, soil and falling in love with so many different plants. Many are now in pots spread around the property. Japanese maples knew who loved them, so the pot on deck – Peso and Rhodos: Can you be too much? I have more, but this was my beginning and what kept me busy and agile.
If planting on this extreme slope is not enough, Deborah also emphasized injecting extra personality and colour in some garden art. The fun metal flowers add even more vibe to the colorful sections of Fox gloves (Digitalis Purpurea, Zones 4–9) and the orange Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria Aurea, Zones 7–10).
The bright magenta peony and the dianthus flowers with silvery blue leaves are an attractive combination in this vignette.
Another fun metal garden art, the funky blue heron, is the perfect complement to the bright yellow flowers of upright wild ginger (Saruma Henryi, Zones 5–8).
A final photo overlooking the slopes of some bright red poppies (Papa Bar Oriental, Zones 3-7) and Japanese maple in Chartreuse: a peep in the small circular patio in the upper corner shows an incredible view for the seating area to enjoy the stunning view of the garden.
Deborah, thank you for sharing our vibrant and vibrant garden with us! Despite your very challenging situation, you were able to create a beautiful landscape with lots of personality and many exciting plants combinations.
How do you manage the condition of your garden? Are you a meticulous planner, writing to-do lists and creating site plans? Or are you working on trial and error like Deborah has in her garden? Please let us know in the comments. Or consider sharing your garden trip on your blog. Follow the instructions below to send a photo by email or DM via Instagram: @girlherdogandtheroad.
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