Happy Monday GPODers!
Today we’re returning to the gardens of Linda and Terry Walsh in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada—a spacious garden that we’ve seen a few times over the years (Check out previous submissions: Linda & Terry’s Garden in Ontario, Linda & Terry’s Garden Revisited, The Walsh’s Garden in Ontario). Linda and Terry have over 5 acres of landscape that they have spent the last couple of decades filling with a wide variety of fantastic plants in all sizes. Several spectacular specimen trees and show-stopping shrubs have grown to maturity over the years, so they have generously opened their space to fellow gardeners who are looking to view these plants and get design ideas. Today’s submission from Linda showcases some of the changes they’ve made since we’ve last seen the garden as well as some of the plants that get the most attention from visitors.
It has been a terribly long winter here in Southern Ontario so gardening is not possible at this time.
As mentioned earlier we have lived here for about 40 years and have been gardening extensively for the last 20 years. We have become a ‘Demonstration Garden” as people often want to know what plants look like full size and also wish to get landscaping ideas. We are open by appointment from June to September; it is a great way to meet fellow gardeners. Several years ago we put in electric gates which we designed with the Tree of Life in the centre. We are situated about 1000 feet from the road so the gates are not only security but do let people know when we are not available. We have over 175 rhododendrons, 50 + flowering dogwoods, hydrangeas, azaleas, viburnums, redbuds, Japanese maples, tulip trees, sassafras, paw paw and many other native trees. Children of all ages enjoy our koi pond, peacocks and border collies. We also grow organic brandy wine raspberries in our spare time, along with dahlias and numerous perennials.
‘Sumi nagashi’ Japanese maple (Acer palmate ‘Sumi nagashi’, Zones 5–9)
Little Lime Punch® hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPH’, Zones 3–9) start out white and turn red. People were driving up the driveway before the gates went in to see these.
Dogwood thing (Cornus kousa, Zones 5–8)
One of the many displays of impatiens… we use to plant 100 flats but we’ve slowed down a bit lately lol
Electric gates at entrance that we designed with Tree of Life in centre. Japanese Kanzan cherry (Prunus ‘Kanzan’, Zones 5–9) to left, redbud (Cercis canadensis, Zones 4–8) in background and flowering dogwood (Flowery horn Zones 5–9) to right. We have many native trees, the redbud and dogwood being just a few.
Onyx™ Peacock hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Zulu’, Zones 5–9) we felt it was only fitting to have this variety as we raise peacocks.
Mophead pink hydrangea, variety unknown but the heads grown over a foot wide and it roots easily from cuttings.
Pond which we redesigned from our previous submission. Pond features 2 skimmers, waterfall and a natural bog up by the peacock house which you can see in background.
‘Helsinki University’ rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Helsinki University’, Zones 4–8) we tried a new fertilizer this year and we were happy to see clusters of 4 flowers on many stems. ‘Girard’s Hot Shot’ evergreen orange azalea (Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Hot Shot’, Zones 5–9) to the left
Linda has a lot to showcase from their expansive gardens, so thankfully she sent several more photos for us to enjoy. Check back in the GPOD tomorrow to see more of this spectacular garden.
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