As the Landscape Changes

I was at RBG earlier this week to check out the autumn colours in the arboretum.  I stood at the same place in early October 2012 at the arboretum.  What different landscapes and colours then and now.  Here is the first.

2014:

 2012:

Here is the second - 2014:

 2012:

Parkwood Estates in Oshawa

This is Parkwood Estates in Oshawa, Ontario.  It was the home and garden of Samuel McLaughlin, who was the founder of General Motors, Canada.  It is now an historic sight as the house interior was intact with furnishings in place.  At this time of year, the colourful formal beds are gone and what remains are the structural elements such as statues, trelliswork, pathways and gates.  The canopy of trees and shrubs becomes evident and the landscape starts its transition to the narrow palette of colours of winter.  

Parkwood is one of the great gardens within our own backyard in the horseshoe area.  Most of it was designed by H.B. and L.A. Dunington-Grubb. They were the founding architects of Sheridan Nurseries. The gardens have been restored to the 1930's style that was its zenith.

There are quite a few gardens on the grounds.  More to show another time...

Oshawa's Peony Garden

There aren't any peonies to see in Oshawa this last week of October.  The beds have been prepared for winter.  What remains is the lovely gazebo, donated by the Oshawa Garden Club.  This image interprets the gazebo as a place for rest and dreaming.

Bench Works

Benches are an enjoyable focal point for the photographer.  There is usually a path in a garden leading to a bench, also providing the photographer with a leading line in the image.  Here are two benches from the lovely Longwood Gardens, near Philadelphia PA.  The first is a spring image and the latter an autumn one.

Niagara Roads

It's autumn - October - in Niagara.  We've got some perfect colours, and I found these in the Fonthill area.  I went in search of autumn trees and road scenery and found it.

Dahlia Harvest

While dahlias would bloom a lot longer, we'll soon get frost and the dahlias will be finished for the season.

Here's a dahlia farm near Rockwood Ontario with 4 acres of dahlias for the floral trade.

Lilycrest Gardens - Highlights from Summer

There are hundreds of thousands of flowers in the Lilycrest Hyrbridizing field.  Here are two of the lilies from this past summer of 2014.

Brock Road Nursery

I visit so many garden centres, and there is always a beautiful scene to take a picture of.  Here are a few more of Brock Road Nursery in Guelph.  I was so impressed with the beautiful displays just this past September.

Our Fruit and Vegetable Stands in Grimsby

We are very lucky in Niagara - there are fruit and vegetable stands everywhere.  Owners sell their produce out front, with an honesty box for payment.

Hildreth's, though, is on a much larger scale - take a look at the autumn show they had for the harvest month of October.

What Makes Pretty Gardens in Niagara - sometimes it's the Small Stuff

There are so many pretty elements in the garden - from structures such as pergolas, gates, fences, and sheds, to smaller items like statues and ornaments.  These little mushrooms are beautifully placed at the base of a tree at 1 Baker Road, in Grimsby Ontario.  What a beautiful, delicate vignette to capture.  This is easy to see from the sidewalk.  Anyone can enjoy this pretty scene.

Enjoying Lilies

I get to enjoy lilies long past their blooming period.  I found some new software from Topaz Labs and had some fun with Lilycrest Garden pictures. Here they are with the newly available program Impressions.