Four Pips

Four pips - that's four of a kind in poker.  In fact it is a small but easily countable item, such as dots on dice or symbols on playing cards. "The Five Orange Pips" - this is a Sherlock Holmes story. If one were involved in the exchange rate, a pip is the smallest price move that a given exchange rate makes based on market convention. For most major currencies that is 1/100 of 1 percent, or one basis point. And you could also wear a pip - it is a decoration worn on a military uniform to denote rank. Could we forget Pip from Great Expectations?   With its association with smallness, I assume that's how we get to pip squeak.  This is a person considered to be insignificant, because they are small or young. It helps if they are 'puny, weak, frail, and easily defeated'. 'A dream that's a pippin' - that's a dream or idea that's impossible to accomplish - and comes from "I'm Just A Lucky So and So" composed by Duke Ellington, and sung by many Jazz greats. Our two pictures today are about the same garden.  The top picture is the McLaughlin Estate House in miniature - the pip squeak version - at the Niagara Falls Showcase Greenhouse. It moved from Cullen Gardens Miniature Village in Oshawa a few years ago. The bottom pictures are from "Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard". These are images I took of the McLaughlin Estate gardens - a great visit when paired with the Peony Festival in May.

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...