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Friday 12 December 2014

Good Grief ! .....

First I want to thank all you wonderful gals that have been asking me if I was going to the Toronto Fling .. I so appreciate you all for thinking of me.
I'm also so frustrated having to say even what would be considered a small trip is overwhelmingly daunting for me.
My medical conditions, which I don't really like to talk about (who in their right mind wants to hear about someone else's moans and groans eh ?) .. in any case they are so unpredictable and so controlling if I have a combined flare there it would be a nightmare .. so I am forced to spare myself the stress of that.
BUT .... I am so sorry to miss the opportunity to meet so many wonderful gardeners .. you are all so special and I have enjoyed "talking" to you via our blogs and email.
Thank you so much : )

 How about something about gardens .. plants .. tools ... gadgets ? in this off beat post.

In the Stokes catalog I found the " Ultimate Plant Clip " and here is the video of how it works.
Now I don't know why I haven't used this fantastic little gadget before but I will be ordering them for next year and making my life a lot easier when I won't be putting my roll of tape or wire down in the garden and losing it yet again ... have you seen these things ?

Also the round up of my mail order companies which I'm sorry to say only applies to Canadians.
But you American gardeners have great companies and so many of them I am JEALOUS !
My picks are still almost the same ...
Canning Perennials  .... BIG healthy plants !
Hortico ... usually roses but I found out they also ship BIG plants .. can be a bit tricky though with selection being switched around.
Garden Import .... small plants but unusual ones and in good condition.
Botanus for unusual bulbs and some roses
Vesey's ... variety of some garden gadget etc ... I bought a "Ladybug House" to be put up in the Spring.

I actually have to be VERY conservative about buying perennials next year, is that even possible for me??? .. the stone path really took out any possibility of expanding the beds .... but there is always the factor of losing plants during the winter OR ... having workmen stomp a plant to death as in my calycanthus .. BIG sigh !

Meanwhile just some pictures taken of the back garden at the end of November but it looks the same right now with the snow !


.... and YES !  I still love the fencing SO MUCH !!
It frames the "skeletons" of the plants and structures so well ... leaves me something interesting to look at in the garden even in winter.

I love how amur "Flame" maple has such horizontal limbs and the way the snow sticks to it.
The crooked owl is for Cindee ... wink wink

The tall cedar at the beginning of the path is perfect ... I have a thing for cedars even if they are such a common shrub ... the do it for me !

Inaba Shidare held onto its delicate leaves as long as it could ... all the Japanese maples look so pretty even in bare bones mode.

The lavenders have been holding their own but you can never really tell until the Spring how they did.

Old man winter is definitely here .... even if they forecast rain next week ... evil weather people !!
If I don't post again until after the holidays ... I truly hope each and everyone of you have some pure quality time with your families and friends ... take some time out for yourselves too girls .. we all need that !
Merry Christmas and  VERY Happy New Year !!!!
PS ... this is so ME !! the pajamas WIN every time   : )

16 comments:

Country Gal said...

Sorry to hear your medical condition keeps you from things like this . Lovely photos , we have green still the last snow storm just pass us by it all went east of us ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

Rose said...

I would have been one of those begging you, too, to go to Toronto, Joy, but I'm not going to be able to go either. So sorry you're going to miss it, but believe me, I understand your concerns. The timing in June is not convenient for me, or I would have jumped at the chance right away. It's actually about a 9 hour drive for me, so I could have made a little detour on the way home to stop by:) Ah well, maybe one of these days.
Your garden looks so pretty with the snow; I've actually been wishing for a little here, but then remember last year and realize I should be careful what I wish for.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Joy!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Elaine girl and thank you : )
It is strange not seeing snow in your area but we all know it catches up with us in the end eh ? LOL
Love the lights at the woodshop and that post on the evening sky ? absolutely amazing .. I am in awe of the pictures!

Rose girl I really enjoyed reading your post on lessons learned .. that is wonderful volunteer work you are doing and those gardens look amazing. You should be very proud!
I'm so sorry we won't get a chance to meet and "gab garden" .. you never know though maybe some day?
Yes girl .. never tempt the weather witch .. she can be very nasty .. it is flip flopping here so from one day to the next we never know for sure what is going to happen ... fingers crossed our gardens will hold one though !
Merry Christmas to you and all your family, furry kids included Rose : )

NanaDiana said...

Your garden has such good bones that it is pretty even in the dead of winter. I am sorry that you have health issues that keep you from doing some of the things you would like to do. I fully understand! Blessings- xo Diana

Casa Mariposa said...

I'm hoping for lots of snow in Jan/Feb so I'll have snow days, which mean I can go back to bed in the morning instead of going to work. A shrubs pedigree means nothing in the happiness equation. I have lots of common plants that I just love. :) Happy holidays!

cheryl said...

I love your winter garden June. The cedar is perfect for the entrance. You will soon love your secret garden as I call mine. Next year I plan to find more winter form for it, gotta have green in the ugliness of white eh!
I really hope you recover from your ailment soon, perhaps some good garden porn will help. :)

Barry said...

Joy:

Correct me, but is there not 'spaces' between the new slabs of the walkway??? Space of any kind is space for new plants girlfriend! LOL!

I noticed on a few blogs of the upcoming Fling, but I am not one who likes an agenda of any sort when it comes to viewing gardens, and Toronto doesn't hold the thrall for me that it once did.

I hope that you and your family are able to celebrate the happiness of the coming holidays, and that next Spring you will be able to immerse yourself in a gardening season where your focus will be solely on your gorgeous new palate - those special touches that I know you are itching to incorporate into it!

Thank YOU for your continued support, comments and viewing my blog. We're still puttering away all these years later.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello there Diana girl !
Thank you so much : ) I think there is so much "background" to each blogger it truly takes years to get to know them and their garden as it goes through so many changes.
Merry Christmas girl and a very happy new year!!

Tammy girl I am crossing my fingers that YOU get the snow you want and enjoy those snow days .. I have a pearl bush (just put it in this year that is called Blizzard .. kind of suits your needs ? LOL)
Yes .. I plant what I like whether it is fancy or not ? LOL
Happy Holidays back attcha'!

Cheryl girl YES ! my secret garden is MINE and I can hide in it (well the back garden that is? haha) Thanks you so much .. that is why I planted more cedars and Alberta spruce .. I need some winter interest! Ah ! YES! garden porn!! LOL
Happy Holidays girl : )

Sweetie : ) the guy laid down ridiculous weed barrier that was cheap and laid the stones just on top of it .. take my word for it .. it is a mess! .. so much grunting and groaning to come and then yes steppables between stones perhaps ?
How many years is it now that we have been chatting back and forth .. hard to believe how fast time races away from us eh ?
Thank you : ) and I hope you have VERY Happy Holidays with your little family there too !! Lets try and get through the long winter months without going totally bonkers eh ? LOL

Diana Studer said...

that square stone head is new, since I last visited here.

Liz @ Sit With Me In My Garden said...

I enjoy seeing the garden in the winter. I have sympathy about your medical stuff- I'm dealing with a Sacroliac issue which is quite a burden. Have yourself a Merry Christmas!! Liz

RobinL said...

I'm with you, probably won't see a post on my blog till after the holidays, and even then, only if we have a pretty snowfall to photograph! But it's not even officially winter yet, and I'm already missing my flowers big time. The only colors you can see outside here are brown and gray. Blah!

outlawgardener said...

So sorry that you can't go to Toronto this year! I won't be going either as school isn't out yet then so I'll still be working. It would have been nice to meet you! Hope you have a very merry Christmas and the best new year ever!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Diane girl Merry Ho Ho !
No it is made of resin and I have had it for years actually but this was a good shot for the post so he is in the beam of light for the day ! haha

Liz girl I too am sorry to hear about your issues as well .. aging really sucks because pain becomes so much more an issue. But ? we have our gardens for peace and revitalization when they are beautiful right ?
Merry Xmas and Happy NY !!

Yes Robin there are only so many BLAH colours to see in winter ... and I know I will fall into hard core planning once the holidays are over!
Have a Merry Xmas and a Happy NY !!

Dear Mr. TOG ... yes I am sorry for the chance to meet up .. but we still connect through our blogs which is nice : ) I hope you also have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year especially for the garden part of it? LOL

Lona said...

By the looks of your pictures, winter has come to cover your garden. It looks pretty but only in pictures. Take it easy girl. We can be on count down now until spring.Just wanted to drop by and tell you to have a wonderful Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Your garden is beautiful in whatever coat ~ snow included. Merry Christmas to you & your family Joy!!! Hope it's a wonderful one for you and that 2015 is the best gardening year yet for us all!!!!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl I popped over to your place and giggled over Aspen .. too cute!
We are actually "green" here now with the rain and milder temps .. no white Xmas for us now. Hoping for a great new year for you too and one that our gardens flourish in !!

Kathleen girl your Christmas decorating is fabulous! I was drooling over it all love that you got some on sale too .. makes it even better eh ? LOL
Here is to a much better year for you girl .. fingers crossed !!