Laburnum and Erysimum "Bowles Mauve"

Bigger Pictures

My garden photos are often closeups of individual plants or groups of plants. So I thought it was time to post some wider views, in the form of a tour. The garden is at its best right now (early May), when it’s still lush and green.

Laburnum and Erysimum "Bowles Mauve"
A nice conjunction of bloom next to the driveway–laburnum tree and wallflower (Erysimum) “Bowles Mauve”
Front walk, perennial bed, lawn, and magnolia
Up the front walk… Perennials on the left, magnolia on the right
Perennial bed to west of front walk
Perennials on the left (west) side of the walk
Perennial bed on west side of house, looking north
Along the west side of the house. More perennials and the lilac in full bloom
Back garden
The back garden. The part to the right of the path used to be a vegetable patch, but is now a mixture of herbs, refugee plants, and volunteers. The pond area is behind the trellis and the shed is in the right hand corner, hidden by the apple tree.
Garden pond
The pond is at the end of the main path in the back garden
Back garden looking toward shed from pond
Looking east over the pond toward the shed. The ladder is there because of work on the shed’s roof, but I issued a stop-work order because chickadees are nesting in the birdhouse under the eaves.
Back garden, looking west to pond bench
Looking west from the shed to the cedar stump bench by the pond, which is hidden by the ferns
Perennial bed on west side of house, looking south
Leaving via the west side path
Heuchera "Key Lime Pie"
Heuchera “Key Lime Pie” and potted hellebores wave goodbye.

I hope you enjoyed the tour!

83 comments

    1. Sometimes I look at what the camera shows me and don’t bother taking the picture. (Of course my camera is old and basic so what do I expect?) But yes–other gardens are interesting. I’m always peering over fences when we take the dog for a walk around the back lanes in our neighbourhood.

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    1. Thanks, Jaye. And yes it does. There are times I wonder if I’m still up for the more tiresome and physical jobs. But then the place has days when it looks totally worthwhile. (Then there are other days…)

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    1. Thanks, Priscilla. People actually do, when that laburnum and wallflower are blooming. And the place across the street has bright red and pink rhododendrons, so there’s a real blast of colour.

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  12. A lovely garden, Audrey. It looks very well stocked and tended, and must be a haven for birds and bees. I imagine they find it very welcoming. Your gate took my eye, very inviting.

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    1. Thanks, Michael. Yes, there are birds, bees, other bugs, and even deer (only in the front part). I saw a gate like that nearby some years ago, and my husband built this one. It does look good, and keeps deer out of the back garden.

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        1. Well, eagles do fly over here regularly. So do ravens; I just heard one a few minutes ago. And when there were fish in the pond, a great blue heron dropped in a few times. No bears, though, but there are lots of deer around, which some gardeners don’t like at all. Maybe if there were bears and cougars the deer would be less of a problem. 😀

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  15. So beautiful, Audrey. So many good memories of your garden, although usually I see it in July. Next summer, I hope.

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    1. Thank you, Chuck. Yes, I do put in a fair amount of time clipping and watering and tying things up. There isn’t much lawn–mainly the boulevard by the public sidewalk and an area around the magnolia in the front garden. I still use a push mower, but I’m considering a cordless electric type.

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    1. Thanks, Meeka! Laburnums are spectacular in flower. The downside is they produce pea-like pods full of seeds. I actually climb on a ladder in June or July and cut off tons of pods, but I still pull up dozens or hundreds of seedling trees every spring. But I’m not planning to cut down the laburnums. (Yet.)

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      1. Oh, that’s a pity. I was actually thinking about seeing if we have any in Australia until you said that about weeding. I have more than enough to do already. Seriously do not want any more. 😦

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        1. Well, on the plus side, they are relatively small trees and drought tolerant. Until they grow taller than ladder height, the deadheading process isn’t too onerous, but one of mine (I have 2 trees) is a bit too tall. On the other hand, they may very well be alien invasives in Australia, and I’ll bet you have enough of those already.

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          1. Yes, those seeds did worry me on the invasive score too. I could see them spreading all over the place and quickly becoming a pest. Pity though, such lovely flowers. :/

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