Have you ever planted something and couldn't remember where it was the following spring. It's happened to me as well. I had some unusual plants given to me this spring, and added some others I've been wanting to plant for a while. In order to ensure I don't dig them up next spring to plant something new, I undertook to "map" out the garden. This is not a detailed grid map, but rather a list of plants in each of the beds. I hope this will serve as sufficient reminder next spring.
I did not include anything I know won't survive the winter outside here in Niagara.

Acanthus Tasmanian Tiger (Variegated Bears Breeches)
Acer palmatum
Acer pseudoplatanus Brilliantissimum (Sycamore Maple)
Aconitum arendsii (Monkshood)
Aegopodium
Agave paryii
Albizia jullibrissin (Mimosa, Silk Tree)
Albizia Summer Chocolate
Alstroemeria, hardy (Princess Lily)
Amelopsis brevipedunculata (Porcelain Vine)
Anemone hupehensis
Anemone sylvestris
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
Arundo donax (Giant Reed)
Arundo donax versicolor
Asimina triloba (Paw Paw)
Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)
Aucuba Gold Dust
Aucuba Mr. Goldstrike
Aucuba serratifloia (Saw Toothed Laurel)
Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle Tree)
Bergenia Solar Flare
Bletilla striata (Hardy Orchid)
Brunnera macrophylla variegata (Siberian Bugloss)
Brunnera Diane's Gold
Brunnera Jack Frost
Calamagrostis Karl Foerster (Reed Grass)
Calycanthus floridus Venus (Sweetshrub)
Campanula cochleariifolia
Campanula persicifolia (Peach Leaved Bellflower)
Campanula sarastro
Campylotropis macrocarpa
Carex Ice Dance
Carex Lemon Zest
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Blue Leadwort)
Cercis canadensis (Redbud)
Chamaecyparis obtusa nana (Dwarf Hinoki Cypress)
Cimicifuga simplex Brunette
Cimicifuga racemosa
Clematis alpina
Clematis Nelly Moser
Clematis rehderiana
Clerodendrum trichotomum (Harlequin Glory Bower)
Coreopsis Zamfir
Cornus kousa Satomi (Satomi Dogwood)
Corypantha vivipara
Crocosmia George Davidson
Cyclamen coum
Delphinium New Millennium
Dianthus deltoides
Dictamus (Gasplant)
Digitalis Spice Island
Dracunculus vulgaris (Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily)
Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern)
Echinacea Coconut Lime (Coneflower)
Echinacea double white hybrid
Echinacea Doubledecker
Echinacea Sunrise
Echinacea Tiki Torch
Echinocereus reichenbachii (Lace Cactus)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Ephedera regeliana (Joint Fir)
Epimedium sulfureum
Eremurus (Foxtail Lily)
Erica carnea (Winter Heather)
Erodium Bishop’s Form
Euonymous alatus (Burning Bush)
Euonymous fortunei Gold Tip
Euonymous japonica rokujo
Eupatorium rugosum (Chocolate Boneset)
Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae (Leatherleaf Spurge)
Euphorbia myrsinites (Donkey Tail Spurge)
Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion Spurge)
Fallopia japonica Milkboy
Fargesia robusta (Clump Bamboo)
Ficus Brown Turkey (Fig)
Forsythia
Gardenia Kleim’s Hardy
Gaura lindheimeri
Gentiana acaulis (Trumpet Gentian)
Gentiana septemfida (Crested Gentian)
Geranium pratense Midnight Reiter
Geum borisii
Hakonechloa macra aureola (Japanese Forest Grass)
Hakonechloa All Gold
Hebe pinguifolia Sutherlandii
Hedera helix Erecta (English Ivy)
Helleborus Betty Ranicar
Hemerocallis Garden City
Hemerocallis Stella D’Oro (Daylily)
Heptacodium miconoides (Seven Son flower)
Heuchera Green Spice
Heuchera Mini Mouse
Hibiscus moscheutos Blue River (Dinner Plate Hibiscus)
Hosta Blue Boy
Hosta Designer Genes
Hosta Francis Williams
Hosta halcyon
Hosta On Stage
Hosta Sum and Substance
Hydrangea Annabelle
Hydrangea macrophylla
Indigofera heterantha
Iris ensata Gusto
Itea virginica (Sweetspire)
Juniper ssp
Kirengeshoma palmata (YellowWaxbells)
Kniphofia Primrose (yellow Torchlily)
Laburnocytisus adamii
Lagerstroemia Pecos (Crapemyrtle)
Larix decidua pendula (Weeping Larch)
Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote (English Lavender)
Leptodermis oblonga
Leucothoe fontanesiana Rainbow
Leucothoe axillaris Margie Jenkins
Ligularia stenocephala The Rocket
Linum perenne (Blue Flax)
Lithodora (Blue Lithospermum)
Magnolia grandiflora DD Blanchard
Magnolia grandiflora Edith Bogue
Magnolia grandiflora Victoria
Magnolia tripetala (Umbrella tree)
Miscanthus gracillimus (Maiden Grass)
Miscanthus Goldbar
Miscanthus strictus (Zebra Grass)
Miscanthus Silberfeder
Mukdenia rossii
Omphalodes cappadocica (Starry Eyes)
Opuntia humifusa (Prickly pear Cactus)
Opuntia imbricata (Chain-link Cactus)
Opuntia kleiniae (Pencil Cholla Cactus)
Opuntia phaecantha
Paeonia suffruticosa (Tree Peony)
Paeonia Itoh
Panicum Heavy Metal (Switch Grass)
Papaver brilliant (Poppy)
Paulownia (Empress of China Tree)
Pennisetum alopecuroides Hameln (Fountain Grass)
Penstemon nana blue (Beard tongue)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Phlox subulata
Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo)
Physocarpus Darts Gold (Ninebark)
Picea pungens glauca (Blue Spruce)
Pinus mugo (Mugo Pine)
Podophyllum (May Apple)
Polygala chamaebuxus grandiflora
Polygonatum officinale (Solomon’s Seal)
Polystichum polyblepharum (Japanese Tassel Fern)
Potentilla neumanniana Nana (Alpine Cinquefoil)
Primula veris (Cowslip)
Prunus laurocerasus (Evergreen Cherry Laurel)
Pyrus communis (Pear)
Quercus virginiana (Live Oak)
Rhododendron Blue Peter
Rhododendron Ramapo
Rubus fruiticosus (Blackberry)
Rubus idaeus (Raspberry)
Sabal minor
Sanguinaria canadensis plena (Double Bloodroot)
Sambucus Black Lace (Elder)
Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box)
Saruma henryii
Sciadopitys verticilata (Japanese Umbrella Pine)
Sedum Autumn Joy
Sedum Purple Emperor
Sedum sieboldii (October Daphne)
Sedum ternatum (Appalachian stonecrop)
Sempervivum Oddity
Sempervivum purple beauty (Hens and Chicks)
Sisyrinchium angustifolium Lucerne (Blue Eyed Grass)
Spirea Goldflame
Stewartia psuedocamelia (Japanese Stewartia)
Stokesia Peachies Pick (Stokes Aster)
Taxus media (Yew)
Thalictrum aquilegifolium (Meadow rue)
Thalictrum flavum gluacum (Yellow Meadow rue)
Thuja occidentalis (Cedar)
Tricyrtis Samurai (Toadlily)
Trollius Gold Queen (Globeflower)
Tsuga canadensis Jeddeloh (Dwarf Hemlock)
Vacciium corymbosum (Blueberry)
Viburnum plicatum (Doublefile Viburnum)
Viburnum plicatum Summer Snowflake
Viburnum pragense
Viburnum rhytidophyllum (Leatherleaf Viburnum)
Viburnum x carlcephalum (Fragrant Viburnum)
Vinca (Periwinkle)
Vitex agnus castus (Chaste Tree)
Vitis vinifera (Grape)
Wisteria sinensis
Yucca elata
Yucca nana
Yucca recurvifolia

I've just returned from a week at the cottage and I find it amazing how much changes in the garden in a week. When you see it on a daily basis the changes are not as noticable, but after a week it's an entirely different garden.

(Click on pictures for a better look)

The front bed is in full bloom. Although it contains few unusual plants, I still like it.

Clerodendron is getting ready to bloom.

Magnolia Edith Bogue was only planted last summer, but it is producing blooms now. The first time an evergreen Magnolia has flowered for me after it's first winter in the ground.

I'm not sure if that's a flower starting on the Echinocereus, I'll know in a few weeks.

Indigofera has the fine textured foliage of Albizia but in a shrub form. The flowers opened this week while I was at the cottage.

My newest addition to the garden is this incredible orange, Echinacea Tiki Torch.

This is one of may favourite plants because it is so unusual. Ephedera is a prehistoric evergreen.

Last week I revisited the two gardens I toured earlier. Both David's garden in Beamsville and Eva's garden in Grimsby had more interesting plants to see.

Click on pictures for a better view.




Pterostyrax (Epaulette Tree) is an uncommon but hardy tree in our area.





A large flowered Magnolia in Eva's garden.













The 20 foot tall Magnolia virginiana was covered with sweetly fragrant blossoms.







David's Monkey Puzzle tree is putting on healthy new growth.

I believe this is a Cynara (Cardoon) but not like any I have ever seen.

It is now the middle of June so I thought it was time for an update as to what survived and what didn't.
First the cactus bed came through without a scratch. I wasn't sure that the ones I left sitting in a pot all winter would make it, but they are growing just fine.


The Fargesia (clumping bamboo) sent up many strong new shoots but they topped out at about six feet this year. Maybe it was the cool weather, but I thought they might grow taller this spring. This clump was planted four years ago (I think) as a two foot tall nursery grown clump.
The Phyllostachys nigra (running bamboo, not pictured) is finally producing some new shoots but it will be a few years before these look like anything.

A few plants did not survive the winter. The Loropetalum did not make it, and the Lagerstroemia (Crape myrtle) also did not survive. The Live Oak is sending out new shoots however. I think this is it's third year. The Albizias (both the green and burgundy leaved forms) are leafing out nicely. And the Fig is also sending up many new shoots. It will have to be moved because it is in the way of the burgundy Albizia.

Windmill Palm in Grimsby, Ontario?

Greg from Grimsby shared his technique for overwintering a Trachycarpus (Windmill) Palm in his back yard. He used some methods described in the book "Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths" by David A. Franco, Timber Press 2003. After applying Bordo (a fungicide) to the crown, the palm is bundled up in late-November or December (depending on the forecast) with mini-lights, (to be used later if temperatures dip below about -8C to -10C) netting and a rose cone around the base. Then poles are inserted far enough away from this bundle to allow for an air gap between it and the next layer which consists of several layers of an in insulating fabric. While it sounds like a great deal of effort, Greg says it takes him about 45 minutes. The payoff is that the new leaves on his Palm are growing about an inch per week.

Fall 2008


Winter 2009

May 2009

June 2009