Spring!

Twice a week I have a lovely walk to work. I guess I should explain that sentence. As a bookkeeper I have clients in many different locations. I like it that way. It means I'm never bored.  Twice a week I go east to see a client in Leslieville and I've grown to enjoy the little walk between the streetcar stop and the office.

It's a strange neighbourhood. As it is still somewhat reasonable, it has undergoing some gentrification and this is evident as many of the little semi-detached homes are being renovated, often showing signs of an architect's influence.  Some have gardens that are little gems. Lawns still exist, but are getting smaller and smaller.

Spring has come early this year, and we had 2 weeks of over 20 degree temperatures. Gardens have exploded with blooms. And of course it was followed by a 20 degree drop in temperature. Some of the buds have been blasted by the cold, but at least it has slowed down the blooming to a more sedate pace. Perhaps the Spring will last a bit longer now before erupting into summer.

Here are a few of the gardens along my walk.

This is a lovely little elevated front garden. The urn usually has something seasonal in it, and there's a very nice topiaried cedar. You can see some pale blue Chinodox in the foreground and there's actually a helleborus behind the urn.

Right next door is this charming little garden.

It doesn't matter what time of year, this garden is packed with flowers. I'm not sure how they get everything in. At the end of last year, when most gardens had long finished, this garden had a late blooming Aconitum (Monkshood ) snuggling up to the dried flowers of a Hydrangea that had turned a beautiful coppery colour. It was sensational. I also love the playful and very creative handmade trellis. This is one of my favorite gardens on my walk, and I look forward to seeing what has come up.

This delightful postage sized front yard is packed with plants.

 There's a weeping larch (perhaps Larix decidua pendula) in front of the air-conditioning unit, that's just starting to leaf out. Next to it is a burgundy Helleborus niger. In front of it there's a tiny flowering quince (Chaenomeles) that's just budding out. Chaenomeles are very early bloomers. Watch out when you see Forsythia in bloom, Chaenomoles are not far behind. There are also some interesting dwarf evergreens. I can see a thread leaf cypress Chamaecyparis, and a small Juniper. I think I also spotted a rose, a tiny leaved Euonymus, and even some Vinca Minor. And there's even some bare ground, that I'm sure will sprout some surprises as the season progresses. Note the problematic garbage pails, that are Mayor Miller's legacy to the City of Toronto. Now every household has to have 3 separate garbage receptacles to put their garbage into for pick up. They are huge and unsightly. I'm glad I don't have to deal with them!

Here's a close up so you can see the individual plants better.

 Here are a few more gardens from the next street over. I don't walk down this street regularly, but it was a nice day and as I had the camera with me I took the opportunity to snap some gardens that interested me.

This is an obvious renovation. The large grasses compliment the design. I think they are Miscanthus sinensis "Gracillimus"

I sense a landscaper designer's hand in this little garden. Multiple plantings of sculptural plants and lots of mulch.  I think it may develop more interest as the year progresses.

I can definitely see the Landscaper's hand in this one! Lovely clean lines.

I love Forsythia. It is one of the best harbinger's of Spring.  There's also a lovely drift wood bench here behind the daffodils.  The garden would benefit from some screening as the ubiquitous garbage receptacles really detract from the over all effect.

This lovely garden is on a corner lot. The photo doesn't do it justice. There are some lovely evergreen's here. Let's hope they're all slow growing!

Here's the same garden from the corner. I'm not sure about the scale of the grasses (probably Calamagrostis acutiflora "Karl Forester"). The plants are very close to the house, and seem a bit dominant, but the curly willow is sensational here. Once again, there are at least 3 conifers that I can see - all cheek by jowl in a very narrow space.

I hope you've enjoyed walking to work with me. I'll repeat the process later on when the summer gardens have started.