Almost a year ago I dropped a note in a mailbox in front of an intriguing house in Burlington. The owners, Richard Walker and Pamela Kempthorne got back to me and agreed to tell me the story of their house. The story is they turned an old radiatior/carpenter/plumbing shop into a stylish home. They both could see beyond the obvious, It looks like a million bucks but costs a lot less. My full story is in the Hamilton Spectator Go section today.

It's all in the packaging. A wonderful before and after in Burlington. bit.ly/1skzmhO

My YouTube video here: http://youtu.be/fRIXBDzliWA

It's all in the packaging. A wonderful before and after in Burlington.

In the 60’s we were Goin’ to a Go Go, in 2014 we’re Goin' to a Grotto. That’s where the cool folks will be this Friday and Saturday night, viewing a grotto, swinging in a hammock and being inspired by 19 gardens on the Blooms for Africa Tour July 18 and 19 Tickets are $20 for the evening tour and available at eight locations including Brian Prince, Kabuki Spa and La Jardiniere in Hamilton. http://www.bloomsforafrica.org/upcoming_events.html. Here are some features you'll see on the tour.

http://www.bloomsforafrica.org/upcoming_events.html

Here's a look at three gardens on the Blooms for Africa Garden Tour July 18 and 19

Here's the video I shot of the Beckett house on the brow in Hamilton

I write about the wonderful house of Patti Randazzo Beckett and David Beckett in the Hamilton Spectator today.

http://bit.ly/1muKlos


Here's a good look at modern, eclectic design.

I wrote about harmless hoarding of pots in the Hamilton Spectator today

http://bit.ly/1lZ2mv2 

This fig is in a pot at the front door

Ornamental rhubarb is so exotic, but yesterday the storm blew it right out of the pot.In the garden..

 I am loving peonies 

                                                    and blackhttp://bit.ly/1lZ2mv2 and blue salvia

  
and baptisia
    

http://bit.ly/1lZ2mv2bit.ly/1lZ2mv2

1. http://bit.ly/1lZ2mv2

Dead ivy, stunted wisteria, missing maples. Gardens are still recovering from the severe winter.

My neighbour's wisteria looked like this last year, this year it's only now starting to put out some leaves. 

But Hey alliums look fabulous now. Everyone should plant this easy to care for bulb.

 And the red horse chestnuts are so pretty this year, too bad they get blight later in the season. But still a magic tree to have in your yard.

The Carnegie Gallery Secret Gardens Tour June 1 will show great ideas about plants, decks, patios, small spaces. Here's a preview from a Westdale garden.

We all love going on garden tours. The Carnegie Gallery Secret Gardens Tour is coming up June 1. I'm writing about it in tomorrow's Hamilton Spectator. This Westdale Gardens makes great use of a small space.

The front has a Japanese inspired design. Restful, layered, with a careful selection of textures.

Hostas, sweet woodruff, ferns and small evergreens form the carpet.

The backyard has a dry stone riverbed, hot tub, covered patio, and plants chosen for dappled shade. There are eight other gardens on the Carnegie tour-full information at:
wwwcarnegiegallery.org

This is what the long weekend looked like last year...

Wisteria was in full bloom.

Shrubs were leafed out and ready to burst into flower.

Annuals were happily settled in their pots.
This year I'm hearing about dead roses, burned ivy and boxwood. We're still recovering from the winter.

Pots, plants and putting them together

A rex Shadow King begonia from President's Choice plant lineup for 2014 in a French style pot and golden lemon thyme in a teapot pot made by Night & Day Studio. I like the look of a specimen plant in an unusual pot. These may not stay in the pots all summer, there just small enough they would need careful attention to watering. That's why I like big pots.

I've never used this metal urn before, but for a few weeks I will enjoy this coleus and lemon grass planting. Then I will change it. 

The snake plant in the big Guy Wolff pot in the background looks a million times better planted with a sage and a small birdsnest type snake plant.
My full article is in the Hamilton Spectator.
bit.ly/1iWlGaD

A few tips about potting I have learned over the years.