Garden Photo of the Day

GPOD on the Road: Entry Garden Walk at TBG

A meadow-style planting

spires of small pink flowers

We’re in the North York neighborhood of Toronto this morning, where Cherry Ong is sharing photos of the Entry Garden Walk at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

The Entry Garden Walk was designed by Piet Oudolf. This was his first Canadian project and was inspired by his New Wave Planting style using bold drifts of perennials and grasses, punctuated with shrubs and trees. The garden is planted in naturalistic waves and is not deadheaded for three years to allow for self-seeding and the formation of the “sophisticated meadow.” Plants are deadheaded selectively. The garden was generously donated by the Garden Club of Toronto (@gardencluboftoronto).

towering metal sculpture in a garden with white peoniesThe fluid sculpture seen in the garden is called The Garden Web by renowned Canadian artist Ron Baird and was installed into the entry garden in May 2010. It is a dramatic 9-meter polished stainless-steel sculpture that rises up and maintains a vision through every season.

white peonies with purple nepetaMasses of single white peonies (Paeonia hybrid, probably the variety ‘Krinkled White’, Zones 4–9) pair with clouds of blue catmint (Nepeta × faassenii, Zones 5–9) for early summer color.

close up of the large metal sculptureCloser view of The Garden Web sculpture.

close up of white and yellow peoniesSingle peonies like this require less maintenance because they usually don’t need to be staked. ‘Krinkled White’ has the bonus of being very vigorous and one of the best peonies for warmer climates.

densely planted garden bed with ornamental grass and pink flowersThis view across the meadow planting includes dark-leaved Penstemon digitalis (Zones 3–8) in the foreground and the many tall spires of pink Phlomis tuberosa (Zones 5–9) behind it.

spires of small pink flowersPhlomis tuberosa isn’t often seen in gardens, but it is a great perennial. It is particularly excellent for hot, dry spots, as it is very drought tolerant.

small white flowers above even smaller blue flowersWhite blooms of Penstemon digitalis (Zones 3–8) hover over the blue stars of amsonia (Amsonia tabernaemontana, Zones 3–9).

shrub white white wispy flower behind small purple alliumsAllium christophii (Zones 4–8) blooms in the foreground, while the imposing Persicaria polymorpha (Zones 3–8) blooms behind with clouds of white.

 

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  1. User avater
    simplesue 08/12/2022

    A beautiful public garden.... I am usually not a fan of the various modern sculptures I've seen but. wow! Ron Baird's "The Garden Web" is so organic in design- it's such a great representation of something wild growing in the garden with the web- very impressive!

  2. cheryl_c 08/15/2022

    Just now viewing these beautiful pictures - I love the phlomis and am pleased to see it does well in dry areas, as it seems the midwest may be heading more in that direction in the future.

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