Garden Photo of the Day

Springtime Beauty in Canada

By Kim Charles

Lillian Morourke's spring garden in Elmira, Ontario is the season that brings her the most joy.

"I've always thought my garden was most beautiful in springtime.The forget-me-not garden spreads like a country meadow for our little chipmunk to play in and the beautiful crab apple tree shades it all. Each year it gets more beautiful than the last."

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Comments

  1. user-7007498 04/26/2017

    Good morning GPOD-ers: In addition to enjoying this lovely post, go on the main GPOD page and check out the pictures from the Philadelphia Flower Show that I submitted. It includes a wonderful picture with fellow GPOD gardener, Rhonda, who joined me. Kim had posted the photos on Monday, but no email link went out.

    1. frankgreenhalgh 04/26/2017

      G'day Kev. - it was great to see that photo of you and Rhonda the other day. Rhonda - hope you have everything in 'hand' now. Cheers from Oz

      1. user-4691082 04/26/2017

        It is a very slow recovery, but I'm still at it! Hope you and Henry are well!!!

        1. frankgreenhalgh 04/26/2017

          Age is catching up with both of us, and let's not forget Remington or else he will get his nose/bridle out of joint, Rhonda. Cheers my friend

    2. Sunshine111 04/26/2017

      Good morning Kevin… I saw the pictures they are lovely! My daughter spent her junior year abroad at the University of Amsterdam, a few years back. I took advantage of the situation and went and visited her in the spring time and we enjoyed a few lovely hours at Keukenhof. Maybe I will send in a few shots, I still have them!

      1. user-7007498 04/26/2017

        Lily, the Keukenhof is on my bucket list after I retire. I am so envious that you have been there. It would be great to have Kim post them.

    3. User avater
      Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 04/26/2017

      I've been racing through my morning routine as of late and have been remiss at looking at other comments. For some 'reason' I scrolled down today. Funny, too, because I usually come to the site from the main page and I didn't notice the Philadelphia post. There had been two posts of the same garden for while and I guess I missed the switch up.
      Happy Spring!!!

    4. user-4691082 04/26/2017

      Hey Kev, you never shared the last part of your journey! Lol! I'm so sorry you had to experience that! Next year, no kids with me. They wouldn't allow me to stay long enough. We had a great time, and from another post, GrannieAnnie said she would join us! Now, if we could just get Frank to come! How about Vikki and some other East Coasters? Kev, thanks for posting and thanks, as always, to Kim!

      1. frankgreenhalgh 04/26/2017

        Rhonda, anything is possible, including you guys coming down to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show next March. No chance of snow or challenging train rides etc. It would be a real hoot. Cheers, Frank

        1. user-7007498 04/26/2017

          Frank, one of these days you will be getting a call from me about a visit.

      2. User avater
        LindaonWhidbey 04/26/2017

        Hi Rhonda, glad that you and Kevin could eventually meet up at the show. Hope the wrist is healing.

        1. user-4691082 04/26/2017

          Thanks Linda. I had my thumb joint removed. I wish it was just my wrist!

      3. user-7007498 04/26/2017

        Hey, Rhonda. I thought I would have seen you and was going to tell you the story in person. It was quite the trip home.

    5. sheila_schultz 04/26/2017

      Thanks for letting us know about the PFS post, Kevin. I'm amazed the flowers still looked so glorious on the last day of the show, you and Rhonda must have enjoyed wandering the aisles thinking about future possibilities for your own beautiful gardens!

      1. user-7007498 04/26/2017

        Thanks Sheila. I just got an email from Kim and she may have it linked tomorrow. oh well. Glad you enjoyed the photos. The flowers did hold up well.

  2. user-7007498 04/26/2017

    Lillian: it feels like a cool spring morning when looking at your photos. The crabapple blooms are wonderful. I love all the fencing and trellis materials and how they interact with the surrounding plants. Lovely.

    Very cute dog. It seems dogs understand how to relax in the garden, which is something us gardeners never seem to find time to do. Thanks for sharing.

    1. frankgreenhalgh 04/26/2017

      Hey Kev. - the 'old' early bird team is back in business with the earlier posting!!!! Cheers mate

      1. user-7007498 04/27/2017

        I was thinking that too, Frank. Kim has been having trouble getting the posts up before I leave for work due to an IT issue out of her control. Once I leave in the morning, I can't join the discussion until lunch(briefly) or until I get home in the evening?

  3. frankgreenhalgh 04/26/2017

    Hi Lillian - thanks for sharing pics. of your bright, spring garden which is bursting with life. Obviously a restful space as witnessed by your relaxed dog. Cheers from Australia

  4. User avater
    meander_michaele 04/26/2017

    Isn't it wonderful to feel that bursting love for one's own garden, Lillian?! It's not conceit or vanity that fill our hearts with such joy...it's appreciation and celebration for the beauty that is possible. Sometimes Mother Nature does it all on her own and sometimes it's the result of a very harmonious partnership with us gardeners. I love all your white fencing and the trellis with such lovely details...is there a talented craftsperson in your family who built that? Your crabapple tree is stunning ...it always surprises me that the buds are so pink and the flowers open up to be so white. Your dog is adorable and looks to be a fine garden companion

  5. mjensen 04/26/2017

    beautiful, i love the forgetme nots and the blue morning glories, reminds me of my Grandpa.he always had them

  6. floreyd 04/26/2017

    Not only is your garden lovely but you have a terrific eye for photography!

  7. Sunshine111 04/26/2017

    Gorgeous! Thank for sharing your lovely yard!

  8. pattieswinfordclifford 04/26/2017

    it's fun to hear how much YOU enjoy your garden.....and that's what it's all about.

  9. maganblair 04/26/2017

    Thank you Kim for sharing photos of your garden. My garden is not too far from yours. We are traveling on different continent since January, returning back to my garden end of May. I miss my garden and thanks to your garden photos, you brought me closer to mine :)

  10. Maggieat11 04/26/2017

    I enjoyed your photos very much. That crabapple is glorious! What a delightful springtime display of beautiful plants. And your dog is adorable!

  11. User avater
    Tim_Zone_Denial_Vojt 04/26/2017

    Those forget-me-nots are so charming. Looks like a great, well-manicured space in which to relax and to garden!

  12. wittyone 04/26/2017

    How on earth do you manage to get your morning glories to bloom in the spring. I have to wait until late August to enjoy mine but only if the rabbits don't eat them first. Not fair!

    The crabapple and forget me nots are a beautiful springy combination.

  13. Vespasian 04/26/2017

    Absolutely lovely garden, thanks for sending so many shots, you can really see how beautiful it is. Was this shot last year as I live in Collingwood and our blossoms are not out yet, on the edge though, can't wait!

  14. LaurelEm 04/26/2017

    Beautiful Garden. So inspiring. I too love the forget-me-nots. I am always reminded of that old song, My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown, everytime I see them.

  15. sheila_schultz 04/26/2017

    There is something very special about springtime gardens, I think because they give us such hope for the upcoming season of growth and beauty. Lillian, your flowering crab is stunning, especially surrounded by all those happy forget-me-nots!

  16. Doxnmomx2 04/26/2017

    What a heavenly dose of Spring! Adorable doggie too.

  17. user-4691082 04/26/2017

    Dear Lillian,
    Your garden is beautiful! We all are gaga over your pooch! Your crabapple is beautiful, but does it produce seedlings everywhere? It's almost as bad as my euonymus 'burning bush'! I think they are both invasive. My crabapple seemed like it was going to hit its peak one day and then fizzled out. All the leaves fall off in early September, and it looks terrible. My blooms are pink and I notice yours are white. Maybe your cultivar is better. I only keep mine because it shades my patio! Thanks for sharing!
    Ps- I'm so glad to finally be seeing this years photos!

  18. annek 04/26/2017

    Oooh and awwwwww. Oooh over the gorgeous blossoms and lovely colors in your garden and awwww over your sweet doggie companion. I was was particularly struck by the beautiful heart shaped leaves on your morning glory vine...they form the perfect heart

  19. User avater
    LindaonWhidbey 04/26/2017

    Good morning, Lillian. You are so right about spring being the best season in the garden. That is definitely true where we live with all of the tulips, rhodies and cherry trees. Your garden looks quite interesting with the beautiful blues against the crabapple blossoms, and of course your dog adds a very nice touch. Thanks for sharing.

  20. tennisluv 04/26/2017

    Don't you just love forget-me-nots, so delicate but such a delicious color of blue. They are such happy little flowers, always a early bloomer, popping up in different spots. I had them in my previous garden but not here; will have fix that. Your pictures show such a charming garden, and I agree, it is beautiful. Cute, cute dog. Thanks for sharing.

    Since the tulips from the PFS came up in posts below, some of you might be interested in checking out a posting I received from Houzz this morning of the tulips in bloom at Keukenhof:
    https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/84114508/list/take-a-tour-of-an-enchanting-bulb-garden-in-the-netherlands

    1. user-7007498 04/27/2017

      Thanks, Sonya, for the link. The photos are awesome. Definitely a bucket list trip

  21. krissgandier 04/27/2017

    Lovely garden Lilian. It is nice to have all that abundance of blue forget-me-nots every spring and then follow it up with more blue morning glories. I am in Cambridge, Ontario so I know just how easily they spread every year. You can pull them out afterwards and still get plenty more the next year.

  22. MNGardenGirl 04/27/2017

    Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Please share again later in the summer.

  23. user-5117752 05/01/2017

    Hey Lillian! What beautiful pics! Needless to say the shot of the flowers coming out of the crook of the tree was my favorite but I love the forget-me-not display as well. Think I'd like to find a spot to try that in my garden. Thank you for sharing.

  24. greenfingeredblogger 05/01/2017

    Lillian, I am loving the forget me nots, and also the way you have used the white stones in the border. A lovely garden!

  25. bsavage 05/07/2017

    So lovely! Your garden and your pup! I also have Cavalier King Charles Spaniels... love them so much. Thanks for sharing! p.s. Note to self... must plant forget-me-nots!

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