June 25th - June 29th
    Weeding went through the entire week. On the very first day, Nate and I (Sijia) worked on the Perennial Border, and we did it quickly and finished it nicely. After that, we got own tasks and worked separately. I weeded at the Prairie Border, Rose Garden, Lower Garden. During the hot days, it's very crucial to water the thirsty plants. This includes recently planted trees, shrubs and annuals. The most special thing for me was Lucas taught me a new skill "dead-heading". Now, I can definitely apply it! 
    For hard working Nate, he finished some plantings, such as the awesome Taxus hedge as well as cut lawns. Today we installed slow release watering bags on our newly planted trees to ensure they are soaked during the long weekend. 
    I had a wonderful experience at Cuddy and it was nice to work here. 

Acanthus hungaricus

Clematis Hagley hybrid

   

One of our handy watering bags at work

June 22, 2012
Tuesday morning involved the extensive task of removing a black cedar hedge that outlined the dry garden (due to improper living requirements) in preparation for a  yew hedge that will be put in later this summer. Nate and I (Miranda) did a fantastic job.
There were several new plantings around the rock garden this week, including several small trees and shrubs.
As a full time student garden located at the Fanshawe College grounds I have thoroughly enjoyed my time out here at the A.M. Cuddy Gardens. There is a completely surreal feeling being surround by such a beautiful landscape. I will be counting the days until my return.

The Rose Garden in full bloom. So fragrant.

Rosa x 'Warm Wishes'
Warm Wishes Hybrid Tea Rose

Some beautiful yellow roses.

Rarely seen in bloom.
Arisaema fargesii
Jack In The Pulpit

Here at the A.M. (Mac) Cuddy Garden we are busy planting annuals and tender flowering vines for summer display.  We are already looking ahead to our next Open garden and plant sale, coming up Saturday August 18th, 2012.  

 

Eremurus stenophyllus in bloom in the grass border.  

One of many plants putting on a show this time of year.

                                                     Buddleia alternifolia  in bloom.

             One of the things we do to prepare for our great plants sales is propagate many of the rare and unusual trees and shrubs in our collection. Above, Nate is collecting cuttings from the Nodding lilac (Syringa komarovii ssp. reflexa) just as it completes blooming.

              Nate is now applying a rooting hormone to the cuttings to ready them for the propagation chamber.

The flats of cuttings have now been placed into a propagation chamber that applies intermittent mist over the leaves until rooting occurs within a few weeks time.

As the Open Garden event came to a close, the grounds were prepared for private tours. On Monday, Minto Group arrived for a tour led by Michael Pascoe, while on Tuesday, Green Industries Niagara came for pizza, a tour, and a scavenger hunt!

The tour begins! Michael Pascoe tells Green Industries Niagara about the Horticulture Technician Program at Fanshawe College.

The tour continues...while I creep around in the trees.

After the tour, the students begin the horticultural scavenger hunt. The race is on to collect and identify all items listed!

Kerria japonica

A flower on Opuntia quimilo!

The beautiful Euphorbia milii in a pot placed on the property.

Lastly, a close up of one of the frogs from the pond!

Personally I was only at this location from Wednesday to Sunday but all week we worked diligently to wrap up the few final touches to the gardens for the open garden. We did some weeding, edging, mulching, and renewed our gravel pathways. Although the weather tried to work against us it was overall a successful weekend throughout.

The fine art students let us borrow two of their marvellous statues for our gardens one being this turtle and the other of a frog placed in the circle at the front.

Group garden tours were conducted hourly even though the groups varied from three people and up, no group is too small for us!

The plant sale over at the greenhouse in the beginning before the busy hours, there were some great deals!

Ian helping some customers transport their recently purchased materials over to their vehicles.