A Tiny Oasis

 

This tiny oasis was found in a very small front garden but it made up for its size by offering a bit of shade and the sound of trickling water. It was a nice little spot on a hot day.

An Urban Garden

 

I was lucky enough to be visiting some friends on a warm sunny day and got to enjoy the coolness of their beautiful back garden. I think the temperature dropped by 5 degrees as soon as we went out there. You never know what can be lurking behind a simple house.

Pollinate TO

 

Pollinate TO (aka Toronto) refers to community led projects that are helping the pollinators by installing gardens around the city on boulevards and other underused spaces. They receive small grants from the city to help with getting the plants etc. The one in this pic is located in a small patch of land at the entrance to a parking lot.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

An Annex House

 

I showed the wonderful grasses outside of this house a couple of weeks ago ad thought I would go back and show the house which is really quite nice. I love a big porch like that.

Thanks to Tom who ided the grass - it is Japanese Forest Grass. 

New Crop

 

Our cool spring has meant a late start for many things like tomatoes but the lettuce seems to be enjoying it. We have been nibbling on fresh lettuce in sandwiches, etc. Very local produce from the deck.

Escape To The Warmth

 

While I was away from my computer I was off to visit friends at their place in Merida Mexico. This is a shot of the pool area in their wonderful walled garden. It was so nice to be warm and to explore a new area and to catch up with friends.

Harvesting Tomatoes

 

The tomatoes are ripening out on the deck and now we will be eating them with every meal to try to keep up with the harvest. Not that I mind at all!

A City Street

This is a typical streetscape in the Annex neighbourhood where very few of the houses have lawns. It is an old part of the city with large houses side by side and small front gardens so the gardens tend to be filled with flowers and greenery rather than grass. It certainly makes for a cooler environment on the hot muggy days of summer. This is also a very expensive part of town so you can find some lovely plantings.

An Urban Oasis

I recently visited a house in the High Park neighbourhood which has this wonderful back garden. It is quite a wonderful oasis right in the middle of the city. They also have a huge deck up by the house with all the current outdoor kitchen features. I would never want to leave this yard if I lived there. The glass panels are part of the fencing required around swimming pools here.

August Theme: Garden

The August theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Garden and for this one I offer a shot of part of my roof garden. It faces south so gets lots of heat and sunshine. I grow some flowers but mostly herbs and veggies like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, snow peas, etc. It has been a good summer for the crops so far and I am just waiting for the large tomatoes to start ripening. Mostly it is a place to relax. 

Taking part in the theme Garden. Click HERE to see more gardens from around the world.

Finally Tomatoes

 After a cool spring the tomatoes on my roof deck are starting to show fruit developing. These are Carolina Gold tomatoes and I also have several grape tomato plants which are full of fruit. It will be wonderful when things start to ripen.

Another Garden Memory

This terra cotta bunny sat in my mum's garden for many years and now it spends summers in the tiny patch of green landscape that I have. It is nice to look out and see it.

A Farm Of Crates

This is the sign that was out on the crates at Walmer Road Baptist Church. There were a lot of veggies still to be picked and really a lot of herbs and of course flowers to attract the bees. It looks like the project involves several groups one of which is a development company that I think may have plans to build a 20 storey condo tower on the back half of the property. The sanctuary of the church would be renewed while the older office parts at the back would be redeveloped as part of the tower. We will have to see if it all happens as there is a very strong resident association in the Annex.

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Great Crates

While wandering around in the Annex neighbourhood I came upon this huge installation of planted up milk cartons out on the front steps of Walmer Road Baptist Church. The church is heavily involved in community activities and support so it was not surprising to see them providing space for another project which will provide food to people. I'll post a sign tomorrow which will give you more info. 

My Crop

This has been a good summer for tomatoes for me. I tried one new variety this year, a Sicilian Saucer. That is the first one that has ripened sitting in the back of this shot. It weighed over 1 1/2 lbs and was 7 inches across. The other ones are Beefsteaks and Sweet Million tomatoes. They have all tasted wonderful and there are still plenty more on the plants to ripen yet.

The Greenhouse

 I love the greenhouse at Spadina House and always make a point of checking it out when in the area. Its beautiful shape is so pleasing all year long. Functional and beautiful at the same time.

Spadina Garden

 I thought I would show you just a small section of the garden at Spadina House where yesterday's bee was hanging out. The whole area of the garden was teeming with bees.

September Theme: Right Under Your Nose

The September theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is "Right Under Your Nose". I had decided a couple of weeks ago to take a pic of my Rosemary plant which is the most fragrant of the herbs that I have. Even in winter when it comes inside it puts out a lovely aroma. Suddenly over the last week the Morning Glory has decided it likes the fragrance too and has been blooming all around the Rosemary more than anywhere else. 

Taking part in the theme. Click HERE to see more examples of it from all over the world.

A Brook

We have had a lot of rainy days the last few weeks so all the gardens are green and the little brook that is hiding between the rocks and plants in this pic is running nicely. It runs down and feeds into the duck pond at James Gardens.

Container Gardening

The Chives and Mint both survived winter out on the roof in their containers and are really putting out a lot of growth. A see a Mojito in my future.