hydrangea ‘Annabelle’

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A HEALING GARDEN

I’m in Montreal to spend as much time as possible with my mom. P1210936

The Palliative Care facility here has an in credible Healing Garden for patients and their families.

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Although not  my own haven, it fills the bill temporarily.

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Big surprise is  Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. I had no idea they were hardy to Zone 3!

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Delightful mixed with daylilies & ferns below.

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Large plantings of both wax and  tuberous begonias for annual colour.

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Ingenious solution to keep the fish safe from predators. a network of fishing line.

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Clearly all the paths are paved  and the entire garden is wheelchair accessible.

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Everything I learned  about in my year-long seminar ” Design for the Elderly & Infirm” is beautifully executed here.

I  lunch here daily, overlooking the pond,listening to the sound of the gentle fountain.

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My mom is receiving the most incredible care and we  are so grateful to the entire staff of the Palliative Care Program at Mount Sinai Hospital where she is being treated with compassion & dignity.

A huge thank you to all who left comments on my last post. I appreciate your kindness & good wishes.

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CHANGE OF HYDRANGEA

In a recent post  I bemoaned the fact that my “interesting hydrangeas’  had no impact in the July landscape. Today, however, the ‘ interesting hydrangeas’…

                                                                                 

 are still interesting…

                                                                                          

whereas the July impact hydrangea… not so much.

                                                                                   

So, I will stay with the interesting ones in the circle of friends & plant the babies that I propagated, in the cutting garden next spring. One cannot have too many fresh hydrangea stems.

My Mother always said..  ” If a little bit is good, a lot is MUCH better.”  That certainly rings true when assembling a bouquet. Too little plant material can look so stingy, and I don’t mean a single blossom or stem in an appropriate vessel.

                                                                                    

The July  impact hydrangea (above) was fabulous in fresh bouquets with lilies (and Lily below) earlier in the season. The flower has substance and lasts a while in a vase.

                                                                                  

The Annabelles are still looking superb … I cannot imagine my garden without them.

                                                                                 

That Chartreuse is divine! Cut now & dried, they will probably retain their colour into the new year.

                                                                                 

These are also great if you are one of those crafty people inclined to spray paint.