A noun. A verb. A blog.
Did you know? Canada is home to one of North America’s most spectacular private gardens. We’ve written twice about Les Quatre Vents, near La Malbaie, Quebec (here and here) and at last I have an excuse to write about it again. Because it, and its creator Francis Cabot, is now the subject of a feature documentary, The Gardener, playing May 18 […]
Before the rain began this morning, our walking group headed west for a change. The Distillery District would be our turnaround point, but I never made it that far. Corktown Common and a golden patch of flowering witch-hazel fixed me and my phone camera to the spot. Click the arrows above for the slideshow. What an excellent […]
Our temporary reprieve from winter arrives his Saturday, February 1, 2014, at 10 am at Allan Gardens and Centennial Park Conservatories. Am I alone in being particularly excited? Will you be there? I’ve already charged up my camera batteries. Thank you, thank you, thank you! [Ed: No matter which blooms they feature, year to year, […]
The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California What could be better on a cold, blustery November Wednesday than a quick trip to California? This almost-wordless visit takes us to the Ruth Bancroft Garden – the dry climate garden that was the first of many private gardens to come under the protective wing of the […]
White and weathered, the Cabots’ home is centuries younger than New France, yet seems to pre-date it Whether you enjoy 28 acres, as the Cabot family has at Les Quatre Vents, or 0.06 acres, as I do, it’s good to consider how your garden works with your architecture – and how your architecture works with […]
Le Pigeonnier and its garden is one of 24 garden spaces at Les Quatre Vents If you love gardens and live in Canada, be proud that one of North America’s finest gardens is right here. Well, right here and a little over to our right – near La Malbaie, Québec. It’s Les Quatre Vents. Few […]
My heart is broken – I’ll be away for these great spring things this weekend. I’m counting on you to go on my behalf, hence today’s Idea File: Spring Awakening at the Gardiner Museum, May 3 to 5 Gorgeous floral designs by ten top creative spirits, all through the Gardiner museum of ceramic art. Bring a […]
The cactus house at Allan Gardens Conservatory The Easter Show is on now at Allan Gardens. As the winds pick up for one last wintery blast, head over there to remind yourself there really is such a season as Spring. But I’m going to walk you backwards through the greenhouses, starting at the end with […]
Spring, bring it on! St. James Park, Toronto – April 30, 2010
The headquarters of Manulife Financial on Bloor Street East If you’ve walked or driven along that windy strip of Bloor Street, east of Church, you’ve seen the velvety carpet of green in the gated surrounds of the Manulife Financial headquarters. It’s often called the best lawn in the city, and there’s a reason. It’s creeping […]
Hatley Castle, just west of Victoria, British Columbia It’s hard to know where to begin with Hatley Castle. Not only is it a lavish, historic mansion and gardens, one of Canada’s castles, it’s connected to stories that would make a great miniseries or few, as dramatic as Downton Abbey. Hatley was designed in 1908 by […]
In Queen Victoria Park, countless people stop for the ultimate portrait, surrounded by 500,000 daffodils Did you know that Niagara Falls, Ontario, is the Daffodil Capital of North America? I didn’t, till I found myself looking for things to do when heading there on business last week. And there it was – 500,000 reasons to […]