September | 2012 | Peace Country Gardens

The second stop on our Progress tour took us to the lovely home of the Fortier’s. I had driven past their place on numerous occasions and had always admired the beautiful home and the flowers. It was kind of funny, because we drove past it on our way to the other garden and I lamented to Darcy that it was too bad it wasn’t on the tour. When the convoy stopped in front of it on our way back I was beyond delighted!

: Here’s what I always noticed from the highway…the beautiful old fashioned covered verandah surrounded by a cottage garden of colour. How lovely to get to see it all up close…it didn’t disappoint!

: No cottage garden is complete without delphiniums. With their tendency to topple over in high winds (and here in the Peace we get plenty of wind) positioning these flamboyant flowers against the railing of the verandah helps provide a wind break and a handy place to tie them up if need be…

: Loved these ragged edged pink poppies…in fact I love everything about poppies. Their rampant self seeding make them easy care and even the seed heads are beautiful. And they come in so many colours and textures. What’s not to love?

: A bumper crop of gooseberries!

: I was told this was a variegated lilac…I had never seen one before! it’s so pretty the blooms would just be a bonus. Adding it to my wish list for next year : )

: Here a new island bed is in progress…in Progress! (Bet that’s not the first time residents of Progress have heard similar puns) Young spruce trees, massive roots and a big stone provide oodles of architectural appeal.

: Old carpet has been flipped upside down and is being used around the island bed for weed suppression. When it is finished being covered with rocks it should be almost maintenance free. What a good idea!

: Now THAT’S a greenhouse!

: A peek inside the massive greenhouse shows some very happy plants!

: What a healthy looking potato patch!

Next up is the garden tour put on by members of the Peace Mission Chapel in Progress, BC on July 25th. The tour showcases rural gardens in and around the Progress community. How it works is you congregate in the church parking lot at 9 am and leave in a convoy at 9:30 am. When it’s time to move on to the next garden the convoy leader honks her horn and away everyone goes to the next one. There was no map or brochure and I hadn’t thought of posting the pictures at the time so didn’t write down the names of the gardeners…some I know, some I don’t and some I only have the last name or initials picked up from entrance signs. I will try to find out more from the organizers and add them on when I do…

The first garden we pulled into was that of H & E Franks…

: This beautiful (and patriotic) entrance planting can be enjoyed by people passing by on the highway as well.

: Loved these planters! What a great idea. The large containers were each set on top of a pair of those cement foot prints painted to match. Very eye catching and unique.

: Gotcha! Somewhere out there Janice Dagasso has the same picture but with me in it : ) Check out the healthy vegetables…

: Loved the inventiveness of using a ketchup tin on the red container! It may have been for art, or possibly just to patch a leaking hole but either way I thought it was cool.