The Town Planters

Ruby at Stouffville Leisure centre

 

I have to say whoever did the containers for the town of Whitchurch Stouffville got it amazingly right this year! They are stunning and a real asset to the town.

I see the people that look after them. They are watering at all times of the day and night. I was coming home from an event in the city one night. It must have been midnight-ish. I can’t remember if it was the night before the Strawberry festival…Canada Day weekend. There was the town truck and the crew watering the containers, window boxes and hanging baskets down Main Street.

 

Town of Whitchurch Stouffville

One thing I have noticed this year is that the tall leafy plants have done outstandingly well this year.  It’s been Hot, humid and dry…no rain. Which has meant very little wind which usually damages the leaves.

To have the containers looking like this at this time of year…September 19th…goes to show how much hard work and care has gone in to looking after these stunners!!!

Mum and Ruby sit by Latcham gallery

 

 

The drama of Sandra’s Window box!

Sandra’s Window Box

It was early Spring when I got a call from Sandra asking if I would make her an arrangement in her beautiful decorative window box.

The summer plants were all ready but it was still a little early. I decided I would make a start and try and be ahead of the game. I worked in my garage and managed to get 6 hanging baskets, 2 urn inserts and Sandra’s window box completed. This was good. I could hold onto them for a while, give them chance to fill in and wait for the chance of frost to be behind us. I was pleased with myself!…

Then it happened!…it snowed!!! May 14th.  Now I couldn’t even put the plants outside to hardened off. That kind of cold was just too much. I tended to my charges for a week or two. Protected them from the elements… All the different ones that we face at that time of year. This is where that saying comes in. It can be 4 different seasons in one day in Ontario!!

Most of the plants seemed to have survived the chilly temps…except for Sandra’s. I had used tropicals. Beautiful caladiums, escargot begonia’s, Rex begonia’s and a fantastical colour of Sun  Patiens. By the end of the first week most of the plants were drooped in a very sad and pathetic looking way. I had to switch the plants. Still determined that Sandra would get this amazing tropical showcase to look at over the summer. I replanted.   The caladiums drooped again. Sandra was patient. I replanted. The caladiums and the sun patiens drooped again. I did a complete redo. Changed the soil and all the plants. No caladiums. No Sun Patiens. Begonia’s, begonias, lobelia and begonia’s!!!

It took awhile. But finally the combination of stronger plants and warm stable weather, won the day.

 

 

Sandra’s window box. September