Snow Queen Iris

Autumn at York Downs

As the gardening season of 2009 is winding down, I find myself extremely busy wrapping up all kinds of odds and ends. While cleaning up leaves and garden plants, I've been thinking about all of the photos that I would have liked to have posted this summer. During the winter months I will definitely be sharing my favourite shots.

Here are a few pictures of the autumn season.

Stephanie Osborne

Gardener
York Downs Golf and Country Club

Repeat Blooming Iris

Iris in October???

Most people would say that one downfall of perennial gardening is that there are some beautiful plants which have their specific bloom period and are then finished for the year. Iris' are one of those plants which people love to see but are disappointed when they fade out. This is why when shopping for Iris', I try to find as many varieties that are considered "repeat bloomers". A few repeat blooming iris varieties to look for would be:

• Immortality


• Again and Again (shown above, growing near the Starter Hut)


• Clarence


• Chanpagne Elegance


• Leprechaun's Delight

Hardy Hibiscus

Top: Lord Baltimore

Middle: Plum Crazy

Bottom: Peppermint Schnapps

It's nearing the end of September and the fall perennials have bloomed and are looking nice. There is plenty to appreciate, such as the Sedum Spectabile "Autumn Joy", Rudbeckia Goldstrum and the Chelone Obliqua to name a few.

The most talked about garden plant at the moment is the Hardy Hibiscus which (thankfully) can withstand our harsh winters. We have three colour varieties in our gardens at York Downs, and all are absolutely stunning from late summer into fall.

The only care required is cutting back all of last seasons growth and waiting patiently for it to start again. This is the hardest part as it is one of the latest to emerge. Don't get discouraged and dig it up! In late June it will be to your benefit to snip the tops off of all the branches. Doing this encourages side shoots and you will have more blooms later on (this isn't mandatory but it is advisable to do so.)

If you have a sunny garden and want to jazz it up, the Hardy Hibiscus is a very good choice. In fact I will be looking for a few more colour varieties next spring!

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener

'Mezoo- Trailing Red'

The trailing annual in this arrangement is a beautiful alternative to vines in a planter.
It's botanical name is Dorotheanthus and it is commonly known as "Mezoo". I found it at Sheridan Nurseries early in the season.

Sunrise

Golf course workers are amongst the earliest to rise. Most days we even beat the sun.

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener

Garden Photos

Please enjoy this collection of colourful perennials.

Plant Identification

As the perennials go in and out of their bloom cycle, we are often asked what their names are. To help, I've decided to use plant tags. If you see something particularly beautiful chances are there will be an aluminum tag at its base.

Shown above is a stunning ornamental variety of Oregano called "Kent Beauty". New growth is muted green and as the plant ages throughout the season, it turns a lovely shade of rose.

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener

Sea Holly

Sapphire Blue Sea Holly which is botanically known as “Eryngium” is a very understated garden perennial. Its metallic blue colour gives it a phantom-like appearance and can easily go un-noticed in a mixed border. Probably the most startling attribute of Sea Holly is the way it feels when you touch it! It is very spiky but if you’re careful you will realize that the leaves are extremely rigid.

Sea Holly does not transplant well, so be sure to plant it exactly where you want it to stay. I have had success with moving them, but they did take a few years to recover from the shock of moving it.

These perennials are very striking and they do well in our climate in a sunny bed, but something to remember is that they do show best when planted in large numbers or five or more.

Stephanie Osborne
York Downs Golf and Country Club
Gardener

Wildlife on the Course

So far this season we have had the opportunity to have several interesting wildlife sightings.

A few weeks ago, a fawn was seen in the long grass near 8 South. After some research online we quickly learned that during the first week of a deer’s life, the mother will tuck the fawn away in a safe place during the day while she forages for food.

We were lucky to have seen this beautiful swan, as it was with us very briefly.

This snapping turtle was walking across the fairway at 2 West on it’s way to scout out a place to lay it’s eggs.

The most unusual and adorable sighting was our coyote pup last week. It was displaced from it’s family and was seen in several places throughout the day. Once it was nightfall and the rest of the pack was roaming the course, it was most certainly reunited with it’s family.

We are very fortunate to have the variety of wildlife that we do, we just have to remember to keep our distance and let nature take care of itself.

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener

Wildflowers- Dame's Rocket

I've been asked by a number of people lately what the beautiful purple, pink and white wildflowers are called that we have growing in natural areas on the golf course. After some research online I've found the answer to be "Dame's-Rocket" (or botanically "Hesperis Matronalis".)

According to OntarioWeeds.com, they are "an ornamental that was introduced from Europe and escaped from cultivation." The seeds are their main form of propogation, and they are now, in mid June, starting to form on the plants.

Wildflowers are vast in form and colour, but I have to admit the Dame's-rocket are by far in my opinion, the most beautiful I know of. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener

Spring Scenes

For those of you who spent a bit longer in their winter vacation homes, or were put off by the cool weather we've had this spring, I have compiled a few pictures of the golf club.

Stephanie Osborne

York Downs Golf and Country Club

Gardener