Celebrating 150 in the garden

I didn’t plant any Canada 150 tulips and I almost felt a little guilty in early spring when there were no red and white flowers in my garden. I suppose I could have planned an appropriate bedding scheme in time for Canada Day using say red and white geraniums or red and white begonias, planted maybe in the form the flag as I’ve seen others do. Even a suitably mixed planter would have been something but in the rush of spring planting I failed again, despite filling pot after pot. I should check the colours as I’m sure to be inadvertently celebrating some other country’s anniversary.

I have since tried to account for this apparent lack of patriotism by acknowledging any subsequent combinations of red and white flowers in my garden, and will continue to do so throughout the season. Just a couple of weeks back a gorgeous group of red lupines appeared, not enough to account for the same number of points on the maple leaf on the flag, but close. To complement the red, spires of white foxgloves burst open and together they were like a celebratory fireworks display, even more impressive than any similarly hued tulips or petunias. At least it would have if they hadn’t been on different sides of the garden, separated by shrubs. Only by standing on the picnic table could I see them somewhat aligned.

The lupines have since faded although the foxgloves have held on and the red component is now provided by a lovely clump of Maltese Cross (Lychnis chalcedonica). It’s almost chest high and it’s a little closer in proximity than the lupines, but still separated. Today, though, right on cue for Canada Day, a new plant that I acquired in spring has flowered beautifully. It’s a phlox, a new variety called Mini Pearl. Pure white and fragrant, it grows only to knee height and flowers unusually early.

What’s more, if I lie down on the lawn, I can just about juxtapose the white of its flowers with the red of those on the Maltese Cross, and by squinting, I can make out the form of our flag. I haven’t so far convinced anyone to lie on the lawn to see this remarkable patriotic display, but I know it’s there. Next year I’ll definitely plant red geraniums on both sides of the phlox — or maybe wait for the 200th anniversary.

I may have failed with a floral tribute, yet when I look around my garden I realize it does reflect the multicultural nature of my adopted country. All those tulips we plant each fall, they originated in Turkey where there’s also a huge tulip festival held each April in Istanbul. I do have native plants, of course. I have a maple in the front yard and a spruce in the back with cedars here and there. I also have a maple from afar, an Amur maple. It originated in Asia and is named for the Amur River (Heilong Jiang) which forms part of the border between Russia and northeastern China. I also have salvias from Argentina, peonies from Japan, and daisies from South Africa.

Plants are great travellers and have been

happily adopted anywhere a gardener has chosen to grow them. If I checked, I’d probably find I have plants from all around the world. And they all get along just fine in my garden. I welcome each one and try to provide for all their needs, which, despite their differences in appearance, need the same things to help them grow — sunshine, good soil, and just enough rain.

Happy Canada Day!

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