Wildlife garden with an artful touch: Toronto Garden Bloggers Fling

June 30, 2015


On our last day of the Toronto Garden Bloggers Fling in early June, we visited a private garden described as a wildlife garden. I didn’t end up taking photos of its wildlife-attracting features, however. Instead I was drawn to the artful touches found throughout, many of them composed of natural materials. Most prominent was a blue-painted dead tree, centered like sculpture in the back lawn.


What an incredible focal point, don’t you think?


I also admired this cross-section of a tree stump, set on edge to become a sculptural accent in a shady bed.


And this egg-shaped stone, cradled in an upright tree branch.


Two cartoon-style paintings, hung on exterior walls of the house, create surprise and amusement as you encounter them along the paths.


This fellow seems a little worried about something, doesn’t he?


The back patio is inviting and homey, offering a prime view of the blue tree.


In front, a contemporary porch holds a few pots of colorful annuals.


I like this copper-colored planter.


The front garden slopes toward the street, and runoff has been tackled with a lovely dry stream that winds through the lawnless garden.


Here pollinator plants are favored, like this Jerusalem sage. Although intimately familiar with the yellow-flowering Phlomis, I’d never seen the pink cultivar. I love it.

Sometimes it’s the little details in a garden that really grab you.

Coming up next: My tour of Toronto Botanical Garden, where Toronto Fling officially concluded. For a look back at the Evergreen Brick Works community greenspace, click here.

All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

14 responses to “Wildlife garden with an artful touch: Toronto Garden Bloggers Fling”

  1. These details are certainly eye catching. Love those paintings. You wouldn’t ever feel alone in the garden.

  2. commonweeder says:

    I so much appreciate seeing so much of the Fling tours. The photographs are beautiful, and there is so much inspiration. I really loved the use of logs, branches and stone. I wonder whether a ‘dry’ stream bed would help drainage in my new wet garden? Hmmmmmm.

  3. TexasDeb says:

    I love it – a garden design “mullet” (all formal up front and party time on the sides and in back).

    That blue tree is stunning – I’d seen painted red branches (really large ones) used as sculptural accents in a television set of a Chinese garden and keep thinking I want to play with something like that. I’m not sure how it will fly with the more traditional types around here. I’ve never quite gotten over getting ready to purchase a patinated small metal sculptural piece for our gardens only to have my Hub ask “you realize that’s rusted, right?”.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Sometimes I think spouses should never be consulted on important things like gardens, nor on anything that goes in them. I’m enjoying your mullet imagery. —Pam

  4. Pat Webster says:

    Pam, you manage to find something wonderful to say, and to see, in every garden we visited. Bravo! In a week or two, I’ll post an entry on a section of my garden where I have used the blue tree idea. The result is quite different but I know where the inspiration came from!

  5. Kris P says:

    Nice details. I love that translucent porch roof.

  6. That blue tree was something! But my fav is the tree cross section. Brilliant use! ~Julie

  7. Nice post. Did you venture up the ladder to look at the green roof, Pam?