Comments on: Surprising Toronto Gardens

By: Barry Parker

Barry Parker — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 05:02:08 +0000

Hi Matt,
I was, indeed, in South Africa when you visited, it was a fantastic visit especially when we got to Namaqualand. Sorry to have missed you, but maybe next time?
The Roscoea you mentioned is, I'm pretty sure, 'Red Gherker'.

By: Barry

Barry — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 05:45:00 +0000

In reply to Matt Mattus.

Matt – Do give the Roscoea a try….. I am 5a, slightly colder winter than Toronto and I have had them now for four years. No winter protection to speak of other than a load of shredded oak leaves I put on the bed for fall…… truly a wonderful addition for colour this time of year!
Cheers!

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:04:15 +0000

Hey Barry, you are correct- the Roscoea is 'Red Gherkin' ( or I am 99% sure!). I remember them mentioning the name, but I forgot to note it. It's stunning in the garden – in fact, they all were nice garden plants. I can only remember seeing them at Kew in the alpine house, and frankly, I don't recall them being so tall and strong. I still question how hardy they are in my New England garden, but I am up for a try.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 00:55:11 +0000

Matt:
Glad you made it to Toronto. Barry's garden is one that I have yet to visit [shame on me] I worked with Bella and Barbara during my tenure at Lost Horizons and am not surprised to see that sublime red Roscoea [Red Gherkin if I am correct – but rare to find here in Canada – probably from Lost Horizons again…. a rare and unusual woodland plant nursery in Acton, On] among their treasures! Hope your talk was a hit….

By: Nic

Nic — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 17:44:18 +0000

I am drooling over that red roscoea. Some people have great success with them in Michigan as well, but I have never been able to make them grow well.

By: LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD

LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 08:19:11 +0000

The gardens are wonderful esp. all the gravel — something few private U.S. gardens ever seem to use. Last night my husband and I stopped at our favorite old Italian cafe/bar to enjoy a couple of flights of whiskey: ryes and wheat. Great whiskey bars are more rare here in Wisconsin, the land of brandy. There is one in Milwaukee simply called The Whiskey Bar in case you are ever there.

By: rochefleuriegarden

rochefleuriegarden — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 01:26:14 +0000

Thank you for posting these interesting pictures. Although I live in Ontario and have been a member of this chapter of NARGS for over 25 years, I live three and a half hours from Toronto and cannot attend meetings. I am sure Barbara and Bella took good care of you.

By: Mlle Paradis

Mlle Paradis — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 22:55:43 +0000

1) ok so what do those torontans do with that agave collection when the snows come?

2) oops! now i have to go back to my landscaper and add a pluot, a plumcot a…..to my must-have list. thx for clearing up a lot of things in that post!

3) i'm remembering you've spent time in hawaii….(i make rice like kulia does) my mother (from there) always talked about the night blooming cereus when i was growing up in the midwest so they are kind of mythical to me. but then i also remember, there is a hedge of them i think outside of punahou school where obama grew up. something for anyone headed to hawaii to consider. whether they will be blooming…..is another thing