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The 13th Biennial ACO Port Hope Garden Tour took place on July 9th, 2011
Port Hope’s town gardens were on display this summer! Ten wonderful and diverse properties were open from 10am to 4pm for viewing, strolling and learning from the experts. Several landscapes were large incorporating pools, English garden rooms, huge mature hedges, dry-set-stone wall “ruins” (built with the help of Balmoral’s own dry stone “dyker”), tumbling clematis, and sweeping lawns shaded by mature Gingko and Tulip trees.
There were smaller gardens, built on slopes with views of tall waving grasses adjacent to large decks for entertaining. Rows of day lilies meet guests in one garden while the back yard comforts with shady nooks and massed perennials. Behind a brick wall espalied with euonymus are formal parterres and a knot garden filled with a variety of hostas and framed with benches for cool retreat. And there were surprise gardens with stone walls dripping with ground covers out on the street while hiding in the rear are steps to ponds, bridges, water gardens and secluded benches.
On the tour was a terraced garden, newly planted with the expertise of Marjorie Harris, and dotted with architectural sculpture. Another garden features two sculptures by Hart Massey providing an interesting contemporary counterpoint to banks of perennials edging the beautiful small pool. Herbs of all varieties are a feature of the Headmaster’s Garden at Trinity College School, one of Canada’s best known private schools where 19th century red brick buildings border green soccer fields and cricket pitches.
Watch for details of the next Biennial Garden Tour in 2013.
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