Posted on: July 11, 2016 | Written By: Doug Oster |
Gray skies and a cool breeze off an ocean bay in Vancouver, Canada’s Stanley Park let’s every gardener traveling with me understand why the plants are so lush here. The smell of the sea is intoxicating as are the beautiful gardens.
Lots of rain and mild winters combine for the perfect pairing to create a gardener’s paradise. It’s funny though, begonias and other shade lovers are thriving, but look at the sweet potato vines and cannas and in mid-July they are barely limping along.
The hydrangeas are in heaven and there’s even a lantana pruned into a medium sized tree.
In the park there is something I’ve never seen before an evergreen tree trained as an espalier.
An old shrub rose growing in the park smells like heaven.
Everywhere you look there are towing trees and giant shrubs all happy in this amazing climate.
We’re headed to Victoria next and will be in Butchart Gardens tomorrow, can’t wait!