Bonne St. Jean !

St. Jean Baptiste Day is Quebec's National Holiday.
As my 4 yr. old niece explained to me this morning, today is Quebec's birthday!

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Very Uncommon And Overlooked Tree

Looking to plant a tree in your garden? Then, I truly recommend you consider a Fringe Tree (Chionanthus Virginicus).

When we planted ours 10 years ago, it was 3 feet tall. Today, it stands about 7 feet tall. It's a very slow grower which I find attractive because living in downtown Montreal, I don't want to find myself having to deal with a monster tree whose height can be problematic...... casting too much shade, sucking up all the moisture in the soil, getting tangled in utility wires, etc. This was the ideal choice for me. And even better, it's really not a fussy plant....... grows in average good soil and requires basically no maintenance throughout the year. But it likes to have lots of sun ! So, find a sunny spot in your garden/yard. Unfortunately, my Fringe Tree gets just enough sun in the backyard...... I'm sure it would prefer more.

It's a multi-stemmed tree and grows in a vase shape.

The flowers are like delicate fringes. It's enchanting fragrance is Jasmin-like.

Sorry for the horrible photos. Please use your imagination. :-)

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Spring Flower Fever

Spring came early to Montreal this year. To top it off, we also had a relatively mild winter. So, our plants in the garden is having a wild time now ...... just happy happy and growing like I've never seen them do before !

Our front yard: no grass, just perennials, bulbs and shrubs.

In the backyard: our cercis tree and a species peony shrub.

A Japanese tree peony and our Japanese inspired corner.


Closeup shot of the Japanese tree peony flower.

Both Doug and I are thrilled with the garden so far this year. We're just wondering now, hehe, if we are to enjoy milder winters in the years to come, what new plants (that are not hardy for our zone 5b winters) we can now add to our garden. All plant suggestions are welcome. :-)

Hmmmm, this must be what it's like to garden in England !

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Happy Again

My blog has been restored! Blogger has locked me out for almost 3 weeks because they suspected that Zen-gaylife was spam. Man, was i pissed off.
After many frustrating forays in the depths of Blogger Help Forum, I have met many kindred spirits out there. I hope Blogger will able to help them as well.

This is my peace offering: thanks to the Blogger team.

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Happy Monday!

This is "Gold of Ophir", one of many named selections of Oriental Poppies (Turkish origins). Its brilliant orange blossoms are spectacular. Either partially double or fully double, its paper-thin petals are pleated and are silk-like to the touch. And believe it or not, the flower is around 4 to 5 inches across and stands on sturdy stems of 3 to 4 feet tall!

I've had this plant for a few years now...... and I've always wondered about its name. Its blossoms are orange..... there's no gold anywhere. Big mystery. Ponder. It was only while snapping these photos that I saw....... with the sun shining from behind the plant, there are patches of shimmering golds...... dappled here and there. How brilliant! Hence....... its name?!

FYI: Ophir is an unidentified region famous in Old Testament times for its fine gold. The geographic list of Genesis 10 apparently places it in Arabia, but in the time of Solomon (c. 920 bc), Ophir was thought of as being overseas. Gold, almug (or algum) wood (i.e., sandalwood), ivory, monkeys, and peacocks were procured there. Many areas of the Arabian Peninsula have been proposed as the site of Ophir; the principal alternative locations overseas are East Africa and India. (Britannica.com)

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My Clematis "Yukikomachi" Is Alive . . . . Sweet!

Last week, I was putzing around in the back garden weeding, staking plants and what-not, when I noticed this tender shoot. At first, I thought it was just another weed. Then, my gardener's instinct kicked in. NO WAY! Is that what I think it is? I couldn't believe my eyes. She's alive!
Last spring, I had ordered a much sought-after Japanese clematis from my favorite on-line supplier, Gardenimport.com. All was in good order when I received it in the mail. The packaging was very elaborate and the 2-stemmed plant was very well protected. There I was, all excited and already fantasizing what the blooms would look like. Two days after I planted it in the ground, a squirrel decided to dig it up. In the process, both miniscule stems were broken off. Needless to say, I was very upset. I sunk the root ball back in the ground and protected the planting area with nylon netting..... to keep those scoundrels away. I was hoping against all odds that maybe the roots would keep the plant going and perhaps, a stem might develop later in the summer. This poor plant had no leaves, nothing. I was desperate and I had to at least try that.

Then, weeks, months and seasons passed. Life went on and I had forgotten all about it.

It's quite incredible that the roots managed to keep the plant going all last summer and then having to brave the cold and snow of our past winter. And, it survived, coming back with 1 strong stem. Isn't Mother Nature wonderful!

I'm in no rush. This clematis can take all the time she needs to mature because the photo below shows what I have to look forward to. She's a keeper!

YUKIKOMACHI: white sepals with a pale lavender edge

Photo source: Gardenimport.com

Yukikomachi is the Japanese name.
Poetess of the Snow is its English name. (so zen....)
This clematis was hybridized by Chieko Kurasawa of Japan.

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