Industrial Garden Tour

There is an industrial area near my house.  It some how makes the gardens seem that much more special when they're unexpected.  Here are a few photos of people making unappealing areas into beautiful spaces.

Vegetable plots and wild flowers in front of recycling centre. 

Lily pads and goldfish in a retaining bed fronting an industry building.

Dr. Seus tree looking a little worse for wear.  But adds interest to that bare wall. 

okay, maybe it's not a garden. But, it was the only green visible for a while. 

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden

There is a secluded garden located in the heart of Chinatown.  I visited it this weekend. Ornate diamond shaped windows hint at something special behind those plain white walls.  Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is free and open to the public.  It was opened in 1986 and was built by 56 master craftsmen from Suzhou, China in partnership with Canadian workers.  The garden implements the original techniques implemented from the original Ming Dynasty garden. Walkways, bridges, a central pond and moss covered rocks are the foundation for this garden.  A prehistoric Gunnera plant frames the pond.  A large bamboo forest shades the south-east corner. Large arching trees weep over the surface of the pond and mingle with the lilly pads.  Pagoda structures set the stage for all weather appreciation.

A Viewing Garden

We had a very gracious young family approach us about installing a small garden to remedy the damage caused to their lawn by chafer beetle intruders.  A very familiar story in Vancouver.   Ultimately, they didn't have a strong vision for their property. The only priority was to have access to the gas meter for the gas meter attendant.  Affordability was a slight concern as well.  They likely wouldn't be spending much time their and most of the viewing would be done from their living room window.

They live in a rather charming pale green house with full sun exposure.  A bright open walkway was installed.  With pavers large enough to provide a small seating area.  The pavers were very affordable and led to the gas meter (check 1 and 2 off the list). We obscured the gas meter and the basement window with some moveable planters.

spring planter

spring bulb display

spring bulbs

summer

summer planter

summer

The property was situated on a popular pedestrian street.  We created a hedge of burning bush in the front and side of the garden. The hedge is low enough to still provide a neighbourly feeling but high enough to create a snug enclosed garden.  We wanted to create a bright, colourful perennial garden for viewing from their window.  Blue oat grass, Japanese blood grass, variegated carex grass and copper New Zealand flax were introduced to provide texture and movement throughout the garden.   A sea of low growing perennials carpeted the soil like blue lithodora, marmalade coral bells, and dragon's blood sedum. Swales of lavender bordered a pathway and tall iris, purple coneflower, beauty berry and bronze berberis reached above the rest.