Roncesvalles United Church - NW corner Roncesvalles & Wright Avenue – across from High Park library

There are 6 garden areas: Three on Roncesvalles Avenue and three on Wright Avenue.

Bulbs

The gardens have a variety of very early and early spring blooming bulbs which continue to provide that early burst of colour we all need come spring. Snowdrops that were partially hidden under some lavenders were dug up and relocated to another part of the garden as the lavender had grown quite large. In order to keep building on the spring display, in the fall I planted some galanthus under the serviceberry which was planted last year. Some larger size crocuses were added to the main Roncy bed because some of the existing smaller crocus get lost as they’re so buried under the fall leaves. The only tulips purchased were the Antoinette variety because they start out yellow and then morph into fuchsia blooms which are always so spectacular. Although they don’t come back every year, they are still so worth replanting yearly.

The main attraction shrub

This years “start the car-start the car” moment was for a much coveted but extremely hard to find shrub. I ended up placing an order with the native specialist garden center The Toronto Plant market. I had given up hope for any grower to be able to supply it but after about a month and a half the call came. Needless to say, I immediately drove down to pick it up as several had arrived. The elusive shrub in question – the native maple leaf viburnum. A photo I had seen of its foliage and fall colour was etched in my mind. I chose it to replace the very established forsythia in the side garden. I felt it was time to make the change as it would bring some spring flowers and beautiful red fall foliage to that corner garden. I had read about how hard taking out a well-established forsythia could be so I did the dig out over several stages to make it doable – both a large heavy garden pick and battery operated sawzall, along with some extra labour got the job done. I’m looking forward to seeing it progress over the years.

New perennials

Native pearly everlasting was planted in the Wright Ave. garden to draw your eye to the back of the border as the silver foliage will brighten the space. It produces white flowers in the fall so extends the flowering season. The parking lot entrance door which greets the weekly meal program guests needed some additional attention. The native lance leaved coreopsis (picked up with the viburnum) along with a nativar fuchsia Echinacea were added to compliment the super large leaf citrine hosta, lavender, Annabelle hydrangea and chokeberry.

O the joy…

Removal of the never-ending creeping bellflower in various places continued and I just have to be methodical and go to my meditative happy place to help deal with this tedious but necessary process of weeding. One of the true great joys of gardening - NOT!

Front pots

In the fall I tried something a little different. I kept the existing yellow summer daisies and added some yellow pansies for another hit of colour brightness to contrast with the annual burgundy fountain grass and kale. The yellow pansies were a wee bit of a daring move as we generally think of pansies for spring but I felt it was ok to go a little rogue.

Future Changes

The tree in the south part of the Roncy garden is getting larger and providing more shade so some adjustments may need to occur to this part of the bed as the milkweed didn’t do as well this year. In some of the gardens the various grasses will need some attention since some need to be divided and some moved. All said the gardens continue maturing and providing some beauty for the community.

Many thanks for Hort’s support to help continue brightening our little part of the world.