Canada geese are gorgeous birds to look at. But why, oh why, do I have to see them here at Glen Villa? Towards the end of May I saw two adults swimming with their little ones. How many babies were there? The goslings swam in and out of sight, and each time I counted…
In the 1600s, when Quebec was known as La Nouvelle France, land was divided into seigneuries, properties under the control of a seigneur, or lord of the manor. Fields farmed by habitants were arranged in long narrow strips fronting onto the St. Lawrence River, making it easy to transport goods by water at a time when roads…
Last week I showed a tiny speck of white at the end of the La Grande Allée. In that post, I promised a closer view of that hint of white. And here it is. The white crabapple trees along La Grande Allée have finished blooming now, thanks to several (wonderful) days of…
The crabapple allée is in full bloom and boy, is it gorgeous! The long line of trees are stunning whether you look from the side … straight down the middle … or up close. Last week my friend Tim Doherty came over with his drone camera to give a different point of view. …
Spring is here, finally, with the promise that summer is a-comin’ in. Or so it feels today. And maybe it will feel the same tomorrow, but who knows? Oscar Wilde said that conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative. Not so for gardeners in the Eastern Townships of Quebec where I…
Saturday, July 20 is the day and you are invited! Come and explore the wonders of the garden and landscape when Glen Villa opens to the public as a fundraiser for the Massawippi Foundation and Conservation Trust. All proceeds from your admission fee go to support land conservation, community projects and a network of trails…
You may have received a blog post earlier today with a BUY NOW button. This post should not have gone out… there are a number of bugs in the purchase option that I haven’t worked out. SO: my apologies. I hope to have the tickets sales up and running within a week.
I’m speaking twice this month to groups in and around Montreal. Both events are open to the general public, so do come if you can. Learning to Look: the Art of Garden Observation On Saturday, May 11 at 2:30, I’m speaking in Georgeville, Quebec at the Murray Community Hall. This talk about how to get the…
On Saturday, July 20, you are invited to visit Glen Villa — to explore the gardens, fields and forests and to help support an important community cause. Visit the China Terrace, where an old resort hotel has been delightfully re-imagined. Enjoy the rich assortment of wild life that lives at the Skating Pond. Walk alongside…
This winter feels interminable. Surely in earlier years daffodils have been blooming by now, snowdrops long gone. Well, no. It’s true that in some years snowdrops have appeared by this date. Crocus have bloomed. Pulmonaria have added their touch of colour. But it is also true that this April…