White Garden
A few meters down the path from the Medicinal Garden and past
the bed of candelabra primulas is the White Garden. This sunny
spot, surrounded and sheltered by trees, receives a good deal of
reflected heat from the wall of the Field Centre. It is probably
the warmest 
garden component and a number of rather
tender plants have successfully overwintered here. These include
zone 7 species such as the dwarf Formosan lily (Lilium
formosanum var pricei) and two magnolias.
The White Garden is, as you expect, restricted to white flowering species and in many cases they are rich in fragrance. In addition to lilies and magnolias you will spot Philadelphus 'Starbright' towards the back. This stunning mock orange hybrid with large heavily scented blooms will soon be available to the public through our ornamental development program.
A fine collection of Rodgersia also grace this garden. Gaining popularity, their bold palmate foliage is topped with impressive inflorescences in mid summer and attractive seedheads in the fall. Early Spring visitors are greeted by the Fair Maids of France (Ranunculus aconitifolius 'Flore Plena'), the double bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis 'Flore-pleno') and one of the earliest-blooming rhododendrons (Rhododendron 'Madison Snow'). Later a planting of annual Alyssum adds to the fragrance here. Although one of the commonest annuals, its use should not be discounted. This low spreading sheet of fragrant white flowers continues through until frost and is still well worth growing in this sunny spot.
Cottage Garden
Long on colour, short on formality, the cottage garden is an
enthusiastic assemblage of perennials, shrubs and annuals. Climbers
festoon the trellises, Clematis jackmannii engulfs the
bird feeder, the native lance-leaved goldenrod (Solidago
graminifolia) spills over the path, covered in red admiral
butterflies.
The old and the new, the exotic and the
commonplace all have a home here is what is sometimes considered to
be a classic English-style garden. However, there are many styles
of English gardens and this is but one type.
Though rather small in area, the Cottage Garden hold the interest as close inspection reveals many more species and varieties than a cursory glance may do. The season is long here. The early daphnes bearing masses of purple blossom demand attention again later with their abundant fruit set. Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) fills the air with mid-summer fragrance and towering Campanula lactiflora provides masses of cut flowers.
The cottage garden is all about enjoyment and use. It is not a
place of intricate cultivation and picayune management. Weeding,
feeding and good soil practices are paramount here but pest control
(as it is throughout MUN Botanical Garden) is minimal. The
diversity or plant species that attracts a diversity of birds and
insects results in very few problems. The cottage garden is also a
cutting garden (but not for visitors!) and we encourage all
gardeners to bring more flowers into their homes from their
gardens. Grow more and cut more and enjoy them inside on rainy
days.
Alternatively though, this garden can be for simply sitting in the sun, surrounded by the murmuring of innumerable bees and letting the world go on without you for a few magical minutes!
Vegetable Garden
We revitalized the vegetable
garden in 1995 and added a greenhouse crop display. Such has been
the interest in this area, that it is presently being enlarged yet
again. Visitors can walk among the newly constructed raised beds
and through the greenhouse to inspect peppers, tomatoes and
geraniums. The vegetable garden is prepared in early spring with
leafmold, composted cow manure and lime. Check at the Field Centre
on your way out; there may be a few dollar bags of produce for
sale. Although the growing season may be shorter and cooler than in
many other parts of Canada, we still manage to produce some hefty
four pound onions, impressive pumpkins and of course, plenty of
potatoes.
