Peat Beds
After viewing the alpine house and the rock garden
running long the side of the driveway, you can wander into the peat
beds. Peat is a dominant feature of the Newfoundland environment.
Its importance in horticulture and landscaping is well known, and
our three small peat beds built in 1976 are from locally-cut peat
blocks augmented with a mixture of shredded peat, leafmold and
coarse sand (5:2:1). The low nutrient, acidic, moisture-retentive
regime supports over 200 varieties of plants. Many native plants
such as white rhodora (Rhododendron canadense), bog
rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and Labrador tea (Ledum
groenlandicum) flourish, while ornamentals like yellow pasque
flower and dwarf Chinese astilbe also prosper. Members of the
Ericaceae (blueberry family) are especially happy here and there
are 23 different rhododendrons and 15 heather cultivars in one
section of this garden alone. The real show stoppers in this
display are our clumps of showy lady's slipper, Cypripedium
reginae. This plant garners so much attention that people have
been known to call beforehand to check if it is in full bloom
before visiting.
Rhododendron Dell
Turning the corner by the pools and continuing for a
few meters through the native woods, you will soon find the
rhododendron dell, a small woodland bed located in the north-west
corner of the developed part of the Garden. This display owes its
name to the 25 varieties of rhododendrons growing here. Primulas
abound as well, benefitting from afternoon shade provided by the
bed's dominant feature, a large red maple. Many other plants, such
as plantain lily, shooting stars and the uncommon and shy-to-bloom
yellow gentian grow amongst the larger groups. Semi-shaded for much
of the day and sheltered from our near constant wind, occupants of
this bed bloom a little later and last a little longer than the
same species in other beds.
Wildlife Garden
Below the gazebo is the wildlife
garden, an ongoing project of The Friends of the Garden, started in
1991 with a grant from the Shell Environmental Fund. It portrays
what can be done in a small urban garden to attract beneficial
wildlife of all kinds, although we draw the line at moose and
beavers. Filled with plants that provide food and shelter for
birds, bees and butterflies, this garden is maintained entirely by
a working group of FOG. Some interesting features are the large
pool, the dry stone wall and a rustic fence and compost bins.
