Maximize Small Spaces
- Ideal for tiny yards (e.g., 30×50 ft or similar)
- Focus on vertical plantings to create lush, full looks
- Use structures like trellises and garden gates for visual interest
Foundation Plantings
- Start with tall, structural plants at the back:
- Chokecherry, dogwoods, lilacs
- Ninebark and lindens to anchor corners
- ‘Bridal Veil’ spirea for soft texture
Create Pathways & Focal Points
- Add a winding path through the yard to break up space
- Incorporate a pond or water feature to add tranquility
- Use a sign or feature that indicates “work in progress” — gardens evolve!
Vertical & Edible Garden Elements
- Use trellises for climbing plants like clematis (‘Markham’s Pink’)
- Plant peonies, yarrow, Asiatic lilies, and daylilies for color and height
- Incorporate vegetables and herbs:
- Basil, mint, dill, parsley, onions, marigolds
Color & Texture in Garden Beds
- Mix perennials like:
- ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peony, purple yarrow, sea holly, hollyhocks
- Add self-seeding annuals like cosmos and delphiniums for ongoing color
- Include ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster feather reed grass and panicum
Rose Gardens & Shrubs
- Dedicate a rose bed with varieties like:
- ‘Stanwell Perpetual,’ Nigel Hawthorne, Peace Rose, ‘Fireglow’
- Interplant with lilies, beebalm, irises, and alliums for layered interest
Shade & Cool Areas
- Use shaded spots under trees for hostas, ferns, heuchera, and bleeding hearts
- Grow shade-loving plants like toad lilies and orchids that can survive Calgary’s cold winters
Rock & Structure Gardens
- Collect rocks with personal significance (granite, quartz, fossils)
- Build rock mounds with mesh and a mix of peat, gravel, and sand—resemble natural coulees
- Use rocks to create borders, mounds, and focal points
Bulbs for Fall & Spring
- Plant fall crocuses, snow-in-summer, and colchicums in summer for early fall blooms
- Spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and alliums add seasonal color
Water & Pond Features
- Create ponds with bog gardens, water lilies, and aquatic plants like iris and sedge
- Add a dry stream bed with prairie stones for natural water flow
- Use rocks and stones around ponds for a natural look and wildlife habitat
Wildlife & Nature
- Incorporate native plants and natural features to attract birds, bees, and butterflies
- Use plant combinations that support local ecosystems
Gardening Philosophy
- Relocate plants that aren’t thriving—gardening is about adaptation
- Use personal touches like meaningful rocks and diverse plantings
- Enjoy your garden year-round, even in winter, by designing with structure and evergreen plants
