Today my friend Sheila and I went on the annual "Through the Garden Gate" tour put on by the Toronto Botanical Garden society. This year's homes were in the resplendent Rosedale area. The brochure describes the area: "…We've been to Rosedale four times and these have been our most popular tours. So it's fitting that we're back for this special anniversary year (their 25th). Everyone loves Rosedale's spectacular properties, the serpentine streets, the sense of neighbourhood, the old trees and many ravines, not to mention the downtown location..."
We had a fabulous day! I took waaaay too many pictures so I will trim them down and give you just the highlights.
We couldn't decide if this was an old house or a new house built to look old…?
Yellow rose
Globe allium with yellow roses
Allium bulgaricum (I thought it was a fritillaria!)
This one was worth standing in (10 minute) line for!
Interesting water feature with coloured rocks and crystal clear water
Quiet sitting area with water feature
Lap pool with covered seating
There were so many wonderful Japanese maples in the area
Formal white columns and stone entryway
Container with tree and scaviola
Wonderful white gate flanked by white birch
Everyone was speculating if this was from the top of a church
Gorgeous entryway with pineapple sculpture atop white columns and some globe topiary
Trompe l'oeil
Grand backyard with towering Japanese maple
I'm a sucker for yellow roses!
A beautiful side entrance way...
…with a great focal point at the end of it!
See how effective it is to make groupings of the same plant?
This was the fanciest garden - first a wall of climbing roses
Then the Guest house
then the Exercise House (I'm serious! It was full of gym equipment and machines!!)
Rose garden...
…and fountain. It was a very formal space and looked like a well manicured park.
A MOST fabulous arbour!
Climbing roses
Very appropriate garden ornament
Our last garden featured a wonderful relief fountain.
I LOVE garden tours!!!