Hi GPODers!
We started our week in Alice’s Ontario garden, and we’re staying in the province to visit Lynn Fournier and her lush landscape. She transformed her garden into a tranquil oasis after her children moved out on their own.
Hello,
My name is Lynn Fournier and I live in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, on the northern shore of Lake Ontario where we are fortunate to enjoy gardening in zone 7. My garden is a place of creativity, peace, and wonder where I spend many happy hours. When we moved to this property over thirty years ago, the yard was dominated by a swimming pool, a giant weeping willow and grass. Our children grew up and left and for the past ten-plus years, we’ve filled the pool and taken our outdoor space in a very different direction. Creating topiary has been great fun and over the past year or so, making concrete orbs have become a bit of a passion. Is a garden ever finished? Never!
One of Lynn’s incredible topiaries, a perfectly perky bird perched above low-growing plants. Lynn’s space is sprinkled with pretty flowers, but it is the lush, colorful, and diverse foliage that really shines.
However, this incredible climbing rose does steal the show in this space. The light pink blooms add a touch of romance to this gorgeous patio and pergola. My only question is how she ever manages to pull herself away from this sublime seating area in the summertime?
OK. You’ve probably noticed that I love a good alliteration, but this one is a doozy. Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Zones 3–9) gets backdropped by a big burgundy tulip bloom! Jokes aside, what a stellar combination, Lynn.
Some garden photos make me say, “I can smell this photo.” This is one of them in the best possible way. I know some people find the scent of lilacs (Syringa spp. and cvs., Zones 3–8) too intense, but this is a dream for those of us who enjoy their strong fragrance.
Lynn clearly has an eye for incredible color combinations. Pops of purple allium are the perfect compliment to these bright chartreuse ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Zones 3–7).
Concrete orbs can be such an incredible focal point in a garden, it’s so incredible that Lynn has learned how to create her own. Considering how costly it can be to purchase concrete orbs, learning how to build these modern pieces of garden art is also great for your wallet!
Lynn describes it best when she says it’s a place of “creativity, peace, and wonder.” Every glimpse we got of her gardens felt tranquil, yet artful and not without plenty of color.
Thank you for showing us your gorgeous space, Lynn. I hope we get to see future iterations as you continue with the never-ending changes!
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