Casa Loma - The Gardens of Casa Loma

"Casa Loma Gardens - Calendar of Bloom"

MAY	JUNE	JULY
"*West Staircase:* Woodland wildflower walk; from mid-April to end of May; trillium, hepatica, mertensia, jack-in-pulpit. See how to utilize woodland plants in shady areas. "*Woodland Walk:* South slope is covered in naturalized narcissus and daffodils; paths edged in bergenia, epidmediums, vinca. "*Rhododendron Dell:* Our microclimate brings early rhodos into bloom in the end of April/early May; Rhododendron primroses, doronicum, fritillarias, anemone nemrosa. "*Front Courtyard:* Tulips & other spring bulbs. ?	"*June is the month for roses;* we have over 75 varieties of roses. Excellent collection of old fashioned roses, formal beds of floribunda types, Austin Roses; walk through the Rose Arbour into the Secret Garden covered with hardy climbing roses. Dont miss the Casa Loma Rose on the Lower Terrace. "*Lower Terrace:* Perennial beds start their early summer bloom; delphiniums, iris, campanula, coral bells, late tulips. "*Rhododendron Dell:* Really at its glory during June; large leafed types in bloom as well as deciduous azaleas; flowering dogwoods, lilacs, mock-orange, spirea are all in bloom now. "*Secret Garden:* Peonies, scabiosa, salvia, deutzia, dianthus, geraniums, and, of course, roses in profusion. "*Front Courtyard & Upper Terrace:* Containers with annuals should be starting to fill in and showing lots of colour.	"*Rhododendron Dell:* Mass plantings of astilbes bloom in succession all month long - feathery plumes create a sea of pink, white & red; paths edged with rare hostas and other shade loving plants. "*Rest in the cool shade* of the maples and enjoy the soothing sounds of the waterfall by our lily pond; pond edge hosts many marginal plants such as ligularia, iris, peltiphyllum, calla, and lobelia; also is the home of our resident turtle, Henry. "*Lower Terrace:* Perennial beds peak in late July/early August; daylilies, pholox, yarrow and many other hardy perennials create a tapestry of colour amongst fountains and formal annual beds. "*Front Courtyard:* Cut-leaf Japanese maples, masses of floribunda roses, colourful annuals in beds and containers.
AUGUST	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER
"*Secret Garden & Lower Terrace:* Late blooming perennials; coneflowers, asters, sedums, perennial hibiscus. "**Front Courtyard, Secret Garden, Rhododendron Dell: Roses have a second flush of bloom with cooler night temperatures. "Woodland Walk: Ornamental grasses begin to flower. "Meadow Garden:** Prairie and meadow species are fully developed.	"**Secret Garden, Lower Terrace & containers: Fall mum display. "Secret Garden: Autumn colours in late September start with scorching reds (Burning bush), brilliant yellows (Katsura tree) and flaming orange of amur Maples. "Lower Terrace: beds liven up with hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, boltonia, fall asters. "Rhododendron Dell: showing fall colours of many rare native trees and shrubs. "Front Courtyard:** roses and annual beds are in their final glory before the first frost.	"*Woodland Walk:* muted autumn light shows off browns, golds and silver of ornamental grasses. "*Displays* of ornamental cabbages with chrysanthemums. "*East Stair:* reds and bronzes of oaks and sumacs.