Hydrangeas Blooming Brueckner Rhododendron Garden : Rhododendron Companion Plants, Mississauga Ontario

Hydrangeas, companion plants for rhododendrons, are in full bloom now at BRG. Look for them throughout the garden, including the heritage (Brueckner) rhodo beds, the woodland areas and the entrances off Lakeshore Road West at Shawnmarr and at Godfreys Lane.

PeeGee Hydrangea Godfreys Lane at Lakeshore Rd. West Mississauga

Look for PeeGee hydrangeas throughout the Garden. This hydrangea is at the BRG sign near Godfreys Lane, at the large annual bed. Opposite this PeeGee are the pink hydrangeas in the picture below.

Pink Blooms Hydrangeas

Pink hydrangeas at the large annual bed near the Port Credit and BRG sign south of Lakeshore Road West at Godfreys Lane. This area is considered part of the East Garden, so if you are parked in the main lot at Shawnmarr, walk across the bridge or along the Lakeshore Road sidewalk to have a look. (see bottom photo)

Pale Pink Hydrangea Blossom Close Up

Close up of large pink hydrangea blossom.

White Hydrangeas Interim Place Memorial Plaque Garden

Just east of the main parking lot at Lakeshore Road West, look for the memorial garden in honour of Interim Place original location. Stop and rest a while on the benches located here.

Standard PeeGee Annual Bed Main Entrance BRG

Look for this standard PeeGee hydrangea in the main annual bed just south of the parking lot entrance to the Garden. It's in a sea of pink geraniums.

Blue Mauve Pink Hydrangea Brueckner Heritage Rhodo Garden

The hydrangeas in the main heritage Brueckner beds on the west hill side are easy to spot from the main trail as you head into the Garden.

White Hydrangeas BRG Heritage Rhododendron Beds Mississauga

Walk through a gate in the split rail fence to enter the hillside garden. The rhododendrons won't be blooming again until next spring, but their companion plantings -- hydrangeas, holly, Pieris Japonica (Japanese andromeda) are stepping up to the Blooming plate.

Blue Pink White Hydrangeas Split Rail Fence Rhododendron Garden

This is the view of the hydrangeas behind the split rail fence, and below the hillside garden, near the Rose Garden (The Roses are now signposted according to type.)

Annual Garden Lakeshore Road Godfreys Lane Mississauga ON

Annual flower bed at Port Credit, Brueckner Garden sign, Lakeshore and Godfreys Lane. Though referred to as an 'annual bed', the plantings in this area include roses, lilies, shrubs and grasses. The coleus are truly amazing this year. This photo doesn't do them justice!

The recent heat wave --- all of July and into August -- coupled with good soil, irrigation and fertilizer has set the weeds into a massive growth spurt as well.

Weeding is underway throughout the Garden, but if you'd like to volunteer your help, please do drop by and pull a few (hundred).

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I also took a short video of the Japanese beetles that are finishing off the meal they made of  the rose garden.

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Rose Garden Design Legend Map: Name That Rose

Almost four years in the making, the Rose Garden design has a legend to help name that rose!

It's not perfect, but this map of the rose beds at Brueckner Rhododendron Garden will serve the purpose for now. And just in time, as the Rose Garden is in fine bloom this week. Have a look:

Rose Garden Design and Legend for BRG Rose Beds

 Click on the above image to view this legend / map in a larger size, then click the Back button to return to this page. Before you visit the Garden (BRG map), you may want to print out the legend to bring with you.

Brueckner Rhododendron Garden Mississauga Ontario

 The Rose Garden is just over the rise from the parking lot entrance on Lakeshore Road West at Shawnmarr, and so is not readily visible. Note, too, the hosta beds (next to No. 9) as they are coming into bloom as well.

Rose Garden Design Legend No. 4: Scentimental Rose

 Here's a closer look at No. 4 in the legend: Scentimental. It seems no two Scentimental blooms are the same.  And they are very fragrant! Just to the rear of Scentimental is Brother Cadfael; past that, in No. 2 is Evelyn. See in detail on this post. I see by the date, the roses are in bloom almost to the same day as they bloomed last year. Last year this time, most of the rhodos and azaleas had finished blooming; this year, there are a fair number of rhodos still in bloom.

Scentimental Roses in Full Bloom BRG Port Credit

 Here's another picture of Scentimental. This year and for the first time, all the roses in the Garden were hard pruned, and they are looking great. The white roses seen in the right background are Iceberg.

Eglantyne Pink Rose in Full Bloom

 The roses in this bed in the picture above were the subject of a lively discussion amongst Garden committee members: Was this Brother Cadfael? Eglantyne? The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild? All those roses are pink. (It's likely apparent why we were in need of a rose garden design map and legend.)

But Para's (the BRG head gardener) memory and rose knowledge trumped the committee's as he proved that this rose bed is Eglantyne. 

Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Red Rose) and Iceberg (White Rose)

 Some of the original Tess of the d'Urbervilles roses didn't make it through the past few winters, so Iceberg (white) roses were planted on the perimeter of this bed (No. 11). The red-and-white roses mimic the colors of the Canadian flag, and bloom in time for Canada Day, July 1.

Abraham Darby Yellow Rose No.6 BRG Rose Garden Layout

Abraham Darby (No. 6) is the other yellow / apricot colored rose in the Garden, and shows a deeper orange/ apricot center. Evelyn (No. 2) can look the same when it first blooms, or is in bud, but Evelyn fades to pinky-peach, or peachy-pink.

Iceberg White Rose in Full Bloom at Brueckner Garden

White rose Iceberg is looking fine in its own bed (No. 5) as well as framing the crimson Tess in No. 10. With any or all of these pictures, click to enlarge, then click Back.

Rose Garden Viewed from Waterfront Trail

 Here's how the roses look from the Waterfront Trail along Tecumseh Creek.

Do stop by and 'smell the roses' this Canada holiday long weekend! Especially if you are planning to come to Port Credit to take part in the July 1 parade, entertainment and fireworks.

The Rose Garden The Early Years: See how the rose garden looked when first it was laid out and designed.

Wedding Pictures Mississauga ~ Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens a Great Location

With the roses, lilies and hydrangeas now in bloom, Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens is a great location for taking wedding pictures. Or any other kind of photo, for that matter. Come to think of it, the Gardens roses and lilies would make gorgeous wedding bouquets :-) But don't be tempted: All flowers, shrubs, trees etc in Mississauga parks are public and for all to enjoy.

Have a look at some pictures of what's in bloom now at the Gardens: RosesTess, Captain Samuel, Iceberg and Evelyn, and hydrangeas and lilies.

Roses in Bloom at Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens

Captain Samuel Holland rose bed, pictured above, is at the top of the rose garden; the rose bed closest to the parking lot on Lakeshore Road and Shawnmarr.

Captain Samuel Holland Bright Pink Rose Close Up

This hardy Canadian rose is resistant to black spot and fungus. But notice the dark spot in the center of the smaller rose? Japanese beetles are back. Time to get hand-picking before they do damage!

Evelyn ~ Yellow Rose ~David Austin Roses

Evelyn shows different shades of yellow and apricot, depending on the stage of the bloom and the light at the time of day.

Iceberg White Rose ~ David Austin Rose

Iceberg is a beautiful white rose from David Austin Roses; there are two beds of Iceberg in the Rose Garden, and plans call for them to be merged into one bed. Canadian winters are not always kind to roses, and some Icebergs did not survive.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles ~ David Austin Red Rose

Tess Of The d'Urbervilles is another David Austin beauty, a red rose that begins as a gorgeous bud then opens to a double full bloom.

Stargazer Lily

The lily garden was decimated by red weevils last summer, but these Stargazer lilies in the main 'annual' bed just south of the parking lot at Lakeshore Road West in Port Credit are in full bloom now.  If you visit, take note of the weeping beech and Japanese maple, both new to this bed.

Captain Samuel Holland Red Roses ~ David Culham Photo

David Culham, chair of the BRG Stewardship Committee, sends along this photo of Captain Samuel Holland roses. If you'd like to volunteer, see details this post.

Hydrangeas, Geraniums, Stargazer Lilies ~ Summer Bloomers

The annual bed at the front of the Gardens is a picture right now, with chubby white hydrangeas, pink and yellow lilies, and salmon pink geraniums making a nature bouquet. The cleomes are just starting to open their buds.

There's a google map for the BRG in the right menu.  Come walk through the Gardens, and bring your camera! (And your bride, if you have one!).

To book BRG or other Mississauga parks, get a permit : Details on City Mississauga site.

Peony Garden ~ White Tree Peonies, Top Brass White Peony, Pink Peonies

White, pink, tree and bush: Peonies are in glorious full bloom in the Gardens in Port Credit Ontario Canada! Click on image to enlarge; Click Back button to return to this page.

Peony Garden in Bud

Here's how the peony garden looked on May 24, with the peonies tall and in bud, white or pink tips showing. One precocious white tree peony was almost done blooming.

Peony Garden in Full Bloom

Here's how the peony garden looked today, with all the buds now open.

White Peonies ~ Pink Peonies

Note the white peony with yellow center in the photo above: Its name is Top Brass, and it's a beauty!

Top Brass White Peony Close Up

A gorgeous peony, with a blooming habit of doubling its petals back on itself to show its yellow core.

Dark Deep Pink Shrub Peony

Only a few of the peonies are this deep pink, almost red color, and this one sets off the paler pinks and whites.

Two-toned Pink and Deep Pink Peony Flower

I don't know the name of this stunner, but will ask the Peony Man or Head Gardener if they can label it.

Pink Tree Peony Bud

Tree Peonies announce themselves in their buds, which look more like a rose bud than a shrub peony bud. Scroll up to the photo of the peony garden in bud, and see how non-tree peonies have buds that resemble a cabbage.

White Tree Peonies in Full Bloom

Note too that the tree peonies have fewer petals - usually only 6 or 7-  than do shrub peonies. And tree peonies will grow taller, and appear less shrub-like.

White Tree Peony in Full Bloom

Here's a close up of this gorgeous white tree peony.

Peony Garden ~ Port Credit Mississauga Ontario

The Garden as a whole: a magnet for photographers and artists, and a joy to behold.

Heavy rains and strong winds over the previous weekend did take a bit of a toll on the blossom-heavy peonies. Luckily, the plants grew and filled in considerably from last year, their first, and provided a self-support system.

Here's how the peonies looked last year: Top Brass and Tree Peonies. I notice with some interest the dates of those posts; they are blooming this year almost to the date they bloomed last year.

Now lest you think that you've missed the peony garden in full bloom, take heart: The Rose Garden is entering stage right!  And some azaleas and rhodos are still blooming, and the wildflowers are starting to get really wild with blossoms!

Chestnut, Redbud, Weeping Cutleaf Beech, Japanese Cherry Maple: Trees at the BRG

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Lake Ontario's north shore micro-climate is a perfect location for the spring-blooming  rhododendrons and azaleas, and for Carolinian forest trees and other shrubs and ornamentals.

Here is a sampling of the latest trees in bloom and leaf at the BRG in Port Credit, Ontario: Chestnut, Redbud, Weeping Beech, Cutleaf Beech, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Maple.
Click on photo to enlarge, then click Back button to return to this page.

Chestnut Tree BRG South Bridge Lake Ontario

A large chestnut tree is in full bloom south of the bridge closest to Lake Ontario at the Waterfront Trail in the Gardens. There is another chestnut tree located close to the Kennedy Memorial Plaque at the parking area on Lakeshore Road West.

Chestnut Tree Flowers - BRG Mississauga Ontario

Here's a closer look at the Chestnut Tree in full bloom. Squirrels can look forward to a good crop of nuts this year.

Japanese Cherry Trees in Bloom Late April

The Japanese Cherry trees are finished blooming for this year, but a few weeks ago, they were the Gardens Stars beside the walking path in front of Heritage rhododendron beds.

Redbud Trees in Bloom ~ Port Credit Ontario

The mauve - pink flowers of the redbud trees close to the Gardens parking area bring to mind the spring blooming jacarandas of Argentina and Australia. See more redbuds in bloom now in Port Credit, too, on the east  side of the river near Snug Harbour.

Cutleaf Beech Trees - BRG East Garden Near Godfrey's Lane

The cutleaf beech were in full flush new leaf green in a grove of their own in the East Garden close to Godfrey's Lane. Cutleaf Beech are a smaller variety than Copper Beeches (see my other blog post for copper beech pictures).

Weeping Beech ~ Japanese Maples New at the BRG

Garden staff added a new dimension to the annual and perennial shrub bed with a rather unlovely, at the time, weeping beech. The weeping beech, left center in the above photo, looked like a pole strung with vines. The Japanese Maple trees, to the right, were lovely right away.

Weeping Beech Breuckner Rhododendron Gardens

Within a few weeks, though, the Weeping Beech is looking a lot better than when first transplanted. In fact, I think it's marvellous. The Japanese maples, to the right rear in the picture, also seem to have taken to the transplanting well. Kudos, Para and Joe!

Related tree pictures: Tamarack Larch;  Kentucky coffee Tree (not in leaf yet this spring), magnolias (finished blooming).

Be sure to come visit this Sunday, May 23, for a tour of the Gardens from 2-4 p.m. More rhododendrons are coming into bloom day by day!

Rhododendron Gardens Tour Date May 23 ~ Rhodos, Azaleas, Japanese Cherry

[BRG Tour Date 2012: Sunday May 17, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free!]

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The Gardens Tour date has been changed! The new Rhododendron Gardens tour date is Sunday, May 23, 2010.

Magnolia, Japanese Cherry, Rhododendrons

The magnolias (white, photo) are almost finished blooming. The rhodos, azaleas and the Japanese cherry trees are coming into bloom earlier than usual so the garden tour has been advanced one week from the original date May 30.

Mauve Rhododendrons in Bloom - Port Credit Mississauga Ontario

Even the apple trees, legacy of the original Cranberry Cove farmland where the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens now flourish, are popping buds open as fast as they can. The forecast weather over the coming weeks is for more sunshine and seasonably warm temperatures, which will encourage many of the flowering shrubs to bloom earlier than usual.

Pink Rhododendron Flowers - BRG Mississauga Ontario

The Rhododendron 'Heritage Bed' is marked with split rail fencing, and signed with information about Dr. Brueckner and his legacy rhodos. These pink rhododendrons can be seen in the Heritage Bed, and in one of the beds closer to Lake Ontario.

Split Rail Fencing Marks the Brueckner Heritage Garden

The gate in the split rail fence that separates the paved trail (path) from the parking lot and the heritage rhodos is now open so that photographers, wedding parties and rhodo fanciers can get close to the beautiful rhododendrons. However, do leave your dogs on leash outside the fenced area. Cyclists: Park your bikes outside the heritage bed.

Pink - Mauve Rhododendrons - Brueckner Heritage Gardens

These early blooming rhododendrons provide a good show for visitors now, and over the coming weeks. There is some concern that even with the Gardens tour date being advanced one week that warm weather in the interim will force all the rhodos into unusually early bloom, and that they may well be in the final stages of blooming by May 23.

White Rhododendron with Pink Tinge - Port Credit Ontario

This rhododendron blooms white, with a pale pink tinge to the flowers. Look for this tiny shrub amidst the larger rhodo plants; it's easy to overlook. This rhodo can be found in the heritage bed, and at the top of the hill heading towards the lake, and in the beds in the south garden area overlooking Lake Ontario.

Mauve Charmer! Azalea in Bloom Mississauga Ontario

Look for azaleas in bloom, too. I took these pictures at the BRG on Tuesday, April 27. Here are pictures and two post dates from previous years (posted on my own blog that predates the BRG blog by 2 years) and pictures of blooming rhododendrons from last May.

• Snapshot rhodos May 17 2007
• Snapshot rhodos May 17, 2008
• BRG blog Rhodos  May 12  2009

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Update: May 10, 2010: Japanese Cherry Trees BRG

Japanese Cherry Trees In Bloom ~ BRG Mississauga Port Credit

High winds and rain over the weekend in Port Credit ON did not to any favours to the blooming Japanese Cherries at the Gardens. Luckily, Para Kanp, head gardener, had a few days earlier taken this photo of the trees in full bloom (Click on any photo to enlarge; click Back button to return to this page).