Anemone Snowdrop Windflower

Hardiness Zone 3B

This perennial grows freely in Grandmaman's "interim" "ephemeral" Garden in the backyard in Red Deer, Alberta.  The area is planted with plants that have grown too big in their present space and need to be split or are awaiting a new area to be prepared for them.  This hardy perennial was given to me by a friend and was first planted in the front yard until that area became "in construction".  Planted in the "Ephemeral Garden" until a new home was found it came up this spring hardy, healthy and in splendid bloom.

It's present space has slightly acidic soil and is in full shade most of the day.  It seems to like it's new home.

Amemone in Greek means "Daughter of the Wind".

Lily of the Valley

Hardiness Zone 3B

This lily of the valley was transplanted from the frontyard garden to the backyard gardens in Red Deer, Alberta. Planted in areas for ground cover and the beauty of the tiny bell flowers in the spring, all the locations are shaded.  This perennial spreads invasively and should be closely monitored so that it doesn't spread to unwanted areas.
This year, 2013 the flowers were first notice in early June.

The plant has many meanings.  From Christian legends it represents  Mary's Tears during the crucifixion of Christ, a symbol of humility in paintings and/or a sign of Christ's second coming.  The lily symbolizes life to Pagans.

Care should be taken not to ingest or allow animals to chew on this perennial as many references state that some parts of it are toxic.

Tall Bearded Iris

Hardiness Zone 3B

This Iris was planted in June in a backyard garden by a pond with a southwest exposure in Red Deer, Alberta. This iris has large, ruffled powder blue flowers with a soft yellow "beard".  It grows best in full sun and prefers a rich, well-drained loamy soil.  It will grow to a height of 90-100 cm or 3-2 1/2 feet.  It grows well in zones 3-9 so should do well in Central Alberta.  There was a "Caution: Harmful if eaten" tag with the plant.

Moses Fire Daylily

Hardiness Zone 3B

This day lily  was planted in June in a backyard garden by a pond with a southwest exposure in Red Deer, Alberta.  The flowers are a double cherry red. The plant will grow to 45 to 60 cm tall which is about a foot and a half to two feet.  

First blooms were noticed in mid July 2013.

Royal Frosting DayLily

Hardiness Zone 3B

This day lily  was planted in June in a backyard garden by a pond with a southwest exposure in Red Deer, Alberta.  The flowers are a near white with ruffled edges and a lemon to green throat.  The blooms measure 5 inches wide and the plant will grow to 36 inches tall. A coating of diamond dusting makes this lily shimmer in the sunlight.  It is listed as hardiness zone 4-8 therefore we will have to wait to see how it does in this Central Alberta Climate.  Stay posted for further updates.

Kelsey Flowering Crab

This is one of four flowering crab trees that grow in a backyard in Red Deer, Alberta. This tree grows best in full sun.  In our backyard none of the locations are ideal as there are many other mature trees which create a lot of shade.  Nonetheless, the trees have grown satisfactorily.  In the spring, the flowers are a joy to behold.  They do create messy berries later in the season which tend to last until the birds eat them or they are raked up in the following early spring.  The tree is known to grow to be about 15 feet tall with a spread of 12 feet and a clearance of 4 feet from the ground.  

Saskatoons

Hardiness Zone 3B

May Long Weekend 2013

This saskatoon bush grows in a backyard with a southwest exposure in Red Deer, Alberta.     It was planted between the garden shed and the fence two years ago.  This spring it was covered with blossoms for the first time.  Saskatoon berries are native to Alberta.   This bush thrives on most soils with plenty of organic matter and prefer slightly acidic soil.  They don't like wet roots but need to be watered consistently in order to establish the bush and for plump berries.