Daffodils around the old apple tree

One of the great old features of the Garden takes on this beautiful look every spring. The apple tree is in blossom, the daffodils are blooming… And yes, the sign is right: there are strawberries planted here too!

The Knot Garden showing off its new look

The new design for the Knot Garden, put in place during last season, is really coming into its own.

A magnolia against deep blue sky at the entrance to Kingsbrae Garden

It’s opening week at Kingsbrae Garden, and we’re excited to show off all the beautiful new growth. Opening day is Friday, and all this week we’ll be showing you the things you can expect to see.

A world of colour and variety awaits you at the Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre

With opening weekend only a little over a week away, the workers are back at Kingsbrae Garden getting the Garden cleaned up and ready for visitors.

The Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre is already open for the season and stocked with hard-to-find perennials and lots of annual hanging baskets that are already full of colour. Come check out this season’s selection of perennials, seeds and pick up a hanging basket for your mom. The overnight and morning temperatures have still been quite cool but we will soon be stocked with annuals ready for planting as well. The Kingsbrae Garden Plant Centre is open from 9:30am to 5pm seven days a week!

The Garden came through the winter gloriously! It was so refreshing to see everything coming back to life. The magnolia trees are in various stages of bloom. Don’t worry—there will be some in full beautiful flower for visitors to see and smell on opening day which falls on May 18 this year.

It is going to be a busy and beautiful season at the garden. This year we have the ARTrageous Festival, Kingsbrae’s Annual Sculpture Competition, Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s Whirligigs: Going with the Wind, and the Folk Art Festival all opening on June 14. Mark that date on your calendar and be sure to schedule a visit to the garden during these events to see all they have to offer. If you are on Facebook you can keep up with all that is happening at the garden this season by joining our Facebook page.

We also have some new additions to come and see! Maggie and Madeleine are our new miniature donkeys and we have Auguri, the baby alpaca born during the winter. Of course we still have the peacocks, rabbits, ducks and goats as well. There is a lot to see and do at the Garden this season!

They say when the forsythia blooms that it is time to plant your peas and prune your roses! Depending on where you are in Charlotte County the forsythias are either in full bloom or just finishing up. Grab your seeds and pruners and get back into gardening because the season has arrived!

Jennifer Ukrainetz is a friend of Kingsbrae Garden and a frequent contributor.

Daffodils under the old apple tree in the orchard

A tantalizing treat this week: instead of looking backward, let’s look at now! A beautiful sunny day led to a walk around the Garden, and oh! The things we found!

See the full slideshow on YouTube.