Great fall escapes - Central Canada

Garden destinations in Central Canada Canadians are a nation of gardeners. This may stem from the fact that our country is cold for so much of the year, so it's not surprising that we need to nurture fertile, blooming places that add joyful, living punctuation to the rhythm of the seasons.This passion extends to the owners of some commercial establishments, too. What follows is a guide to the lovely gardens of a small sampling of inns, bed and breakfasts and restaurants that dot this country from coast-to-coast. We hope they'll inspire you to take an afternoon drive in September's mellow light, or arrange for a longer stay. So hit the road, and please let us know of any others in your neck of the woods that should be included on our next list. You can write to us or send an e-mail to mailbox@canadiangardening.com.Melfort Cottage B&B(155 Douglas Ave., Oakville, ON L6J 3R7; 905/849-9729; www.bbcanada.com/melfortcottage)Type of establishment: B&BThe garden: white-flowering plants on three levels: a formal area, a rock garden with dwarf plants and a lower level with a circular path around a woodland; half a kilometre from Lake OntarioZone: 5Growing conditions: sandy soilKey plants: yews, boxwood, roses, weeping pear, snowdrop and a yellowwood tree (Cladrastis lutea) that screens the garden from neighboursGardening secrets: soil is heavily supplemented with manure, compost and mulchBest time to visit: spring to early summer More places to visit in Ontario and Quebec Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa(RR 33, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8; 800/268-1898; www.langdonhall.ca)Type of establishment: inn, restaurant, spaThe garden: originally designed by American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (who also designed New York's Central Park); perennial and shrub borders redesigned by Leslie Laking, former director of Royal Botanical Gardens; grounds include the Cloister Garden, as well as rock, kitchen and cutting gardensZone: 6bGrowing conditions: dry, sandy soil; very hot, dry summers; situated on a ridge; kitchen garden in full sunKey plants: most vegetables and about 40 herbs are grown for the kitchen; trees (Camperdown elm, maidenhair tree, catalpa) that are original to the house (1898); perennials with prolonged or repeat bloomGardening secrets: homemade compost is piled on the kitchen garden every fall; mulchBest time to visit: spectacular spring bulb display, perennial borders in summer, harvest season for the kitchen gardenRipplecove Inn & Spa(700 Ripplecove Rd., Ayer's Cliff, QC J0B 1C0; 800/668-4296; www.ripplecove.com)Type of establishment: inn, spaThe garden: several gardens with varied plantings in both full sun and shade; taller plants on lee side of stone walls and fences; dozens of flower boxes. Gardens are spectacular contrasted with fall foliageZone: 4Growing conditions: lakeside setting on a 12-acre peninsula protects garden from autumn frost and ensures a growing season until mid-OctoberKey plants: peonies, roses, tulips, daffodils, spring flowers (under trees), hostas, wild cranberries, flag irises, lilacs (late- and early-blooming varieties), clematis, dahlias, lady's mantle, daylilies; shrubs such as Van Houtte spirea, weigela and viburnumGardening secrets: regular weeding, a covering of leaves in fall, no chemical fertilizers. Solid grey clay was dug out to some 1.5 metres deep; topped up with 60 centimetres of horse manure and straw, and one metre of black loam; thin layer of composted duck manure is added every springBest time to visit: spring for bulbs and August to mid-October for fall foliageHummingbird Hill B&B/Spa(254 Edmond Rd., Astorville, ON P0H 1B0; 705/752-4547; www.hummingbirdhill.ca)Type of establishment: B&B, spaThe garden: crushed-stone pathways bordered by hostas lead to the spa, back gardens and pond; vine-covered screened porchZone: 4Growing conditions: hilly, surrounded by trees; southern exposure provides warm spots where red hot poker plants and rhododendrons flourish; sun as well as shade/woodlandKey plants: delphiniums, foxgloves, peonies, oriental and peony poppies, phlox, shasta daisies, artemisias, clematis, day- and oriental lilies, evening primrose, lungwort, herbs, woolly lambs' ears, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, blanket flowers, yellow loosestrife; beds of ornamental grasses and shade plants, such as hostas, ferns and sweet woodruff; herbs, including oregano, tarragon, chives and mintGardening secrets: plenty of organic matter and regular watering; beds are kept weeded and mulched; plants are cut back hard after they finish flowering to promote more bloomBest time to visit: July for delphiniums and foxgloves and August for daylilies