My hubby and I spent a few days earlier this month in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, so I could attend some workshops during the University of Saskatchewan’s annual Hort Week. I had such an amazing time and met so many nice people, plus I learned a lot about plant diseases, insect pests and controls, and Prairie-hardy trees and shrubs. Over the next few posts, I’ll share some pics from the trip – this was our first time to Saskatoon and I was impressed with the beauty of this city on the South Saskatchewan River.
One of the stops we made was to tour the University’s Patterson Garden, a public arboretum. We actually went there over two evenings because (a) it has so many trees and shrubs to explore and (b) the mosquitoes chased us out the first night! The mozzies were INSANE while we were there – I’m not one of those people who are typically bothered by them, but I was practically eaten alive this trip. One of the participants in the insect pests workshop worked for the City of Saskatoon and he said that according to tests they had done, the mosquito population hadn’t yet reached a record peak, but it was close.
Here is more information about Patterson Garden, from the U of S’s website:
The University’s Arboretum was established in 1966 and contains one of the most diverse collections of trees, shrubs, and vines in the Prairie Provinces. Species from northern regions of the world as well as historic cultivars developed by pioneer plant breeders are on display. All specimens are labeled with common and scientific names. An invaluable reference for horticulture and botany, the picturesque site is also used for photography, field trips, and strolls.
The Arboretum is located in zone 2b of the hardiness zones of Canada, experiencing a sunny continental climate with cold snowy winters and hot summers. Despite climatic extremes many woody plants thrive here, responding to well-defined seasons and long hours of summer sunshine.
Patterson Garden Arboretum is a garden attraction of Canada’s Garden Route. It is nearby to the campus area and is open to the public throughout the year, free of charge, from sunrise to sunset.
We came across this beautiful rose with fading flowers near the end of the second evening – it is not a named cultivar, at least not according to the plate, which read: Rosa 73846001 (J5 Rose). Most of the plants had their planting dates marked on the plates, but not this one, so I’m not sure how old it is.
Gorgeous!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! What plans do you have (gardening or otherwise)?
Flowery Prose 
Nice rose – shame about the mozzies! We are in the middle of an unseasonal heatwave here so much of the weekend will be spent watering containers! They seemed such a good idea in spring! I mustn’t complain but some rain at night would be nice 🙂
I hope some gentle soaking overnight rains head your way soon! That’s the one thing about containers – the constant watering! But they’re so worth it!
Enjoy your weekend!
Beautiful. I can almost smell it – terrific photography.
Thank you very much! You know something?…I can’t recollect if it had a fragrance; I don’t believe it did. Nothing that made me take notice, and I was pretty close to the plant to take the photo. Now I wish I could go back and double check! 🙂
Beautiful photo, rose.
Thanks so much! A gorgeous subject…. 🙂
It really is gorgeous.
I can’t believe that colour – spectacular!
Lovely photo of the rose. We haven’t had too many mosquitoes here this year…yet! Have a lovely weekend Sheryl. I shall be sowing my last batch of basil this weekend, and eating ice cream! 😉
Glad you haven’t had the mosquitoes – it’s actually been fairly good here in Calgary, too (especially compared to last, post-flood). I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an infestation as awful as in Saskatoon, though!
Sowing basil and eating ice cream seems like the most delightful ways to spend a weekend, I love that! And I firmly believe there should be some ice cream in my future as well… 😉
Gorgeous rose, indeed, but what a pity about the mosquitoes. 😦 The website for the Canada Garden Route is great. Have you visited many of the gardens mentioned?
We’ve been to a few of the ones here in Alberta and I visited the Butchart Gardens in B.C. many years ago (would love to go back one of these days!). It would be fantastic to cross a few more of these gardens off of my list…. 🙂
I hope you get to do that, one day.
Your trip to Saskatchewan sounds wonderful–one more place I’d like to visit! I’ll try to find a time to go when it’s not mosquito season, though!
Definitely a great idea – it’s not pleasant to do any outdoor activity when the mosquitoes are as bad as that! I was really taken with the city of Saskatoon, it’s so beautiful and they’ve retained many of their old architecture. And they have a fantastic pathway system by the river – you can go for kilometres!
Sorry about those mosquitoes they can sure ruin a good thing. I love to visit gardens and beautiful places with trees but I do not enjoy those pesky mosquitoes at all. That is a very beautiful rose and a terrific picture of it. Hugs
It was a delight to tour Patterson Garden, that’s for sure – mosquitoes notwithstanding! So many beautiful plants to see!
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Mosquitos must have their use in nature but I never understand why so many and so big ;0) Beautiful photos and lovely flower. Well, it is a busy weekend for me, I have class in an hour but got side tracted..as you see here ;o) I better run along. have a good one! Johanna
Hope you made it to class on time! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing what you’re working on next…you must be having so much fun with your art! Have a wonderful week!
Fantastic trip, can’t wait to hear more about the Garden and the workshops you attended. I know what you mean about the mosquitoes. I’ve had that happen too where it just becomes unbearable. they like me too and I can end up covered head to toe in welts if I’m not careful.
Too many mosquitoes can really put a damper on the enjoyment of being outdoors, that’s for sure! It’s amazing how persistent and irritating they can be…although from what I hear, black flies can be even worse. We all could do without! I will definitely post some more photos and stories from my experience in Saskatoon – it was so much fun!
Hope you had a fun, sunshine-filled weekend!
Lovely Rose, I don’t know this garden, but grew up about an hour out of Saskatoon, it is a lovely city. It’s nice to hear you had a great time visiting the city.
I didn’t know you were originally from Saskatchewan! I was really delighted with the whole experience – Saskatoon is so beautiful and I love how they haven’t destroyed all the old buildings, there is a really great mix of them and the modern architecture. And it’s so green for a Prairie city – loved that!
🙂
As a Scot, I know what you mean about the mozzies! What a beautiful rose. I love the colours. This weekend? We’re just going to sit in the garden and enjoy the weather! 🙂
That sounds like the best weekend plan of all – I hope it was fantastic! 🙂
We have a bumper crop of skeeters, black flies, biting flies, oh my, the most bugs ever this summer!
Ugh…that doesn’t sound like fun at all. Some years are just horrible for insects, aren’t they? Hopefully you’ll get a break soon!
Zone 2b sure sounds like the tundra to me, the rose is even more amazing for that! Oh how I hate mosquitos
It’s definitely a zone fit for only the hardiest of plants, that’s for sure! It’s incredible how many different species can thrive in those conditions, though – a real wonder!
Hope you had a delightful weekend! 🙂
Sounds like a good trip. Mosquitos drive me nuts. Not too much work planned this weekend – just a bit of mowing, cutting back, and general puttering.
“General puttering” in the garden sounds like it could be a great combination with relaxation and enjoying the sunshine! Hope it was a good weekend for you!
I love to visit our local botanical gardens and arboretum as there is so much to see. Right now our 80 year old agave plant is blooming (since July 8th) and it is stunning! Beautiful picture of a rose – you captured all the colors… 🙂
That is so exciting about the agave! I always love the sheer variety of plants in arboretums and botanical gardens – such marvellous collections!
What a wonderful rose