Long Point - Growing in Sand cont.

Last "Growing in Sand" post I wrote about the multitude of Yucca (I don't know if there's an s on the plural or if it's like Cacti) on the property. All of the beach end dune (we call it zone 3 as it was the last of the 3 dunes to be developed and they do each have their own micro climate) Yucca are now in flower and are quite impressive.

They have been joined by the lilies. Most of the lilies on the property are the orange "ditch lilies" that are everywhere in Southern Ontario. Driving the farm roads we see huge banks of them, in and around the ditches, making a beautiful orange display against whatever is planted in the fields beside them. Our ditch lilies don't grow as well as that. They are slow to multiply and only produce a couple of stalks per plant. I am sure that is related to the scarcity of nutrients and water, in the sand, compared to the farm ditches. However, they still give a nice splash of colour in an environment that does not easily produce flowers.

Lilies in Zone 1. George planted a few here last year and they have all survived, though struggling.

Lilies in Zone 2, beside the propane tank. Most of these are in their second summer. Many of these
came from Si and Dan's property beside the Lyyn River and it is amazing that they have adapted
to such a different location.

Lilies in Zone 1. These are actually right beside the road, not on a dune. They are doing
very well because they receive run off from the road and from the driveway, closer to
their natural habitat, ditches.

We have not actually taken any lilies from ditches. Some came from Si and Dan's, some from Terry and Patti's, across the street as they were levelling their yard and some from the Paris house. I also bought other varieties down from the Paris house and most did OK except the Tiger lilies that just disappeared after a couple of seasons here.

Next to the garage. I guess its Zone 1 as its pretty protected and gets lots of water.

When I was researching what would grow here I discovered that there are some Mediterranean plants that can tolerate our winters. They like the sand and good drainage.

Thyme growing very happily in Zone 2.

Lavender in flower. In Zone 1, beside the rain barrel so it gets lots of water. We have
lavender planted in other parts of Zone 1 and 2 but it does best here.

Zone 1: the dune closest to the road, beside the road and beside the garage. This is relatively sheltered from the wind and parts of it get run off from the driveway and the garage.
Zone 2: the dune in the middle, beside the propane tank. Plantings are mostly on the lee side of the dune so it is still relatively protected from the wind. Aside from natural rainfall, George waters them when it is very dry.
Zone 3: even the lee side gets battered by wind in all 4 seasons. The wind also makes it a drier area.
All 3 zones are entirely sand.