Andrew peake has got the blues; he's had them ever since 2002, when he and his partner, Graham Maxwell, bought their Riverdale, Toronto, home. While it was the house's heavenly shade of colonial blue that initially attracted Andrew to the property, he was less than impressed by the diminutive lot's lack of inspired landscaping and greenery.
Fast forward five years. The house is still blue, but now swaths of day lilies, tickseed, ferns and phlox are centred around a stunning Japanese tree lilac, which stands sentinel over the front yard. A peek through the back fence reveals a similarly lush, pastoral plot. Andrew and Graham's property is now something of a local legend, often visited in the growing season by passersby curious to see the neighbourhood's famous Blue House and its enchanting cottage garden. “It's our favourite room,” says Andrew speaking of his outdoor space. “We live outside as much as we do inside.”
When he first began creating his oasis of country in the city, Andrew, a professional furniture designer, had little more than a passion for plants and a handful of specimens brought with him from his previous garden, including several 15-year-old much-loved hostas. What couldn't be transplanted, however, were the growing conditions of his former property. Whereas he was used to lots of sun, he now had to contend with significant shade. “I pushed for sun, and it didn't work-the plants and I both had to find our niche.” So the first year, rather than plant blindly, Andrew got to know his growing and soil conditions, and spent most of his time working on the bones of the garden: the stone pathway (which he designed himself), the steps, the charming French blue porch and white railings.
Andrew's major renovation challenge was to maximize what little outdoor space he had. “When you have a small area you really have to work it. Everything has to have more than one use.” Take, for example, the tool shed that Andrew designed and built-stained blue, of course. While it was meant for storage, at Graham's suggestion a shelf was added and “voila, a serving area for entertaining,” enthuses Andrew.
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