Whenever my wife Karen and I travel, we always make sure to visit any botanical garden or arboretums we can find in the area. Besides getting new ideas for our own garden we also get a taste of what its like gardening in different parts of the world.

This fall, for example, on a trek across eastern Canada, we made sure to check out the Montreal Botanic Gardens. This amazing horticultural masterpiece includes 190 acres of spectacular greenhouses and themed gardens. In fact, just when we thought we’d seen everything the garden had to offer, we’d turn a corner and discover a whole new set of delights.

One of our favorite things about the Montreal Botanic Gardens was their extensive use of perennial and annual flowers. Even though we visited in mid-September, the garden was still brimming with color, brilliantly designed with tropical plants, vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials all woven together in a gorgeous tapestry. 

What’s more, there were containers everywhere, each one creatively crafted with a surprising mix of plants. But our favorite containers were the super colorful hanging baskets with no flowers at all. In fact, these baskets contained only plants with colorful foliage.

Our two top hanging baskets picks were both designed for shady spots using perennial plants. The first one contained several different heuchera in shades of red and plum woven together with bright green English ivy and topped with the silver foliage of ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera.

We also fell in love with a similar basket, although in addition to the heuchera, ivy, and brunnera, this one sported a chartreuse crown of Japanese forest grass. This colorful ball of foliage almost seem to glow, especially when it rained, which it always seems to do when Karen and I travel!

The Montreal Botanic Garden is open every day except December 25 and 26. Hours vary by season so check online before you visit.

Get more color in your hanging baskets by mixing in annuals with fantastic foliage.

Written by Doug Jimerson