For most, gardening in Calgary could be considered an extreme sport. With only ninety frost-free days and a plethora of precipitation perils like hail or snow during the growing season, it’s tough to maintain any garden at all, especially one devoid of the ubiquitous spirea and mugo pines. But Rodney Shaver and Llyn Strelau of Rundle Wood Gardens have managed to conquer the elements with their homegrown efforts. Their small speciality garden, which occupies their entire front and back yards, is the place to find unusual as well as never-before-seen perennials—such as a variety of peonies from pale yellow to white and rosy pink, as well as hepatica and liverwort. Open on select days from May until mid-September.—Karen Ashbee