Saturday's destination

The Hope Slough (in Chilliwack, B.C.), fish habitat restoration area
photographed on the bridge, October 30th, 2010

And now you know why I was so impatient to leave the city last Saturday morning.

Today I've also written about  A Sense of Place on the Hedge Society.

South Cambie's autumn tones

Three hours, more than 40 city blocks east, north, west and south, hundreds of trees and shrubs (more likely thousands as we also walked through Queen Elizabeth Park), countless shades of autumn colours, and only one, brief rain shower at the end of it all -- a blissful October afternoon.

Sumac (Rhus) rainbow

Prickly, green fruit of the American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Burning bush (Euonymous alatus)

Another burning bush in a different light

Rich, maroon Viburnum leaves

Favourite summer "stumble-upons"

At the end of this Labour Day weekend, I'm reminiscing about small surprises that delighted me when I turned the corner during daily walks with Piper this summer. Sweeter because unexpected. (And they partly make up for the small harvests from my two gardens.)

Soft, pink-tinged, frilly petals in a corner bulge garden. I adore poppies. Thank you, caring neighbours, who tend Vancouver's Green Street gardens.

Breaking free: a chain link fence can't contain the glorious ruffles, colour and scent of these roses.

Peach on blue: Hollyhocks, part of a mixed perennial oasis in a barren industrial zone.

A deep purple mop-top surveys the traffic circle

Enthusiastic Echinops - three tiny flowers seem to be saying "pick me, pick me!"

Symmetry and synchrony: bees on Echinacea

A meditative dragonfly in the kitchen garden

Good things come in three's: Double wedding ring quilt (#1) on a clothesline (#2) at the Back Porch (#3)

The setting sun's reflection on a window creates a gold shimmer on False Creek's silver

Sunshine, bright colour...

... & other gardening delights from the past week. I'm skipping over the overcast, dull grey features that showed up & stayed far too long nearly every day.

Friday, June 18th: Harvested a few 'Sea of Red' lettuce leaves but left most to capture the sun's rays & make more anthocyanins.

Saturday morning: Indulged in a few moments of simply "being" in the lavender, followed by a serious work session in the beet rows....

... thinning the crowded sections & filling the open spaces with a second sowing to ensure plenty of plump, golden roots in a few more weeks.

Sunday afternoon: Contemplated -- but only briefly -- what to make with the 'Lacinato' kale. Decided quickly & easily: An Honest Kitchen recipe with lentils, tomatoes & plenty of spices.

Monday evening, June 21st: Realized the day was nearly done & I hadn't celebrated the summer solstice in a meaningful way nor taken my "365" photo.  So a little after 8 pm, searched for the best light. Found it on the north side of our condo, illuminating my new-favourite hydrangea colouration.

Tuesday evening: Encountered the unexpected while taking a round-about way home from Pilates. This single, pink poppy in a Green Streets garden stopped me in my tracks. But only for a moment. Then I quickly ran home, grabbed my camera, raced back...well, you know how I spent the next 15 minutes ;-).

Wednesday morning, before work: Closely observed the water droplets on the Calibrachoa.

 

Thursday, mid-day: Soaked up a double dose of sunshine, one from the sky, and one from the pots along the balcony railing. Sent telepathic thanks (again) to my gardening mentor Gayla for inspiring me to appreciate and acquire bold, bright yellow flowers and not feel guilty about adding a few more inedible plants to the garden.

 

Friday, late afternoon: I never drink while gardening & don't usually plant wine with the flowers but I couldn't resist placing this "innocent bystander" among the Calibrachoa. Its colour blended beautifully with the 'Compact Yellow' and 'Apricot Red Eye'. But now the bottle is back on the shelf, some day to be shared, I hope, with my blogging buddies from far-away places. (You know who you are ;-) XO. )

Happy weekend gardening, everyone.