When I first retired, I began my blogging .. I meant it to be an exercise in creativity to express the many events of my daily life .. in a garden sense. It was a way to let loose my thoughts and let my fingers fly over the keyboard.
As the years have progressed .. so did my activities and I found it a challenge to take the time out to just sit at my desk and list photos etc.
The joy of writing has never left me…it’s always there .. and I do miss expresssing my garden thoughts .. the magic of watching plants grow. Seeing and hearing baby birds of all types flit about the yard. Learning their vocabulary in bits and pieces from their parents. The pure energy of all living things in my garden. How wonderfully lucky I am to experience all of this!
I normally don’t write of things other than my garden .. but …sometimes it’s better to share things than keep them inside.
Mid-April, we had shocking news that a dear friend of ours passed away suddenly while on a walking tour in Europe. We had visited with him a few months ago and this was hard to encompass. Unexpected loss is painful.
That is all that I will say and so I seek solace in the beauty and growth of my little garden and begin with some lovely photos . .please enjoy!
Turkey Vulture soaring overhead up-island!!
An unexpected surprise last week .. while waiting for the light to change at Blanshard & Hillside! I thanked him and sadly didn’t have enough time to take some money from my purse to give him. I’ve seen panhandlers but never a fiddler at this location!
This is how I start my gardening day .. A pottery mug (from dear Potluck Ceramics in Port Alberni) full of delicious Yorkshire Tea!!
And sometimes, when I feel like it .. my gardening day ends like this!
My JaneE Kat .. my garden buddy! Graciously sitting on her bench, regally awaiting her treats.
How exciting!! My peas are flowering and we have an abundant supply of crunchy fresh pea pods to eat! I had so much fun starting these peas in flats a few months ago.
Lots of potatoes planted in large pots. Potatoes are growing everywhere in the yard, even in the garlic. I love potatoes!
Spot the scapes? I’ve been gathering them to make garlic scape pesto, which I will freeze by the spoonful to add to soups and pasta and .. lots of things! Scapes are sometimes elusive .. just when I think there are no more to gather, I find some hidden away. A mystery to me is how some scapes grow faster than others. Scapes are only grown on hardnecked garlic!
See? Same garlic type (elephant .. i know, a member of the leek family but these are very garlic-y) 🙂
Luscious lazy lupins in Port ..
JaneE getting soaked by the sump-pump water fountain .. drops of water glisten on her fur! Krazy Kat!
Loving the light through the leaves… nature’s artistic renderings of joy …
Springtime beauties .. happy little flowers ..
Woo Hoo .. towering Cues up in Port a few weeks ago ….
Since I have such an abundant supply of beads and things, I decided to create some garden art to share with my friends! There were others also, where I played with colour and designs .. didn’t take photos .. maybe I’ll make more today after I’ve played in the garden and then prepared the scape pesto! 
Well, I’ve enjoyed this little visit at playing with words .. it’s been fun so I will continue tomorrow!
On with this most lovely day! 🙂
This city, Victoria, is simply mad with Snowdrops popping up everywhere, gracing the tiniest of spaces with these delicate flowers… as soon as the snow disappeared, they emerged from the earth. Silent reminders of beauty and joy.
Another one .. beautiful!! I did take some little wedge sections for my garden .. couldn’t resist doing that.
On the way home, little baby girl was so sleepy .. and worn out from pacing back and forth in the car, she finally succumbed to dreamland. Love her so much.
And the great scape escape. I had a feeling, while I was hanging bunches of garlic to dry beneath the sundeck, that I may have missed a scape or two. Proof here that I did!! I could plant the seeds and in a number of years of replanting, I might receive a regular garlic. Might just do that for the fun of it … but will need to clearly label the container!!
Sipping my mug of Yorkshire tea, I wander around the yard a bit .. this also is a ritual that I follow. To see all the changes that Spring has brought to the garden. And enjoy the sweet little songbirds. Here is a little 
Walking along one section of the gravelly beach areas, more logs have been tossed into a pile. Magnificent to see the waves splashing up and over any barriers in their way. Can’t stop the power of a wave.
There are a number of stairways leading to the beach areas. The wooden steps were a tad slippery, so it was good to have sturdy rails to hang onto, to catch one’s step. 
After a cloudy start to the morning, the skies soon cleared and there was beautiful sky art overhead to brighten up our little world. Seagulls happily flying overhead. Watching their side-slips and swift turns made me long for the summer and high flights in the glider. Just a few more months and then that will happen, oh great joy! 
Yummy .. yummy … kelp! Good for forming baskets (keep them out of the rain, haha) or chopping up for the garden. My pal D and I will go seeking seaweed in the new year. Lovely for the garden!! Adding zillions of minerals to the soil. 
A couple of seagulls taking a bit of a rest between flights. Checking out the weather conditions and where is Charlie anyway? He promised to join us here! Lots of logs making their way to the beach area.
Another set of stairs, the wood looking lovely and weathered by the salty air.
My Lovely Garden … Mon Joli Jardin 