My Garden – Mon Jardin – Mi Jardin – Mein Garten – Daily Adventures & Thoughts

No matter the language, my garden is my paradise. To watch the lovely birds that nest in the trees and bushes. The bees, butterflies are such a joy to see.

Tag Archives: Lupines


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It’s Been Awhile Since I’ve Blogged & Guess I’ve Been Busy .. or Lazy???

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!!

June 3, 09

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!

June 3, 17

This is how I start my gardening day .. A pottery mug (from dear Potluck Ceramics in Port Alberni) full of delicious Yorkshire Tea!!

June 3, 01

And sometimes, when I feel like it .. my gardening day ends like this!

June 3, 16

My JaneE Kat .. my garden buddy! Graciously sitting on her bench, regally awaiting her treats.

June 3, 15

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.

June 3, 13

Lots of potatoes planted in large pots.  Potatoes are growing everywhere in the yard, even in the garlic.  I love potatoes!June 3, 12

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!

June 3, 11

See?  Same garlic type (elephant .. i know, a member of the leek family but these are very garlic-y)  🙂June 3, 10

Luscious lazy lupins in Port ..June 3, 08

JaneE getting soaked by the sump-pump water fountain .. drops of water glisten on her fur!  Krazy Kat!June 3, 07

Loving the light through the leaves… nature’s artistic renderings of joy …June 3, 06

Springtime beauties .. happy little flowers ..June 3, 05

Woo Hoo .. towering Cues up in Port a few weeks ago ….

June 3, 04

June 3, 03

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!  June 3, 14

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!  🙂


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Enjoying the lazies .. and getting ready to energize my garden life! But first, some photos to share …..

Finally .. I am getting over the “lazies” of winter and energizing myself to get back into my garden!  I have been visiting my little garden almost daily, making sure the bird feeders and Hummingbird feeders are topped up and cleaning them to ensure that my little feathered friends have proper eating stations.  And always, I find little treasures that I’ve placed throughout the garden.  Here is a glass fishing globe that I bought from Capital Iron many years ago .. the colour blends in with the rocks and oak leaves!

jan 2303

And there are at least 6 Stellar Blue Jays that have been visiting .. at first they loved the squash seeds and now much prefer peanuts in the shell, followed by some bird seeds.  They are versatile .. and they are beautiful.  Too bad they can’t sing!

jan2401

They aren’t so shy now and I love how they stand so victoriously when they grab a peanut.  I’ve seen one of them stuff a peanut to the back of their beak and then grab another one.   Then fly back to a tree branch for a little picnic!  They are clever birds.jan2307

Here is another little upside down umbrella for some little birds to perch while they eat.  I took this photo from across the yard so it is a little blurry.  The Junco is so sweet!

jan2308

Stellar on a bamboo cane … a striking bird.jan2311

This years garlic beds (although I have a few more, just couldn’t stop myself!)  I’d covered the bulbs, back in October, with leaf mulch and seaweed .. now that the greens are growing, I’m pushing the cover aside.  This is one of those shape shifting gardens, temporary little walls of brick.  Soon there will be tall peas growing at the edges, followed by a great variety of beans ..yum!  I’ve ordered a variety from Salt Spring Seeds and Annapolis Seeds.  Nothing like sipping on a glass of dry white while looking at the online catalogues   Let’s just say that I’ll have a great variety of beans.  Even if I had been sipping on a mug of Yorkshire Tea, the result would have been the same.    Lots of pole beans, to create my little garden room! Lots of beans for eating, juicing, freezing!!jan2304

I think these are crocus bulbs, fingers crossed they aren’t bluebells, the stems seem rather strong so I’m leaning toward the crocus.  Bulbs are so hardy!jan2305

Here is a rose my neighbour gave me last year .. it is anxious to start growing so I must find a place to plant it soon!jan2302

I loved watching the Bewick Wrens in this tree last year!  Busy collecting the fluffy willow buds to add to their nest.  It won’t be long now!jan2306

Tiny little lupin flowers .. soon they will be at least 3 feet high and the bees will be buzzing!  jan2309

Our lovely little JaneE .. who celebrated her 22nd birthday the day after Christmas.  We didn’t have a cake but we did have lots of fun & cuddles.  She loves that!  She is Queen of our Yard!   Our lovely little girl!!!jan2312

And finally .. I’m turning into a sort of yard detective!  About 7 years ago, when I retired, I began changing the yard again.  Over the years, I’d had raised beds, surrounded by 6 yards of gravel (that I’d moved, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow from the front of the house to the back yard!)  Gardeners aren’t afraid of a little work!  Time for change and I’d shifted and rinsed the gravel.  I also began sifting the soil and found many interesting things (I’d posted the pics, go and have a look if you like!     Anyway, I’d found this glass slag and searched as I may, didn’t find much information!  However, recently I’ve discovered the Archives at Centennial Library and have gone for a beginner visit.  Everyone there is so helpful and I’ve begun the research for the glass factory that was here at one time.  I’ve located several building foundations, partly in our yard and shared with the neighbours. I love a good mystery .. so this is a fun journey that I’ve begun!

jan2313

Well, every year is the same, I’ve noticed the pattern.  Highly energized in the spring, summer and fall.  Finally winding down to total laziness by this time of year.  This year, I decided to embrace that laziness .. knowing full well that it never lasts long.  And the busyness begins.  I love that!

So .. time to get on with this day!  My German lesson starts soon so .. va va voom!

🙂


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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

This past week has really been a hodge-podge of weather.  From rain to sun, throw in a bit of snow, bring back a bit of sun and then revert back to rain.

I’ve been searching for alternatives to cow and horse manure, deciding to try Llama manure. And searched Used Victoria .. there were three choices.  The first choice was a very interesting place.  The owners had a lovely farm, many llamas, most of which were mini-Llamas.  And so I purchased a number of bags of manure from them.

The second place I went to on Saturday and what a delight this was!  A young family live here and the atmosphere was very reminiscent of a property in France, and what do you know, this family was from Quebec, and thus the French atmosphere.

What do I mean by that?  Well, for one thing, the property was naturally beautiful.  There were flagstone pathways, natural looking gardens.   And this lovely pond.  The owner turned on the lights and the water feature motor so that I could see how it looked.

1Then he invited me to the back of the property, and I passed through a vine-covered archway, a cloche-covered raised bed and then ….

2I couldn’t help it .. I just started laughing at such an unexpected tableau!  I was expecting to see a few Llamas, but instead, was treated to the sight of these darling little goats!  How very sweet.

There was this magnificent rooster, who strode up to the front and puffed out his feathers … yes, you are handsome, I said.

9Just then (coincidentally???) a female turkey (ok, I don’t know the terminology) flew over the fenced area and, waving her wings .. walked away from where I was standing.  In Turkey language, I think this must translate to “oh, for heaven’s sake” or something like that.

8Then I took a closer look at the goat … who seemed to be thinking .. well, they are at it again .. .so, look at me, aren’t I the clever one!

3Then I noticed some movement at the back of the paddock, and it seemed that the Llamas had noticed my presence.   The owner explained that they were a mix of Llama and Alpaca, same father, different mothers.  I missed the rest of his explanation as I was totally drawn into watching them, watching me, watching them, etc.

4Llamas are naturally curious and they started sauntering over to where I was standing ..’ello, ‘ello, ‘ello … . they seemed to say …

5Ok, by this time I was laughing so hard at their antics that I really didn’t focus the camera that well .. look at their expressions .. so curious, so friendly , so  .. well .. goofy!  How could you not laugh!  If only Llamas didn’t have such a reputation for spitting .. they would be the ultimate therapeutic animal to bring laughter to anyone!  Such a mood elevator they are!

6Then I tried to pet one of them, I was still laughing so hard and wondering if they would bite, that is why I was so hesitant .. I really love these guys, they are so sweet.  So the owner took a picture of me so that I would have a good souvenir, isn’t that great!!

7The owner had built this little shed for holding various items for the care of the animals.  He was also teaching their sons how to build things and I think they had been involved in this structure.   I just loved the look of this building, and would love a larger version for a garden shed.   A gal can dream, eh?

10Oh, by the way, I purchased 5 bags of Llama manure, they each weighed about 50 lbs., quite heavy and they fit quite nicely in my Echo car, on a tarp, neat and tidy.  He assured me that they do not used medications or pastes so that I can use this manure in my food garden.   He also told me that the manure is magic for the garden.  So now, armed with the power of EM and the beneficial Llama Manure .. I will have the best garden yet.

When I arrived back home, parked the car and started to get ready to unload the Llama manure.. my attention was caught by the emergence of the Lupines at the front of the house .. they start off small with accordion-pleated leaves and in just a short while, they grow into plants that are at least 3′ high, with many blossoms for the bees.

11Grow on Lupines!!!  They self-seed and are a lovely addition to the flower garden.

🙂