squash | My Lovely Garden … Mon Joli Jardin

December 31, 2013
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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

I haven’t made resolutions for years simply because I used to set up these lofty goals that I ended up not keeping . So I thought .. let’s just try not making resolutions for a few years and this has worked out very well.

I have been setting little goals and these have worked. Like the one about downloading photos daily .. this goal has been achieved and works well. I can now select photos from a certain time frame and know when things have happened. Important things. Records of my first luffa. Tumbling jewels of tiny tomatoes ripening on the vine. Sweet little birds frolicking around the yard.

Photos of delicious squash and other veggies growing in the yard.

Except something happened this year that caused me to rethink this whole resolution thing.

It was a squash that changed my mind and started to turn my world around.

Here’s me with my Brode Galeux d’Eysines, a French heirloom. I’d started my squash plants way too late (sigh) yet I was successful with growing some. I felt so very proud of this one! D took the photo. I know I look like a Gomer with my hair all over the place, but, hey, I’m in the garden, right? Plants are more important than my wardrobe! Sheesh.

This lovely squash weighed 20 lbs (and a half, I think!):

And there were other squash also .. here are a few more:

So I had this one giant squash and 2 smaller ones of the Brode type. The largest one I proudly placed on a shelf .. actually I kept moving it around it was so beautiful. I was going to cut it up in January and share with my pal D.

However, she told me that a friend was having problems with squash, growing soft and had to be composted. No, I thought, this won’t happen with my crown jewel from the garden. I would tap the exterior from time to time and it felt solid.

Except, one day, I had this funny feeling .. so I went to my computer room and carefully picked up the squash. And, the bottom fell off. Oh No.

Yes … the worst thing imaginable had happened. This treasure had started composting internally .. most likely weeks before. I carried it carefully to the sink. Delicately, with a sharp knife .. I tested cutting through the skin. And it sliced through quite easily.

With a sinking heart I opened up the squash .. and .. believe me when I tell you that there was nothing to be retrieved from the interior. Thank goodness there is no smellivision in blogs. Pheweeeeeee!

I was able to gather a handful of seeds which I washed and cleaned and am drying for another try at growing this year.

So this adventure has taught me a very valuable lesson. Admire the squash, but cook it and enjoy it. Take a photo and admire the beauty. But … cook it!

So I have been cooking and freezing the rest of my squash, jut to avoid any further disappointments.

Another resolution I will (try) to keep! To not buy up a carload of plants just because they are on sale and are perennials and are so very beautiful. Here is a photo of one of several (ha, several can mean 3 or 4, can’t it?) carloads of plants that I bought last summer. Now all potted up and waiting to be moved to our new home in the coming year!

Looking through my photos of last summer, found this beautiful shot, taken when I was flying in the front seat of the PW-6U glider in Port Alberni. Such beauty.

This was a great bumper sticker I saw during the summer. Speaks volumes.

Another lovely summer sky ….. how uplifting

I was so proud of this squash patch. However, next year, I’ll grow them in very large containers. I did grow some in very large pots this summer, but they weren’t terribly successful.

This is why I love taking photos in the summer .. reminders during the winter of what is soon going to be happening again in the yard.

My pal D is an avid collector of teacups …. here is one that she bought and it just matches the cover of the Butchart Gardens blue poppy seed packet!

My collection of organic seeds. I had so many packets that one sunny afternoon last summer, I placed them all out on a table, just to see how many I had. Enough, I think, Except for the Heirloom seeds which I later purchased from a small organic farm in Antigonish, Nova Scotia! I’ll be sharing these with fellow gardeners next summer.

Another dreamy sky from 2013 ..

Well, it’s been a year full of happenings. And I look forward to a growing year in 2014.

Happy New Year to everyone and I wish all the very very best!

🙂

September 24, 2013
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Being adventurous and growing lettuce, onions and carrots! A walk along the shore.

Tuesday, September 20,2013

About 3 weeks or so ago, I decided to just trying growing some greens .. the first day of frost here in Victoria isn’t due till November 1 .. so I filled up my new plant containers (a sort of waterproofed fabric with grommets for drainage). This one has green onions and two types of greens .. quite a few have sprouted and I believe that I will be able to harvest some for a few meals.

Some (non gmo, organic) Red Bowl lettuce .. and I’ve planted some coriander in all 3 containers.

And some multi-coloured carrots!

This is my first time at growing squash .. some sites state that long vines should be cut so that all of the strength would go into the growth of the squash. Being a timid soul, I didn’t do that .. thus this lovely little squash growing at the end of a long stem of vine. Hurrah!!

Heritage strawberries. Interesting that I paid nearly $7 for a plant from a market and only $2 at a plant sale in Port Alberni! Yeah for Port Alberni. Anyway, next year I plan to start more of these from saved seed. They are a rampant grower! And the berries are so tasty. I believe they are “Fraises des Bois” and here is a good site for saving strawberry seeds: http://gardentherapy.ca/save-alpine-strawberry-seeds/

Last week I ventured down to Dallas Road .. the tide was the lowest I’d seen .. so I walked about for a bit.

Lovely skies set the scene for a quiet stroll ..

The sea birds were enjoying the peaceful serenity .. sharing a bit of gossip, enjoying the view ..

This little guy was taking a little snooze …

I wasn’t wearing my walking shoes and some of the rocks were a little slippery so I proceeded along slowly … striving to maintain my dignity! After all, falling by yourself takes on a different view than it does when walking with a friend, then it’s not so bad, eh? One can imagine all kinds of reasons why someone would fall when walking by themselves ,,, at least, with my active imagination anyway!

Tiny little worlds of living beings in the little tidal pools ..

Logs left behind by the receding waters ..

Dreamy skies …

And then the brilliant rays of the sun and puffy cumulus clouds take over ..

I walked on a little .. and turned back …. enjoying the sweet solitude of the early morning . A little moment in time when the crowds were somewhere else. I love these moments.

This is truly a lovely time of the year. A delicious blend of sun and rain. Now .. I love the rain. Absolutely love it. It’s a time when I can actually get something done in the house. And walking in the rain is a delight. Memories of getting soaked as a kid, then in the house, change into dry clothes. Mug of hot chocolate or tea.

Speaking of walking .. time to get out and see what’s happening in the neighbourhood! Maybe I’ll meet some lovely little doggies!

🙂

August 27, 2013
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Monday, August 27, 2013

Finally .. some light rains are happening which is good for the garden, although I really wish for a good downpour, just to soak the soil very well.

My squash crop is growing well .. yesterday I spent some time cutting away the mildew laden leaves … I’ve found a number of good blogs for squash growing, such as: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/powdery-mildew and this link was quite helpful, with regards to flowers (the first flowers are always male) and not to worry about flowers dropping off, quite reassuring: http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-squash/#jump-2

I love finding reading about other gardeners‘s experiences, how they overcome their gardening “issues” .. as in “powdery mildew“. I’ve learned that it’s alright to remove the mildewed leaves, leaving 4 to 5 leaves is fine. Was hoping to have bushels of squash to share with friends this year .. but will still have enough to share so that is good.

When it is time for harvesting, you can bet that I’ll be posting pictures.

Anyway .. .just want to share my most wonderful latest adventure! On Sunday I had the opportunity to fly for two solid hours (more than two, actually) in the PW 6 at Port Alberni and here you can see a great video explaining what a flight is like: http://visc.wqs.ca/

However, as wonderful as my garden is and as much as I truly love each and every living thing that grows there, there is absolutely nothing in this world that equals going flying .. especially when it is flying in a sailplane … and on Sunday .. I had the most wonderful opportunity to fly for hours!! Sheer heaven.

The weather was splendid … a full day of the most amazing cloud formations ..

Isn’t this crazy wonderful ???

Little did I know at that time .. when I was busy clicking photos of the skies above .. that I would soon be up there myself!

So it was a hot, sunny afternoon. I was sitting in my insect screened little tent, avoiding the hornets buzzing around .. reading the final pages of “the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” … when Andrzej called out … Anne-Marie .. do you want to go for a flight??? Well, no sooner did I hear the beginning of his sentence when I’d thrown down my book, chair toppled to the ground, unzipped the insect tent and was running across the tarmac. Where I settled myself into the front seat of the PW-6. And we took off minutes later!! As you can see, this wasn’t my first flight! I love .. love .. love .. flying!

We were soaring .. the tow line was dispatched and there was just the beautiful song of the wind coming in through the side port .. I taped a bit of this, wanting to remember this melodious yet powerful sound for later .. when I’m on the ground … wanting to remember and savour over and over and over again ..

From the ground .. early afternoon …..

From the air .. we were heading towards Mount Arrowsmith .. wow …………

I just couldn’t believe that I would ever be so close to this mountain! Waved to hikers along the top … WOW

How utterly magnificent … I just reveled in the extreme joy of flying so high, I believe over 6,300 feet .. how close to the mountain we are .. gliding in the smooth air .. ever closer …

So close . I could see trees, snow, gullies .. but most of all, I felt the sheer joy of flying with the power of the wind, the thermalling had brought us up here .. no motors .. magical .. empowering ..

Time just stood still as we sailed past this venerable mountain .. such energies of beauty, power, majesty, nature .. struck me speechless as we travelled on in the air .. this was an excellent flying day ..

I felt so blessed to be up here … such a great privilege ..

We did fly near the Comox Glacier .. I’ll share that photo later .. here are more sky shots ..

From up above..

Thanks to my dh’s passion for flying .. I’ve experienced: tandem hang-glider flights, which includes launching off a mountain, being towed by an ultra-light (flown by my dh!); flying on the back of an ultra-light (again, dh as pilot); sail plane rides in California, Nanaimo; an acrobatic flight for one of my (ahem) birthdays, could have been my 50th. Flight in the back seat of a Nanchang; many hours in Cessna 172’s and other aircraft.

However, nothing can even remotely compare with being in the PW 6 up at Port Alberni. The smooth tow up by the Pawnee … the sweet ascent into the skies, the “thang-thwup” of the tow-line release. Followed by hours of other-worldly soaring in the skies, Soaring along the mountain ridges. Thermalling to climb and the cross-country flying … a journey into another realm. One that I truly love .. even though there are no gardens up there.

I am one very lucky gal .. and look forward to another flight ….and then another .. and, yes another ….

A 2-seater self-launcher is on our wish list ….

🙂

August 21, 2013
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Next year, I vow (again) I will have an improved veggie garden.

I’m learning (quickly) my strengths and weaknesses in growing vegetables.

My pal D has a definite green thumb. She can grow tomatoes like there is no tomorrow, harvesting hundreds of tomatoes from several plants. She even gave me 2 healthy specimens for my garden. Alas, I have not harvested as many as she has. She nurtures the plants, carefully watering them, turning them daily to ensure they receive enough sunlight. I, on the other hand, do water them but not as carefully. And the squash tendrils (from the container squash plants) have quite grown through the tomatoes so that I cannot easily turn the pots.

Ah, next year!!

And my squash plants have gone crazy! I’ve planted 3 types so won’t be able to save the seed from this years crops .. but, hey, that is what Seedy Saturdays are for! These look like spaghetti squash, but I don’t think they are … pretty though. Labeling the plants would help! sigh.

Nice hidden treasures …

It feels like Christmas morning, going outside to check on the squash! Little hidden treasures on the ground.

Here is a reason why I have difficulty turning some tomato plants around … squash has taken over!

Quite literally – taken over .. growing onto the grass ..

I made a makeshift area for the squash to grow … they seem to like this! (next year, ahem, I’ll plan accordingly, in advance of planting the squash seeds!) The joys of gardening, the adventures! The discoveries! Plus .. happy memories to remember in the winter!

I had filled Rubbermaid containers with water, to make it easier to nourish some plants that weren’t directly in the easy reach of the hose. One day I found a ladybug vainly trying to swim in the water .. oh, silly ladybug, you are meant to fly, not swim! So I scooped her out .. see ..

And then I gently placed her on the leaf of a nearby .. yes! Squash leaf! They do come in handy for these types of rescues!

Hard to believe that this area was quite thickly planted with my lovely garlic … and now home to squash! Happy memories of my garlic … time to plant again in a few months. Yum!