new season

This is one of my early attempts at gardening, vegetable gardening in particular. The photo was taken in London, Ontario in 1973. That's a cold frame in the foreground on the right. That's where I started some plants early. Others, such as tomato and pepper plants, were started indoors and planted out after the danger of frost was more or less gone. The latter part of May or early June was usual for that.

I got the weeds pulled early to give the plants unhindered growth potential. In July 1972 I had left the garden to be tended by my father. When I returned home in early September, I couldn't see the vegetable plants for all the weeds. I tried to pull the weeds but when I was finished, I realized it was a lost cause that year. My father was working full-time and then tending to his own garden (flowers), so with everything else time was an issue. Such is life!

Usually I was able to get a good number of carrots, green beans and onions out of the garden along with tomatoes and some peppers. Later in the 1970s I added some alpine flowers in the one corner of the plot on the same side as the cold frame but the opposite corner to attract more bees for pollination purposes.

By the 1980s I also added some grapevines. Earlier I had also added a Northern Spy apple tree in the one corner plus had started several currant bushes from cuttings since I couldn't move the mature bushes to another location. The apple tree bore some excellent fruit until the next door neighbour cut down his pear tree with which the tree had cross-pollinated. I tried a number of options as you can see.

Now living in an apartment I'm restricted to a balcony where I have some potted plants and plan to add more. I'll let you know more about my efforts soon! Currently its raining and earlier we had a bit of thunder and lightning. Have a good night guys! - V

year end musings

On my way home yesterday evening (Friday) I stopped at the grocery store across the street from home to get groceries, like fruit, cheese, cookies and such, but I also purchased an Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) to decorate for Christmas. We're getting well into the month of November, so that season is not all that far away. This particular pine is native to southern Europe from Spain to Greece and as far north as central and northern France. Its got another name too, the Umbrella Pine, which is a suitable name as the older, well-established trees look just like that, an umbrella. If you ever seen photos or movies set in Italy as a example, you may have seen them, or perhaps you've been to southern Europe in which case, you've probably seen them first-hand. The one I have must be at least ten years old which would account for the price of 30 dollars! Anyways, it makes an excellent Christmas tree that will live year after year and become an even better specimen as the years pass.
Back in southern Ontario I bought an Italian Cypress tree one Christmas, December 1999 I believe, a tree I still had when I sold the house in the summer of 2005. The tree had blue-green foliage and spent its time outside on the front steps before being taken inside in the autumn to be set in the front bay window. In December it would be decorated for Christmas. In the spring I would put it outside once again to start the cycle once again. I also had a trailing Majorcan Rosemary plant that spent the summer outside, again to the side of the front steps, and then would be in bloom with light blue flowers by the time I took it inside in September. That one would be in flower all winter in the front bay window. Those plants remained with the new owner of the house. I hope they've been well cared for!
Here in British Columbia's lower mainland, I did purchase an Italian Cypress tree for last Christmas but it only has green foliage. I find the blue-green foliage and its varying shades much more appealing. Its almost a year past and its still growing strong as is the Pointsettia that I bought last Christmas as well!
So you must be wondering what's with all these hot guys and their well-developed muscles? Well, they're reminiscent of the hot, dry climate of southern Europe, so they're rather suitable, don't you think? I'll let you guess who the last guy might be. I'm sure you can come up with an answer, so let me know your thoughts! Meantime, have an awesome weekend!!! - V

moss and ferns

Back in March of this year I took a walk through Robert Burnaby Park in Burnaby, British Columbia. I had hoped to have these photos of moss and ferns growing on the tree bark of a tree edited and posted by now but time has only now come to allow it. I did post a photo similar to the one below but it was at its original size and unedited. Enjoy these and feel free to comment! - V

camcorder and other stuff

Its Monday and the day here is fast drawing to a close. Yesterday I ordered a Flip Ultra HD camcorder online. The order was confirmed this morning. Once I received it, expect some videos to add a new dimension to this blog and not just short video clips which I've been able to post for a while. Later, once I can afford it and it seems practical, I purchase a more substantial camcorder than the Flip. For the moment, this one opens plenty of possibilities.

Two other items are in my sites at the moment, a good starter set of studio lights and either a macro lens or a wide angle lens. I'm buying items as I can afford them as Brad and I expand our business venture in photography. Photography is one of my great passions and business is one of Brad's but I'm sure photography takes a top spot for him as well. Expect more news on this soon.

On my way home this evening I bought a power drill to drill those holes in the large pots in advance of planting. While at Canadian Tire, I also found a couple of fuchsia plants to add to the collection of flowers, so that should be it for plants this year, at least for the balcony!

Now I'm going to wind things up for the day and head for bed soon. Its already after 9 pm and I hope to be in bed by 10 pm at the latest. Since I get up at 5 am, I'm trying to get as much sleep as I can get. Some nights its a bit of a challenge getting more than 6 hours. Seven hours is better but 8 hours is better yet which seems to work on weekends. Have a good night, guys (or good day if you're into the next day)!!! - V

planting

The plants I bought over the last couple of weeks are ready for planting. I have the pots and most of the potting soil required. I am purchasing a hand drill from Lee Valley over the next day or so and will be able to complete the potting by Canada Day. The Cinco de Mayo floribunda rose has to be one of my favourites (see photo above and below). The flowers are pink with yellow centres and have an apple scent. The plant will grow up to three feet tall and as wide.
There are other plants as well, such as rosemary, spanish lavender, blue salvia, a couple of mini-roses, pink wave petunias and a couple of lobelias. More photos coming when everything is ready! Have an awesome day, guys!!! - V

Sunday

Its an overcast sky here in New Westminster but some sun is expected in the afternoon but since its like this, its a good day to get the laundry out of the way and do some chores around the apartment before the work week starts on Monday.

While eating a couple of Sumatsu oranges this morning, I found a couple of seeds. They're planted in a small pot of soil and have been watered. Ive grown citrus trees from seed before and often enough since I was a teen in the 1960s. My first attempt that I remember was starting a grapefruit tree from seed. It ended up in a large pot, leaves 6 or more inches long, branches with thorns and a height of around 5 feet tall with the pot included. My father told me that it would never flower and so, believing him, I cut it up and threw it out. Later I learn otherwise that such fruit trees flower after the 7th year, perhaps later in our northern climate. I may try growing another grapefruit tree from seed to give the apartment some life! We'll see!!

Later in the 1970s, I bought a calamondin orange tree from a flower shop near where I lived at the time. It grew into a handsome tree and flowered perfusely for 14 years of so until it died. I kept it outside during the hot summers which attracted a great number of honey bees to its blossoms. It flowered year round and often had fruit at the same time it was in flower. The fruit was rather sour, best for drinks, and had a number of seeds inside. It was ants getting into the pot and affecting the roots that probably ended its life but it was a beautiful tree while it was around and pruned often to keep in shape so as not to overgrow the place.

The flowering plants I bought the other week are ready for planting. The pots are there and most of the required soil. I still require a drill to add some drainage holes to the bottom of the large pots but that should be accomplished soon enough. I have some photos that I took last week and will post them soon, as soon as they've been uploaded from my camera.

Now its off to get the laundry started. Have a great Sunday, guys! - V

home

I noticed Saturday that the succulent that I bought from the grocery store across the street a couple of months ago has sent up a flower stalk. The plant is commonly called a "Zebra Plant" because of its alternating green and white markings on the fleshy leaves. In Latin its called a Haworthia attenuata which originates from South Africa's Eastern Cape ranging from sea level to 1000 meters altitude. Succulents are related to Cactii. I'll have more on these plants later.

Behind the subject of this post is my Pineapple plant raised from a crown cutting last year. I plan to put it into another window with even better light with the hope that it too might flower! Some of its leaves are a good size. Lets see what develops!

There'll be some photos posted soon from Sunday's walk along English Bay Beach in Vancouver. Look for them! - V

memories

Today I took the time to Google my old street address in southwestern Ontario and to have a look at the street view as the property is seen from the curbside. I was somewhat shocked by what I saw.

The roof was redone in a light brown shade of asphalt shingles but that wasn't the cause of the shock. Nor was it the fact that the shed had been moved. I had planned on doing that anyway and move it into the backyard if I had stayed but that wasn't it either. The new owners had a cast-iron planter at either side of the carport (at the front) but that wasn't it either. Well, what was a shock was that there was only trees and a lawn to be seen for the most part. Most of the flowerbeds with the flowering shrubs and roses were gone. The one bed that remained had been replanted.

The new owners have the right to do with their property what they will but from a point of stewardship of the land, the eco-system, it didn't make much sense to me. There was a lot of life on that property, like wild rabbits, bees and butterflies of all sorts. I can't say that the bees and butterflies are there anymore since there's nothing for them to sustain themselves on. There's lots of grass, so the rabbits may still be there. The same would hold for the birds since the trees are still there as well.

The lawn looks like a mono-culture affair, so the likelihood of chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) being used is high which is not a wise choice for the environment in my opinion. As a race we are paying the price now and will later with greater effects in the future if how we treat out environment isn't turned around. I spent years gardening using organic methods and rarely resorted to the use of chemicals to solve a problem, or a perceived issue. Aside from using organic methods, my view was to keep the eco-system strong and diversified.

All that aside, the front yard looks boring and uninteresting. No curbside appeal there either. But such is life. We live, we make mistakes or triumphs and learn from the results there of, or that's the hope. There's no sense in worrying about it since nothing will change the outcome. Such is life, so let's move on! - V.

Hollyburn Peak - part II

A while back I posted some photos from a hike up Hollyburn Mountain to its peak. Well, here is a larger selection starting near the bottom of the Baden Powell Trail that leads up the mountain from the Millstream Trail. The hike was started at Millstream Road in the British Properties of West Vancouver. The first two images are of a vehicle wreck that appears to have had better days. The remains are to be found off to the side of the Baden Powell Trail on the east side of the trail as you ascend up the mountain.

I love the blue sky to be seen above the trail while climbing up. The weather on August 16th, a Sunday, was excellent. I also paid more attention to the plants, flowers and fungi I encountered along the way, more so than the last time. A close up of a fern frond appears below and of a strange fungi (for me anyway) below that. Then there is yet another fern planting, this one illuminated by the sun shining through an opening in the forest canopy above!

I encountered water droplets on the leaves of a blueberry shrub and couldn't resist taking a series of photos. This is just one of the shots. Then there is an image of the many trail markers to be encountered along the way up and then fungi on a log with the dew still on it.

There was some time taken to view Gentian Lake just east off the Baden Powell Trail. Since this was August, the blue gentian flowers were in bloom along the lake, especially along the north side.

There were plenty of alpine flowers to be seen in the clearings and I even took a series of photos of a bumblebee climbing in a gentian flower and then back out. These are just two of the series.

From the ridge to the final trail up to the peak is the nordic ski area. There were lots of alpine flowers there too, such as this Western Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea var. occidentalis), the only Pearly Everlasting native to North America. A good close up is found below with another photo of a bumblebee sleeping on one of those alpine flowers. There were two such sleeping bees encountered in the lower nordic area.

The photo above shows a mountain hut found in the nordic ski area and there is a view of First Lake in the photo below with the conifer trees reflected in the water.

The blueberries were in season. The ones on shrubs in the exposed areas along the upper parts of the trail tasted much better. I guess being exposed to the cooler night air made the difference as far as the taste and quality of the fruit. I was eating blueberries as I was hiking along but I did leave plenty for other hikers, and the bears of course! And again, the blue sky, along with some light, wispy clouds was lovely to see.

Here is a lovely view of the scene nearing the summit of the mountain. Looking down you see Burnaby Mountain off in the distance. North Vancouver is just ahead of that.

I love this view of trees reflected in an alpine pond (or lake they might say). Then there is a view to the west through the trees. The final photo shows a view of the Lions, a mountain to the north, as seen from Hollyburn Peak. I hope you've enjoyed these images of a hike taken in mid-August of this year. Feel free to comment or ask any questions you like. - V.

Saturday in Vancouver

Saturday afternoon I had made plans to go into Vancouver but rather than head over to the Spanish Banks as originally decided, I ended up heading over to Davie Street and then English Bay Beach from there. When I arrived, there was a street market in progress on Davie Street with plenty of activity in the works. There was a stage set-up on Davie near Burrard Street with people seated in front. The stage is off to the left and not pictured in the photo above. I struggled to get a photo with enough sunlight in it since the sun is rather low on the horizon this time of year. After all, we are above the 49th parallel. There were even a couple of guys handing out condoms in front of the Priape store. All they were wearing was underwear (Jim), some flip-flops and a smile! The restaurants and taverns had lots of activity too. Booths were set up and sidewalk seating was extended out into the street. From there is was off to the other end of Davie Street to check out the annual flower plantings.

So at the other end of the street I saw another surprise aside from the annuals. The cloud pattern in the sky caught my interest, so some of the photos you see will have these clouds in them, such as the one above of English Bay Beach with the fan palms in sillouette.

And before heading out to the beach we can also pay a visit to one of the many local Starbucks locations in town. This one is at Denman and Davie Streets.

I believe I caught the flowers at the right time since they are due to be pulled and replaced by spring tulip bulbs at any time. I love the colours and textures!

There are many fan palms along Beach Avenue above English Bay Beach as you can see in the above photo. From the railing on the left you can see the beach below. Then this cloud pattern caught my interest again forming a background to the crowns of the fan palms. What do you think???

The above photo shows Sunset Beach (plus the clouds). There are a few fan palms there too plus some annual plants for added interest.

Before I left Vancouver's West End for home I spent some time at the beach (English Bay Beach) to observe the sunset. The image above shows the rays of the sun shining through the cloud cover with Vancouver Island far off to the west. Then the photo below shows a larger view of the sunset with people in sillouette. Enjoy the photos! There will be more over time and not just images of hot guys, though I'm sure you appreciate them too!!! - V.