When I was a kid, snowberries, (Symphoricarpos albus) grew wild all over our heavily-wooded property, along with other BC natives like ferns, Mahonia nervosa (Oregon grape) and Rubus spectabilis (salmonberries). I called snowberries “pop berries” because they made a delicious popping noise when you crushed them underfoot. I think my fascination with them terrified my […]
My garden
Preparing for winter
Today, a milestone. The first of many mornings with ice on the windshield. Joy. In the garden, winter preparations are well underway. The bulbs are planted, the beds are tidied. It may be too late to plant a cover crop (also known as green manure) but according to Garden Organic, where you’ll find a good […]
Still blooming
Despite my complaints about the rain, ain’t it grand to live in zone eight? I must remind myself, I could be digging out from a snowstorm, like the folks in Calgary. Instead, I wander around the garden and capture its last hurrahs. Passiflora caerulea Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ Rosa ‘Bonica’ Pernettya mucronata
Mushrooms!
I have kind of a love-hate relationship with mushrooms. I grew up loathing them; being forced to try “just one more bite” before I could leave the table. Now I largely like them; shiitake, oyster, enoki… anything but the bland, styrofoamy “white mushroom.” Oh, and they all have to be cooked before they cross my […]
Autumn Decay
Fallen Clematis seed head Naked Canna Scarlet Tired I’ve discovered the digital macro feature on our new camera! Now I’m starting to build my flickr library. Stay tuned for more images.
Fall container no. 2
It’s not as exciting as the other planter I made up at the same time, but I like the simplicity of this one (also with 50% off perennials from David Hunter Garden Centre ). Clockwise from left: Hebe glaucophylla ‘Variegata,’ Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ (Dwarf Fountain Grass), Chrysanthemum Showmaker™ grandiflora amor, Brassica oleracea acephala (ornamental kale), […]
Fall container with Canine schnauzer ‘Shadow’
An amazing selection of fall blooming perennials (50% off!) at David Hunter Garden Centre allowed me to make up some stunning containers. I combined tall, red Carex buchanii (New Zealand sedge) with two varieties of Heuchera; ‘Dolce Peach Melba’ and ‘Velvet Night,’ Ophiogogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (Black Mondo grass), Bracteantha bracteata ‘Sundaze Golden Beauty,’ Capsicum annuum […]