Twoonie bargoonie

What, you may ask, was I doing shopping this time of the year? Well, not for Boxing Week specials! I was looking for scrap yarns for future projects. There weren't anything interesting but I did find this fabulous hand-knitted shawl for $2! (I am calling it a shawl because of the yarn used.) I have to consult Valerie about this.

Someone had put in a lot of hours making this. The person who was pricing it at Value Village obviously didn't recognize that. And neither was the person who gave it away!

Well, that trip sure made my day!

Craft distractions

Plunging into an online gardening course can be easily done but it isn't much fun sitting in front of the computer all the time. I can't multitask, for one thing. (Snacking & sipping tea are not tasks.) So, this fall I had attempted several projects while I sit with Bob flip through the channels. (Oh, OK. We do follow "The Mentalist", "Heartbeat", "The Midsommer murders", the occasional NCIS and CSI.)

Crochet: I haven't picked up a crochet hook for years! Here is the triangular "prayer shawl" I took with me during the fall Halifax trip.


This is a rectangular "prayer shawl" that I started in Halifax and almost finished crocheting it while on the train heading home.






Knit: aside from knitting socks, this is a major knitting project (seen here while it was being blocked). The pattern was borrowed from Valerie. It is called "Lake of the Woods" but I couldn't find a suitable lake color (when Valerie & I shopped in one of the LYS.) It is a capelet which keeps me warm & cozy. I have used it several times for different holiday luncheons & suppers.






This is my first cabled hat I've ever knitted just for me! The color is "Bordeaux" but this photo shows more pink. I love the challenge of cable stitches but at the same time the repetition is ideal when one is watching TV.

Of course, I am continually looking for easy patterns to use up my existing years worth of yarn collection - mostly leftovers from different projects. For example, I found some cotton yarn the other day so, I am experimenting with circular knitted dishcloths...Oh, so many things to do..so little time!

What happened to October?

Here it is, almost the end of November. And what have I been doing? Not keeping this up to date, obviously. So, here is the synopsis for October & November.

Cycling
Indeed, this is the best and longest cycling season since we joined the Roaming Riders group. Although the season officially ended at the end of September, some of us took advantage of the snow-free, 2-digit temperature cycling weather. Although the wind is definitely autumnal, putting on the layers resolved that problem. Brantford had paved a new rail trail which will eventually connect it to Waterford and all the way to Pt. Dover. The trail is wider and hill free so it became one of the favorite routes this fall. It looks like last Monday's ride is the last ride of the season.

Gardening
The growing season was extended as well so I had more time to enjoy the fall bloomers.



















These are some of the backyard photos in October. Blooms include: native Rudbeckia (brown-eyed daisies), the starry flowers of Nicotiana (top RH), purple Salvia (middle RH- I bought a tray of 18 for a dollar at the end of July at Home Depot), Sedum (bottom LH), marigolds (in the raised bed with the green pepper & basil plants).




The front garden still provided colors and texture: artemesia, blue Salvia, mums, and cosmos. Ignore the stressed-looking juniper in the bottom picture (RH corner). Bob gave it a buzz cut (that chain saw is my nemesis).



Distance Education
I am now taking the third course (out of 4) of the Master Gardeners Certificate from the NSAC.
It's called "Maintaining the Garden" which is much easier on the brain than the last one (Soil Science). The modules I've just covered included weeds, insects and diseases which I seem to have an infinite exposure in Brantford in my short gardening career. Now that I have some idea of the diagnoses of infections my various plants get every growing season, it doesn't mean that they'll go away any sooner. I have only learned a few other new cultural practices since this course since I am already applying most of them. Disease symptoms get eradicated one year for a particular vulnerable plant but only to acquire another. It is a never ending battle! In any case, I about to learn more and am hoping for a better year next year!

Crafting
I finished 2 crocheted shawls. I am going to donate them to a local CWL (Catholic Women's League) group who collects them for distribution as "Prayer Shawls". I've purchased more yarn on sale and dusted off some of my shawl patterns for future projects. I made 3 pairs of ankle socks and I am eyeballing a slipper pattern that I might make for Michael.

Reading
Well, this activity is getting harder to accomplish since I started my course. I did read mostly recommended books by the local library: Bob Katz's Elaine's Circle (my favorite Canadian non-fiction this period), Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild (about Christopher MsCanless), Janice Lee's The Piano Teacher (historical novel in Hong Kong/ China), Susan Fraser King's Lady Macbeth (from the character's perspective), Sue Miller's While I was Gone (strange mystery/psychological thriller) and Richard Wagamese's Ragged Company which was another favorite because it had a happy ending. Now, I am reading about weeds, pests and diseases!

East coast adventure

We celebrated the end of the summer by driving to Halifax to visit Valerie & Richard. Bob, Michael & I loaded up our bikes & away we went at the end of August.

Predictably, we stopped by Cornwall and Grand Falls & stayed at the same B&Bs we used the first time we drove to the east coast! The accommodations in Grand Falls was quite comical if not memorable. We took over "The Loft" which is the fancy name for the attic room. It had a queen sized bed and 2 single sized beds along the sloping part of the ceiling. The minuscule shower is in the center by the chimney, the sink is on the other side of the chimney, and the toilet was located in one of the cubby closets on the other side of the shower! We had to practice going back & forth to find the safest route as it was easy enough to hit the sloped ceiling even for my height! Nobody sustained any head injury. The full breakfast was worth staying, though.

Anyway, we got to Halifax safely. We had a short visit with Richard before he left for Victoria, B.C. .

After 3 days on the road, we were more than ready to hit the trails; so we rode for about 60 kms. on the BLT the following day. Here is a description of the trail by the "Found Locally" website:

Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea Rails to Trails (the "BLT Trail")
902-876-2055
This mixed-use trail follows several streams and winds through a "Granite Uplands" ecosystem, with a mixed second-generation forest, along lake shores and past inland bogs providing access to the narrow lake. Vegetation is tolerant of poor drainage, and includes black spruce and larch, while drier areas are home to spruce, hemlock, and pine ecosystem. There is an amethyst vein in the granite at Six Miles Falls. The trail is popular with pedestrians, cyclists, skiers, ATVs, and snowmobiles.


After about 20 kms, we stopped at the Train Station Bike & Bean for coffee and some delicious carrot cake. A wide multi use trail with scenic views, Richard highly recommended this trail.
One of the lakes on the trail: time to admire the view while we have a water break.

The next day, we brought lunch & headed towards the St Margaret Bay to cycle the rest of the Rails to Trails route. The trails narrowed and not as maintained as the BLT but it had beautiful views. That was about 50 kms.

This is one of the streams we crossed while we were on the trail. Click on the picture to magnify.

The Labour Day weekend was spent with some friends in PEI at their bay-side cottage in St. Georges. There were 13 adults and 3 children (not counting visiting friends and relatives). Where did we all sleep? There were 2 cottages, 3 trailers and 2 tents. A lot of reminiscing, eating, listening to guitar music by the campfire, and playing board games like Scrabble. With the temperature on the chilly side, we declined swimming, canoeing and sailing. It was a good visit that Richard missed.

While the boys headed back home, I stayed with Valerie. I rediscovered my walking muscles using the trails around their neighborhood. The Bulk Barn also become my favorite destination. I learned a few crochet pattern (great crochet books borrowed from the library just a block away from V&R's apartment.) I also learned how to use the Wii Fitness. Now, I sort of miss that instant feedback. It was a privilege to be with Valerie when she had her ultrasound so that was really the best part of staying longer. The technology to view this living being while it kicked its legs and wave its hand just blew me away. (I'm using "it" here for simplicity; I don't mean to offend anyone.)

We visited the LYS (local yarn shop), relished a Mediterranean platter for two, feasted on the excitement of the Farmers Market visually & audibly and generously sighed our oohs and aahs at the Dahlia display at the Public Gardens. Halifax has always something to offer, anytime.

Check out the size of that Dahlia; it's almost as big as Valerie's head!

The choice to take the train back home was mine. Beside minimizing my carbon footprint, I wanted a train adventure. It took 29 hours from Halifax to Brantford so when the vistas became monotonous, I was able to finish reading a book and progress my crocheting project (a prayer shawl) to almost completion. Still, I'd have to think twice before doing this again in the near future.

What makes a trip unforgettable

We looked pretty cheerful at the beginning of the ride, didn't we?

Several factors came into play which made the Roaming Riders' Monday ride this year's unforgettable cycle ride:

• The drive to Aylmer, Ontario was just under 95 kms., about one hour, 15 minutes to the meeting place.
• I brought my camera..but no batteries! Cliff, one of the members who brought his own camera had "spares".
  
• The ride was approx. 52 kms. long- the longest we have ever ridden this year.
  
• The temperature reached 28 degrees Celsius with the Humidex at least at 40 degrees! Probably the hottest riding day.
  
• There were several hills, all sizes, crossing the same creek along the route during the second half of the ride when the sun must had been at its highest and hottest.
  
• The vista through the small towns of Sparta and Jaffa were interesting if the sweat off one's brows haven't clouded one's vision.
• A beautiful beach at Port Bruce to have a nice rest.
  
• A country folk art store called "Winter Wheat" is a whimsically unique place but Marianne and I got separated somehow. So we totally missed the opportunity for this interesting stop.
• The plans for lunch changed without our knowledge (we got separated, remember?). I did have a copy of the map route so we went straight to the parking lot where we were to meet at the end of the ride.
• Nobody was there so we rode to Tim Horton's to replenish our zapped energy level.
  
• Bob and Michael came to the rescue.
• We loaded the bikes and went to the Pinecroft Green Frog Tea Room where the rest of the group were already halfway through their lunch. A very nice location but I was either having a near heat stroke or a hypoglycemic episode by that time that my perception to the surroundings were greatly affected. The proprietor is a potter who sells her pottery ware onsite so I was able to appreciate that after I had some nourishment.
  

These factors certainly made this trip a very memorable one indeed.

Sometimes, TLC is not enough

The fate of tomato plants are not entirely up to the gardener, I found out.

I chose to grow some heritage tomatoes which are supposedly both hardy and very tasty. Half of them got frost bitten despite wrapping them in plastic bags. Then, my friend Ed, a fellow gardener and our fearless Roaming Rider coordinator gave me some tomatoes he grew from seeds as well. Despite the mole-proof, safe-from-the-Walnut-wilt raised bed, the triple mix soil, the organic fertilizer, the straw mulch, the companion planting technique(inter planted with basil and marigolds to fend off nasty bugs), it is heart breaking to see them die one by one.

First, the case of tomato wilt (Fusarium or Verticillium- it doesn't matter). I was hoping that it was just the heat so I gave them water even though the soil looked moist. But even after the heavy rains, they were still as limp as rag dolls. I uprooted 2 plants: did a post mortem which confirmed that the vascular stems were "plugged" as the fungal disease set in. (This tomato plant in this photo is one of the first ones to go).

Second, the case of too much water. Yes, we've had a lot of it. Just as the leaves started to perk up again, the lower leaves turned yellow, the branches were getting snapped off because of the weight.

Third, the case of blossom-end rot which describes what it looks like rather the process. This is apparently caused by wet conditions as well.

Fourth, the case of early blight. Just click on the link if you care to know what blight is all about..or not. Nothing like learning all the tomato disorders in one season!

What this means is that I probably won't have to worry about harvesting any tomato this year! But this was a great learning opportunity which, hopefully, I will tuck away for the future.

Like an experienced parent, I fretted for a while but I got over it. I haveto keep in mind that despite all the TLC, there is no dealing with the natural elements when it comes to plants.

Organic eatery right in Brantford!

Last month, I wrote about discovering Meme's in New Hamburg. Imagine my big surprise when I discovered a similar eatery right in the heart of downtown Brantford!

It took a visit from my friend Ann from Orillia to try Stir It Up! (Thanks, Ann.) I heard about this place just 2 weeks ago from one of the vendors at the Garden Club's flower show. Her store, Just Shabulous, is situated next to the eatery. She had me drooling since then.

The first thing we noticed was the most delicious aroma (if that is a valid olfactory description) coming from the kitchen. If that wasn't enough to stimulate the salivary glands, the menu's description of any of the food item would do it. Do click on the link to experience the latter.

Ann ordered the Curried Veg Delight while I ordered The Creole dish from the Rice bowl items and bowls- big bowls- they were! Fortunately, this means another meal to take home!

This place is also perfect for those hot, lazy days, perhaps after a bike ride, to have a power juice or smoothie as their juice bar menu is quite extensive. Definitely a destination which requires no excuse whatsoever.

So, friends, anytime you want to have an Organic Cafe experience, I will know exactly where to take you!

Rainy Days

It's a lovely day today- if you are a duck or a gardener. I love the rain because it gives me a very good excuse to do indoor things.

Gardening time is very limited once the cycling season starts because Bob & I ride on Monday and Wednesday mornings. By the time we come home (after coffee or lunch with the gang), it is way way too hot to water or to weed. So, then, I have to wait around 4:30 PM or later: it is shaded enough in some parts of the garden that I can comfortably do some tasks. I prefer evenings after 7:00 PM when it is significantly cooler and more shades. Unfortunately, more shades mean more mosquitoes are on the hunt for something warm and juicy. Behind the ears or knees or right for the jugular are some of their favorite spots. What to do? Spray with DEET?- which is supposedly the only effective product on the market. No, thanks: I opted for covering up. But I digress.

So, today, while it rained on & off, I have organized some "parked pictures" in my computer. I created an album on the Picasaweb for the last cycling trip with the Roaming Riders. I've caught up with my e-mail. I enjoyed Youtube videos of a taleented14-year old Filipina named Thia Megia (as shared by my brother Marvin). And I am posting this blog. I would say it had been quite a productive day.

So, there. I love rainy days!

Early Summer Blooms

I decided to group my early summer blooms in colors. So, I went wild with the Picasa collages!

These are some of the purple-colored blooms found in my backyard garden. The pansy (upper left corner) are prolific self-seeders as this one did. Unfortunately, the blooms are not as huge as the ones I had planted last year (which was a hybrid).

Notice that the one in the left lower corner: this is a "petal-less" Zinnia! The one above it is a Calendula which is a self seeding annual. I wish I had scattered some of the seeds for the front garden as they bloom all summer long.
The pink flowers come in various shades; some with a hint of lavender or just a blush. The Echinacea (bottom left corner), for example, is very pale, almost white. This is the first bloom but there are more to come!
These are the true blues. I had more but they are categorically not summer blooms. Besides, the Picasa only allows me to use pictures in the same folder. I had originally wanted blues and whites as a "calming" palette for the gardens but I found that they are not that showy at all. The colors blend in the shadows so, one really needs to be up close to view them properly.

This collection, of course, is not all inclusive as I discover much later that some of the photos I had taken were not focused. I will have to be more diligent in organizing my photos.

I hope you enjoyed viewing them as much as I had fun creating them. You may have noticed that I opted not to label the plants this time. (That was an exercise meant for me to remember their names!)

More Gardens to view

In my last posting, I mentioned viewing 9 gardens in a week. The remaining gardens are shown here.

Master Gardeners of Brantford held its annual garden tour, in conjunction with a plant sale, last Sunday. All members are assigned to a location for half a day or the whole day. There were 3 gardens just around the corner from me so it was quite handy that I was assigned to one of them.
This garden, as it happens, belongs to one of the Brantford Garden Club members. It has a water feature, a custom designed "log cabin chalet" shed. It has several mature spruce trees at the upper level. When a tree dies, the owners cut it down leaving an 8 or 10ft stump and have someone do a carving!

Do click on all the pictures to maximize. There are details that you would not want to miss!




This garden is a regular sized "subdivision lot". In 30 years, the owners had converted it into a sanctuary with a water feature featuring ornamental grasses and pond ornaments. What is not shown is the gardener's Hosta collection which occupies the adjacent side of the lot.

It looks like there's a face on top of that water fountain, doesn't it?





This home garden featured several themes, one of them being this bench made of cedar branches. Note the placement of ornaments, rocks and plants. Its zen quality makes this corner of the garden one of my favorites.










A young couple banished their steep graded backyard lawn with a "water fall"that hugs the contour of the land. This was one of the 3 homes around the corner from me in this year's garden tour. The man of the house happens to be the gardener as well. He hauled every single one of those stones/concrete slabs up the hill because the space between the homes was too narrow for any 4 wheeled machine!

There were 3 more home gardens listed but I have no adequate photos to justify their unique features.

There is always something that I "take away" every time I view a beautifully created garden. It is the perfect exercise for anyone wanting to learn about gardening.

Not all gardens are created equal. A garden's personality is developed by its gardener. And like the gardener, it always evolves. My garden will be evolving for a long time.

Garden Tours and more

How many gardens can a person take in a week? This past week, I counted 9 gardens for me!

Monday, June 22nd, was the RBG's first bus tour which took a full load of gardeners to the Shelburne/Orangeville area where country gardens are usually very expansive.



















The Taylors are perennial plant collectors. They banished their lawn in favor of plants show casing flowers, foliage or both throughout the year.



















The Knowles are both avid gardeners who turned their 2 acre property into a show piece. Every corner finds one into another garden "room". This one is one of the smaller strip of a garden.

















This is the Morning Glory B&B: gardens in a rolling 2 acre property by a lake. Every window from the house has a beautiful view.




















This garden setting is atop the Niagara escarpment with the Hockley Valley View. The host is a Hostas collector.

Having to set my alarm for 5:45 AM in order to catch the tour bus at the RBG Center in Burlington at 7:30 AM was all worth it. The long ride meant getting to know a fellow gardener (my seat mate), a delicious lunch at the Grey Stones Inn and a nap during the ride home.

What about the 5 other gardens? That's another posting, of course.

Discovering Meme's Cafe

I just have to share this amazing discovery! Yesterday, my trip to the big city (of Kitchener) included a visit to my ole ER buddy, Glenda. She took me for a wonderful culinary experience in New Hamburg's Meme's Cafe: a warm and inviting place with an eclectic menu and decor.

As soon as I stepped inside the door, the sight of freshly baked pastries distracted me but only for a minute or so. The daily menu was written on a blackboard, featuring local and/or organic ingredients. Oh, I just salivate thinking about it. Glenda had a huge bowl of asparagus soup with one of those whole grain home made bread. I was particularly hungry by that time so I went for an entree-Vegetarian Mediterranean stew on a bed of basmati rice. It was as colorful as it was delicious.

So, my Ontario friends, if you ever pass New Hamburg on Hwy. 7&8, this is a place you must visit. But you don't have to go on my recommendation alone. Click on the link above to see what other people have to say about it. You only have a few minutes? Try the fair trade coffee. Well, you might as well have that mango coconut muffin to go with it.

Challenging myself

On the Ottawa River pathway.

Bob & I took our first bicycle trip to Ottawa on the first weekend of June, missing the World Naked Bike Ride by a week. Whew! Ottawa has over 170 kilometers of pathways: a paved network linking parks, gardens, museums etc. throughout the city for walkers, cyclers, roller bladers and even mobility scooters.

Michael just arrived back from Spain on June 1st and was already missing his cycling. So, he came along for the ride after replacing a few bicycle parts on his bike.

We met some of our friends from the Roaming Riders our cycling group from Brantford. Saturday, June 6th, was travel day and a bit of scouting the pathways close to the hotel where we stayed.

On Sunday, June 7th, our group followed the pathway to the Experimental Farm, a national historic site right in the heart of Ottawa! Naturally, I had to visit the gardens where the columbines, irises, peonies (just to name a few) were in bloom. Some of the photos taken are posted on the Facebook.

Monday was left open to "do whatever you want" day. There were a lot of directions to choose from. Michael wanted to go to the Gatineau Park. Originally, I thought I'd take it easy but the opportunity to challenge myself presented itself, so, to Gatineau we went!

At the Champlain lookout

The challenge was twofold: cycling up & down the winding hills and staying alive as this is a two lane parkway for motorists. The latter was not too bad to overcome as it was on a Monday and so not too many drivers on the road. Each sustained ascent, even on the lowest gear, was truly a test on my endurance. I think I utilized every tip people had told me every time I'm cycling up a hill: concentrate what's in front of you........right, left, right, left........keep pedaling, keep pedaling......you can do it, you can do it.........,etc. I tried to distract myself by looking for the wild flowers in bloom at the roadside. Michael kept coming back to see how I was getting on several times. On the other hand, the bug smashing, breath taking, goosebumps-producing descent after each ascent was as euphoric as bungy jumping (although I've never tried that one). Perhaps, that was what kept me pedaling about 66 kms. (linear).

Bob going back to cheer me on to the top of one of the ascent

With perfect cycling weather, good company, lots of exercise, fresh air and a bit of "touristing", it was a memorable trip and because I challenged myself, it was also rewarding.

Sanctuary vs. Obsession

Am I obsessed or am I offering a sanctuary to plants that are headed for the compost? I have to admit it seems wrong for any cultivated plant species to end up in the compost heap just because someone decided that it is no longer needed.

This is how I get a lot of my "freebies". Plant sale leftovers always have them although I can afford to be picky once I already have that particular plant. At the RBG the other day, we were to pot some "heritage" Sedum spectabile 'Meteor' taken from an on site heritage cottage at the Laking Gardens. The plant list indicated that we already have a few so the plants were heading out to be composted! So, I took a clump home and it has settled nicely in my front garden, looking like it belongs there.

Last Saturday was the big "clean up" at the manse (Glen Morris United Church) for the Master Gardener group. I brought home an Eastern Redbud tree sapling (Cercis canadensis) which is only about 45 cm. tall; more white trilliums, Camassia spp. and some Asiatic lily bulbs. They look half dead now but hopefully next year will give me new surprises.

Today, I helped out at the Bell Homestead herb garden (another MG volunteer project). If you click on the link, the garden is beyond the white picket fence. I came home with more herbs: Egyptian onion, Garlic chives, Purple fennel , Rue, to name a few.

Shown above are the plants I brought home today. The potted ones are grown from seeds & given by Kay, the MG who is the coordinator for this annual volunteer project.


It is just as well that it rained on and off today as I found new homes for these plants. Obsessed? Guilty as charged.

All Gardened Out

Yes, I do realize that I just made the noun "garden" to a verb. But it is how I felt after a week of helping out with two Plant Sales in one week!










At the RBG, I was overenthusiastic: not only I did I help out with the Perennial plants, I had to be involved in the Native plants as well. I could not possibly pass up such a learning opportunity.

The bottom picture : part of the Native Plants table; just inside the hoop was the "shade plants". We did well in this category alone: $3,000 worth of sales!

The top picture: part of the perennial tables. A whole greenhouse had the annual plants including herbs (no veggies).

After spending 3 half days helping out at the RBG, the rest of the week (Friday & Saturday) was spent helping out with the Garden Club's Plant Sale. Those 2 days were more intense and were full days because there were less volunteers involved.

Both events were exhausting but enjoyable. I was able to use my gardening knowledge as I helped out fellow gardeners with their inquiries. From what I learned at the RBG Native Plants, I was then able to convince people to buy my native plants at the Garden Club Sale.

All gardened out does not mean I am not in my own garden, however!

Beyond Raisins

Call me Ishma-weird. I love porridge for breakfast. But more than that, I love putting in the toppings which are usually the organic Jumbo Thompson raisins, nuts (used to alternate almond, pecan & walnuts) and flax meal. Well, ever since I've been going to the Green Living Show, I have discovered a whole new world of superfoods: chia seeds (Salvia hispanica), golden berries (Physalis peruviana) and cacao nibs (Theobroma cacao).

Chia seeds (yes, these are the same seeds used for Chia pets) are not particularly tasty but they are crunchy and they turn gelatinous when added to a liquid. Adding 1/4 cup of chia to a cup of soy milk or a tropical type of fruit juice and then letting it soak for an hour will turn it to a tapioca pudding consistency: yummy snack!

The golden berries are tart and seedy (crunchy) which adds an interesting texture & flavor to the porridge. These berries are related to the ground cherries that we received in our Food Box (Community Supported Agriculture) in Kitchener and the Chinese lantern plant!

The cacao nibs are my favorite: aromatic, chocolaty and crunchy. The more I chew them, the more flavor I can get from the nibs.

Of course, these superfoods also make their way to the ice cream, yogurt and smoothies. I have also tried them in my granola bars and gorp snacks. I am open to any other suggestions!

So, next time you have a bowl of porridge, go beyond raisins and make your mouth sing ...

Growing too fast!

Okay. One would think that I would have learned from last year about sowing seeds indoors too early in the year. Unfortunately, the propagation paper I had to do for my course had precipitated it. Although, at the time, I only had to grow 3 annuals, I thought I would toss them out after the observation period was over. But... how can one throw those babies that I nurtured and coaxed for 3 whole weeks!



In the foreground are the marigolds planted in late January while in the background are the green peppers planted in mid February.






German chamomile in the background and Garden sorrel in the foreground which I had to start harvesting while under the lights!




From left to right, this tray has the Menthol Mint (part if the Tea Time Herb Collection) on the left. the Pansies in the middle, and the Clove Pinks on the right. All sown at the beginning of March.

There are heritage tomatoes "Brandywine" that are about 45-50 cm tall; they had to be repotted about 3 times as they grew a lot quicker than any of the other plants.

Most of the perennials had been planted in the garden: Anise-hyssop (Agastache foeniculum, Bergamot (Monarda didyma), German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Salvia 'Purple Volcano' (S. lyrata), Speedwell (Veronica officinalis).

The world is bright and it is joyful to get up every morning (no matter what the weather) when there are living things to be nurtured.

Earth Week

Brantford had a few events to celebrate Earth Week: School ground greening, Gateway to the Green Belt greening, various tree planting, trail and other community clean up, speakers for the "Solar & Wind Power for the Homeowners",etc.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend any of them. I celebrate the Earth as part of my life. On Earth Day, Bob & I went cycling for recreation and went to the Annual Book Fair (held by the Brantford Symphony Orchestra). We donated books but we bought books as well! That's reusing/recycling!

Check out the book titles I brought home. The second from the top is Herb Gardening.

We also attended the "Green Living Show" in Toronto where there were tons of information about Solar & Wind power. A few hybrids to test drive: Bob took a Smart car for a test drive. I was only able to see less than half of the exhibits because I was too busy sampling all the organic & healthy foods and beverages! Next time, I'll have to bring more cash as I found out that the merchandise you buy here are not only cheaper but also tax free.

When I'm not voulunteering, one can always find me in the garden: weeding, cultivating, dividing, transplanting- nurturing the Earth.

Bicycling season, at last!

The Roaming Riders had planned to start cycling at the beginning of the month. Then, it rained...then, the temperature dropped... and the snow fell... and, heck, we were all getting too old for that kind of abuse. So, our first official day as a group was on Easter Monday when the sun was shining and the temperature was fairly decent; 16 of us attended.

In this picture, Bob is getting the bikes ready by "dusting" it with the air compressor. My bicycle actually rides like brand new (except the chain will need to be replaced soon).

Last Saturday, our group and the Saturday group called Blood, Sweat & Gears went for a 38 km ride with a half way stop at a local Pancake House in Villa Nova: all you can eat pancakes, bottomless coffee or tea plus a glass of apple juice and 3 locally made lean sausages with all the pure maple syrup one wants! The first part of the ride was fairly easy on paved country roads but the ride back was challenging when the wind speed picked up, not mentioning the lethargy one feels after having a heavy meal!

Having followed an exercise plan as suggested in the book Muscle Your Way Through Menopause...and Beyond by Judith Sherman-Wolin, I can really tell the difference in my level of preparedness for this cycling season. I did not have to struggle riding the inclines this time. So, now, I am ready for the cycling season!

Volunteering: the best job

The happiest and friendliest people I run into are volunteers. While I was working, most of my volunteer jobs were church-related; you can not meet any friendlier people. Now, the only volunteer job I have at our church is scheduling coffee hosts after Sunday Worship Service. Of course, in the past I had given my fair share of work with Suppers, Bake Sales & Garage Sales. We won't be having any of those at this church (since we are selling the building). I am sure I will always be involved in this kind of volunteering no matter where I'll be.

Now, I've expanded my horizon to mostly gardening activities. The Brantford Master Gardener group requires that each member including the MGiTs (Master Gardener in Training) put in at least 100 hours of volunteer work per year. We have clinics, maintenance of a public garden or two, public education, garden tours, etc.

Garden Clean up at the Manse 2008

The Brantford Garden Club provides flower shows (within the club and also one for the general public), plant sales, maintenance of a water-wise garden & other fund raising events. Besides volunteering for various activities, I am also one of the board directors this year.

Annual Plant Sale 2008

Then, the RBG has its wide range of volunteering opportunities throughout the year. I intend to try each one of them! Commencing in February, we are potting up bare roots, seedlings and re potting of leftover plants from last year's plant sale. There are several greenhouses in the property where we do all the work. Within these greenhouses, one can work with perennial and/or annual plants. I am now working with the Native Plants group: waiting for the seeds to germinate, transplanting seedlings, digging up dormant plants for potting, etc. This beehive of activities is preparing for the Annual RBG Auxiliary Plant Sale on May 7 & 9. Oh, it is a lot of fun. The passion and enthusiasm is very contagious. The greening of all the plants as I go in every week is euphoric. If I were living in the city (of Hamilton or Burlington), I'd probably be here 5 days/week!

I guess volunteers are happy people because we love what we do so we choose to be wherever we are. As Bob would say, it's the best job I've never had.

Spring Delights

These crocuses are the only one brave enough to show their sunny faces this Spring.

I miss the snow drops that I had in Kitchener. I guess I have to plant more in the Fall.

The tulips from the RBG have peeked and they are about 5 " tall. Ahhh. Anticipation.

Murder & Mayhem in the Basement

I discovered that I love to start plants from seeds indoors when there's still snow covering the ground & I can't get that chill off my bones just yet. It's the nurturing instinct in me, I suppose. But plants are similar to people that the more one knows how to look after them, the better they respond to that treatment. And visa versa.

It is fun to watch them sprout from these dehydrated looking seeds to something green and growing. I have learned that the seed's viability is not 100% guaranteed so when sowing them, one has to keep this in mind. As it happens, there was a 100% viability among the 'Brandywine' heritage tomatoes I sowed & the task of "eliminating" half of them took getting used to. OK, a few seconds, but still...

Here are the tomato seedlings waiting to be "chosen" to live.

Body parts, on their way to the compost bin

As you can see, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this lot. They were as hearty looking as the ones I have transplanted. On the other hand, I did not have room for 20 tomato plants!

So, as the weather warms up, my basement garden will soon overflow and then I have to set up my little portable greenhouse on the deck to harden them off. I can hardly wait.