Short 'n sweet

Our computer has been acting up, perhaps a case of the flu? So it makes it difficult to post, however, there are a few pics' worth sharing.

These are Pink Fawn Lilies, from the Honeymoon Bay Wild Flower Reserve . They bloom in early Spring, and carpet the forest floor for a couple of weeks, but if you miss them, you have to wait another year to see them. Fleeting and beautiful.

This is lovely old "Vulcan" rhododendron at our front porch. Quite a show, it almost glows.
I'm at a lul between late Spring flowers, and some summer blooms. June is proving to be unseasonably cool and wet, so things are taking some time. However, our 12'-14' temperature is promising to heat up next week! Peonys are on the horizon.

Sunday morning

I seem to be wanting to post a really happy scene, and the only ones coming to me lately are indoors! The weather outside is frightful ... really. So here's Sunday morning. Lovely.


In a few days I'll be on an adventure in "Sidney-by-the-sea" and should return with signs of Spring.

Random

We're supposed to eat colourful food, right? Well, I think we eat well ... perhaps a little too much, but good food none the less. This cutting board is full of organic veggies ready for the stir-fry, and it was just so beautiful I had to snap a picture.
The pink and bright yellow is rainbow chard!

Here's a pic from last year. Rhubarb is just starting to show now, so I'll put a plastic cover over the bed for a few weeks to protect it from our very cold nights, and soon it'll be looking as good as this.

Eye candy! 
 It's fairly apparent that I'm itching to get into the garden. Today I went out to clear away debris, ... old clematis vines, and raspberry canes etc. Then inside for a warm cup of tea, as it's still cold.
Pretty Random today, but then again, so is my life!

It's March, which can only mean sheep!

I remember  ... long long ago and far far away... Grade three, actually. And every month we made a picture for our calendars. And the March picture was (always) sheep. Spring lambs, so sweet, and then they are let out to pasture, and March weather being what it is, they get all muddy.
I was surfing the net and found this fun site. Sheep and wool.

They have a yarn CSA. Community Supported Agriculture. Good on them. Hope you go to their page.
Yesterday I soaked a few Sweet Pea seeds, and today I planted them, just outside the office window. I feel very lucky to have found Renees Seeds at our local Buckerfields store. I've only grown the Spencer or Cuthbertson varieties, which are lovely, but I'm really looking forward to seeing these. I planted "April in Paris" and Cherie Amour". How can I go wrong?


Happy Spring Gardening!

Still Winter

A few days ago, the weather was almost Spring-like. Then we woke up to a lovely snowfall, reminding me that my gardening plans were a little premature!
I'd been looking through seed catalogues, .... gardeners' porn. Everything looks so good. Some of it had to be 're-touched' doncha think?

 I planted leeks today, and on my way to the shed, I did a garden walk-about. Look what I found! Cute little aconites. The other 'stuff' in the picture is my long suffering lavender patch. Poor things really want to be in the Mediterranean where it's warmer and drier. I so appreciate them in our garden.

Snow's here for a while, but these pleasures of early Spring are a treat.

Hellebores

Lovely Spring!

Here are some Hellebore's from wild acre blog Her photos capture these beauties so well, and her garden is so interesting, ... worth a visit! 

Royal Tea

The Royal Tea that the Honeymoon Bay Society has planned is coming along swimmingly. Many folks thought that selling 200 tea party tickets was optimistic to say the least, however, all the posters advertising the event now have a "SOLD OUT" banner across them. 'Good on ya'!

I've started baking for the tea, and will freeze everything, then decorate it all when I get home from my travels.

I've also been busy in the garden this past week. I know Spring will come eventually, (probably when I'm away) and I want to be prepared! I figure plants will grow when I'm not looking, so I'm giving them every opportunity.

I knew I'd found Mr. Right when I was gifted with a load of manure for the garden as a Valentines gift one year early on in our relationship. True Love.
And here's this years' "I love You" gift, aren't I lucky? Well, I'm off to visit daughters and Grand daughters for Easter, and will return to Blogland early in May, with a tea party up-date and news of our Market.
Ta ta for now.

Garden Porn??

Relaxing on a Sunday evening, ahhh, lovely.
I've been 'blog-hopping' and came across a reference to Meryl Streeps' potager garden in 'It's Complicated". I remember it well from the movie, not to mention the great kitchen, ... well OK, the whole house! Chic flick for sure, just so much to see!http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2009/12/the-dirt-on-the-its-complicated-vegetable-garden.html

Of course the garden is manufactured, just one big, (and beautiful) prop. But I'll take it!
After driving home from Victoria yesterday and encountering a freak hailstorm that closed the Malahat, I need a little Spring garden fantasy.

Spring Lambs

What a pleasure it was to go out to Lindahl Farm for a visit, and to see the new lambs.

Anybody have a snack??

Although it's still chilly, and rainy, and mucky, you just have to smile at these lovely ladies. I had a great day looking around the farm, and then a 'cuppa' inside by the fire, visiting with Marilyn. A perfect day.

You can buy glassware, meat, honey or eggs from the farm, here's their website http://www.thebeestore.com/Home_Page.html and email address lindahls@shaw.ca

Happy Spring!

Cabin Fever

What a lovely day my husband and I had yesterday. I think we were suffering a bit from 'cabin fever' and decided to break out! There was an Antique show and sale in Chemainus which got us started, and the promise of Spring at a garden centre. I went in to find a specific rose, and I ask you, how does one make a selection when faced with this?

Good intentions went out the window, but honestly I felt very restrained, because I only came out with two roses and a packet of seeds.

Travelling the back roads and enjoying the countryside is always a pleasure, especially on a sunny day after the round of weather we've just had. These particular back roads yielded a delicious stop. Saison Market is more than a bakery in the country, it really is an experience.

 

You can see a lot more on their website, here.

http://www.saisonmarket.ca/index.html

What a wonderful day, and to top it off, a glass or two of wine by the fire with my sweet husband.