Gordon's Garden Diary

20 Nov '08 4:30 pm

Hi, everyone!

Thanks for the many comments on my latest pictures.

The kind of Arbutus we have here (and the ones I showed were tiny ones at the limit of their range) are Arbutus menziecii (spelling is wrong). I've only heard of Arbutus unedo other than this variety. Didn't think there were any others!

And, Dixie, "Buttle Lake + islet" is a very common picture throughout Canada, but it is definitely NOT the whole story! The Prairies have a completely, very beautiful, scenery of their own, as do Central, Northern and Eastern Canada. Don't forget - it's the second (maybe first, now that the USSR has broken apart) largest country on Earth so there's lots of room! And I didn't even mention the urban landscapes! Do I sound like a proud Canadian, or what, eh? Very Happy

Yes, I finally caught Joey off guard and got an unblurred picture of him, but I'll bet that if I even open the drawer where I keep the camera he'll slither off the bed behind me and retreat to the other end of the trailer!

We had a hard frost last night, but it still didn't hit my geraniums, so maybe I should try uprooting them and hanging them upside down for the winter to see if they survive! I don't have room to keep them all growing in pots.

Tomorrow I plan on uploading a picture of another unknown houseplant of mine to the "What Plant it This?" thread. A friend's elderly Aunt gave it to me along with other rare specimens (Morina among them - took me over a year to figure out its name!). I've been a failure at sleuthing out its name, but it's definitely a tropical, so maybe one of you can identify it for me. It has suddenly decided to grow like Topsy and I don't really know how to make it bloom.

Not too far from here there was a man who was seriously mauled by a grizzly bear today while he worked. Goes to show you all how closely we live with wildlife in this part of the world! I'm sure that similar things occur where most of you live (except N.Z., I guess).

Well, that's it for tonight. Rain is again in the forecast for tomorrow, so maybe I'll get busy writing Christmas cards!

Cheers, all!

gordonf

20 Nov '08 7:41 pm

Sometimes we have heard on the news that the bears are coming into towns to get food.Is the injured man okay?Was he working in the forest?
I always enjoy the 'what is this plant' queries,so will look in here tomorrow.
Canada is such an attractive place and i would love to visit.Smiley's cousin has lived there-now in Burnaby Vancouver for about 35 years,and sends back photos such as clearing the snow and of Vancouver harbour.

20 Nov '08 8:22 pm

The man who was injured is in serious condition and he was working at a sawmill, I think (missed part of the news report). It happened in a community up-Island (north) of here. I gather that the bear got him on the head and didn't want to let go, but it is now on the loose with conservation officers in pursuit. The bear was probably hungry, as the salmon runs have been small this year and it would have been trying to fatten up before winter hibernation. In normal circumstances, bears avoid humans.
-Gord

24 Nov '08 7:57 pm

Hi, everyone;

It's a cold, foggy night here on the Island tonight, the late news has finished on the television and I've completed reading all of today's email messages. What to do now? I don't feel like going to bed, so I thought that it might be nice to post a small collection of the favourite pictures that I've taken of plants in my garden over the last few years. Hopefully, you'll enjoy them as well, but please do realize that some of these plants have since died out or been replaced for one reason or other. Gardens DO change, as we all know!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I will enjoy posting them!

Cheers!

gordonf

25 Nov '08 12:49 am

I do indeed enjoy seeing your plants Gordon. I love the clematis, and the geranium is intriguingly beautiful. The sculptural shape and colour of the sedum reminds me a little of those red Chinese figurines. Soapstone I think?

25 Nov '08 3:44 am

Gentian is one of the best and the blue Corydalis is another. Though I though C. lutea was the yellow flowered one and the blue ones I've seen are C. flexuosa. If I were to make a top three list of true blue flowers, these two would be on it. The third would have to be Himilayan Poppy. I've tried all three and they do not like it here. Too dry, too warm I guess. I bet all three like it where you are .. and I'll bet you have a Meconopsis betonicafolia somewhere in that Aladin's tent of a garden you have there.

25 Nov '08 6:52 am

That's exactly what Gordon's garden is! Where does he hide all these treasures Question

True blue-flowering plants are one of my all time favourites but like Mark, most don't really like it here. I have had Corydalis but it is a fraction of the size of yours Gordon - how tall is that plant?

25 Nov '08 12:23 pm

Hi, again!

You were right, Mark - I had that picture mislabeled. By the way, my other blue favourite is Brunnera "Jack Frost". I love its forget-me-not-like flowers. Jack Frost does better for me than the other one I've tried, "variegata".

And, yes, I'd also love to have a Tibetan poppy, but they never survive for me.

I got that little gentian plant a couple of years ago and it survives quite nicely on the roof garden with about 2 inches of very gravelly soil beneath it. However, it doesn't seem to have grown much although right now it seems to be very healthy and happy! Perhaps it's just a slow grower!

I couldn't get any other pictures to upload for me last night Sad

, so I'll try again tonight. After all, I haven't posted any of the lilies or roses yet!

25 Nov '08 4:37 pm

Hi, everyone;

Here are some more of the favourite pictures (or rather, pictures of my favourite plants) from my garden over the last few years.

Cheers!

gordonf

25 Nov '08 8:01 pm

Wonderful plants. I remember the Tradescantia, never knew they came in such colours. I had a white one many years ago that didn't do well. I love the Geum, what a fantastic picture. That reminds me, I should check to see what mine is doing.

Gordon's Garden Diary

Of Lakes & Arbutus Trees

bears

Some of My Favourites

You sure do have the blues, Gordon.

Aladin's tent!

Corydalis

More of My Favourites