Fall is Here

A few cooler nights have turned the Virginia creeper vines from a deep green to vibrant pink.  

Proof positive that fall is here. And that's a good thing in my opinion. 

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on September 28, 2024.

A Day at Daisy's House

This past Thursday I spent the better part of the day gardening at Daisy's house...always an enjoyable time.  

She rewards me with ear licks and in turn she gets tummy rubs.  Pretty good deal all around.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on September 26, 2024.

Japanese Lilac Tree

Probably the most beautiful Japanese lilac tree I've seen anywhere.  Very showy and the fragrant blooms are intoxicating.  A perennial favourite.

Photographed in New Hillside Cemetery on the outskirts of Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 1, 2024. 

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Saint Elias Russo Greek Orthodox Church was photographed near Pakan, Alberta on September 18, 2021.

Springtime in Heather's Garden

I cleaned up and planted a few annuals plus a couple of perennials in Heather's Garden earlier this week.  It was a beautiful day for gardening...warm in the sun and cool in the shade, my kind of day.

It won't be long now before all the new plants grow some roots and start to fill out.  

Even after all these years, watching plants grow never seems to get old.

Heather's garden here in the hills has several clusters of stones, a few shells, a piece of driftwood and other decorations.  I noticed a small pile of stones behind the church so I decided to add them to her garden.  She liked to accent her garden with stones so I think she'd like this.     

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on June 24, 2024.

What a Little Rain Can Do

A couple of weeks ago in my all time favourite garden in Medicine Hat, Alberta...

The lupins, irises and globe flowers were in full bloom as well as the Dwarf Korean Lilac.  The latter has a sweet fragrance that filled the entire yard with its intoxicating aroma.  Much of the vibrancy is due to several inches of rain (which is something of a rare event here in southeastern Alberta)...adding that extra richness in colour tone that is so pleasant and deeply attractive. 

These photos were taken while the owners were away in France, so, for about two weeks I had the yard to myself for picnics, the occasional drink (or two or...) and, of course, lots of gardening.  I live in a nice apartment that has a lovely balcony with a view that I fill with plants each summer and enjoy immensely, but having free run of a spacious yard like this was a real treat.  That's definitely a cause for celebration.   

I hope everyone has a private and comfortable place to enjoy the abundant gifts that nature provides.

Photographed on June 12, 2024.

Heather's Garden

Gardening has been keeping me busy; there's always lots to do in spring to get everything looking nice again.  And yesterday I finally had a chance to get out to Saint Margaret's to clean up Heather's Garden.  I wasn't sure what I'd find...last summer was one of the driest seasons on record plus there was some bitterly cold weather over the winter months. 

I wasn't expecting much (occasional pessimist that I can be) but was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the perennials had survived...and one of the prairie crocus was already in full bloom.  In a nutshell, all the really tough plants made it through some extremely harsh conditions.  Maybe one day I'll learn their innermost survival secrets but in the meantime I'll simply enjoy doing my best to take care of them.

We've been lucky this spring to have had some rain and a few showers.  So far we've already had more rain than we had all of last year.  Nice to see things turning green and flourishing.  In three weeks or so I'll plant some annuals and a few more perennials to fill in the empty spots.  I think Heather would like that.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on May 19, 2024.

Spring Flowers

Filled a mini-fridge full of spring bulbs this past fall so I've been enjoying spring flowers (indoors, of course) for the past couple of months.  Still have about another month's worth yet to bloom.  This is the first time I've forced bulbs in years but will definitely be making it an annual event in years to come.   

Photographed on May 25, 2024.

Tall Phlox

Something colourful and pleasant for a snowy day...

Not only are tall garden phlox attractive, but they also have the sweetest scent...something to look forward to each and every spring.

Photographed in Eastend, Saskatchewan on June 12, 2020.

Happy Valentine's Day

Johnny Jump Ups may be an understated way celebrate Valentine's Day, but pretty sweet.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on May 24, 2020.

Early Fall at the Arts Park in Boissevain

Something to brighten up a winter's day...

The Arts Park in Boissevain is a community green space wholly run by volunteers.  And even though it was getting late in the gardening season there was still plenty of greenery and blooms to see.  

A couple out for a walk stopped to say hello while I was enjoying the garden.  They said most of the volunteers were older folks but there had lately been some interest shown by a few youngsters.  Here's hoping all the generations can work together to keep this community garden beautiful for years to come.  

The thought and expression, creativeness, hard work and realisation shown here is above and beyond any expectations.  "Thank you" to all those who make our lives just a little bit brighter.

Photographed in Boissevain, Manitoba on September 15, 2023.

Spring 2017

A flashback to mostly spring blooms...flowers make everything better, n'est pas?

May 21, 2017

A clump of buffalo beans alongside the highway just north of Simpson, Montana.  It's not spring without these cheery golden yellow blooms.  

May 28, 2017

At one time it was common to plant irises at the grave of a loved one...especially in country cemeteries on the prairies.  A lovely way of remembrance.  The grass was just barely turning green at Kincorth Lutheran Cemetery but these irises were already in full bloom.  They're tough and hardy. 

   

June 2, 2017

Fleabane is a native plant throughout the prairies.  This clump of happy white flowers was just outside the entrance to the Empress Cemetery.  The town of Empress is in Alberta, but the Empress Cemetery is just across the border in Saskatchewan.  

June 11, 2017

I'd stopped in Hilda, Alberta to take a few shots of the grain elevator and while doing so, came across this beautiful orange butterfly amongst the alfalfa flowers. 

June 17, 2017

If you're lucky enough to be traveling along Eagle Butte Road near Woolchester, Alberta at just the right time you'll be rewarded with the visual delight of these masses of pink flowers.  I always look forward to seeing "the pink fields" in full bloom.  I believe they are a species of vetch. 

 

June 21, 2017

A bee foraging in the blooms of a froebelii spirea in one of the gardens I tend in town.  Bees really are the busiest little guys.

June 24, 2017

Flowers and butterflies aren't the only spring delight...a doe with her fawns just across the lane from the Post Office where I pick up my mail.  The second fawn is hidden mostly behind mama deer.

June 24, 2017

A pincushion cactus flower on an acreage where I tend to some gardening.  The resulting fruit is sweet and delicious.  Leave some for the animals and birds...they need a treat every so often too.

June 28, 2017

The waxy yellow flower of the native prickly pear cactus.  I found this one high above the southern bank of the South Saskatchewan River in southern Alberta.

June 30, 2017

Bunchberries blooming in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.  They are the smallest variety of the dogwood species I've seen anywhere.  The unique four-petal flowers later develop into brilliant red berries that are enjoyed by a variety of wild animals and birds.

An interesting fact about bunchberries...when a bee or other insect lands on a flower it stimulates the flower to open at the incredible rate of half a millisecond...spreading the pollen at a few thousand times the force of gravity.  Imagine that.

Hope you enjoyed the somewhat belated spring tour of 2017.

Photographed in Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Amaryllis Flowers

A few photos of some showy amaryllis flowers that bloomed in my indoor garden a few weeks ago.  Each flower was over six inches in diameter.

The highlights on the blooms were created by narrow slats of light streaming through the Venetian blinds.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on December 17, 2023.

Happy New Year!

All the best in 2024!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on August 21, 2023.

Indoor Winter Garden and Friends

A few months ago I decided to assemble an indoor garden for the winter months.  Most of the plants had spent from mid-spring to late-fall out on the balcony so, when the time came, I picked my favourites and brought them inside.  The remainder of the plants were given to a friend who is planning to incorporate them into a living wall.  

Having plants indoors really does make each and every day better...gloomy weather days are more bearable, and sunny days feel glorious.  And to further augment the visual aspect I placed a few of Tim Paul's exquisite Nuu-chah-nulth red cedar carvings painted in black and white amongst the greenery.  They fit in seamlessly to  create an indoor winter garden of delight and wonderment.

Behind the garden are Tim's totem pole and moon mask, completing the scene.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on December 11, 2023.