Model T Days on Father's Day, of course

The line up of some of the cars, in the shower, before the rally started.
Our sponsor, Rob Oldfield. This rally actually commemorates an event from earlier times.
We lined up and left the parking lot in 45 second intervals. We received the rally instructions and set off on a very nicely set up rally. Not too many questions and an new, interesting route. Thanks so much for all the work you do Moe and Carol.
It was good to see this oldie out again. Under new ownership, of course ... we miss you Bob, and your side kick navigator, too.
The woodwork on Arnold's truck is meticulous. Good to see it out. Christine, if you see this.... Hope you are feeling better soon,
As the cars arrived at the Prospect Lake Hall Moe went about putting the numbers on the rallying cars. There were 14 numbered cars and 3 of the organizers' cars that did not have numbers. A very good turn out this year. We even had a visitor from the lower mainland this year.

On Fathers' day we get on our Model T Ford speedster and drive up to Prospect Lake Hall to meet the other enthusiasts for breakfast before the rally. This year, before we left on the run, we had a little shower. Fortunately I had my rain gear along and changed in the hall before we left. There was a good turn out this year. I enjoyed the rally. There did not seem to be too many questions and the route was new and interesting. The trophy was taken home by Warren, this year. If you have had that wonderful item on your mantle once, you may try to finish any place but first. Its quite a garish atrocity and all part of the lore of the day.

After the run, this year, we went to Ken's cafe for lunch. Ken's cafe is just across the street from Rob Oldfield's garage filling station. Rob is our sponsor. There was a Times Colonist photographer out taking photos, but I did not see any of them in the paper.

In the garden over the last few days, I have finished weeding, pruning and renovating the front garden. Today I was out for 5 hours. I clipped the little hedge, removed the daisies, clipped down the time, clipped down the lemon balm, pruned the spirea, weeded the front strip, and the two rectangle beds. I lightly pruned the cedar hedge. I should keep up the pruning of the hedges, as this little hedge in the front as suffered badly from neglect and looks quite ratty in spots from the severe pruning to bring it back into shape. I will keep the daisies to the strip in front of the rectangles, for their annual show. They might bloom again this year. At the moment the pink yarrow is now the main show, in that area. I took the lemon balm down before it goes to seed. It, too, will be up again soon. I must dig out one more plant that is nice, but rampant, and just gets away on me so quickly. Next I shall spread compost around all the beds and consider getting a few perennials to fill in the empty spots. I must lift my peonies and give them better soil. They are just not thriving in the clay soil. The hollyhocks are in bud and are looking pretty good. I also cut back the bishop's weed along Parmar's side of our house and pruned back the firethorn and the california lilac. It all looks pretty good. Now it needs watering... and photos. :-) .

I set up the watering gun in the back and watered that area and the woodland while I was working out at the front. The weather has been quite cool, so working out there in the afternoon is not impossible. Most of the hard work is done for this year. I think I will leave the woodland renovation and under the deck for next year and just do maintenance for the next few months.

Eucalyptus tree - Part 3

The stump is quite evenly flat and about 18 inches in diameter. This is a contrasty shot. The plants survived ok. The irises are a bit flattened but they will survive. They now have more sun, so perhaps they will bloom. Behind this stump are the Saskatoon berry trees that are not producing. I think I will take them out and put in more hedging cedars, in the Fall, when it starts to rain.
I rather liked this view of the truck with Graham in the background.
The chipper, at the back of the truck.
This truck has some plants to be taken to another location to be planted. I believe Lloyd said it was hedging trees to replace an old worn out hedge. They do planting as well as removal, of course.
They have some pretty specialized equipment.
The website on the back of the truck.
The last of the tree was taken down in fireplace size pieces of the trunk.
You can see how the stumps of the branches are useful as spots to stand upon. The ropes and harness help to hold him to the tree so he is able to use his saws to cut the tree.

Yesterday I managed to get the lawn moved and watered around the back gardens. I washed off the patio area, also.

Today, Saturday, I spent about 4 hours in the garden. I trimmed the trees at the back a bit more. In the front I took the globe spruce tree back quite a bit. I dug out violets from under the iberis. As I used my pruner on the spruce, I added another blister to my first blister from where the pruner rests on my second finger. Even through gloves these blisters form. I will have to tape over the spot, next time I use the pruner, I guess. The front garden is almost finished in front of the hedge. Its looking quite nice with the pink mallow flowers and the white feverfew in bloom with the blue and white tall campanulas. I need to remove more violets, put down bark mulch and perhaps get a few more tall campanulas for the area next to the black bamboo. I will have to be vigilant about the violets, as they are a real bitch to get out of the clay soil once they have established roots. I watered the pruned shrubs, the grass and the front, a bit. Later we had a bit of rain.

The Eucalyptus - part 2

This is a zoomed shot showing one of the knots they tied to ensure the control of the cut branch or tree part. The knots they were tying were specific to each application needed to accomplish the trimming of the tree to the ground without damage to the small space or to themselves. They did a superb job with no damage to speak of, to the plants in the area and none to the roof.
The tree is coming down! I was shooting most of these photos from our bedroom window that looks out over the garage roof. Unfortunately, I did not get a good shot of a branch falling. At this point most the the branches are off the tree and ready to be fed into the chipper. The trunk of the tree will need the attention of the chain saw, in fireplace size increments.
They would throw a rope around the limb that they were going to bring down next, and secure it so that they could control where it fell. They were really good at lassoing the branch they wanted to work with next. Lloyd would pull on the rope to create a bit of tension on the branch while Graham cut it off. You could see that they worked well together and knew exactly what they were doing. Jason, sidelined for the moment, was dragging away limbs to the patio area where they had backed up the truck and chipper.
They progressed up the tree, taking off the lower branches first. At this point the top of the tree is still towering over the houses.
The crew removed most of the lower branches, leaving Graham stubs of branches to use as footsteps up the tree. As they progressed, they attached guide ropes to the limbs that they wanted to bring down in the next sequence. Graham was using his pruning saw at first, as their were just too many possible snags for the chain saw. As he cut the limbs, he would drop them, avoiding most of the plants beneath. I have a special hydrangea that we protected from damage with an up turned garbage can over it.
This is Lloyd sweeping the debris off the roof. This tree drops some roundish parts that make the footing on the roof very precarious. They vacuumed up the debris on the roof to ensure a stable workspace. Lloyd came over to lend a hand because Jason had hurt his ankle on some earlier job and he had to take it easy. If Jason had had to jump off the roof to avoid the wasps, he would have re-injured his ankle. Fortunately, he did not jump, too far. The roof of the garage is about 5 - 7 feet from the ground at the far end, and not a really big leap.
You can see that the workspace is quite extensive. At this point, Jason had been chased off the roof by the wasps that, it seems, had a nests by one of the vents in the garage roof. The bug spray only made them mad.
After filling out the email form on Davey Tree's website, I had a call within a couple days from Lloyd that he would be around to give me an estimate the next day. This is great.. no time to change my mind! I agreed to the price and he called back with a time to get the job done. The crew arrived and set to work right after lunch.(two days ago) Their clothes were clean and they were smiling and happy. This is Graham, up the tree to begin the operation.

The photos are from two days ago when we had the big eucalyptus tree taken down by Davey Tree. They did a great job! I paid $420 to have this done, but it is worth it for me. It took 3 men 3 hours to do this, as well as having their special truck and all the equipment. These people know what they are doing!

The Eucalyptus - part 1

This is the eucalyptus tree looking out of the patio door and zoomed a bit closer. This tree provided great screening from the house just behind our property, where we have a very unusual person for a neighbor (to say the least). We really needed this screening! But given the possibility of a crash of the heavy tree to the garage, we decided to have the tree removed.
This tree is leaning over the path in the woodland. Every year it seemed to sink lower and lower towards the path. This year I have had to duck under it to get past it on the path. It is a huge tree and the wood is really heavy as it contains a lot of moisture. We were afraid it would fall on the garage in the next good windstorm. So, we called Davey Tree to come and take it down for us.
A closer look at the tree. The bark peels and the leaves have different colors as they age and drop off. It makes quite a mess but is evergreen; or everblue, actually. I like the bark and color of the leaves. Since it is a tree from Australia, it blooms in what is our winter. The Anna's Hummingbirds that stay in our area over winter would be feeding on the blossoms in winter.
This is the eucalyptus tree towering over the garage the day before the 'cut'.

Garden Paths #3

This photo shows an over view of the stone path from where it starts at the curve in the long grass path and winds its way into the inner garden and around the sundial circle.
Just before the branch in the stone path I have 3 stepping stones down into the thyme circle. These stepping stones are bordered on one side by the inner garden plants . hebe, alliums, etc, on one side and by the golden organo and small geranium on the other side. The thyme should cover the stepping stone completely in a year or so. I removed the stones from the circle as I prefer to have it totally covered in thyme. The bags of soil amendments sit on the bench -- an oversight by the photographer.. ah well.
The stone path branches at this point to go up along the water feature and the west coast planter on one branch while the other branch goes onwards toward the smoke bush.
This is the continuation of the stone path on past the smoke bush, bordered by more sedums on one side and the silver sedum and the lavender, and armerias on the other side. This is the area where I am going to add the 3 new roundish rocks that I liberated from by the yellow oregano. This is the center of the front garden. It also has a lovey blue hebe in it as well as pin cushion flowers, aliums and a couple other plants.
This is the part of the path that is the entrance to the sundial circle. It is edged by iris and california lilac on one side and the silver sedum with the smoke bush on the other side of the path. The odd foxglove self seeds as well as a few others. Right at the end by the hedge you see the little hebe that is doing so well this year.
This is the sun dial circle with its little stone border. I left a spot on the stone circle that had only the little orange flowers growing in it. I did not dig them out and put weed barrier under the stones. This little area can be my test area for how well the weed barrier does.
This short stone path leads off of the grass frame strip next to the entrance. I had to put this little path in because the meter maid could not find the meter when I had plants growing over it. So, I was penalized for hiding the ugly thing. I had to pay a fine on my water bill. First time I ever heard of a water meter maid levying a fine. Oh my the power of the bureau Brats.
Along 2 sides and part of a third size of my front garden I have 5 foot wide strips of grass that are the frame of the front garden. This is the top frame. It is the same width but it curves because of the entrance and the shape of the hedge.
This is the framing strip on Parmar's side. It is, in fact their 5 foot strip of grass between their driveway and the property line. Thank you Mrs. P. for the border.
This strip goes about 10 feet up our drive way side and is interrupted by the magnolia tree and other plants. Going the other way, the strip goes along the front of the garden next to the street and meets Parmar's strip of grass, to frame these two sides. This front strip is where the crocus field is in the spring. Now next to where the crocus field is, the daisies are growing profusely.

The photos from this post were all taken on the 16th of June. You can see the garden hose that I have stretched out and turned on to give the plum tree at the front of the garden a slow, constant drip of water.

There will be more photos of the plants, containers and garden art that I have stuffed into this small garden.

Yesterday we had a bit of rain and a bit more this morning. It was not very much altogether, though. Today the Davey Tree people came and removed the huge eucalyptus in the back. So there will be photos of that, too. I am missing my huge tree already. The screening it did was terrific. It was terribly messy though. ... to be continued. :)

Garden Paths #2

This is the view from the patio area of the round cement stepping stones that lead through the perennial bed. This view is looking into the rhodo that borders the small Japanese area. There is a Sanguinia Canadensis, a soldenella at this side of the path. On the other side of this rhodo, the new moss garden begins.
This is the view from the patio area, of the old cement sidewalk that runs along the other side of the garage. Between the garage and the sidewalk I have a bed with a small geranium, a clematis and a grape on the corner, some oriental poppies, cyclamen, and a few other perennials. On the other side of the old sidewalk there is the fig tree, a strawberry tree (its an arbutus), some minature roses and other perennials. The round cement stone path leads through the new perennial bed past the rhodos, primulas, etc; from the steps that go up to the back to the old sdewalk. You can see the germander and the firethorn at the end of this photo, where the sidewalk turns to go around the back of the garage or past the holly tree into the grass area where the apple tree is growing.
This is the view of the old cement sidewalk behind the garage from the other side. You see the trunk of the eucalyptus leaning over towards the garage. Germander and iris in the foreground. Next to the garage there is a bed with Galium (sweet woodruff) with a velvety leafed lace cap hydranga. At the corner of the garage there is a yellow flowering winter Jasmine and a white sweetly scented jasmine vine. As you continue towards the vegetable garden from this sidewalk you walk between a tall fire thorn and a holly tree. There is a yew and 3 hedging cedars along behind the germander and the irises. The iris do not get enough sun to bloom well. They might do better when the big tree is gone. Our screening from the house behind us will be gone, though also. Hopefully the hedging cedars will grow quickly. I should feed and water them more. Today, I have been clipping the firethorn and holly tree back quite radically to make room to walk between them without getting any prickles from either tree.
As you turn the corner around behind the garage the chip path turns into the old cement sidewalk that was along this garage. The garage was on the property when we bought it. It was an added attraction for Pat and his car storage, of course. We closed in that back door and the window of the garage and combined the two bays as one open area with a big door on the front and a walk in door. The old black compost bin sits on the spot where steps went down to the old entry. You see the rhododendron on the corner of the garage, the big fern just the other side of the compost bin, and the old cement sidewalk where I have allowed the moss to grow. The leaning tree trunk is the huge eucalyptus that is going to have to be removed someday. Next to the rhodo, I have taken out a pin oak that was too big and leaning to the garage for light. Since then, I have let 3 trunks grow from the stump of this oak and have been training them away from the garage. They have lovely Fall color as do the trees across the path from them. Also across the path from the rhodo area there is a large Japanese cedar with brown/green colored needles. I have 3 Saskatoon berry trees along the fence line across from the compost bin. These do not get enough water or attention and I am considering replacing them with more hedging cedars when the eucalyptus is taken out.
This is the wood chip path leading into the woodland from the driveway, on the west side of the garage. The bleeding heart is at the corner of the garage. The plants in this little srip under the eaves of the garage are in bloom in the spring and have just finished blooming as this photo is from June 16th. On the other side of the path there is a cedar hedge between the neighbors and our property. Their kitchen window looks across our patio area in front of the garage and so this hedge is tall enough to screen our patio and deck area from view. The hedge goes along the driveway up to where our house ends, making that whole side of the house more private.
The people do day care in that house. Just recently they have set up a basketball hoop along their driveway which is next to ours except for the 5 foot strip where I have my hedge. I guess this noisy from the bouncing balls is going to be a permanent thing, as these kids are not the kind that outgrow this ball hoop, as they did on the other side of us. Ah well!

The path photos from today's post were taken on June 16th. All the woodland area needs cleaning up. I have started a bit of cleaning up this morning with the clipping back of the holly tree and the firethorn. I initially went out to prune back the wisteria that is in the corner of the vegetable/herb garden. I am trying to train this wisteria into a single stem kind of a tree, since it really does not have room to ramble. The neighbors seem to resent it decorating their fences. :-)). I also took some of the lower branches off the English oak and deadheaded most of the spent blooms off the lilac. I topped up the pond.

Garden Paths

The cement blocks at the edge of the pond are a step up from the little path that enters this area. These blocks need a bit of topping up of their base setting of clay. This side of the pond was built up from the clay soil I dug out of the pond when building it. My property slopes downward toward the house from the back and so this side of the pond is higher than the area under the deck that is about 6 - 8 feet away. This is another good view of the back garden.
This is the path in the water garden/Japanese garden area. Photo from May. To the right of path are the small shrubs that divide the round stone cement path from this area and to the left is the plum tree and the pond. Continuing across the pond you see the waterfall backed my a few small shrubs along the property line. Right now the lovely water iris is in bloom on that side of the pond. More photos at the end of June, hopefully. I have probably loaded some of these photos before, but I am trying to do a comprehensive look at the garden paths. I might like to do comparison photos as the paths mature. This seems to happen quickly when you are busy in the garden and otherwise. The moss garden, for instance, is gradually growing more moss and starting to look very nice. I have to be vigilant about keeping down weeds and violets. Hopefully, I will get all the areas weeded and renovated by Autumn. It will be nice to just have watering and maintenance to do.
This shows the stone path along the edge of the back grass and the apple tree. Its a good overview of this area of the back garden. This stone path goes from the old cement sidewalk along the garage over to the vegetable garden and into the water garden/Japanese garden areas. This path is also getting irish moss and corsican mint growing in between the stones. As the path goes into the water garden area, it has taller blue eyed grass growing in it. These little plants self seed everywhere too, and I try to keep them to the water garden area by pulling them out when they are small. Its a losing battle though.
This is the view of the cement stone path from the opposite end. The garden hose runs to the pond to be handy for topping up the pond or watering the vegetable patch and all the back areas.
This is a view of the new cement stone path through the lower back garden. The area between the stones is filling in with Corsican mint which is a ground hugging, evergreen, with a lovely minty fragrance and little purple blooms. I hope to find the time to add photos of this path as it matures. This photo is from the end of May. The hollyhocks that you see at the top of the photo have bloomed and are peloric. As these plants self seed and are bi-annual this path will look totally different, next year. As it is this year, its interesting as the curve around the tall plants hides some of the view into the back grass and vegetable patch area. The pond and Japanese area is screened by the small shrubs that divide these two garden rooms.
This, as I am sure you are aware, is the vegetable garden paths, completed in May. This is before I transplanted the tomatoes and vegetable seeds. The vegetable garden is not productive, except for the strawberries and rhubarb, so far, this year. I will need to add more nutrients, maybe. The vetetable patch is cleaned up fairly well now, but needs attention to details, such as keeping the wisteria trimmed to its single trunk form, watering, clipping back the herbs , and weeding. Off and on, I consider expanding the little rockery, or turning this area into a cutting garden, as my vegetables are practically non-existant, anyway.

I am going to be doing a few postings of the garden paths that I have been working on this year, as well as the old paths that I hope to get finished renovating also. Once I have finished renovating the front garden, I will have the side driveway strip to finish cleaning up, and then the big job of getting the woodland done. I have a huge eucalyptus tree that is going to have to be taken down, as it is in danger of falling on the garage. This tree has been an excellent screen from the property behind ours, whose windows look directly into ours from about 100 feet away across my back garden. The tree will need to be taken down by some professional landscapers. I might want them to trim hedges at that time also. My English oak will need to be looked at also, as some of its branches have now extended over Mrs. P.'s clothes line in her back yard.

I have my big green bin full. They come to get it tomorrow. I also get my invoice and new pick up schedule for the next year. This is a much appreciated service for me. Its approximately 22 dollars a month. They collect everything and leave me a bag of compost. I have been using up this compost as well as some topsoil, sand and pea gravel that I get delivered by Cannor Nursery... free delivery with my membership. If I were to buy bulk gravel, etc I would pay the delivery costs which would amount to approximately what I am paying for the materials I use now. Its a toss up as to which way to go. I am doing my renovations over time, and I do not really have an area to store a yard of gravel while I work on moving it. So, this higher cost of materials is worth it to me for the convenience of having the stuff in smaller bags that I can move when I need them.

Yesterday we were on another old car run... just model Ts this time. There was a good turn out and I got a few good photos. We had a small shower before starting the rally, but I had my rain gear on by that time, so, it was not too bad. We ended the rally with lunch at Ken's Cafe across the road from Oldfield's garage. Rob Oldfield is our sponsor for this annual Father's day event.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #11

After our muster stop on the Antique tour; we proceeded to Egmont, then to Malibu Landing and boarded the Malibu Princess for our lunch cruise up Jervis Inlet. The lunch was great. The sky is cloudy and everything is grey. We pass a 1400 foot water fall where the boat is very close. I cannot get out of my booth where we sat for lunch without out being rude to a very dear little lady. I get more distance shots of the falls on the way back.

After the lunch cruise we return to Sechelt. Dinner is at Gilligan's Pub where we have a good visit with some friends. We miss the pub (almost) brawl out on the patio. Where some "skank" and her boyfriend the "washed out surfer dude" were trying to steal money from the waitress when one of our group caught them at it. The story became more and more hilarious as the night progressed.

We head home the next morning quite early as we have 3 ferries to catch, and a drive down the island, before we get home. We run with Bruce, and James and Barbara. They go over the Malahat and we take the Mill Bay ferry again. James has trouble with his brakes! There was nothing left of them by the time they got home! Oh man, and they went over the Malahat. The rest of the group go on a short tour and get to the Sechelt Golf and Country club for brunch. Had we done that, we would have probably stayed another overnight up island. I was happy to be getting home. It was a good tour, despite a few unclimbed hills.

We had a bit of rain last night. I was out in the garden for 5 - 5.5 hours today, but taking it pretty easy with more rests. I added one bag of pea gravel to the stone path. I finished trimming the thyme circle back to its previous size with a 7 foot diameter. I moved a few plants around so that I have some consistancy in the groupings of plants. I found 3 very nice roundish rocks under the yellow oregano and took them out to add to the smoke bush bed where there will be sedum. I moved the rock for the hebe closer to the thyme circle and back filled with topsoil, using up the rest of that bag of soil. I cleaned the grass out from under the little pink blooming bush and from in the irises. This grass looks a lot like the iris leaves, so I think I will be constantly pulling it out.. or remove those irises. But the grouping of plants I have there now, looks good the way it is. I will get rid of the daisies, at the bottom by the hedge and add a hosta, I think. This will be next to the black bamboo, so I should try for a gold and green hosta of medium size. The pond is staying topped up, which is good to see. I hope I find the time to get some photos done, soon.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #10

This is the 'muster spot' of the Saturday (2nd day) of this Antique Auto tour. At last some car photos!

Yesterday I spent doing house stuff, primarily. I noticed that the pond was very low. I went out and topped it up. I set a flat rock in the mossy water fall on an angle to deflect the water coming out of the top of the waterfall. Today the pond appears to be at its topped up level, so I think I have fixed the problem for the moment.

Today, I was out for about 5 hours and got quite a lot done. I got out the pole trimmer and took down the cedars that were leaning over the neighbors driveway. They were storm damaged from last winter. Then I began cleaning up the strip between our driveways. I had thought I lost the New Zealand Flax, but upon cleaning it up, I see it has some new little sprouts. I trimmed the rose of sharon and removed the small rose of sharon that was not doing well. I have filled the big green bin with all this clippings and trimmings. I got the bow saw and took out dead wood in the Magnolia and shaped it a bit, as well as trimming it back off the driveway. It looks so much better now too.

After lunch I started to clean up the thyme circle. Its looking so good! The little geranium and the yellow oregano are very well behaved. I deadheaded the geranium and will will be taking the orgeano down a few inches. I have trimmed the thyme back to its circle stone edges about 1/4 of the way around the circle. I removed the thyme that escaped and the one in the small sun dial circle. I plan to put red sedum on the bare spot where I removed some thyme just below the Hebe that is in bloom now in the smoke bush bed. I plan to add one or two rock plants to the sun dial circle to fill it in. I am moving the armerias and the pin cushion plants to the same area. They look really good together. I am taking out the self seeding columbines and relegating them to the woodland. I dead headed the Gertrude Jekyl rose and watered a bit at the front. Also managed to get the house plants fed and watered.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #9

The banquet of the tour was good. As our guest speaker was entertaining us, I noticed that the light was fading and had to leave early to go out and try for some sundown shots. I had a lot of blurry ones, as I did not bring my tripod. There was also a bit of a breeze off the ocean and the plants were moving. The moon is not too bad for a hand held shot, if I must say so myself.

In the garden, I have finished the stone path renovations. I watered the back and front, and hosed off the patio area. Its nice to have that cleaned up, at last, too. I was complimented on the new stone path by Pat, and by the mailman. :-))
I moved the blue leaf hebe -- actually dug it out and put pieces of its roots here and there in the garden. If they grow again, fine, if not, that's fine too. I moved the lavender from under the smoke bush to the front of that bed. So, when the lavender gets a little taller, I will have blue flowers in the front of the purple smoke bush and blue flowers of the California lilac behind it. This bush will be underplanted with the silver sedum. I was out for about 5 hours yesterday, and got quite a lot done.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #8

Irene and Theresa
1914 Model T roadster. Barb and James beauty.
The people's choice winner of the tour.
The special hood ornament on the Kissel kar.
1913 Kissel Kar
Our 1915 Model T Ford Speedster
Captain Vancouver's monument at Chaster Park

Here are a few photos from Friday, day one of the tour. Hot sunny weather. After our lunch stop at Gibson's Landing we toured past Chaster Park, with an optional hill climb along the way, past Roberts Creek to our stop at Roberts Creek Provincial Picnic Grounds. We pass through Wilson Creek and Davis Bay on our way back to Sechelt to our Driftwood hotel where we register and freshen up for the dinner/banquet.

In the garden, I have almost finished the rock path renovation. On Friday morning I spread a bit of weed and feed on my bits of grass, after mowing. It is very dry and hot, so I have been trying to keep the pond and water tubs topped up and keep the new transplanted perennials watered. I am weeding and trimming shrubs, dead heading perennials as I go along. Pictures to follow when time permits.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #7

Friday was the first day of the official tour. We had already done a full day on the car by getting to Gibson's Landing.

Most of the people from Vancouver and East of there came over from Vancouver in the morning. We had breakfast and went back down to the ferry slip to meet them, as did a few of the people from the Island. We toured to our scheduled coffee stop and picked up our registration packages with the tour routes, maps, etc. booklet. Then we proceeded on the tour to return to Gibson's for lunch. As you can see, I am not getting very good photos from on the moving car. We went down the dockside stairs to Smitty's oyster bar. We walked along the beachside walk again and out on the dock.

In the garden I am making good progress in getting the rock path reset. I have finished up to the smoke bush. I am going to take out that blue leafed hebe as it gets very ratty looking and I want the space under the dark leaves of the smoke bush to be the silver sedum. The California lilac and the smoke bush are in blue right now and look terrific together. The path runs between them. Both of these shrubs got a bit of pruning to take out dead wood. I will be doing more pruning to shape them, after the blooming is finished. I need a few more big flat rocks, as usual! I never seem to have enough flat rocks. I am using found field stone that I have collected over the years. Since I am widening the path a slight bit more and making edges, the stones do not seem to go as far.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #6

More photos of Gibson's Landing. These were taken after our dinner at Molly's Reach. We walked back to our Ritz Hotel along the water with a lovely park on the land side, most of the way back.

I have been getting quite a lot of the stone path renovated this week. I am weeding and trimming all the plants along the path as I proceed. I must be about half way finished, considering I must do the stone path around the small rockery circle with the sundial. I was out from 8:30 to 11:00 and have come in for my lunch break. So, have taken an hour to tweak more photos and load them.

Antique Tour - Sunshine Coast - #5

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This has been a long day. The actual tour starts tomorrow. We return to Gibson's Landing, on the second day of the tour, so will post more photos of the town in sequence.

We have dinner at Molly's Reach - seafood and a good wine. We walk back to our hotel Ritz along the seawalk, at dusk. Some of my photos are too blurry, as I did not carry a tripod, or set my camera for night shooting.

Antique Auto tour to Sunshine Coast #4

After registering, Pat carries the big green trunk up the stairs to our room. We rest for an hour or two then go out to explore and have dinner. This town is the home of the old TV show, The Beach Combers. What a beautiful, scenic place!

Antique Auto tour to Sunshine Coast #3

At Gibson's Landing there is a very nice marina.
We get to the Departure Bay ferry terminal and have 3/4 of an hour wait for the ferry across to Horseshoe Bay north of Vancouver. The day is really very very hot. Some good people watching, not much for shopping here.
We drive up the highway from Mill Bay to Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry. The car is running very well. We stop at Ladysmith for a coffee and I have an egg mcmuffin as I have been up since 5:00 am and have not eaten. We fill up with gas at the Co-op here also.
There was an eagle on this post at the Mill Bay terminal. It is just a bit too far away for my lens.
While crossing on the little ferry over to Mill Bay.

The ferry trip from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay has spectacular scenery. I am too tired to go up to the sundeck to take photos though. We have lunch on board and just relax.

We get off the ferry at Horseshoe Bay and have this god awful maze to find our way back to the Langdale ferry slip. We HAVE TO take this ferry as there is no other road up to Gibson's Landing from here. We manage the maze and get on the Langdale ferry. Upon leaving this ferry we head up the road to Gibson's Landing. While going through the town, Pat decides to take a steep uphill for some unknown reason. We stall the T three quarters of the way up the hill. I am having fits and get off. Pat backs down to a driveway and drives back to the main road. We are both more than a bit shaken. I walk down the hill to meet him and find some helpful 'locals' telling us where to stay and to eat. We get to the recommended Ritz Motel. We have a fridge, stove and view over the trees to the Bay. Its older, no air conditioning, but surprisingly cool.

Antique Auto tour to Sunshine Coast

This is more of the photos from our week end tour with the Antique autos. Since we had ample time waiting for the ferry to depart from Brentwood Bay I was taking quite a few snaps. I was using the ND filter as I expected there would be glare from the water. I am fairly happy with the way this filter works. I do need to pay attention to exposure compensation when using the filter. The starfish and the geese are zoomed into digital zoom, but are not too bad for blurry.

There were 26 cars from 1915 and prior. Cadillacs, Reo, Fords, a Rolls, Buicks and McLaughlins, Hupmobile, Oakland, Morris Cowly, Abbot Detroit, Kissel Kar, and a Packard. More on this later.

June in the Garden

This photo is shot from the deck steps downwards at the part of the little dry stream that runs under the deck and disappears under the ferms. You can see the beginnings of the moss garden along one side. There are other shade plants in the picture -- a hosta, solomons seal, a little shrub that I have just recently pruned, so it is looking rather sparse.

The Pincushion flower at the front. I have added one to the back garden, also. This is a lovely, easy care plant. I should plant them in clumps of 3, to make a better showing.

The smoke bush and the California lilac, both in bloom, in the front garden.

The 4 days I was away we had hot days. I had watered before we left. The plants are just out doing themselves with blooms in this weather and this time of year. The rhodos and roses are in full bloom as well as many others. I will be posting more of the June blooming extravaganza in the days to come.

Antique Auto tour to Sunshine Coast

Marvelous reflections at the ferry dock. I will be adding more photos from this tour as we proceed through the day to get to the meet, the 2 days of touring on the Sunshine Coast, and the day to return.
On Thursday, June 4, about 7:30 am we put our trunk on the back of the Speedster and headed for the Brentwood Bay / Mill Bay ferry. We arrived there in plenty of time to catch the first boat across. The sun is shining and it is getting warmer by the minute.

Perennial transplants

This is my best oriental poppy, but not the best of photos. I have not had much time to spend on my pictures lately, sorry to say. I have these poppies along by the garage. They were there when we moved into the house. They are very easy care plants, once established. Very showy blooms and they need something to cover the dying foliage. I cannot seem to propogate this one. I have bought a few and have them along the driveway and with the roses at the front.
This is an old bloom on one of the new perennials in the bed at the back. Its a painted daisy. Behind, and to the left and right of this plant I have 2 minature roses, a balloon flower, a pink and the dying foliage of the bulbs. The other new perennials are in front of this one, and a few across the cement stone path. Including one that likes it dry and gravelly but looks very much like a moss. I must get these names recorded in my plant lists!
Dan brought his oldest Smart car over to Three Point Motors to have it gone over by them. The wind up key in the back is one of a kind and needs specail attention. This one is Agent 99, their other one is Maxwell, of course. Was good to see him, but Irene did not come along. Stayed home to babysit Hagar and I guess she is very busy with quilting. Thanks for the apron, my dear Irene! Dan was the first one to try out the new guest room, but its P I N K oh no oh no. But you don't see that when your eyes are closed! We ate out, except for breakfast which was a guys only thing... healthy oatmeal and coffee. The car had to be down to the garage before my get up time, and they were just going to gamble, tell stories and drink coffee in Chinatown -- a guys' group. Brrrrr scary stuff!

This was another hot hot day. Yesterday was 31 and I think today was the same. Yesterday, before Dan's arrival on the Coho I managed to transplant the last of the perennials I had purchased about a week or so ago. Two of them are in the front by the magnolia tree... a rock rose and a little one that looks like a tiny geranium. The rest are at the back, in the little garden I made last year. The soil has quite a lot of clay, but I know that beneath this clayish top there is the turned over sods, so once these plants get their roots down they will be in some good nourishing soil. The 4 thymes, the achillia, the allysum, the lithodara, and the aubretia from last year are growing good. I think I lost one primula... drumstick one, and a dodecathenon from last year's plantings. So, today, after Dan was back on the ferry with his car and we were home, I watered front and back, except the woodland.

Yesterday, after watering in the new transplants I dropped the hose into the pond to top it up. Well, I forgot to turn it off. The water ran out of the pond and into the moss garden area. Great, I thought, my moss garden should be nice and moist now. Well, today, in going back to water everything, I found that I have 2 dead fish. I guess there was altogether too much chlorinated water added to the pond. I think the rest have survived. There were 6 of them. They had grown to quite a size too, since I had them. At least double the size of when I bought them at the smallest size possible. There was one looking very ill and flopping around the top of the pond. I moved it to near the waterfall where the water is more aerreated and it seemed to do better and stayed at the bottom. When the fish were well, I would never see them at the top. I hope the rest survive. I may get a few more, as it seems the ugly big frog is gone, and the river otter, racoons, and herons have not been visiting. I have seen herons in the area, but they were not stopping at my pond, just flying over.

After 3 very hot days, tomorrow should start to get back to normal temperatures. We will be on an antique car tour on the sunshine coast. It sounds like a lot of time on the old car, but should be fun, I hope. I never look forward to these runs, but always seem to enjoy them.... contrary person that I am. This time, I am anxious to get the renovations finished in the garden, but ... no rush, it will be there when we get back.