Wednesday, 17 September 2014
A two day work week? My goodness, we have gotten lazy. We have more time off as we have quit jobs that were too hard on my knees (the up and down steep slopes jobs). When I was very mildly fretting today about whether we should be trying to make more money, Allan pointed out that time off now, when we can enjoy it, might be more valuable than time later when we might be in wheelchairs, perhaps with money made now but with less mobility to get around the garden or the lake. Our late and missed neighbour Nora often reminded us to do things and SEE things now while we still could walk and had good vision. Perhaps she herself wished that she had worked less. The day may come when we have to give up restaurant dining and garden tour trips; we will live on memories, online touring, and Allan’s good cooking.
We made the north end rounds today; next week, we will check on all the rest of the private gardens.
The Depot Restaurant in Seaview (between Ilwaco and Long Beach)
It looks like the Fort George Brewery Co-HOPerative folks may have come to pick the hop flowers for brewing a beer from several different local hops sources.
Basket Case Nancy, if you are reading this: The windowboxes still look good for this time of year; I just forgot to take a photo!
Long Beach Welcome Sign
There are a lot of Cosmos ‘Happy Ring’ to deadhead, an enjoyable enough task, and the twelve unenjoyable Agyranthemum ‘Butterfly’, which it crossed my mind could be pulled out soonish.
Golden Sands Assisted Living
The four quadrants of the courtyard garden aren’t looking too bad right now, thanks to Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’, Solidago ‘Fireworks’, some sadly yellow-foliaged Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, and not enough cosmos.
Every week Allan removes with the pick a couple more of the tatty old carexes that are behind the quadrants. I think when they are gone, the snail problem will improve as I am sure they hide in those grasses. That could make it easier to grow more dahlias next year.
I had three ideas later in the day of plants I can get for free to add to the very late summer show at Golden Sands.
Sometime this winter I want to get around to a blog post about how the residents decorate the entryways to their rooms. How would you decorate if this area was your statement to the world? I thought I’d write it last winter and did not. Perhaps a sneak peek will motivate me.
Klipsan Beach Cottages
Oman Builders Supply, Ocean Park
Marilyn’s Garden, Surfside
Marilyn’s daughter, Nancy who is co owner of the Depot Restaurant, has been doing a marvelous job of keeping the garden well watered.
The chaise lounge keeps the deer who live in this garden from browsing the annuals on the deck.
Wiegardt Gallery, Ocean Park
Eric’s gallery was hopping with a painting class which had been brought by their instructor “to get inspiration”. They had painted at Oysterville Sea Farms the day before, and today at the Oysterville church and school, and tomorrow they will paint at the Ilwaco boatyard.
The predicted showers for today had not happened yet. Rain is so much needed, I would have welcomed working in it.
Port of Ilwaco
When we got back to Ilwaco, we took a drive around the town to check on the Howerton Way gardens.
Then we decided to deadhead at the Port office and Time Enough Books. In the garden north of the office, a Sedumn ‘Autumn Joy’ was pulled almost out of the ground.
Don’s baskets are bigger from more watering and fertilizing. He’s been asked to give his special attention to the port office baskets as well next year.
at home
I did just a bit of weeding and clipping in the front garden. Tomorrow (September 18th), I’m leaving for the Sylvia Beach Hotel with Carol, a Seattle friend for 36 years. Rain would be the perfect weather for staying indoors at the bookish hotel. I was pleased when a drizzle finally began just before I came indoors to blog. At dusk, the drizzle continued; may it continue for three days so that Allan does not have to do any watering work while I am gone. (With just a break for the painting class to do their pleine air painting at the boatyard.)
delightfully drizzly window views:
I hope that when I return and share whatever I wish to share from the trip that I can then somehow catch up to publishing this blog closer to real time.
“Real time” reporting will be nice – but I’ll take your beautiful narrative & photos ANY way I can get them! The Coreopsis ‘Flower Tower’ and various cosmos are favorites of mine in this post; the Google view most interesting.; the philosophy in the first paragraph VERY wise 🙂 I’m pretty much confined to “online touring” presently following my knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. I’m very thankful to have Tangly Cottage Garden to tour at my leisure!
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Oh my! I hope recovery goes quickly and adds lots of mobility. Thanks for reading!
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Very pretty cosmos ‘Seashell’
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Thankyou, Mr Tootlepedal. It is my favourite cosmos.
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Speaking of lovely dinners out—please tell me that the rumor that Pelicano is closing is just that–an ugly rumor!! It is such a special place. . .
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It is. So sad. Ate there last night and tonight. Tonight was the last night but they are opening tomorrow for just light fare, whatever is left in the kitchen. There will be blog photos of the last supper.
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