Saturday, 17 March 2018
Just walking around the quilt show in the late morning made my legs hurt (not my knee) to the point where I wondered if I would get any at home gardening done today. But I must try! I do not know why I was so sore at the show….maybe too much standing in one place while gazing admiringly at the quilts.
When we got home, Skooter was on my go bag again….
Allan had agreed to help me with two difficult digging tasks, part of making room for two of my four new roses.
First was to move a Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ that was blocking a view into one of the garden beds in summer. Moving it further back will also give room for a new rose.
Meanwhile, I dug out a tatty columnar evergreen (some sort of Juniper, which eventually was given another chance near the fence in Allan’s garden. He said it looked like a “Grandma tree”, as in a boring arborvitae. I said it had been a special tree, once. I think it might green up again. Or not.
In the same large bed, both of my apple trees and a Calycanthus are leaning dramatically because of wind.
Allan also got a side runner piece pried off of my Lonicera fragrantissima. I would like the whole thing out of the spot it’s in but that is just sooooo difficult. (If someone wants it enough to dig it out, please…it is yours!) I love it, just not in that spot, and I have been starting others in better places. I want that garden bed opened up.
I admired a late winter bloomer:
We had a visitor, Judy of Ocean Park, with a birthday gift! (And Larry, who stayed in their vehicle because he had the sniffles and knows I am a hypochondriac.)
Judy made me a beautiful birthday corsage, as she had done for Allan on his birthday.
Allan remembered one other plant I had asked him to remove, a big tatty libertia in the front garden. It was starting to put out all sorts of side plants, including on the other side of the entry sidewalk, so I decided it must all go. It did not look right in this spot:
Some of the small pieces will be planted in the port curbside gardens. It is beautiful in bloom.
It had been given me by someone who likes to plant salal in gardens, so perhaps I should not have been surprised when it turned out to be a runner.
I cannot put a rose there because deer tend to work their way into the front garden over the low fence and through my bamboo and wire barrier.
As we were finishing up that project, we had a visit from our new neighbour….
Allan went away to buy a piece of iron to mend the work trailer. Before dinner, I opened some birthday presents.
Birthday dinner had started out as a tiny plan when it looked like Melissa was going to be out of town for family reasons. I had made a small reservation for four at the Depot (not a place I would think of trying to have a big DO on a Saturday St Patrick’s Day). Then Melissa and Dave were available so we upped it to six and then to seven with Ed. The Depot was patient and accommodating with all the changes. I brought some libertia starts and was able to give some away to Ed.
The Depot Restaurant
Nancy presented me with a birthday candle in my vanilla bean flan, and I got my wish that no one sang happy birthday.
I look forward to reading this book from Melissa and Dave (and to planting the Sanguisorba ‘Lilac Squirrel that Mel found for me at Plant Nerd Night in Portland!):
….And to trying out this mason bee home from Our Kathleen.
As part of a birthday celebration, and because rain is expected, we will take tomorrow off, as well.
Looks like a good birthday celebration! Nigel cringes whenever he hears people singing happy birthday in restaurants.
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Me ‘n Nigel, the old curmudgeons. 😉
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Glad to see you celebrating with good friends and delicious food. I wanted to lick my phone when I saw the apple dessert. Birthday loot is the best, especially when it involves books and new socks. The book about trees looks very interesting.
I see Skooter and Calvin are still reminding you to update your go bag.
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I have plants that remain in the wrong place because digging them out is too difficult. If I were to win a lottery, before the travel and new car…there would be a day of strong backed garden help!
What a perfect birthday, books n’garden stuff and a great meal with friends!
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Sometimes humans win, and sometimes (often) the plants win!
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I offer you belated good wishes for your birthday.
For some reason, museums and galleries are the hardest things on your legs in the world. I would rather walk five miles than spend an hour loitering round a museum.
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You hit the nail on the head re museums. And thank you for the birthday wishes!
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Looks like you had a wonderful birthday, from start to finish! Allan, your friends and neighbors are all so thoughtful. Calvin and Skooter are so cute. Skooter sure loves that bag.
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He does! It will have cat fur all over it.
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Happy Birthday, Skyler! It looks like a good one, and a tasty dinner to cap it off.
I love the kitties. 🙂
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just want to wish Skylar a late birthday wish and looks like you had fun! Deb Wells
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Thank you!
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