a three day post so we can get back to garden touring!
Friday, 10 July 2015
We certainly are becoming slackers with having so many fewer jobs. I’d been waiting all week to plant my ladies in waiting.
Speaking of new plants, check out how tall my Eccremocarpus scaber, birthday present from Garden Tour Nancy via Annie’s Annuals, has gotten.
I meant to do the planting in the back garden, but instead picked up a few plants for the front garden and went there instead to the west end which had been full of self seeded poppies.
I then had a visitor who proved to be a big distraction.
This little guy seemed lost, worried, and had no collar. He’d wander away and then come back.
My neighbour Paula drove up and he ran after her truck. She’s quite a dog person, so since he seemed not traffic savvy, she took him with her on an errand to Salt Hotel and then to her local shop (a crafty design shop she is opening downtown; she’s a carpenter and interior designer and refurbisher of cool vintage stuff, and has worked on the Salt Hotel). I was then able to get back to planting.
(It turned out later that the dog belonged to a neighbour just three doors down. I’d only met him once, and though I thought he might be hers, I was not sure. She was grateful to us for rescuing him, and plans to work on reinforcing her fence where the little rascal dug out.)
That plant stabbed me so hard when I was carrying my tray of plants out of Xera that I later found a blood blister on my shoulder! Someone asked me what I should buy such a mean plant. Because it is cool!
Allan hung up our new sign, present from Jo and Bob, on the sunporch.
Allan did some watering and weeding at the Ilwaco community building garden so missed the whole lost dog adventure; he has taken that community building job on as his full responsibility and gives up part of a day off to maintain it weekly.
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Allan took a trip of errands to Astoria, to get the van’s oil changed and shop for groceries. He began by going to the Saturday market at the port, only to find that because of intense wind, two thirds of the vendors had packed their tents and gone home. It’s no fun to have your tent and all your goods blow over.
In Astoria: There is no big excitement about crossing the bridge when Allan goes by himself.
Meanwhile, at home, I stayed in working on the Hardy Plant Weekend garden tour entries on this blog, with the excuse of the 20ish mph wind. A glorious rain fell in the afternoon and I took a walk outside around the house to rejoice in it.
When Allan returned, the light rain had already stopped. He worked on getting the fixed sprinkler for the front garden positioned just right.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
Allan’s trip to Cullaby Lake, Oregon
Allan went to the north Oregon coast for a brief adventure. In his words:
The tide was too low for the local rivers, or the bay, so a lake was in order. I came across this one that was close that I’d never visited before, it looked wide, and why not? I was sure to tie the boat tightly and redundantly because if anything fell off on the Astoria bridge, it would get a long drag.

About the length of Loomis Lake, but wider and with a large park, Cullaby Lake is inland about halfway between Warrenton & Gearhart

Unlike the lakes around Ilwaco, Cullaby has power boats. This particular boat never started up as something was broken or leaking. Sounded more like a leak from what I heard, but even if the drain plug was missing…anyway a bad day for them.

Today three of these little motorcycle boats were buzzing around, sometimes dragging a raft of shrieking revelers. Still, the lake is not overly crowded, just not the quiet sort.

A view south from the narrow northern channel. Except for the duck family, a heron and swallows, the wildlife was shy today.

A family of ducks just about to cross in front of a gardener’s house. I was photographing from far away as I didn’t want to disturb either.

The wind was less than 10 mph but this is a good lake to sail and is quiet enough for a quiet paddle at either end.

With large mowed lawns, playground equipment, and marked swimming areas this is a versatile park more like the ones I remember around Seattle. A raft of kids is just taking off.
This cabin is also in the park and can be toured most of the day.

A view over the flower seller’s gate that might tempt Skyler for a visit someday to see the rest of this garden.
meanwhile, at home
I got more ladies in waiting planted in the back garden.
So Allan had gotten in a boating trip and useful errands over our three days off, and I had had my perfect weekend: Except for the adventure of the little lost dog, which required me to walk partway down the block, I had not left my property for three whole days.