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.
These are Allan’s ladies in waiting.
and mine
and more of mine
Speaking of new plants, check out how tall my Eccremocarpus scaber, birthday present from Garden Tour Nancy via Annie’s Annuals, has gotten.
Eccremocarpus scaber and honeysuckle
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.
front garden: room for more
and more room
sweet peas on old crab pot
Planted a eucalyptus as I begin my plan to make the front garden more drought tolerant.
Here’s the plant Allan won at the Hardy Plant Study Weekend as a door prize. I stole it from him.
Baptisia ‘Solar Flame’
Baptisia ‘Solar Flame’ from Blooming Junction
I then had a visitor who proved to be a big distraction.
a dog of mystery
This little guy seemed lost, worried, and had no collar. He’d wander away and then come back.
He seemed happy when he was close by me.
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.)
A really mean acanthus I got from Xera Plants in Portland.
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!
Hydrangea ‘Pistachio’ on the north wall side of the front garden.
Melianthus major ‘Purple Haze’
a handsome penstemon (Sour Grapes)
an Agastache from Blooming Junction
filling in
all planted up…even though it does not look full, these plants will touch when they mature.
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.
watering the ICB garden
Just a few California poppies that I planted came up.
weeds from the community building (Allan’s photo)
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.
Allan’s photo: not much at the market, just a few really tough vendors down at the far end.
In Astoria: There is no big excitement about crossing the bridge when Allan goes by himself.
Astoria: He bought some spices at The Spice Rack…next door to the above shop.
a nearby planting on his way to sit and wait at the oil change place.
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.
Rain!
actual raindrops
another rain drop
north window view of rain
view from Allan’s room of rain
checking out the rain barrels
rain drop in the water box
We have seven barrels in all.
These waterfalls were hugely thrilling to me, as the barrels have been empty.
a damp front garden
Rose ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ is done with its blooming for this year.
Imagine wind roaring in the trees.
my garden boat, the ‘Ann Lovejoy’
my river of Rozanne (the the boat floated in on?)
sanguisorba
lilies
When Allan returned, the light rain had already stopped. He worked on getting the fixed sprinkler for the front garden positioned just right.
sprinkler on a post, idea from Pink Poppy Farm
The sprinkler water that hits the gutter that runs into this barrel.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
After all that, this is all the rainwater that collected in each barrel.
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
Requires a $3 day pass available in the lot.
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.
The little sailboat with the sail rolled up and the rudder flipped up. Wish there was more wind.
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.
There is a little plant growth along the sides but overall the lake is very clear and wide.
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.
Here is the gardener tending her daisies and over eight equally spaced potted plants.
More gardening details, a shed that keeps growing.
A large mowed grass park for fishing and swimming.
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.
Once the trees were so big it took only five planks to side a house.
A house at the corner of the Highway 101 entrance sells bouquets.
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.
poppies and Geranium ‘Rozanne’
a new grass and a new geranium (lower right)
an Agastache added…
was flummoxed where to put this corokia so it went in the center of a pot.
was flummoxed where to out a 6 foot tall Miscanthus (thought it was shorter)
poor thing went back in partial shade (which the tag says is ok)
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.
