16 Dec: holiday bazaars and dinner

Saturday, 16 December 2017

My not-at-home activities continued because of the need to do a bit more Christmas shopping and because of a strong desire to have a box of Pink Poppy baked goods.

our neighbor, Rudder, outside our driveway

Allan’s photo

In Long Beach, we dropped off a long wool coat at the free coat rack in the SandPiper mall (just south of the pharmacy).

The box has gloves and socks.

This sweet sign has been posted in the breezeway for awhile (name redacted):

We attended a holiday bazaar at

Adrift Hotel…

….where Madeline of Pink Poppy was holding her very last market day before taking on her new job as a personal chef for a local artists’ retreat.

In the parking lot, we met a cairn terrier (like Toto!).

Piper

I do long for a nice, relaxing, good little dog.  I had a wildly naughty big bad dog for 13 years so I am sort of afraid of getting another naughty dog.

Memories: Bertie Woofter on a garage roof after breaking free and climbing up a ladder to where Robert was working.  Moments later, he leaped off the roof into the neighbour’s yard to chase another dog.

Bertie Woofter’s version of fetching a stick

At Adrift Hotel:

Allan’s photo

Someone who does not read this blog is getting Adrift Distillery/Starvation Alley cranberry liqueur for Christmas.  It was so tasty that it will be tempting to drink it myself!

Karen Brownlee Pottery

Karen’s butter dishes

Maddy’s last market, with her two month old daughter, Quincy

We followed the Adrift bazaar with one at

The Sou’wester Lodge & Rv Park

Before exploring the bazaar offerings, we toured ourselves around the vintage RVs that are for rent by the night.

The Potato Bug and the three-level African Queen (which also has a lower level)

African Queen mural

a tiny Airstream (Allan’s photo), might be the one I called The Potato Bug

inside the Potato Bug (?)

inside the Potato Bug

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Memories of 1993, when I lived in the round front Spartan trailer for six months:

Beaky (our van) and our new home, Jan. ’93

Today:

The Thrifty (thrift store) trailer and the pavilion

inside The Thrifty (Allan’s photo)

in the pavilion

Joe Chasse and his “Dangerous Toys”

Allan’s photo

by Joe Chasse

by Joe Chasse

by Joe Chasse

by Joe Chasse

Some garden art:

Some fairy furniture:

Some more looking at vintage trailers:

by the enclosed outdoor spa

The Blue Wave and one that is new to me

a tiny fixer upper

inside (table must drop down to make a bed)

Larry and Judy were bazaar-ing just behind us!

inside the lodge

With our shopping accomplished, we went home for a mere hour and a half before heading back out to an early dinner gathering. The invitation had been irresistible for several reasons:

It started in the late afternoon, not the evening, which I find preferable in the dark of winter.

It was at a house I love and where I used to garden.

It was a gathering of like minded people and it would feature more serious conversation than revelry.

I took the hour at home to pick a winter bouquet and to spray paint a large pile of dried eryngiums (which project I can now erase from the work board).

Allan took some photos of the bouquet:

And here it is in our friend’s kitchen:

The guests were all amused to see deer lying on the lawn outside the dining room:

We had a delicious dinner and good conversation, and we were home by 6:30.

Now I am hoping for two days at home before the next big event: the new Star Wars film with Dave and Melissa.  (We are running late for that because of varying personal schedules.)  My stay at home December is not coming true.  I have high hopes for January.

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15 Sept: last watering of the season?

Friday, 15 September 2017

A substantial amount of rain is predicted beginning Sunday.  However, we can’t count on it and so we watered containers anyway.

Long Beach

welcome sign front

deadheading welcome sign cosmos

front and back

In town, Allan went south and I went north to water the planters.

outside the Wooden Horse gift shop

Awwwwwwww…..

at the Wooden Horse gift shop

Allan’s walkabout photos:

cosmos and gaura

my walkabout photos:

Salvia viridis (painted sage); This year the white ones have done the best, with the blue ones being the smallest. Mystifying.

hardy fuchsia and white cosmos

my favourite planter (again)

Amy from the Red Barn passing by

Heather of NIVA green (my favourite shop) had something for me: Her assistant wanted me to have these three books:

I was thrilled to have Green Thoughts again, and I know just who needs the Lovejoys (which I already have, or course).

I took the time to get some more photos for the Niva green Facebook page.

in NIVA green

After watering, we rendezvoused at Abbracci Coffee Bar.  (Allan had done the deadheading in Fifth Street Park.)  Bernardo had asked for some gunnera leaves from the big specimen in the park, so that he can make a leaf casting.  I was happy to provide some that were  pushing up against the windows of Benson’s Restaurant.

Allan’s photo

When we went into the coffee shop, we were delighted to find Our Kathleen.  She had been here for a week’s vacation and while we had planned to see her this evening, we were glad to have some extra visiting time in a quiet atmosphere.

We got her to move from the two top window table.  (Allan’s photo)

delicious cake from Pink Poppy Bakery

Fortunately, we had time for a 45 minute break.

getting ready to depart

I was especially fascinated to learn that Tony grew up in Castle Rock, before it was a mecca of flowers.  He went back for a high school reunion and was impressed with the transformation.  I recommended the Castle Rock Blooms Facebook page.

We checked the gardens out on the beach approach…

Flowers had been left at the Lisa Bonney memorial planter on the anniversary of her death in 2009.

Someone has planted a new rosemary plant (left, below), which is perfect.  “Rosemary for remembrance.”  I wish I could make this planter better.  Rosemary is a good idea.  It is not too showy so it might not get stolen.  I will add another on the right side.

Here is an odd thing: Someone had painted up one of the old volunteer signs, after apparently removing it, and then sticking it back onto the planter with messy ugly glue.  I blurred out the name.

The glue looked horrible.

We went to city hall and asked.  The people’s names were not on the roster of utility customers.  We decided the best thing to do would be pry off the plaque, take it in to city hall, and if the people come and ask, find out if they really intend to maintain the planter (which seemed to have had no improvements related to this sign being painted).  Then Parks Manager Mike could have it glued on nicely.  The volunteer planter program is actually over because so very few planters… maybe five planters out of fifty or so…actually got maintained back in the day.  The plaque is now in the charge of the city hall staff.

I have a feeling this was just some sort of joke that was played over Labor Day weekend.

We did a bit of trimming of plants at city hall.

Allan’s photo: He cut back the catmint hard.

Allan’s photo: That orange montbretia is not supposed to be there. I am showing mercy for now.

Allan’s photo, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

Allan’s photo

Ilwaco

I did just a half an hour of deadheading and weeding at the boatyard garden and then went home.  I am counting on the rain to water it.  Because the Ilwaco containers are thirstier, Allan went on to water them.

sweet peas and cosmos

Sweet peas made it to the fence top, by the leaky faucet.  They smelled so good.

looking south

Cosmos ‘Seashells’

Cosmos ‘Seashells’

Aster, very likely ‘Harrington’s Pink’

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo, downtown

In the evening, we met with at The Cove with Our Kathleen and Dave and Melissa for our North Beach Garden Gang dinner.  The food was good, yet we missed our beloved Lynn, our favourite server who is no longer there. Without her presence, we are questing for a new weekly dinner spot.

We hadn’t had our dinners for two weeks because of holiday weekends, and the dinner before that had been too noisy to hear each other, so there was much to catch up on.

We now have either three or four days off, depending on the rain’s arrival.  I cannot spend it all at home because tomorrow we must rally in Astoria.

 

 

 

 

 

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6-7 May: market, garden, meal

Saturday, 6 May, part two

Ilwaco Saturday Market

After we photographed the annual children’s parade, we strolled through the Saturday market.

Turning the corner from Howerton to Waterfront Way, we found a bustling scene.

Double J and the Boys

flowering baskets

Allan’s photo

our favourite local place; in this case, “family friendly” means kids are welcome in the pub.

Some market day, I will take time for a meal on the Salt deck.

Allan’s photo

at Olive and Garlic way

I stood in a short line to get two slices of Lime Bundt cake from Pink Poppy.

Cheeeeese.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Tipping musician Peter at the Don Nisbett Gallery (Allan’s photo)

You can see in the background lots of people loading onto boats.

from the port office deck (Allan’s photos)

Pink Poppy

fishing derby (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

Today was the Blessing of the Fleet.  If I were not so tired from work, with much gardening awaiting me at home, I might have gone out for a free boat ride.  Allan took some photos from the docks:

Flowers will be cast into the water in memory of loved ones, and the Coast Guard helicopter will fly over the boats and drop a wreath.

heading out to the Columbia Bar

home in the garden

Before the children’s parade (yesterday’s post), I had admired the dogwood from the kitchen window…

dogwood from the kitchen window

and had planned an afternoon accomplishment: getting all my Nicotiana langsdorfii planted.

They are the soft leaved plants on the left side of the table.

By 6:45, I had 33 Nicotiana and some perennials planted and the table reorganized…

and a little raised garden extension made…and had pulled a gluteal muscle wrangling two heavy buckets of wet soil…

…because I did not learn from the first bucket that I should scoop half the second bucket into another container before trying to lift it. This pulled muscle plagued me for the next few days but I won’t keep mentioning it.

The Nicotiana were planted by just hacking out spaces in weedy areas.  Rather a sad but necessary method when this far behind.

In evening light, first flowers…but not a good photo…of my rhododendron from Steve and John!

The Cove Restaurant

We had our North Beach Garden Gang dinner tonight because Our Kathleen is in town.

I had bought some gladiolus weeks ago at Costco because the colour combo appealed to me.  But I don’t like glads and could not figure out where to plant them!  I managed to pass them off to Todd for his cutting garden.  I’ll put a few in my garden boat, perhaps.

We all have compatible ideas about the world’s problems.  We were unable to solve them.

Chef Sondra’s mom’s recipe. lasagne, made Sunday’s lunch as well.

cinnamon chocolate cake to share (Allan’s photo)

art on the wall

and Allan’s photo of an amazing moon as we departed.

Sunday, 7 May 2017

Just weeding, and tiniest bit of planting.  I managed to actually focus on just the west bed…

I did not get it done, though.  If I could have gone for one more hour, I could have erased it from the work board.  Instead, I had to stop because….my big toe hurt.  This is an odd thing that happens sometimes (gout??), and it is amazing how one big toe can make you want to first, take off your sock and second, bring gardening to a close for the evening.  (An annoying wind did not help my fortitude.)

In better news, I wore my knee brace (the “Unloader”) all day.  Summer weight clothing made it easier to wear.  It worked a treat.

At my request, Allan pruned a couple of dead branches out of the tatty old ornamental plum…

before

after

Allan saw our kind neighbour Jared dump some extra gravel in one of “our” potholes.

Some photos in the evening before going inside at the early time of 6 PM:

West bed needs another hour or so of attention.

Frosty

Persicaria bistorta superba

Only a few snail holes so far on Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’

bogsy wood….unweeded but with camassia

Last year’s new bogsy wood bed has disappeared under velvet grass.

too windy for a campfire

bogsy wood edge with still unclipped hydrangea

blue corydalis and pulmonaria

At least I got some other pruning done included almost all the many winter-killed branches on the hardy fuchsias.

my mum’s favourite rhododendron that I brought home from the Golden Sands garden last year.

I do not know its name.

more camassia

Allan in the far distance after dumping the last of my three heaping wheelbarrow of weeds.

Oh, how I wish I had several days to finish the weeding—at least four would do it—but tomorrow, work calls again.

 

 

 

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31 October: Halloween in Ilwaco

Monday, 31 October 2016

4:15 PM:  I take a walk before trick or treaters start to arrive.

comfy porch across the street

Those of us familiar with Ilwaco Halloween are grateful to have a covered porch because answering the door to hundreds of rings is rather too much.  It’s better to be able to sit outside.

One block east, Missy and family just moved in to this house and are big fans of Halloween.

Missy’s “pirate name” is Lucy Dagger.

They really are pirates for hire (for festivities).

across the street from Missy and John’s

another half a block to the east

a well decorated porch

a plant lover lives here

Boo

spiders over the path

I walked one block north to Spruce Street and turned to the west.

4:22, first sign of trick or treaters

Ilwaco Fire Department

Ilwaco Fire Department

The Fire Department held a food drive for the local food bank.

Our firefighters are volunteers.

back on Lake Street

From previous years, you might recall the house three blocks west of us that always has a elaborate display.  Due to an ill fated set of circumstances, those folks were unable to complete a display to their satisfaction this year (in case you remember and are looking for it).

one block west

at the J’s

Doug as Dracula

 

Jodie and family friend Doug

4:41, the first set of trick or treaters next door

Trick or treaters arrive at last!

among the first (Allan’s photo)

5:16: At least the rain squalls were intermittent and the weather was nowhere near as bad as we had feared.

5:15:  Allan went for a walk and took these:

The Inn at Harbour Village (B&B)

inside the Inn at Harbour Village

looking down Williams Ave from The Inn at Harbour Village

at our friend Annie’s house on Spruce

Now the crowds are gathering!

Missy (Lucy Dagger) in the doorway

on Lake Street; the lights are beginning to show.

Maddy (Pink Poppy Bakery) next door

If you had seen on Facebook to say “I love Pink Poppy Bakery”, you got a Pink Poppy cookie.

and back home again

We both stayed home for for awhile during the busiest time.  Allan continued to take some photos.

Our Corridor of Spooky Plants

our porch

an excellent costume

I was horrified by a Donald Trump mask until I realized the costume was Trump in a tutu and tights.  One of  my favourite trick or treaters, about 9 years old, said (because of our campaign sign) “I’m glad to see you are voting for Hillary!”

 

We garnered many compliments:

“I love your decorations!”

“I like that, that’s cool!” (about our caged skeleton bird)

“Oh my gosh, spiders!”

“Your house is awesome, best one I’ve seen.”

Overheard:  “It must have took them hours to do this.”  Yes, about eight hours total of decorating.

“You guys went all out!”

At 6:15, I took a walk while Allan took over the candy handling.

I said I was just going next door to get a Pink Poppy treat (I knew the magic words).  Then I was lured into the night.

our place

next door

Pink Poppy Maddy, next door.  (She lives in Chinook, but it’s more fun to be in Ilwaco on Halloween.)

Maddy’s squad

across the street

next block east

Missy’s pirate lair

Here’s that spacious well decorated sunporch that we saw earlier.

The house next door.

The J’s house

The J’s house

One block west

Soon after I returned, Teresa from The Planter Box and Dave and Melissa of Sea Star Gardening joined us to admire costumes and hand out treats.

Teresa and Dave

The owners of the wonderful Himani Indian Cuisine in Astoria.

At 8:00, Teresa and Allan went for a walk so that she could see the lights. 

He regrets that by then it was so dark that he did not bring back many good photos.

our house

the office at the fire station

in The Inn at Harbour Village

After Allan and Teresa returned, trick or treaters kept arriving till 9 PM, and then our company departed.  I took down the cobwebs in the dark because I find them so tawdry the next day. From the driveway to the west, a young deer with small antlers came strolling by, looking for something other than candy.  At 9:20, the streets were quiet so we turned off the outdoor lights.  Jodie at the J’s texted me at 10:20 that she was still getting stragglers!  (Little ones, too, she said, even more surprisingly.)  I texted back “Turn out your lights!”

We kept a tally, and so did Jodie and Missy.  We all came up with 470 to 490 trick or treaters this year, not bad for a rainy Monday.  (Last year, Halloween was on a fine Saturday and we had over 500.)

I congratulate those residents of the Ilwaco flatlands who went all out again to make this little town a Halloween mecca.  (We are a town of about 900 people, so we know the children come from all over the Peninsula area.)

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Tomorrow: my mother’s garden diary for October, complete with illustrations and non gardening entries.

 

 

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2-3 Sept: at home and to market

Friday, 2 September 2016

All I wanted to do today was finish reading Lab Girl.

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

I did not know this about willows, even though I have some big ones on the wild edges of my garden:

I learned so much about plants in the short botanical chapters that are interspersed with her personal story.

A wonderful passage about helping one’s friends:

“Because I know the transcendent value of loyalty, I’ve been to places that a person can’t get to any other way.”

I so identify with this, which is why I cut my hair with garden shears:

“There were certain things in life that Bill would go to almost any length to avoid, and one was going to a barbershop. The very idea of the physical intimacy inherent to the hair-cutting process overwhelmed him.”

This reminds me of the experience of being self employed for 40 years (and why I want to postpone knee surgery because of the need to work and make money):

I did do something for the garden: painted more bamboo poles, and made a couple of excursions of garden admiration.

Kniphofia ‘Earliest of All’

Vigorous passiflora

Finally I found the energy to cut back the big Baptisia in the front garden.  Still debating about taking it out.

It’s not wonderful after it blooms.

Lots of tetrapanax runners…wonderful or terrible?

enormously tall Sanguisorba, probably ‘Pink Elephant’

Skooter came to help with my clipping.

gleaming light at 6 PM

At night, we watched most of The 1940s House.  I do feel that I lived during the blitz, in some strange way.

Saturday, 3 September 2016

Allan had left early in the morning for a boating event in Ocean Shores (tomorrow’s post).  J9 came by in the very early afternoon to meet Skooter, and immediately sat on the ground to commune with him.  She used to have a big orange cat named Rufus.  I was so distracted by our conversation and by rushing around to pick a bouquet that I was ten minutes late to meet Ann (from Portland, the Amateur Botanist) for a late lunch at Salt Pub.

flowers for Salt Hotel

new Waterfront Way sign for Salt

the view from our table

caesar salad with kale, and crab hushpuppies

We finished our leisurely lunch and conversation on many important and scintillating topics in time to see the last 20 minutes of the market and to get treats from Pink Poppy Bakery.

Pink Poppy Maddy had been reading a book.

Ann buys some Swedish traveling cake.

Ann framed in a booth of mirrors.

the darling Wild For Lavender booth

The English Nursery booth

some mossy art

Ann departed to drive back to Portland via Astoria and I went home to putter in the garden a bit.

Skooter joined me.

showing off his glorious tail

It rather magically catches the light.

the transcendent tail

fluff

We had had this much glorious rain.

I could take almost as many photos of Kniphofia ‘Earliest of All’ as of Skooter’s tail, and there is a resemblance.

Kniphofia ‘Earliest of All’ (not early at all here; Todd says that in North Carolina, it bloomed for him in February)

Clematis ‘Rooguchi’

tall rose, fuchsia, leycesteria

the first three bamboo poles that began my spray painting frenzy

with Stipa gigantea

After pulling one wheelbarrow full of weeds, I allowed myself to go indoors and begin a cozy “Farmer’s Market” mystery (Farm Fresh Murder, the first in a series by Paige Shelton).  Allan returned, and we finished watching The 1940s House.

It is so very good.

Rather amazingly, because of the Labor Day holiday and the good solid rain, we still have two more days off work.

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1995 (age 71)

September 3: Rain is forecast so I hurried and picked up the onions that I laid in the “corn patch” to cure.  For now they are in the garage in the wheelbarrow until I have time to sort them.

 

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18 June, part 1: to market and town

Saturday, 18 June 2016

We had a mission for the late afternoon: To see a match in Astoria by the Shanghaied Roller Dolls.  We had wanted to go for some time, but staying home in my garden has always won out for me.  After seeing their presence in last week’s Pride Parade, I had a stronger interest in attending a match, and this would be the last one of the season.  However, that will be the next post.

Port of Ilwaco

At 11:45, I went down to Salt Hotel to meet Our Kathleen for lunch.  Allan dropped me off and went for his own stroll through the market before returning to his roofing project.

the weekly bouquet for Salt

view from the pub

a new booth selling lavender

a salad for me (as I had had breakfast just an hour before)

a burger for Kathleen

On the deck, I noticed that Salt does not have a room 13.

After our good lunch, Kathleen and I strolled the market.

from the port office balcony (Allan’s photo, earlier)

Pink Poppy Bakery

Allan had already been by and bought some lemon curd cupcakes.

port office

Allan’s photo (earlier)

We visited Don Nisbett and Jenna (Queen La De Da) at the Don Nisbett Art Gallery, so that Kathleen could get a rainbow fish t shirt.

outside Don’s gallery (Allan’s photo, earlier)

Kathleen and Don, with Jenna looking on

Don has been continuing his rainbow theme inspired by Astoria Pride.

Don, Jenna, and their son Joe are most welcoming to customers.

view from Don’s window

Back outside to the market: The English Nursery

Blue Coast Farms

heart tarts

more plants for sale

Northwest Naturals

Northwest Naturals

Northwest Naturals

a puppy to pet!

and a tiny Pomeranian, not a puppy

quilt art

This time, I bought myself one of these birdhouses.

After an unproductive middle afternoon (because I find it hard to get much done if I know I am going out again soon), we left just after four to go to Astoria.

Allan had been much more productive and finished his shed porch roof.

Astoria, Oregon

You’ll have to wait till tomorrow’s post to see the Shanghaied Roller Dolls in action!

After a great sporting event, we repaired to Himani Indian Cuisine for dinner, and there we found Don, Jenna, and Joe, dining at their favourite place and visiting with their god daughter, Nirah.

Joe and Nirah

a feast

Joe’s tandoori chicken

Jenna and Nirah

Don and Sujay, the wonderful owner/restaurateur of Himani, Nirah’s dad

On the way home…I like how they have covered these cement planters.

on the Riverwalk (Allan’s photo)

by the river (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

view from the bridge going home, with a golden glow over Ilwaco

where we live!

looking east upriver

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Ginger’s Garden Diaries

from my mother’s garden diaries of two decades ago

1997 (age 73):

June 18: Prepared yesterday’s berries—8+ pkgs.  Worked in garage—cleared off plywood table and moved plywood over against the wall.  I boxed up the leftover stuff from garage sale for Skyler and Robert to take what they want.

 

 

 

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16 May: weeding and birthday

Monday, 16 May 2016

Another night of five hours of sleep because when I awaken, I think about the Job in Jeopardy and that is the end of sleep.  I need an answer (and was supposed to have one last Friday) so I can be done with this.

I recently finished this small memoir by Patti Smith:

Allan found it for me.  She is a genius.  I adore her.  One chapter explains the lyrics of her song Kimberly, one of my all time favourites.

The album Horses and the song Kimberly changed my life when I checked it out of the library in 1978.  I picked it out just because I liked horses.  It led me to a new circle of friends and a chain of events that led me here.

When Allan returned my books to the library, he saw that a fellow had walked into the garden to sit on the wall for lunchtime.

We are not pleased.

sigh…..

I had given Allan a nice glaucous leaved sedum for an empty spot in the garden. He planted it; still looks rather empty.

Allan spent his day mowing and then cutting up wood to make the slats for the top of the new arbor.

Allan’s photo; he will paint them blue.

new arbor (Allan’s photo): slats will go on top

The wire protects my Davidia ‘Sonoma’ from deer.  (Allan’s photo)

Meanwhile, I weeded.

(Allan’s photo)

Today’s weeding project:

before

before

Calvin supervised.

Three and three quarter hours later:

I now have a good spot cleared for my mother’s yellow rhododendron in case it comes to live in my garden later this week.

The weeding stopped three hours before dark as we had an important social event.

a bouquet picked and ready to deliver

Melissa’s birthday at Salt Pub

Our curbside garden at Salt.

Allan’s photo

Those poppies have seeded themselves into river rock laid on top of heavy landscape fabric (from before Salt came into being and not our choice, as the fabric makes it hard to plant anything in it).  Tough and determined poppies, how I love them.

Patti arrives for Melissa’s birthday. (Allan’s photo)

Bill and Susie from the Boreas Inn

Both the Boreas and Patti’s garden are jobs I have passed on to Dave and Melissa (Sea Star Gardening) and both are delighted with their work.

Our Patti (Allan’s photo), owner of the best garden in Seaview.

Annika sang at an open mike during the evening. We were all impressed by her gorgeous voice.

I liked this fellow’s voice and musical style a lot, also.

Laila brings the cake.

Melissa blowing out the candles; she will get her wish. Right: Teresa of The Planter Box.

The cake, by Pink Poppy Bakery  (Allan’s photo)

It tasted as good as it looks.

Knowing Melissa has been a gift to us in the last year.

our view of evening light on the port

We looked down and saw our neighbour and friend, Rudder:

Rudder, the Starvation Alley Cranberry Farm dog. (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

Eucryphia from Planter Box Teresa (left, in blue)

I gave Melissa a copy of my favourite gardening photo book.

Todd and Melissa (Allan’s photo)

Five of us lingered downstairs for awhile after the party.

Allan’s photo

Todd helps Melissa carry her gift flowers and plant (a Eucryphia from Teresa!) to her van

Tomorrow: back to work for a busy four day week.

1997 (age 73):

May 16: Don (a neighbor) hung 17 baskets on front porch.

1998 (age 74):

May 16:  Watched (listened to) two basketball games while I continued planting seeds.  I have 10 flats in the Floralight and a couple on bathroom.  Marianne Binetti wrote that it’s ok to bring fuchsia and begonia baskets out.  So that’s my project for next week. [Mom was a great admirer of Marianne Binetti’s gardening column in the newspaper.]

 

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14 May: day six of annuals time

Saturday, 14 May 2016

As had happened every morning lately, I woke early and immediately thought of the garden at the Job in Jeopardy.  This time, I was able to go back to sleep (after an hour of worry and fuming) without resorting to any sleep aid.  This meant a late start to the day, which was ok because it was a Saturday of garden jobs near home.

We had had rain!  I was ecstatic.

after rain

Every one of our rain barrels was brimming full again.

Eleagnus ‘Quicksilver’ laid sideways by the rain

clematis to the top of the front arbour (Allan’s photo)

We had to work today, but first, the Saturday Market.

flower bouquet of the week on its way to Salt Hotel…just something I do because I love their pub and restaurant so much.  (Allan’s photo)

Ilwaco Saturday Market

by our parking spot

flower delivery (Allan’s photo)

view from the ground floor at Salt

market view from Salt Hotel (Allan’s photo)

Betsy Millard (left), director of Ilwaco’s Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum (Allan’s photo)

Wood Turnings

Wood Turnings

in the Wood Turnings shop (open Saturdays next to Time Enough Books) (Allan’s photo)

Hudson Gardens

This new plant vendor will be there every other week. (Allan’s photo)

Darrel and Rozanne, Hudson Gardens (Allan’s photo)

Hudson Gardens fairy gardens

Hudson Gardens

Hudson Gardens

Along with buying the usual Saturday treat, I arranged with Maddie of Pink Poppy to make Melissa’s birthday cake for Monday.

Pink Poppy’s Madeline Moore (Allan’s photo)

Maddie’s spouse, Jacob, makes these. The nigella were grown in a hoop house.

more plants (Allan’s photo)

This year’s Peninsula Quilt Guild raffle quilt.

evidence of delightful rain

A Sea Breeze Charters had just unloaded its fish and its happy customers. (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

more plants for sale (Allan’s photo)

The canneries are bustling. (Allan’s photo)

asparagus and greens at De Asis Produce (Allan’s photo)

We like the little Port of Ilwaco truck. (Allan’s photo)

a passerby at the Craft 3 Bank garden (We care for the curbside garden only there.)

Ilwaco Gardening

pulled a few little weeds from this Howerton Ave curbside garden that we call the driveover garden (between two driveways)

Today was not the day to weed the curbside gardens; I was focused on getting cosmos into the boatyard garden and trailing plants into the Ilwaco planters.  Despite the rain, each planting hole in the boatyard garden was dry underneath the surface and had to have a dipper of water poured into it.

sweeping up after an hour and a half of planting and weeding at the boatyard

achillea and Geranium ‘Rozanne’

a local and his wee dog, Minnie

I got to say hi to Minnie several times as she and her guy walked back and forth fetching things for their home.

poppies seeded into the lawn at the south end of the garden

I found this giant dandelion in the gravel inside the boatyard gate.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

planting

Allan’s photo

Allium albopilosum (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

Next, we planted cosmos in our volunteer garden at the Ilwaco Post Office, which took almost as long as planting at the boatyard.

planting

Ilwaco post office garden

post office garden

The grey, faintly misty day kept the California poppies closed (Allan’s photo)

new plants in the post office planter

We watered the Ilwaco planters and added plants to many.

Someone, not me, stuck lilies in this planter. Sweet, but the dying foliage will not be good so they will get moved to under a street tree once they have flowered.

Allan’s photo

At the last minute, I had pulled some red diascias for the Red Barn Arena garden from the tray of available trailies, so I ran out by the last two planters.

This one still has a hole where someone stole a lemon thyme last week…and I’m out of plants for today.

With all the Ilwaco planting accomplished, we had time to celebrate the end of our six day week.

Salt Hotel Pub

We had removed a few tatty, woody old Erysimums from the planters and Allan suggested we give the flowers to Laila.

another bouquet for Salt

on the second floor: Laila got some new plants.

taking pictures of the view

margarita time

crab hush puppies (Allan’s photo)

crab mac and cheese and tuna melt (Allan’s photo)

best tuna melts ever

On this grey evening, I hope for more rain.

Our nice clean van was marked with dirt from everywhere I touched it on this planting day.

Feeling extraordinarily tired, I resolved to take Sunday and Monday off even if it resulted in a frantic rush later in the week.  My own garden sorely needs attention.

at home: Planting Time on the work board is getting whittled down.  I remembered I still need plants for the Veterans Field planters in LB.

1997 (age 73):

May 14:  Brought the spring bulbs, dahlias etc from shop to porch, made labels, etc.  Should be planted ASAP.  Weeded more in lower driveway.

1998 (age 74):

May 14:  Errand day—Tims for a birthday card for Robert [her son in law, my spouse at the time], post office, and QFC.

 

 

 

 

 

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9 May: planting…time begins

Monday, 9 May 2016

Today began the planting of annuals, perhaps my least favourite part of our gardening job.  This year, without the many annuals I used to plant at Andersen’s RV Park (which sold last July), it should go faster than ever before.  I try to think positive and refer to it as Planting Time rather than Annuals Planting Hell.

the gathering of plants in the morning

Smokey under a temporary plant bench

in Allan’s garden (Allan’s photo)

Ilwaco post office garden

post office Allium albopilosum

Long Beach

We began by planting a row of bidens and some echibeckias on the front of the Long Beach welcome sign, and white bacopa along the edge of the back.

adding soil

This fellow from Box K Auto Repair was volunteering to clear weeds from the sidewalk.  Much better than spraying with Round Up.

bidens going in

welcome sign after planting

When we were almost done planting, Mayor Jerry Phillips stopped by and told us how much he appreciates our work.  That helped, as aspects of work have been pretty fraught lately.

We moved on to downtown Long Beach, planting “uppies” and “trailies” in the planters till we ran out of time. We ran out of trailies before uppies and will have to get more.

I’m using Agastaches for a lot of the “uppies” (center, tall plants) this year, because I just love them, and they do not need much deadheading.

Note in the above photo, what is missing?  A lavender has been stolen out of the far corner of the planter, so now it is off balance.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Our friend Rebecca stops to chat and say encourage words about how well her knee replacements work.

Someone drove into this (boring BadAster) tree garden and scraped the tree.  That’s the same garden we tried to make better but gave up when it had bikes and dogs parked in it.  (Allan’s photo)

I’d been planning for us to remove the “wire plant” from this planter.  Now all of a sudden, it looks just delightful to me.

Rose “Berries and Cream’ by Funland.  I want it. (Allan’s photo)

We simply HAD to get all the planters watered because they were so dry.  For the last two, we did manage to get the watering done but did not get the plants in because we had a social engagement at seven.

Salt Pub

Salt Hotel curbside garden

Salt courtyard herbs

It was Heather’s birthday, the artist owner of NIVA green, our favourite shop.  I had been experiencing social anxiety over the event, imagining it brimming over with people.  How delightful, and touching, to find it was a small party, and that even though it had started at 6, and they knew we were not arriving till 7, they had waited for us before ordering their dinners.

That’s our Jenna (Queen La De Da) and birthday girl Heather

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

a toast

Jenna’s spouse, Don Nisbett, had made a painting for Heather.

We loved that instead of saying age 63, the painting says Level 63 (with Jenna in the picture, too, and a mer-unicorn and local celebrity Jake the Alligator Man).

Allan’s photo

Jenna and Heather told me what a wonderful time they had had at a party to end all parties, or something like that, over in Astoria on Saturday.  Jenna had invited me and I had felt too tired and social-phobic to go.  Now I felt kind of sorry, as Heather said she had danced. (I used to go out dancing a lot, in my city days.)

Art historian Patricia Moss brings the birthday cake (by Pink Poppy Bakery, of course).

with sparklers

Allan’s photo

 

Allan’s photo

coconut cake

the view

I’m grateful that we were invited and also grateful that Laila and Julez have created such a perfect gathering spot at the port.

1995 (age 71):

May 9: My new Troy Built Junior was delivered.  It looks so big. Rainy day so I worked in greenhouse.  I’m still repotting tomato seedlings.

 

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7 May: market and garden

Saturday, 7 May 2016

I woke too early and, when my first thoughts were about the garden debacle of yesterday, I could not return to sleep.  So of course I posted about my problem on Facebook, without naming the place which had caused my grief.  Over the course of the day, several gardeners both professional and volunteer responded with stories of similar heartbreaks and gardens lost.

Before my weekly walk to the Saturday market, I browsed the garden for a bouquet for Salt Hotel.

Even though I once told Todd I have a memory like a steel trap (of which he frequently reminds me), I can’t remember the name of this red flowered shrub.  Todd knows.  (Update:  Reader Lori Baker identified it as Calycanthus ‘Hartlage Wine’.  Thank you.)

Ilwaco Saturday Market

Asparagus is the earliest crop on offer from De Asis Produce.

Salt Pub

Flowers delivered to Laila at Salt

Port Office garden; I pulled some spent bulb foliage

transplanted Eryngium doing fine because of watering from Port Office staff; thank you to Nancy and April.

Pink Poppy Bakery and my self-imposed obligation to take photos for Discover Ilwaco are the two things that get me to the market even if I am not in the mood.

I bought Pink Poppy chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream topping.

I had been tipped off to a new piece of art at the Don Nisbett Art Gallery.

Outside the gallery, Peter played The Teddy Bears’ Picnic, a favourite song of mine.

Jenna and Don with a new art piece called “The Crabby Gardener”

view out of Don’s gallery door

They gave me a tile with the gardener design.  I told them I AM a crabby gardener, which I am sure came as no surprise.

my tile of garden crabbiness

at home

Frosty at the window 

Jenna (Queen La De Da) had given me another present; she thought I needed cheering up after the gardening struggles lately.

a literary candle; thank you, Jenna, Queen of Hearts!

My determination to get a lot done in the garden did not result in much at first.  I blamed the daunting cold north wind.  I managed to get potting soil dumped into the two large terracotta pots that I got from the Anchorage (with broken tops) and got all of four plants put into each (including  two birthday present Asphodelines from Dave and Melissa) along with Calibrachoa ‘Lemon Slice’ and Diascia ‘Blackthorn Apricot’).  My energy was low.

As often happens, my energy kicked in at about 4 PM and I accomplished two front garden goals.

The energy may have come from this lunch that Allan made (tomato soup with blue cheese).  And from the Pink Poppy cupcake.

just inside the gate, before, infested with a stinky weedy pink flowered mint relative

and after

east side garden before

and after; in the background is my new Seven Sons tree that Debbie Teashon brought me last fall; also recommended by Seaside gardener Pam Fleming

clematis on front arbor

The deer are getting in to the front garden somehow.  In case they are squeezing in over the gate, I tied a couple more bamboo poles next to it and added more along the front fence.

Could they be squeezing between these poles?

They may have come in sometime when we were in the back yard with the front gate open, browsed a couple of roses, and never gotten through the bamboo stockade at all.

Sadly, I decided to cut down the taller than me Melianthus major.  It was hanging over the fence halfway across the sidewalk, and shading out good plants in the garden.  The new growth should grow faster now.

Allan’s photo.  It was windy.  Again.

a sad and battered area at the moment

front path looking east

Allan worked on his new arbor for most of the afternoon.

It will go over the top of the garage door.

All this time I had thought that having to put two posts on the concrete driveway would be a problem.  You cannot “puncture the seal” by nailing into the wall of a manufactured home without creating terrible problems, we have been warned.

Turns out there is a space just the width of a post between the concrete and the house wall.  His photos:

problem solved!

two posts in place

1998 (age 74):

May 7: I planted the 100 “special offer” glad bulbs—all red and white.  I planted some in patio bed in background and the rest in tam and pink rhody background.  My back hurt by 3:00 so I left the rest of the glads for tomorrow.  I got my stool and pulled weeds in the upper driveway along the road till 5:00.

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