And more fall beauty...

I almost forgot to include a picture of my Beautyberry (Calicarpa).( Actually, I did forget yesterday but there you have it.) This is its third year. I have studiously ignored it until now. This is the first time that it has produced. It suddenly appeared stronger this summer and seems to have found its roots. It is so great when a weak, fragile plant strengthens and proves that you had, in fact, been correct in buying it. I am thrilled. I love it.
FYI: Branches of Beautyberry are striking in flower arrangements. That is where I first saw this plant and have always wanted one since. In a fall flower arrangement of 2006.

Another surprise, as I have already mentioned but will do so again, is the colour of some hydrangeas and the show that they create with the silvery lavender at this time of year.

This hydrangea was a bright blue in the summer. I am in awe of its colour now. Gorgeous.

You can see the blue colour in the picture below. 

And now, next to the lavender. You would think that I had planted these side by side on purpose. No. Pure luck.

If you look at the bottom right side, you can see how the lavender is crowding about the hydrangea. I have never planted lavender there. It re-seeded itself. Like I said...luck.

Surprise!!!!!

Honestly, this is too exciting. Things are still popping up in the garden. I can hardly stand it.

A quick note before I forget:
Dÿkfof Nurseries and Florist has a 35% off everything sale on Saturday and Sunday. I am beside myself with anticipation. Oh, the things that I might buy.... I can think of so many needs. Not wants. Needs. Number 1 is a new pair of clippers. I would buy titanium but I lose at least 2 pairs every single year. Arg. See? A necessity. Get going people.

So, the colours in the garden are simply magnificent. Plants, shrubs and trees that I love during the spring and summer change yet remain as beautiful as during the summer.
here are some of my grandest surprises.

Those lush yet lacy leaves are golden. 

My rhodo is blooming again. Delicate pink amongst the golds and greens.

A new bloom mixed with the old on a blue hydrangea.

This gives me joy.

And next to the blue hydrangea...an astramaris trio of flowers. 

And then the toad lily against the backdrop of white, green and gild.

Colour everywhere. Wow.

More updates

Well, I am feeling enthusiastic. It is still glorious outside and my garden is fantabulous. (I sang that in my head Fan..Taaaa..bu...lous!)
I collected maple leaves from my lucky neighbours today. Down the street I went, with my rake in hand. After 10 trips or so, I had covered the fragile areas that I worry about in the winter.
I always cover my tree peony, my maples that are in pots, the bases of any trees that I do not want to lose over the winter because they are not established and newer areas that are dry and not rich enough.

My tree peony is too the right of the picture. You can see the leaves all over the base. Also, my rhododendron is blooming. How fortunate are we?

This is the new reworked area. I covered it in leaves for the winter. I am especially careful with the Ayesha hydrangea. I have two. One is pink and the other blue.

If you look at the top of this picture, to the left, you can see the Sambuca Elderberry. I hope that it survives the winter after being transplanted.

Today I managed to prune some of my plants. I actually took up the bottom of the PeeGee tree. It was scary but I only took off the bottom. Here is how it was in the beginning of the season and then how it was the other day and finally, today. 

Can you see how the air can get in there and circulate during the coming seasons? I may prune it back some more but not before reading up on it.

I also cut back the hydrangea in the next picture. Do you see how it looks  (very roughly) like a tied flower arrangement? I love that shape and so do the hydrangeas.

Finally, I pruned back my apple tree and cut back the lavender. I will not torture anyone with pics of the apple tree. I am not a fruit tree person. No knowledge whatsoever and my tree looks like someone has hacked at it randomly. That would be me. 

The lavender haircut just helps the lavender look less straggly next year. It works brilliantly and is a pleasure to work with. Texture and fragrance.

If you look in the bottom left hand corner, you will see the lavender. Only the finished lavender was cut. Some is still blooming and I left that alone!

Some Updates

The rats are gone!! Hoorah!
I admit to still looking about fearfully but so far so good.
I did find one that had passed on.....Gross. I am shuddering with horror.  I really do not like rodents. For everyone's peace of mind, I did not take a picture. Grim.

The lovely flower eating deer seem to have found greener more welcoming pastures as well. I am really happy because my Toad Lilies are having an incredible show even though the deer chowed them down over the summer. They recovered. I love them amongst the fall colours.

My garden is still doing beautifully even on October the 15th. The air is cool and the wind blows. You can hear the crackling of falling maple leaves when you stand for even a moment outside. It is quite an experience. So often, it is pouring with rain and everything is sopping wet but not this year. We have had days of sunshine...in a row. The green, purple, brown, burgundy, gold and silver of foliage is simply stupendous. We live in paradise. It may not be warm and balmy but it is visually a treat every single day.

This maple tree was given to me and my sons when their father died. It is exquisite and very meaningful to us. He passed at this time of year when the maples are changing colour and dropping leaves.

As the trees shed their leaves, they open up to a form, texture and shape. I love seeing the peeling bark of an arbutus or maple tree. Or the gnarled limbs of a magnolia tree. It is a different aspect of garden beauty that I admire as much as the bright hues of summer flowers. I would argue that in buying a magnolia tree, it is for the beauty of the shape of the tree as much as for the flowers.
The birds are still singing and chirping. Some of them are quite bold...they just hop over to stay out of reach and keep on looking for food. In fact as I am writing, there is a Blue Jay loudly complaining outside of the window. Oops, now he is picking through my basil pot and throwing stuff about. Hmmm.
There used to be a bird that woke me up at the crack of dawn every single day. He would shriek Uh Huh and harass me (not really, but it sure felt that way) to the point where I could not fall back asleep. Now I miss him. He must have found another tree and another poor sod to taunt in the morning. He will probably come back when my kids are grown up and I can sleep in again. Sometimes that is just the way life works!

My friend and gardening helper and I, have attempted to put the garden to sleep but to no avail. This fantastic weather is messing with my normal timelines and I am just fine with that. We did put mulch onto parts of the garden that seemed too dry during the summer, divided some irises, moved an  Sambuca Elderberry tree, dead-headed some hydrangeas and pruned things back which looked a bit wild after the summer.
The Elderberry went into the garden that I have been re-working. It is perfect there! I did not like where it was because it blocked the view of my honeysuckle, clematis and jasmine (evergreen). Now I have to find a new beauty to go into the vacant space. Yeah! I hope to hit the sales and find something exceptionnal.
My personal philosophy of pruning is not rooted in the right way or perfection. I just do what I feel like and sometimes have to learn the hard way. I research pruning on plants that I am crazy about like my PeeGee trees where I really don't want to kill it. Otherwise, I snip away for maximum form, air movement and re-growth. Actually, I am so scared of harming my  huge, glorious PeeGee that I haven't touched it for three (yikes) years. It is so huge that the flowers trail on the solid. So not good.
I only dead-head those hydrangeas where the flowers have turned brown and look like they are rotting or if I need to pull up the bottom for maximum air movement. We really love the look of the dried hydrangea flowers over the winter. They add to the winter landscape in some odd way. I dead-head all hydrangeas in the spring once the new buds appear. Some of my Annabelles are looking rather huge so I will likely take off some of the flowers.

My enormous PeeGee tree.

So my big plan for the day is to hit up my neighbours for the maple leaves which cover their front yards. For some reason (figures), the leaves do not fall in my yard and I am the only person on the block who actually wants them. Oh, the fun.

Lavender

The last blog made me think about my lavender. It has been an absolute surprising joy for years. Surprising because it has done so well. It has re-seeded every year without fail. The first time was shocking and every subsequent time I am still taken aback. Interestingly, the plants themselves seem to die every four years or so. Thomas Hobbs of Southland's Nursery actually has a sign that indicates that lavender usually dies out every four years. This seems to be so.
I have a mix of different types of lavender. French, Spanish and English. No fuss, no muss. Seriously. No fertilizer or anything.
They are South West facing so they get a lot of direct sunlight...at least, for North Vancouver.
I believe that it is my careless habits that has them re-seeding. Once a year, I do cut them back. Usually in October. I do not do so, however, with a tidy hand. I cut and toss the dried tops and I think that that is why they re-seed. My careless flick of the wrist.
I began with three plants in a small area at the top of a hill. Now they are all the way down the hill and pushing up an hydrangea that is getting in their way.
This year, I did not buy any lavender plants. Last year, I bought 4.
I run my hands through them and enjoy the smell. I also water them first in the hot (ok..ish) sun because the smell of lavender just comes off of them in waves.
My sister-in-law makes the most fragrant sachets ever from them.
A couple of hints for any beginners out there..1. never cut lavender down to its old growth (the dark brown stem) because it will die. It will.
2. lavender likes poor soil and some neglect.
3. It loves direct sun.
4. don't over water. I just spitz it whenever I water and water it twice a week at most if it is really sunny and warm.

That is it. Simple but irresistible.

I discovered this year, as well, that it is not the most photogenic of plants. It does not really make you gasp in awe of its colour, beauty or texture. But as a subtle, delicate, fragrant addition to the wow plants, it is a miracle. I have seen fields of it in France where the beauty and sheer size of the field is stunning but not in my garden pictures. These are the best that I have to offer...Sorry. It is a plant to be experienced not viewed.

This is my favourite picture of the lavender and it was taken in October. The bright blue hydrangea has faded to a stunning silvery purple that alongside the silvery blue and purple lavender is breath taking. 

Just glorious.

Herbs

For me personally,  odor is important in the garden. Just smell can make my day. Running my hands in herbs is a fantastic experience. Especially basil. It is just so amazing. When I think about it, my garden is more than just the visual. I stroke plants all the time. I also rub my hands together to smell them. I rip apart leaves and scatter them for smell. I am against prickles of any sort. I do not want to work around them but I do have one gorgeous flower that I keep in a planter that is super prickly.
I grow basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano and  chives every year. They always produce and are useful and my meals are tastier and prettier! I have taken to adding fresh herbs to my salads. Like they are another type of lettuce. My girlfriend of Italian descent has always done that and it really improves a salad. Simple and fresh.
They self-propagate and provide some bug repellent especially the chives. Oregano and chive is always popping up here and there. I often throw the tops into the garden. Maybe that is why. I have also noted that deer do not eat them. I feel mean but I hate it when the deer eat my garden. I chase them (kindly, gently and with much positive encouragement) into the neighbour's garden. They like them to chow down on their garden! Ha.
I grow several types of each herb. Every single year I buy an oregano that looks like a succulent. It never ever does well which is why I have to buy it....but it is so pretty. Oh, and we never eat it.
Basil can be tricky. I buy it when I feel truly secure with our weather. It likes the sun and not too much rain. If it is cold....it dies.
For the last 4 years, I have been harvesting all of my herbs. I took some pictures to document the process this year. My frozen herbs last until the summer and make for a much better pasta sauce.
All of my herbs and vegetables are organic. I never add any fertilizer. I just use Seasoil and that is it.

I plant my herbs in pots. Just to look good.

So here is how I save my herbs for the winter. First of all, I pick them and wash them. I have basil, chives, oregano ( Golden oregano, I think) and parsley.

I then roll them altogether and chop them up as finely as I can without slicing a finger....off. I am not talented with a knife. And I used my husband's sharp cooking knives because I was feeling brave. Always dangerous. However, it was successful.

I then mix it all together in a bowl with good quality, organic olive oil. 

Actually, I bought the oil at www.spud.ca as well as my herb and tomato plants. (I trust the quality and they are delivered to my house). I do not add garlic but am thinking about it.

How much oil? Enough to soak all of the herbs and then some.

I then put the mixture into a Ziploc freezer bag. I used to put it into ice-cube trays until one year I didn't have enough and ended up using a Ziploc. The Ziploc freezer bags were way better. I could break off the amount of oil and herbs that I wanted. Lots or little. With the ice-cubes you are stuck with a certain amount that you can double, triple etc but you can't really do less then one cube. Plus, the storage of the freezer bags is less difficult. I roll them up and stick them into an available space in the freezer. Brilliant. Freezer space is at a premium with 3 sons and a husband.

Vegetables and Herbs

I am not a keen vegetable grower. I grow some vegetables but not many. Truthfully, just tomatoes and lettuce in pots although I do sometimes try something new. And only cherry tomatoes unless I mess up and buy the wrong plants. Which I commonly do...and no, I do not start vegetables from seed. We eat both of the vegetables that I do grow and they are scrumptious! They also look beautiful.

This was the centrepiece on my coffee table. 

The Green Zebra tomatoes are not cherry but I already admitted to making mistakes! However, you can also see my unfortunate attempt at kale. I think that the pot was too small but don't really care enough to try again.

Do you see the Pear shaped cherry tomatoes? Beautiful, tasty and easy to grow.

I do not grow full size tomatoes because I simply have had no luck with them. They always get blight. The cherry tomatoes are a food source and they always produce. Reliable and tasty. For some reason, I did not take any pictures of my lettuce but it was not fabulous this year so that is likely why. 

Years ago, I used to have a large vegetable garden. I was very enthusiastic and had a solid yield every year but I found that my enthusiasm waned over the years. I prefer my garden to be filled with flowers, shrubs and trees. Period. I don't know why but there you have it.

I use Seasoil exclusively for my tomatoes and lettuce. I do not at any time add a fertilizer to my vegetables. If they produce (which the cherry tomatoes and lettuce always do) then I am happy and we have fantastic salads and tomatoes sauces all summer long...more or less. Lets face it, on the North Shore we have some really rainy summers.

A couple of weeks ago I was visiting a girlfriend and I had a look at the kale that she had grown this summer. They were massive! I should have felt somewhat embarrassed but I didn't. Hmmm. Apparently I am fulfilled with my few little vegetable plants.

Auntie Dot's Garden

Well, I haven't posted in a while but I have been taking lots of pictures and collecting others.
I spoke about my incredible aunt and her garden during a previous blog and since then my cousin has provided some pictures.
This garden has been important throughout my childhood and adulthood. My mother and father were married there. I and my brothers and sisters played in the garden and so did all of my children. I believe that my aunt was 93 years old when my youngest son was born. He too, spent time in her home, arms and garden. Just imagine her legacy. Wow.
These pictures are beautiful but do not do the garden justice, you had to experience it in order to truly "see" it. This was her garden as a 98 year old.