July in the Cobble Hill Garden

I love the changes that seem to take place throughout the growing season in a garden – some of the changes almost daily.  I adopted the habit very early on of taking a daily walk throughout the garden.  Many a time I didn’t have time to get accomplished what needed to get done, but I mentally store it away so that when I can head out I’ve got a mental list of things to do.

Here’s some pictures from the garden taken today

The fabulous Annabelle Hydrangea with clematis and misacanthus behind

Here's that Thalictrum that everyone asked about on the garden tour. Its REALLY big now and requires a lot of water!

You can see what a ‘mixed’ gardener I am with just this one shot.  There are Siberian Iris, Hydrangea, canna lilies, Japanese Maple, Lavender, roses, clematic, lilac, petunias, heucheras, and a cardoon all in one shot!

I tweeted that I was pruning spirea and someone asked how I did it. The one of the left has been'pruned' and the one on the right has not. I just trim it sort of like heather, cutting off the blooms. Some people may use little electric trimmers, I just use my little secaturs. Maybe I should spend more time ironing my clothes than gardening. I look a little wrinkled here!

Lab waiting for me to sit down in the lounger and enjoy the garden. I LOVE the Aralia tree in the facing plot.... adds great structure to the whole area.

Like most of you, I have different sorts of lilies everywhere. I love them for the garden and cut flowers. Still waiting for 'Casablanca'

Petunias are always so cheerful! this little wagon of them with a hosta and some bacopa brighten up the riverside rhodo plot

My beautiful and beloved 'Mme Julia Correvan' clematis. I brought her over with me from our Deep Cove house 6 years ago in a pot and every year she puts out this beautiful display that lasts most of the summer. A super plant. If I ever moved again, I'd dig her up and bring her along!

My cutting garden - rows of gladiolas and dahlias with some blueberries, clematis and lilies thrown in for good measure. About 3 more weeks for blooms to arrive here on Southern Vancouver Island.

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful time in their gardens this summer.  I’m off for a little sunning, boating, and swimming at Osoyoos in the Okanagan soon.  Even the most enthusiastic gardener needs a little break!  Don’t worry, neighbours and underground sprinkling system will ensure the garden is fine.

Good grief! Where did my life go? Today

Good grief! Where did my life go? Today Ringo turns 70! He always did ‘Act Naturally’. A rise of the pint, Ringo! http://ht.ly/27Ryo

What the heck are Muck Boots?

To start, what are Muck Boots?  If you’ve read some of my earlier blogs, I’m not keen about being fashionable in the garden, if fact I prefer loose, old, comfortable, and suitable for getting dirty.  But, like most gardeners, my feet have to be in something secure that’s toasty in the fall/winter and wet, cooler in the summer, washable, and, well,……………perfect.  I’ve had my pink boots for years, but are finally starting to leak just a little.

In prep for the garden tour, very GOOD friends came over and helped rhodo deadhead, weed, trim up, etc. a few days before the tour.  Sandy Campbell was among this blessed group.  And, she was wearing Muck Boots.  And highly singing their praises. To be honest, they ain’t much to look at: you can check them out here and you can see me model them further down

muckboots-scrubboot

The next time I was at Buckerfield’s there was a big display with Muck Boots and a one week 20% off.  That’s all I needed and my life has been permanently improved for the better.  They are every thing a gardener needs in a boot (haven’t put them to the cozy test yet – its still summer), but I sense they are going to excel at cozy.  Every once in awhile, a better mousetrap comes along.  Do yourself a favour and buy some muck boots – your feet will thank you.  (Oh, by the way, I don’t know a darned soul at Muck Boots, they haven’t asked for an endorsement nor sent me a big shipment of free ones)

Not stylish - but Oh, so good at their job!