Yesterday I decided to plant my “winter garden.”    Last year I bought a couple of decorative kale that stayed beautiful through the entire winter, along with the pansies.  So I thought why not replace all my summer annuals and enjoy color all year long?  

I found a several varieties on sale at My Garden Nursery, just up the street, and was inspired to create a purple/pink/green and white themed garden.   Here are the results.

I still have plans to add kale and pansies to pots on the patio, but they’re still filled with blooming fuscias and other lovely flowers, so that will have to wait for a week or so.  Do you have any “winter garden” plans?

By the way,  my cute little hummingbird is STILL coming to feed from my fuschsia every day.  Doesn’t he know he should have headed south over a month ago?  I’m a bit worreid about him

This is the view from my office chair if I turn my head slightly to the left.  It makes my small condo seem much larger to have that outdoor space so accessible, and offers entertainment throughout the day.  

You might notice that I have acquired a new squirrel-proof bird feeder.  It holds about 5 times more birdseed and will allow about 3 times as many birds to feed at once.  It was getting mighty crowded around the little feeder - not to mention the squirrels using it as their personal lunch box. 

It took the birds about 9 months before they actually found my feeder - but now it’s the happenin’ hangout for the feathered set. 

In the afternoons I often have 2 - 4 dozen birds drop by at the same time…. some in the feeder, some foraging on the ground, others drinking from the birdbath and still others observing from the fench or rock wall. 

Regular visitors are chickadees, juncos, a pair of beautiful rufus-sided towhees and a whole family of pretty yellow American Goldfinch (Washington’s state bird).  I also had a pretty flicker drop by the other day, but have only seen him once.

A somewhat unusual guest earlier in the year was a white pigeon.  He had flown into my upstairs neighbor’s open sliding door and spent the night on her bookshelf - out of reach of her cat.  The next day, when she discovered and shoo’d him out of her condo, the poor thing just huddled with fright in the corner of my patio for 2 days, only wandering out to eat now and then. 

I lured him in a cardboard box with food/water and then called a gal who displays white doves/pigeons at weddings.  She came to take him home, where I’m sure he is well fed and cared for. 

I’m always delighted when this beautiful Stellar Jay makes an appearance. You can see he’s got more than his share of peanuts in his beak.

My mom was telling me about the squirrels in her back yard (in Salt Lake) and how they were gathering acorns and hiding them in a birdhouse. I asked if she’d gather up some of the piles of acorns that fill her yard each year and mail some - I thought the squirrels here might enjoy the treat. When they arrived, I tossed a few out under the tree.

I didn’t see the squirrels for a couple of days (I usually do in the late afternoon), but noticed that the acorns had been opened and eaten, rather than taken and hidden. So I tossed a few more out on the grass.  Next day, same thing - no squirrels seen, but the acorns had been cracked open and eaten.  I tossed a few more out and left the small bag with the few remaining acorns on my patio chair.

Well, Friday night around 2am (I guess that would be Saturday morning) I was working at my computer and heard something on the patio. Wanting to make sure it wasn’t a prowler, I quickly opened up the blinds to confront my stalker….  and I came face to face with this bandit….   

Cute, isn’t he? Yeah, I know raccoons can be a nuisance, but he was just enjoying an acorn snack. He didn’t seem bothered by me at all, and in fact just continued to waddle around the grass and the patio as I chatted him up and tried to take his picture in the dark. Apparently he’s made friends with a couple of the local cats and hangs out on their patios at night, hoping they’ll come out to play.

Today one of the squirrels was back - and discovered the eaten acorns. He was distraught. He searched and searched the nooks and crannies of my patio furniture, potted plants and and shrubbery til he finally found one, lone acorn. In his pleading little eyes I could tell he was sending a message to my mom…. “Please send more!”

So some news from my garden…. 

A couple of cute squirrels have been visiting my back yard every day the past couple of weeks, gorging themselves on the excess bird seed that drops to the ground from my bird feeder.

I have a clear view of them from the desk where I sit all day and I have found them entertaining distraction.

Despite the plentiful seeds on the ground, Scamper, here, isn’t satisfied with “leftovers” so he cooks up a plan. You can see him here, plotting in the trees.

After several failed attempts, involving squirrel contortion and acrobats, many resulting in near-falls to the ground, he finally succeeds in accessing the storehouse.

Not quite so cute.
  

 

So I moved the feeder to a branch further out, so he couldn’t reach. But he was persistent… and this is what I found him doing today. I laughed out loud when he lost his grip and fell to the ground (only about 4 1/2 feet), but find myself scolding him now every time he attempts this. 

Naughty Squirrel

Time to get a new, squirrel proof bird feeder.

Yes, apparently banana slugs CAN chew a hole in the plastic bag you’ve imprisoned them in….   leading to a mass escape of 7 giant slugs and 2 snails.

Fortunately, if you notice they’re making an escape soon enough, they’re not hard to catch.

On a happier note, this cute little garden snake slithered across my patio the other day (about 8″ long).  (Sorry Michelle).

I hope he eats lots of spiders for me.    I wonder if he’ll scare away the slugs…

Well, those little slugs I was finding a few months ago have become really BIG slugs. They are actually kind of cool looking, but also rather disgusting  - and do a lot of damage in the garden. They have to go.

I’ve tried beer, which did lure a bunch of them to their deaths, but was pretty gross to dispose of.  I’ve used a slug poison that really works, but I don’t like using it because I think it could kill the frogs I like to have around. I’m also using “Sluggo” pellants but can’t tell if it’s doing much of anything….

So I have also resorted to a nightly hunt in the garden. Around 10pm, I wander out with a flashlight and look for slime trails - and usually find at least one big slug each night.

Here is last night’s prize….  (image is actual size)

I liked his leopard spots (many of them are just dark brown or a sickly pale green) and I like his funky antennae. He’s making his way around the hand shovel I used to scoop him up. (Don’t pick slugs up with your hands - their icky slime takes forever to wash off!). After our photo session, I put him in a plastic bag, tied the knot and stuck him in the trash. Poor slug.

I bought my first beer today.    I had to ask assistance from a fellow Albertson’s shopper to even find it - and then asked her recommendation for a good beer for snails. 

She looked confused.  “Snails?” she asked.  “You’re serving beer with snails, or do you want to cook with it??”

“No.” I replied.  “I want to lure them to their drunken deaths in my garden.” 

She looked relieved for some reason.  She was then quite helpful in pointing out that the single cans were in the walk in cooler room (something unheard of in Utah Albertsons), and that I wanted a high gravity beer - which apparently have more alchohol.   She thoughtfully  suggested a can of Steel Reserve and I bought it.

I set out a couple of pie tins and poured the beer into them.  I wonder if the slugs/snails will appreciate the fact that is is slow brewed for exceptionally smooth flavor?

Yesterday, late morning, I looked out the window and noticed snow falling on my rock garden… 

and here is what it looked like an hour later.

This doesn’t happen very often, so I decided to take my camera out with me while I ran a few errands. 

Just 2 weeks ago it was raining, and I ignored my inner photographer when it said - ah, take the camera.  About a mile from my house I came upon the biggest, brightest rainbow I had ever seen…. I snapped this shot through my windshield with my phone (totally doesn’t do it justice), but if I’d had my camera with me I’d have a frameable pic.  But I digress…

Here’s what I saw yesterday, all within a mile of my place…   Snow capped pansies and wetlands bathed in clouds and snowflakes.

Pink trees lining the streets and hidden away between evergreens.  And the trees are just starting to bloom.  So many varieties - we’ll have trees in bloom into May.  I love how long spring lasts here. 

And another wetland area.  It makes me sad to see development come along and cut down so many big trees.  I hope this wetland area will stay preserved (including it’s backdrop of evergreens) for a long time.

By evening, all the snow had melted.  Today the sun is shining.

This one’s for you, Ashley.

It’s been lovely, sunny weather the past few days in Seattle - which draws me to my little garden.  I’ve done a little weeding, trimming off dead branches and such, and joyfully discovered new growth from last years’ planting.  All three of my clematis vines have buds.

Look at the cute new growth on the sweet woodruff I planted among the rock wall. It’s sending out shoots and hopefully will fill in nicely last year. It’s such a cute plant, isn’t it?  Can’t wait for it’s beautiful white spring flowers to appear.

And look - even my delphinium is sprouting new growth…  you know how I love delphinium. Who am I kidding - I just love flowers! Next to the delphinium is a campanula (canterbury bells) that will grow tall with beautiful white, bell shaped flowers on it. I’ve had it in a pot for 4 years and it’s grown so much I divided it and planted it in three different areas. I’ve done that twice now since I bought it. I love perrenials.

And here comes the hardy geranium. I have several of these - including one that has completely filled up a pot. I hope they get enough sun this year to flourish… against the rock wall is a bit shady.

Now, if only I could keep the stupid yard maintenance people from DIGGING UP MY PLANTS! My garden area is obviously well cared for…. it’s clear that these are wanted plants, rather than weeds. But 2 weeks ago, when I wasn’t looking, they dug up an expensive pink anenome that was LARGE. Left everything else, but they decided it must go. I tracked them down and begged them not to do that anymore. The head guy translated to the workers and told me they wouldn’t do it anymore.

Unfortunately, today while I was at the post office (why do they always come when I’m not here???) they came by and dug up 2 cute little plants that I’ve been so excited to see bloom. Idiots.

So I made a sign for them and put it in the garden, held down with rocks telling them to STOP DIGGING MY PLANTS! Since most of them don’t speak English, I also included a “do not dig” sign that they SHOULD be able to understand. We’ll see if it helps. But I’ve been very annoyed about it all afternoon.

On a happier note, because of the temperate climate here, many “annuals” I neglected to dig up in the fall appear to have survived and will have a head start for summer.   And, of course, the forever blooming pansies that have provided happy color all through the winter are still thriving.  I’ll post a picture of them to take my mind of the random plant abduction by the maintenance crew.

So, how is YOUR garden looking?

I have the best daughter in the world.  Look what beautiful suprise she sent me this week (not my Christmas gift) - accompanied by a note that made me cry (in a good way, of course.)    She said they are “just because”…   

They arrived as buds and have been opening one by one since Friday morning… and they smell delicious.  I love flowers.   Thank you, Ashley!

In a word:  Spectacular.

In another word:  Stunning.

A few more words…. colorful, beautiful, rainy, misty, gorgeous, tasty, charming, friendly, delightful, funny (or maybe that was just the company). 

On Day 3 of our Girls Weekend, we spent 3 heavenly hours wandering the paths of the gardens, pausing to take photos - which was sometimes a bit of a production in the rain. 

And my dear friends never complained about my pain-in-the-butt camera bag on wheels.  They even offered to pull it around for me.  True friends.

We were lucky enough to visit on a day with minimal crowds, due, in part I’m sure, to the rain.  But the overcast skies and light rain really brought out the colors of the garden.  Our first glimpse of the Sunken Garden (above) drew gasps.   It was literally aflame with color - and the misty trees provided the perfect backdrop.   

Tip #1:  When visiting Butchart Gardens, don’t bother to bring an umbrella even if you KNOW it is going to rain. 

We finally persuaded Michelle to swap out her functional and yet obstructive blue umbrella in favor of the “oh, what a great idea” clear umbrellas provided at various locations all around the garden.  

Whoever came up with that idea should get a bonus.

Tip #2.  Wear a waterproof jacket rather than one that soaks up the rain like a dishrag;  especially if you find yourself sans umbrella, hauling around a camera in one hand and pulling a camera bag in the other.   Otherwise you might look and feel a bit like a drown cat. 

And bring good natured friends who are willing to hold their umbrellas over you and your camera when you take photos.

There was an entire wall of dahlias, winding paths under golden and crimson trees, waterfalls, ponds, statues, and ivy covered arbors, which I imagine would be full of rose or clematis blossoms in other seasons.   

At one point there was a path with several arbors, making for a nice photo opportunity.   Some woman kept standing right next to the first arbor, staring off into space.  We waited and waited for her to move so we could photo the path - but she just stood there.   So I took her photo.  She reminded me a bit of Audrey Hadley. 

The Japanese Garden was a group favorite, and where we decided to monopolize a cute bridge to take a group photo.  I pulled out the tripod and we posed for a good 10 minutes trying to get a good shot of all of us, which was a bit of a challenge. 

I was having issues with my damp red shirt clinging in all the wrong places and an ill-advised recent haircut.  Kristin wanted to take off her jacket, but realized she was wearing a “Grinch” sweatshirt underneath.   One of the Hunsaker sisters noted, “Nothing says Butchart Gardens like the Grinch.”   (They kept us in stitches with their witty one liners).  

Notice that while Kristin and I look a bit damp and bedraggled, Chris looks ever stylish  in her coat and red scarf and Michelle is a complete fashionista - even her hair is fluffed and in place!  How did she do that???  (Maybe by staying under an umbrella when it rained? ) 

We finished off our day in the garden with our first “Afternoon Tea” experience.   The charming dining room was surrounded by windows looking out onto a lovely garden, and the fire in the fireplace added just the right warmth and coziness we needed on a rainy day.  

Click here to see the menu. 

Michelle ordered a peppermint tea, not on the menu - and the rest of us all went for the TeaBerry blend.  Excellent choice.    Tea was a forbidden drink as I was growing up and something I always assumed would taste yucky.   But as an adult, I have found I love good tea….  and this blend was exceptional.  

Finger sandwiches and desserts covered 3-tiered serving trays. General consensus was that the mango-curry chicken salad with cashews was the best sandwich, and the cucumber the most boring.   All of the desserts were yummy. 

The tea and treats were great - but the ambiance and the company made it a perfect afternoon.

If you actually made it to the end of this post and still would like to see more photos that I took at Butchart Gardens, CLICK HERE.

And be sure to check out both Chris & Michelle’s blogs for their photos and write-ups from our weekend getaway.   Kristin, when are you going to start a blog?