May 17, 2017. It's official, weather-wise this has been a really cruddy year, whether or not you happen to be a gardener. Last night I listened to our weather forecaster, again trying to be bright, but acknowledging she has not been able to assure us of a stretch of fine weather since the beginning of October 2016. And here for seven months I've been trying to maintain my best Pollyanna attitude, telling myself it just isn't possible sun could be such a rare commodity on the Sunshine Coast!
Not far from us, gardeners in the Okanagan area are in poor shape too. The huge Okanagan Lake is rising to unprecedented levels, and people have been driven out of their homes by floods. The ground is saturated to the point it just cannot hold any more water. The heavy ice cap on the mountains is thawing fast, and adding that water to the already overtaxed liquid situation. Trying to make the best of a very bad business, I'm at least grateful that our soil in this particular area is very well drained.
So far the lonely veggie successes are some beautiful red butter lettuce, and two varieties of peas. They're all growing well.
Oh, and the gorgeous little perennial flowers are out in abundance! This is the annual perfect bouquet that greets me from the rock wall outside. I don't water it, don't fertilise it, just made sure it was in a well-drained situation. It seems to thrive straight out of the gravel. And in the winter, no matter how low the temps go, it doesn't even lose its leaves. It is Lewisia. Doesn't this give anyone a reason to garden?
I'm gleefully counting the tiny mandarin oranges on the beautiful tree Dearly Beloved found for me on Mother's Day! It will add to my citrus collection of a lemon and a lime tree. In Canada?, you say. Yes, had the other two for years, and they produce all year.
May 18, 2017
The tomato plants now have a distinct blue tint, from their stint out in the garden in the cold. But there may be a ray of hope. Now the forecast is looking much more hopeful, for the next few days.
It's also Friday, and I'm wishing you all a great weekend!
Vicki