Wild & Wooly Weather Enjoyed by the Fire

It has been complete madness as far as the weather is concerned. 30 degree C change in just one week - trading weather from the northwest to the balmy southeast. We've gone from frost painted windows in the early morning - to buckets of rain. Fortunately we still have snow cover, which really adds to the light and my mood on such grey days.I stepped away from the computer for 4 days - checking in just briefly on family and friends. It was a lovely time, with the odd bit of excitement. 2 days before Christmas Kevin and I heard water running outside the shut-off valve to the house. We made sure there was no water running anywhere and then shut off our own water to see if we could hear, as the Regional Water Man said, "The pipes singing - sure sign of a leak." Alas, we did. Next day, I filled up the tub, sinks, etc. with water in anticipation of having the water shut off while they dug through my front lawn to replace the pipes. I was beyond despair as I looked out at my garden realizing how much was going to have to be sacrificed to replace the damn pipe. Mum cheered me with the thought, "Dear, this really is blog-worthy. You'll be able to tell everyone on-line about your chaos." Thank goodness for small mercies. I phoned my sainted sister-in-law who agreed that I couldn't clean the turkey with Handy-Wipes, and that I could bring everything by her place and we'd cook there.

So, with all contingency plans in place we waited. Gerry, the Regional guy showed up, and agreed there was water running somewhere. I was able to help him find the shut-off valve under 3 feet of snow - and also my neighbour's valve - handy under the circumstances, as my shut-off valve is on her property, and mine is on hers. (Can you say lowest bidder?) I called my neighbour as a bit of a joke - she'd heard that spirits of dead dads - if they aren't heeded will start with flickering lights and move along to the water. Hardy-har-har - I said, "Tell your dad to stop messing with the valves - he's got the wrong one."

Well, just then Kevin came home, who just happened to play hockey with Gerry, who said, "Why don't I call my supervisor to see if we can get the tester out here to find out where the leak is..." And, in the middle of a snowstorm, under 3 feet of snow - Mister Tester arrived on schedule and got to work. First thing he noticed, "There's no water running? I don't hear anything.", says Mister Tester. He blasts his gas through the pipes - no leak. He tests the water pressure - just perfect. Gerry comes back and can't believe it. No more singing pipes. A Christmas miracle. I call my sainted sister-in-law to let her know she could stop drinking, we've got everything under control and for whatever reason, my neighbour's dad, my dad, or who knows what or why, all things had reverted to normal and I would be able to have 10 people over for Christmas as planned and would be spending most of the day wrestling with a 26 lb turkey in honour of the day.
And it was a glorious day - the sun shone - bits of snow. The table turned out well - lots of sparkly bits that looked good during the day and under candle light.
Kevin made me and Mum Parsnip Apple soup at lunch before we put George into the oven.

Even had time to just sit and read - by the fire - this is my silver sparkly bits corner.Hercules on the ground - before his doggie cousins arrived.And then, it was all over - turkey dented - lots of left overs, great time with family and friends. Even the squirrels had a great day finding the sunflower blown over for a wonderful seedy feast.
Over the next day or so we had temperatures of 16C overnight - followed by tremendous wind. So sad to see so many of these old fellows lost so quickly. Note - perhaps paving right up to and cutting the roots for the pretty drive, wasn't such a good idea?This is the tree that took out the electricity in the neighbourhood - from what I could see (and as close as I could get) looked like a double trunked maple that lost one side.Made it down to the lake to see if it was as rough as I expected. The light was absolutely bizarre. One moment, everything was full of colour - the next - it was black/white/blue - looked like someone had taken a photo and just coloured the sky. Amazing. Colour gone - colour back....

Snow yesterday, today and tomorrow

It was a fairly impressive snow storm - think we probably got about 30 centimeters - (a foot). Had to shovel 3 times during the storm. It was a real combination of ice, snow and sleet. At one point the snow was blowing horizontally - filling up the carefully dug out paths and drive.Very cool to watch from inside.Here's Kevin doing manly stuff - cleaning off the car. After it all stopped, you can see how any edges of the garden beds have completely disappeared. If it snows like that a couple more times, the only winter interest in the garden will be the Eastern White Pine.

So, in between shovelling, and Christmas stuff, did some baking for some of my favourite 4-legged doggie friends. My friend Joan gave me the recipe - and the idea for the shapes. Kevin came home - thought they were for him. Fortunately he took another good look at the shape and thought better of it - although, they do smell great when they're baking - organic flours, organic bacon fat, milk powder, egg & water.

Looks Like it Will be a White Christmas

10 cm of snow (a little under 5") last night. Everything that had been grey and depressing has been transformed. These little rose hips were photographed just before the clouds broke. Still a bit 2-dimensional. The same with these Euonymus elatus berries - great colour, but not much shape.
And then the sun came out, -5C (not cold), no wind and so it was back to the Lake to see if I could get icicles.

Isn't everything so much better when the sun is shining?

Quite surprisingly, the lake was in a bigger uproar than it was on the stormy day - wish I'd taped the sound - just fantastic.

And best of all, I spotted some icicles to capture. Unfortunately I would have had to crawl by this and through the water. And so, I wussed out. Am still thinking how great those shots would have been.

We'll be able to enjoy this pretty little dump of snow for a few days and then on Friday, we're supposed to get a Storm, capital 'S'. 20 cm - 8" or so. Nothing like what we used to have in Montreal where there would be at least double that and everyone would still roar around like nothing had happened.

And all the time I lived in Quebec, I never saw a heated driveway - all those folks who want double ovens, fireplaces in the bath and staircases worthy of Scarlett - if I had to do it again and I had a big long drive - this would be my luxury of choice. Voila.....no snow.

Long walks and Cookies

I've been off the computer for several days now, fully engaged in the Christian Women's Fat and Sugar Exchange - a.k.a. Christmas baking (and I fear eating). I've been leaving pound after pound of butter on the counter to come to room temperature and then whipping it into submission incorporating it into yet another caloric, artery clogging delight.

Forced march was in order. Walked down to the lake, this time to Raymar Estates. All that is left of the Estate is this very grand sea wall and steps which must have been used to go for a swim in Lake Ontario - sadly, something that we cannot do any more because the water is so filthy.

It was 10C - or 50F - amazing for this time of year. We're expecting the temperature to drop below freezing by 4:00 p.m. today. If I'm feeling frisky tomorrow - I might go down to the same spot to see just how high the waves got and if there are any good icicles to photograph.

Not the best photo by far, but still find it fascinating to see what the digital does to reds - these were a very, very dark maroon and yet here look like something you'd expect to see soaking up a little whiskey in a Manhattan.

With the retreat of the snow - can you believe how lovely and green the grass is! Makes such a good backdrop to these Rose of Sharon seed heads.

I always enjoying seeing everyones baking and food, so have included my favourite cookies so far this season - Orange, cranberry, white chocolate, walnut drop cookies....delicious!

Cold, Snow, Warm & Rain - A Southern Ontario Winter Day

It's one of those days you practically need a miner's helmet to see anything. We got some pretty sticky snow last night - I immediately thought snowman - Kevin said, "Boy it would be great to build a fort!"

Everyone seems to have forgotten how to drive in the snow - transports have jack-knifed all across the area - one of the underground cable guys managed to semi-turn the corner and end up in a ditch around the corner. Not so bad. It can happen. Unfortunately he tried to rectify the situation himself by putting the van in reverse and gunning the engine to about 120kilometers judging by the spray of dirt across the road and up the neighbours driveway. Wonder if he got down deep enough to find the sprinkler system?

The temperature is now above freezing and headed to about 8C - and it's pouring rain - so all this pretty snowy stuff will probably be gone by 5:00 p.m. Not so much now, but in spring when this pattern will repeat itself is when I will lose many of my perennials - about 10% every year - the freeze/thaw cycle is just deadly.

Last night at our horticultural meeting/AGM and potluck dinner, Catherine Kavassalis did a great presentation on trees in Oakville - so many were lumbered out in the 1800s for housing and shipbuilding - she had photos of some fabulous giants that are still standing with some addresses so we can all take a little tree tour of Oakville. Also, in her presentation she told us that there is only one stand of wild Cercis canadensis - red bud in all of Canada and it's on Pelee Island - Canada's most southerly point 42 degrees north latitude (the Napa valley is 41 degrees north). So how on earth she wondered did it ever earn it's C. canadensis label?

Frozen Ground

Very still this a.m. on the lake - the little dots are Canada Geese - lots of 'em. They used to fly south - no longer - apparently Oakville is just fine for the winter.

For the first time ever - I've managed to get all my bulbs in before the ground froze - just a little over 600 of them. Today it was -13C without the windchill, with a little snow expected this afternoon - definitely boots and hat weather. Thought I might get a couple more maintenance videos done for my other site - alas, outdoor gardening has come to an end, and frankly by December I think I'm ready, to sit by the fire and plan for next year.

One of my favorite seed catalogues arrived on Friday - Veseys Seeds from Prince Edward Island. I visited Veseys a year ago - seed packaging in many cases is still done by hand. The gal in charge had a canister of various sizes of little spoons and wee paddles that she used for many of the flower seeds. After the seeds are packaged, they're arranged on shelves. The orders are then picked by staff who use lovely old baskets that are made (and maintained yearly) by the areas Mi'kmac Indians. The trial gardens are beautiful and well worth a trip if you're ever in Prince Edward Island.

We were visiting friends for dinner on Saturday night and found this wonderful house just down the street - just had to put in a photo to share!

Things that are Green in My Garden

I'm in serious need of bucking up today - an old family expression. So grabbed my camera and went out to find out "what was green in my garden" and report back to the world at large. Demented, perhaps - but seems to have lifted my mood. Nothing like sharing some poor tired bits in a Canadian garden with the rest of the world to make you start to giggle like a fool.

Here's the Carex I've named my Donald Trump plant - not a bald spot in sight. Who knew that my Akebia was still green this time of year?

Ok, not green, but the light came out and I liked the way this Geranium looked.

This is the new Butterfly Bush Lo and Behold - and voila - still very green. Imagine this would be an energizer bunny of a plant for folks in a warmer climate.

Another little Carex 'Evergold' - and yes, it appears to be true to its name.

And the last bits of green on Carex muskingumensis.

And this is Hypericum 'Brigadoon' which appears to be spreading all over the place. However being a really good chartreuse - certainly easy enough to remove the bits I don't want.

More Seeds & Trial Gardens & Archer

I haven't grown a lot of ornamental chili peppers - the amount of sunny garden area I have is limited. Here is a cute little pepper I saw growing at U of Guelph - called Chilly Chili. Considering that it really wasn't a great year from tomatoes, eggplants or chilies, I thought this little fellow looked quite attractive & would be very cute in a pot as well. It was just covered in these banana yellow fruit.

I've been a huge fan of Agastache - it's just a pity that so many of them are just borderline hardy here. This is called Agastache 'Bronze Foliage' - perhaps a better name is on the horizon? The flower colour was so pretty but I don't find the plant to be all that attractive, check out the next photo - nothing I'd want right at the front of the border.

Here's the All America Selection winner for 2009 - Viola Rain Blue and Purple. This photo was taken the 3rd week of August - I've never seen such colour on any viola that late in the season. Plant seems to have a nice form as well - good for containers too.

If I have to beg, borrow or steal, this is one plant I'll find room for in my garden next year. Rudbeckia Tiger Eye. Stunning colour and look how bushy the plants are. The only stone you might throw, is that they don't look real.

Just to give you an idea of its size, here it is next to Salvia 'Mystic Spires' blue.

There were a couple of grasses featured in with the bedding plants.

This one is called Wind Dancer. It would need one heck of a mighty wind to start dancing. The grass below is called Panicum Frosted Explosion - cool name for something that spends a good part of the summer that you'd want to take the weeder to.

Not so pretty here is it?

All in all, it was a great day at the trial gardens - between this post and my last there are at least 5 new plants I want for my own garden. And I feel I know a little more about some others, I'm not going to be in an enormous hurry to make room for any time soon.

So, Archer warning from here on in.....and, this may be the last post....I expect to hear from his real mum and dad today.

This weekend we spent saying our goodbyes. Visited SiSi Ambrose for a good romp in the garden. She's quite a bit younger than Archer - she's a King Standard Poodle & she definitely is going to be a big girl. Here she is in hot pursuit of our boy.

Gotcha!All tuckered out.

Sunday a.m. after breakfast, Hercules had his way with Archer - sucking him in one moment, getting licked on the head, followed by hideous cat hissing, spitting and howling & then chasing Archer up and down the halls.In order to get away from the demon kittie, Kevin & I took Archer down to the harbour on Sunday a.m. He really is improving on his walk - although Kevin insists on not using the gentle leader - so he ends up with a bit of a bouncy buddy at the end of his long lead.
I guess there is just enough warmth from the harbour, that there were still leaves on this brambly rose bushes. Nice to see the colour - everything is very beige at the moment. Here is the lookout to 16 Mile Creek.

After the long walk & lunch it was off to see Percy for one more play-date. Percy is 2 weeks younger, and hasn't had his first trim yet. We could barely get the door open fast enough for these two to get outside and play.With any luck, that wasn't Joanne's favourite plant that Percy collapsed on.And then, with the weather turning stormy - Archer & I went down to the lake to see the waves. Things were just starting to build. Hard to see - but those are swans floating around the big waves. I guess at one time, this had been an estate with just one large home - there's a tremendous old cement peer that seems to calm the waves where the birds like to take refuge.

At the end of the day, the radio broadcasts of the BIG STORM were far more exciting that what we got - rain, a few ice pellets and not much else.

So that was that for our walk by the lake - Archer and I beat a hasty retreat back to the car and home. I'd say it was a pretty good doggie weekend.