Poppy

Hot! Hot! Hot!
Today was a balmy 25 degrees and the flowers and garden are coming alive. The peonies are starting to open and the poppies are bursting forth with gloriousness! Makes me wish I had more poppies!
To escape the city heat, we headed out to the valleys at the foot of the mountains. Driving south to Okotoks and then winding our way through Black Diamond, Turner Valley and finally Bragg Creek. There are a ton of properties for sale out there and it got me thinking how amazing it to have so much land that too many of one particular flower would be a non-issue. Swaths of poppies! Row upon row of tulips! Ferns? Oh yes, let me take you on our little fern walk through the aspen grove to the west. Someday.....

Yard

Finally, warm summer sun!
The vegetables are really taking off and I think we have planted everything for this year. Next year, we will start filling in gaps.

The last items to go in....
Assorted ferns, Lady's Mantle, Irish Moss, Daisies (Becky) and some marigolds to keep the bugs away from the tomatoes.



We also purchased some black square metal planters that are home to the remaining tomatoes. Next year, I think some tall grasses will take their place and create a nice screen.

After a weekend of glorious sun and heat, we are back to the rain and I am dreaming of having a sweet little lounge at the back of the yard. Imagine this with some gauzy fabric swaying in the breeze on each side while you nap nestled in pillows and maybe a light blanket if the weather is cool. Le sigh.

The brief warmth gave the vegetables a little oomph and we are seeing sprouts from kohlrabi, beets, spinach, lettuce, peas and onions. I am quite sure they are cowering out there right now wondering what the heck is going on. I know I am.

The weatherman promises that the sun will come out again Friday afternoon and until then, we are collectively holding our breath, saying prayers and crossing fingers and toes.

Sweetwater Cabanas

With the weather forecast predicting a week of thunderstorms and little sunshine, I am dreaming of my peonies in full bloom.
We (meaning J) planted our vegetable garden over the weekend and desperately need the warm sun to get things started. Our first row of corn seeds has already dried up and disappeared but we have now heard that corn is a tough sell in Calgary gardens.
The kohlrabi and beets seem happy and are sending up little seedlings so all will not be lost.
It's our first year growing veg here so I am sure there will be some success and some out and out failures.
One success has been our lawn. We don't have a ton of it but what is there, I want to be pretty so I sprinkled some shade/sun grass seed on the bare patches a few weeks ago and it is already looking lush and lovely. We are definitely not crazy lawn obsessives but we are striving not to be the stand outs on the block!

I finally got tired of looking at the stump and it looking back at me from the back of the yard so I got stubborn and dug it up tonight. While I am claiming victory over it, I think it is getting it's bit of revenge on my back.

Now, what to plant? We will start our lettuce and spinach but other than that all I have is a Giant Goat's Beard. What a perfect excuse to head over to the garden centre again.