WILD SUNSET JULY 18 2012

 Incredible sky tonight. Didn't last long. Ran up to the hill to get a few shots. Must be from all the smoke coming in from Siberia . Makes the sky look as if it has been painted with  the latest funky colours.

                                    Mountain range in pink...............washed in cotton candy.

                                                              Beautiful first look.

                                Wider angle. Clouds just swathed with shimmering colour.

                         Even wider angle....as far as the eye can see, and even farther.........
                                 Worth the toddle up the hill. Worth waiting for.....

Hot July Garden

 Someone asked me what did the garden look like  in July. So did a quick study to see. I was surprised that so many things are flowering, especially since it was a wet, wet spring. This is my favourite place.....I have worked really hard to grow "stuff" around the bench. when we moved here, this entire area was completely bare, except for grape vines.

 Another favourite.Lavender. Cut another bunch today. The Lavender is growing like crazy this year. Tons from just a few bushes.

           Back is yellow with creeping Jenny, which is lasting longer than usual.

 Looking from terrace down into porch. When we moved here there was nothing around the porch. So  simple to spruce up with some extra  plants in pots in groupings.

 Top terrace. Huge crop of sweet peas, at the back, but they're a little slow this year. Coming along.Blueberries are massive...

 Looking thru to the mountains, in the misty, hazy distance. The haze is coming from fires in Siberia, and they have wandered into our area. Can't smel smoke at all, just looks like it.

                   Middle terrace.....climbing hydrangea is huge this year....all that rain...

 Looking up from the yellow creeping jenny to the Head. He seems happy up in his little corner. I love the creeping jenny. Some people yank it out...I just leave it, and pull out what I don't want. Makes for some colour in the perennials.

 From the porch looking up. Love this spot as well....sheltered, nice from the sun, when it is hot. Cold, when it is too cool.

 Front hill. Blue with Budleia bush on the left. Beautiful this year..........green jungle all around.

                  Steps going up where the lavender is planted and reseeds itself.

 My hummingbird, who likes to sit on the weeping katura tree and have a rest. He must have sat here, in the shadows, for about 10 minutes. I took a lot of shots from the house,so I wouldn't startle him. Thought, I don't think he is that scared of me. Likes to dive bomb.

And this is still my favourite place.....the racoon sits here every night as well, as do the cats......everyone seems to like it. Especially on a hot day.

First Sweet Peas....

I don't I need to even say anything....you probably can smell these by just looking at them. Finally, 7 weeks late, sweet peas................

The bench

 In the summer haze, the air was very still today. Shady under the grape vines, grapes thick and massed in the heat. Even the beautiful white cat  decided to take a rest on the bench. In the shade. In the cool. In the middle of a hot summer day. Lady's Mantle runs thick and wild these days, and Creeping Jenny  is doing more than creeping. Overflowing. Bright yellow. In the cool. On a summer's day.

 As the afternoon progressed, the heat fell more heavily to the ground. It was cooler under the bench, on the concrete. In the shade. In the middle of a hot summer's day. The Creeping Jenny still running yellow and wild all round. Still bright yellow. White Cat like snow in winter.

As evening approached, the bench was empty. It was no longer the middle of a hot summer's day. Instead, it was the start of a summer's night.  The grapes still hung low into their leaves, the Creeping Jenny  bright yellow. Lady's Mantle  thankful for some coolness.  And somewhere, the beautiful white cat has ambled her way home. In the cool. In the middle of a summer's night.......

LOW TIDE

Low Tide.....today was the lowest tide of the year. Masses of purple starfish , taking advantage, or rather, being taken advantage of, by the humans who visit the tide pools. Humans just have to pick them up and poke at their underbellies.  Humans need to leave them well enough alone.

 This particular batch of tide pools is located at the end of larwood street in willow point, in Campbell River. Many people toddle over there to see the colourful sights. Sea urchins, star fish, oysters, etc.

 Like something out of a painting........something surreal with the pink star fish looking for a home amongst their purple breathren.

CAMPANULA TAKESIMANA

 The Campanula Takesimana is at its peak. Three colours this year....pink, white, and dark dark blue, that looks purple at times. Teh garden Club tour is on Thursday.  It will be full out by then.

 I actually joined one of the local garden clubs. Not the one that had the contest. This is another one. On thursday I will get the chance to go see other gardens as well, and the schmoozing will commence.

 Campanula blooms for about two to three weeks, depending on the weather, then it usually does not bloom again. Sometimes, if weather is really good, it will have a small blooming in September.

 Cranesbill with the takesimana.......................and curry. Love curry.

" value  my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs." (Joseph Addison 1672-1719 english writer)

FLUTTERBY

                                 Flutterby...................

                                  Fluttering...............

                                      Drinks......................