I treated myself to three cacti from Dinter Nursery.

 I have always loved cactus. My grandmother, the most beautiful human that ever lived on the planet, was an avid grower of them as well as succulents. I watched her pick the little cacti forming on them and creating a new one from it. My grandfather started the Vancouver Cactus and Succulent Society. (I hope I have the name right) and apparently the charter for this 'new society' way back then is among his things just waiting to be found. When I find it, I will frame it and show it to you!!

This past week I went down island and on my way back I stopped at paradise aka Dinter Nursery and they had three plants I had been eying up and/or looking for for ages. A large Golden Barrel Cactus, an Old Man of the Andes Cactus and a Crassula Ovata "Gollum" of the jade family. Very similar to jades, but the leaves form tubes. I have been eyeing them up for years. 

Bletilla Orchid is establishing nicely

I am guessing, but I think I bought this Bletilla Orchid as a root in a bag of peat moss as one does, about 8 years ago. I cannot find any record of it so here we go. It lived in a pot for several years. When I moved, I planted it along the north side of my house where it would receive morning sun, about two years ago. Last year it had a few flowers. I was so pleased. But isn't this special!!!! I can only say, I seem to have magic soil here in the new garden. 

   

David Austin Roses. All four in my garden have started blooming.

Vanessa Bell

Abraham Darby

Lady of Shalott

Olivia Rose Austin

David Austin changed roses forever. There was nothing wrong with the roses we had. Old French roses. Hydrid Tea roses. All of the old heritage and vintage roses. I've grown them all. But then..... along came David Austin English Roses. All the beauty and scent of old French Roses with the re-blooming of Hybrid Teas. I think I may have heard angels sing. There has been no going back for me. Here are the four I am currently growing and in love with. 

First Olivia Rose Austin rose of the year

David Austin English Roses are my passion. I love them beyond reason. This Olivia Rose Austin will always be one of my favourites. This is the first open rose of the year. The plant has grown huge and is thickly covered with buds. Most of my roses are this year. I see some lovely bouquets in my future. 

The best spring garden I've ever had !

I have no idea what happened in the garden this spring, but it is truly the most beautiful and healthy spring garden I have ever had. I've been gardening on the west coast for 45 years. Here are a few pictures of what is happening. 

My holly has holly leaf blight. Oh dear.

I bought a house a few years back that had a holly tree. I was very happy to have one. I have had Holly's for about 40 years. It seemed to have some weird little quirks that I figured was due to it being an unknown variety. It would drop a lot of leaves in the winter. The berries turned black very quickly. And the tips of many branches died back every year. It had not been cared for so I assumed it was neglect. Then it did this!! 

Notice how few leaves are left. Just a few at the top. So I googled it. I was stunned to find out that it is Holly Leaf Blight. That was yesterday. Today we cut it down. I picked up every leaf I could find since we have had lots of west coast wind storms over the winter. It took us all day. Sterilising everything I used because I have a variegated holly from a cutting I took from my old tree and I do NOT want it to get this.