Flowers blooming in August in spite of a very hot month.

 

Garden Shed Makeover and Cleaning 2025.

So I have this old garden shed that you may remember. Garden shed 2012. I have been using it and loving having it for 13 years. It is simple and plastic, but I just love it and feel lucky to have it in the newish garden. It got moved up with a LOT of stuff that just got stuffed in it and the shed has not worked as a proper shed since. Today I started cleaning it out. It felt glorious. As usual though, as has been a constant since the blogs beginning, I forgot to take a before photo. I just get excited and launch at projects. 

It has taken me about two weeks so far. It has been very hot up here and the shed could be very hot. I have taken about half of the shed contents and either spread the kelp etc in the garden, or got rid of it to a give the good stuff away in a pile at the curb or the dump. I feel so happy and content with it. Job well done Erin.

It feels absolutely wonderful to finally have this done. I am a very happy gardening girl.

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.