A little holly tree of my own

When I bought my house I didn’t really give much thought to the very few plantings as most were in terrible shape, not my style and would be coming out. I noticed this tree that was full of dead branches and really barely hanging in there. I inspected the leaves and thought it was perhaps a laurel. When I took a few minutes one day and really had a good look at it, I looked up. In the green leaves were some, not a lot, green berries. My excitement level went to a ten. I took a photo and zoomed in. OMG, is this a holly?! I started looking at the leaves again. It is obviously older and they lose that classic pointy holly leaf shape and smooth out. But sure enough, it is a holly. I am pretty sure an English Holly. My favorite nursery (Dinter) informed me a while ago, that because English Holly is now considered an invasive species, they can no longer sell it. I have been trying to propagate cuttings from mine at my old place. In a full year, I did get one variegated to take, but not a single green. So this is pretty thrilling for a girl who loves her holly. I have fertilized it, given it lots of water, trimmed off most of the dead tips and branches. And now, back to wallpaper removal. 

Wallpaper removal. Yes it is as much work as people say it is!

I have just spent the first few days in my new house. The first thing I noticed is how big it seems. Also, with my incredibly terrible sense of direction, I get lost. True story…on day one, I headed from where I was, to go somewhere else. I walked around and did a big loop through three rooms and found the place I was looking for, which was actually right beside the spot I started from. It had been right behind me. I have been dealing with this ‘directional disorder’ my whole life so I just laugh. I did shake my head, because this was bad even for me.

Wallpaper removal is a nightmare. There is quite a bit of it in this house and three of us have been working at it for three days and have two rooms done. I think my sister is right with her one week estimate. 

Update: two months have gone by and I am still cleaning glue off the stripped wallpaper walls. I took a total of maybe seven days that I didn’t work on this. “One week estimate”… I snort with laughter. 

We are now working in a hallway and kitchen. 

I love garlic cleaning day!!!

Since I first started growing garlic 10 years ago, my favorite part of it is cleaning day. Today was that day. By far the rock star this year was the Music Garlic that I got from Wild Rose on Gabriola. Look at the size of the one in my hand. For the record….my hands are not petite. The bowl of garlic is the seed to plant this fall. 

Large beer mug for scale. 

My first ever Phalaenopsis Orchid to reflower

I have been growing orchids since I was about 18. Roughly 47 years. I have grown lots of different varieties, but the one thing I could never do was get a Phalaenopsis to re-flower once it’s initial flowers died. Until this week. At the urging of a dear friend I bought an LED grow light panel and hung it in front of my temporary orchid stand, and within about a month the baby spike showed itself. I am so thrilled to see this darling. I adore the pink. 

Can you believe it, I bought a house!!!

I am lucky enough to live on one of the Gulf Islands off the West Coast of Canada. Quiet, rural, small… And I’m also lucky enough to have had my offer on this ‘full of potential’ house accepted. 

As you can see the .37 acre yard is pretty much virgin and that is exciting. The soil in this area is nice and soft, but I think there will be much amending to do. (You will notice the two very stunted lilac trees in the lawn) But that is a project I am excited to start. What it does have here, is water. Which is quite rare on the island. 

I am anxious to share this journey with you. I take possession in about a month, so we will continue this part of my story then…