Sunset at the Seawall

Photo taken by my son, S. by the seawall in Vancouver looking out towards English Bay.  I don't see him often but when he sends me a photo of his life, it's as if he is near.

Glorious sunset, isn't it?

Fall Waits for No Man or Woman

In the neighbourhood today I spotted more tell-tale signs that autumn is imminent.  There is nothing I can do to delay its onset.  And if I ever led you to believe that that is fine and I just take the seasons as they come, then you were misled!!!  Winter can be beautiful, but I don't enjoy it.  I hate the ice and the cold and now I am just being whiny!!  But as gorgeous as fall can appear, it is the harbinger of winter, which is like a swear word to my ears, thus it falls into the less liked category.

So, try as I might, I looked for some beauty amidst the drab cold days we have had lately and here is what I found.  

 The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald snuggled amongst the high rises of downtown as seen from across the river valley.  The hotel has lovely gardens which I must make an effort to visit during growing season sometime soon!

 Cavalia is coming to town.  Actually, it started September 11th and runs until the 30th.  

Think of it as Circ de Soleil with horses!

 A drive along Groat Road reveals yellowing foliage.  Ash, perhaps?

 Little Lamb Hydrangea is blushing pink in the cool weather.

 The berries of the sea buckthorn are a brilliant red!  

I bet these would look good in a winter arrangement!

Tamarisk - you know it's coming on autumn when the tamarisk is in full bloom.  Isn't she stunning!

Did it cheer me?  Yes, definitely, but then I look outside at the grey with clouds sky and think about how cool the house is and I regress.  It is just too early to have to turn on the furnace!!!  Everyone will just have to bundle up!  There's a fireplace on the main floor, not downstairs like the old house, so until I can take it no more, get out the blankets and your wool socks if you intend to join us for a movie night in the basement because it is downright chilly down there!!!

I like to look at the bright side of things (I don't always complain so much, really) and I know now that the leaves of the trees in Fort McMurray are in an advanced stage of yellow and defoliation!  How's that for a little gloating and pick me up?  Sorry Fort McMurrians.  I needed a little hurrah today!

Soiled and Seeded Magazine - Eighth Issue

Soiled and Seeded Magazine - Eighth Issue

In this on-line issue read:

• The Bees of Slovenia
• Three Ways to See a Garden
• The Fruits of Observation
• Living Large, Building Small
• Towards a New Kind of Environmental Stewardship, Beginning With a Tattoo
• Food, Farming and Youth:  How We're Changing the Global Foodscape
• Keeping City Herbs in Sight
• Finding Each Plant a Home
• Summer Preserves
• Support Soiled and Seeded

Little Lamb Hydrangea

I am so glad to have this little beauty in our new garden!!!

Linking to Aphid Information

(free stock photo)

For many of us the problem of aphids is past us as cool weather encroaches upon us.  However, there are some of you out there who may still be experiencing issues with these little suckers and want to learn more about this insect you are battling.  I just read an interesting article in the Ontario Gardener newsletter and am including this link so you can benefit from it as well.

Potential

 Home Sweet Home - welcome to our new house

 It has great potential...but you'll see a lot of work ahead for me too.  Notice in the next few photos how close the shrubs are planted to the deck.  They are snug up against it and must be moved soon!

 A poor little mugho pine planted in full shade.

 Poplar suckers are growing up through the floor boards in the deck along with thistles.

 Screening the back yard from the neighbours are three poplars.  Not just Swedish Columnar Aspen, but poplars!!  Do you think I should have them removed?  (remember the shoots coming through the deck?)

 Beautiful Little Lamb Hydrangea and lilies sharing this tiny bed with thistle.

 Again, the poor shrubs are reaching out to grow.  

 The raised bed has lettuce (bolted), chives and dill planted in it.  I may keep it for garden space or perhaps a waterfall with a stream?  The yard does have a natural slope...hmmm.....

 This cute little columbine was peeking out from behind a yellow potentilla.  I adore it.  The yellow potentilla, on the other hand, will likely be on its way out.  I have memories of spending entire days deadheading potentilla in the heat of the day when I worked at the greenhouse/nursery.  These are not fond memories!

 Spirea, unknown.  I believe they have pink flowers.  I am not sure about their fate either.  Notice the weed behind?  It was quickly removed as it had grown throughout this bed, entangling itself on the Virginia Creeper and neighbouring plants.  It was found in several other areas of the yard too.

 The cedars are coming out for sure!!  Poor things probably didn't get enough water and are badly desiccated.

 I am happy to have discovered a Purple Leaf Sandcherry!  I've wanted one of these for years!!

 Rhubarb!   Yay!  Beside it I will plant the raspberry that grows in a corner behind a 3 foot high Colorado Spruce.

 An ornamental crabapple.

 A Swedish Columnar Aspen, the raspberry bush mentioned previously and the Colorado Spruce  -potential growth is 60 feet!  - not in this yard!  That is much too large for a city landscape.  Perhaps I will have to find an acreage or park for this lovely evergreen.

 Two dead Swedish Columnar Aspens (crocodile tears) and a black elder.

 Another dead/dying cedar.  Note, the neighbour has poplars too!!

 In the upper right hand corner you can see the leaves of Snowbird Hawthorne.  Sadly, it is covered in galls.

 Above, spirea.

 The front yard view.  I removed a lot of tall grass from within this Mugho pine.

 View of the side yard looking towards the garden gate (our property is on the left).

The neighbour has a gazebo!!!!!  Here again is the hawthorne and a Swedish Columnar Aspen.  I have a lot to do back here and I am so happy!!!  I look forward to making changes to this landscape to make it home.  I learned a lot with our previous garden and hope to incorporate some of my favourite plants here such as the Three-flowered Maple, Mock Orange, rhododendron and a birch.  Perhaps we'll put in a lamp in the front yard and place some rock and evergreens around it.  The back yard is open to a lot of contemplation.  My son M (who built the pond and waterfall and assisted with a great deal of the landscaping) is working on a design for me.  Good news:  he plans to go to school to become a landscape architect technician!!!  He has a great eye and a lot of talent and I am so thrilled to see him come back to what was once his aspiration during high school.  

So what's new with you?

Beautiful Historic Finds in the Garneau Area

Today is moving day so I am posting some photos I took Thursday night while walking back to the vehicle after attending a play at the Fringe Festival with my friend Kim.  She was a tour guide for me in this historic and lovely mature area of our city.  These homes and their gardens are magnificent!  Enjoy!!!

The oldest tree living in Edmonton is this willow which is one years old and counting.

A beautiful ligularia!  I must try growing this specimen!

Have a terrific weekend everyone!!!

In the Spotlight: Young's Twisted Birch

The above collage is a compilation of photos taken of our Young's Twisted Birch.  The peeling bark is an appealing feature as is the colour of the bark in contrast to the deep green shiny foliage.  I thought the black and white photo showed off the peeling effect to advantage.  This is one tree that I would plant again and totally recommend, particularly for a wet area of the garden.  It does love moisture, as all birches and willows do.

The Young's Twisted Birch does not grow with a curved trunk naturally, but rather it is trained while young using wires and stakes to create the effect.  Once it had reached the grower's desired height of just over six feet, it was allowed to trail down from there.  It will never grow taller but certainly will grow wider.

The above two photos were taken before I pruned the tree.  If you notice, it looks as though the birch has two arms and it is going to go for a walk just like the trees in Lord of the Rings.  (so my son said).

After pruning, it looks far better shaped.  It should stay put now.  ;)

Young's Weeping Birch (betula pendula 'Youngii')
Height: 20-30 feet  (determined through training)
Width:  15 - 20 feet (determined through training)
Fruit:  cone-like seed heads in fall
Flowers:  catkins (early spring)
Growth rate:  moderate to fast
Lifespan:  average
Fall foliage:  yellow
White peeling bark (may need protection from sun scald in the winter - wrap with a tree wrap)
Soil:  some sand to clay; moist and well-drained
Fertilizer:  while young, a birch should be fertilized with a higher phosphorus number (the second number listed) to encourage root development.  Trees should be fertilized every few years.  Do not fertilize after August 15 in zone 3/4 to ensure hardening off prior to winter.
Training to different shapes is possible
Also available in a twisted trunk form (as in photos above)
Excellent specimen

Zone 2 hardiness

As with all birches, those grown in lawns usually lack in water therefore extra care must be taken to provide water for this tree.  As with any birch, inadequate watering or a period of drought can cause the die back of the tree from the top down.  It isn't necessarily immediate, but may be seen a year or more after the drought period.  Once the tree is weakened and die back begins, problems with pests such as borers is potentially greater.  The key is prevention.  Plant birches in an area of the yard where the soil is the last to dry.  Water liberally to compensate for rainfall shortages.

Birches are also susceptible to warm soil temperatures.  They are somewhat shallow rooted trees, so I recommend mulching a few inches deep to keep soil cool and to help maintain a moist soil.  I use a shredded bark mulch around mine and it is planted in an area of the yard where it stays moist longer and receives shade in the late afternoon.  Warm soil temperatures can cause the outer leaves of the branches to turn yellow, also at the top of the tree, and then drop leaves, leaving the tree looking sparse.  The key is prevention, again.  Mulch and water.

Pruning is best done in July, when sap runs less heavily.  This is for aesthetic reasons, as earlier pruning can result in "bleeding" of sap, which will in turn attract insects.  It doesn't necessarily harm the tree to prune before July, nor after, but I always try to prune during July, unless I need to remove dead or broken branches.  Remember the rule of thumb:  no more than 1/3 of the overall tree is to be pruned during one year.  More results in a stressed tree.

Birch seeds are a good food source in fall and early winter, attracting birds such as: blue jays, chickadees, common redpolls, goldfinches, grosbeaks, pine siskins, and waxwings.  Note:  some people are allergic to the 'catkins' the birch produces early spring.

All in all, this is a beautiful specimen tree that I would highly recommend.