My birdfeeders are a fantastic investment (I have 7 feeders spread out in the front and rear gardens…).
Since September, a pileated woodpecker has become a regular visitor and is particularly fond of the suet and mixed nuts feeders. And I spend a lot of time in the garden on dry days (and those are getting rare), expanding the flower beds, moving manure and mulch into position, planting bulbs, moving plants. Tired, but a good kind of tired!
And on some days, I am rewarded by many colourful birds at the feeders. This Pileated guy was not very worried, and let me get surprisingly close.
A special moment…
It just feels that way, today. A sadness that pervades my mood. Saying goodbye to warm days and the sun for a few months, must be it. Many projects await. Things will pick up… the winter season is lively on this island. It’s just a certain interlude, right now… A lull.
Saturna is a small place, adrift between the mainland of BC and Vancouver Island, with a small population. It must be the water, the air, the greenery… because this island inspires a considerable percentage of the population. Saturna is home to several artists who will be showing their work during Thanksgiving Weekend.
As the dates near, more information will be available on the Art Saturna site. In the meantime, here is the poster!
On our island, there are countless deer and goats that roam freely. They devastate gardens where innocent former city dweller naively plant glorious perennials and other such, dreaming of the future Eden they are creating… only to find their new plantings defoliated or razed to the ground in the morning.
Even so-called “deer proof” plants are fair game in these parts… Our deer are hard-core. And the goats, well, they are four-legged Hell’s Angels. They will tear, shred and ravage anything.
Iris
For several years, we relied on the safe standbys in the front garden: thyme, rosemary, Spanish lavender and juniper.
But a few weeks ago, the goats helped me convince my husband that a deer fence was in our best interest. You see, the goats invaded early one morning and savaged a young evergreen tree my husband had grown from seed. An Australian something or other. Looked like an upright juniper to me. It was seven feet tall, doing well. No more. It’s been debarked, and telltale teeth marks left on its trunk…
So, a deer fence is being installed right now. I walk the perimeter of our new deer “exclosure” (love that term!) and my mind reels! All kinds of possibilities are opening.
Fritillaria
So I started a plant list and next, I will draft a planting scheme. Yesterday afternoon, I did some research. I invited myself to a friend’s garden, to check out some of the plants she suggested… and others. She took the time to walk me around her (very large and impressive) garden, and generously shared her knowledge. What follows is a visual report. Enjoy.
Japanese Painted FernEuphorbia FireglowClematis Nelly MoserMagnolia sieboldii
And I spend a lot of time in the garden on dry days (and those are getting rare), expanding the flower beds, moving manure and mulch into position, planting bulbs, moving plants. Tired, but a good kind of tired!
Many projects await. Things will pick up… the winter season is lively on this island. It’s just a certain interlude, right now… A lull.
