Garden Fairies

Come.  Come with me for a walk around the garden.

It is early in the morning...if we're really blessed, we might...I say might, now...see one of the Garden Fairies still up, before she lays her head beneath a blossom in perfect slumber for the day.


It is, as yet, a tiny, quiet garden. Here, in the Cariboo, with the dry climate and harsh Winters, I have set out plants which will withstand the dry and the cold...and most of them are not choice, highly bred ones. You know the ones I mean...the plants which require more nurturing, more water, more fertilizer. The ones who fade at the first sign of an Insect...those are the ones I did not choose for my garden.

Instead, I chose Daisies, Foxgloves, Sedums, Poppies, Grasses and tough shrub Roses.  Hollyhocks and Digitalis grow well here. And Birds have helped in the planting...there are many rogue Sunflowers everywhere. Snapdragons, Marigolds and Petunias fill in those bare spots forever there between perennials.


During the last week Thunderstorms were the order of the day. Rain fell in sheets. It was difficult to remember the Dry or the days where I hauled the garden hose from border to border, attempting to give aid to those plants which withered from the heat and the dry, dry soil.


This morning, Sun is out, shining once again upon this small garden, all those Storms a distant memory.

Our walk begins at the seedling bed, which hides the well pipe. This bed is full of Tithonia, Nasturtiums and Sunflowers...none of which are in bloom as yet. But aren't they flourishing! So full and lush...Rain has given this bed a huge boost.


Nate loves to chew on Sunflower leaves.  Last week, I despaired of ever seeing them bloom in this bed...but the amazing amount of Water which fell from the heavy, dark Clouds has revived them. They will grow well now; Nate doesn't bother with the older, bigger leaves.


Let's wander over to the border against the fence line. Poppies leap and bounce with strong, colourful energy in these beds.  They were a little ragged from the Storms; yet even the flowers which were torn by Wind and Rain are picking their heads up off the ground...a little dirty, a wee bit lacerated...but still shining strong orange and yellow.


Do you see this strange plant here which came out of nowhere? This one is a gift from the garden Gods...I don't know how it settled here. It is a wild Strawberry, I gather, and very fragrant. Crush a petal...can you smell Strawberry's intense fragrance?


And now, let's open the gate and meander over to visit Rose. Hasn't she bravely weathered those Storms?  Her petals are strewn here and there...not as pristine as she once was, still her lovely scent lingers strong.


Oh! Did you see? That sudden movement over there must be Lady Rose, a fairy with a delightful countenance! A flash of her loving, gauzy pink is all she awards us with this morning...


But never mind, it is still good luck even to catch a glimpse of a fairy!


Let's carry on, now.  I understand you do not want to leave the area of a fairy sighting; yet she will not return. Searching for a fairy is rarely rewarding...one must pretend not to be interested at all in fairies. The idea is to outwit them, you see...


Mind the Pebbles and Stones on the drive, now...some are loose and could trip you up.Our intention is to finish the driveway with gravel, after all the heavy trucks finish delivering the goods for the woodworking Shop. 

Yesterday, son Scott helped us build a new garden bed by the front door. I couldn't believe the whole bed, Boulders included, was done in a couple of hours. Youth and Strength...it was amazing to watch.


Do you know there's nothing I like better than fashioning a new garden bed? Do you see the borders on the other side of the driveway? I made those beds last year, when I was not really too sure how much Sun they received.  There are plants in those beds which will be moved to the new one...Ferns, Hostas and even some of the Begonias will be moved to the shady side.


There are no longer any  good nurseries open where I might find some plants, so I will transplant from my own garden...and before you know it, the new bed will no longer look so empty.


We're in a construction site now...mind your feet.  Graham built the Shop during his vacation. There were times I had to help hold walls up as the building went up...I won't forget those times easily. I've discovered I'm not a builder.


But isn't it a lovely building!  I will look forward to beautifying it next year, although Graham is not very interested in having it beautified. Petunias don't really do much for him. But he will like it when it's done.


We must now attempt to go down the slope, on the bank behind our house. It is very steep; we need stairs in various spots, but we haven't had the time, as yet. So, take my hand, and follow my steps...

There. Now you can see the beds under the big Trees up close. Do you like the colour combination here?  I'm not too sure about the deep, deep purple Petunias...I think they are too deep for this darker space.  Next year, I will keep this in mind...


But I do love how the old Stump has become such an icon in this spot over here. I have planted Vinca here...I am hoping it will ramble over the old, gnarled Stump.  And the Marigolds...haven't they filled out! In the beginning of the season, they were just stalks with an orange pompom flower on the top. They looked rather rigid and unforgiving. I am glad to see there are many more pompoms now.


Oh and over here! We cleared this area out in the Spring, and left the Wildflowers. It was lovely earlier in the season with all the Lilies that bloomed, but after that hot spell...oh yes, that hot spell! they went to seed...


No. That is not another Fairy...it is a Bumblebee, as big as any I have ever seen. They grow them big around here! I don't believe, as I told you before, that we will see another Fairy this morning. Time is moving on.


From down here, you can see the shrubs I planted on the bank. They mooched about a bit,  some not immediately appreciating the slope they were being planted on. But after the heavy Rains, they've settled in.


Up the other side of the bank, now, and here we are at the Greenhouse.  It is not heated; yet it will give us so much more time at the beginning and end of the season. The Tomato and Cucumber plants look as if they will take over the whole inside space, but each is producing well.


Oh, shhhh!  Look over there! Don't move.  Do you see Lady Parsley grooming herself just over there? Oh, she is so beautiful, with her long, gauzy green robes...and her wings are transparent! Look...I believe she's watching us as well. 


Lady Parsley has visited me in my dreams.  I am very pleased to make her acquaintance again during waking hours!

A blink of an eye, and she's gone.  One must be extremely aware and awake to see Fairies...and we saw two this morning!


Well. We've finished our walk...and now, would you like a cup of Tea? And some scones? They would be good with the Strawberry jam I made last week.


If we sit quietly here in the shade, one never knows who might appear.


A walk, Fairies and then a reviving cup of Tea...what can be better?