Today I arrived at work to find a list of 'suggestions' of what we should plant in the new Town Centre Bed. My comment yesterday about spirea was a joke, but it was on the list this morning. I swear, I'm not making this up.
Also on the list was privet (oh yeah, that's original) and a clarification that the Euonymus should be the yellow and green one (sorry Lori) called Emerald n' Gold (yes, the 'N apostrophe' is really part of the name.)
So now I'm really starting to get into the idea of making the absolute ugliest garden possible to plant in the centre of Main St., and I'm taking suggestions for other over used, banal and uninteresting specimens. Remember they have to be under 4 feet high for shrubs please, and the trees should also be small because the planters are not that big.
Already on the list are daylilies and crabapple trees. I'm thinking of adding gold pfitzer juniper.
Anyone else with plants we love to hate?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Venting
Sometimes it seems I only use this page to vent. Like today, when I found that 4 bureaucrats with no plant knowledge have vetoed my landscape design for the new Town Centre and asked that I make it:
"Less prickly"
"Shorter" and
"More Shade"
Translation: "We don't want evergreens. We want deciduous trees, and make the shrubs dwarfs so we can still see the cars in the parking lot behind."
These were the criteria which I had used to select plants:
Hardy to wind, drought, full sun, pollution and road salt.
Multi season interest.
Must be plants not already in use in a Town green space, with the idea that it will help inform the public on a wider variety of plant material available.
Must be available in a local nursery. Buy local.
One of the bureaucrats, who fancies himself a bit of a gardener, also suggested both Euonymus and Crimson King Maple instead of the choice and rare evergreens I had selected.
Note: Being known as an avid gardener is not the same as knowing anything about plants, and shouldn't be thought synonymous with taste either.
Crimson Kings are a selection of Norway maple, those are the ones responsible for spreading the black tar spot fungus blotting the landscape every summer. The also have a tendency to generate thousands of seedlings which grow anywhere and everywhere. They should be banned from sale.
The only thing wrong with Euonymus is that it is an obvious choice. And by obvious I mean common. And by common I mean banal and pedestrian. Familiarity breeds contempt. And I do find euonymus contemptible. In my opinion, if a plant has to be variegated to be interesting, then it really isn't interesting, is it?
A number of thoughts went through my head at their plant suggestions.
One was that, if I added some daylilies and some spirea it would look as good as a Walmart parking lot.
Another was that it was a little like telling Degas that "the Ballerinas are nice, but had he ever thought of painting dogs playing poker?"
I cannot get autocad to export the landscape plan to a jpeg or bitmap file for your viewing pleasure, so here is the elevation sketch I submitted. I am posting it here because no one will ever see it otherwise. Try picturing it without evergreens and with shorter shrubs in the centre. And while you are at it, change the sign to one that says "Mud View Trailer Park - The folks that live here are homely."
"Less prickly"
"Shorter" and
"More Shade"
Translation: "We don't want evergreens. We want deciduous trees, and make the shrubs dwarfs so we can still see the cars in the parking lot behind."
These were the criteria which I had used to select plants:
Hardy to wind, drought, full sun, pollution and road salt.
Multi season interest.
Must be plants not already in use in a Town green space, with the idea that it will help inform the public on a wider variety of plant material available.
Must be available in a local nursery. Buy local.
One of the bureaucrats, who fancies himself a bit of a gardener, also suggested both Euonymus and Crimson King Maple instead of the choice and rare evergreens I had selected.
Note: Being known as an avid gardener is not the same as knowing anything about plants, and shouldn't be thought synonymous with taste either.
Crimson Kings are a selection of Norway maple, those are the ones responsible for spreading the black tar spot fungus blotting the landscape every summer. The also have a tendency to generate thousands of seedlings which grow anywhere and everywhere. They should be banned from sale.
The only thing wrong with Euonymus is that it is an obvious choice. And by obvious I mean common. And by common I mean banal and pedestrian. Familiarity breeds contempt. And I do find euonymus contemptible. In my opinion, if a plant has to be variegated to be interesting, then it really isn't interesting, is it?
A number of thoughts went through my head at their plant suggestions.
One was that, if I added some daylilies and some spirea it would look as good as a Walmart parking lot.
Another was that it was a little like telling Degas that "the Ballerinas are nice, but had he ever thought of painting dogs playing poker?"
I cannot get autocad to export the landscape plan to a jpeg or bitmap file for your viewing pleasure, so here is the elevation sketch I submitted. I am posting it here because no one will ever see it otherwise. Try picturing it without evergreens and with shorter shrubs in the centre. And while you are at it, change the sign to one that says "Mud View Trailer Park - The folks that live here are homely."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Close Only Counts in Horseshoes
When we began the shower adventure, the plan was to have it completed for Peter's mum to be able to use it when she visits this year.
She arrives Thursday, and here is our progress so far:
1. Tile sun porch floor to use it as a clay studio -check
2. Make clay extruder for accent tiles - check
3. Make accent tiles - check
4. Build shower stall - check
5. Tile shower stall - ummmm...
Well, we got close didn't we? This is how close. Note, one wall is 3/4 tiled, another is 1/2 tiled. The other two walls are still untiled. No door, no floor, no glass block window either.
Even if we tiled tomorrow night and Tuesday night, and all day Canada Day, I doubt the tiles would be all finished, and then it takes a couple days to set before you can grout it. We are not moving too fast. What you see is the result of 8 hours work. Four hours yesterday morning and 4 more today. And frankly we're pooped. Tile setters earn their money.
So If we worked really hard and ignored Betty altogether during her visit, it might be ready by the time she leaves.
Valiant effort, but still a failing grade I'm afraid.
Poor Betty will just have to have a bath.
The holes you see in the corners will be shelves. And the blue tiles (that look quite black in the picture) are going to interfere with the escutcheon on the tap so we still have to figure out how to cut them elegantly around that. Our tile cutter won't cut circles, and the wet saw seems to chip them quite a bit. We think we will just grind them down a little.
I have to say though, I do like the look.
She arrives Thursday, and here is our progress so far:
1. Tile sun porch floor to use it as a clay studio -check
2. Make clay extruder for accent tiles - check
3. Make accent tiles - check
4. Build shower stall - check
5. Tile shower stall - ummmm...
Well, we got close didn't we? This is how close. Note, one wall is 3/4 tiled, another is 1/2 tiled. The other two walls are still untiled. No door, no floor, no glass block window either.
Even if we tiled tomorrow night and Tuesday night, and all day Canada Day, I doubt the tiles would be all finished, and then it takes a couple days to set before you can grout it. We are not moving too fast. What you see is the result of 8 hours work. Four hours yesterday morning and 4 more today. And frankly we're pooped. Tile setters earn their money.
So If we worked really hard and ignored Betty altogether during her visit, it might be ready by the time she leaves.
Valiant effort, but still a failing grade I'm afraid.
Poor Betty will just have to have a bath.The holes you see in the corners will be shelves. And the blue tiles (that look quite black in the picture) are going to interfere with the escutcheon on the tap so we still have to figure out how to cut them elegantly around that. Our tile cutter won't cut circles, and the wet saw seems to chip them quite a bit. We think we will just grind them down a little.
I have to say though, I do like the look.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Summer Solstice
I have come to realize that I eat my way through the year.
First it is fiddle heads. This is a favourite of the other one, being from New Brunswick originally. Fiddle heads are eaten by the pound with every meal for about 10 days until they disappear from the roadside farm markets.
Fiddle heads are followed closely by asparagus and rhubarb. Creamed asparagus on puff pastry. Asparagus quiche, asparagus steamed, asparagus raw and direct from the garden patch when i'm weeding.
Rhubarb custard pie, rhubarb crisp, stewed rhubarb and ice cream.
Last week I gorged myself on foreign cherries while waiting for the cherries on my tree to ripen enough for the birds to cheat me again (for the 6th year in a row)
This weekend I indulged and bought the first strawberries on offer to make shortcake. That will keep me happy for the next 14 days until new veggies for hodgepodge come along, followed by raspberries, blackberries and peaches, tomatoes, peppers and squash.
All these things I have in my own garden, but mostly I buy to supplement what is never enough.
We spent the weekend with friends at Milford House down by Annapolis this weekend. We hiked in the rain and ate. Kayaked in the rain and ate. Read books by the fireplace and ate. Knitted by the fireplace and ate. And one clever spouse was observant that we are all fortunate to live in such a place.
Indeed. Happy Solstice.
First it is fiddle heads. This is a favourite of the other one, being from New Brunswick originally. Fiddle heads are eaten by the pound with every meal for about 10 days until they disappear from the roadside farm markets.
Fiddle heads are followed closely by asparagus and rhubarb. Creamed asparagus on puff pastry. Asparagus quiche, asparagus steamed, asparagus raw and direct from the garden patch when i'm weeding.
Rhubarb custard pie, rhubarb crisp, stewed rhubarb and ice cream.
Last week I gorged myself on foreign cherries while waiting for the cherries on my tree to ripen enough for the birds to cheat me again (for the 6th year in a row)
This weekend I indulged and bought the first strawberries on offer to make shortcake. That will keep me happy for the next 14 days until new veggies for hodgepodge come along, followed by raspberries, blackberries and peaches, tomatoes, peppers and squash.
All these things I have in my own garden, but mostly I buy to supplement what is never enough.
We spent the weekend with friends at Milford House down by Annapolis this weekend. We hiked in the rain and ate. Kayaked in the rain and ate. Read books by the fireplace and ate. Knitted by the fireplace and ate. And one clever spouse was observant that we are all fortunate to live in such a place.
Indeed. Happy Solstice.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Suffering for my Art
On Tuesday evening Patsy and Edwina crashed the NSCC graduation ceremony at the Middleton Campus. A friend had the misfortune to be Valedictorian for the COGS campus so we went to hear his speech (and freak him out a little).
In fact his girlfriend (not shown here) made the crowned crusaders a trio. Her pale lavender gown complimented our lime green and pastel pink ones perfectly. When we stood together we looked like moon mist ice cream.
We were a hit with every little girl in the room. And truth be told, people were taking our picture while we were taking his as he crossed the stage.
It was a memorable evening, but the junk jewelry have given me a painful rash on my neck and ears.
And before anyone comments, fur is a renewable resource.
Shower Power
Last weekend we added a layer to the shower system. This is the kerdi membrane that makes the layer of already water proof concrete board more waterproof. We did this Saturday and then had to let the mortar set for at least 48 hours before the tiles could go on, so Sunday instead of shower building we built a back step outside the sunporch door, because some people find a 15 inch drop to the ground a little uncomfortable. Go figure.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Harder Than It Looks
There are too few hours in the day to do all that needs doing it seems, but last evening I was feeling like I should put in an effort to stack some of that firewood we had delivered, oh only 3 months ago. Nothing like getting a chore done early I always say.
Peter had made an admirable start, and one half cord was already neatly stacked. How hard could this be I thought? The theory is simple; stack bits of wood three across and three lengthwise on the ends to make a tower that holds up the bits in the middle. My stack got up to about four feet high, and then one end collapsed. While I was rebuilding that end (and attempting to keep the middle from collapsing any more) the other end collapsed. After 45 minutes of work this is what I had to show for it.
Note the nice straight upright Peter stack behind.
I gave up and went to bed feeling pretty much like a Townie out of her element. I mean let's face it, when I was growing up if you wanted the house to be warmer you just turned up the thermostat. On Mondays at school, I would hear stories from other kids about how they had to stack wood all weekend. Now I understand.
Peter had made an admirable start, and one half cord was already neatly stacked. How hard could this be I thought? The theory is simple; stack bits of wood three across and three lengthwise on the ends to make a tower that holds up the bits in the middle. My stack got up to about four feet high, and then one end collapsed. While I was rebuilding that end (and attempting to keep the middle from collapsing any more) the other end collapsed. After 45 minutes of work this is what I had to show for it.
Note the nice straight upright Peter stack behind.I gave up and went to bed feeling pretty much like a Townie out of her element. I mean let's face it, when I was growing up if you wanted the house to be warmer you just turned up the thermostat. On Mondays at school, I would hear stories from other kids about how they had to stack wood all weekend. Now I understand.
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