Wayside flower

A Lady's Slipper I found alongside the highway on my way into the city.

I was heading into the city to make an airport run on a beautiful July afternoon. This patch of pink blooms always catches the corner of my eye, and I just have to pull over to take a closer look. The dog was very patient with me while I burrowed around in the ditch getting a good angle. It was windy so it took a few tries to get the flowers to stand still. I noticed the poison ivy after it was already too late...

I love the delicate shading on the petals - just the merest hint of yellow at the centre and the stronger pink of the lip. A few stands of flowers were nearly past already, but this one was still emerging.

Fall garden

The backyard garden always has a hard time at this season of the year. By late September it has usually been dry for a few weeks, and the sandy soil just bakes. Earlier this week even the raspberry canes were starting to wilt. This is when I realize that I really need to add organic matter to the soil. Lots of fibre to hold on to moisture and give the roots a chance of reaching deep enough to stay alive through the winter. Call me cheap, I just can't bring myself to water it enough to keep it happy!

Camping at Baker's Narrows

We went north for Labour Day Weekend, to Baker's Narrows just east of Flin Flon.  We had reserved our spot back in May, choosing one of the few reservable spots based on its number (we like the number 22).  Turns out it is one of the best spots!  Neighbours not too close and this great view just over a small rock ridge.

Brother Duck

Our campsite attracts an odd assortment of neighbours!  This flock of ducks - I think they are a nestful of juveniles - followed us home from the beach.  

They marched right up the path, along the road and into our campsite.  They looked at us inquiringly: "got anything to eat?" We found a few crackers.  Apparently we are not the first campers at this site to find a few crackers!

They hung out for a while but stayed back a bit once the dog noticed them.  

They were rather like a group of monks going on their daily alms rounds.  They have no begging bowls, just a hopeful look in their eye and a willingness to eat right off the ground.

Do not adjust your set

I was having some technical difficulties adding photos to my posts.  Not so good when they are about a picture!  Seems to be fixed now.  Sorry about the delay!

Midsummer Garden

This garden is at its peak in mid to late June, when this picture was taken. The Shasta daisies are in full bloom and the purple iris bloomed for the first time this year. At this point I started to realize just how crowded the garden is. The raspberries are taking over the right side so that nothing else has a chance to grow there. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to plant vegetables here!

Spring garden

Sorry, I got a bit behind with garden updates. I have been busy with my vegetables at the community garden. This is how the corner garden looked in late May or early June when the first few plants were starting to poke above ground. Promising, but still a little sparse.