Catherine's Garden

dandelion seeds

2010-05-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossoms

2010-05-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

It has been a long wet winter and hallelujah spring is here and my cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

The First Shasta Daisies of the season

2006-07-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sage in the Formal Herb Garden

2006-07-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

I use a variety of Salvia in my Formal Herb Garden: I find it is an easy to grow herb with ancient ties.

Common Sage (salvia officianalis)
Purple Sage (S. officianalis purpurascens)
Tricolour Sage (S. officianalis 'tricolor')

It is only late June and the tall spikes of purple sage are already finishing their bloom. I will soon have to pull out my trusted rusty clippers and top these bee magnets.

I placed purple sage in the middle of each quarter of the garden in order to bounce the purples of the sage off the greens of the surrounding boxwoods. The sage has quadrupled since just last year. The swath of shiney silvery purples are only hightened after a summer rain. Into the middle of the purple sage I dropped a touch of tricolor sage, adding that little extra zest.

The Path of Lavender

2006-07-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Parsley and Lavendar

2006-07-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Formal Herb Garden - Summer 2006

2006-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

2006-04-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Aunt Rubies Hydrangea

2006-04-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Spring Daffodils

2006-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Daisies in Winter

2005-12-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

2005-10-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

A sneak peek of a Union Bay garden.

2005-09-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Sages, one of my favourites! I have an abundance of sages

Formal Herb Garden - Summer 2005

2005-09-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's not perfect but the aroma, the intoxicating smells wafting through the air as I walk down the path! THat's perfect!

2005-09-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Formal Herb Garden in just 3 short months.

Update on the Formal Herb Garden coming soon!

2005-08-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

4 gardens!

2005-08-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling to four corners of BC. I am lucky to have family and friends spread all over this great province.

Garden #1 Hornby Island:
My journey started on Hornby Island. The garden was sweet and natural but the gate...Now that was to die for!! I've already put in a request to my husband!

Garden #2 OKeefe Ranch:
The second garden on my journey, O'Keefe Ranch, is where my husband and I "tied the knot" so to speak 15 years ago. Not much has changed. ( I mean the ranch not our marriage!!?!?!) The kitchen garden was sweet and simple, loved it!. The over 100 weather was a tad hot!

Garden #3 Vernon:
The third garden is my mother-in-laws. Lovely lovely lovely. It is mostly pots, beautifully displayed, she loves pinks and purples!! And look... in the morning you can jump in the lake, go for a waterski, tube, whatever...have a quick breakfast, laze around and tend to the flowers in the hot afternoon, siesta, crack open some "brew" before dinner, slip back out for a ski before the burgers are BBQ'd to perfection, then cozy up to a handsome someone, uncork that merlot...and enjoy the fading sun.

It just doesn't get much better than that!... we cried when we left.

Garden #4 Carol's garden:
The fourth garden belongs to my dear friend Carol who has recently moved to White Lake. For those of you who have no idea where White Lake is...don't despair, it is a really well kept secret...I think the locals do this on purpose. It is hidden in a stunning valley just off the highway between Salmon Arm and Kamloops. How they found this piece of paradise I don't know, but it is paradise. Her garden is overflowing which isn't surprising. You see I have this theory that a persons garden is a reflection of their personality. Carol has always had the biggest heart and been the best of friends. Her garden overflows as her heart does! I did have to share Carol's attention with her new miniature horse (not a pony I fast learned) I had a wonderful visit as only two old friends can have and returned with bags of carrots, beets, apples and turnips. That is my kind of garden!

2005-08-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is near, dill is ready!

2005-08-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Carol's garden, turnips, peas and then sunflowers(over 10 ft tall).

The house on the water!..Vernon

2005-08-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

This picture says alot, somewhat controlled yet still natural too. It's a beautiful mix of both.

2005-08-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

The in-laws "paradise" !

2005-08-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

The OKeefe Ranch kitchen garden.

2005-08-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is the church I was married in 15 years ago.

2005-08-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

O'Keefe Ranch

2005-08-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Cooling off!

The romantic gate on Hornby Island

2005-08-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

A romantic fence

To my herbalist Sister

2005-08-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

My sister is a lover of herbs, gifts are always in the form of scented homemade soap, lip balms, salves, and shampoos. At any family function she can quickly pull out a supply of aromatic teas to alleviate any ailment one of us are bellyaching about.
This section is for you Judy... I love the herbs in my garden and the photos are for you.

2005-08-23T22:33:00.000-07:00

Aaah ! Borage! Every gardener has a favourtie. A plant that cannot do wrong. In my garden it is the blue star shaped Borage! I make icecubes and put the beautiful flowers in the centre.

2005-08-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Aren't these just the sweetest feverfew you have ever seen. Kind of reminds one of those innocent childhood days.

2005-08-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Feverfew and Thyme..now these two I have lots of!

2005-08-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

Yarrow, the many uses I do not know...I'll ask my sister Judy she's a herbalist.

2005-08-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Geranium buds

2005-08-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

Soft cuddly Lamb's Ear with a friend

2005-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is my all time favourite pic!

2005-08-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Fun in the Sun

2005-08-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

Flowers come in all shapes and forms.

2005-08-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hollyhock - so deep purple it looks black in some light.

2005-08-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

I love sunflowers! My boys do too!

2005-08-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tricolor Sage is such a beauty of a plant! Easy to grow, nice shape. It's one of my fav's!

2005-08-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Our boat trip to Tent Island, just off Thetis Island.

2005-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

The classy flowers in my garden.

2005-08-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

Indecision!!!

2005-08-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

The bees love my oregano.

2005-08-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Our juicy harvest

2005-08-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

An 11 year olds view of the world.

2005-08-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

our hike at Elk Falls campsite.

2005-07-15T16:34:00.001-07:00

Lupine

2005-07-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hollyhock

2005-07-15T16:33:00.003-07:00

Hydrangea

2005-07-15T16:33:00.002-07:00

Calla Lily

2005-07-15T16:33:00.001-07:00

Hydrangea

2005-07-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

My friend Sandy out photographing

2005-07-15T16:32:00.002-07:00

Aunt Rubies Mallopw

2005-07-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

IT's all about the attitude

2005-07-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lentin Rose

2005-07-15T16:25:00.001-07:00

Polinating Bee in alstromeria

2005-07-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

A beautiful rainy day.

2005-07-15T15:56:00.001-07:00

B & W Daisies

2005-07-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

B & W Feverfew

Aunt Rubie's Garden

2005-07-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

My Aunt Rubie lives where an old road meets the ocean. For as long as I can remember she has lived there. And for as long as I can remember she has loved flowers. She is a florist by trade. A designer and lover of flowers. If you live anywhere in the near vicinity of Nanaimo B.C. you have probably at one time had the pleasure of enjoying her creations.

Now retired, I get to enjoy the hours she spends in her garden. She mixes cottage style garden with traditional and always the sea is not far away.

My Visit

2005-07-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've been to visit my Mom and Dad in Ladysmith.
My Dad has built a lighthouse on the shore of the ocean.
It's quite unique and an impressive setting.

Mom's creativity

2005-07-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Take a look what my Mom has done to her steps! Now isn't that sweet!

She has been training this ivy for a couple of years.

Blueberry season?

2005-06-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Blueberries have never been this early! Was it the early spring? Then, why aren't all 7 blueberry bushes bearing plump deep purple fruits? Yes, only one of my bushes are producing edible fruits.

I'm not complaining!

Here's my clarity!

2005-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've been digging and measuring all morning.

Now comes the dreaming stage... scented lavendar, sweet sage, creeping thyme...oh yah it's endless!

Clarity! Is it a form of madness?

2005-06-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have clarity! Straight lines, traditional herbs, 4 entrances (or exits depending how you view the world) my front yard is transforming before my very eyes.

rototiller mania!

2005-06-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

My yard has changed forever! As I sit here, hoping my two boys will get themselves ready for bed (not likely)! I can hear the roar of the rototiller out front. My husband is tearing up the yard. I have plans...big plans!

My luscious strawberries