Fence and Gate

Our fence and gate construction project is finally complete!

Our critics say it's 'overkill' because of the method of construction, but it is solid. Each section has a 3/8" plywood core, with 3/4" boards mounted vertically on the front (glued and screwed), and boards mounted horizontally on the back (glued and screwed). This gives us panels almost 2" thick that, when mounted with strong hinges, produces a gate that will definitely not sag. Top rails of 2X4 material, grooved on the underside to accept the panels, complete the construction.  Last summer I accidentally backed the utility trailer into the left side gate and had to pull down the gate for extensive repairs. Our son Kevin says if I back the trailer into this gate, I'll have to do extensive repairs to the trailer.


Of course, the carport gate would not be complete without decoration. We found some tulip clipart on the internet and chose this one to enlarge and paint, adding a nice decorative touch and recognizing the Dutch connection.


As they say, "You're not much, if you're not Dutch!"  (Just kidding, of course.)

Rock Garden

The rock garden is beginning to develop nicely in its second year.  Check out these pics ...

The rock garden was built up with gravel and topsoil, using recycled deck boards as a retaining wall.  To prevent the retaining wall from falling away from the garden, wire cables were strung from eyebolts at two locations and anchored at the back of the garden under the gravel during construction. 

The background lattice work design was copied from a feature we saw in a gardening magazine, and we think it works great here.  It's covered with canary bird vine and has chalon pansies in pots hanging on plastic clips.

Miss Froggy in the rock garden proudly presents some Ultima Morpho pansies.  The smooching Dutch couple was a gift some years ago from my folks.  And the garden clock on the lattice was given to us by friends this spring.

We just love this dwarf iris in the rock garden.  The blooms don't last long, but they're so perfectly formed and a delight to see.

This yellow lamium adds an interesting color to the rock garden, and its low-lying habit makes a great ground cover.

These are Pussytoes, so called because the blooms resemble the toes of a kitty.

This plant, Sempervivum - commonly referred to as 'hens and chicks', is the subject of some interesting folklore in Europe. The blooming plants are said to bring homeowners good luck - so we're very pleased we have one. And it seemed to work, too! We were very blessed this summer with wonderful weather and a nice garden.

Planting sempervivum on the tiled rooftops was believed to prevent lightening strikes - presumably based on the idea that the plants would tend to dissapate the effect by absorbing the surge of electricity. 

The healing power of sempervivum's sap seems to be similar to that attributed to aloe vera - speedier healing of cuts and scrapes.

The medieval alchemist, Albertus Magnus, determined that sempervivum mixed with arsenic and alum combined in the gall bladder of a steer would produce a coating for the hands that would then allow glowing hot metal to be picked up without getting burned. As they say, "Don't try this at home!"

Summer Activities

During warm summer days people want to be near the water, and birds want to be at the bird bath. Here are some Pine Siskins enjoying the garden and the water.

"OK, you test the water first. I think it might be too cold."

And just like with people in hot weather, whether on the beach or on the highway, tempers can flare. OK, children, just settle down and enjoy the water.

Return of the Pine Siskins

You know August has arrived when the Pine Siskins return to the vertical feeder. And they're quite tame, too. Here I'm approaching the feeder when there were about 10 of them picking out the nyger seed, and this one just decided to stay. He's saying, 'Excuse me, but I'm trying to have lunch here.

2009 Flowers

This year's flowers were awesome!

We had just the right combination of sunshine and rain, it seems.  So we have to show off with these pics.

Marigold Disco 'Granada'

Ornamental cabbage 'Osaka Red' with Marigold 'Lulu'

Pink annual poppy with Flanders poppies in background.

Frilly pink poppy.

Pansy 'Ultima Morpho' named after the rare morpho butterfly with similar colors.

Globe flower Trollius chinensis with the marigold bed in the background.

Dominion Seed House introduced this variety of Sweet Pea this year for hanging baskets.  It's called 'Sugar and Spice'.  We love it, and the fragrance is wonderful!

Instant Grassification

We wish we could take credit for coming up with the title of this blog post, but it's borrowed from the Yukon sod farm - the Sourdough Sodbusters. It's in their brochure and on their web site.

Susan came up with the idea that we should lay sod in the back yard between the garden and the house as a transition that would soften all the hardscaping elements, such as the rocks and the patio stones. So we went out to the sod farm yesterday and picked up 500 sq ft of sod.

Of course, we had prepared the ground in advance - but we finished laying the sod by 6:00 pm. It took about two and a half hours. And the results are amazing! Just what Susan had in mind.

Here are some pics ...

Relocating 'Buddy'

Relocating 'Buddy' the squirrel has become a much more complicated affair than we expected. Last week we went to the Conservation office and picked up a live trap.


To outwit the squirrel, I used 'crazy glue' to fasten a few peanuts to a piece of cardboard which was then wired in to the bottom of the cage. This way, I reasoned, the squirrel would have to work at pulling the peanut, thereby putting more pressure on the pad that trips the door shut behind him. The trap was then wired to the fence, along Buddy's normal route to the bird feeder.

The next time we checked the trap the peanuts were gone, the door was closed, and no squirrel in sight. As you might expect, there was considerable ridicule with comments like 'Buddy' was smarter than me - evidently not far off the mark in this case.

Later in the day, after loading up the trap again with more peanuts, I actually watched 'Buddy' casually enter the cage and sit smack on the trip pad eating his peanut. It turned out the linkage was so loose that no amount of pressure on the trip pad would close the door - hence Buddy's ability to empty the trap and go. But how the door was sprung is still a mystery.

Perseverance would be the key, I thought. So I was outside at 6:00 am the next morning rigging up a string to the trip mechanism so I could snap the door shut manually. Susan came out at 7:30 to check on the action. Nothing.

Then, about 10 minutes later he appeared. He climbed all over the cage, trying to get at the peanuts. Eventually he found the front and in he went. Snap! The door closed behind him as I pulled the string. Off we went in the truck for a ride across the Yukon River to the Long Lake Road where he was released. He ran into the nearest tree and chattered loudly at me in righteous indignation.

On my return home another squirrel was in the tall spruce tree at the edge of the lot, making a fuss. I set up the trap again and, within a couple of minutes, had another squirrel. Off we went again to the Long Lake Road.

Still there was squirrel activity near the yard, so I set things up once more. This time the squirrel went directly into the cage for the peanuts - so we were convinced this was 'Buddy'. Another trip to the Long Lake Road - gasoline consumption was starting to become an issue.

The following morning we returned the trap to the Conservation office.

Later in the afternoon, Susan and I were putting together a planter in the yard when we heard some noise coming from the shed. Rooting around amongst the plant pots and gardening equipment was 'Buddy'! We suddenly realized that three perfectly innocent squirrels had been forced into exile up the Long Lake Road. Back to the Conservation Office the next day to pick up the trap again.

I set up the trap, this time tightening up the linkage with a bit of tape so the trip flap would actually snap the door closed with the slightest of pressure. I went to coffee with the RCMP Vets and to visit a friend in Porter Creek. Then Susan called on my cell phone telling me a squirrel was in the trap. I came home, and off we went again up the Long Lake Road - rapidly increasing the area's squirrel population. But we were quite convinced by now that we finally had 'Buddy' relocated.

Just to be sure, I set up the trap again. Within about 15 minutes, as I was getting something out of the shed, here was another squirrel on the fence not 10 feet from me. I asked him if he was the real 'Buddy', but he wouldn't say. So, I invited him to carry on down the fence and help himself to the free peanuts in the cage. Which he did. And now we had squirrel #5.

It's been quiet since, even though the trap is set again. Who knows, perhaps 'Buddy' has been asleep in the shed the whole time.