Kitsilano Community Garden

Our friend and fellow gardener - Marg Haga

Marg was one of those special people whose enthusiasm for life and good humour always had you laughing. She was a committed and highly valued garden member and I know that many people in the gardening community will miss her greatly. She had a straight forward style and tremendous kindness which will never be forgot. I remember when my personal schedule was a bit crazy and my garden was suffering… Marg... without fuss or muss offered to help me out so I wouldn't get in trouble!

She would always tease me about making 'the cut' and getting into one of the Kits Garden blog posts! I know she would be thrilled that she made star billing in a post dedicated to her memory. I can hear her laughing about it - RIP Marg.

Winter Phase I

Winter in the garden… it's time. Phase I - the dahlia's have finally given up the ghost, our first frosts although very mild have gently nudged our lovely garden into the first stages of hibernation. What a long season we have enjoyed… I think I tasted the last few raspberries but who knows - could a few more be coaxed to ripen?

Hydrangea blossom - faded beauty

Japanese Anemone seed head

Primula blossom - thinks it's spring

Exquisite Japanese Anemone seed head perspective - I will scatter & conquer

Frosty ground

Sunflower leaves - giving in to the frost

Resilient kale… beads of ice

Crazy HUGE mushrooms in east garden

Frosty grass

Dahlia blossoms under ice in the garden birdbath next door

Ice bubbles

Fall Back… Winter is Upon Us

I would say that most of the leaves have fallen from the branches - and were they not spectacular this year? I think the incredibly long summer/fall sunny and warmish weather and the lack of rain contributed to making our town so colourful and beautiful this year. The garden still continues to provide us with subtle beauty and is even giving up a few raspberries still here and there!

Someone made this charming serpentine arrangement with the little metal containers at the back table

Lovely leaves for a garden blanket

It's now time to start dreaming about next season and it's still great weather for dividing perennials and raking the last of the leaves onto garden beds to give everything a nice cosy blanket over the winter. You could still sneak in some fall rye no doubt, and oh yeah, bulbs and garlic.

This tussie-mussie was provided by the garden on October 29th!!
Shisho, dahlia, rose, cosmos, sedum, oregano

Biscuit recommends enjoying your knitwear during the upcoming winter season - and having some nice walks on the beach while the garden is resting.

Stay tuned for some upcoming winter posts from the garden.

Sigh... Last Work Party of the 2013 Season

Reality is setting in... the last Kitsilano Garden work party of the 2013 season was today... a harbinger of the winter months ahead. Don't get me wrong, love The Winter, but the gradual goodbye to the garden right now is bitter sweet. Thanks to those garden members who attended our last work party of this season - we got a lot accomplished. Thanks to Ellen for capturing the essence and spirt of our members at today's gathering of the gardeners! Enjoy the continuing bounty that our west coast garden provides... rock the kale... aren't we lucky?

Hydrangea - the beauty of 3 seasons on display

Maiden Hair Fern - sort of heart breaking to behold

Future Site of Tool Art Installation

Cosmos Sensation - up close and personal

Finally Fall

Money Plant/Silver Dollar - at least that's what my Grandma called them. Had a sweet moment rubbing off the outer papery layer to collect the seeds within - and expose the exquisite silvery seed pod.

Uh, wow what a summer we have had. With a few blips here and there, I believe it was probably the longest stretch of fantastic sunny and warm weather in a long long time here in Kits on the Wet Coast. The growing season was incredible for tomatoes, cucumbers, and anything else that was planted. However...I think this week we have turned the corner and its actually fall. A couple of days of chilly fog combined with the almost overnight turning of the leaves makes it officially fall. Yay, time for sweaters and boots and planting garlic.