Annual Pot Luck Work Party! Is that #32?!

I had a feeling that we would be lucky with the weather for our annual pot luck work party - and I was right! What an absolutely perfect day it turned out to be weather-wise plus one of our local Starbucks kindly donated java to start the morning off right.

Handsome group eh? apple watch shot

 'Nothin better than working in the garden and then enjoying a delicious repast in the garden! The food is always wonderful every year at the potluck, and today was no exception. Some amazing home made goodies - some using ingredients fresh from our gardens - yum.

I may have to fact check this - but I believe the garden founders started the tradition of having the Pot Luck at the July work party 30-odd years ago as typically the weather is always good in July - smart!! 

Sunlight x-ray of Pea Pod

another chair assembled - nice

After working hard to eradicate the infamous GOUT WEED - breaking bread together in the garden is such a lovely and organic way to get to know each other.

Java break!

Lovely stones revealed at our east entrance

I fulfilled my childhood dream of being an archaeologist - the reveal! 

Vintage look of our handsome group

Who me?

Ready for garden yoga

The kindness of strangers and Choices

A few images from last weekend's annual Choices BBQ fundraiser. Thanks to our gardeners who gave a chunk of their Saturday to come out to support the garden. 

Can't really beat good company and adding some cash to our garden coffers! We had a decent number of shoppers buying the veggie and hot dogs + lavender wands encouraged by our garden crew. We had a good laugh and it's always interesting to put the 'sales' hat on and get a slice of humanity :) - we ran into some memorable characters!!

The manager and staff at Choices are absolutely charming and it's wonderful they want to support our garden for the 3rd year!

It's raining... it's pouring...

Yowsa, that was a downpour today for June's work party. It was absolutely the Umbrellas of Cherbourg out there today. Kudos to the garden members who braved the rain and came out to do what we all love best to do - garden in the garden! 

Pansy and rain drops

Actually  - it was the perfect conditions for weeding and transplanting moss so it was fun to edit our central pathway and propagate irish moss, bachelors button and baby tears to different spots in the garden - the rain will ensure a happy transition.

I have to remark that we have been incredibly lucky over the years with weather for our work parties and when it has rained, it normally starts just after we have finished our work party - but not today!! It was a steady downpour from the start and didn't let up all day. Sort of magical however as some of our community got to see our lovely little green hummingbird who adores the rain and was frolicking around the garden today. Normally he (or she?) plays in the spray of the hose when you are watering. We also had a bit of drama in that a poor little raccoon who was not well at all was collapsed by the side of the shed and eventually retreated into the shed to avoid the fracas of the work party. The SPCA came eventually just after the work party ended so we are all hoping that the poor little sausage is getting the help it needs to recover.

Real men don't need umbrellas :)

Despite the rain, lots of improvements to our garden were accomplished including the complicated task of putting together one of the new chairs. Hope you enjoy the shots from today's soggy work party :)

Gorgeous clematis interior

SPCA rescuing the poor little raccoon - sending you good energy little one!

Everything's coming up pinks, purples and greens

It's the time of year where everything is coming up pinks, purples and greens... peonies of the gorgeous variety that some thoughtful member of the garden planted years ago along the west side - layer upon layer of beautiful pink petals ... and the deeper crimson of the more common variety of peony that has been propagated throughout the garden. And of course the ubiquitous and always beautiful Lady's Mantle of the chartreuse green that is a perfect foil for the peony, roses and pink & purpled foxgloves that are abundant in this year's visual feast. And don't forget to enjoy the purple alliums that are almost finished blooming - but will continue to be interesting as they form their gorgeous seed heads. Oh yah, and the lavender scabiosa  and purple clematis climbing up the Hobbit Tree - so pretty. It's full on summer in May!

A record breaking (I think) attendance at Wednesday night's work party - looking around it seemed like a swarm of busy bees had descended on our garden. Great work attending to those common areas that needed some love after the astounding weather we have had that has made everything grow rapidly including our friend the goutweed :).

Beside the normal beautification we received some positive assurances from the architects working on the development of the residences to the east of the garden. From the sounds of it I think all in all everything will come up roses for our Kits Garden - and nice to know that the zoning won't permit a large apartment like building - yay!

Yes, this allium is bigger than my head

Spring - first come crocus & galanthus, then daffs, tulips and bluebells!

Wonderful weather for our April work party - quite a few of our members turned out to spruce up the common areas of our beautiful Kitsilano community garden. An exciting season ahead as the city arborist removed the large tree which is going to let in a lot more light to those of us on the west side of the garden.  A few images from the day.