Public Enenmy #3 - Random Weeds

My first thought is that these seedlings were Poison Ivy - however upon further investigation it seems likely that this is a Virginia Creeper seedling. It can also cause dermatitis in some people - but it is less evil that poison ivy. The other random weed is of course the dreaded maple seedlings - which I'm still battling at this time.

Here is a fun site called "Is it Poison Ivy?"

My last thought for the day is that its been over 2 weeks since there as been any sunspots - so much for my taking northern lights pictures. For those who are keen - the best guesses by the forcasters for the next month and a half are July 12-13th, and August 8th... otherwise... all is expected to be quiet....

The Killer Bunny about to Bolt

Public Enemy #2 - The Dreaded Killer Bunny

Okay - this fellow, unlike my earwig friends - is hard to hold a grudge against. He is probably more destructive and I don't like the places I've caught him hanging out (although he hasn't seemed to have eaten any daylilies yet) - however... so cute is he - that he melts any anger I bear towards him. He's actually pretty small - so I'm guessing he was born this spring. Hopefully, he keeps my plants out of his stomach or I'll have to let the dog chase him around a bit so he finds some other garden to hang out in.

Fly Boys Discuss Next Mission

Okay - I really have no beef with the flies - at least none known. Just thought they'd fit in well with the earwigs.

Earwig Eats the Daisy

See - I'm not kidding and we won't even discuss how many I found in the center of some roses....

Pests #1 - The Earwig

I think a shocking amount of the insect problem's in my garden can be blamed on the earwig - certainly the roses and the daisies have been under seige. All my life I've defended the lowly earwig to my campers. I tell them not to kill them because they are only ugly - not harmful and to save their murderous urges for things that bite - like mosquitos. Little did I know.... Still at camp really - aside from grossing out even "Nature Girl Jennith" once and a while (nothing like putting on a "clean" t-shirt" only to have 5 or 6 wriggly earwig crawl out... or putting your hand into an innocent looking oven mitt only to feel squiggling at your finger tips) - they aren't known to bite people or as the urban legend insists crawl into peoples ears. I'll post a picture of one munching on one of my daisies shortly.

The Kindergarten's Were Playing with my Geraniums

Well - maybe not quite - but who would of thunk that I'd find splatter paint geraniums!!

Promises

Gemini (May 21 — June 21)
Do not be bullied by someone's controlling ways. Psychologically, emotionally and even materially, you stand to benefit if you follow your heart's path. A tricky time of your life is nearing completion. Deep satisfaction approaches.

The Toronto Star

Here's hoping thats true.

Today I woke up dreaming that some horrid virus had struck leaving us cut off in the north and sort of how that played out. I woke up overly warm and quickly moved to close my window - realizing too late that I'd put my glasses in the path of the window, rather than on the ledge - so all in all a sketchy start to the day. However, the gentleman at Walmart fixed my glasses and I was able to pick up contacts. I found an inexpensive and perfect watering head for our hose - so long as it stands up to use, then I'll be gald not to have forked out for the more expensive one - as I like the features on this one better.

My attempt to reduce my earwig population by enticing them to drink themselves to death has not resulted in any changes in the earwig population. It has taken out a very small number of slugs. If anyone has some really gross beer they wish to donate to my garden, I think I'll try again.

The mystery flowers seem to have lilac coloured centres - meaning that they aren't dwarf brown eyed susan's as I'd expected (I did plant some of those last year.). I'm still waiting to see what they are.

In bloom today: Catamint, Echinacea (white and purple), pansies, daisies, mimulus, columbine, hosta, showy evening primrose, yellow daylily, orange daylily, fern leaved bleeding heart, jacob's ladder, bricknell's geranium (purple, blue, and white), heuchara (raspberry ice and purple), tomato, snapdragons, begonias (fiberous), Geraniums, yarrow, daisy fleabane, mullein, thyme, lupine, lamina, roses, asian lily, guara, lithodora, rock rose, lipstick strawberries, bunchberry, astilbe, ajuga, osteoperinum, salvia, new ginea impatiens, and I'm sure a few more that I can't think of off the top of my head.... I almost am tempted to go work on the porch outside - it might be good for my brain.

New Mystery Plant

Not sure what this is going to be... but its nearly open, so I'll let you know when I do.

Climbing Jacob's Ladder

This is one of the best new plants that I've learned about this year - and now its flowering. The leaves are pretty cool and it has thrived in terms of growth - but the flowers leave me even more impressed.

Sprung from seeds

Everything on the right hand side of the photo (well most of it) was grown from seed. Except the mint and echinacea (returnees from last year), rose bush (long time resident) and bushes in the background that you can't see. On the left hand side is a box of annual that I planted this year and behind are 2 zebra Mallows and a Brown-Eyed Susan that I planted this year. I'm curious as to what exactly is growing fom the wildflower seeds that I sowed. One is near flowering... I'll keep you posted.

Echinacacaea Alone

Echinacaea Entering

3 more echinacaea flowers nearly in bloom.

Roses in Reverse

There is a new single out by David Usher - "Kill the Lights" available on itunes - and there is my unsubtle David Usher plug. Its a pretty decent song :D. Today was a nice family day - and while I didn't get a sunburn, nearly every muscle in my body hurts.

Forestry Practice

I went to battle with the closing canopy in our back yard, hopefully buying our cherry tree a few more years now that it is only shaded on 2 sides rather than 3. I cut down the tree growing through the fence that the city told me to get rid of. It was this particular tree that was shading the cherry tree from the side and the top. Hopefully, the tree will look a bit healthier now that it should get a lot more light. Its made a small gap in the canopy in that spot, but there are 3 small maples on the other side of the fence that will fill it in shortly, and then the cherry tree will be in trouble again. I also trimmed a few small limbs off the lower part of a few of the silver maples, which should give the center perenial bed a touch more light in the morning. I put up some hangers on the maple that had been growing through the fence and hung a geranium basket from it. Its actually worked out not badly. I'm a touch worried that I was outside too long and may have managed to get a nasty sunburn. So far I'm okay, but I was out for quite a few hours. Granted that our backyard is still fairly shady, but I was in the sunny part a fair bit. I'd better get back out - with my big floppy hat and sundscreen and get the flowers watered. I skipped out on the gym, but I think 5 hours of cutting, sawing, climbing, hauling, baling, sweeping and pruning should make up for it - especially if I do a couple of squats and sit ups. I'll come back in a bit with a few more pictures of everything all tidied up.

Water Supply Woes Whereever I Wander

It seems, with the notable exception of Fredericton, NB's grade A+ water, I can't seem to move to a location where there isn't a problem with the water supply. I happened to be living in Thunder Bay (pop. 125,000) when E. Coli levels in an aging resevoir on the west side of town (owing in part to contamination from a large goose population) resulted in about 50 % of residents being on a boil water order for over 6 months. Then I moved to Kashechewan, infamous for its ongoing drinking water issues (due to inadequate maintenace of sewage pond outflows, the water treatment plant and overall flaws in the design of the systems given the tidal nature of the Albany River, the presence of dam building beavers, and the actual population living in the town of Kashechewan (pop. 1500-2000) being double the capacity of the water treatment plant). Now I am moving to Baker Lake, and it appears that there are several concerns regarding the safety of the water supply. I understand from other articles that recent improvements have been made to prevent contamination to the lake from the dump during the spring flood. Today, I stumbled across an article on the CBC website citing concerns by the Hamlet's Mayor regarding historic fuel spills on the east part of the town. Although, there has not been contamination of the drinking water supply yet by the slowly moving plume of hydrocarbons, future problems are possible. It appears that these spills, like those in Attiwapiskat occurred when a federal agency was in charge of delivering fuel to the community. Sigh - that water resource engineering degree might come in handy afterall. I'm thinking that it might be fun to work a bit of groundwater hydraulics into one of the senior courses - as much as I really don't like the idea of my future water supply being at risk, I think it would be cool to turn it into a real-life, relevant teaching opportunity. So, I guess I'll add that to my list of lessons to design in my spare time.

The movers have come and gone and now there is just over a month before I leave. (YIKES!!!) The move went pretty smoothly - the guys were professional and efficient and the weather was perfect - sunny, calm and cool - so we carried out the process on the driveway which is way nicer than it would have been had there been stairs, doors, and furniture to work around. I finally found insulated rubber boots in my size at Canadian Tire - I suspect that there isn't much demand for serious warm wear for women, since everyone seems to have way better selection in mens gear - and I had to get my boots in boys sizes - but I think that is the last major thing I needed. I will need good winter boots, but no one carries them in June for some reason. Hopefully as I get closer to the fall they will start coming in... Its definately been an interesting experience moving up north - and I haven't even left yet. *mental musical interlude* Due North... thats the way I'm headed..... Due-ooh North

Mississauga Fireworks

A few more firework pictures...

The City Centre on Fire (works)

I think I missed out on a good chunk of the display as it was on the far side of the building, but it made for some interesting pictures. Fredericton still has some of the best Canada Day fireworks going, but it was better than missing out completely.

Canada Day Thoughts

I inadvertantly dressed in red and white this morning. I wore my red rad pants - more to combat mosquitos on the hike than because I thought about it and a white t-shirt - again to discourage mosquitos rather than as an act of patriotism. Turns out - I could have worn shorts, the bugs really weren't that bad, but I wasn't overheated either.

I can't believe it is already July - I don't remember June happening - it just seemed to fly by. So here it is - only a month and a bit before I leave - my food is done - save buying a few thing to bring with me, my stuff is 97% ready for the movers this week which leaves me with 3 things to do - finish my thesis, pack for the plant and then tidy my room so it can used by everyone else next year. Thats a lot of ground to cover - which makes today's hike a bit of a treat and my mom is making me go see a movie with the family and watch fireworks... which means that I off to tackle the first because until it is squared away I really can't do anything fun and its summer and I really wouldn't mind getting at least a few nights of camping in and maybe a trip up to Ottawa/Kingston to see all the folk there.

So... today may be mostly holiday, but I'm hoping if I really crack the whip for the next week or so, I might have some time before the end to squeeze a bit of holiday in before I head up north. So... cross your fingers for me.

JP

Saint John's Wort

The coolest thing about these plants is the pin-sized holes in their leaves that you can see when you hold them up to the light. Another plant I'd love in my garden.

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

Its nice having a camera that blurs the background again.

The only butterfly I caught

Well, the swallowtails, admirals, monarchs and other large butterflies were not cooperating, but this little guy did sit still look enough to get photographed.

Butter and Eggs Please

Wildflowers are so often underestimated - few of the fancy plants match this one for sunniness.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

Daisies on the edge of the escarpment at Mount Nemo. Today was the last day on my pass, so I got up early and took a short hike on the Bruce Trail. I won't be renewing my pass this year because I'm moving so far away, but I guess having the pass run out now will push me to hike in some new places.