A ride through Fairfield

Fairfield is a nice upscale residential neighbourhood with leafy streets and older, heritage type houses.  Riding through there the other day, I found a few things of particular interest.  

 This is the Chinese cemetery  In 1903 the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association purchased 3.5 acres of land at Harling Point and established the Chinese Cemetery.  The cemetery lies beside the rocky shore of Harling Point, looking out towards the Olympic Mountains. Simple markers and a ceremonial altar are found among wildflowers in a setting selected according to the ancient concept of feng shui.

On the way back as I was cycling along Hollywood Crescent, our old stomping grounds from 50yrs ago, I noticed this cute little installation along the way.

Another of these quirky little roadside attractions one finds in Victoria. 

This is so detailed, it must have been a labour of love

Just as I got on my bike and continued on my way, I heard that characteristic chirping of eagles and, sure enough, when I looked up, there was a pair of them right over the road. 

 

 

Sky views, sea views and halloween

 From my friend's place on the 11th floor, the views are really something any time of day but, on this occasion, there was an exceptional sunset.

 

Charlotte organized a pumpkin carving evening at Halloween with some of their neighbours. 

Some good results.

A turbulent day on the water today with winds from the southeast, not the usual prevailing southwest winds.

End of the season and misc

 It looks like the end of the season for the outside garden

The once thriving basil plot is done for the year having provided me with a bounty of pesto stashed away in my freezer

The indoor pepper plantation is done.  Period. 

In addition to an infestation of what I think are fungal flies whose larvae infiltrates the soil, the plants were beset by these spider mites that have pretty much wiped out the crop despite repeated applications of soap and neem oil.

Pretty pathetic, eh?

 

 That said, I did get a pretty good harvest to put in the freezer until I can start afresh.

Poblanos from the garden

  Carolyn's unique heirloom tomatoes

 

 

 A walk on the breakwater

 

Life of a sunflower

I took a photo of this plant every few days.  Here's the timeline. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally....

The end

Garden Porn

 Summer is officially here and with it, more unsettling weather phenomena.  We recently experienced something called a "heat dome" here in this part of the world.  You may have heard about it.  The record high temperatures in BC gained notoriety globally.  The small town of Lytton, BC had a record Canadian high of just over 47C and shortly after burned to the ground.  At the moment there are some 300 fires burning in BC.  But, on a happier note, the warm weather has brought on a growth spurt in the gardens, indoor and out.  

This year's basil crop and one of the humongous marigolds

Summer squash - zucchini and patty pan

The giant mysterious sunflower plant.  I didn't plant this monster, it just appeared in my garden mysteriously.  Turns out that one of my neighbouring gardeners was standing by my my plot munching sunflower seeds talking to another gardener and, in the course of the conversation dropped seeds into my plot.  Funny thing is, the sunflowers she planted in her plot, didn't sprout. 

Every year the artichoke produces more.  I'm having a hard time keeping up and fear I'm going to overdose on garlic butter

These are different marigolds than the ones I've grown before; smaller flowers but huge plants.  Marigolds and the volunteer nasturtiums are going to take over.

Indoors, the peppers are popping.

My bedroom is turning into a pepper jungle.

A couple of particularly beautiful roses at the Governor General's Residence.

And another turbulent day on the water.  

 

That's what's happening here.