HEATING UP!

Whew!  what a week.  Keeping cool is the main concern of the day here.  Watering restrictions and now campfire bans. It is very un- usual for the 1st part of July.  5 years ago it was wet and cold!! ( I might add that Toronto baked that summer)
But it is nice to just relax and let the heat go away while one gets a cold drink and reads or in some other way passes the time!


There are a couple of things I've been asked  to pass on from other residents of the Park for the benefit of their neighbors and friends. 
 The first one is that Charlotte, in the Woodlands area, who is a professional hairdresser and does cutting, styling, hair coloring and trim ups has asked me to put her phone number here for any who would like her to tend their hair needs in their homes.
Charlotte will make appointments by phone and can give cost for each of her services at that time. If there is something in the above description I have missed, please ask her personally.  Her number is: 1-250-217-2119.
 The second item is that Alan is heading up a Residents' garage sale for August 1st. He plans to have better advertising for this event and the tables will be $10.00. If you have good items to sell, get them ready!

Barry at the lower right corner

  A HUGE thank you goes out to the Social Committee of the Canada Day celebrations in the Gardens.
 I think this year was the biggest ( and hottest) that we've had in the 4 years we've lived here.  Of course there are many many more people, too!
 It Is always nice to meet new people who have moved in or are staying shorter term also.  Gail came up and introduced herself, she just moved into the Woodlands area. 

This is Gail, welcome!

 and Barry (in the Stable Suite bottom floor) also joined us.  There were 4 distinct groups upon arrival and I got photos of each.  At supper time we mingled a little more and by the end I was feeling like I still hadn't greeted everyone ye!  The most wonderful trifle ( Thank you, Heather!!), sugar cookies with center cream and a tiny Canadian flag as well as a wonderful assortment of salads from Greek to broccholi.  I was rather stunned to see a beautiful chocolate Canada Day cake that riveled the white one served in the WaterWheel Park in the earlier part of the day.  I had my share!

 Because of the water shortage I looked online to find the kind of water resevoir systems that the town has used around it's new trees. Fruit trees need WATER for the first few years and this is a perfect solution during water shortages!
  Dinter Nursery ( 5 km south of Duncan) carries them, though what their price is, I haven't checked, as I ordered from Lee Valley and theirs was $25.00. If you have planted new trees they need water the first couple of years or they stunt. If you are interested the bags are called Treegator . I should have mine next week or so if you'd like to check it out.  I'm at # 336 Cherry Lane and have a home overlooking Laughing Pond.
Another trick that I have finally gotten around to useing and that is 100% effective against those NASTY slugs is copper.  I bought 25 feet of both solid and netting and used both to see which was best.
For the front bushes that were getting eaten up by new slugs, the solid copper ( very thin, you can cut it with sissors) is great.  It goes around the base of the plant in a circle and the slugs don't cross.
The netted goes a LONG way because it can be cut in half and folded around the inside of pots.  Thus my basil is now safe from those nasty things. In less than a week they recovered from huge tatters in their leaves and are producing for my pesto....
The rolls of copper are at LEE VALLEY online or at their Victoria store. If you would like to see a catalogue, I have one here and you'd be free to look at it.  Online it's there, too.

So....have yourself a Merry little Summer with lots to beat the heat and friends to share the memories you're making here!