CLARIFICATION ON VOTING AND REGISTRATION TO VOTE

I heard a rumor a couple of weeks ago that I thought I'd verify before election day. 

   I thought I heard that the  present government had changed the lines of voting to make fewer people able to vote. I may have misunderstood, but to make sure I called Elections Canada to see if I was still on the list at my present address, which I was at when the last Federal Election took place.
Since nothing has changed since then, I am on the list. If you have moved ( as has always been the rule), then you need to record your changes with Elections Canada.
If you have any doubt, it can be resolved in minutes by calling.
 I contacted Elections Canada and easily verified that I am  on the Elections Canada list for this area. 

Just call:



1-800-463-6868


On October 19, be sure to vote! 





On1-800-463-6868 

.

SUMMER OVER....NOW FOR FALL

The photos above I took last night as Jacquie took a child down to feed the ducks, which I could see was enjoyed immensely! So nice to see folks enjoying the beauty and peace around here with friends and relatives.


Two things to share right off.  The first is for those of us who love fruit and hate fruit flies.  I got this from a friend.

  1. Small container.
  2. Fill 1/4 full of apple cider vinegar
  3. Cover with plastic wrap tightly
  4.  Punch small holes all over the top, toothpick size
  5.  Set out near fruit that have these little monsters flying        and propagating near them.

The fermenting smell that so attracts them gets them to crawl through the small holes and drown in the vinegar.

I tried it and it works pretty well. Better than nothing!

Another tip for those suffering from eczema at this time of year:

   1.  Go to the Pharmacy and get Glycerine with nothing added. It should be fairly cheap.

   2.  Spread just a little over the affected area and rub in. Within days it helps and fills in the weeping skin nicely.

Just a notice that I also use it on the bottom of my feet, which used to crack and peel and catch on carpet, and it smooths the broken skin and helps keep it from drying out.  I put on light cotton socks when it is needed overnight.

Pamela Kimmerly showed me a great way to get rid of slugs on the lawn and shrubs:  Just use a doggie bag as you usually do, scoop them up and tie them off!  ALL GONE!

OK, so now to the happenings in the Park!

First off I apologize for being so very tardy with this Blog.  For one thing I've been away a lot this summer visiting grandkids and camping with friends and family on the Island.  It's been the summer that we thought we'd have when we first came....finally!
 I'm honing up on watercolor skills and painting again, for which I am thankful, as gardening takes a lot of time and most of mine is now done!  Of course upkeep will take some time, but major renos to the VG house and yard are mostly done.  WHEW.  Took a few years!
 Looking around the Park it is easy to see we are growing by leaps and bounds!  it is so great to see new people and their pets loving it here.  I've met at least 3 more people and they will fit in just wonderfully with the whole group!

The beauty of Black Locust

Hopeing this corner remains intact during the process of development of Phase #3

This is Carlo and Sharon's new house!

The beauty of Karen and John's home! lots of work there!

ponds down! clearing goes apace..

This is just a little bit of what they've cleared!

 Fran and Tony are finally settling amongst us.  It took a little longer, as the unit they ordered didn't come as ordered, so they had to wait a little longer.  But it's here now and Fran is very happy with the result!  She'll be in before Christmas!!!!

 I was looking at the various yards and there are some very pretty ones happening and on the way.  New roses are especially welcome in my books!!
We've lost Gabrielle and Alan Lanoue and dog Patches.  We were sorry to see them go, but where they are is probably where they need to be right now!  Plans change and people do, too. Jane Whyte also left this month to Ontario to be nearer her grandkids...I sure get that one!  Chris Marsh is NOT leaving anytime soon!  Due to his elderly Mom in Victoria, he'll put off his plans for Haida Gwaii till later. He just took me up to speed this morning!
Saying "goodbye" is always hard!  Marjean Hook and Charlie are settling well in Anacortes and would love to hear from friends at the Park.
  
Well, that's about it for now.  This rain has been such a blessing, though the sudden drop in temperature was a shock.  I was even cold and that's weird, considering we lived in the North for so long!  But after 4 years I guess we've acclimatized .... It's a good time to move perennials right now, though. Be sure to water deeply if you do move something, because the ground 6 inches down is still bone dry!
Cheers!!

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!



  

SPITTLEBUGS AND GARDENS

I went up to the Communal Garden and took some photos for those interested in what's happening, but who don't have time to go up!
Brian and Gerry were putting in the last bed that will be put in this year.  It was quite warm, though cloudy, which is nice. 

A nice deer fence, gates that can close and 5 raised beds are now planted.  I understand Jane planted many things, but I'm sure others helped somewhere and I just don't know who to say Kudos to!





It couldn't look nicer, either!

Brian brought me a plant with spit like stuff on it and asked what it was.  I wasn't sure if it was a good bad or indifferent species of bug, so I googled it and found it to be a spittle bug.  They are generally not a problem, but if they get going they can be, so I went online to find some solutions people could refer to.

 The best website I found was:

   http://backyardfoodgrowing.com/yuk-i-have-spit-on-my-plants 

This site gives a good spray you can make yourself if there is just too much spit around!

Soon we'll be saying goodbye to Marjean and Charlie ( the dog). I am quite sad to say goodbye again to someone who has proved a good friend, but hopefully when we go over to the States we'll see her settled there.

GARDEN SHAPE UP

    As promised, I went to the Bistro to find out the plans for the Community Garden.  
   It was very pleasant and had a good atmosphere. I met Susan and Bob ( # 31 woodlands). They had a Community Garden at Honeymoon Bay and described it to us.  There was a general time of introductions and then to business.  Jane Whyte laid out the plan for this year, as there had been a meeting with decisions that I missed and I wasn't sure about the facts.  
  As of today the Garden Club is closed to new members. Most the work done on the beds has been by volunteers, though many of them will not be working at the garden until such time as individual plots are made.  It was made clear that the decision to have a Communal ( shared crops) and not a true Community Garden 
( individual plots and crops)  garden was more sensible at this time, as the dirt provided does not by any means cover the ground provided. Also there are novice gardeners who want to have a "hands on" summer and feel it would be beneficial to have those who know how to garden help them the first year.
 I must say that Gil and Dorothy Newton did a huge job along with Karen MacDougal, Trevor Breeze, Brian Aaberg, Gerry  and some I've probably missed in moving that pile of dirt into raised beds for use of the gardeners.
 Jane Whyte is donating seed for the first year and some plants she has started.  A fence was discussed and then into the nitty gritty of figureing out how many rows of which vegetable will be needed to get a crop for each of the families represented.
 Out of the 12 in attendance 9 remain for the summer.  I will try to give updates and photos as I can.
 Plans for planting and finishing the beds were laid out also.

  So that's how it stands for this year at least.  Looks like a wonderful weekend is ahead so I anticipate  the happy atmosphere that pervades the Community with such weather!  Ciao

MEETING AT THE BISTRO

There is a meeting of those interested in the on site garden Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.at the Bistro for all interested in how the garden is shaping up.  I understand some would like personal small plots while others would like a communal garden.  Take the time to put in your 2 cents!          I will be there to hear what is going on and will report back afterwards. I can think of a couple of ways this would work in everyones's favour, whether of this thought or that, so do come if you'd like information.

Remember how the onsite Bistro was first open and then the residents  decided to have a coffee time on Tuesdays?  That is the stage that the new garden area is at  right now.  We have to decide how to use the garden facility to every resident who is interested's advantage so everyone can be happy!

These shots were taken Sunday morning...a LOT of dirt was shovelled and it sounded like many were having fun putting this together.   

I was informed that fencing would be going up this weekend, but that was not something that the management said to me, just what I heard from one of the workers.



  The tawny and white cotton tail rabbits that are all over the meadows are just that: meadow grazers.  They are reputed to be natural to the area and won't burrow through the grounds.  I hope this is true!! 
  A new salt is now available through BUCKERFIELDS outside Duncan, that keeps driveways clear of weeds.  The name is: 
CARGILL: kiln dried medium salt.it comes in big bags and is $13.00 a bag.  Not a bad price for the permenant reduction of weeds on our gravel drives! Lynda Cliff brought an empty bag that she uses at her home drive to Kelly Ockey.  Areas that growth is totally unwanted would benefit by this addition to the gravel. 

Again, Have a great Day!

GARDEN TIPS

This recipe from my son, as he said it was the fastest he's ever seen weeds dry up.  I tried it Sunday evening and next day everything I sprayed was DEAD.  It is pet safe, and much more pungent than the spray I've been useing.
Try it in driveway or directly onto weeds.  Don't let the spray drift onto regular lawn, though.  It kills anything.

1 Gallon of Vinegar
2 Cups Epsom Salts ( drug store)
1/4 Cup Dawn Original dish soap ( blue )

Mix  and spray in the morning.  By suppertime it's done it's work!

This is just a great help when one gardener cannot weed every yard.

The Community Garden, for those who don't open their mail boxes daily, is up on top in back of the Bistro and a meeting is called at 1:30 to find out the details.  If you're interested, please come and hear the presentation.  Bring questions, etc.

Happy Spring!

Leslie