In Memoriam - To be Brave in Grief

10 years.
Already.
10 years ago on this date I learned of my brother's passing.

Source: Dave's Garden, Poems for an Autumn Day by Kathleen M. Tenpas.

A Temporary Seat

Broken limb of majestic Maple
Provides a nice vantage spot
for our Manitou.
Alas, it was chopped and removed
I kind of liked it resting there.
As did our Manitou.

A look at the inside of the tree
showed no rot or aging
So sad.

Makes a heck of a scratching post!

Have you noticed the winter floofing around his neck has begun :)
Snowflakes cannot be far behind.

Wild is the Wind

I am sure a mini-tornado (or something close to it) hit our area of the north ward last month: wind whipped up very suddenly and furiously  - massive amounts of rain - sideways - poured into the sun-porch through the screen windows! Our beautiful maple tree, the cornerstone of the garden, has been decimated. So sad - it was a glorious orange-red in the fall - hallmark of Maple Grove Gardens. Other people had bad tree damage too - barbecues, shutters, planters and garbage bins went flying. Not much sleep to be had that night - and up early the next day to see the extent of the damage done by the brief but intense violence of the wind. Luckily all my cats were safe inside at the time - it was truly scary - one feels so vulnerable and at the mercy of nature. My big beautiful towering acacias (they must be some of the tallest in my town), so awesome in early summer with their fragrant and abundant blossoms, now look very menacing - especially when the wind blows hard.  

Ultimately, the entire tree did not need to be cut down, thankfully, as its removal would have created a huge hole in the garden, not mention a huge hole in my bank account! But it has lost its symmetry, its fullness, and the light is filtered in a different way. The tree is no longer perfect - it is scarred and flawed - but - still alive.  I recall our recent conversation concerning the lack of sunlight, and how we had too much shade in recent years. Be careful what you wish for...

Sic transit gloria mundi
Farewell, beautiful Maple.
PS - thanks to Google Street view I have these photos....
I never thought to take them myself.
And how cool that we see the shadow of the "Googler".

Wordless Wheelbarrow Wednesday

Summer at Last - Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon

Our back porch features a new addition, which is useful for both plants and cats. 

Tristan demonstrates...

:

Such a hot day - a perfect place to catch a cross-breeze.
This shelf is reserved!

Time for brunch...

I love Lee Valley!

A most welcome gift from a friend, fabulous photos...

A most excellent spinach quichey, omelettey creation!

Oh - Tristan is on guard - someone is coming!

Il Pantero (aka The Reverend) likes to visit kitty day-care chez nous!
"Fill my bowl please!"

Chaiyka enjoys the expanded patio walkway - nice and cool on a hot day.

Love this new bright red Begonia - just gorgeous!

All manner of Dianthus are in bloom - cannot have a garden without
Sweet William.

Salpiglossis, or Painted Tongue, related to the Petunia,
is stunning.

Welcome Summer!

Rain and Wind and Snow - Oh My!

 Yes - we actually had some snow on the weekend - it was utterly depressing to see my tulips getting smashed by the torrential rains. And, this year we had more lilac on our old lilac tree than ever before - it was stunning. But that too was pelted with buckets of rain. Sigh. But today the sun is out, and all is very green, very moist, but the grass and weeds, very high.

Saved a small crab-apple one winter,
from a neighbor's tree.
Winter-sowed the seeds within.
In spring, one germinated, and grew over the years.
6 years later I finally have blooms.

 

So pretty.....

Tulips  before the rains....

Happy Spring!!

Easy like a Sunday...oops....

Ah, feels sooo good!
Wednesday brought a very welcome heatwave and the sunporch was opened up for one and all to have a lounge-about.
Rascal, aka "not-our-cat" was more than pleased the season had been kicked off at last.

Waiting and Dreaming: Suncatcher

As we wait today for a nasty winter storm with lots of snow,
We recall just last weekend as the sun shone down,
Dreaming of endless sunny days
and flowers,
endless flowers.

The most gorgeous (and huge) Hyacinths EVER,
from Cat Wrangler.

This photo came out blurry and was going to delete it.
Applied watercolor effect
and what a lovely surprise.
Aren't I talented? ;)

Wesolych Swiat - Happy Easter!

The bunny band comes out to play once a year!

Wesolych Swiat!
Happy Easter!

You're Lost Little Girl....

"tell me who are you......" (The Doors)
I found this little girl randomly on ebay,
she bears a striking resemblance to me, at that age.
The street seems similar to where I live now.
Who was she?
What did she become?
Was her life a happy one?
I have given her a temporary home.

 

 

 

And speaking of lost ones,
this wee one appeared at our door one night.
A gorgeous, friendly kitty,
And totally oblivious to the
glares of outrage from the others
as she/her checked out the house
and all its comforts.
When grown up, she/he may very well look like our
old Billy - back in England.