ahhhhhhh!

Blue sky. Finally some sun to create light and shade. Weeks and weeks of grey bring me down. And give the garden a little light and you can watch it bust out all over.

It's really past time to play what my friend calls "musical plants". I should have been at that a few weeks ago. Gardeners know what I mean. In the spring it's moving time. You pull one thing out and to give it a new spot you must move something else. The domino effect ripples through the yard and eventually it seems like everything needs moving. Last fall we dragged a hot pink azalea out of a cozy den beneath an ever expanding yak. It bloomed this spring so there is hope for it. Too bad it clashes with every other plant around it. Something tells me it will be on the move again. The delicate Ginny Gee made me happy this spring. They were so completely covered in blossoms that they looked like a small pink cloud floating in the woods.

meltin' stuff

One of the best things about living in Halifax is the access to a fantastic art college and a wide range of courses. I repeat this fact frequently in hopes it will lure S Black closer to this coast. A few months ago, I signed up for a 2-day glass bead making course at the college. As is the practice with most classes of this type, we began by introducing ourselves and explaining why we took the course. I had to admit that I was there because I love burning and melting stuff. And then I threw in that of course I love glass too. I am drawn to things that change state and go from molten to solid. Iron, glass, clay...shape shifters.

Being in the college again was like drinking from the fountain of youth. The new port campus sits directly on the harbour's edge and the setting matches the excitement of classroom. The class was given by the peerless Katrina Fleming who embodied teaching perfection. She spun glass like a magician and had an infectious enthusiasm for her craft.

Happy Birthday Victoria

A chilly grey spring continues. The plants are hanging tight and emerging slowly into cool air. It's a good thing the fabulous Susan Black was here to keep things bright. Yesterday we drove out to Crystal Crescent and hiked the rocky shores at Pennant Point. We had a great weekend in the big city. More to come Miss Black?

40 days and 40 nights

This spring has been grim. The grey skies have persisted for weeks and the constant rain makes me think of ark building. I should not grumble. In many parts of the country people are struggling with sand bags and ruin. The garden has no complaints about the rain. Most of the plants are at the pointy stage and are just snouts sticking out of the ground. The forsythia, which Marie at 66 square feet calls "spring barf", is blooming furiously even though I hacked it viciously last year. What a survivor.

Out of Hibernation

Blogs are demanding taskmasters. The photo taking, the tweaking, the keyboard pecking...sometimes it takes more time to post the moment then to live the moment. Then life goes merrily along and you get too far behind to catch up. I guess I am explaining what happened to this near lifeless blog. But the command has gone out once again. Lauchie must see spring for himself. The garden must be documented. The cardiac paddles are out!