Farmer's Almanac Weather Prediction for Ontario: "Fair weather..."
Currently blooming in my garden: Portulaca, Gazania Sonnegold, tomatillos, tomatoes, lavender, African blue basil, Thai basil, nasturtiums, nicotina, Echeveria lilacina, anise hyssop, black-eyed Susans, calendula, day lilies, and passion flower.
I had a good birthday. The actual day sucked because I worked right through it without a break. However the Saturday prior to it was great. Friends I hadn't seen in a while came to town. After dinner most people came over to sit on our deck. I finally got to show it off to friends who hadn't seen it since the plants were seedlings, and in the right light (or lack of) too. With the patio lanterns and the dark of night, all flaws are hidden from sight.
As you can imagine I got some plant things. The first was the book "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan, and the second the most amazing cactus book ever. In fact that's what it should be called, <"The Most Amazing Cactus Book Ever". Instead they went with "The Cactus Family" by Edward F. Anderson. It is 800 pages of cactus information and photos. I looked up paddle cactus (Opuntia) and there were 42 pages dedicated to it. If there's a book out there that is more definitive than that then I'd like to see it. Needless to say, I'll never have an excuse to complain about a lack of cactus information ever again! I am still stunned by the generosity of my friends. They either really like me, or they feel really sorry for me.
The Plague
We're in the middle of what seems like a never-ending heat wave. Even with the air conditioner, our apartment is hotter than it has ever been. It's been so hot, I have to go out and hose the plants down nearly ever day. On the days I don't pull out the hose, I fill up cans and haul them out to water the smaller pots that dry up quicker. It's pretty labour intensive which was hard to do last week when I was busier work-wise than ever.
As a result of the record-breaking temperatures some kookie things have been happening in the environment. Last week a plague of winged aphids descended on the city for a few hours in the early evening. They naturally migrate at this time of year, however, the heat had caused the population to grow exponentially so they were in swarms istead of just small clusters. Thankfully I wasn't out on the street so I didn't suffer like others did with aphids in their eyes, ears, nose and mouth but I did go out to find my plants coated in them. I spent about an hour hosing the plants down to remove as many dead and living aphids as possible. They're still everywhere. It was a cool phenomenon but I could have done without it.
Green Space
Yesterday we went to High Park to get out into some green space. I haven't gone all season so it was nice to see the changes they've made to the park this year. They've really come a long way in restoring the wetland areas around the pond. There was a time when the land surrounding the pond was just flat with dead grass. Now they've planted it up with native plants in an attempt to restore the habitat.
I saw poison ivy for the first time ever! I know that seems crazy but every time I go to a forest or park I ask people "What does poison ivy look like?" because I've never seen it. Well in High Park they had an area covered in it with a caution sign. I stopped to take a few photos and as I was doing so, the park train came along the path. I had no where to go because the train takes up the whole path so i had to stand in the poison ivy patch. I was wearing pants though. Then I accidentally dropped my camera which made my heart stop. I just replaced my camera after the last one was stolen. I can't live without it.
A friend was telling me that apparently poison ivy tends to come up in places where the land has been cleared. It acts like a deterrent to people. Once the land is restored, the poison ivy goes away. I thought that was fascinating.
Clean Up
We cleaned up the garden today. I had finally had it with the plume poppies and chopped them down. They were out of control. I'd been afraid to do it because they added much needed height to the garden, but I have to say that it looks much cleaner and nicer without them.
We're going to Montreal this week and will be visiting the Botanical Gardens there. I can't wait. I'll be taking a lot of photos no doubt. I don't know how my plants will survive while I'm gone, but I need to get out of this city in a big way.
Last year at this time: White Trash Birthday 2000
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