In which the garden fence is finally finished, and everything is rainbows and lollipops . . .

I was thinking pretty much the same thing. We usually get about a week or two, maybe, of "winter." The last two years, we didn't even really get that! Of course, the problem is, you never really know when that "winter" will hit. Will it be in November, or December, or decide to be silly and come out in March? It's hard to know!

All in all, though I think the seasons end up something like this: Two months of summer, fall, a week of winter, and then spring. We live in an almost eternal spring/fall...and the rain and clouds sure reflect that! I love the moss and ferns and rain--they make everything feel so full of life, and the clouds make it so cozy!

Tracy Wandling wrote:Pretty much, Miles! Winter here is sort of just autumn, with a quick splat of winter, and then spring again! I LOVE it here. Growing up in the north has made me deeply appreciative of our fantastic climate here.

I have had to scrape frost off the car the last few days (-3 when I took my Yf to work at 615), but springy for sure. The deer seem to like my apple tree, but leave the pear and hazelnut alone. Some of that may be placement, though there is deer sign within 5 feet of the pear tree. I need to get our yard cleaned up and trim finished in the house so we can move out of the city.

Yeah. Nevermind.

Well, we had winter. Lots of winter. Like 2 feet of winter! Our power was out for the better part of a week, and we've had a bit of damage from the extremely heavy snow fall. I lost my lovely little sunroom on the side of the house where the grapes grow. This makes me sad. We didn't lose much of the grape vines, thankfully. And one of the old plum trees lost a large branch. But it still looks really cool.

The snow has mostly melted now, and the garden is calling my name. I have two 80' beds to plant! Plus, TM says he'll build the next two beds in March. I'm not holding my breathe, but a girl can hope. The indoor seed starting area will be set up in the corner of the living room this weekend, and the planting shall commence.

I've been a busy little bee on the computer lately. I have the pleasure of being Paul Wheaton's new VA (virtual assistant)! I'm pretty stoked about that, and have been busy learning the ropes. And there are a LOT of ropes to learn. But it will be worth it. Once I get rolling with this, and a few residual-income things, I'll be cutting back on the graphic design (which is how I've made my living for the last 17 years - 6 years freelance), and will be able to put much more time into my garden, and the property in general. What a relief. I'm so tired of spending my days and nights in front of the computer. I'd much rather be rolling around in the dirt in my garden.

I'll be posting a list of the seeds I'll be planting this year, and some of the little experiments I'll be doing this year. Fun!

Here are a few pictures of the place, and some of the damage that was done during our week of winter.

Oh Tracy, wah on the damage to your sunroom but a big yay on being Paul's new VA. We lost one of our ancient oak trees in the first of a series of really strong storms that brought our rainfall up to about 300% of average. It slid over and kissed the roof. No damage so boy, we were lucky. I am finding it hard to do anything in the house now that we have had a few days of good weather. I just want to be outside working.

Thanks, Susan! Wow, you were lucky that the tree didn't decide to 'drop in'. But it is always sad losing a big old tree. I'm glad our twisty old plum didn't succumb completely. It's just too lovely. And apparently I'm getting a brand new sunroom! So, perhaps it's fortuitous that the old rickety one collapsed. I'm just glad it didn't do much damage to the old grapes there.

Wow.  I'm only through page 1 but, geez, you're a busy one!  Checked out your Watercolor gallery - amazing stuff.  Good to get to know you a bit.  I love that you call him The Man!!!

Where did you go?  I've enjoyed cruising thru some of your posts.  Beautiful garden and so many neat ideas!  I'm wanting to replicate your "buried wood beds" - if you could please explain how you make one?  Thanks and I hope I can find more of your posts.

I guess I thought I had 'gotten closure' with this thread. But apparently I only wrote it in my head. :D

Sadly, I had to leave this property. The Man and I just didn't see eye to eye on . . anything. So, having left the guy, I had to leave the property, too. Bummer. I still miss my beautiful garden, and the glorious property.

But, upward and onward! I don't have any property right now. But I did get to build a small garden at a friend's place this fall, and am looking forward to hanging out in the beds come spring. :) That's my happy place.

A property of my own is definitely on the horizon. I am looking forward to it, and will start a similar thread when I get to develop a property of my own.

I loved creating this thread, and I hope that people still get some entertainment and perhaps some knowledge from it. I'll start another thread for the garden I built at my friend's place, just to get my creative juices flowing again.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers
Tracy

Hi Tracy,

You don't know me, but I've creeped this whole post in the past, and really enjoyed it! Sorry to hear you had to move. I know how that can be when you separate from someone :/ I love your writings, because I love Cortes Island and because I'm in a similar climate to you, on the Sunshine Coast, and I see you are here now too! Maybe we will run into each other :)

Hi Karla;

Yes, I'm on the Sunshine Coast now. Much as I loved Cortes Island, sometimes ya just have to get away. But I'm loving the Sunshine Coast, and look forward to a lovely growing season.



Denise;

I just started a thread about the new garden I built, and it explains how the beds are built. I'll be adding more as the growing season progresses. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them in the new thread I made here.

definitely do not destroy all the japanese knotweed that is on your property.  read about some of it's benefits first:
https://www.mofga.org/resources/invasives/dont-kill-all-the-japanese-knotweed/

Tracy Wandling wrote:Thanks for stopping by with your encouraging words.

Oh no! Your journalling ended. Three years ago! I, too, have loved your ramblings and meanderings and walking us through your garden-in-progress. (I used to live on Pender Island, on rock in the shade, so I never accomplished much there. It's been wonderful reading about permaculture on another Gulf Island.)

Any updates, Tracy? Three years later??? Pleeeeeease?

Julie