Monday 24 June 2013

The Mermaid Garden 2013

This update has been a long time coming. I've had a busy year, with new meetup groups and new volunteer work and interests. So when I go into the garden, I just want to garden, not take pictures and blog after.

Plus, it's been raining. And raining. And raining. So a lot of my garden time has been doing quick weeding in between the rain. I'm happy to say that I wasn't personally affected by Calgary's sudden floods this month.

Now, my efforts are bearing fruit (literally), and now is the time to start blogging!

The 2013 garden started indoors, with a heated mini-greenhouse and grow lights.
The beginning

Not all of the seedlings survived - starting them in the basement wasn't the best idea, when they grew too tall for the greenhouse and I had to take the lid off. These are part of the survivors, outside to start hardening off.
The transplants

I found pansies in the remnants of last year's vegetable bed - spawned by last year's Johnny Jump-Ups. Neat!
The surprise

Last year, my vegetable bed was more of a breeding ground for weeds and grass. In my haste, I didn't put enough time into killing the undergrowth. So this year, I laid down cardboard and garbage bag to prepare the site for an idea from Pinterest.
The preparation

Inspired by this pin, I laid down a pallet to use as a garden bed. Then I decided to bracket it with trellises for more vertical space. I knew I'd be planting lots of climbing plants.
The set up

Like these snow peas.
Snow peas

I love how they reach out and grab onto the sticks I've placed.
Nature at work

The remainder is dedicated to peppers I started inside, and sweet peas and poppies.
Pallet garden bed

One thing I learned from last year is to keep these pots as level as possible. When tilted, they tend to lose water and dry out fast.
Trellis gardening

A lot of my gardening is done by the seat of my pants. When this plant appeared and shot straight up, I decided to keep it. Even though I don't know what plant this is. I suspect it's some kind of weed - can anyone identify it?
What is this plant?

My garlic chives from last year grew again and bloomed!
Garlic chives

Inspired by the same pin I used for the pallet garden bed, I decided to try planting herbs vertically. So I got this pallet.
Pallet before

I borrowed a staple gun from a coworker and stapled mesh to it. Had I done any kind of research or thinking through, I would've stapled it halfway up and then filled it with dirt. But I didn't, so I have to fill it with soil one spadeful at a time.
Pallet after

Which is partly why I've only filled one corner. Also, it would be pricey to fill it out with bedding plants. In 2014, I'll start more herbs from seed.
Herbs

I wanted to try growing fruit bushes in containers this year. I'm not sure that the raspberry bushes are going to thrive, because their container isn't draining well despite my efforts, and all of the rain is drowning them. I've started draping plastic bags over them everytime it rains.

These blueberry bushes are thriving.
Blueberry bushes

I may have squeed when I saw these berries today. :-)
Blueberries!

As the waters recede

First, Calgary's mayor is more awesome than yours. Sleep is for wusses when your city is being flooded.

Second, Calgary is also awesome. Of the roughly 100,00 people displaced, only about 2,500 ended up in evacuation shelters. The rest found shelter with family, friends, perfect strangers offering shelter online. Now volunteer organizations are forming to clean up.

Third, the generosity and "come hell or high water" attitude that Calgarians have made me realize how much I love this city.

Fourth, our office building will be open tomorrow, but our director said to check email and prepare to return to work Tuesday. We've all been given VPN access and I tested mine, so if need be, I could work from home.

Fifth, it may need be that I have to work from home, because trains aren't going into downtown yet, and I very much doubt that I could find a parking space. :-)

Sixth, today, with the waters receding, I decided to go check out the nearest flood zone. This is Mallard Point at Fish Creek Park.

(And please note that I used a telephoto lens and stayed away from the water's edge. Today was not the day to be a mermaid).

The park is definitely still flooded, but you can see how far the water rose and has receded.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

The sound of the water was loud as it rushed by. I kept a safe distance.
Fish Creek Park

The road and parking lot were closed to the public.
Fish Creek Park

Mud where the water had been. It was thick and sticky.
Fish Creek Park

A utility pole in the water.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

No need to worry about ice - this whole section was flooded.
Fish Creek Park

Lots of people came out to look. Many people didn't think to bring bug spray and regretted it. (I sprayed myself with Off before arriving).
Fish Creek Park

I've been in this area of the park once. It was shady and very lovely. :-(
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

The footbridge is still intact, but the bank and the pathways leading up to it have been washed away.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

The other side doesn't look so bad.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Meanwhile, ants were being ants.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

I really wish I had taken photos of this area before. But I didn't know ...
Fish Creek Park

One lonely picnic table remains.
Fish Creek Park

An artsy moment.
Fish Creek Park

The water in this area didn't make it as far as the houses, but it came close. The houses in this neighbourhood were evacuated and the residents have been allowed to return.
Fish Creek Park

The flattened grass on the other side of the road shows how close it came.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

Pollen gathered quickly in the wet grass.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

The walking path and bike path.
Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

It was encouraging to see deer on the other side of the river, enjoying a summer day.
Fish Creek Park

Deer in Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park

The city of Calgary on duty!
Fish Creek Park