Buzzing

A lovely, lazy afternoon spent stretched out in the garden swing with stellar Stella and a good book. (Her by Harriet Lane, ordered from the library months ago after reading a good review, only now arrived.)

This is one of the best times to be in the garden. The California lilac is in bloom and it is absolutely buzzing.

There are so many bees swarming around this plant it’s difficult to believe there are any bees anywhere else on the island. It’s also difficult to believe that fiveyears ago this was the size of the tree.

Eventually it gets too hot on the swing – first for Stella, then for me. So in I come to write a few lines about how tough life on Gabriola is.

I’m not sure how much bee-friendly bloom is likely from the California lilacs I’ve planted at the back of the house. Actually, I am sure: not much.

For one thing, the trees don’t get as much sun back here. I can live with that. For another (unfortunate) thing (goddamnit), it turns out California lilacs aren’t as deer resistant as I thought. No, deer won’t munch them down to the ground, as they do many things, but, as Donna Deacon has pointed out to me, they will nibble up all the new leafs (and therefore blooms). Gahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the California lilac I planted in March…

… now looks like this…

Let’s hope that the parrot or the chicken wire (or both) will keep this clown away. 

Time to shift myself, my book and a gin and tonic to here.

Life is tough sometimes.

In the swing

Yes, yes, I know. It’s been a while. Well, what can I say? I’ve been busy. And I’m a bit busy today, so this is going to be a very quick update.

The most exciting thing in the garden at the moment is this.

Yes, thanks to a friend who wanted rid, I have a garden swing. It is heaven. I foresee a long, hot summer of reading. As you can see, Stella also loves the swing. Wish I’d had a video camera at hand the first time she jumped on – and shot off – it. Comedy gold. (She has now worked out that it doesn’t move as much if she uses the crate.)

Hell, the swing isn’t just the most exciting thing in the garden, it may be the most exciting thing in my life, up to and possibly including my run for the Labour leadership and the recent world premiere of my play. 

There is a great deal of good news (and bad news) to report from the garden, but it won’t be today.

For now I will simply share my new approach to gardening on Gabriola.

 

If I can’t have the island’s most productive garden (and I really can’t), then, as God is my witness, I’m going to have the cutest. And how could it get cuter than this?

More anon.

PS Although this has nothing to do with the garden, I would just like to thank the wonderful cast of That's Nice for breathing such fabulous life into my wacky characters.

Left to right: Marvellous Millicent (Jenn Feenan), Grumpy Greville (Cec Ashley), Charming Charlotte (Donna Deacon), me, Zany Zoe (Madeleine Ani), and Roguish Ralph (Roger Carter)

And I'd like to thank supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Catherine Stewart for driving all the way from Midway to share the world premiere with me.