Monthly Archives: January 2016

drought tolerant, evergreens, garden visits, gardens with wildlife, projects, public art, urban deer

Nix the Lawn 3

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meditation labyrinth Oak Bay front yard maze 2 garden Victoria BC Pacific Northwest
photo by SVSeekins

Getting tired of all the work a lush lawn requires?

  • mowing
  • raking
  • watering
  • fertilizing
  • aerating
  • top-dressing
  • de-thatching
  • more mowing
labyrinth meditation Oak Bay front yard maze garden Victoria BC Pacific Northwest
photo by SVSeekins

Relax.

Take some time to contemplate your navel.

A labyrinth is meant to increase peace and serenity.  What a lovely shift in perspectives.

It looks like creeping thyme is a fine choice for separating the pathway.  It’s tidy, low growing, deer resistant & smells lovely when disturbed.  I think it’ll be striking in bloom.  The bees should love that.

Simple wood chips make the path itself.

I wonder how often weeding becomes an additional style of meditation for this gardener? Or edging?  Those forms of meditation always work well for me.

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public art

Dragon Alley Library

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Down a long, narrow, brick-encased passageway, I leave  Victoria’s chinatown behind and explore Dragon Alley.

dragon alley library 2
photo by SVSeekins

It’s a townhouse complex built inside the shell of a big-old, historic building.  It’s a funky maze of teeny, ground-floor businesses with living spaces above.  This builds on the trendy ‘tiny house’ theme, creating  a hip, ‘tiny town’.

dragon alley library 1
photo by SVSeekins

Cool, eh?

And what does any tiny town need?
A library.
Woo hoo!   Another public book exchange.

Take a book.
Leave a book.

Imagine the adventures we can find inside a book we find inside the tiny library of tiny town…

I like the friendliness of this community.  I also like the whimsy.  Check out the spin on the classic “No Trespassing” sign on the stairs.

private - here be dragons
photo by SVSeekins

Private.
Here. there Be Dragons.

Yup, that’s the title of a book…
Clever, eh?

Or are there really dragons preening up on those super- envy -worthy roof-top balconies ???

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P.S.  check these other street libraries out:

boulevard garden, bulbs, drought tolerant, garden visits, months 01-03: winter, urban deer

Meadow Blooms 6 – Snowdrops

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Snowdrops are the wonderful winter blooms that last through the dark season.

galanthus, an acre of snowdrops at the Fireside Grill garden Victoria BC Pacific Northwest
photo by SVSeekins

Their January promise pulls me outside again & again to delight in their tenaciousness.  Each year I plant more bulbs around our garden to extend seasonal interest.  In my dreams, I imagine a meadow, like the one Dad & I just came across in real life.

galanthus, an acre of snowdrops at the Fireside Grill garden Victoria BC Pacific Northwest
photo by SVSeekins

Initially home to a tea house, but better know as Maltwood Manor estate, it’s no wonder the attached Garry oak meadow inspired art.

Who knows when these snowdrops were planted?  (Maybe 60-70 years ago?)  Happily, they’ve naturalized, spreading through at least 1 of the 3 acres of property at the Fireside Grill.

snowdrops blooming 2013 12 27, galanthus, garden Victoria BC, Pacific Northwest
photo by SVSeekins

Now I’m curious to see the seasonal progression of this meadow.  What other bulbs are planted here?  Do any of the native wildflowers of the Garry oak ecosystem remain?  And – – what’s the name of that cat who so obviously enjoys this garden??

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P.S. Here are some other snowdrop patches I admire:

P.S.S.  And here are some other meadow faves:

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