Tag Archives: deer resistant

drought tolerant, evergreens, garden visits, months 07-09: summer, perrennials, projects

Happy Valley Lavender Cake

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Visiting Happy Valley Lavender Farm in July is delightful.  Host Lynda Dowling is a whimsical force straight out of fairy tales.

Happy Valley Lavender Farm field Victoria garden
photo by SVSeekins

Q: What can highlight a pot luck supper on a warm evening?
A:  Lynda’s Lavender Hummingbird Cake.

AND she shared the secret recipe with us!!!   🙂

Lavender Hummingbird Cake 2014

2 ripe bananas
1/2 c. fresh pineapple (or drained)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
110 ml. tin of passionfruit pulp (available at Fairway Market in WestShore Mall)
2 Tbsp fresh lavender (or dried)
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
3/4 c. oil
2 eggs

Happy Valley Lavender Farm field Victoria garden
photo by SVSeekins

 

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
  • Grease an 11 x 8 baking dish.
  • In a food processor, whiz together bananas & pineapple.  Briefly blend in oil, sugar, lavender & eggs until smooth.
  • In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, coconut & spices.  Add wet mixture + passionfruit pulp to the dry ingredients.  Batter will be loose.  Add a few tsp. of flour if you think it is too runny.
  • Baking time is 45 – 55 minutes.  Test centre.  If using 2 8 inch square pans, shorten baking time.
  • When cooled, ice with a simple glaze made with icing sugar, a touch of butter, milk & extra coconut…. or make a cream cheese icing with 125 g. cream cheese, 185 g. icing sugar, 60 g. butter, and 2-3 Tbsp. real rum. (How tropical do you need?)   🙂
Happy Valley Lavender Farm field in July
photo by SVSeekins

Thank you Lynda for your not-so-secret secret recipe!

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© SVSeekins, 2014

 

drought tolerant, months 04-06: spring, perrennials

Tree Peony Blooms!

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It blooms!  Woo Hoo!!  And just look at how BIG the bloom is!!

young tree peony in bloom cu, Joe Harvey, Victoria BC
photo by SVSeekins

And durable.  This bloom is a week old & has endured rain several times.  Bonus!

I know Peony as an old-fashioned perennial.  There are several in our garden.  But Tree Peony?   Doesn’t the name sound exotic??  They’re a recent discovery for me.

in February 2012 I bought one from Joe Harvey, a local fellow who develops new varieties of peony.  So, this ‘tree’ is still a baby.  I’m impressed it produced a bloom in  its 3rd spring.

Now I’m excited for the future….

How much longer will the bloom last?…   How tall will the ‘tree’ get this year? … Will there be more blooms? … Will the deer leave it alone? (The baby deer are arriving in the garden these days & they’ll usually try a taste of anything.)

So many questions. Always so much to learn.  Isn’t gardening grand?

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© SVSeekins, 2014

attracting birds, bulbs, drought tolerant, months 04-06: spring, natives

Mt. Tolmie’s Camas in Bloom

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camas blooms cu garry oak meadow garden Victoria BC
photo by SVSeekins

It was well worth the half hour walk up the neighborhood trails into Mt. Tolmie Park this morning.  What a sight – – the camas is in bloom!

I like garry oak meadows.  They’re especially inspiring when colored with a sea of blue.  Spring is really here.

early camas bloom Mt. Tolmie, garry oak meadow, garden Victoria BC
photo by SVSeekins

Who would expect wilderness just a short 5km from Victoria’s inner harbour?

Checking out the wildflowers in April & May is at the top of my list for reasons to be a tourist in Victoria.

early camas bloom Mt. Tolmie, gary oak meadow, garden Victoria BC
photo by SVSeekins

AND if you’re fortunate enough to be around during the last saturday of April, it’s worthwhile checking out Camas Day in Beacon Hill Park.  Its hosted by Friends of Beacon Hill Park & has wildflower tours & speakers.   🙂

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Other places to see Camas Meadows: