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Another day of sunshine, with rainy bits.....

In the late morning the smog (mist?) was so think the mountains couldn't be seen.

This is a small part of my concrete 'back 40'. As you can see, is is a work in progress. I usually have it all organized by this time of year.

My back 'yard' goes to the top of a steep cliff. Growing on the rocks are pampas grass and bamboo planted by a previous owner, cedar, fir, willow, maple, arbutus (madrona), and trees that I can't name that grow like crazy. I must get the tree men to come in and cut down all the larger specimens.

I can't resist clematis. I have bought several new ones this year and now must get them re-planted.

By late afternoon the mountains are visible. This is looking towards Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.

A Gray Day

It was quite gray today and a nasty storm this afternoon. Lightning, thunder and rain......

We went out for dinner and after I stopped briefly at Piper's Lagoon. The tide was far out - we have been having very low tides lately. The broom is still blooming - pretty, but a noxious weed.

It was very quiet on this cloudy day - not a soul on the south-facing beach.

There are lots of interesting seaweeds washed up.....

The Shack Islands are high and dry with the tide out.


A white-crowned sparrow has been visiting often.

Milner Gardens

I am sorry that I have been negligent in putting up pictures! I will try to do better.....

Today I drove up to Coombs to buy some more bamboo fencing, and then stopped at Milner Gardens in Qualicum. The rhodos are lovely - but the wisteria on the old house is looking rather sad.

This is the lawn in front of the house, with the big trees of the forest behind.

The front lawn looks over the strait. There are a couple of people with kayaks below.

The garden has hundreds of rhododendrons, most in bloom right now.

One lovely tree is a copper beech.

Behind the more formal garden are many paths lined with very old rhodos and wildflowers as ground cover. Milner is a 'wild' garden, with the rhodos and other flowers blending with the forest and the wild flowers and plants.

This Solomon's Seal or False Lily of the Valley used as some of the ground cover.

The peonies are just starting to bloom.

This laburnum is almost out in bloom. I want one!

Sunset tonight from my window. A bit hazy, but nice.....