All New Flower Beds

As most of my family know I love flower gardens, if I had my way the whole yard would be nothing but flowerbeds. That being said this is what I managed to accomplish this spring and early summer. Even though our spring was very late or non-existent on the nice days you could find me outside digging flower beds. In case you have forgotten what the back of the house looked like when we purchased it I've added a picture.

The back of the house faces South with the back of the shed facing East.

These beds are on the east and north side of the shed. We had to raise the east bed, while digging out the driveway, to make room for the motor home, we moved topsoil to areas that needed to be raised, the east side of the shed was one of those areas. Some of the plants have finished blooming, they are all new most are transplanted from parishioners gardens, divided perennials do not have many flowers the first year. The delphiniums are finished as are the tiger lilies, most of the colour comes from the few annuals that I purchased or members of the congregation gave me.


A closer view of the north side of the shed, the ornamental grass will probably be moved as I am thinking of adding a small water feature on that corner. I love adding rocks to the garden to give interest.
This is a small bed that I made by the steps, the bed is east of the deck and south of the house. You will notice I brought my old runners that were in the garden at Nipigon and Gram ma Emma's purse, my frog garden ornament is also there. The tall delphiniums are just about finished. I have lots of hens and chicks in both the shoes and the purse and the ground with a few other plants to fill in and a couple of annuals to add colour. My only flower box is on the deck to appear part of this garden.
On the east side of the house I found peonies, lots of peonies, which I dug up and once all the weeds were clear I replanted many of the roots, they never bloom the first year after transplanting. I plan to mainly have interesting greenery in this bed with hostas, elephant ears, Bergenia's, for flowers: columbines. Next spring I shall take advantage of the early sales on hostas to add here and I might just dig up most of the peonies as there are just too many.


The concrete patio has a small flowerbed against the south side of the house but the few plants I put here will be moved and will be replaced with planters to cut down on the amount of water that is sprayed against the house. As you see we love to encourage the birds to the garden, our cats TV. I find it hard always winding and unwinding the hose so it usually sits on the concrete as you see it in this picture, it doesn't look very tidy we will have to try something else to make watering easier for me.

This flower bed is on the west side of the house against the chainlink fence of the school playing field. I had two big cauliflowers in this small space which have been cut and eaten. The tall plants at the back, I have no idea what they are called, but they are a late blooming flower to add interest in the fall. I have various types of day lilies, a white veronica and a purple veronica (which isn't in the picture), the other flowers are annuals with of course my rabbit garden ornament.

I just had to take a picture of a cauliflower that is in the garden. This is the third one that was big enough to harvest, as you can see from the leaves this is truly organic no powder was used to keep the cabbage butterflies away so the heads have to be cleaned really really well to get rid of all the green caterpillars.

So there you are, my gardens that I worked on this year. Hopefully next year I can work on the front of the home to add colour and interest. Of course that will all depend on if we get the porch repaired or replaced. I hope you enjoyed walking with me through my garden.

Our One Hike

The Flower of the Day

Indian Pipe

I was so excited spotting this plant on our Thursday hike. The flowers droop their head as they open and look like a pipe hence the name. Richard laughed at my excitement at finding this specimen.

We started our hike on a gravel path that was marked suitable for a wheelchair. There were several well beaten rough paths leading off of this main one. One of these side paths led to this decking where people could have a BBQ and secluded party.




This was part of the view from the decking area. To reach this spot we climbed over rocks and roots, not difficult for the average individual but a real challenge for me. I was not able to take the path that continued on from the area. Richard and I back tracked to the easy path. The following series of pictures are me working my way back, I might add, with no assistance. I was thrilled to say I managed it alone.

We checked all the other rough paths from the easy one only to be turned back because of the steep grade, which I could not manage. After leaving this area we ventured into the primitive camping sites and tried other trails. As we hiked we slowly ascended above Grand Marais campgrounds to eventually have this view of the harbour. During our many shots of the view a yacht came sailing into the harbour this is the one for your enjoyment.

During our explorations of the areas surrounding the campgrounds we came across this wonderful area of Fireweed, Tansy, Daisies and tall grasses. I wanted you all to see how tall the plants had grown so Richard kindly went behind them and stood, he is 6 foot 3 inches. (A flower amongst flowers!)

I found quite a few varieties of flowers to photograph. We were hiking for a good 2 hours afterwards I felt so good, but tired. I've come a long way with my walking since September 2000 when I first had a below-the-knee amputation. Most of the credit goes to Richard for his encouragement; and for buying me the hiking poles that have given me so much more freedom.

This picture does not do justice to what I was seeing; the green of the Tansy, beige grass and then the grey of the almost dead tree. I could not resist taking a photograph of the effect.

Thursday night the moon was beautiful reflecting on the harbour waters. The whole scene was peaceful. God had provided just what we needed to relax and de-stress.

The Flower of the Day

Wild Lilly-of-the-Valley

I've been back at work for one week. My holidays seem so far away yet it is only 7 days since we arrived home. It has been a very busy week. I managed to complete April and close the books. This was delayed as I had to first sort all my mail and enter the invoices and make a cheque run. This took me 2 1/2 days to complete. Once I closed April I began working on the May Journal Entries.

I now have one week to complete May and June ready for submission. It will mean working extra time in the evenings and next week-end. I worked today for a few hours and may go in tomorrow. Dead-lines are very important, but this is the first year that I have had one at the first quarter; usually the government give us a break, and don't require a submission until the 2nd quarter. In the past they have taken into consideration the audit and summer vacations; things change; and now we have a 1st quarter submission by July 30th; I'm hoping that we have been granted am extension.

I've always prided myself on keeping up with dead-lines, but this past year that did not happen. I don't believe there was any month that I wasn't struggling to meet the necessary closing date. Much of the time it has not been my fault, I'm the employee that receives from other departments and if they are late then I'm late.

There was a time when I enjoyed work but that has long gone. It's amazing what a difference it makes when you have to work. When there is absolutely no other choice; you work because you must. While it was because I wanted to work for a short while, I looked at it as a challenge; but as time has gone by, work load has increased and the reason for my working has changed; I enjoy my job less and less.

My vacation did help to pull me back from being stressed and at breaking point. Now with renewed energy I believe I can meet the necessary new deal-line. Of course I also have at least another week of holidays, if not two, to come. At least the last two weeks away were not all the vacation time I shall have.

HIGH FALLS AT GRAND PORTAGE

The Flower of the Day

Black Snakeroot

High Falls at Grand Portage has to be the gentlest of hikes. It begins on paved paths then wooden boardwalks to the falls. Designed with the tourist in mind. The falls are spectacular and well worth the stop. There are three platforms built to take in the best photographic shots possible. This is the first stage.



The second stage; I love the view through this small mountain ash.


Richard is standing on the upper stage, via the boardwalk.


And the third and final platform view.

Remains of an 1899 log flume built to circumvent timber from the trip over the falls, also the Canadian side of the falls.

This view of the bottom of the falls shows the intensity of churning waters; approximately 3,200 gallons of water per second pour over these falls.

Our final hike was one mile round trip. We made this on Friday before crossing the border back into Canada. The weather had become fairly cold and very wet; as we were so close to home the decision was made to return a day early. Vacations are always too short. We hope you have enjoyed following our trip this year.

BRULE RIVER LOOP

Flower of the Day

Cow Parsnip

Brule River is in Judge C.R. Maney State Park. We walked an extra spur to take in all the wild flowers and see where the Brule River flows into Lake Superior.

The trail was fairly easy to negotiate. With lots of stops to take pictures of the flowers and River.

Cow Parsnip can grow to as much as eight feet tall. At this point of the trail it was beginning to get pretty overgrown.

This is the end of the River where it flows into Lake Superior. It looks so peaceful at this point; yet a mile up stream it's raging over rocks. On each trail we've been on, we've been amazed at how the rushing water masks the sound of traffic on the highway.

We did this hike in the morning as the weather isn't too great today. After the rain in the early afternoon, Richard and I played mini golf. Not as much fun as we would usually have. I guess we both are realising that our holiday is coming to an end. Tomorrow we leave Grand Marais and will park in Grande Portage a couple of miles south of the Canada/USA border. Then Saturday we will be home again. Holidays are always too short!

DEVIL TRACK WILD FLOWER WALK

The Second Flower of the Day

One-flowered Wintergreen

Also called Wood Nymth. A miniature plant with a rosette of evergreen leaves at the base of the flower stem. These few plants were growing in a patch of moss.

My surprise from Richard; a Wild Flower Sanctuary. This was a very short trail but meandering, with lots of obstacles for me to clamber over and under. It would have been very disappointing if we had gone here first; as there was very little in bloom. The labels for the various plants had not been renewed, many were hard to read or completely blank.



A glimpse of Devil Track River which the hike gets its name from.


Although this is not a flower, it is a very impressively coloured fungi. I will have to search for the name once home. When I first spotted this through the trees, it looked like a piece of garbage.


Another shot of the Wood Nymph, Richard is holding a bloom up so we can see the face of the flower.

This is the only sanctuary of local flora on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is the sort of place you would want to return to at different times of the year just to see the various flowers that bloom there.

I look forward to seeing what Richard has in mind for tomorrow (today).

OVERLOOK SNOWSHOE TRAIL

The Flower of the Day

Blue-eyed Grass

This flower is said to be very hard to find. Having to watch where I put my feet while hiking, I managed to spot this clump of grass in bloom.

This is the map above Grand Marais on Gun Flint Trail giving a great indication of what the view is and oriented for the viewer, N. is at the bottom of the map. The furthest northern point of Lake Superior is Nipigon, if you follow the map half-way up the left side is Grand Marais where we love to park our Motor Home for vacations.


Here we are ready to start this new hike. Directly behind us is Grand Marais.

This is the view at the end of Overlook Snowshoe Trail. The view is amazing and only a very short hike of half a mile.


The flowers were abundant. This shot shows Orange Hawkweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Red and White Clover and others that are not easily distinguishable.

A view of Lake Superior through the trees along the trail.

Richard took this picture. At the overlook one edge was a shear cliff.

This was a very gentle and short hike with lots of flowers for me to photograph, some varieties I will have to find the names of once we arrive home and I can check with my reference books. As the walk was short, Richard had yet another surprise for me!

LAKE SUPERIOR SHORE HIKE

The Flower of the Day

Pink Pyrola

This trail follows Lake Superior's shoreline, offering commanding views of the greatest of the Great Lakes. The vivid orange lichen is to be seen through the trees. This lichen, when the sun is on it, looks like burnished brass.






The trail is fairly level with some exposed roots, rocks and holes. Due to all the rain this year there were often soggy areas.






I found a convenient rock on which to sit and adjust my prosthetic leg. The area gave us a clear view of the Lake and the rocky shoreline.

As the hike was gentler than the last one there was plenty of opportunity to check out and snap pictures of the various flowers and plants. Here you see Bunchberry or Dwarf Dogwood.

To our left was the highway, taken at the right angle, this looks like a meadow of daisys.

To our right is Lake Superior in all is vastness and beauty. This hike is 2.1 miles as a round trip. As I was beginning to feel some discomfort, we felt it better to walk back to the car via the highway. Richard ran on ahead to bring the car to me. I walked about 1.5 miles, considering the pain suffered after the last hike we felt it prudent to have me not complete this hike.

You will be pleased to know that I have suffered no ill effects from doing another hike. Tomorrow (today) we move into Grande Marais to take up residence in the town's RV park.