The Garden in July

Judy, the proud gardener is showing off her
Scarlet Runner (beans). The deer would love to get
at this plant and graze off anything that sticks out
through the wire mesh.

Scarlet Runner

Scarlet Runner - close-up

Success with carrots and beets

This was meant to be an ornamental garden. But an opportunistic seed
of a squash and a tomato took over and pushed everything else aside.
We are looking forward to harvesting these volunteers, if the deer
don't get them first.

One of my favourites - Rose Campion

Rose Campion

Cotton Lavender

Cotton Lavender

Batchelor Buttons

Batchelor Buttons

Borage, a herb

White Batchelor Buttons

Beebalm

Gyprock Installation (gypsum board wall covering)

Matthew is working at installing gyprock
(gypsum board) on all of the interior walls.

Danny is working at installing the edge trim around all of the
interfaces between gyprock and wooden posts and beams. He
is careful to create a uniform 3mm shadow line all around.

The shadow line is clearly visible to keep the edge of the gyprock
away from the wooden Posts and beams.

A new look is emerging above the desk.

New look above desk and bed.

Urs is installing gyprock on the walls in the crawl space.

Gyprock in crawlspace, under the main floor.

A cleaner look. The wall insulation is covered and protected.

Insulation in the battery room - partly with
rockwool, vapour barrier and gyprock;
partly with solid foam board.

Integration of pre-existing Sundeck with new Veranda

Working on building the guard rail for the stair between
the old sundeck and the new veranda.

Both guard rails completed to my original design used at
the old sundeck when I built it six years ago.

Access to the sun deck.

A hand rail made from driftwood is mounted on the guard rail.

Another piece of driftwood on the other side.

View from the kitchen window.

The new guard rail is very solid. The glass guard rail
at the top of the veranda will soon be installed too.

In the Garden

American Gold Finches and Pine Siskins
are regular visitors at the feeder.

An unusual topping for a Foxglove. Apparently, a
recessive gene causes a mutation that turns the
terminal flower into a symmetrical dish.

The same flower  altered its colour from yellow
to more pink after several days.

He likes to hang out here.
In the background the more usual Foxglove

Looks like a bumper crop of Mirabelle Plums coming up.

Painting Again - A New and Improved Look

The House behind a field of Foxglove flowers

The veranda posts have been completed and painted

A more finished look - glass rails will be the next improvement.

Interior painting. 

Judy relaxing at the end of the working day.

Painted posts and beams.

Painted posts and beams.

Meanwhile in the Garden

Water Management 101 - Judy is catching as much waste water
as possible for the garden, here the overflow from
pressure washing the roof.

Camas beyond its prime - the quintessential Gulf Islands flower.

Name to be determined

White Foxglove

Foxglove

Foxglove with bumble bees

Judy pulled out a weed with a root this long.

This House Wren built a nest in this large birdhouse, which was
sized for a Flicker. But then it was evicted by a larger bird,
a Swallow.  -  Never mind, the House Wren moved over the another box,
which was the right size and carried on with nest building.
We now see a pair using the box.

A male Violet Green Swallow. After evicting the House Wren,
the swallows moved in and modified the nest to their liking.

American Gold Finches have started to show up at the feeder.

Happy Springtime

A Pileated Woodpecker, a daily visitor

Blossoms on the Mirabelle Plum tree.

Blossoms on the Italian Prune Plum tree.

Bluebells

White and yellow daffodils.

Unknown; grows all over.

Blue flower carpet behind the house. Violets?

Added some planter boxes for vegetables within the
deer-proof enclosure of the fruit trees.

Set up a primitive water supply for now.