The Great Wall of Surrey

How cool is this? This living wall is just on the boundary of Surrey and White Rock.



I was captivated, so had to circle the block to get some photos without causing an accident. There are little pockets on the wall, each with a plant inside. Some of the Bergenias were blooming.





Here's an article with some more info. and before and after pictures. Quite an improvement, don't you think?

Gardening News from the Past

I've been reading some old newspapers for a project I'm working on and I came across this gardening news from April 5, 1945. It was written by Islay MacLeod who just passed away. (If you don't recognize the name, you still probably knew Islay — she was often seen walking regally down First Street to the Co-op/Post Office etc. in her brilliant yellow beret and vest.) Here's what she wrote in her column Tofino News, that was printed in the West Coast Advocate out of Port Alberni:

Spring has definitely arrived, borne on the wings of a stiff westerly wind. Now with a rattle and clank of tools, the local agriculturalists and landscape gardeners will be able to start tilling the soil and pulling out last year's growth of weeds. Did your squash wilt and die before they had a chance to show their goodness last year? Did the bottom ends of your tomatoes turn brown? Did you white potatoes try to be marbles? Did your cantaloupes taste like pumpkins? Did some unseen pest eat holes in the leaves of your lettuce and beets? If not (though with some exceptions) you must live outside of Tofino's city limits.

Okay so perhaps that wasn't too heartening, but I thought you might find it interesting!

Plant Markers

I'm pretty much the kind of gal who cuts up an old yoghurt container to make plant markers, but I did find myself eyeing a box of old knives at a second-hand store the other day. Writing on the handle would make a nice, durable marker that will last forever. I passed this time, but still may. (I have friends who use old toothbrushes.) If you are more into aesthetics, though, you may want to check out these free downloadable plant markers from Grow Indie or this wrap-up post from Heavy Petal on plant markers or this way to use pieces of aluminum from pop or beer cans, instructions courtesy Instructables.

Field Trip!

When the weather improves (or maybe not, because we could be waiting a long time), we should plan a field trip to this remarkable spot in Clayoquot Sound.



What do you think? We could get a little flotilla together or perhaps charter a boat. Let me know if you're keen.

Let's Pretend

Well, since this weather is altogether too depressing for those of you champing at the bit to get out on the garden, let's engage in a little daydreaming and imagine we live in the Napa Valley or the south of France. Of course we need a lovely, long rustic table on which to have dinner en plein air with a dozen of our friends. No table? No worries. Here's some inspiration from the magazine Readymade (click on image to increase size):

	Look inside >
ON THE COVER: RECYCLED WOOD DINING TABLE

There are lots of pallets kicking around town, in fact I have two in my backyard that I have big plans for, but the plans just might have to change.

Here are the instructions. It would make a great gardening table, too.

SoCal Community Gardens

I nipped away a few weeks ago to hang out with my in-laws here (no snickering). While zipping through the madness of Southern California I made my husband screech to a stop on a six-lane highway to take these photos for you of the community gardens in Escondido. Not the greatest photos, but a bit of inspiration perhaps.







And I love the west coast, but wouldn't it be fine to have one of these in your backyard?



Enough rain already.

Save The Date - Strawberry Tea

Get out your fancy hats, flouncy dresses, and recipes for mint juleps. On Sunday, June 27th we'll be holding a strawberry tea as a fundraiser for the Tofino Community Food Initiative. If you'd like to help with this event, please let me know. Leave a comment below or email me at toughcitywriter [at] gmail [dot] com.

Pothole Gardening

Any frustrated gardeners out there without a plot of land to call your own may want to beautify all the potholes in town. (Please start on the gravel end of Gibson Street.) I read about this pothole gardener in the Globe and Mail this weekend and Joanna sent me this link today. Thanks, Jo! (Make sure you check out the "Sexy geraniums, three for a fiver" video clip from April 18 of the Pothole Gardener's blog.)

Apologies that this post is not directly related to wet coast gardening, but I have an insanely busy week this week and then am away for a bit. So you're on your own (unless someone wants to be a guest poster — hint, hint. I can teach you. It's easy, peasy.)

Wet Coast Guerillas

Okay, so maybe this isn't directly linked to gardening on the west coast, but I thought you might enjoy this link with instructions on how to make seed bombs.

Do you have a suggestion for a garden I should profile? (Perhaps your own, no matter how small or humble? We all have something to learn/share.) Leave a comment anywhere on the blog or email me at toughcitywriter [at] gmail [dot] com.