I took this collection of photos early last week, wanting to share them with you ~ where has the time gone!? The garden has changed so much in a week, it is incredible to me how it happens so quickly. The weeds are happily growing away too, thats for sure, but I am relentless ~ getting out in the garden every evening for a couple of hours to pull them as I tend to the more pleasurable aspects of gardening.

Enough talking and on with this collection, hope you enjoy the tour….

The maple trees are so pretty, their new leaves are all so fresh and tender….The real show stoppers right now though are the rhododendrons and azaleas – always so amazing and so colourful….

Quieting some of this exuberance down are the ferns and lush new growth of other perennials…

Once your eye has taken in the larger scaled trees and shrubs you start noticing the smaller perennials that are so full of themselves right now too… the peonies buds are plumping right up and the primroses, epimediums, gentians, violets and small irises are all blooming away….

These small irises have the most incredible vanilla scent, whether sitting near them on the patio or kneeling  beside them as you work, you find yourself intoxicated with their fragrance.

There are so many more lovely flowers and shrubs that will reaching their high point so very soon, there is so much to anticipate! When I was a little girl, my Dad started sharing his excitement of springs unfurling with me ~ I will be eternally grateful to him for this!

See you soon ~ with more spring colour to share! Hope you have a relaxing and fun May Long weekend!

The entry point off of Highway 19A to the parking lot, is easily seen….

Once parked, to reach the gardens (and the plant sale) you can either walk down through the forest trails which is a lovely, relaxing 5 – 8 minute stroll or you can hop on the little shuttle cart, so graciously driven by volunteers of the garden. I chose to walk down and was pleased that I had, a walk down the driveway that winds through the forest is so uplifting, yet very calming at the same time. Just what I needed after a busy week! There is such a diversity of experiences and sights that await, so it is a good idea to give yourself at least a couple of hours to take in the splendour.

Spring is when I find the gardens to be the most wondrous but all seasons provide their own beauty and are worth a walk about. The plant sales are held twice a year ~ spring and fall ~ and offer an abundance of plants that are mostly very hardy for our climate. The sale is held in what used to be the estate’s tennis court ~ a perfect enclousure.

After perusing the sale and finding a couple of fabulous woodland lilies that I loved, I headed down towards the house ~ in that short walk this varied collection of sights presented themselves, along with many more that were not photographed…

Corylopsis spicata

The house is so gorgeous, I just love the whole look and the old fashioned turquoise on the front door & trim is right back in style ~ as is the airy squared trellis work.

It was hard to not go into the tearoom and have the tasty lunch they were serving for the plant sale event or to even stop for tea & scones but I was looking forward to a quick lunch at home and then to start working in our own garden, so on I went ~ past moss covered stones that magically surround lush water features, past vistas of the blue waters of the Georgia Straight and through trails that have rhododendrons as big as trees, towering Douglas Firs and many rare specimen trees.

The understory is a delight, such a contrast to the enormity in scale of everything else….

Native Trilliums

Hellebores

Anemone

Can you believe that all of these are only but a few of the flowers, shrubs and trees that were blooming?

Up at the Gift Shop, just outside the door, they have a collection of plants that showcase what is in bloom each day in the garden.

It was time to head back up to the car, my quick tour of the garden was done and even though my intention was to ride back up on the shuttle with my plants, it just felt like more time in the forest was what I really wanted. So, by choosing a different route back up, I was rewarded with so many more amazing photo opportunities ~ that I can now share with you! Hope you can feel the calm serenity…

The next shot is of a partially hollowed out stump, the likes of which I had never come across ~ it provides a great little science experience….

seeing the core of the tree with branches attached that reach out through to the outer bark ~ isn’t that neat!?

Back at the Welcome Centre….

I was so content and very happy but quite tired ~ and extremely hungry!

Three plant sales, a trunk full of plants, a couple of bags of sea soil, a garden tour and forest walk  ~ what more could a gardener possibly want in one day? Just garden gloves on and a shovel in her hand!

Hope you enjoyed this collection of photos that show a small sampling of what Milner Gardens & Woodland has to offer!

The Eaglecrest Garden Club ( Oceanside’s largest garden club)was holding their annual plant sale in a members garden ~ their plant sale has continually grown over the years and has become a much anticipated event. Within 15 minutes my box was full, my mind was swimming with new ideas and I was so pleased to see & chat with some ladies that I had known when I was a member of the garden club. I have just recently been thinking about rejoining as a matter a fact! I had originally joined the first night it began and it became a big part of my life for many years. As it often does, life became too full & busy (with work, new grandchildren and an ailing parent) so it was one thing that I decided to drop from my schedule. The third Wednesday of May though, I am quite sure I know where I will be!

Next up (after a coffee on our patio, in the sun!) was a drive to Parksville, where MARS (Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society) were holding their plant sale and truss show. Their annual event has grown to such an extent that they now fill a good part of the Parksville Curling Clubs’s floor. I had my camera with me at this, so have a few photos to show you. The truss show was a sight to behold ~ with every size and colour of truss imaginable gently placed in identical vessels ~ there were even a few rare fragrant varieties! The judging was complete and the gorgeous ribbons were on display.

There were also tables and tables of rhodos, azaleas, ferns and speciality perennials ~ all for sale! The purchasers were all very intent on learning how and where these special plants could be incorporated into their gardens, adding to their collections.

I came away with 2 alpine ferns, a dainty little azalea and a stunning native Trillium that was one of many that had been grown from seed by a very knowledgeable and patient gardener. I believe that he told me this one is 8 years old!

This shot was taken  as the Trillium sat on the front floor of the car ~ the light shining on it was so pretty! Trillium’s are significant to me for two reasons, I have seen them growing in our forest here on the island all of my life (they are protected though and you are prohibited from collecting or picking them) and Trillium Lodge is where my mother spent many years of her life being cared for by the incredible people there(both staff & volunteers alike), many of whom became very dear to her.

My final stop was at the Milner Gardens & Woodland Plant Sale ~ that could actually be a blog post all on it’s own, and I think that it is exactly what I will do ~ just let me say that it was an absolutely perfect ending to my Saturday morning, a morning that left me feeling inspired, happy and ready to start digging with lots of energy! Oh, and … as I drove away from Milner Gardens ~ I was feeling that, even after living here for over 30 years, I am so happy to be living in a community that offers so much, through each of the seasons!

The thing that isn’t so good though is the photos, as there just wasn’t enough time to properly capture the finished product before the boxes and furniture were coming in. I was taking photos when I could ~ you’ll see what I mean in a sec….

First I’ll show you the house from the road ~ this angle “borrows” the landscaping from the neighbours garden, taking away some of the harshness of the bare soil.

I really like the colour that we have stained the Hardie plank siding and Hardie shingles ~ even though the Benjamin Moore name ‘Ebony Slate’ sounds like it would be black, it actually has quite a purple tone. It was a brave choice but one that has turned out to be perfect ~ the white windows, soffits, gutters & downspouts and trim (Benjamin Moore – Full Moon) all help in toning down the strength of the dark siding ~ leaving a fresh, crisp and current looking exterior. The use of the light grey natural stone also softens and lightens the look. To my mind, the exterior stain colour compliments the earth tones of the two neighbouring homes, giving a subtle & uplifting note to the quiet harmony of the natural setting.

The kitchen / great room went from this in the morning,

To this by noon…

It will be a couple of weeks before the quartz countertops will be ready, so for now we have installed temporary plywood tops and covered them with a washable surface. The island will look quite stunning, as the thick quartz will wrap down both ends of the island, to the floor ~ creating a sleek and modern look. A glass subway tile with a subtle bamboo pattern is being considered (or something similar to it) and will be installed as a black splash, adding visual interest.

The master bedroom was all ready…

In the ensuite, the frameless 10 mil shower door was being installed that morning but the Corion countertops with integral sinks were delayed for a few days so we had a plywood counter installed temporarily.

The vanity is designed to be floating above the floor and will look great with the countertop, sinks and faucets installed. The final drawer face that was back ordered was minutes from being installed, as were the completion of the light fixtures.

The office is fitted with all of the necessary electrical requirements, allowing it to be the hub for the rest of the houses internet connectivity.

The floors throughout the house (except for the bathrooms, laundry & utility rooms) are done with Armstrong’s Luxe Vinyl planking in Timber Bay Provincial Brown – it is extremely durable and looks fantastic.  Apparently it will stand up even better than most laminate products and doesn’t have the hollow sound that walking on some laminates have ~ add to that an attractive price point and you have another great flooring product that is worth considering.

The wall colour that was chosen to be used throughout the house is Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter and the trim is Benjamin Moore Full Moon. The Revere Pewter is a great neutral that seems to go with most other colours and depending upon the lighting is either a warm grey or takes on a slight taupe tone. The colour on the fireplace wall is the same as the exterior – Ebony Slate, it was another daring choice but has given the desired dramatic impact. I think I will discuss having the baseboard around the fireplace bumped out area painted with the Ebony Slate, creating a sleeker line.

 So, another custom home is all ready ~ finished just in time, and turned over to a happy & excited homeowner that will now put in the real finishing touches, the touches that will turn this house into a home.

I so wish we could grow the other amazing & enormous succulent too ~ and we probably can as long as we have a heated greenhouse or garden room to store them thorough the winter. Which is something on my “dream” list ~ a garden room or a greenhouse! Even better, a garden room that has a greenhouse extension….. ahhhh, dreaming is fun!

Anyway, I can either just dream about making one of these wreaths or buckle down and actually do it. Our garden has several patches of succulents in a couple of  shapes and many sizes, and I can pick up some others from the garden centre to add interest.

These are photos of the ones in our garden right now, ready to be cleaned up from the winter…

Patience is required when embarking on a project like this, even though it may only take a few hours to put together a couple of wreaths, it will take several months (or longer) for the plants to grow enough roots to take hold and to start to produce off shoots. So, the wreaths can’t be hung right away ~ at least the way I know how to make them doesn’t allow for that.  In the meantime, I will enjoy them laying flat, in a nice sunny hot spot where they can settle in to their new home and grow like the dickens!

It makes me think though ~ before I begin, I should do some research first, to see what helpful hints I can find that may make the wreaths better and fill in faster. If any of you reading this post have any thoughts on this I’d love to hear from you!

The garden centre’s must be just hopping today, not only is it the first nice day it is also a Saturday. I have spent some time in the garden, washed  a few windows and started moving the garden chairs from storage to the patio. One of the best parts of the day though has been sitting on the patio in the sun with Rick, having a coffee and soaking up the warmth ~ feeling totally relaxed and happy.

I hope your weekend has moments like these too, ones that fill you up with happiness!

It is always hard to tear apart spaces that look so nice but knowing that a grander dream is underway helps ease the apprehension. Most renovations are so badly needed that there is only a desire to get on with it and change the look ~ fast!

It is too bad I didn’t take photos before the furniture and decorative items were removed, it was done up so lovely ~ traditional and beachy at the same time. You will have to use your imagination on the decorative aspect and just see the dimensions and how they have changed.

Those four shots show the living room and the doorways that lead from this small room, making furniture placement extremely limited when the room also must function as a hallway to all of the other areas of the house. Even though the entry points to the other areas will not be changed, by increasing the depth of the living room the placement of furniture will be somewhat easier to arrange with some flexibility.

There was a lot of discussion on the use of grids in the windows, the living rooms old wooden gridded windows look so utterly charming and added so much character and were in keeping with other windows throughout the three buildings on the property. However, there were also many windows that were plain glass ~ so the final choice was to have the living room be the same as the master bedroom and dining room and not have the grids impede on the view of the ocean.

One of the windows has been repurposed though, it has been incorporated into a new exterior wall that will help protect the front entry from the weather,

The entry doors were replaced with gorgeous new doors that are fully gridded and look amazing. I will take better photos of the entry next time!

The addition through the roof on the one side of the cottage is providing them with a den/overflow guest area and a library sitting room. For the staircase to the upper level we have gone through one of the teeny tiny bedrooms…..

removing the one window, replacing the other with a new, smaller gridded window and going on up through the ceiling!

There are many angles going on but it will look really cute once it is all complete.

The rooms upstairs will be nice & bright and are in keeping with the scale of the rest of the house. A desk and computer station is planned to go underneath the windows to the left, a sofa bed to the left of that and a wall mounted TV on the far right hand side wall. I’ll show you two different stages of the construction “in progress”,

A look back towards the library and staircase….

So, there you have it for now ~ I will do one final update on this cottage renovation as soon as it is all complete!

Incase you haven’t seen the two previous posts on the current renovation of this cottage and would like to, you can click on the first post here and the second post here.

Together we developed a plan that fit their needs without tampering with the footprint very much and didn’t overpower the bungalow look.

The shot above shows the deck removed and the beginning of forming up for the extension of the living room and the following shot’s are showing a closer up version of the same foundation and depth of the extension.

The construction of the second floor took precedence over the extension, trying to have it sealed from the elements as soon as was possible. Once the roof was on, the windows were installed and the siding had begun, the actual bumping out of the living room began….

While the height of the extension’s roof  is higher than we all would have preferred, it was necessary because of the size of the beam that was required for the span.

The new Vinlytek tilt and turn french doors and windows from Complete Window Services are far superior to the combination of  wood french doors, vinyl sliders and single paned wood windows that were originally used  ~ providing a much better insulating factor.

Looking much more complete now with the cedar shingles installed, and with the decking and deck skirting all in place. The temporary downspouts will soon be replaced and other than staining the shingles and the deck skirting, this side is complete.

The interior work is well underway and I will have some of the interior pre-reno and ongoing progress photos for you next week.

The new renovation is far more extensive, we have raised the roof to allow for a den and library sitting area and have extended the living room out towards the water 6 1/2 feet. The work was to be done while they were away for the winter, by the time the plans were finalized and the permit in place it was the first of December! We were so fortunate to have the weather co-operate to allow for opening up the roof and getting the worst over with before the real winter weather set in. With our knowledgeable crew, supplies all readily at hand and determination, they accomplished the task in time! A little lost sleep and a couple of full weeks of long, hard days and it was ready for the roofers!

I will do several posts on this reno – as I think there is too much to show you all at once. Today I will concentrate on how the front of the cottage has evolved to how it looks today.

 The last things to be completed on this side of the house are the trim around the round window and the staining of the shakes, posts and beams, which will have to wait until warmer weather. The landscapers are busy reinstalling the brick pavers under the new covered porch area where they had to be removed to pour the concrete footings for the posts.

This addition has added so much extra room to this cottage, and with lots of windows (on the other two sides) and a vaulted ceiling it feels very bright and airy. The next post will show you how the waterfront side has changed….

While on our holidays this winter in California, one of our weeks were spent in the Monterey / Carmel area, a favourite spot of ours to unwind. A must see each time we have been there is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are always so fascinated by the sea life that lives there. National Geographic and Oasis channels in HD are incredible but seeing these magnificent specimens in real time – well, there is just no comparison. The colours, the textures, the movements, the ability to adapt to their surroundings, and to hide from their predators by their disguises ~ all, awe inspiring!

One that caught our imagination this time was the Leafy Sea Dragon ~

It was part of the Sea Horse exhibit ~ haven’t seahorses captivated you since childhood!? Their long, leaf like protrusions are used purely for camouflage not for propulsion, they have fins that are all but invisible that propel them gently through the water, leaving the leafy limbs to give the illusion of them being seaweed. Wow!

More beauty was to be found in the tanks with the sea anemones ~

with their intense colours and swaying tentacles ~ the sight was mesmerizing.

We had arrived at the Aquarium right in time for one of the main feedings of the day in one of the largest tanks – they feed only one species at a time so they have diversionary tactics to keep the other varieties of fish away. This time it was the sardines turn and what a show they delivered! Pure magic!

If only the video I thought I was shooting had of worked, you would have seen movement as though they were performing ballet, all shimmering in the light.

Humour can be found almost anywhere, and at the Aquarium it was no different. This next little guy was doing his best (it seemed) to catch anyone’s attention ~ saying…????

He was pressed right up to the face of the tank, as though he wanted OUT! Can you believe how cute and bird like he looks?   Speaking of birds, they are well represented ~ contained in an area that actually felt as though we were outside. One sweet little bird was looking pretty content on his sandy beach,

Besides all of the splendour inside the tanks and the other exhibits, the architecture is pretty  great as well ~ crazy we didn’t take shots of the building, except for this one…. I love the way they created a textured framework on the plain concrete wall.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium leaves you in awe at the wonders we have in our oceans and with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of life that inhabits the sea  ~  you leave, knowing we must protect them.

A line once said by Jacques Cousteau, placed on one of the aquarium’s walls….

….could not ring more true for us!