We are still waiting for snow. Some pictures from last year's first snow

What a Canvas!!

As some may come to realize, I love my river! The North Saskatchewan flows by the city I live and about 20 miles out, joins up with the South Saskatchewan. It is one of my favorite places to spend a day exploring the banks. I am thankful that my daughter loves to do the same. It is nice having someone to share a "find" with.

















The park by my house is so beautiful in any season. It is a favorite place to take a walk with the dogs. Mystic loves to play in the leaves and Daisy has her nose permanently fixed to the ground. I feel I am very lucky to live where I do. Um...please remind me of this post when there is 4 ft of snow on the ground and I have just come in from shovelling for an hour at -45C. LOL
I wish the rest of Canada a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Fall Colors

It is kind of sad when falls comes each year. Even though it is one of my favorite seasons. The geese can be heard as they prepare for their trip south. The gardeners are all busy getting things ready for the winter and for here...that is 6 months of snow and cold (sighhhhh). And I love to go for long walks with my camera and my "envelopes". The envelopes are for the collection of seeds (no ones back alley is safe...LOL).

Taking little jaunts through the bush trails I think is my favorite thing to do in the fall. The smell of the high bush cranberries is nearly intoxicating...and if lucky I get to hear the odd grunt of deer/moose/elk as it is nearing the rut. You know...I guess I should quit whining about winter here. Because in all honesty, by about the end of Oct, most are just waiting for that first snowfall! Of course by the end of Christmas, most are wishing for a Chinook to take it all away! I hope all are having a wonderful fall...and when you look up and see the geese flying over head, remember I sent greetings on their wings.

Fall is around the corner!

It won't be long before it turns cold I am afraid. Already we have had a night or two around the 1C mark. I am just hoping my cucumbers are productive. I got them in late so I guess I will just be happy with whatever size they are!

My apple trees did well this year. Well...one had more than the other but all in all I am quite satisfied. This is the third year since I put them in. Who knows...next year I might even have double the amount of this!

The Battle of the Aphids...I think they are winning.

From what I am told, I am not the only one to be suffering the "invasion". My front flower beds and the Virginia Creeper I have growing up the side of the house are filled...and I mean FILLED with aphids. If you go out the door, you hear the little critters start to move. By the time you are down the step you are waving your arms like a maniac. I am sure my neighbors across the street think I have taken up some new type of dancing to go with the music that blares out of my daughter's bedroom window. OMG...I just realized...I have turned into my mother!!! Well there could be alot worse things. She was kinda cool lady.

I have consulted various other gardeners, books and even a nursery or two. And basically they have all suggested the same thing. Liquid dish soap and oil. So today I have tried it. If anything, the oil brings out a nice sheen to the leaves, petals and even the brick of the house. When Cala the Destructor tasted a wee puddle, she snorted and barked at it...so...if nothing else, I think I have discovered a deterent to Cala and her ever digging feet and chewing face.

An Observation

I was at the lake the other day and noticed something that really has me bothered. Behind our cabin is forest preserve. And cropping up through out are delphiniums. We all know that they seed themselves on the wind. Though they are beautiful flowers, one of my favorites I might add, they are intrusive. Especially to an already fragile ecosystem. So, I feel it is necessary to remind many eager gardeners to remember. Think and plan not only your gardens, but the effects it will have on nature. I myself prefer the natural state of things at the lake...but for those that want to "beautify" try to keep it to your yard only. Ok...enough of my soap box. I hope all have a wonderful civic holiday (well at least those that celebrate the August long weekend).

What kind of tree is this??

I am hoping someone can identify this bush/tree for me. I don't know what it is but I like it. So do the birds! Some may think it is a pest as it crops up all over the yard...but I like it and so do the dogs. Great for shade!