All Around the Laurel Bush

Cottager and I snuck away for a bit of a break and some gardening this weekend. I decided to just concentrate on one area – the laurel. It grows beside – or possible out of – a huge cedar stump and with a few boxwoods and A TON of ivy and St. John’s Wort, constitutes a little island in my garden, encircled by a meandering path. Some previous owner built this box (planter? bench?), which I thought to finish off as a bench one day. But first, the area needed a massive trim.  I had no idea St. John’s Wort was so invasive! A mat of its tender white shoots is snaking under the landscaping fabric on the paths. It has joined holly, Oregon grape and blackberry on my ‘most wanted’ list.

So here are front and back views just a little after I got started, when I first realized that some ‘before pictures’ were going to be necessary.

looking up to the cottage and ...

Looking down from the cottage

And here is how it looks now, after about 6 hours of pruning and yanking. If the power hadn’t been out all day, I would have gotten the electric trimmers out and then you’da seen som’thin! Still, I’m happy with the result so far. I will probably take more ivy out from around the big stump, but I saved that for another day. And as for the box: This spot gets lots of sun and is on my watering system. So now, I’m thinking of filling it up with good soil and planting big red dahlias – or juicy red tomatoes.  I just wish I could get both in there. 

All tidied up and presentable

And the back view…

And one more view because I’m so happy with the results –

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#7 – The 10 Best Things About Gibsons, B.C. – Sea Cavalcade

Every year in July the town of Gibsons throws a fun party for all ages known in the local shorthand as Sea Cav.

It’s an ambitious festival for the size of the town. Maybe almost too ambitious, as rumours swirl from time to time that if more sponsors and more volunteers aren’t found it could be cancelled.  Events typically kick off around 5 pm on Friday afternoon and go right through to Sunday evening.  There’s a barbeque, live music, aerial demonstrations by the Fraser Blues Formation team, games, ceremonies, a pageant and fireworks. And that’s just the Friday evening program. On Saturday there is a bike race and a running race, then a parade, a fun fair, and a street dance in the evening. On Sunday there’s a pancake breakfast, a swimming race, loggers sports, a regatta and a party in Dougall Park. So, something for everyone. 

The best of it, in our family’s opinion, are the fireworks, the parade and the street dance, with honourable mention to the aerial demonstrations and boat demolition (aka sea rescue demonstration.) 

The fireworks are great because you can arrive two minutes before they start and still get an unobstructed seat on the seawall.

 The parade is very tongue in cheek, and home spun. If you aren’t in it, you watch it, and vice versa. 

And the street dance has awesome potential. Two years ago, the weather was good but the band was…talented, but ill-suited to the occasion, as they played mostly their original songs. Last year, there was a rocking cover band, but the rain shut the dance down early.  And next year, I won’t be there at all as the cottage is already rented during Sea Cav weekend. My kids are as sad about that as I am, as they like to have their city friends over and run wild.

Be sure to check out Sea Cav if you get the chance. Here’s the link for festival info and includes pictures from last year’ s event: http://www.seacavalcade.ca/

Austin Powers at the Sea Cavalcade parade

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