2025 Summer Garden Update

 I have been here for 5 years now and the garden is looking the way I envisioned it. The bank to the lake, which was taken back to clay when I had the new sea wall blocks put in, is covered again with Crown Vetch, Sweet Peas, Thistles, Teasles, Wild Mustard and Sumac. It is full of butterflies, birds, bugs and, at night, fire flies.

The front garden is a mass of colour. Unfortunately I don't know the names of many of the plants as I have purchased them from driveway sales, grown them from Steve's seeds or purchased them from Northland Nursery (without taking the pictures of the hoop frame label).

Along with the Orange (ditch) Day Lilies I have a variety of Hybrid Lilies.

 

The Day Lilies come in the common orange as well as a burnt red and a bright yellow.

Daisies and

Coneflower

are in bloom right now.

It wasn't until I put the photos on to my computer that I noticed how many of the flowers have bugs on them. Insect habitat.

The Hydrangea are also starting to flower.

Only the second year for the Oak Leaf Hydrangea and the first time it has flowered.

Some other varieties are not quite there yet.

One of my favorites;

Butterfly Weed.

Tomatoes and Peppers are coming along, though the chipmunk has chewed two of the peppers and taken them off the plant. I now have chicken wire around that plant to try and protect subsequent produce. Chipmunks are cute, especially the babies that have since grown into pesky adults.

I have been taking my camera out onto the front porch, in the morning, with my coffee, trying to get a photo of a Hummingbird. I am not currently feeding the birds and so the morning coffee is much quieter but not as entertaining. Young Female Red Winged Blackbird looking for food.

This Hummingbird sits on the Lime Light Hydrangea and defends her territory - the front flower bed and 2 feeders on the front porch. If another Hummingbird tries to feed there she squeaks and dive bombs and drives it away with aerial acrobatics. 

Colour Mandela finished and hung in the hallway.

Next on the frame - Moonlit Fox, designed by Carolyn Stich.

Buck Moon and Yucca flower.

Port Dover Canada Day, 2025

 Rick and I just planned on going to the dog show today, having watched, and last year, been in, the boat parade. It was advertised as starting at 11am but turned out that was for dog registration and it didn't start until noon. So we parked our chairs, buy the ring, in the shade, and headed down to watch the boat parade from the museum dock.

We were just in time

 

as the lift bridge was up to let the sail boats and bigger tugs out of the river.

All types of water craft

with lots of calling out to friends between boats and the wharf.

Amazing Grace is a reliable representative of the Yacht Club.

The river gets a bit backed up as everyone waits their turn to do a "donut" in front of the crowds on the pier.

The museum wharf was not as crowded as the pier or the commercial basin docks and was close to Tim Hortons for a quick visit to the bathroom and a snack.

Zatarra came in from the lake as she is in the outer marina, representing the Long Point Yacht Club. We were on her last year.

The Leonard S, our biggest fishing tug, heading back in.

 Then it was back up to Powell Park for the dog show:

 

In the past the dogs came in to the ring in classes ie competing for best trick, best tail, best grooming etc

but this year they came in 2 groups of about 30 dogs each 

and they were called to walk around one by one

and show tricks

if they had them. For some their only trick

was looking cute but

a lot shook paws or

rolled over.

This ones special talent was singing on cue.

Most were obviously family pets but

some looked like they belonged

in the show ring.

They were all very well behaved.

There was a break while scores were tabulated and then prizes were awarded - best dog/owner bond, best ears, best groomed, best puppy, oldest dog, best tricks and best in show.

Then home, feeling we had been well entertained.

Chris and Jason went to Centre Island where Cigi enjoyed her first "rides".

 

HAPPY CANADA DAY!