November, and the petunias still bloom

I believe these petunias have set a record for the latest bloom here in my garden at Tete Jaune.

In spite of the of the cold and frosty landscape they are still a bright spot on the deck



Halloween Snowfall

We can usually expect snow for Halloween and here it is.  A good day to stay indoors and read gardening books!

It's Fall

Fall has arrived, most of the leaves have gone and we have had our first snow fall.  One of the bright spots in this picture has been the wonderful sunrise the last few mornings.  The mountains are absolutely beautiful with all the fresh snow on the peaks.

The other bright spot is a pot of petunias still blooming bravely on the front deck.  I am hoping they break the record set a few years ago.



Bubblegum Petunias - October 27, 2011





More Lilac Walk 2011

The Lilac Allee

Linda and Vanessa - Lilac Allee

Sensation in foreground
Peerless Pink and President Lincoln in background

Lilacs at the Culp Farm this spring

I'd like to share a few pictures of the lilacs at the Culp Farm this season. Like all the other lilacs in the valley, the blooms were amazing. What a show.

Blueberry Picking Time

This has been one of the best years for blueberries that I can remember. I have been picking berries in the Valley for over 50 years, so that is saying something. We have been picking buckets of them. There are literaly miles and miles of berries. I guess the cool wet summer has been good for something!

The pantry shelves are full of delicious sauces and jellies, and the freezer is stuffed with bags and bags of beautiful berries.

The Biggest Lilac

As the summer winds down, it is fun to look at some of the images we enjoyed this year. This was one of the best bloom years we have had .... possibly ever.
Bonnie Culp's lilacs were spectacular again. Here is a picture of Villosa. I think it must be the biggest lilac in the Robson Valley.

The Last of the Lilacs

Miss Kim

The lilacs are over for another year. What a spectacular bloom it was this year. Miss Kim perfumed the garden for almost two weeks. One could not help but breath in that wonderful scent all over the yard and garden.



The lilacs were followed by a great peony display. There were hundreds of blooms this year.

Ivory Silk

The tree lilacs also had many blooms. Ivory Silk has grown to about 25 feet. The Japanese tree lilac is much smaller, but I do like its shape much more.

Japanese Tree Lilac

More Lilac Walk Pictures

Here are some more pictures of the Lilac Walk

Sensation

Albert Holden

Lilac Walk 2011 - A Perfect Day

Lilac Hedge

Sunday, June 12 was the perfect day for a lilac walk. About 150 joined us to enjoy the lilacs at their best bloom in several years.

Approximately 85 lilacs were in bloom this year. Even a few in the new Bavarian Garden showed a bit of color.

Lilac Allee

Lilac Allee

After strolling through the garden, doing the lilac quiz and guessing how many lilacs were in the garden, guests enjoyed coffee and treats.

11th Annual Lilac Walk

Secret Garden Lilacs at Procter, BC

It's that time of year. We are gearing up for our Annual Lilac Walk. This year the lilac walk will once again be at both gardens. On Sunday, June 12th join us for the sweet scent of lilacs.

Start at the Culp Farm at 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 and view the huge collection of lilacs in a lovely pastoral setting and next to the pond. Select varieties will be available for purchase at the farm.

Continue on to the Blackman's Secret Garden at Tete Jaune where the collection is in a deep forest setting. From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. enjoy tea in the garden or on the deck overlooking the river.

The lilac buds are starting to show some color and we are hoping for a great bloom for you to enjoy.

Spring, finally!

A sure sign of spring is the blooming of the double bloodroot under the "Primrose" lilac in my garden. While some snow and ice remains along the Fraser River, it is definitely feeling like spring is finally here.

On a trip up the mountain yesterday, two black bears were sighted, another Spring sign. Growing in a wet boggy spot, I spied the first wild flowers. I think they are a type of saxifrage. Correct me if I am wrong.

The BrideThe Bride is one of the Skinner lilacs in my collection. This lilac was purchased at the International Lilac Convention's auction. I hope to add more Skinner lilacs in the future. My favorite Skinner lilac has to be Excel. Pictures of it are posted earlier on this blog. Second choice would have to be Maidens Blush. This lilac never fails to perform here in my garden.

Maiden's Blush

Frank Skinner developed these lilacs in the harsh Canadian climate of Manitoba. They are perfect for my garden in the Canadian Rockies although they do require a site with a bit of protection from the winter winds off the Fraser River.

The Lilac Allee

After finding the Lilac Allee at Mt. Cuba Centre on the web I decided to get into the spirit for the 2012 International Lilac Convention in Nancy,France. Therefore I have decided to rename my "Lilac Walk" the "Lilac Allee." As the photo above shows, the Lilac Allee at Mt. Cuba is much more formal and better maintained than is mine.

As I have many pots of lilacs that must be planted out this year, the plan is to extend the walk, creating a gently curving grassy path with lilacs on both sides. The current lilac walk is about 90 feet long. It was originally a one sided planting with a 5 foot bed of perennials and bulbs surrounding a very small planting of lilacs. Originally there were only 5 lilacs planted in the row: Sensation, Belle de Nancy, Grande Flora Alba, President Grevy and Miss Canada. Several years later I added a row on the other side.

Last fall I planted out another row of lilacs which now will be joined with additional plantings to the original walk. This should create a wonderful allee approximately 300 feet long. This time around I will lay landscape fabric and mulch so that I do not end up with the maintenance nightmare of dealing with all the grass in the planting. Wish me luck.

SPRING 2011

After a very long cold snowy winter, I have found my enthusiasm for my lilac garden again. Last year I spent almost no time in the garden. The lilacs suffered terribly in the spring of 2010 after a crazy freezing/thawing February. I am back on track again with great plans to rejuvinate my garden and my lilac collection. After signing up with WWOOF Canada I am hoping to have some help in doing just that.


Looking back at photos of the lilacs last fall, I see how both Miss Kim and Palabin really contribute to color in the garden late in the season. We should all plant more of these season extending lilacs.

Palabin

Miss Kim