There's More Fun In Gardening

It's not in my way to boast about my intelligence nor how smart I can be. Let us forget about that topic and let us continue to be "normal."

People hate smart people. I don't know why. While some other people like people who are smarter than them. You may ask yourself why.

Humility is something you lose when you think you have it so... enough said. We cannot all be Einstein or Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory or Young Sheldon. We all can dream dreams and make our dreams our master and being conceited is not part of the main event in blogging.

Daydreaming on Sunday morning. I should attend mass but I'm too lazy to visit the Church. Don't worry I pray all the time. I think of God and the laws of God plus reading "Our Daily Bread" help me to become righteous if not think of godly ways to be Christian and mind my own business. To discipline myself and have control of my own mind and heart that what I'm doing is always for the good of my family and everything that surrounds me. Attend to my garden and be happy with what's happening right now because the dahlias are getting active in its dominance of  showing off their fresh, pretty blooms.

Burgundy dahlia

Amethyst dahlia

 I was disappointed at first that the first bloom of flowers were the "burgundy colors" then next is the first "amethyst dahlia" of its kind. The white dahlias don't know yet when it's their time to bloom. Too many buds are sprouting in those dahlia plants now measure over 4 ft. tall in height and because I planted some of these dahlias in cluster (tubers in clumps instead of just 2-3 tubers in one planting) each cluster occupies so much space on the ground. An error have to correct next spring time. However, my husband was amazed that I planted the dahlias in cluster because I made use of the space properly and the blooms are much spectacular instead of one stalk, one flower technique. That's right have to consider that. If I didn't plant the dahlias in cluster, I wont have space for the sunflowers to grow on the flower beds.

So why I'm into gardening now and writing about plants, flowers and veggies? Simply because blogging that makes me happy is part of the deal in the blogworld. It is the common universal effect of harmonious relationship with other bloggers who are also fond of gardening. You wont believe there are many gardeners who are defenders of dahlias. There will be many gardeners and horticulturists who are defenders of the clematis, lilies, peonies, petunias, sunflowers and roses. It wont be thousands of acres only for chrysanthemums, tulips and hydrangeas in British Columbia. There's no acreage of sunflowers farm in BC but Ontario has one and they closed it down this year because of the sudden swarm of  humans having selfie modes in the sunflowers field wrecking their plantation. Human beings are always attracted to something beautiful and something artsy wonderful... and the Lord God made them all. He he he. Now, I'm being funny here. Ciao. Have a great day folks. Spread happiness because its contagious.

Individual Intelligence

The limit of your intelligence, the limit of your knowledge depends on what you had learned from your teacher's knowledge from elementary, high school to college. To have access to deeper, higher learning you always have to rely on many integral books available in the library and the information you read from encyclopedia, information and knowledge from watching TV as indispensable tools right there from your own home,  better yet... info through the internet (computers) are a plus. As I said limitless in knowledge and information through high tech gadgets set the trend in the new generation of well equipped students. Computers are your armor to growth leading the path to success.

Travel to different parts of your country to other countries around the world also help in learning other people's custom, tradition, heritage, beliefs, religion, education and way of life.

To see is to believe that you as a person or individual need the actual physical presence in places where you want to gain access to its environment. It's a matter of hands-on experiences to learn what you can see, hear, touch, smell and feel. Your five senses are required for introspection and investigation. To add ESP or Extra Sensory Perception if you have it then that's totally amazing and outstanding, as beyond compare.

Nothing compares to you? Your access will be different from anybody else. Having ESP is futuristic and instinct beyond the realm of the senses. Advancement in Science and the Laws of Physics can lead you to higher, deeper knowledge but most of all higher consciousness is required in things unfathomable by other less gifted.

To explain this further... is for the BOOK.

Writers especially novelists tend to be secretive in matters of  "trust no one." It's for the book. You might as well write your own book because intelligence is an individual's acquisition of knowledge. My knowledge is for my own gain. Learn according to the use of your brain power as I use my own logic, perception, my own knowledge and intelligence.

evjvt2019

Now & Then On Memory Lane

All of a sudden old memories keep flowing in through my memory lane and one of those oldies have something to do with my Science teacher in Elementary. I was in Grade Six that time when the whole class was dismissed and I was about to get out from the door out to the next subject and then my teacher Miss C. (let us not divulge her name for privacy reason) called me and asked something out from ordinary. I was surprised when she asked me this question. She called me in my first name and questioned me with this one particular question, " do you think lizards have teeth?"

What? Seriously? Why she asked me that kind of weird question? I didn't ask her why she is asking me a very strange question. It's not even part of the subject that we are studying in her class. Our Science subject in Grade 6 is about planets, solar system, galaxy, everything about the universe, it's all about astronomy. Anyway, I paused and think. I knew that lizards catch their prey or insects using their long tongues but I never seen lizards opening their mouth showing their teeth and or had seen lizards with teeth. I told her that maybe lizards have teeth but very small. Depends on what type of lizard. The crawling lizard on the ceiling or walls of the house (most houses in Philippines) are really small, probably 2 -3 inches in length and most of the time its their tongues that they used to catch those mosquitoes and insects near the daylights or lamps. That's all what she wants to find out. It was a random question and she didn't ask me again.

Many years had passed. 29 years ago!!!!! I was reading an encyclopedia year 2005 (The New Book Of Knowledge published in 1980) when I encountered that "lizard" terminology given to a certain part of the solar system. OMG! Is that what she is asking or just being curious about such constellation?

Or I could be wrong. Maybe she wants to know about draco rizali. The draconian?! Why? What is she up to? I could only think that she was probably writing a book in 1976. Just watch GAME OF THRONES baka the secrets are out. Ha ha ha! Joke lang.

That's it folks! The new generation of kids are much better and knowledgeable in today's absorption of knowledge because of the many modern books available. Plus the availability of modern technology, the computers, modern high-tech gadgets. They are now equipped with modern technology. What is modern in my time? We have TV + radio and stereo. We have old second-hand  television with antenna on top of our roof. On the rooftop of our house and the antenna wiggled when there is strong winds and thus change channels by itself, sometimes the TV screen had those vertical and horizontal lines on the screen when channel is lost. There is no remote control. You have to change channel by standing beside the TV and push buttons or change channels through the big circular pad and click it around like operating a clock. My books at home when I was in Grade School were: the 4 inch-thick Oxford Dictionary, Your Country & Mine (the book I was reading since age 4), World History book by Zaide that belongs to my sister who was in High School that time. I only get the chance to read JAMA magazines and Reader's Digest when I visit the Army General Hospital. My parents buy newspapers everyday. I watched television news to know what's happening around the globe other than that some hoard news were all we got during those days. News such as Canadians live on igloos and the Filipinos live on stilt houses. America has the Kennedys and Reagans, and Patricia Hearst. Old news that China was really old, etc, etc. still was the cradle of civilization. Hong Kong happens to be the symbol of  wealth and modern skyscrapers... those were the olden days. There will always be ultra-modern towers and skyscrapers taller and higher than anything you have seen as the competition arises trying to reach the sky up to heaven. Stiff competition until they reach the level: Tower of Babel.

So, I think the new generation has better way of accumulating knowledge at present time. They are lucky and fortunate because they are benefited though the advancement of modern technology. Actually, some of them do not need to go to schools because if you own computers and if you know how to read and comprehend you can make use of your own intelligence and learn through the help of computers. Infinity. Knowledge is infinite using computers. Your computer is your own library.


Kids don't waste your time. You have the ultra-modern technology just within your reach. Use your high tech gadgets and computers that will help you gain MORE knowledge  and use it for your advancement in learning. Computers are not only for games, definitely not just for gamers.

Seedlings

What am I doing lately that is useful for everyone? Do I blog for myself only? First and foremost in blogging is to be contented with what you have in mind. Right! I am the blogger and the blogwriter therefore I blog to please myself not my readers. Blogs are meant to be a personal diary. It is the blogwriter's initiative and preference whether the written words apply to anybody or just the one who writes the composition. It is not meant to satisfy the needs of the reader or make the other fellow happy. Each blog is an individual's personal opinion and idea. I don't really need to explain this. However, being educated and nice > we all should have restrictions on what we can write on this platform. Or better yet inform the readers to have their own dominion, on their own blogs and write their own opinions and ideas. That's what it is here.

Anyway, I am experimenting once again.

 I bought a healthy-looking papaya. It was a green papaya and I thought it was good for achara (pickling). I cut opened the green papaya and I was amazed of its seeds inside. Plenty of seeds.

 I told myself have to dry them first before I plant the seeds. You think papaya will grow on Canadian soil? Not that I know of. Maybe on greenhouses or covered and controlled greenhouses. We don't have greenhouses. I have a box with soil on it and that I will use it for a bed for these perfect seedlings.

 The photo above is called the beef tomato. It's really big! Big, big, big! Lots of seeds in it. Hundreds of seeds.

Add the oranges with its seeds. You wont believe that I cut opened 6 oranges and only two oranges have seeds in it. Seven seeds from those two lucky oranges fruit. 4 orange fruits without seeds. It's hard to believe that eh? Farmers what are you doing with oranges?

Cut open some lemons and you wont see any seed or you might find seeds only after you cut open dozen lemons.

Cherries? No problem with cherries. It's not a cherry without the seed on that fruit. lol.
I planted the cherry seeds, check! Beef tomatoe seeds, check /  orange seeds / check /  The papaya seeds...
have to plant them today.

The First Commandment Is To Honor Your Father & Mother

I was sitting there at the backyard, at our patio staring at the garden, watching some of the creatures out there: birds, dragonfly (just one and its color of majestic blue), the busy black ants, the yellow jackets, the moths, no butterfly yet not even a single one. Once in a while I looked up in the sky and the clouds and the different formation of the clouds and the jets having those V formation one jet on its arrival to the airport maybe and the other jet in opposite path for its departure to its destination. Then I saw this one particular small bird, first time to have seen it because most of the time the birds around this area are mostly robins, seagulls, crows, ravens and eagles. The small bird with white and black colors and stripes on its head...that's a different one and haven't seen it anywhere in this island only now. What could it be? I looked up through the internet and google it. Through the images I learned that the bird is known as warbler.

I had seen woodpecker, hummingbird, chickadees before in the forest and this warbler is not so common. It's unusually tame that it didn't even flew when I was just steps away from it because the bird is chasing a big ant. It followed the big ant until it reached the sunflower beds. The bird finally caught the fast moving black ant and devoured it with its beak. Persistence is the bird's nature of prey, not wasting time probably so hungry. Oh my strange as it is. Curiosity on why the bird prefers the ant instead of other bugs on the yard? Early bird catches the worm? This is part of the critical thinking, asking yourself why. How you judge the bird on its food preference. Why some creatures are different from one another. Everyday, there will be something weird and fascinating to see and stories to tell. Some stories are simple, some stories are delightful with moral lesson and unforgettable characters and deeds. There are tall stories and stories of fantasy and adventure. Our parents do their best in storytelling only if you are not busy to comprehend and understand. Listen and (have) focus.

 I know, Father's Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm and happiness just like when Mother's Day is celebrated in May. I think it's better to celebrate it at the same time instead and name it as PARENTS' DAY. But the idea of this is you know commercialism. Whatever is the right, true, correct deeper meaning for such occasion we must honor, respect such event because our very own Mother and our very own Father are very special, important people in our life. Nobody can replace them in our hearts.

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. ~ Proverbs 23:24

HAPPY FATHER's DAY!
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY
today, everyday, always and forever.

Survival Of The Fittest

Thank God it's Friday and it's the 14th day of June 2019. Thank God everyday is a new day and a new beginning.

 Look at this lovely, gorgeous plant. It's a palm tree. How could that awful, hot weather is drying this palm tree? There is something wrong. It's been take care of to the fullest. It has received love, care and attention. It received all the food nutrients for its growth.

What must be done to keep this palm tree alive?

 

 How to rescue and revive the palm tree from dying is to transfer and replant the palm tree to a much bigger pot. My bigger ceramic pot is now occupied with beautiful bougainvillea and the second mid-size ceramic pot has the Japanese bamboo while the smallest ceramic pot has dahlia.

Why not have that empty plastic pot instead. It's an empty gallon container used for paint and I'm sure that's useful for the purpose of planting that palm. I cleaned it first of course. My husband drilled some holes for the plant to breathe in down there. Put some gravel at the bottom of the container and then shove a mixture of soil, compost pit and sand in the container.

Being resourceful is also my passion.
 My very obedient daughter is being helpful with gardening.

 She's got the strength to do the work of a gardener.

 Release the palm tree from the old plastic container by cutting all the sides out, gently not to harm the roots. Be careful not to shock their roots.

 I had my turn.

Lifted the palm tree to transfer the tree to the new container with new kind of enriched soil.
Palm tree you are now to live on Cloverdale's plastic container pot.
Wait until I get the biggest ceramic pot and I can transplant you again.
Until then BE HAPPY and thrive forever as you like it your life to be.

 I hope the palm tree will live and regain its own strength and why not? Two incredible ladies managed to let this tree survives.

Bye, bye for now. CHEERS!

The Plants In My Garden

 The petunia plant that we bought from Canadian Tire has outgrown its normal size 

to almost double its size. Thanks to "Miracle Gro."

More... or the right word is miraculously plenty of bright, vibrant red/marooned flowers

of this petunia variety.

The  planter hanging from the fence also boasts mixed of beautiful flowers

 while the clematis has its own radiance of showing off its pink color now stands 44 inches

The sunflowers tower 2 ft. 5 inches

the rest of their species are shorter than 2 ft.

August is the right month for them to bloom

Or Who knows it will be sooner than later

With the amount of fertilizer " the Miracle Gro" they received once a week surely

these beautiful plants will thrive and brighten up my days

My garden is well taken care of,  the plants are healthy with the love and attention they truly deserve.

Me & Rosie

Me & Rosie the pet dog

I don't know what year it was when this photograph above was taken. I'm sure that it was on Christmas Day at my parents-in law's home and on my lap was "Rosie, the puppy" who grew up to be a dog. It was my sister-in-law's pet dog, given by my Mom Jean (Mother-in-law) after Marcy lost her two fluffy haired and chubby cats. I'm guessing that this picture was photographed in the year 2008 maybe? It's now year 2019 and poor dear Rosie had finally finished her dog's life. It is with great sadness that Rosie passed away last Monday and I'm sure my sister-in-law was grieving and devastated because of this loss. Rest in peace Rosie!

Food Is Important For A Family

It's only 15 degrees celsius today and unusually windy. I can hear the sound of the wind kind of creepy. Don't tell me there's a storm coming? Weird or what? But that's a sign that the weather is changing from Spring to Summer in the next days to come. It's like a whirlwind battle. To go or not to go. To be or not to be, that is the question.

The palm tree and the lily on those plastic pots were blown away by the harsh, unruly wind. I should have them transfer to a heavy, bigger ceramic pot. Then I decided to just plant the autumn lily on the ground instead. The Palm tree? I have to buy a huge ceramic pot next time. A big ceramic pot is expensive and I don't have extra money for such planter at this point in time.

Roof over our head first and second... food!

Food is always the most important in my husband's mind. He likes when there is food being cooked on the stove or in the oven. He loves food.

We don't visit and dine in at restaurants that I have to cook decent meals everyday and make my husband happy.

Cheers! Ciao for now and be overjoyed with food while watching TV shows. Remember it's Wednesday today.

Creativity In The Most Boring Days

The wildfire in Alberta as if its a thick wall kind of extreme wildfire almost like desert storm as shown on TV News. Incredible! You can only see something like that of gigantic proportion in movies. Is that really "real?" Extreme, excessive smoke coming out from everywhere in Northern Alberta as firefighters battle this massive wildfire have those Canadians wearing smoke masks as the city within that area of wildfire is contained. Smoky, hazy film atmosphere, as if fog lingers and surround the vicinity. People were evacuated of course. Who wants to stay and live in their city: High Level & Slave Lake with smog filthy air  as if its the planet of  Riddick? Vin Diesel's probably producing a movie in that smoky regions of Alberta. It's not a laughing matter for those who are affected and those with respiratory problems. Excuse me! Pray for the Albertans who are suffering from this kind of wildfire and if its not wildfire its tornadoes. We should all pray that there will be no wildfire ever again. Be extra cautious. Keep everyone safe from harm.

We are lucky and fortunate to have a better, clear and present opportunity of clean and safe environment except for some fluffy seeds floating in the air caused by cottonwood trees. Those fluffy whites of fiberfill looked-like snow when they touched the ground. It's okay, that will only last for 2-3 weeks at the most until those seeds are taken and carried away by the winds away from me or when the island experience some kind of storm.

Know what? Those cottonwood trees should be cut down for the purpose of sculpture and firewood. Leave those douglas fir trees, spruce, pine trees and sequioa trees alone. Just cut down the cottonwood trees. lol.
Now that's funny eh?

If you are curious what I did today? Know what? I asked my daughter to help me move those heavy ceramic pots to the backyard. Some people followed the front porch approach (Americans), others followed the backyard approach (Canadians). I transferred the fuschia bougainvillea and  re-planted  it from the small plastic pot to that bigger ceramic pot.

I couldn't believe how fast that bougainvillea plant grows. This bougainvillea has grown 7 inches since at the time I bought it from Canadian Tire last may 11, 2019. Wow! Truly amazing!!


It's only 16 degrees celsius today. I'm not sure if the weather temperature will go up today or drop. As I said before there is unpredictability when it comes to weather temperature at the island. Sudden drop of temperature can change body functions and metabolism. Surely it will also affect the lives of plants and animals.

So far hasn't capture any of those garden visitors such as the white cabbage moths and swallowtails. Butterflies are the most difficult to capture through the lens. I can't stay there at the garden 24/7 just to take a shot of those winged creatures. In previous years I did captured few butterflies and dragonflies where there are abundance of these creatures because we lived steps away from the forest. Actually we had that one lone black grizzly bear outside of the fence of the yard and few deers eating those blackberries. I don't think deers and bears will be bold and courageous enough to show their presence at the yard because the forest is way, way too far away from where we are residing and the ocean is just nearby and I haven't walk down there. Whatever! My skin complexion is starting to get dark brown. I haven't been swimming in chlorinated pool since 15 years ago. I don't know if the water system in our shower/faucet has chlorine. Do you know the smell of chlorine? If I can't smell chlorine or bleach then there's no chlorine in the water. Maybe it's best to swim at McIvor lake because I'm being boring here.