Garden Therapy

Hellebore in the City

This picture is for you, my sweet.

Tags: Wordless Wednesday

February 24 2010 | Flowers and Photography and Vancouver | 3 Comments »

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Day 11: Crowds! Downtown

Downtown Vancouver is something to see right now.  On Day 11 of the Olympics, I went downtown to do some Olympic sightseeing.  I went to visit Robson Square, the Olympic Cauldron, Olympic Village, some Pavilions, and just generally be outside in the bedlam.  And bedlam it was.  A sea of people everywhere you turned (in many places, especially the Skytrain, turning was impossible) all enjoying the city and air of sport. 

At Robson Square the skating rink has enough room for a good skate but the lines are very long.  You can pass the time by watching a busker (who were chosen through VANOCs own version of a talent competition: Busker Idol), or watch the people fly above you on the zip line.  The line up for the zip trek on a Monday morning was 6 hours long. 

The Olympic Cauldron is a beautiful sight and now that I have seen it I’m glad that it is fenced off  (with a photo / viewing hole) because the crowds in the area were so massive that you’d be hard pressed to see it at all through the hubbub.  Of course, you could wait in line for an hour to see it from the viewing platform above if you want to. 

Olympic Village is blocked off to pedestrian traffic so the best place to see it is from the seawall across from Canada Hockey Place & BC Place.  It was a beautiful walk from the Skytrain at Terminal past Russia House (nee Science World), Quebec House, Saskatchewan House, Molson Canadian Hockey House, and Ontario House.  We went into a few of the provincial houses, but really, if you aren’t at one of the houses to see a band or watch events, it’s just a large room promoting a province and serving expensive draft beer and greasy fried foods.

It’s not just crowds of people you’ll see during the Olympics.   Along the seawall people have decided to uproot every rock on the bank to create their own inukshuks.  I found a little spot and built my own; I’m still trying to come up with a name.

With all the people, you would think it would be pushy and noisy and impossible to get around.  But so far, I haven’t found it that way.  With the exception the night street parties on Granville street and Yaletown, people are very polite and respectful and generally here to have a good time.  Being a local I’ve been able to navigate away from the busiest skytrain stops, find parking almost everywhere, and get into restaurants without waiting in line.  All in all, it’s been an amazing experience, free of hassles as long as you arrive with a good attitude and couple of insider secrets in your back pocket.

Tags: inukshuk, Robson Square, Seawall, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 23 2010 | Photography and Vancouver | 2 Comments »

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Day 8: Granville Island

Granville Island is always a fun place.  The market showcases wonderful culinary ingredients for both the pros and the home chef.  The artists’ studios produce handmade originals from jewelry to apparel and invite you in to see the process.  The buskers in the centre court are top notch entertainers.  And Granville Island is also the home of Emily Carr University of Art and Design so it’s no wonder there are so many creative types around. 

It’s a treat to walk along the boardwalk to see the houseboats or the parade of mini water ferries marching to take tourists downtown.  And when you are ready to settle in for the evening, a wide range of great restaurants and entertainment abound. 

The additional events that are scheduled for the Olympics, plus the warm sun and happy buzzing of tourists from around the world, made for a perfect Day 8 (last Friday) at Granville Island.  The Island is the Official French Quarter, and the Place de Francophone (French House) served French food and music while broadcasting all of the events in French.  The Cultural Olympiad has brought in many forms of art to Granville Island, including works from the Portrait Gallery of Canada, a wide range of concerts and a very cool parade of characters from Big Nazo.  CODE Live 2 at Emily Carr University of Art and Design showcased all sorts of interesting projects as well.  I particularly liked Electromode and Company Keeper and Emotional Ties which showcased apparel with all sorts of mechanical functions resulting from interaction with the wearer or others.  While one outfit barked, another flashed LED messages and yet another molded to the wearer’s body shape when they put it on. 

With all of these cultural events and performances going on, one could still not forget why everyone is here in Vancouver.  The sea of red Canada hoodies from HBC and Roots were on about a third of every person, and the rest wore Canadian, US, German, Russian, Dutch, Australian, or one of the many other countries’ emblems in support.  There were smiles on faces despite the crowds, and delight from many to just bask in the sun by the ocean and mountains while enjoying the “Winter” Olympics.

Tags: Granville Island, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 22 2010 | Photography and Vancouver | 1 Comment »

Flora Friday: Bergenia

I think Bergenia is a great border or edging plant on the West Coast because this fast growing perennial’s elephant ear-shaped leaves often turn a dark burgundy colour over winter and send out these lovely pink blooms in the late winter / early spring.  Bergenia is quick to fill in a forgotten corner of the garden or adds low maintenance beauty under trees.  I use it as edging for my flower beds, under my dogwood, and to reduce soil erosion on a stepped bank near the neighbours. 

Tags: bergenia, Flora Friday

February 19 2010 | Gardening and Photography | 2 Comments »

I Can Almost Taste The Spring Salad

I think I’ll have a great crop of radishes in a few weeks with this warm sunny weather we have been having and my wonderful umbrella greenhouses.  I planted these just a few weeks ago and I already have to thin my seedlings. 

The lettuce and peas I’m growing under the other greenhouses are also doing really well.  I can’t wait for spring salad season!

Tags: greenhouse, radish

February 18 2010 | Gardening and Growing Food | 1 Comment »

Cheery Crocuses

Tags: crocus, Wordless Wednesday

February 17 2010 | Flowers and Photography | 4 Comments »

Spring is Here: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day February 15, 2010

What I find most interesting about the garden this month is how beat up all the plants are, especially the flowers, which is very much how I feel after braving winter’s cold days and long nights.  The blooms, like me, have clearly struggled to make it through the colder months but regardless have pushed on to respond to the balmy weather and send out colourful, fragrant flowers even if they have a few chewed edges and some dirt on them.  These early spring flowers are so different than in summer, who stand tall and strong in the warm sun and look and feel their very best.  The spring blooms look just as vibrant as those in summer but it’s a found energy, one that has been regenerating for a few months and then with all the strength one can muster, has shot up to brave a new season.  A beginning of a new year.   A new set of challenges.   A new set of opportunities.  Spring is here.

Tags: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

February 16 2010 | Flowers and Gardening and Photography | 3 Comments »

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Day 4: Canada’s First Gold!

Tonight Alexandre Bilodeau was awarded Canada’s first gold medal for Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Moguls. I was at LiveCity Yaletown to see him accept his medal at the Victory Ceremony (which was held at BC Place and broadcast at on the big screens).  There was a great deal of pride in the crowd and Alexandre was clearly overjoyed as can be seen by his body language in this photo.  Go Canada!

Tags: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 15 2010 | Photography and Vancouver | No Comments »

Vancouver 2010 Flash Mob Videos

Here is the official imagine1day video for the Flash Mob in Vancouver Saturday Feb 13, 2010 at 4PM:

And here are a few videos that have been posted so far on various other blogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QuBge8AQCI&feature=player_embedded

http://johnbishopimages.com/blog/2010/02/dancing-in-the-streets-vancouvers-first-flash-mob/

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Olympics2010/2010/02/14/FlashMob/

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii253/rareaaves/?action=view&current=DSCF0111.flv

Tags: Flash Mob, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 13 2010 | Vancouver | 4 Comments »

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Day 2: Flash Mob

Today thousands of people gathered on the streets of downtown Vancouver for Olympic festivities and I was lucky enough to be part of it by joining a flash mob.  A few weeks ago I heard about the flash mob and immediately signed up on Facebook, where I followed the instructional videos and learned the dance. At 3:30PM today I headed down to Robson and Thurlow where the street was so packed we people that I didn’t think we would be able to move much less dance.  We were supposed to be incognito until the music started as is customary with a flash mob, but the street was so packed with dancers and energy that there was cheering, a couple of waves and a pre-dance O Canada with red mitts waving in the air. 

So low key we were not, but when the music started playing (Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas) I found my groove and along with thousands of other excited Canadians, we danced the chorography and sang the words louder than the sound system.  I felt an amazing flow of shared energy for Vancouver, Canada, the Olympics and the cause that organized it all, imagine1day: Bringing quality primary education to every child in Ethiopia by 2020.

I’ll upload the video once it is pulled together by the organizers.  But in the meantime enjoy the photos and here are some of my favourite flash mob videos:

Oprah was surprised by a flash mob during a Black Eyed Peas performance during her 24th Season Opener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyLuIY8IyO4

There was the Sound of Music at Antwerp’s Central Station in Belgium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Then an incredible mash up at London’s Liverpool Street Station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM

Tags: Flash Mob, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 13 2010 | Photography and Vancouver | 3 Comments »