Honey Grove

This was the cottage we rented while house hunting in the Comox Valley. A five acre pastorale in the hamlet of Merville about 20 minutes outside the town of Comox.
                                                                     

Cottage and fenced garden for our exclusive use

Veggie garden and greenhouse were the other side of the fence

Barn and...

ducks.

Calendula is added to beeswax salves when dry

We were gently buzzed a few times in a friendly way.

Cherry trees were loaded with fruit

More abundance

The hops were planted tepee fashion around a tall and sturdy tree

The "alarm clock" lived beside the cottage

Inside was divine too. The following are from Honey Grove's website. Honey Grove Cottage and Apiary

The bedroom has a door opening onto the garden and the view beyond. We slept with it open.

Filled to the brim with luxurious lavender products and gardening magazines for bath time bliss

                                                   
Day two of house hunting, Dr. Bob was outstretched on the deck. With an expansive wave of his arm, he declared,"I want this".  Me too.
                                                                           

The Movie Theatre Garden

I love coming upon the unexpected, especially where gardens are concerned. I found this one a few years ago while killing time between one ferry and the next. It belongs to the Patricia Theatre in the National Historic District of Powell River.

Powell River, for those who have yet to discover it, is an enchanting area on the upper Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. It seems only a relatively few people know of it, but those who do are completely drawn into its magic. In fact I ended up missing the next two ferries and had to rush to catch the last one. I would have dearly loved to stay but we had family (im)patiently waiting for us further down the coast.

Ann Nelson runs the theatre and maintains the garden and holds down a day job to help cover costs.  Her indomitable spirit has recently suffered a serious dent as the venerable 98 yr old theatre, the oldest continuously running theatre in BC, perhaps all of Canada, is under threat. The cost of essential modernization is, at this point, beyond Ann’s means. All over North America we are losing these beautiful old theatres. If the Patricia goes Ann loses her home and livelihood, the community loses a cultural and social resource and what will happen to the garden is anybody's guess.

For more info: http://patriciatheatre.com/
http://discoverpowellriver.com/

Photographs: Nicole Narbonne, skeenastreetstudio.ca

Garden Escapes in London

Are you are going to London for the 2012 Olympics?  London is crowded and noisy at the best of times and you may need to take a break from the hustle and bustle. Two of my favourite restorative spots are hidden in the centre of London.

The Barber Surgeons' Garden

If you’re feeling stressed the fragrances in this garden will be a soothing delight. There has been a garden here since 1555. Originally planted as a physic or medicinal garden by the Barber Surgeons Company it was restored in 1987. Today it has conventional formal and informal areas plus 45 small plots displaying medicinal herbs and plants used from medieval to current times.
It is right next to the Museum of London where refreshments can be obtained, or bring a picnic. Close by are St Paul’s Cathedral, the Barbican Art Gallery and the Old Bailey courthouse.
Location: Monkwell Square off Wood Street. A short walk from St Pauls or Barbican Underground Stations

 Christchurch/Greyfriars Church Garden

Full of shrub and climbing roses, I make a point of visiting this garden each time I am in London. A church was established here in 1225 by the Grey Friars monastic order. Only a tower (private residence) now remains from a second church built after the Great Fire of London. The rose garden established in 1989 follows the floor plan of the earlier church with low box hedges representing the original position of the pews, trees outlining the nave and ten wooden towers, draped with climbing plants, following the line of roof pillars. Just a note: Ghosts are reported to haunt the garden at night. True or not there is an air of mystery about this garden but it gives off nothing but peaceful vibes. Location: On the corner of King Edward and Newgate Street, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, a few minutes from St Paul’s Underground Station.