FLOWERS AND FIRE

So - here we are and well - here we are again with pictures of our garden.

We do leave the park once in a while but what really holds our attention when we aren't working is what's in bloom or what's growing or what's ready to eat!

We are finding it hard to believe that it's the end of July with our next camping hurdle is upon us. Derek and I equate our working season to a marathon with the long weekends being the hurdles. The August long - which is British Columbia's Family Day - this Monday - is one of the largest. Summer is in full swing ..... This weekend promises to be very busy especially since after some cool and wet weather we will be back into the heat -- 35C to 38C here in the Okanagan. 

Here is a picture of one of the amazing poppies we had in our front garden for the last few weeks. 

And the amazing rudbeckia. I showed you them a couple of posts ago but they really grew to impress.

This post was to be full of pictures from our day at the Fintry Estate Summer Fair on July 12th. Unfortunately, Derek and I were too busy working to go but thankfully Cassia was able to attend with friends of ours. I was able to take this picture of Cassia visiting with the Alpacas early in the morning. Cute eh?! Quite the hair cuts.

Last week Cassia's Aunt and Cousins came to visit us for a few days. Here is Cassia with her only cousins - Krysta and Tylar. She was one excited little girl when they arrived. They have the same eyes - right?!

Krysta helping Cassia with strawberry picking. Cas is the designated picker because she is the only one that can get in the cage.

A group photo before they left - Lisa is Derek's lovely sister.

Just as they were leaving we entered into the most exciting event of the summer. A wildfire began on Sunday night about 10 kms south of the Park due to a lightning strike. It was reported to have been contained but by Monday night it had flared up again. This time it took on a life of it's own.

These pictures were taken Tuesday morning when we had strong southern winds.

Although we didn't notice it much smoke wise, for the remainder of the week the fire burned in the end covering 450 hectares. The major issue for us was a week of sporadic electricity and water. For Tuesday and part of Wednesday we had neither electricity nor a cell phone signal. It was a bit strange having no contact with the outside world. 

Thankfully by the end of the week cool wet weather arrived and the crews were able to contain the fire - open the road back up and get the electricity back on line.

For Wednesday and Thursday we felt like we lived in a militarized zone listening to five planes fly by for hours on end. 

So - that was interesting for sure. Our first dealings with a close wild fire. Sadly, they are all to common here in the Okanagan. 

Back to the garden...... our sunflowers are out and doing well. Nice to look out our windows to a bunch of yellow.

Although I really dig the red variety.

Of course they are swarming with bees - I got this shot today. Pretty neat.

And, well, that's all I have for you.

Seemingly all very calm but we are having a crazy ride here at Fintry. Since Derek and I are used to smaller parks the summer has been full of issues and challenges. Thankfully we have a super group of employees - Britt, Avalon and Landon have been stellar - very hardworking and a joy to be around. I'll have to get pictures of them before too long. As well as a great Supervisor and Contractor helping us out and getting our backs.

You won't be hearing from us again until next week as we host our biggest camping party of the summer!

Teresa 

DAVIDSON ORCHARDS COUNTRY VILLAGE

There are two places in Vernon that we have been meaning to visit for a while now.

With all the busyness at the Park lately, we decided we needed some fun - so Tuesday we headed to Planet Bee and Davidson Orchard Country Village. It's pretty handy that they are right beside each other on the west side of Vernon.

In the end it was a long day tying our visits in with our usual list of errands and grocery shopping but it was worth it for sure. 

Here - take a look....

Before we ventured into Planet Bee - we stopped to admire their front garden.

Two of our favourites - echinacea and russian sage - the purple on the right. Back when we did landscape design work these two were always present. I'll have to find some room here at Fintry next year for some russian sage - I love it mass planted like this - a real statement.

Of course - a picture with a bee was not to be missed. From here we went inside only to realize that we were there at the same time as a HUGE bus - the place was packed. We decided to return on our way out from Davidson Orchard. Unfortunately, we were spent by that time but promised ourselves we will stop in next time.

So nicely designed and accessorized.

The trail to the animals. 

Even though Cassia spent time with goats and sheep at Buckerfield's a few weeks ago she as excited as ever.

Derek too! Nothing like a good chin rub.

Lots of things for kids .....

even a horse to ride!

Next, the gift shop - an endless gift shop - fun to look - we managed to find a few things to take home.

Watching the pies being made.

While I took a good longggggg look at the gift shop - Derek and Cassia took the orchard tour on the Johnny Popper Train.

The tour went past apple, plum and peach trees and tomatoes, peppers, corn and pumpkins.

Amazing to see the growth already.

After that it was lunch at the patio cafe - in the shade. 

Although it doesn't move like the one at home, Cassia was still happy to jump on the John Deere.

A last walk around on the hay bales.

It was fun being tourists for a few hours. 

If you have kids and are looking for something to do in the Vernon area we highly recommend Davidson Orchards - or it is just a nice stop for a bite to eat, a look around the shop and place to purchase your in season fruits and vegetables. We happily bought a carton of the first peaches of the season and more cherries as they are fading out.

Although the park is fairly full tonight - Saturday night - it's still quite quiet. A wedding was held at the Manor House today, we were glad to see that the forecast for rain didn't materialize.

Tomorrow is the annual Summer Fintry Estate Festival. Remember the spring festival on Mother's Day?! Well, they are doing it again. Cassia is excited......

Those pictures next post.

Teresa

OUR FINTRY GARDEN

Finally, pictures of our garden.

And such.

I went looking for photos of the garden that I have taken over the last little while and found a few other interesting shots as well that I haven't shown you yet. 

So - here they ALL are - in no order except chronological. I walk around every few days and take pictures or when there is something to take a picture of. I hadn't realized that I had amassed so many - always something going around here lately it seems.

Comfortable? It's another longggggggggg post!

I put this up on our facebook page but neglected to show you here. This was Derek quite a few weeks ago now - in early June actually - helping to cut the hayfield in the middle of the park.

A few posts ago we showed you the beautiful roses at the Manor House - we are lucky enough to have similar ones in our garden - and yes - they are also very fragrant.

They are all finished now but for a few weeks the air was scented with all of the mock orange around the park and in our yard. 

While photographing the mock orange I stumbled into this guy.

We became so excited with the roses around here that we purchased a few more for our garden. This one is doing great considering we only planted it a month ago or so.

And I mustn't forget all the berries we have been collecting. This was our first collection which is why I took a picture of it. Since then we have all eaten our fair share of raspberries and strawberries.

Sadly, our netting for the strawberries has been trouble for the birds. Thankfully Derek was able to get this starling out and on her way - the baby quail the other night wasn't so lucky. Cassia named the little guy/gal Little Chirpy and they buried it beside Chico - the pet grave that is here.

Our echinacea flowers are doing well.

Cassia blending into the rose bush.

And the amazing butterfly - or moth - that Derek captured. Derek says moth but what type, anyone know?

Our sunflowers are HUGE - but haven't bloomed yet. Can't wait until they do - of course I'll take pictures and show you.

The system we rigged up to protect our strawberries. Derek has since fixed the netting to hopefully prevent any more death.

Can you believe our corn! It's our first time growing corn - the soil here must be made for it!

Watermelon, pumpkin and squash. These things are going to get totally out of control - we haven't thinned them - yet.

We are still getting over the size of our tomato plants - we've never seen or grown them this large before. They have those little wire cages somewhere down inside. We'll need a new support system idea for next year for sure. We also have sweet and hot peppers and two types of basil here.

We are going to have A LOT of tomatoes!

And back to our wild raspberries.

Every morning for about a week Cassia was out picking - but even she is a bit overberried right now.

And peas! We've gotten some peas. We definitely have to dedicate more room to them next year.

The cherry tree we planted in the spring - we also have a peach.
Definitely an investment into our future.

We've been enjoying our rainbow swiss chard.....

as well as our kale, lettuce, mesclun, spinach and beet tops. Yes, those are sunflowers - not sowed by us here - we figure deposited by the birds. We've kept them though since you can never have enough sunflowers - right!?

Our rudbeckia - lovely.

And calendula.

They are so shy that it's been tough to photograph our quail babies. We've been watching them since they were just itty bitty. So cute.

And Derek's been also having a hard time capturing our American Goldfinch.

And finally, I'll end off with our first poppy. Our garden is filled with them and they are one of my favourite flowers so it won't be the last!

Still here?!

That was a long one - right?! Not the longest post ever though I'm sure - I've had some duzzies.

We are so thrilled with our yard as you can imagine. We haven't been able to grow like this - well, ever. Funny, I was looking back to our last realish garden which was at Skihist Provincial Park - How does your garden grow? Boy look at Cassia then!

I have to give Derek all of the credit - he's the reason we have such an amazing garden as he has done everything plant - water - tend - I just reap the benefits!

I'll sign off here. It's amazing as I sit here on the veranda looking out at all the smoke hanging here in the valley. It's been a smoky day and it is only getting worse. We don't have a wildfire too close to us - it's from those burning throughout the rest of the province. 

I just read that there are 184 active forest fires in BC right now. Sad.

Teresa