Snow Again

Our back garden is a winter wonderland.

Can you believe this ? More snow ! That means more shoveling and we'll have to continue wearing boots and winter coats. Well, I'm glad I went for a walk in Chinatown yesterday.

As soon as the weather warms up a bit, DJ and I will start cleaning up the front and back gardens and prepare the planting areas. We can't wait to see a bit of green in the garden ! Oh yes, we're going to make this a beautiful oasis. Wait and see. :-))

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Super Moon / Downtown Montreal, Canada

This photo was taken from our back gallery.

Here's more information on this natural phenomenon:

University Today

Wikipedia

Montreal Gazette

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Feels Like An Early Spring

Look....... no glasses ! 
This is DJ 3 days after eye cataract surgery.
Seems to be going well.

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Very Uncommon And Overlooked Tree

Looking to plant a tree in your garden? Then, I truly recommend you consider a Fringe Tree (Chionanthus Virginicus).

When we planted ours 10 years ago, it was 3 feet tall. Today, it stands about 7 feet tall. It's a very slow grower which I find attractive because living in downtown Montreal, I don't want to find myself having to deal with a monster tree whose height can be problematic...... casting too much shade, sucking up all the moisture in the soil, getting tangled in utility wires, etc. This was the ideal choice for me. And even better, it's really not a fussy plant....... grows in average good soil and requires basically no maintenance throughout the year. But it likes to have lots of sun ! So, find a sunny spot in your garden/yard. Unfortunately, my Fringe Tree gets just enough sun in the backyard...... I'm sure it would prefer more.

It's a multi-stemmed tree and grows in a vase shape.

The flowers are like delicate fringes. It's enchanting fragrance is Jasmin-like.

Sorry for the horrible photos. Please use your imagination. :-)

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Spring Flower Fever

Spring came early to Montreal this year. To top it off, we also had a relatively mild winter. So, our plants in the garden is having a wild time now ...... just happy happy and growing like I've never seen them do before !

Our front yard: no grass, just perennials, bulbs and shrubs.

In the backyard: our cercis tree and a species peony shrub.

A Japanese tree peony and our Japanese inspired corner.


Closeup shot of the Japanese tree peony flower.

Both Doug and I are thrilled with the garden so far this year. We're just wondering now, hehe, if we are to enjoy milder winters in the years to come, what new plants (that are not hardy for our zone 5b winters) we can now add to our garden. All plant suggestions are welcome. :-)

Hmmmm, this must be what it's like to garden in England !

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Montreal Chinatown's Secret

Did you know that today’s Chinatown was once Jewish?
" From 1890 to 1920, thousands of Yiddish-speaking Jews came to Montreal from Eastern Europe and settled in the streets around St. Lawrence and Dorchester (now René Lévesque). If Chinatown’s Jewish heritage isn’t obvious, it’s probably because it has been erased by time and redevelopment, swept away like Chenneville St. and its quietly imposing synagogue. Makom: Seeking Sacred Space, an ongoing exhibition at Hampstead’s Dorshei Emet synagogue, examines the historical traces of Montreal’s Jewish community with photos of former synagogues near the Main. " ...continuation of article by Christopher DeWolf

Chinatown Today
The establishment of the Chinese district in this central part of the city occupied from the years 1850 testifies the early arrival of first Chinese in Montreal. At the beginning of the XIX century, these Chinese immigrants were working as tailors or launderers. Then they branched out into the restaurant / food industry catering to both the local Chinese population and to the non-Chinese.
Always bustling with activity, today's Chinatown remains very important for people of the Chinese diasporas as well as the descendants of second and third generation. Its abundance in commerce such as restaurants, Asian grocers, gold shops, bakeries and shops of all kinds show an economic strength in this quarter. And, the presence of the Chinese hospital (formerly located on Saint-Denis in Villeray) also shows a will for the community to keep this district active and in the center of the community.

Montreal's main Chinatown basically span the 2 to 3 blocks of the streets of La Gauchetiere Street, St. Urbain and Boul. St. Laurent. Its boundaries are designated by four monumental gates / doors, hand made in China by Chinese workers in the nineteen-nineties. These 4 gates form a quadrilateral shape, framing Rene Levesque Blvd. in the north, Viger St. in the south, Saint-Dominique in the east and Coté Street in the west.... all one-way streets. Also note that Chinatown's principal north/south axis are Boul. St. Laurent and St. Urbain Street...... also one-way streets.
For those of us Montrealers who frequent this area, we know that traffic in Chinatown can be a big nuisance and parking is difficult to come by. Therefore, getting there by Metro is your best bet; Place D'armes or Place-Des-Arts station.

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Happy Monday!

This is "Gold of Ophir", one of many named selections of Oriental Poppies (Turkish origins). Its brilliant orange blossoms are spectacular. Either partially double or fully double, its paper-thin petals are pleated and are silk-like to the touch. And believe it or not, the flower is around 4 to 5 inches across and stands on sturdy stems of 3 to 4 feet tall!

I've had this plant for a few years now...... and I've always wondered about its name. Its blossoms are orange..... there's no gold anywhere. Big mystery. Ponder. It was only while snapping these photos that I saw....... with the sun shining from behind the plant, there are patches of shimmering golds...... dappled here and there. How brilliant! Hence....... its name?!

FYI: Ophir is an unidentified region famous in Old Testament times for its fine gold. The geographic list of Genesis 10 apparently places it in Arabia, but in the time of Solomon (c. 920 bc), Ophir was thought of as being overseas. Gold, almug (or algum) wood (i.e., sandalwood), ivory, monkeys, and peacocks were procured there. Many areas of the Arabian Peninsula have been proposed as the site of Ophir; the principal alternative locations overseas are East Africa and India. (Britannica.com)

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The Tradition of O-hanami

During the Heian period in Japan (794-1185), aristocrats organized celebrations under the flowering cherry trees. This led to the tradition of o-hanami: contemplating (mi) the blossoms (hana). The custom spread over the centuries, becoming popular with people from all walks of life. Since Japanese cherry trees are not very hardy and seldom bloom in our Montreal climate, the Montreal Botanical Garden uses flowering crabapples to create a similar tranquil, romantic and zen atmosphere. Every May the Montreal Botanical Garden organizes a picnic that takes place in their Japanese Garden and Pavillon. It's a popular social event that many Montrealers welcome with open arms....... since it also marks the arrival of blue skies and warm "t-shirt & shorts" temperatures for the coming months. This year, DJ and I went with friends and it was very enjoyable. We roamed around the grounds ooo-ing and ahh-ing the magnificent flowering crabapple trees that were in full bloom. These blooms came in shades of pink to pale yellows to shimmering white! And, some were fragrant.



We picked a spot to enjoy the pre-ordered Bento box lunch. It was nice to relax, people watch and just soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the moment.

women in kimono dress

our friends, bill & wolfgang

All in all, we had a fabulous time. See you there next May.

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