Atwater Market - Fertilizer Friday

I am working with very scant means today.  My laptop is in the “hospital” for a few days so I am using the photos that I have on my old desktop.  Not a very co-operative creature.    C’est la vie. 

I did discover some pictures that I took last year while visiting Montreal (aka:  Home Sweet Home) just before planting season.  It was kind of a treat to revisit these pictures.  I hope you think so too.

This is the entrance to the Atwater Market.  It is a stone’s throw from downtown Montreal.  It opened in 1933.  Were it not such a landmark, it would not occupy such a prime piece of real estate.

Beautiful art deco building

  

With row after row of farm stalls.  Farmers from surrounding areas set up shop for the warmer months (April to November’ish)

All filled with gorgeous plants.  An absolute riot of colour.

This is the outdoor corridor that runs between the outdoor farmer stalls and the indoor market.

The indoor corridor has markets with fabulous foods.   Boulangerie (bread), charcuterie (meats),  fromagerie (cheese), poisonnerie (fish), and the outdoor cremerie (ice cream & sorbet) etc.

 

It is a wonderful place to visit, particularly after a long winter. 

I am linking up and getting in the Spring groove with Ms. Tootsie and Fertilizer Friday.    Please visit, it will lift your gardening soul.

Back Home

Been on the road again. Once again my 4 day road trip to Montreal turned into a 9 day trip. Thankfully my husband is fine with it. It's the 3rd time that I've done it this summer.

FARMER'S MARKET
My trip to the Laprairie farmer's market was a quick one this time. I sidetracked from the direct route home to make a pit stop to pick up some delicioso curd cheese (cheese curd??). It's one of the things from home that my family misses. Eaten as is or in the fabulous Quebec staple "poutine". French fries with BBQ gravy and curds.....mmmmm....mmmm. It's not available here in Massachusetts - at least not that I am aware of. It's available in grocery stores back home but nothing compares to the the fresh from the market version.

With the dismal condition of my garden, I wish I could have picked up some fruits and veggies. They had 10 lb bags of beets for $3.50! Pickling onions too. Alas the powers that be do not allow the transportation of fruits, veggies, meat or plants. Doesn't leave much choice at a farmer's market.

SEEDPODS
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. That is the case with the datura seed pods that I scooped up at my daughter's house this past week. These are some gnarly monsters. They bite! Prickly as porcupines! My daughter didn't know what to do with the spent flowers (deadheading) and just let them be. I happily pinched the pods and rid her of those nasty, seed-filled pods! I shall try my hand at daturas this winter. We shall see, we shall see.

Maine Seacoast

This may have been the worst, or best, thing to do with the garden under attack from blight. I took a little road trip. I felt that I could do no more to protect my tomatoes and decided to let nature take its course.

So on Monday I drove to Vermont to pick up my daughter who bussed it from Montreal. And headed for the Maine coast for 2 days. What better to do than head for the ocean during a heat wave of stifling, humid days. The sea breeze was just what the doctor might suggest when the air is so thick. I love how it cools as you approach the beach from the parking lot - the return trip at the end of the day when you are salty and sandy, not so much.

We drove Route 1 from Kittery (outlet shops galore) through York, Ogunquit, Wells and Kennebunk. Antique shops, thrift stores and consignment were EVERYWHERE and it killed me to drive by but we were only there for 2 days and with the weather what it was, the beach was more important. We did do the outlets (yuck!) because my daughter hadn't been before. It's close enough that I can take a day trip any time.....probably September or October.

The Green Mountains of Vermont

I once again made the trek north to Montreal yesterday. The scenery had changed quite a bit since my trip at the beginning of May.

Trees are fully leafed out and everything is very green. There were bursts of purple this time. It was a pleasant surprise to see lupines growing randomly along I-89. What a beautiful site! As the road winds up and down, left and right through the back-drop of the Green Mountains the addition of flowers growing wildly is the icing on the cake. I wish I could have taken pictures but I thought it might not be wise to be taking pictures while driving 70 mph. I was able to take a few at a rest stop.

I have made this trip many times and am still awed by the beauty.

Tada! Done!

Digging & planting.....tada! Done for this season. I think. Feeding & watering done for today. Weeds still to come. Time to chill with a glass of wine. After all we need to balance the work with down time, right?

Tomorrow I am hitting the road again. Big sister came in for baby sister's graduation and it's time to go home.

Whew-hew - Gardener's Supply

Part 1
I am getting on the road very shortly to drive back home. Luckily for me I will be driving through Vermont...... where one of my favorite garden supply stores is located - Gardener's Supply in Williston. I've ordered online but never been there. Today's the day. Yippee!

Part 2
So I made it back state-side after a beautiful drive through the mountains. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be with Gardener's Supply. Maybe searching online is easier than hands on shopping. They did have a nice little pond and waterfall inside. I have a thing for water features.

1

Tomatoes in the City!

Sex in the City attitude -vs- Tomatoes in the City attitude

Ok - so I have been away from home for almost a week. I am having a wonderful time but am experiencing a constant nagging in the back of my head....my garden! I don't have to explain that to anyone who gardens but when I call home and ask about it, everyone is so non-chalant! What the hell! No one understands! I want details......and pictures. My family is not willing to satiate my curiosity by taking pictures.

For today I will satisfy my craving by setting my daughter up with a tomato plant and basil. Not something that she has requested or even wants. After all she is a city girl in a one bedroom apartment - just minutes from "downtown". Oh well. I reasoned with her that this will be a test for the kitties that she wants to get. If she can keep the tomato alive and have it bear fruit she might just be ready for cats. Hmmmmf. Plus I get to have dirt under my nails!

Being a "burbs" girl, the one thing that I had not considered was the parking / elevator situation. Hauling soil, etc. from your driveway to your backyard is one thing. Parking a block away and hauling it up on an elevator is another. Oh well, where there's a will, there's a way.

MONTREAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

Today I had the great pleasure of visiting the Montreal Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanique de Montreal) on opening day. I hope to get back in the middle of summer to see how things have progressed and experience the full blown colors of summer.

Skipping Town

I have to go away for a few days and I am kind of freaking out about the garden. Will it be OK while I'm away? I would think at this time of year my chances are better than in the summer so I will throw caution to the wind and do what I must....reluctantly but...