Artsy garden a touching homage

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2020 (1595 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ok, two things today.

First, a heartwarming story about a unique raised garden; and second, a mission for all of you who have berries in your yard you’re not going to use.

The garden.

Got an email a couple of weeks ago from a reader “wondering if you might be interested in a tale of a rather ‘artsy’ garden and how it came about?”

Sounds good. Have at it.

“Due to that advancing age thing, I decided it might be nice to have a raised garden up close to the house.

“I began by picking a few friends’ brains for good ideas, got a plan in mind, and before long, had the project in gear.

“That’s when I got a lovely surprise. One of the friends I’d spoken with, an artist who had inherited more money than she knew she’d ever spend, decided to start sending cheques to friends to help them in any way they might need, or just to have some fun with, like go on a trip you couldn’t otherwise afford perhaps. Such a wonderful gesture.

“I used the very much-appreciated moolah she sent me to pay for constructing the garden. In homage to her kindness and generosity, I created the garden in the shape of an artist’s palette, the raised areas representing the paint. She loved it.

“Of course being a scrounger, none of the windfall was squandered needlessly.

“The six raised boxes were constructed from recycled wood from my old deck, one box is made from really old telephone poles, and the last is made from railroad ties and used only for flowers.

“Over the years, the outcurving front part of the palette has grown in some, so I have some maintenance to do, but I’ll always be grateful to her for being such a great friend.”

Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

Now then, Part 2: berries galore.

My yard has a plethora of berry bushes, which are presently loaded, as they are each year, and I never use them. I need a bear.

There are a few different kinds, as well as a crabapple and an apple tree. Local critters seem to make good use of the crabapples, and a friend comes and picks all the apples each year. He makes some sort of medicinal elixir out of them which must work great because it puts a very happy smile on his face. Atta boy!

Friends tell me I also have a gazillion chokecherries here, which of late has me wondering what I might do with them. I normally just leave them. I put the word out asking for suggestions and of course the responses urged me to make jam, syrup, wine, wine and more wine, but I don’t know how to do that, and don’t particularly want to learn.

Then came the perfect solution: word that The Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, which you’ll find at pwildlife.ca, had put out a call for berries to help feed their patients/residents. I called, they confirmed that yes indeed they need all the berries they can get, for present use and to freeze for over the winter!

So I’m going to get a volunteer crew to come pick my branches clean to help feed some down-on-their-luck furry/feathery buddies. I suggest you do the same!

I also got sent a recipe that may be of service to a different type of wildlife. Ingredients: 2 cups of well ripened chokecherries, ¾ cup of sugar, 13 ounces of vodka or dry gin. Place well-cleaned chokecherries in a sealed jar, add sugar and vodka or gin.

Let stand for one month in a warm, dark location, turning jar daily until the sugar dissolves. Let sit one one month, then strain through a cheese cloth.

The product? Dunno, but whatever it is, I bet it’ll put a smile on your face! Enjoy!

lmustard1948@gmail.com