LETTERS

Greetings from Vernon Nancy Vince May 2006
Spring arrived in all its glory in the Okanagan a few weeks ago. Okanagan sunflowers dot the hills around Vernon and the blossoming fruit trees are a beautiful sight to see. We usually visited Vernon in the late summer when all the hills have turned brown but in the spring they are lush and green. I pass Coldstream Ranch on the way to our property every day and the pastures are full of little calves and their mothers. Cowboys still ride the range twice a day at the ranch and herd the cattle from pasture to pasture.

We started building our house on Valentines Day. We poured the cement footings in -14 degree weather but that does not stop the progress of construction here. The concrete tile roof starts going on tomorrow, the heating is in, and the plumbing is almost complete. Next person in is the electrician, then the insulation and then Al can start drywalling. I get to sweep and keep the house clean for the next trade.

I have not been able to resist the call of the garden centres. We have Art Knapps and Swan Lake Triple Tree Nurseryland, so I feel quite at home there. I took a trip to Salmon Arm and visited Nurseryland there as well and spoke with Nico who used to run Triple Tree in Maple Ridge. I have planted about twenty trees so far and am anxious to start on my balcony garden.

The theme up here in Whisper Ridge is to stay quite natural. We have lots of wildlife, including deer of course, so I really have to learn about deer resistant plants. The development discourages the use of lawn mowers and loud garden equipment. All the properties are fenced along the front with horse rail fencing and the first 25 feet are to be kept natural.

We are about 600 feet higher than Vernon so we are probably about a Zone 4. I believe Vernon is Zone 5. So the balcony really will contain my garden this time. The balcony is mostly 10 feet deep by 45 feet long and I have had the plumber put a tap on the balcony so it will be easy to water the plants. At least there the plants will be safe from the deer.

My fairies have also come with me and will find a place amongst the plants just like our last garden. I am sure they must be anxious to get out of the boxes.

We have lots of trees west and south of us and we have Brewer Creek running through the southeast end of the property. I can stand on my balcony and hear the sound of water just like our place in Maple Ridge.

I think of everyone often and hope you are all well. We should be in our place by the end of June, end of July at the latest. After that we will finally have a little time to travel.

If we are ever in Maple Ridge during a Garden Club Meeting I will be sure to stop in and say hi. And if any of you are ever in Vernon please call.

My email is: inekevince@hotmail.com. Would love to have you visit.