Day 54 Mary Mary quite contrary...

The latest picture of the garden is above...

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

I have always wondered what this rhyme meant, have you?

Apparently....The origins are steeped in history...

The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith. The silver bells and cockle shells were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'maids' were a device to behead people similar to the guillotine.
http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/nursery_rhymes/mary_mary_quite_contrary.htm

Ah...nothing is ever as sweet as it sounds at first is it?...I will never think of silver bells or cockle shells quite the same....perhaps that is why my Mom used to always tell me not to be so 'contrary' when I was growing up.

Day 53 A Bird Bath and Bench

I found, and bought, two a cement bird baths and a bench. We put one bath in the garden and one in the upper garden. We then replaced the chair with the bench...I think it looks better and our neighbor Marlene says it seems more inviting...I agree.

Day 52 You say BaaSIL I say BAYsil...

I was not feeling like performing in the garden today. I was feeling a bit antisocial and my mind was preoccupied with my thesis.

However, today a man drove his scooter by the Boulevarden, then backed up and was looking down at the herb garden. Paul jumped up, walked down to the garden and said hi...the man asked about the different herbs. He (Paul didn't get his name) said he loved Basil and would love to have some to take home, so Paul picked some for him.

Paul is pretty much is always up for visiting and sharing the garden. He has been up for, and worked hard on, this art project from the get go...in consequence and as I have said in earlier posts, this has become a very collaborative project.

The other day when Caroline, the Lethbridge Herald interviewer, was interviewing us she asked us if the garden was expensive to create and maintain - right away Paul piped up and said, "the garden gives so much more than it 'cost'...and I would have paid twice as much...as it has been an amazing experience". I thought that was very cool. Paul is much more able to interact with the public than I am...but that is not surprising is it?

The Boulevarden has provided a space for interaction. Largely my ephemeral performances have included forcing myself out of my comfort zone, down into the public garden and interacting with my community. These interactions may have had more of an impact on me than they have on the community...

Day 52 Moira's Cucumber - Now that's urban gardening

On Summer Solstice Moira brought over a gift for the Boulevard, a cucumber plant that she had started from seed in her office window. It has grown incredibly since them...and the other day we found a cucumber.

So far we have been harvesting Tomatoes, Herbs, Zucchini, and Cucumber.

Day 51 Shannon and Stephanie

I finally got to meet Shannon and Stephanie in person. Shannon had emailed with encouragement regarding the blog and the Boulevarden, and told me about her asphalt boulevards (I posted our 'conversations', pictures and information in an earlier blog). She had heard about the Boulevarden from her friend and neighbor Stephanie (who also has an asphalt boulevard). Both Stephanie and Shannon work at the Research Station and ride their bikes to work - the day they stopped by the garden they were on their way home.

We chatted about options for their boulevard...they are thinking that next year they will have a bobcat come and take out the asphalt and then plant drought tolerant plants...I was telling them that when I was in Montreal I noticed that (as there is so little space...especially for gardens...) everyone seems to creatively use every available space. I saw several 'gardens' that were built on top of asphalt drive ways. People would use rocks or wood to 'hold' the soil and then plant tomatoes, vegetables, herbs and flowers...it was really wonderful. I am not sure if that would work for Shannon and Stephanie's boulevards, but we were wondering if even just adding some 'planters' might be a solution, at least for now...anyway I am anxious to see what they come up with.

Stephanie is on the Green Map Committee which is 'mapping' the eco-spaces in Lethbridge. Check out the website at http://www.stewlab.com/greenmap.html

Below are a couple pictures of the asphalt boulevards...crazy eh?

Day 50 Caroline and The Herald

Today Caroline from the Lethbridge Herald came by to interview us for an article in the paper. It was nice to be able to share our experiences while creating and maintaining the Boulevarden. I got a call from Sandra the other day...she said she had called the paper to let them know about the garden...

We picked the first ripe yellow tomato and some fresh Basil to give Caroline for supper. The tomatoes are starting to ripen so next time you are by...check the plants and take one home.

Day 49 Visiters to the Boulevarden

Yesterday Nicole and Noah stopped by. They had heard about the Boulevarden from Lisa Lambert. Above is a picture of Noah. He was curious and wondered around the yard, pet the cats, and had a break with a cookie. Nicole might come back next spring for some plants for her garden.



















Jodi, Paul's daughter came by for a visit. She is moving from Montreal to Vancouver. She brought a friend Chris from Montreal and they really liked the idea of the Boulevarden. Chris and I talked about the slow food movement and simplifying our lives http://www.slowfood.com/ . Chris was relating that he visited Salt Spring Island last year and met a guy, a CEO or something like that who had just left his job and started an oyster farm. Nice. But I said that 'slowing down', moving to the Island, and opening an oyster farm is lovely - but many people can not afford to do that...so this slowing down and maybe even simplifying our lives with less work activity is often a luxury afforded to those who can...well...afford it. It was a great conversation I really liked Chris. He is doing his masters at McGill in psychology...I feel like a heel I didn't ask what he was researching...although I know he is using MRI scans...