At long last, condoville today is bathed in sunlight for at least another day. It's amazing how a dose of sunshine brightens everybody's disposition. If I could, I'd do a sun dance if it would keep it around for a while.
On a positive note, the pool is already fit for swimming and we're only in May. This is quite a departure from past years when they didn't even start filling it until the beginning of June. According to those in charge, the cement pool bottom will not be re-painted this year. The pool company that did the job assured the condo board that its slippery surface will slowly wear off over time. It appears that the condo board are satisfied with this promise and are willing to wait and see if anybody complains and then act.. This means that once again as in past years, there will be rubber mats placed at the bottom of the pool near the pool steps to prevent people from slipping. Looks dumb if you ask me but then nobody did and even if they had, I would have told them it looks stupid. I suppose it's better than slipping. We'll see what the reaction of the pool users will be very soon.
Some excitement on condoville boulevard, today! A movie company used our street to shoot a scene. As expected residents living in buildings on the street were out in full force to watch. The movie company was supposed to start shooting at 3 p.m. but didn't show up until 4-ish. Some people took them at their word and sat on benches located in the park accross to guarantee a good vantage point since 2 p.m. They were subsequently informed that they would have to vacate their benches by the movie people. I'm surprised nobody brought along portable chairs. A real estate agent who recently moved into our building took advantage of the crowd, handing out her business cards. How crass - but inventive. I've always been tempted to walk up to a member of a film set and utter one of my favorite quotations from "Sunset Boulevard": "I'm ready for my close up, Mr. deMille." BTW - it was a cops-and-robber film and they brought along props that included a fake police car and a bullet-ridden car. As fast as they arrived and set up, they were gone.
My "favorite" person, the so-called gardener/garden designer/amateur/wanna-be, has finished her planting. After doing a thorough walk-around, I can say with absolute certainty, no doubt in my mind and complete assurance that her job sucks, big time. There are pink and red impatiens planted in a row too far apart giving it a sparse look, yellow and orange marigolds dotted here and there don't belong, along with yellow pansies, which I absolutely adore under normal circumstances. Also thrown in for good measure are a few hosta plants, four ferns jutting out here and there... and heaven knows what else. Meanwhile, the small flower bed near the placette/overlook is a mish-mash of you name it - it's there - somewhere. She planted hybrid tea rose bushes and four of the eight have gone to that great garden bed in the sky. I could have told her this would happen since she planted them without offering them any food and most likely not enough primping and babying. Roses love to be coddled and in return reward those that ignore them by dying. Ask me about it! Meanwhile, let us not forget that she had a drip water system installed - still can't believe it - specifically for the roses well being. A lot of good that did, huh? Eventually, she will return with her clipboard in hand to note which of her choices have thrived and which died. Like it matters at this point.
Lots more to report but we'll wait until after the condo board meeting. Right now a roofing company has arrived to re-roof our building. The crew is yelling instructions to each other - nobody heard of walkie-talkies? More tomorrow after the condo meeting. Meanwhile, I'm going to choose paintings to be framed for the annual condo art exhibit. At least it keeps my mind off Madam le None-Gardener but not the noise outside.
Condoville Art Display
A taste of my artistry
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Flowery conclusion: more flowers - and gardening expertise - is required
Took a stroll around the newly adorned flower bed that separates our two condo buildings. As mentioned in the previous commentary, the gardening designer is now in charge of planting flowers.
Big mistake.
Initially, this move seemed harmless enough. I mean, how can one screw up planting flowers, especially if one is supposed to be an expert in this area. Right? Today's little walk-around reveals that she didn't appear to put much thought into her choice of blooms and many of blooms that were planted are half, if not conpletely, dead. As in gone to meet the composter. There are wilted petunias - color unknown, impatiens that appear to be a pink shade - difficult to tell since they're shrivelled, orange marigolds (baaaad color mix!) and other species. The problem down the line when they start spreading out (if they ever get that far) is that they were planted too far apart, most likely as a money-saving move. Hey - our condo fees are supposed to cover this area.
Forgot to mention that while planting the flowers, she also brought along a large plastic, black container that is used by garden centres to hold new trees before transplanting. Inside, as it was revealed, she had divided up some what must have been perennials, for transplanting with the annuals. I mean - c'mon - talk about saving money! It is most surprising since in past years our flower displays have always been sumptuous and a treat for the eyes. This year the best that can be said about them is mediocre.
The grecian urns in front of the condo buildings now contain a puny mix of - wait for it - petunias. That's it! Six or eight petunias in a large urn. They look lost, poor things.
Basically, very disappointed and not at all impressed with the gardening accumen of this so-called expert, if indeed she is an expert. Will make a point of finding out her professional pedigree and background.
In conclusion - at least for now - but rest assured more comments will be forthcoming - it's a mix-and-not-match display. Blech!
UPDATE!! The garden designer...whatever/whoever, has just arrived and is currently looking over the plants in the overlook/placette. Correction: she has a pen and paper and is counting the plants. Counting...plants? What and why is she performing this task? I can tell her without having to count them that more are required. She has now moved over to the flower beds between the two condo bldgs. and is continuing to count or assessing the almost dead and/or dying plants.
A member of the condo board has arrived on the scene and it appears at least from my vantage point, that he is posing questions about...everything, especially the empty areas. We'll see what, if anything, more she adds to the beds.
Big mistake.
Initially, this move seemed harmless enough. I mean, how can one screw up planting flowers, especially if one is supposed to be an expert in this area. Right? Today's little walk-around reveals that she didn't appear to put much thought into her choice of blooms and many of blooms that were planted are half, if not conpletely, dead. As in gone to meet the composter. There are wilted petunias - color unknown, impatiens that appear to be a pink shade - difficult to tell since they're shrivelled, orange marigolds (baaaad color mix!) and other species. The problem down the line when they start spreading out (if they ever get that far) is that they were planted too far apart, most likely as a money-saving move. Hey - our condo fees are supposed to cover this area.
Forgot to mention that while planting the flowers, she also brought along a large plastic, black container that is used by garden centres to hold new trees before transplanting. Inside, as it was revealed, she had divided up some what must have been perennials, for transplanting with the annuals. I mean - c'mon - talk about saving money! It is most surprising since in past years our flower displays have always been sumptuous and a treat for the eyes. This year the best that can be said about them is mediocre.
The grecian urns in front of the condo buildings now contain a puny mix of - wait for it - petunias. That's it! Six or eight petunias in a large urn. They look lost, poor things.
Basically, very disappointed and not at all impressed with the gardening accumen of this so-called expert, if indeed she is an expert. Will make a point of finding out her professional pedigree and background.
In conclusion - at least for now - but rest assured more comments will be forthcoming - it's a mix-and-not-match display. Blech!
UPDATE!! The garden designer...whatever/whoever, has just arrived and is currently looking over the plants in the overlook/placette. Correction: she has a pen and paper and is counting the plants. Counting...plants? What and why is she performing this task? I can tell her without having to count them that more are required. She has now moved over to the flower beds between the two condo bldgs. and is continuing to count or assessing the almost dead and/or dying plants.
A member of the condo board has arrived on the scene and it appears at least from my vantage point, that he is posing questions about...everything, especially the empty areas. We'll see what, if anything, more she adds to the beds.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The latest in condoville - the gardener cometh and other stuff
Yesterday and today being gorgeously, brilliant sunny days, things have suddenly become a hive of activity in preparation for the summer season of fun-in-the-sun, condo style.
Over the past week, the gardening-designer who shows up in non-gardening/fashionable outfits, has been making daily visits in her small-ish car filled to capacity with flowers, intent on filling in the empty spaces. Why she doesn't wear plain, old jeans/overalls and boots is a mystery. Watching her from my vantage point in front of the window behind the vertical blinds, her choice of flower species and color mixtures is somewhat questionable. As a former gardening aficienado and a home owner, my philosophy was to stick to two or three main colors and flower types, however here in condoville, there is now a mixture of yellows, pinks, reds, consisting of pansies, petunias and some other types unrecognizable as yet. Although there is a longing to hang around while standing close by and discussing her flower choices, somehow she doesn't strike me as a person who welcomes discussion. Meanwhile, yesterday, she was busy adding still more flowers to her pride-and-joy project, the overlook/placette, which is now over-flowing with color. She has even convinced the condo boards to install separate watering devices, a drip system for the rose bushes and a sprinkle system for the rest. One ponders the rationale behind this expense since roses seem to die with or without extra "TLC" in my experience. Checking over the placette flower bed today, noticed there are already two rose bushes that have gone to meet their maker, drip or no drip. But I digress.
Seems we now have new pool chairs this summer already placed around the pool. They are a striking shade of blue, matching the color of the pool when filled with water. Very modern-looking but already there is dissention among some residents since the chairs don't have arm rests. Speaking of the pool and unbelievable as this is even to write, the big pool is filled with water! The baby pool is still empty but then it doesn't require new chairs so there's no rush to add water. Usually, the pool remains empty until mid-June but this year they decided to start early, probably in response to the plethora of complaints made about the slippery pool surface. The pool company, for their part, claim the surface will dull over time and become less slideable. This is an acceptable rationalization?
Also great news in as far as the annual condo art show is concerned with the show set for June 11th. I'm already mentally selecting the art pieces for display and hopefully, for sale. As usual, most will focus on landscapes and flowers...and flowers...and...
The yearly condo meeting is scheduled for the end of this month and it will be interesting to see and hear the complaints. There are always complaints. Then there is the summer party in the park in June... Lots of happenings to report.
Over the past week, the gardening-designer who shows up in non-gardening/fashionable outfits, has been making daily visits in her small-ish car filled to capacity with flowers, intent on filling in the empty spaces. Why she doesn't wear plain, old jeans/overalls and boots is a mystery. Watching her from my vantage point in front of the window behind the vertical blinds, her choice of flower species and color mixtures is somewhat questionable. As a former gardening aficienado and a home owner, my philosophy was to stick to two or three main colors and flower types, however here in condoville, there is now a mixture of yellows, pinks, reds, consisting of pansies, petunias and some other types unrecognizable as yet. Although there is a longing to hang around while standing close by and discussing her flower choices, somehow she doesn't strike me as a person who welcomes discussion. Meanwhile, yesterday, she was busy adding still more flowers to her pride-and-joy project, the overlook/placette, which is now over-flowing with color. She has even convinced the condo boards to install separate watering devices, a drip system for the rose bushes and a sprinkle system for the rest. One ponders the rationale behind this expense since roses seem to die with or without extra "TLC" in my experience. Checking over the placette flower bed today, noticed there are already two rose bushes that have gone to meet their maker, drip or no drip. But I digress.
Seems we now have new pool chairs this summer already placed around the pool. They are a striking shade of blue, matching the color of the pool when filled with water. Very modern-looking but already there is dissention among some residents since the chairs don't have arm rests. Speaking of the pool and unbelievable as this is even to write, the big pool is filled with water! The baby pool is still empty but then it doesn't require new chairs so there's no rush to add water. Usually, the pool remains empty until mid-June but this year they decided to start early, probably in response to the plethora of complaints made about the slippery pool surface. The pool company, for their part, claim the surface will dull over time and become less slideable. This is an acceptable rationalization?
Also great news in as far as the annual condo art show is concerned with the show set for June 11th. I'm already mentally selecting the art pieces for display and hopefully, for sale. As usual, most will focus on landscapes and flowers...and flowers...and...
The yearly condo meeting is scheduled for the end of this month and it will be interesting to see and hear the complaints. There are always complaints. Then there is the summer party in the park in June... Lots of happenings to report.
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