The pool, the gardener and life in condoville

"So Eleanor - you haven't provided  us withany updates on condoville. How has summer been, anyway?"

Actually, given the absolutely great bordering on fantastic (I love that term "bordering on") July we had with hot temps, life has been idyllic. Most of the time has been spent by the pool and on occasion there have been a dozen people lounging in the new blue chaise chairs, some of whom actually swim. Just being sarcastic. I'm probably one of the few non-swimmers who rarely dip a toe in the water unless the combination of heat and humidity become unbearable. It's interesting that so few people take advantage of the pool, generally, especially it's used by two condo bldgs. On most days perhaps there are eight to ten people on average with your lap swimmers using the pool in the early morning hours. The afternoon is for the "leisure loungers" who take dips between reading a book or listening to music through whatever device. The weekends are for family visits with lots of young people and children dropping by. There have been some complaints (so what else is new!) expressed focusing on children splashing. I mean - c'mon! Pool=water=wet! Don't go in the water if you don't want to get wet is my philosophy! Wear one of those hideous plastic shower caps if you want to retain your newly coiffed hair! The other complaint is that the kids are too noisy! Gimme a break!

Seems that these days everyone is wearing a two piece or bikini bathing suit, even those whose body shapes certainly aren't made for an excessive display of skin. My bathing suit of choice is a one-piece since I've accumulated cellulite over the years along with dropped muscle syndrome. That's what I call flab that has nowhere else to go but down due to gravity's influence. A lot of our discussions focus on the various bikini color choices, style and whether or not the wearer does the suit justice.

Last but not least, the last paint job by whatever company the condo board hired is a bust, with more and more of the former color showing through. This means that the surface is not fully protected. What type of pool service uses the wrong paint, anyway? I mean...really... At least the pool surface isn't slippery any more.

"So Eleanor - what's new with the so-called gardener/whatever these days?"

The flower beds are blech. More than blech - they're blechy/pffffft. In the years I've lived here, have never seen such a mish-mash of flower types and bad color combinations. You have your orange marigolds, which are such - excuse my snobbishness - common types, mixed with pink wave petunias, sedum placed here, there and everywhere, astilbe...you name it, chances are it's growing somewhere in one of the flower beds. Just blechy is the only word that comes to mind but there are others I can assure you. Nobody asked us, the people who pay the condo fees, our opinion. Mind you, in our condo bulletin, there was a piece focusing on the gardener and it appears that people are taking their complaints directly to her, one-on-one. Good for them! The condo board on their part, asked people to complain to the condo director who is in charge of the garden. Been there - done that and didn't do any good. Yup - it's an obsession on my part but one that will be over shortly since summer flowers do disappear in autumn.

Tickets have gone out for the autumn party-in-the-park. Instead of party sandwiches, it will be roasted corn and hotdogs. I'm not big on hot dogs or corn, actually, but I'll indulge and swoosh it down with a glass of cold white wine. In attendance will be the usual singing DJ who will play lots of spanish type dancing music since this gets about a dozen people dancing and everyone will sing out choruses of "New York, New York..." along with "Copacabana"...and some Beatle music thrown in for good measure.

Summer life is good in condoville. Relaxing by the pool, watching and listening to the boats as they make their way over the river, the sound of the river life including the honking of the Canada geese... Their return can only mean one thing: autumn is around the corner.

What's happening in condoville these days, anyway? Glad you asked

So right now people reading this are asking themselves: "what's happening in condoville, anyway, these days?" More than likely, people are or at least could be, wondering about our - well - different condo gardener.

For those not up to date on the continuing saga, our condo board hired someone to remodel our small placette or over-look, that over looks the pool. Although it was still visually attractive with beautiful flowers planted between wooden railway ties along with wooden stairs, the old placette was falling apart. There was a lot of speculation as to whether or not it required a complete demolition job down to the earth, but in the end the condo board hired a female contractor/architecht/whatever to update the look. The new and improved model is composed of stone and cement with a plexiglass railing erected around the circumference. Very modern looking.

We assumed, obviously incorrectly, that this would be the extent of the architect's/whatever duties but for whatever reason, a decision was made to hire her as the gardener. It would be interesting to know at this point and especially after she planted eight rose bushes, seven of which subsequently died, what her credentials are to handle this task. She did, however, ensure that a drip water system was installed at who knows how much, to gently water the now dead roses. It does make one wonder when a gardener shows up to work the earth wearing high heels and a shovel. Period. I lie - she did produce shears two weeks ago. Since she likes perennials so she planted them here, there and everywhere. No layout plan to speak of and the end result is a mish-mash or...stuff. Species include yellow marigolds, red impatiens, pink/white petunias, large leaved hosta plants, astilbe - you name it - chances are we have it growing - somewhere. Utterly, again IMHO, blechy and a mess.

Enough ranting.

Two weeks ago the annual Summer Party in the Park was held in the park accross the street. The menu as is the case for the summer fete, was party sandwiches (I adore party sandwiches!), pizza(!) donated by a major pizza chain, veggies and dip, chips, wine and coffee and mini danish. As usual, there was the usual DJ who played everything from rock music for dancing, waltz, lots of latin numbers that the crowd seemed to really get into and as the evening wore on, the music of Barry Manilow slowed things down. No hip-hop, though. We always make our getaway upon the mosquitos arrival. They're always the unwanted interlopers on any evening event especially when we're the food!

The pool - well - the paint is chipping/flaking off the surface of the pool but the good news is at least it's not slippery any more. How can a pool company use the wrong paint for an outdoor pool? Obviously, they managed. I dunno... Oh and there are now new pool chairs. Opinion is mixed on whether the old one's were better and more comfortable. Doesn't make any difference in the end since the old chairs are no more, anyway. Visually, they match the pool water.

Still haven't spotted the little wood turtles that were seen sunning themselves on a rock last summer during a walk on the path but there's still time to find them. Meanwhile, it's going to be a busy at the pool this weekend with hot temps and lots of sun, drawing youngsters and teens in to cool off. There are condo-villers who complain that they splash too much. I mean - c'mon - it's a pool! Right? Never a dull moment - to be continued...

The pool, the flower bed and the none-gardener rant

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.

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.

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.

Getting down and dirty in condoville

At long last, somebody finally - accent on the finally - removed the dried out Christmas tree put up last December with lights clinging pathetically to its limp, brown branches.. Or holiday tree depending on your personal beliefs. It's about time! There is nothing sadder than a fir tree that has lost its color and dead. Why 'they' waited so long is anybody's guess but given that the area in which it stood is surrounded by trees, the ground probably remained frozen and unyielding to removal. In retrospect, it was a pathetic display, anyway, compared to past years. Pure speculation here but the condo boards were probably looking at the financial bottom line to save money on electricity. Guaranteed this will be brought up at the condo meeting next month. Should be interesting.

Now that the ground is workable, the gardening designer who oversaw the renovation of the overlook/placette has been put in charge of flower planting. Given the price of the renovation, perhaps this is not such a good idea. She showed up in what can be described as designer gardening duds and emptied her car filled with flowering bushes, to be planted in the green stretch of land dividing our two condo buildings. The assistant, who arrived a half-hour later wearing very un-gardening clothes including white/beige colored shoes, was assigned to digging holes for the new shrubs. Bet he never expected to be digging holes dressed like that! He did not appear to be enjoying his task using a straight-edged shovel, the only tool they had obviously brought along, when a spade would have made the job so much easier. One has to question the lack of tools given their gardening task. To her credit, the gardening designer did put on a pair of orange(!) plastic gloves that stretched up to her elbow. Clashed with the rest of her outfit if you ask me. As for the assistant, he disappeared somewhere for a while.

The Day After the Planting

Unbelievable to see but it's snowing and raining outside, today as it has on-and-off for the last couple of days, with the temperature barely above freezing. Hopefully, all the small flowering bushes will survive. April is such a fickle month and perhaps it would have been wiser to wait until the end of the month or the first week in May. But Ms Garden Designer knows better. We'll see.

Another subject that will most likely be brought up at the annual condo meeting is the renovation of the overlook/placette. This is the small landscaped area with seating area, which overlooks the pool. Renovated last year at a steep price, opinion is divided as to its esthetic value, overall. It has gone from a wood-based structure to that consisting of cement and plexi-glass railing. As I mentioned, opinion is divided especially where dollar values is concerned.

The barbeque on the balcony will have to wait for a while although the weather is supposed to turn warm next week. Promises, promises...

Spring in condo-ville

At the point when the days get longer and there is a warming trend in the weather, the condovillers leave their winter coccoons. In the months of January through March and once the snow birds begin their sojourn down south, the streets are more or less devoid of people. There are the winter stalwarts who brave frigid temperatures and all weather conditions but most of us - well - hibernate.

The small mini pooches clad in smart winter attire by their owners including leather boots(!) turn into dogs again in Spring, wearing nothing on their backs except their fur. There are still some remnants of winter with a few Christmas decorations adorning balconies.

Potholes are abounding in the city but actually they're scarce in this area of condo-ville. If this gets out to the rest of the community they could complain it's favoritism. I'm not saying anything.

The pool is the jewel in the crown so to speak and the opening at the end of June is anxiously anticipated. Last summer the new pool maintenance company for whatever reason, used the wrong type of paint resulting in a slippery surface. It should have and easily could have been re-painted in autumn but it wasn't. This means having to wait for said pool maintenance company to rectify the slippery situation. Said company were slow to prepare the pool altogether last year resulting in a delay in the pool opening. Said company should be replaced with someone who knows what they're doing, at least IMHO. We'll know shortly if there are any changes and whether things will be fixed.

Last summer the flower display was...there - that's the best that can be said or written about it. Seems that every year there is less emphasis on this area one presumes as a result of savings by the condo association. This year perhaps I'll express my feelings at the annual condo meeting in the hope that it will return to its former visual glory. I won't hold my breath, though.

Meanwhile, the duck population has awakened from its sleep or wheatever ducks do during the winter. The Canada geese, however, have not returned. Some people would say this is good but not me. They are a harbinger of the season to come. After all - what's Canada without their geese?