Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Hi folks. We had a Britannia Neighbours meeting tonight. Pat, Jane, Wayne, me.

Just to summarize quickly, the most important things are upcoming activities. Please write them in your calendar. No need to RSVP:

Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00-noon, light clean up in the Greenway in preparation for Stone Soup. Because there will be many tables cheek-by-jowl in the Greenway for Stone Soup, we don't want to "beautify" the Greenway beforehand, we just want to tidy it up a bit. If we planted new things, they would likely get trampled.

Saturday, May 9th, noon-5:00, Stone Soup Festival at Britannia (including the Greenway). We need volunteers to sit at the Britannia Neighbours table at Stone Soup (a table we will share with the Britannia Board of Management). If you would be willing to take a short shift, let Pat Davitt know (604-253-1885).

Monday (the holiday), May 18th, 10:00-noon, planting in the Greenway. Hartley Rosen, the Mason Bees Project Coordinator, has given us some plants and Pat has some plants from last year, and we need to put them in. We thought we should wait until after Stone Soup. If we have gotten some, we will also put in some impatiens and do some top dressing with compost.

Note that the Garden Tour is June 21st, 10:00-4:00. Wayne volunteered to have his garden on the tour.

Other things, briefly:

Mason bees: They seem to be doing well. I will check for bee activity tomorrow (Wednesday) and report to the Mason Bees Project on May 1.The URL for the Mason Bee Vancouver site is http://www.masonbeevancouver.com/

Getting a compost bin for the Greenway: We decided no.We wouldn't have any control over what went into it and it could end up being nothing but trouble in a public space.

Supporting the BIA for the espresso cup planter project: Yes, provided there is no advertising on the cup and that we can approve the design beforehand. I will write a letter of support to help them get funding for this.

Putting a Cob Structure in the Greenway: Penny is gung ho. Pat is reluctant. Wayne is diplomatic and seemingly neutral. We will find out more and keep discussing.

Carving Project for the Olympics: Not much news lately. Will report if more.

Benches letter: Pat wrote and Penny edited an essay about the history of benches in the Greenway. Wayne is going to have a look at it and then Penny will send it to Helen, who can give it to the Elementary School PAC. I will post the story to this blog when we've agreed that it's done.

Copy for the Green Streets book is due April 30th. I will write something and get it in on time. We agreed to the general content. It should just be one paragraph with a photo. I will post to the blog when done.

That's about all for now.

Cheers,
Penny

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Hello Britannia Neighbours!
We will be meeting on Tues April 28th at 7:00 at the Brit Info Centre. On the agenda: planning planting and clean up work party for the weekend of May 2/3 to beautify the Greenway for Stone Soup (which is May 9th); discussing our strategy around Mosquito® and bench-removal and carving project; discussing the BIA espresso-cup planters proposal; mason bees; etc.
Please come if you can. No need to RSVP; just ask at the Info Centre desk to find out where we are.
Cheers,
Penny


Wednesday, April 01, 2009

GARDENS!
Just one addition to the notes from the Meeting on March 17th: Janet and Sandy were going to think about good gardens in our target area for this year (which would be East 2nd, 3rd and 4th). So it isn't just Ann and me, and besides, if anyone knows of good gardens around and about, they should be telling us, if not for this year, then maybe next.
Get looking, gang! Although it's still too cold to see much in the way of plantings coming up -- we seem to be about three weeks behind. On the plus side, take note that the snowdrops lasted for six weeks, and the smallest daffodils have been blooming for over three weeks with no signs of wilt. And why would they wilt? It's like living in a gigantic refrigerator! The blooms last and last.
Cheers, 
Pat