I recently spent Thanksgiving with my Pender Island daughter. It was interesting as she also had two New Zealand friends there.
I am not good with accents, so spent a lot of time wondering just exactly what was being discussed, and hoping I was giving the right answer when asked a question.
Both women were very nice, and I did try to look interested and involved, but most of the time I stayed silent, only laughing when they did, and groaning when it seemed appropriate.
I also went to bed early.
Barbara’s large balcony garden is lovely as usual: one big tub of amber-coloured button chrysanthemums is almost in bloom, and will be marvelous when it is, but her yellow, red- streaked nasturtiums, planted late, are wonderful now.
I decorated the dining table with a collection of bright yellow maple leaves, some red dwarf maple ones, plus some strands of red Oregon grape (mahonia) with a small jug of gold chrysanthemum in the centre.
I thought it looked lovely but no one seemed to notice, being busy stuffing themselves with turkey and all the trimmings (said she with an offended sniff).
Kidding, kidding!
I was busy eating as well!
The three of them brought me home and went on their way to Hornby Island where they were to stay with another friend. I’m sure they will have a great time. It is another of our wonderful Gulf Islands.
It’s a remote Island, but lovely, partly because it remains unspoiled.
I came home expecting that everything would need watering but I had reckoned that without thinking of my live-in daughter, who kept everything moist. (Bless her cotton socks!)
The shallots I had planted haven’t shown up, but maybe it is too soon to expect action (it was only a few days ago, after all!)
I must learn to be patient. I seem to expect instant gratification.
Helen Lang has been the Peninsula News Review’s garden columnist for more than 30 years.