Steph 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
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ebishi.bsky.social
Steph 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
@ebishi.bsky.social
430 followers 850 following 270 posts
I like cats, knitting, gardening, fermenting, photography, playing cello.

Sometimes I lurk.

I'm switching to curated lists and feeds rather than follows. If I've unfollowed you, its probably because I've moved you to a list instead!
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ebishi.bsky.social
Enjoying the last hurrah from our roses, this mild and rainy #RoseWednesday. 🌱
A delicate pink rose, opened about 2/3 of the way. Raindrops rest on its petals. Beside the bloom are 3 buds, not yet opened. In the background, many more blooms in various stages, from the same bush. This one here is the most perfect. A cluster of scarlet roses. The two flowers up front are fully opened, and startlingly vivid. Underneath, smaller buds.
September 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
I’m growing a bunch of tomatillo plants, from seeds saved from last year’s crop.

Last year’s plants all yielded the same fruit: small and pale green.

This year’s crop is…varied. Some are large. Some are purple. The internet says tomatillo breed true, but do they truly? confused.gif

🌱
An assortment of tomatillos, recently picked. Some are large and green, others are smaller and purple. Allegedly, they should all be the same variety.
September 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
These are not dahlias.
A bumble rolls around on a late-season flower. The flower is bright yellow, and has lost most of its outer petals. The bee is very fuzzy. A monarch butterfly feasting on purple flowers. A different angle of a different monarch butterfly, feasting on other purple flowers. A different angle of TWO monarch butterflis, feasting purple flowers. One butterfly is in focus.
September 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
A few more flowers that are also dahlias!
A close up a dahlia. Specifically, a single dahlia. A single row of petals surrounds a central disc. This looks like a folk art drawing of flowers, not real flowers. The petals are perfectly rounded, pale pink (almost white), outlined in a darker pink, and with a touch of bright red at the base. Cheery, pretty, improbable. A close up a dahlia. Possibly an orchette dahlia. Similar to the orchid dahlia, but spikier. A deep burgundy starburst, with a dark yellow centre.
September 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Happened upon the dahlia show at Burlington's Royal Botanical Gardens.

Where we learned that all flowers are dahlias.

🌱 📷 #bloomscrolling
A close up of a dahlia. I think this is a waterlily dahlia. A hemisphere of rounded petals spiral, becoming smaller and tighter towards the center. Each petal starts yellow in it's center, turning pink towards the edges. It is the colour of a sunset. A close up a dahlia. Specifically, I think it may be an orchid dahlia.It features a single row long, pale pink petals, spaced around a central disc. The petals are curled, so that they look like narrow and long. The overall effects is that of starburst. Overlapping these outer petals is a second row of much shorter petals. A close up a dahlia. Possibly a collarette dahlia? It faces forward, with 7 curled pink petals surrounding a central yellow disk. The petals are each different sizes, and in different stages of unfurling.This flower looks as though she were rushed out of the house before she had finished getting ready.
September 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Unblocked, but off the needles, just in time for #showmeyourknits sweater week! Caitlin Hunter's Halibut sweater, in Lion Brand's Fishermen's Wool.

This is my first yoke sweater, and I'm already scoping out a second. Much fun. Do recommend.

🧶 #knitting #sweater
Trying on the WIP. The yoke and body of a knit sweater are completed, in a medium grey wool. The yoke features a ring of halibut, stitched in cream. The sweater also features a very cozy ribbed turtleneck. Sleeves have not been started yet, so the sweater fits like a t-shirt. The sweater fits a bit large in the shoulders. That's okay -- technically it is not for me, though I do plan to steal it from time to time. A completed sweater, waiting to be blocked. The sweater is medium grey, with a ribbed turtleneck. It features a yoke design of cream coloured halibut. Seven fish lay in a row, dangled vertically, tails up, with diamond patterns filling the space between each fish. Stylistically, they look like wood cut prints. Along the inside of each sleeve are a series of coloured stitch markers. The markers count out the rows in 5s and 10s. Some of the markers also denote decreases. Useful for ensuring the second sleeve matches the first! The sweater is laid out on a distressed pine floor. Very rustic.
September 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Boxtree moth has come to KW. I know its probably a losing battle, but we're currently attempting to manage with pheromone traps (for early detection) and liberal applications of BTK. 🤞🌱
The first sign of trouble. A top-down view of a very distressed boxwood shrub. Close to 50% of the leaves are brown and dead. Is it blight, or is it a boxtree moth infestation? It's a boxtree moth infestation. The image zooms in, to see scarred branches, insect webbing, and so many little pellets of caterpillar poop. 3 weeks later, an explosion of bright green new growth. The hedge was sprayed with BTK biological insecticide (which only targets caterpillars; flying insects are not harmed by it). Cautious optimism rules the day. In the background, the blurry pink of a lawn flamingo -- another invasive visitor, albeit a less voracious one. ALERT! ALERT! The boxtree moth trap has just caught a moth! The boxtree moth has wings that are cream coloured in the centre, with a thick border of dark brown. It clings to the side of a translucent white trap, lured by the pheromones of a female moth. The top of the trap is opaque green. Time to apply more BTK!
June 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
And the very first nasturtium!
A brilliant, neon orange nasturtium blossom, hiding under the plant's leaves. In the background, a blurry little marigold.
June 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Also, the clematis Diana's Delight is covered in beeeeeeeees. 🐝🐝🐝
2 bumble bees hover above a large, purple, clematis flour. A bumble bee investigating a large, violet coloured clematis flower.
June 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
🌱🌹 Happy garden day! Rose season is officially started. The hybrid tea roses opened up on Monday, and now the floribunda are all following suit.
Closeup on a hybrid tea rose with two open blossoms. The petals are a crisp white in the centre, darkening to a pinky-red towards the edges. Variety unknown. Another hybrid tea rose. This flower is a creamy white, with a touch of pink trim just around the outer-most petals. Blurred in the background is an apricot-coloured floribunda rose. A bubblegum pink floribunda rose in full bloom, surrounded by many more buds waiting to open. Another floribunda rose, apricot-colours, also surrounded by many more buds.
June 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Found a lovely volunteer growing in a neglected corner of the yard. These dusky cranesbill may get relocated to a more prominent location.

Every time I look up a new discovery in the yard, it turns out to be yet another geranium 😂
A patch of dusky cranesbill (hardy geranium). Delicate stems rise above a naturalized lawn of violets, wood sorrel, and other hardy geraniums. Each stem bares a small (2cm) burgundy flower with prominent stamen.
June 3, 2025 at 8:24 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
🌱 Other exciting moments in the yard today. The apple tree is in bloom (covered in bees, but I couldn't get one in focus), and the sweet woodruff is waking up. Easily my favourite shady ground cover.
A cluster of white and pink apple blossoms. A dense patch of sweet woodruff grows under the apple tree. Each stem features whorls of 9 bright green, blade-like leaves, arranged flat like an open fan. Atop each, a cluster of small white buds is just beginning to open up.
May 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
MIL's birthday lines up with the glorious proliferation of violets, and the first hello from the wood sorrel. Of course, she's going to get a cake that's covered in them 😅

🌱 🍜
Topdown view of a lemon cheese cake. The cake has been spackled with a thin layer of whipped white chocolate ganache. A flurry of wood sorrel leaves and violet flowers spill across the top half of the cake. Its a very pretty cake. Violet flowers laid out on paper tower, for drying and inspection. A small, ceramic flower brick sits on a table covered in a white tablecloth. The brick has 15 small holes punched through the top. Each hole is just large enough to hold 2 violet stems.
May 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Went to the nursery to look for more hellebore, and fell in love with this beauty instead. 🌱 Winky Double Columbine

I’m trying it in a spot that only gets partial sun, so will be harvesting seeds this year, just in case.
A happy little Aquilegia “Winky Double Red-White” (columbine) plant, newly homed in a flower bed. The plant stands approximately 12” tall, with a mound of bright green foliage at the base. Several tall stems rise out of the foliage, bearing more than 2 dozen flowers. Most of the flowers are not yet fully open. Tight burgundy buds slowly open to reveal furled yellow-green petals. As the petals unfurl, they become paler in colour, butter yellow, then the palest pinky white with deep burgundy centres.
May 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Bringing focaccia & crème brûlées to family Easter today. Was smart, and made extra brûlées which were “tested” at breakfast this morning; I should have done the same with the focaccia. I want to cut in to this beauty now 😭

🍜🥖 #breadsky
A lovely, pillowy focaccia dough, ready for the oven. The dough has been stretched to fit a quarter sheet pan, and is liberally covered in chopped rosemary, flaky Maldonado salt, and olive oil. The dough has been dimpled — fingers have poked depressions all over the surface. There are also a few fermentation bubbles. Baked focaccia, cooling from the oven. The surface is golden brown. A fresh drizzle of bestest quality EVOO has been drizzled all over the bread, pooling in the divets. This photo is an exercise in restraint.
April 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Such a pretty and self controlled kitty!! She is keeping a respectful distance ♥️

My girl gets insanely jealous when I knit, and will try to lay on top of my arms. I've had to learn how to work around her. 😆
A headless woman in a lemon yellow sundress is trying to knit. In her hand is a needle with a sock mounted, in self-striping purple and white yarn. A desperate Tonkinese cat has thrown herself over the woman's working arm. The cat's head rests on the woman's breast. Her front paw pushes the knitting project down. Nobody looks comfortable.
April 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
#ShowMeYourKnits week 37 is all about grey! 🧶 #knitting

This Quilted Lattice Ascot (pattern by Pam Powers) was the first time I saw a pattern, fell in love with it, successfully finished it, and equally loved the finished product. Knit in a silver grey Cascade 220.
A light grey knit neck warmer. A luxuriously full band of plush ribbing wraps around the neck. It overlaps itself and fastens at the base of the throat. The ends that overlap are knit in a sort of lattice pattern -- a flat square filled with a decorative diamond pattern. These ends are fastened with 3 antiqued silver buttons.
April 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Cat door on the balcony means we occasionally get an accidental visitor. Miss Kitty alerted us to this early morning friend. We were able to escort the friend out without her help.

Just yesterday I was remarking that I haven’t seen many robins yet this year. 😅
A frightened Robin stands alert & frozen inside a clear plastic bin. Robin appears unharmed, and is about to be taken back outside. A frightened Robin stands alert & frozen inside a clear plastic bin. Robin appears unharmed, and is about to be taken back outside.
April 13, 2025 at 11:56 AM
ebishi.bsky.social
Week 36 of #ShowMeYourKnits is WIPs. 🧶 #knitting

Caitlin Hunter's Halibut sweater (on Ravelry) is on my needles. Its been stalled while I heal an injured elbow, but I'm looking forward to finishing this bad boy. This is my second human-shaped sweater, and first yoke. So far 👍
Top-down view of the beginnings of a dark grey, circular yoke sweater. The sweater begins in the centre with a ribbed turtle neck. The yoke expands outward, with a ring of cream coloured fish facing downwards. The fish tails and bodies are completed; heads will be knit next. Laying on top of the work in progress is the two skeins of wool -- Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in a heathered grey and natural. A detail shot of one of the fish motifs in the yoke.
April 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
ebishi.bsky.social
The pansies are indoors and still alive. ✌️
A closeup on a flat of purple & white pansies. Like me, they have retreated indoors, waiting for this nonsense weather to pass.
April 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
#FlowersOnFriday 🌱

Thankfully the hellebore can handle a little snow 😅
A dark purple hellebore flower, with pale yellow stamen, stands oblivious to the snow piled atop it. The plant is surrounded by emerging green of hyacinth, crocus, tulip, a sure sign that despite the snow, Spring is on its way. In the blurry distance, a pink flamingo guards the boxwood. Another hellebore flower, standing stoic in the snow. This flower is variegated pink and cream. It has not opened as fully yet, hiding its stamen from view. The snow wears heavy on it. It is thinking about going back to bed.
April 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Last weekend of March means pansies!! 🌱

We’ve got nighttime lows of -8C on the horizon. Will I remember to bring them at night, or will I be buying replacement pansies in April?
A closeup of a tray of Violet & White Delta Pro Pansies. The foreground is a sea of green foliage. Three polychromatic flowers rise up. The lateral and anterior petals are white with dark (nearly black) purple splotches in the middle. The posterior petal is solid purple.
March 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
#ShowMeYourKnits week 34: show me your COLOURWORK!

Organ Pipe Mitts, pattern by Stephannie Tallent. A first attempt at colourwork. My tension was bad, so they have no stretch and barely fit. But they are so pretty & I still wear them all the time. 😅

🧶 #knitting
A pair of handknit, fingerless gloves. The cuff is a Lacey scalloped pattern, knit in cream coloured yarn. Separating the cuff and main body of the glove is a border of burgundy flowers. The main body (and thumb) of the glove features raised vertical stripes in green, against a recessed cream background. The glove’s are very dainty and pretty and I love them very much.
March 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
Best time of year. These first signs of life are infinitely more thrilling than the lush and thriving gardens of summer. 🌱
Rhubarb shoots breaking through dark soil. The stalks are a brilliant ruby red. The leaves are tightly furled. A cluster of pink hellebore flowers covered in raindrops, nestled in last year’s (decaying) foliage. Two teeny tiny, purple & white crocus buds, poke out of a bed of weeds and dead leaves. A single purple, white, and yellow crocus bud.
March 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
ebishi.bsky.social
🧶 #WhiskersWednesday

Despite being cat-shaped herself, Girlfriend has claimed the Human Shaped Sweater.
A Tonkinese cat has been rudely awoken from nap. She is laying on a handknit wool sweater of heathered grey. She stares moodily at the section of folded sweater that served as her pillow. Will she be able to get back to sleep? A Tonkinese gives disdainful side eye to the camera. She is perched on a hand knit wool sweater of heathered grey. Is it her sweater? It is now. What does a cat have to do, to get some alone time around here?
March 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM