Pedro Subrosa
@pedrosubrosa.bsky.social
Gardener, musician, songwriter. Over 4000 days of forestry fieldwork -- mostly eco classification -- but also just enjoying the boreal forest succession of bloom. "As Canadian as possible, under the circumstances."
That comment was supposed to be about someone's Papaver nudicaule/Iceland poppies.
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
That comment was supposed to be about someone's Papaver nudicaule/Iceland poppies.
Nothing beats Sumacs for fall color. We've got lots of two Okanagan species -- R. typhina and R.glabra.
November 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Nothing beats Sumacs for fall color. We've got lots of two Okanagan species -- R. typhina and R.glabra.
"...so life in the garden is good." Truer words were never spoken. Glad you're doing well.
October 28, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"...so life in the garden is good." Truer words were never spoken. Glad you're doing well.
Love your food forest. Glad to get a hand with some jobs. My 'boys' are 40 and 43. If not for the younger one, I wouldn't have gotten our raspbery patch under control this year. Just 3 inch posts and runs of clothesline wire. Plus Jenny can see if there's a black bear on the other side. Or not.
October 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Love your food forest. Glad to get a hand with some jobs. My 'boys' are 40 and 43. If not for the younger one, I wouldn't have gotten our raspbery patch under control this year. Just 3 inch posts and runs of clothesline wire. Plus Jenny can see if there's a black bear on the other side. Or not.
We're getting our winter stuff done early. Two cords of pine moved into the woodshed done in an hour or so. Check! The usual race between pot plants and first hard frost. Fortunately, they're still fine down to -3 or or -4C.
October 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
We're getting our winter stuff done early. Two cords of pine moved into the woodshed done in an hour or so. Check! The usual race between pot plants and first hard frost. Fortunately, they're still fine down to -3 or or -4C.
I've never seen an aster with a head like that. Big year for asters in our yard. Added about half a dozen new ones for way more fall color.
September 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I've never seen an aster with a head like that. Big year for asters in our yard. Added about half a dozen new ones for way more fall color.
I've had about 20 toasted bacon, tomato (Brandywine), mayo, with pepper sandwiches in a row. It's a balanced meal.
September 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I've had about 20 toasted bacon, tomato (Brandywine), mayo, with pepper sandwiches in a row. It's a balanced meal.
Sounds like a good addition for our own garden.
September 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Sounds like a good addition for our own garden.
Ours is still recovering. Some flowers this spring. No fruit. Squirrels and bears are very happy about the walnut crop.
September 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Ours is still recovering. Some flowers this spring. No fruit. Squirrels and bears are very happy about the walnut crop.
Rampant, ferocious self seeders. You've got to be poised to cut them back. I let some stand 'for the birds' one winter and had hundreds sprouting Echinops seeds. Right now, we've got a few volunteers on the far edge of the garden.
September 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Rampant, ferocious self seeders. You've got to be poised to cut them back. I let some stand 'for the birds' one winter and had hundreds sprouting Echinops seeds. Right now, we've got a few volunteers on the far edge of the garden.
When does it start flowering?
September 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
When does it start flowering?
It was devastating to local vineyards and tree fruits. Not too bad at home. Had to replace a 15 year old hibiscus. Lost half an apricot tree. A few Caryopteris. But the whopping majority of perennials and shrubs did just fine. Bumper crops of berries this year -- pretty skimpy last summer.
September 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
It was devastating to local vineyards and tree fruits. Not too bad at home. Had to replace a 15 year old hibiscus. Lost half an apricot tree. A few Caryopteris. But the whopping majority of perennials and shrubs did just fine. Bumper crops of berries this year -- pretty skimpy last summer.
One of my favorites. We've got three Caryopteris in full bloom. Interesting to see how well they do in different spots. Part sun/shade has been most successful in our garden. Lost a couple to -30C winter before last.
September 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
One of my favorites. We've got three Caryopteris in full bloom. Interesting to see how well they do in different spots. Part sun/shade has been most successful in our garden. Lost a couple to -30C winter before last.
Dutch on my dad's side. English on the other. Canadian!
September 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Dutch on my dad's side. English on the other. Canadian!
Always enjoy your newsletter.
September 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Always enjoy your newsletter.
Quite an after/before comparison. Water is kind of a touchy topic around here. Our Regional District wants us to vote Yes to borrowing $33 million to renew our water system. Ten fold increase in annual bills--from $1200 to $12000 a year. AND each household to pay $261000 over 30 years. Hell,NO.
September 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Quite an after/before comparison. Water is kind of a touchy topic around here. Our Regional District wants us to vote Yes to borrowing $33 million to renew our water system. Ten fold increase in annual bills--from $1200 to $12000 a year. AND each household to pay $261000 over 30 years. Hell,NO.
"de Caen", a city in Normandy, France. It also refers to the Anemone de Caen, a vibrant mix of brightly colored, cup-shaped windflowers.
As for Mr Fokker, one who forks hay in Dutch. Nicer than Mother Fokker. Fokker is a Dutch word meaning "breeder," derived from verb "fokken" (to breed animals).
As for Mr Fokker, one who forks hay in Dutch. Nicer than Mother Fokker. Fokker is a Dutch word meaning "breeder," derived from verb "fokken" (to breed animals).
September 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"de Caen", a city in Normandy, France. It also refers to the Anemone de Caen, a vibrant mix of brightly colored, cup-shaped windflowers.
As for Mr Fokker, one who forks hay in Dutch. Nicer than Mother Fokker. Fokker is a Dutch word meaning "breeder," derived from verb "fokken" (to breed animals).
As for Mr Fokker, one who forks hay in Dutch. Nicer than Mother Fokker. Fokker is a Dutch word meaning "breeder," derived from verb "fokken" (to breed animals).
We're in our last heat wave of the summer. Garden is still looking pretty good. Cool side last night. First thick forest fire smoke of the year but fire is far from home. Hoping for a no hitter in our area for 2025. We've had as many as 7 fires in one season in the past decade. None would be nice.
September 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
We're in our last heat wave of the summer. Garden is still looking pretty good. Cool side last night. First thick forest fire smoke of the year but fire is far from home. Hoping for a no hitter in our area for 2025. We've had as many as 7 fires in one season in the past decade. None would be nice.
Now that you mention it, same thing here. Salvia yangii Blue Jeans were several weeks later than the Russkies. Have them heeled over for next spring planting. My Blue Jeans and Elijah Blue fescue planting will have to wait a bit.
September 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Now that you mention it, same thing here. Salvia yangii Blue Jeans were several weeks later than the Russkies. Have them heeled over for next spring planting. My Blue Jeans and Elijah Blue fescue planting will have to wait a bit.
Love sagebrush. We've got two native species in the Okanagan. Plus rabbitbrush and antelopebrush.
August 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Love sagebrush. We've got two native species in the Okanagan. Plus rabbitbrush and antelopebrush.
Ours just have a few flowers so far but then this is when they're supposed to bloom for fall color up here in BC.
August 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Ours just have a few flowers so far but then this is when they're supposed to bloom for fall color up here in BC.
August is also for heeling over former bare root plants in pots that didn't get planted this season. Next spring!
August 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
August is also for heeling over former bare root plants in pots that didn't get planted this season. Next spring!
Making some jambalaya?
August 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Making some jambalaya?
Now that you mention it, our swallowtails are gone, too. Haven't seen one for a week or so.
August 21, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Now that you mention it, our swallowtails are gone, too. Haven't seen one for a week or so.