I grew up surrounded by fields of corn. Corn thrives in hot muggy weather, with a heavy humid haze. People don't thrive that well; your hair goes limp, you lose your energy, and you can't take enough showers. The combination of 90 degrees F and 90% humidity is great for corn. That kind of weather does not happen even in Vancouver's hottest summer. But people like corn and try to grow it in this cool coastal city.
It's always worth taking a peek at this consistent and neat garden right on Dunbar Street. (for more on that garden, see the
Jan. 13, 2010 blog).
On July 31, I spotted their great-looking corn.
On my walk to do shopping on Dunbar, I usually pass by this front garden. The following 3 photos of the growing corn were taken on July 7, July 22, and September 17.
This side-yard garden along Wallace Street has grown corn for the last two years. This summer must have stressed out the one stalk that developed its ear so close to the ground!
Last September followed a better summer, and the corn crop was taller.
Going back in time, this is how tiny the transplants looked on June 8, 2010. Can you see them?
In early September a friend took a photo of this plot of corn growing near Van Dusen Gardens, in a neighbourhood with few front-yard-vegetable gardens. The corn looks great! These gardeners must have applied some nitrogen.
What a wonderful surprise to come across this display in a lane near my house! The white flowers are some type of allium. The mass grouping of this simple flower looks great with the echinacea. In the background is a climbing bean. This is quite an inspired approach to using marginal land.
Last September followed a better summer, and the corn crop was taller.
Going back in time, this is how tiny the transplants looked on June 8, 2010. Can you see them?
This is the third year that this brave young mother has organized a garden on the boulevard for children. For previous years, see the August 9, 2009 blog entry and the September 6, 2010 entry. This venture is brave because it is more like something that would be seen in the more casual and creative Kitsilano area, than in this Southlands area of Dunbar, which has few front-yard vegetable gardens, let alone one that has children's art blowing in the wind. The other interesting thing is that the most expensive house for sale in the Dunbar area of Vancouver (as far as I know) is on this very block, $5,380,000.
