What better celebration could there be for the first of May than a new garden?
I was there at 10:00 am and greeted by the two organizers, who outlined the general way things work and then told me to go pick my plot from the ones that had a stake and number on them - there were maybe six in all. J. and I looked at them and quickly picked one - #32 - that was in full sun, with hardly any weeds coming up. I paid $10, my name was entered on that plot in the master garden plan, they gave me my key to the gate, and a gift - the yellow miniature rose you can see in the photo - and told me to go look in the tool shed, where all the tools were for common use. They were excellent tools, and I picked a garden fork and rake and got to work preparing the soil, which is considerably better than what I had in my Vermont garden. I saved some plants already growing there: lilies of the valley, yarrow, columbine, and a purple pansy.
It's required that each of us volunteer 2 hours during the summer to do common work; all the cultivation must be biologique (organic); vegetables can only take up 25% of one's plot and must be separated from the soil; and one is not allowed to grow trees, shrubs, large roses or giant sunflowers in the plots. Everything else is provided: easily-accessible water in large tubs and hoses, buckets for toting things, tools, picnic tables, a compost pile for large material that the city takes away, and plastic compost bins that you can set up in your own space.
The other gardeners were so friendly! I met several other people who live in my neighborhood, we cobbled together a typically-Montreal mixture of French and English, and I felt warmly welcomed -- and also amused that one commonality we all seemed to share was a familiarity with the Latin names of plants.
Now it's a question of figuring out what I want to do with this large plot of sunny soil. In the first year, clearly it will be a combination of annuals and perennials, but I'll move it toward more perennials as time goes by.
I'm all excited!
(Coincidentally, this is my 1000th post since moving to TypePad - a fact worth celebrating too!)
Oh, how wonderful! It's good to feel the earth, isn't it? What a great photo of you too!
Posted by: Marja-Leena | May 01, 2010 at 08:32 PM
You look really happy. Plus, a great picture. Happy gardening!
Posted by: mary | May 01, 2010 at 09:08 PM
Fantastic, Beth. I can't wait to see what you do with your plot! You look joyful. Great pic.
Posted by: Kim | May 01, 2010 at 09:37 PM
Congratulations on the new plot and the blogging milestone! May the plot thicken.
Posted by: Dave | May 01, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Marvellous that you got the plot so soon after you wished for it, Beth, and what a lovely photo of you (J's ever-ubiquitous camera?). Montrealers seem so well-organised and friendly, have they found the secret to combining community spirit with big-city living?
Posted by: Natalie | May 02, 2010 at 05:17 AM
Yay, Beth! How wonderful! I may have to come over and visit... I want to be that happy, too. :-D
Posted by: Ivy | May 02, 2010 at 05:19 AM
I'm excited for you too.
Especially following an article on the BBC Health Page
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8654350.stm
"Just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health, researchers claim."
So while you're helping to keep yourself happy and healthy you will also be contributing to the health and happiness of passers-by
Parfait, n'est-ce pas?
Posted by: Julie | May 02, 2010 at 05:43 AM
Congratulations! What a great way to spend May Day!
Posted by: leslee | May 02, 2010 at 08:57 AM
We are sooooo jealous of your mention of having Latin plant names in common with the other gardeners. Here in Turkey it is a constant battle to name plants: few Turks know Latin names; Turkish common names are a minefield with one plant having several different names depending on which part of the country you are in. Oh for people who know their Latin plant names!
Posted by: Pat Temiz | May 02, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Fingers in the soil, planning for future flowers are such a good feelings. Congrats!
Posted by: ej | May 02, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Congratulations -- and it's so wonderful to see that smile blossom on your face in the photo!
Posted by: maria | May 02, 2010 at 11:57 AM
oh, it sounds wonderful. i love urban/community gardens. i come from good gardening stock, but have only succeeded myself in bursts and spurts. one good year. two years of nothing. we have an acre and we really should do stuff with it. it's been a helluva three years for me: maybe soon i can get my head around doing some of that work. inspired!
Posted by: carolee | May 02, 2010 at 08:57 PM
It's a great time to garden ! We are growing Peppers, carrots and roses!
Congratulations on reaching your 1000th post. I love your blog and really enjoy reading it but I think I saw that your domain is about to be auctioned at godaddy.com. If you go to https://auctions.godaddy.com - you can go check it out for yourself cassandrapages.com is in the top ten to be sold. I just wanted to save you the trouble of trying to fight for it back once it is sold.
Good Luck with your garden ! I can't wait to see more
Posted by: marjorie | May 03, 2010 at 04:03 PM
Wonderful photo, and congratulations on your garden! Saturday was a perfect day for beginning--not only the date, but the weather!
Posted by: margaret | May 03, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Wonderful news, Beth. Congratulations and happy gardening.
Posted by: Jan | May 04, 2010 at 07:18 AM
I'm bewildered by Marjorie's comment: how can cassandrapages be auctioned off without your knowledge or agreement? If you own a domain, who has the right to put it up for sale?? Can somebody please explain?
Posted by: Natalie | May 05, 2010 at 04:15 PM
Nobody does, but this was a very close call. The reminder from GoDaddy had gone into J.'s spam folder a month earlier so the domain had actually expired, although we thought we had renewed it. Apparently, the minute domains expire, they are eligible for auction. We called them in the nick of time - in our case we had 30 days past expiration to renew - and it's OK, but we had to pay extra. The auction was set for 4 days from then, and there were already considerable bids for my domain! I was completely shocked, and very grateful that two people had sent me notifications that they'd seen it in the auction listings.
Posted by: Beth | May 05, 2010 at 04:32 PM
That's was a scary close call with your domain name. Good thing you had friends watching out for you.
Congrats on your 1000th post. That's a big accomplishment and takes a lot a dedication.
Posted by: Kelly @ Impowerage | May 12, 2010 at 03:51 AM