Sunset Lake Cowichan. BC.

Sunset Lake Cowichan. BC.

Friday, 1 May 2026

Patio's, Gazebo's and plants - April 26th - 30th

 Sunday we went down at the dock by 7:30 am! No wind, so lets get those curtains on the gazebo. A couple hours later we were done. It will be much easier next time. The panels are not all the same size .... so after we screwed up a couple of times we got the hang of it. As each section had one solid and one screen, it took awhile. I can tell you when we take them down next fall, the bags will be marked!

Glad I had extra bungies from the upper deck gazebo clear panels. The ones that came are way to flimsy to hold up to any wind. Later in the day I watched as our curtains were fluttering and Debra's next door are right out of the wind. We are just that little bit further out on the point.



Ray managed to get 2/3 of the solar lights put up as well. By noon we were too pooped to continue reaching over our heads anymore. Time to relax in the front of the house. Can't get that area put together until the painter finishes my fir posts.


Last Thursday we had Agata and Darryl, thatch the lawn. Boy was there a lot of moss in it. She also dug out an area about 10 feet round with crab grass, put in dirt and reseeded.


I had to make a scarecrow to keep the birds from eating all the seed lol.


Monday, painting is finally completed by 1:30 pm  ... finally. I used the little power washer under the gazebo and when it was dry, we moved the furniture back. We moved a few planters in the front and called it a day.

Tuesday, Ray completed the lights on the gazebo and installed the solar panels. Next he power washed the rest of the deck from the pollen. Boy that stuff sticks. I went to Duncan for groceries while he was busy with that. By the time I got home at noon, he'd also moved the furniture down to the dock. Yay it looks great down there. Really cloudy this afternoon with the possibility of rain so we didn't want to drag water through the house by moving the planters on the deck. That will be tomorrow's job.

One more chair to be assembled, side tables added and propane tank for for the fire table.




Warning! Lots of pictures of plants so I can remember next year what I did. lol

Wednesday was a really busy day at home. With painting completed it's time to move all the planters in place, fill with dirt and plant the bedding plants that have been waiting. 

I went from this ....



To this ...



and this ....



Planters are all done and placed, so now we have to get the irrigation going. Last years 1/4" tubing was all brittle so Ray took it all down. With the greenhouse it will need 1/2" tubing down to 1/4". I am having our irrigation guy install it to be more permanent so Ray won't have to figure it out. We'll get them to set it up to be blown out at the end of the season.They'll be here to do the main stuff anyway. Ray can manage the planters on the back deck though.

Penny came as well to weed front garden, plant dahlias and gladiola bulbs and then top with mushroom manure. The garden is looking fabulous. One rhodo is in full bloom, one starting and we have a gorgeous purple azalea.


By Thursday afternoon, we have the front patio all arranged. Ray did the pressure washing to clean up the area after gettig all the p[ots planted, I carried all the "extra" stuff down to the dock. I had 8500 steps in today just going back and forth by 5 pm! He also pressure washed our kayaks so we can move them down to the beach.  Everything has been dragged out of the basement and put where it needs to go, on the dock, deck and the front paito area. A big job :)


You can actually see the helicopter between Pat and Darryl's house when Todd lands!


He flew by a couple of times today. He sure blends into the trees but you can't miss the sound.


Our garden view.





Night view.


Today we tried out all our spaces lol. Lunch on the dock at picnic table. Relaxed in our new chairs under the gazebo on the dock with screens closed from the wind.(which worked fabulous) Sat outside the front of the house on driveway patio and finally on our sundeck under that gazebo as it's too warm in the front. We are so fortunate we have this place.

Hard to believe April is done. Lots of work completed done this month.