Hollyhocks

    I recall Hollyhocks growing beside our back steps as a very small child.  I can’t remember that I had any affection for them at the time, but a long time ago, when I saw a seed packet for the flower, I had a great desire to grow them.  We bought the seeds, put them into our seed box, and then proceeded to forgot them for many years.

    Three years ago, when I was planting the garden, I came across the Hollyhock seed packet, and thought I’d better plant them, because like me, they weren’t getting any younger.  I planted them in the garden, not knowing if they were still viable, but surprisingly they came up and grew.

    I had read that took two years to grow Hollyhocks, first year they just get their footing, and the second year, they throw up a long stalk and produce flowers.  In the fall of that first year, I decided that I would rather have them growing in front of the house, where there is more of the sunlight that they need.  I dug them up and transplanted them, anxious to see what color of flowers they would have the following year.

    Last year they came up, seemed vigorous, and I waited for the tall stalk to form, but alas, it never developed.  I was dismayed, knowing that this was the second year of the plant.  I wondered if I should just admit failure, but I left the Hollyhocks in the ground, not really expecting to see them again.

    This year they once again came up, and even more vigorously.  I became optimistic, and as they grew, to my great relief, I saw buds forming.  Then stalks started to emerge.  The stalks are now 5 and 6 ft (1.5 and 1.8m) tall.  

    Below is what they look like today.  We still don’t know what color the blooms will be.  Joan says, “Anything is alright except black.”  I’ll keep you posted when we actually see the flowers.

Check out my paintings:  davidmarchant.ca

Shades of Green

    The other day when I happened to glance up at the mountain slope on the other side of the road, I noticed all the different shades of green of the various trees that were growing there.  I love color, and feel blessed that nature provides so much of it everywhere that I look.

    This slope burned in 1913 or there abouts, so all of the trees you see have grown up since then.  The snag (dead tree) that you see is an old cedar that escaped the fire, but has since died.

My paintings can be seen at:  davidmarchant.ca

Nice Clouds

           Yesterday we had a beautiful day with beautiful clouds.

Check out my paintings:  davidmarchant.ca

"Leaves," My Latest Painting

    When I selected this image to paint it was the colors that attracted me, but as I proceeded in painting it, against all of the madness that is happening in the United States, I began to think of the painting as a homage to Canada my adopted country, whose emblem, after all is the red Maple leaf. 

    I took the photo that this painting is based on under a domesticated Maple at the Slim Creek Rest Area, where we stop every time we drive to Prince George.

    I started this painting in January, and it took me 125 hours to complete.  It is my 58th painting.

You can view my other paintings at:  davidmarchant.ca

Too Prove My Point

    Yesterday while describing the rain and showers that fell during the outdoor grand opening of the McBride Library, I said that I didn’t know why anyone planned to have an outdoor event around here, because of the high chance of rain.  Well, yesterday my point was proven when we drove by Koeneman Park and noticed a neon green sign in the window of a truck.  It said, “Wedding Moved to .....”

    Obviously an outdoor wedding that had been slated for Koeneman Park had to be relocated due to the constant on and off rain showers that fell all day.  

    Outdoor celebrations are nice, but a big gamble, when it comes to weather in the Robson Valley.  The same problem arises every time there is some big astronomical event.  You can pretty much guarantee that we will have overcast skies.

You can view my paintings:  davidmarchant.ca

McBride Library/Museum Grand Opening

    The cold rain and miserable conditions did not dampen the enthusiasm of the big crowd that gathered yesterday for the Grand Opening of the McBride Library and Museum.  (I sometimes wonder why anyone ever plans to have any event outside around here).   People huddled under the tents to eat, after spending time lining up in the rain, for the grilled burgers, salads, and desserts provided for the celebration.

    Even in the cold and wet my heart was warmed to see so many people their for the opening.  Getting the library and museum into the new building had been a real struggle for those of us who fought for that dream.  Public meetings held, politicians removed from office, money raised, but finally it happened, and the empty building that stood empty on main street is now the beautiful facility for the library and museum for the community.

    Music by local musicians was to be performed throughout the celebration, but the bad weather wasn’t very cooperative.  Nevertheless, the stoic fiddlers huddled inside the tiny tent for shelter from the rain, and played their hearts out.  Our Tuesday Jam was scheduled to play later in the evening, and as I chilled in the rain, I wondered just how that was going to work for us with cold fingers in the small tent.  Luckily, the decision was made to move the music inside the library, were we perform every week.  So it felt like home, and all my worries had been unfounded.

    I was very happy with our performance, the crowds, and the whole event.  The new library is such a wonderful, inviting space and already I am seeing new people inside the library, checking things out or using the computers, taking advantage of the new facility.

    I feel proud that our tiny community has a beautiful new library, that is the first building people see when they drive into town.

Take a look at my paintings:  davidmarchant.ca

Blackman Road

    We had to go to the vet in Valemount yesterday to get some shots for Skye.  Normally the route for us is to drive east on Hwy. 16, to Tete Juane, then turn south on Hwy. 5.   Even though there are a lot of straight stretches on Hwy. 5, there are also a lot of Alberta drivers, many of which are in a big hurry, which all too often result in fatal accidents, so since we had time, we decided to take Blackman Road south, instead of Hwy. 5.

    Blackman is a scenic and leisurely country road, which begins at Tete Jaune where it cross the old wooden Fraser River bridge.  As we drove down Blackman, I began to worry that we might be stopped by one of those incredibly long freight trains, which would cause us to be late to the vet.  There was a train, but luckily it was the Rocky Mountaineer, the high-class tourist train with view cars and fancy food.  It was a very short train in comparison to the freight, so the drive to Valemount was quite a pleasant experience.

You can view my paintings at:  davidmarchant.ca