The School of Architecture Building of Dalhousie University in Halifax. Quiet on a snowy December evening.
Photo taken in December.
Linked to Norm’s Thursday Doors
Halifax
Agricola Street Doors
I took a walk north along Agricola Street this afternoon. And yes! I spotted a few gorgeous doors.
Some absolute glowed in the slanting November afternoon sun.
And here’s a snazzy door knocker:
And sunny streets cape.
Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors.
Schmidtville Doors
I am temporarily hold up in a downtown condo that was built in the early 90’s. To the North, the building fronts onto the city’s busiest shopping street. There are brand new developments under construction immediately to the east and west of me (it’s a little noisy).
But step out the door and turn south, and BOOM! You are in Schmidtville!
This charming wee neighbourhood has recently – very recently, like three months ago recently – been designated a Heritage Conservation District.
Thank goodness for that! This place has the same urban density stats as Paris, proving that we do not need only glass and steel towers to improve urban density. More than that, Schmidtville’s residents provide an excellent example of economic diversity. Plus is really pretty!
Elizabeth Schmidt subdivided Pedley’s Fields after her husband, Capt. Christian Schmidt, died in 1830. The 12 acres of grazing land was purchased by her father, James Pedley, in 1781.
The houses are mainly Georgian in style, but the neighbourhood also has some Victorian architecture.
I’ve been watching this spot. Someone has dug the soil beside this house to expose a deeply buried door. They have only just filled the doorway in with concrete blocks. I wonder where that door went when the house was originally built?
I feel like there is a story there …
Linked to Norm’s Thursday Doors.
She’s Still a Standing
Here she is in mid October. The blossoms turned to seed pods ages ago. I assume they continue to ripen/dry on the stalk. And there’s almost nothing left at the base.
The good folks at the City have offered to give seeds to anyone who wants some. But not fast government people! Agave Maria isn’t giving up yet.
I don’t think so, anyway.
The weatherman is calling for a “weather bomb” tonight and tomorrow: high winds and lots of rain. So, just in case, I popped by to see her today.
Some very creative person has been running a twitter page in her name; it’s hilarious to follow. ( @AgaveHali if you are interested.)
Yesterday’s tweet suggests the poor plant is beginning to worry about the low temps:
You can see, too, that she’s changed her handle in keeping with the season.
While visiting today, wandered the Gardens appreciating the gorgeous autumn colours.
It will likely look very different after the wind gives the leaves a push.
Hope you enjoyed the visit.
Agave Maria!
She did it!!! She’s bloomed!
The lovely Agave plant which has captured our attention with her determination has outwitted latitude and climate (and frost) to reach a height of about 20 feet and bloomed!
As you know from previous posts, agaves only bloom once before they die. And as you can see here, her energy is definitely waning in comparison with her sister plants.
It’s been such an interesting process to watch. I have found myself drawn to visit and check on her. And I’m not alone. Whenever I pop by, she is always busy entertaining company.
Well, good for her. She’s done her job. And along the way, has given us all a little lesson in botany as well as in the power of hope.
Agave Update
Last month I shared the story of our local celebrity Agave plant. You might recall that this momma plant set up her once-in-a-lifetime flower stalk a wee bit early in the season. When she quickly out grew her greenhouse in the Halifax Public Gardens, she had to me moved outside into some very chilly temps. She attracted National attention as we all crossed our fingers for her.
Just after I shared the post with you, we suffered some pretty seriously freezing temps. It cold enough to pretty much wipe out the wine grape crop and half the blueberry crop (just to name a few) province-wide.
We worried.
Her flower stalk completely stopped growling. It was even reported that the Agave had suffered too much and had, in fact, died before she could bloom.
We mourned.
But! Look!!
Just when we’d abandoned hope, she rallied! And today, a closer look suggests that she is ready to bloom!
At least, that’s how it looks to me.
It’s nice to see that she has lots of company in her garden bed now. Including two sister agaves.
I’m going to have to drive into town next week to check again. I’ll be expecting some flowers.
Stay tuned….
Doors Open
The historic and beautiful Government House in Halifax threw open its doors to the public last weekend. And Mrs Nosey (me) wandered in to take a look. 
Constructed in the early 19th Century – it was move-in ready by 1805 – this is the oldest continuously occupied government residence in Canada.
In fact, it rivals only the White House in Washington for the title within North America.
That’s an interesting fact, don’t you think?
Even more interesting, and one worth researching,is the story of Governor John Wentworth and his clever, social climbing wife Lady Francis.
This couple secured the funding and commissioned the construction of this Georgian mansion, in the style of a grand English manor house.
This hand painted silver wallpaper was imported from China, via England, and was transported in tea crates cut into squares to fit the crates. As you can see, Halifax’s salt air has a oxidizing effect on the silver. Making it all the more beautiful, I believe.
I’m so happy for the chance to take this fun and frivolous tour. It’s a property I’ve rushed by hundreds of times in downtown Halifax.
(Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors)
Liquid Sunshine
The 24th of May
Is the Queen’s birthday,
And if we don’t get a holiday,
We’ll all run away!
(A little rhyme from my grandfather’s childhood)
I’m not sure why we, here in Canada, still recognize Queen Victoria’s birthday with a holiday weekend, but I’m not complaining.
Neither, it seems, is anyone else.
Maybe because if falls nicely in May just in time to throw ourselves at the garden with enthusiasm.
Anyway, a walk through Halifax’s Formal Victorian Public Gardens, seems a nice way to tip our hat to Her Majesty. Even though it was raining – pouring, at times.
Hmmm. Someone looks a little impatient with me stopping every moment or two.
Understandable, really, as we were on a mission to find this now famous mama. (It was only me who was interested in strolling 😉)
The gardens’ 25 year old agave plant had to be moved out of her greenhouse earlier this spring because her flower stalk had become too tall for the building. The flower stalk can grow 5-6 inches per day, apparently.
And there she is – in her, presently muddy, bed. No flower yet. That might be due to the cool temps, or maybe she just isn’t in a hurry. After all, once the flower sets seeds, the mother plant will die.
Take your time, dear, and enjoy the Spring. There is a new queen in the Gardens.
Long may you reign.
WPC – liquid
Nautical Doors
The Tall Ships have been and gone.
After much anticipation and massive preparations, 25 Tall Ships visited Halifax for a festive weekend July 30 – Aug 1. There were parties, concerts, picnics, ship tours and fireworks.
Led by Sail Training International, Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta is a transatlantic race of 7,000 nautical miles taking place over the course of five months in 2017. The race started at the port of Royal Greenwich in Great Britain on April 13.
It finishes in the port of Le Havre, France, which will welcome the grand winner between August 31 and September 3.
The Race route included stops in Portugal, Bermuda, the United States and Canada – coinciding nicely with Canada’s 150th Anniversary as a county.
From Halifax, 13 of the ships made their way to Lunenburg for the weekend of August 10-12. And what’s time we had!!
Alongside Lunenburg’s “shorter” waterfront (no high-rises here!), these tall masts seemed all the more impressive.
The party is over now. And we wish them all Fair Winds!
Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors
Resilient
Spotted in late August, this little tomato plant is the best example of resilience I have seen in a while.
I’m assuming the seed of a patio tomato fell from a nearby balcony, lodged itself in a space between the sidewalk and a foundation on a downtown street. It then would have survived the freeze and thaw cycles of an icy North Atlantic winter. It would have been tread upon and scraped over.
Not only did it survive the Halifax winter (and “spring”!) but grew to blossom and even produce fruit on a shaded street that is dominated by massive urban building project.
If this had been a wee spruce tree, or other native spicies, it would, perhaps have been a charming find. But a tomato? Here? Impressive!
My hat goes off to you little plant! I hope the seed of one of those tomatos carries on your impressive will.
Rose Bay Letters 