Notes from a Lazy Gardener
Catharine Wasiak Photography:Baron PhotoGraphics

pansiesYOU NEED TO KNOW UP FRONT-I'M A LAZY GARDENER. I want a yard that looks good, but don't want to spend a lot of time and energy on it. I'm also frugal so don't want to spend a bundle on watering or purchasing annuals each year.

Our gardening adventures began almost 10 years ago, when we bought a new house with something euphemistically called an RV parking space in the back. In reality it was a bleak yard of fill dirt with about two cups of gravel scattered on top. Starting from scratch involved planning, preparing, purchasing, planting and patience-lots of patience. The concept of working with the environment made sense, especially given the lazy and frugal premises. Choosing plants that like the weather in Lethbridge and planting techniques that conserve water seemed like the smart way to go. This simple idea has a fancy name, xeriscaping, which basically means working in harmony with the environment to conserve water.

 

 
Cruising Highway 23 into the 23rd Century
Eric Low Photography: Coutesy of Vulcan Tourism and Trek Station 

startrekA VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY 23 proceeds "on impulse." Inside are visitors from another province, one whose landscape is dominated by rocks, water and trees. Outside, the terrain is primarily flat, dry and treeless. These visitors could be excused for thinking they are on a different planet.

As they near the halfway point between Lethbridge and Calgary, they see heat waves shimmering above the ground surrounding what looks like a starship. Not too far away is what looks like a space station, and they are now sure they are on a different planet: Vulcan.

 
Riding Like the Wind
Roger York Photography:Jim McNally

bmxMOTOCROSS, BMX, both the same thing right? A bunch of riders on motorized bikes going around an oval track. Wrong! In fact I couldn't have been more wrong. But, you see, I had never been to a BMX race and there were a lot of things I needed to learn about the sport. The first thing that Darren Williams, Coach of the Lethbridge BMX Club, hastened to tell me was, "There are no motors, speed is achieved by the individual riders pedaling, and skill plays a very large part in getting to the finish line first." Then he invited me to come out to see a race. What a hoot.

 

 
Go Fly a Kite!
Lesley Little Illustrator:Brenda Low

kiteWHILE IT MAY B E PAINFULLY OBVIOUS to say the most distinguishing feature about Southern Alberta is the wind, it is quite another thing to consciously celebrate something that at times can be supremely annoying. And yet that is precisely what the Pincher Creek Chamber of Commerce chose to do 17 years ago when they were approached by Anne Connellan, with the notion to establish the Pincher Creek Kite Festival: Children of the Wind as a mid-summer event at Windy Point by the Oldman River Dam. It was a "make lemonade out of lemons" idea that took flight. In the spirit of the sky-is-the-limit approach to her appointed task, Anne invited world multiple kite flying champion Ray Bethell to attend, and he has taken time out from his tremendously busy schedule of international events to attend ever since.

 
Get Outta' Town!
Kathy Knowles Illustrator:Maya Ichikawa

get_outta_townWANT TO FEAST on a meal from local producers without the planning, preparing and serving? Enjoy a driving tour without being at the wheel? Learn more about the culture and history of Southern Alberta? Honour the 100-mile diet pledge? Meet great rural people and support small, local agribusiness entrepreneurs? Then hop on the tour bus and "Get Outta' Town!" Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16 for a few hours of homegrown food and fun.