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November/December 2020
Sidewalks create community BY
Kim Clarke
S
idewalks say a lot about a neighbourhood. Lack of sidewalks say even more. I have been musing about this for some time now, and remarkably I am not alone. I mentioned to my friend Meesh that I was thinking of writing about sidewalks. She was flabbergasted. She had been thinking about sidewalks too. What prompted all this for her was that she had been visiting a friend that lived on a street with beautiful wide sidewalks on both sides of the street. Neighbours were walking their dogs, or pushing jogging strollers, or waving at people from an acceptable social distance. The sky was wide too, and cerulean blue.
No one was being honked at because they were on the road. It seemed that everyone was happy. Everyone had a place to be safe and outdoors and close to home. Meesh’s conclusion was that sidewalks make community, foster happiness, let you meet your neighbours. All good things - things that don’t exist in her neighbourhood. Meesh lives in a neighbourhood without sidewalks. There are concrete driveways that run into the street, sure, but there is no place for people to walk serendipitously or twirl and skip close to home. She feels that she is taking her life into her hands walking on her local roadways. Meesh feels as though she’s more of an annoyance to the people in cars than a neighbour. She is also sure that the hand gestures that she sees are
not exactly waves of recognition. I once lived in a neighbourhood without sidewalks. Willy-nilly ambling between half-acres was discouraged. Walking was viewed as silly unless you were on the Grouse Grind. Plus, it took forever. Unless, of course, you had a dog, and then walking was viewed as compassionate and sensitive and totally West Coast. So, when we moved, more than a few years ago, to our home in the Bay, I was thrilled to have real sidewalks. My dog and I could wander at will, without fear of being run over or ridiculed. But I no longer have a dog. And so, it seems, I do not need to loiter on the sidewalk. I miss the details and wonder of my street. I no longer say ‘Good morning’ to
BRIAN POMFRET
random cowboys or the lady that walked her dog at the same time as me. I am not finding ferry tickets torn into the shape of hearts; or Werther’s wrappers, that extreme display of a grandparent’s love and devotion, dropped accidentally on the sidewalk in front of my house. I love that my neighbourhood has sidewalks on both sides of the street, but only to a point. The cracks that I avoid stepping on, drive home how much I miss my dog. Kim Clarke is a writer and teacher who lives in Horseshoe Bay. She is surprised and delighted by the inexplicable details of everyday: nothing is random, everything is purposeful and beautiful and fabulous and sparkly and she wants to share sparkle, in all its forms, with the world.
JOE GARDENER
And so to bed It’s November and, with winter approaching, it’s time to tend to the preparation of our garden beds. •B y now you may have placed your spring bulbs. If not, there’s still lots of time as long as the ground beneath is not frozen. Generally, plant your bulbs and corms 2.5 times their length into the soil. Planting them in groups of 20/25, ‘shoulder to shoulder’ makes a great impression.
• Leave your roses alone too as those with large hips are really attractive. Maybe add a bit of dolomite lime around established roses. Good specimens are Rosa glauca and Rosa rugosa. • This is a good time to have your soil tested so improvements can be made for spring. Contact Pacific Soil Analysis at 604-273-8226 for more information.
•C ut all those perennials down now and compost. Leave the ferns till February as they keep their appearance well.
December’s wintry gardens look fabulous with a bit frost in the morning!
• I like to leave the hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and sedums, as they have attractive winter appeal especially with a light dusting of frost or snow.
• Lime time is any time and winter is specially good for a dolomite lime treatment that gradually breaks down to keep the pH level appropriate for your lawn.
•P lant new trees now, so check nurseries for good deals. • Th e hellebores are soon to bloom! Trim back the leaf matter so that blossoms can show off. •R ake up and destroy fallen leaves under your roses to prevent the onset of disease in spring. •A s I have mentioned before, why not invest in quality garden lighting? Such drama with the ornamental trees up-lit!
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