Many people missed the Little Free Library at “TraFifth” (Trafalgar and West 5th).
Happy to announce that it’s back and it seems like people were hungry. As I live just across the street, I check regularly, and “business” is booming. It seems the selection is completely different every day.
Kids books wanted
I see families with either ecstatic or disappointed children pop by regularly. If you happen to have some kids books around, you’d make some kid very happy if you drop them off! Bottom shelf please.
Landscaping
I got so excited at it being back, I’ve started a bit of landscaping around it. The poor lavender plant was almost dead, but I’ve cut it back, air-layered a few pieces and watered it. I added some herbs (lemon balm and marjoram) and a few succulents (hens and chicks and sedum) plus red-veined sorrel. Today or tomorrow I’ll add a few calendula. I’d love help at making the east side of Trafalgar as beautiful as the west side. I have plants, bricks and some metal frames that might make it easier. Maybe in September, fill it up with dried leaves, add some compost and plants?
I sometimes take photos of what’s there and post on the Little Free Libraries in Kitsilano Facebook group. You could post pictures too – especially appreciated if you’ve dropped off a lot of books as it can get crowded and “The Neighbours” don’t like it if people leave anything outside the doors.
Plexiglass?
Someone broke the glass so we’ve just taped it up with plastic. If you have the time and skills to replace it with plexiglass that would be a *very* neighbourly thing to do.
for replacing lawn. Heck! it’s good for replacing weeds – which we might do along the laneway.
Marjoram and oregano – on the Westside – marjoram is lighter in colour; oregano darker. Marjoram has leaves which are slightly hairy and more gray-green in color, while oregano has olive-green colored leaves, but overall they have similar appearances.
Both are key ingredients in pizza, spaghetti sauce and other Italian dishes. Add to salads or soups or anything at all. As always fresh herbs are less pungent than dried (unless they’re really old dried herbs in which case they may have little or not smell or taste). So snip a lot.
It dies down in winter, but should spring back in April – and then it’ll start spreading, so help yourself. I usually have to throw some away if I’m not capable of sharing so PLEASE take some. (I have a secret: I have some at the co-op garden too, so in the unlikely situation that it all disappeared, no problem!)
There’s a lavender bush on the north side-just to the left/east of the sage bush. It’ll bloom in late spring, but you can pick a few springs any time – the leaves aren’t as fragrant or pretty as the flowers, but they are still fragrant and pretty. It’s good for the plant to be pinched back. Just look for the longest stems, and pinch those, and you’ll help it become a much more rounded plant. (And it’s good for us to be well-rounded, yes?)
You might enjoy making 
There’s a sage plant on the north side. Looking a bit spindly, but trust me, it’ll come back. Even now, though, you are invited to pick sprigs from the ENDS of the branches, which will encourage it to get bushier.
In the fall you’ll see the garlic chives (“Chinese” chives) in full bloom. The flowers are beautiful and tasty in salads, and the greens you can add to almost anything: stir frys, stews, soups, salads.
My View ... from the corner of Trafalgar + Fifth 