Back from the Brink~

"My" Red Mini Germanium

Good news I have to report.  After last Winter's disaster - with the temperatures in the teens for days on end & my failure to adjust the heat in the greenhouse, I had only two small, sickly plants left this spring.  That was pretty scary for me, since I've been propagating this particular variety since at least  1995.  Lucky for me - both plants have survived & are blooming - with enough shoots that I can start more.

Many blooms~

Summer is Not my favorite time of year...  I love the long days, but anything over 80 just seems like overkill to me :-)  Last evening it stayed muggy & hot.  The only redeeming feature was the amazing sunset that turned the clouds peach. About 2 a.m. I woke to the sound of rain - but it only lasted maybe five minutes - enough to raise the humidity.

Variegated Mock Orange

But, since this post is about flowers, I'll continue with the photo above of the Mock Orange.  The smell of this bush carries over most of the front yard on a warm day & we're getting those!

Cool Blue of the Hydrangeas

I look out the kitchen window to the cool blue of the hydrangeas - they look beautiful in the light of the full moon too...  Another native that is blooming now -

Spirea douglasii

This plant most would not even consider planting in a yard - but it's a really nice bush, I love the pink fluffy blooms.  Besides our well pump going out last night & Butch going to Lowe's to Not find the one he wanted...  (He was up late making it work - then left at 2:30 a.m. for work.)  The good news is that we have water flowing & I can keep up with the watering!

Amazing Day in the USA

Flag flying at Glacier View Nursery

To Darrington we go - to do a project at our youngest daughter's home.  It was just a perfect day for what is a beautiful drive east of Arlington.  While Butch was "working" we drove to what has become my favorite nursery.

New buildings!

 We weren't disappointed, two new little buildings & what is becoming the usual selection of unique & healthy bedding plants.  With prices what they are this season, I'd cut back on my flower purchases, but still couldn't resist buying a few that I knew I couldn't do without :-)

Thimbleberry Bloom

 Before heading home, Butch & I took the walk out to the river to see how it had changed & how much water was flowing.  On the way, the woods were punctuated with the beauty of the white fresh blooms of the Thimbleberry.  

 The Sauk~

Once at the bank of the Sauk, the river was down from it's early Spring high levels, but there was still a lot of water & strong current.  It's changed so much since the kids first purchased their property, will be interesting to see if at mid-summer we'll be able to cross over to the delta.

Beautiful way to spend another sunshine Sat. in May!

Walk in our Woods~

Salmonberry Lane

It's May!  One of the two months of the year that I think are the most beautiful here in Western, WA!  The greens are so intense & the foliage so lush that I can almost spend my days drifting away inhaling the negative ions!  Since I'm going to be working on the farm the end of this month, I've been trying to get all the Spring "stuff" done!  Moving my geraniums out of the greenhouse & into pots around the house & yard.  Planted zucchini & summer squash in the garden.  Just a couple plants of each - but it should be plenty for the two of us.

With the beating that the Woods took this last Winter, we still have one very large limb out of the biggest of our Big Leaf Maples to chain saw up & figure out what to do with.  I try to find places even for the trees & downfall that ends up on the ground & usually on my paths!  It's a long way to haul it down to the yard & takes forever to use our small wood chipper - plus the noise...

Creek at West Woods

 I've found that the very best thing to do on these lovely days - is just to enjoy them!  I take that extra bit of time to walk, listen to the birds, admire the fresh green of the new ferns & the tinkling sound of the creek...  Time to be thankful for being alive!