Giant Marigold

Mount St. Helens

We took a little side trip on the way home on Monday. We visited the southern side of Mount St. Helens.

This is a view from inside the Ape Cave. Why do they call it an Ape Cave when there are no primates anywhere around and it's actually a lava tube? I have no idea. I can tell you it was dark. Really dark.

This is the view from near Lava Canyon.

The flowers were incredible.

This is from further down the road at the viewpoint.

And finally this. Isn't it breathtaking??

Road Trip

Snoqualmie Falls.

Kaydee & Chris.

Boats in the harbor at Westport.

Pacific Ocean waves.

Sunday was a very good day. Any day I can see my beautiful daughter and the Pacific Ocean in the same day qualifies as very good. Very good indeed.

Amish Friendship Bread

I got a starter of this bread 10 days ago from my step-daughter. I mushed the bag and added ingredients when it asked me to (day 6 and day 10 - today). One of the steps called for me to make 4 new starter bags - 1 for me and 3 for my friends. Problem is, all of my friends are way too smart for me. They already informed me they will not be accepting starter bags from me. No how, no way. So, instead, I baked 6 loves of friendship bread (which I bet they don't have any trouble accepting, by the way) and called it good. No new starter bag, not even for me.

Now I know why it's called Amish Friendship Bread. Because after you start pawning starter bags off on everyone you know, your only friends are the Amish. {grin}

Strawberries! No, really!

It won't be long now until we'll have fresh strawberries to eat...

One problem: The strawberry plants don't seem to understand their place in the garden. They are threatening to overtake the bee balm section. That is not acceptable.

Rinse, repeat

Another shot of our fountain, now that the flowers have filled in.

Here's another rose.

And the verbena is finally blooming in the hanging baskets.

Red Barn

Taken on the way home from a delivery. Wish the sky wasn't so blown out.

The beetle yesterday? He's a Ctenicera Resplendens. Cool, huh?

Gorgeous Beetle

Scott caught this irridescent winged beetle this afternoon and saved it so I could take a picture of it when I got home. Isn't it gorgeous?

It crawled around and posed for me for a bit, then flew away. Scott thought it was cool that this shot showed the beetle's shadow.

Newest Additions

This is Dimitri. He's a red lace-leaf Japanese Maple, just like the one in our backyard, only very small. Scott says he's a Charlie Brown Japanese Maple. We wanted something that wouldn't outgrow the planter at the shop. I think this little guy is just the ticket.

And this? This is Little Miss Sunshine. How do I know she's a girl?? She has pink flowers (or will have next spring). {grin}

Garden Witch

Happy first day of summer, everyone! It's 4pm here, give or take a couple of minutes, and it's 60 degrees. Sixty. That is wrong on so many levels...

Tomatoes!

There are tomatoes on our plants!! Yes, I know they're tiny. These are cherry tomatoes. The plant is covered in these little tiny tomatoes.

Every branch has some on it. They are doing SO MUCH better than last year.

Look at this monster! He's the first one we noticed. I can't wait for him to turn red. YUM!

Pretty Flowers

Dianthus & Keys of Heaven from the garden. I just love the soft light.

Gaillardia

Gaillardia blooming.

Downpour

There is thunder and lightning. The cats don't like it. They're under the bed.

Ram Pots

We delivered some ram pots and a couple of other planters to the Davenport Hotel tonight.

Scott made the pots that line all four sides of the hotel.

These ram gargoyles are on the building above the ram pots.

After the delivery, Mr. Worthy walked us across the street to show off the lobby of his new hotel - the Davenport Towers. The lobby is breathtaking, but this guy stopped us dead in our tracks. This is a concrete rhino that Scott sold to Mr. Worthy years ago for his yard. He brought it in and gold-leafed it. It's in the entry to the new hotel.

Along with his friend, the hippo. (Another of Scott's creations). How cool is that???

Rain

We went to install a fountain today. Shortly after arriving, it began to rain. A few minutes later, water was pouring out of the sky in sheets. We waited more than 20 minutes for it to let up, but it never did, so we rescheduled the delivery for Wednesday. By the time we got home, the storm had already passed over our house, so the only shots of rain I got were these.

Dark & Stormy

It was a dark and stormy night.

There was thunder and lightning - which is why my computer stayed off. No sense frying another motherboard.

Doesn't this tree look like it's ASKING to be hit by lightning??

The rain was nice - it's been a really dry spring.

The Shop

A gazing ball from in front of the shop. Can you see Kokopelli?

And ivy geraniums from the hanging baskets in front of the shop.

First Rose

The first rose of summer.

And allium, gone to seed. It's almost prettier than the flowers.

How?

How can I choose just one?

Marigolds...

Dianthus...

Gaillardia... (not quite blooming)

Keys of Heaven...

And last but not least, Verbena.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love summer??

I REALLY love summer.