Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
A stop at Edensaw Woods was a reason for a recent trip to Port Townsend. In addition to saw blades — our excuse for going — they have a selection of domestic and exotic lumber unlike anything you’re likely to find in a standard lumber yard. Married to a woodworker, I’ve developed an appreciation for wood grain that’s probably dangerous. This stuff is expensive.
They have raw materials that are exquisite. Not to mention the wood scent is heavenly. Oh, the things that could be made!
This sailing ship mural is on the side of a building in Port Townsend. When I searched for information about it I was surprised to learn that it was “a gift from the Chinese in the 1800s.” And that was it for detail.
We stopped by the Northwest Maritime Center when we were in Port Townsend recently. I was taken by the byproduct of a project…wood shavings.
This is what they came from. Workers were planing the sides of an interesting looking boat.
We took the Edmonds ferry to get to Seattle on Monday and were treated to a clear view of Mt. Rainier. We don’t see Rainier from Sequim. It’s located to the east of Seattle. You can see taller Seattle structures at the left side of the shot, including the famous Space Needle that looks like a tiny flying saucer on a pole.
First I caught sight of this tree (A cherry? Flowering plum?) while walking in the reclaimed quarry area of Butchart Gardens. As with so many specimen trees in the garden, it was beautifully framed by everything around it.
Then, while walking on a path above it, it again took center stage.
Further along, looking back, it was still eye catching and glorious. That’s the sort of balance a perfectly designed garden offers.
By now, a couple of weeks later, the massed beds on the margins of each of these shots will be in bloom with tulips and other colorful bedding plants. The gardens become more breathtaking as spring progresses.
Tulips were just beginning to get glorious at Butchart Gardens when we were there on April 2nd. Many flower beds like this one showed early blooms in the forefront with more foliage and buds not far behind. Other bedding plants, like forget-me-nots, will fill in as spring progresses.
There were enough blooms throughout the garden for me to find and declare a new favorite: Early Harvest.
The weather forecast was favorable for a trip to Butchart Gardens even if it was early to enjoy the spectacular full blooms of springtime. There’s always something wonderful and the Japanese garden was just the ticket.
The garden invites lingering and fills the senses. The spot where I took this shot was next to a small stream that filled a bamboo spout with water and caused it to fall and empty with a pleasing sound and rhythm.
This spot was not far from where we sat. Notice the bush in front of the red bridge here, another delight for the senses.
Daphne odora was in bloom, a spring scent that lifts me close to heaven. Our little bush hasn’t bloomed this year so it was glorious to find a number of these wonderful bushes in bloom in the gardens. We sat close enough to these blossoms to inhale them to our hearts’ content.