A Bowl of Cherries and a Summer Walk-about

I've been enjoying the first days of Summer and what better way than with a big bowl of ripe cherries!

Did you know that Washington State is a leading grower of cherries?

There are large cherry orchards East of the mountains.

I live on the rainy, wet side of the mountains where the weather from the Pacific rolls in, only to be blocked by the Cascade Mountains.

This creates a rain forest and is why everything near my foothills home is so lush.

Come along and we will take a little walk-about to see what is happening in my little rain forest! 

The Mr. just trimmed the walkway, but a few rose petals remain from the arbor over the gate. 

You can see how wet it has been by the moss growing between the pavers! 

We have had few sunny days lately. 

But that doesn't stop the native plants, which are adapted to our wet springs. 

Himalayan Blackberries have lavender blooms in the shade and white blooms in sunshine. 

This one has a little visitor! 

Don't they look like wild roses?

A small trailing blackberry has delicate white blooms. 

Salmon Berry have already set fruit. This lovely arching shrub has delicate pink flowers in spring, which are the first to bloom.

Salmon Berry blossoms in Spring

This provides nectar for returning hummingbirds when few plants are in bloom.
This one grows in my garden.

The fruits are rather bland, but the birds love them. Especially Robins.

Red Elderberry forms a hedge at the edges of my lawn.

This understory tree grows to about 10-15 ft. tall and provides an important food source for migrating birds.

Red Elderberries

Red Elderberry Blossoms in Spring

They have large frothy white panicles in the spring and vivid crimson berries all summer, or until the birds eat them all.

Robins, Jays, Waxwings, Evening Grosbeaks, and the colorful Western Tanagers are just a few of the bird species that enjoy these abundant berries.

They are not palatable for humans and are quite toxic.

 Even the rocks are mossy and this one is a favorite along the path behind the tool shed.

It has its very own wild garden and is a favorite of The Mr. who keeps our woodland paths groomed.

Buttercups are still blooming and have replaced the tiny pink blossoms of Herb Robert and the blue Forget Me Nots.

Here they bloom with Thimble Berry, another native berry that form small colonies of maple leaved shrubs.

Two feathers and a fuzzy seed pod.

My Sweet William is just beginning to bloom against the tool shed.

Nikko Blue Hydrangea beginning to bloom against the house.

French Strawberries growing in their pots, almost ready to harvest for Strawberry Scones.

Tuberous Begonias love the cool, damp days.

But our wet spring is coming to an end and soon we will be in our dry season and I will be wishing for rain!

Are gardeners ever happy?

Even cloudy days have their beauty when the setting sun drops below the clouds and light the hills on fire.

These are untouched photos from my little Canon Powershot.

So no matter what the weather, beauty can be found.

However fleeting it may be.

Mt. Rainier peeking through the clouds

I hope you, too have beauty in your day.

Thank you for sharing my little corner of the world and thank you for being such good friends.

Welcome to all my new friends and I thank all of you who take precious time out of your day to stop by.

I enjoy each and every visit.

xoxo