Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Scenes from Lake Wilderness
Don’t you wish you could walk down this road?
Or rest by this lake?
Or dream by this stream?
We did. At Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley.
It was oh so green and peaceful.
~ Susanne
Washington My Home
My ‘place in the world’ undoubtedly starts with Seattle where I was born and raised when it was just a sleepy Boeing town. Now exploding with technology and traffic, it’s increasingly crowded and expensive to live in. No matter. What I like the most is not the city but the surrounding natural environment. And so I decided to zoom out and go with Western Washington for this week’s photo challenge, starting with Mt.Rainier, its most iconic symbol.
Mt Rainier
On a good day the mountain can be seen as a beautiful backdrop peering over and enhancing whatever lies in front.
And you can always drive the distance for a more close-up view of the mountain.
Can’t see the Forest for the Trees!
Trees, trees, trees, in our neighborhoods, forests, and parks. Can you see why Washington is called the Evergreen State?
Abundant Water
And I don’t mean rainfall, though we get our fair share of that too. Let’s start with the Pacific Ocean which forms the western border of our state. Did you know the northwest corner of Washington has some of the most rugged coastline in the country?
Of course there’s Puget Sound which is much more accessible. Just hop a ferry boat and see for yourself; we have the largest fleet of ferries in the country.
And how about more water moving in another direction at Snoqualmie Falls?
I could go on but I think that’s enough of ‘my place in the world.’ So now I leave you with a lovely rhododendron, the state flower of Washington, easily taken for granted since it flourishes everywhere.
Like everything else here I guess.
~ Susanne
More Turtles of Coulon
The weather was nicer this week than expected so I headed to Coulon Park to walk the trail along the shores of Lake Washington. I wasn’t the only one out.
It was a real log jam.
~ Susanne
Mostly Cloudy Skies
Last night’s skies were mostly blue with clouds strewn about and lit from behind as the sun began to set.
The clouds gathered and thickened after sunset, saturated with lovely shades of blue, purple and lavender.
This morning’s skies look like dishwater as milky gray clouds form a single blanket covering everything. No picture necessary.
Remember the song, ‘Home on the Range?’
‘Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.’
They weren’t talking about the Pacific Northwest.
~ Susanne
What is it? Unlikely You’ll Know
While walking down a garden trail I saw from a distance a great beehive, the largest one I’d ever seen. ‘Those bees were surely clever to have made such a home,’ I thought.
‘Highly unlikely,’ I realized as I drew nearer for it indeed was huge and made of wooden blocks.
‘Perhaps a home to bats or birds?’
But as I approached I realized that too was unlikely as it was not soiled as one might suppose it should be if birds or bats lived in it.
‘Then what is it?’ I asked myself again.
A work of art the sign said.
Built from the salvaged wood of old grain elevators from Eastern Washington, “it is a catenary dome, 10 feet in diameter by 13’ 6” high. When curved walls are built from square cut timber, wedge-shaped voids appear where the boards meet. Daggers of light split the dark space within, rising to the apex in a tightening spiral.”
At Bellevue Botanical Garden, for this week’s photo challenge: Unlikely
~ Susanne
The Ferns of Spring
I love the variety of colors found in blooming flowers and shrubs. But the ferns of spring look marvelous in green and their unfurling fronds rival any flower.
I found them everywhere this week in local gardens and woods where they thrive in the temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest.
I’m glad they do.
~ Susanne
A Library – and a River Runs through it
I visited the Library in Renton and this boy greeted me near the door.
As did this river – the Cedar.
Inside I made a few selections.
Then went outside to walk the trail, capturing these shots of the Library.
Because yes indeed. A river runs through it.
~ Susanne
A Drive to Washington Park Arboretum
Sometimes there’s a drive and sometimes there’s a destination and sometimes you’re lucky to enjoy both as I did yesterday. My destination was the Washington Park Arboretum and I took the scenic route to get there, Lake Washington Boulevard.
Lake Washington Boulevard
Lake Washington Boulevard was conceived under the master plan created for the City of Seattle by the Olmsted Brothers in 1903. The comprehensive plan included a network of diverse parks throughout the City including Seward Park, Volunteer Park, Green Lake, Washington Park, and others, along with a scenic boulevard connecting them. This eight mile boulevard runs along the shores of Lake Washington from Seward Park in the south to Washington Park Arboretum in the north. Small parks line the lakeshore and pedestrians stroll or ride bicycles on the walking path. The pace is relaxed and the views are wonderful.
Washington Park Arboretum
After the pleasant drive along the lake and through lovely neighborhoods of old Seattle, I arrived at the Arboretum where I picked up a map at the Graham Visitors Center.
It was Azalea Way I was after, a 3/4 mile path through the heart of the Park lined with flowering cherries, azaleas and dogwoods.
All was colorful along the path with lots of pinks and reds on display. But I love the yellow and orange azaleas the best and their sweet honeysuckle fragrance.
I stopped by the Woodland Garden and enjoyed the peaceful ponds and collection of Japanese Maples. The rockwork was laid out in 1938 making it one of the oldest parts of the Arboretum.
I joined the Arboretum Loop trail back to the Visitors Center and passed by Rhododendron Glen where hundreds of rhododendrons were in bloom along with companion plants.
I peeked into mysterious Loderi Valley, where giant leaved rhododendrons and magnolia trees create a unique canopy.
I didn’t have time to enter the formal Japanese Garden, the only part of the Arboretum with an entrance fee, nor to walk over to Foster Island. But I did make it to Duck Bay earlier this winter when the skies were blue and the air was frigid and was reminded how close I was to civilization, and Husky Stadium.
These will have to wait for my next visit to the Arboretum. I returned to my car and headed south. The GPS lady urged me to go west to I-5 but I ignored her and traveled home in peace along beautiful Lake Washington Boulevard.
~ Susanne
P.S. The Washington Park Arboretum is jointly owned and operated by the City of Seattle and the University of Washington. It’s a wonderful legacy from our City forefathers who retained the premier landscape architects of their day, the Olmsted Brothers.
Lines, Lines Everywhere!
I headed to the park today on the hottest day of the year with lines on my mind. Turns out they were everywhere.
Thick as trees in the forest, mostly upright, side by side, and crossing over.
Lifeless as logs scattered about the beach. More alone than their former selves but just as happy I think.
Finding lines at Seahurst Park for this week’s photo challenge.
~ Susanne
Two Years with Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
I was wondering how to mark the two year anniversary of Cats and Trails and Garden Tales, but I was feeling tongue-tied until this boy showed up to help.
‘Just do what you’ve been doing,’ he said. Okay, I thought, I’ll share a picture of Benji with you and that should take care of Cats.
And then I remembered my walk today at my favorite local park where the skies were blue and the waters shimmered and I thought to myself, that takes care of Trails.
Finally I thought of last week’s visit to Soos Creek Botanical Garden and thought you might enjoy some photos from there too. Which should do for Gardens.
But mostly I wanted to thank you again for following along on this journey with me.
We appreciate it.
~ Susanne, Tiger & Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 