a fall garden

It is now fall, and the garden is starting to slow down a bit - but not much.  Here are a few images of  now-aging plants, turning the colors of the season and bringing with them the fruits we expect this time of year.

BTW, Seattle is experiencing its longest period without significant rainfall since records were kept.  We've had only 0.03" of rain over the past 70+ days.  If everything looks a little thirsty, that's 'cause they are.

 

return to heaven

My aunt is visiting from SoCal, so we went up to the San Juan Islands overnight.  We couldn't have hit better conditions - 80 degrees, calm seas, NO tourists, views galore.  I had not forgotten how beautiful this place is, but it is nice to be reminded every so often.  San Juan is truly a gem out here in the west - check out some pics from our day on the island.

 poppies looking over the Straits of Juan de Fuca to the Olympics

Cattle Point at the south end of the island

 Auntie Weno and me

trail to the lighthouse

Limekiln Lighthouse

 sunset over Vancouver Island

last light

calm morning in Friday Harbor

view from our condo

good 'ol FHL

FHL's research vessel, the Centennial

in the garden: morning light, deconstructed

I really have no idea what 'morning light, deconstructed' means...but I like the term anyway.   I was drawn out of bed early today by a spectacular cloudless sky and fantastic light.  By the time I got outside, the light was not as perfect...but I still was able to get up close and personal to some of our garden compatriots and snap their photo as they greeted the day.

Leeky sunrise

Calendula flattops

Hop lanterns

Eeking echinacias

Lemon cucumber umbrellas

Strawberry waterfall

Sky-high corn

Solitary purple

Indoor potted plant

Plumping melon

Embracing echinacias

Velvet Queen sentinal

Greenery below

Mt Rainier is still visible from our roof!

the mighty salmon migration

The last time AJ and I went to the locks, the fish ladder was bone dry and thus no fish were hop-hop-hopping to the top.  Today, it was chock-a-block with salmon all fightin the current to move from the saltwater to the fresh.  Very cool.

the centenarian, standing tall and proud

The light yesterday morning was amazing, so I snapped a pic of the newly-painted Centenarian looking sharp in its new duds. The gorgeous green garden was the perfect accessory.

Adrienne and I just finished painting the second coat on the Centenarian.  The porch will be refinished next week - it now has an outdoor carpet over it adhered to the old-growth decking with industrial strength glue.  Then, I have to paint the steps and we're DONE!

 green green lushery - and our beer hops are coming in nicely!

in search of the elusive orca whale

AJ and I took our friends on a day-long boat ride to see killer whales yesterday.  We left downtown Seattle at 8am, steamed up Puget Sound to the San Juan Islands, watched for whales and other marine life, walked around Friday Harbor and had lunch, then steamed home for a 7pm docking back where we started.  This is the height of orca season, AND the J-Pod just had a baby last week - which other friends of ours reported seeing.  We saw nary a killer whale nor baby, but did see a lollygagging Minke whale, numerous Stellar sea lions, and even more numerous harbor seals.  All good stuff - especially when spending the day out of the office - but we'll have to wait to see the elusive black-and-whites some other time.

Deception Pass, Northern Whidbey Island

Classic San Juans

Mt Baker over Lopez Island

Giant bull Stellar Sealion

Stellars

South San Juan, one of my favorite places in the world

Minke whale

Minke whale deep dive

Ferry coming in to Friday Harbor

Good ol Friday Harbor

AJ and Danielle