(almost) Wordless Wednesday - apple blossoms

The apple blossom exists to create fruit;
when that comes the petal falls.
~Kabir

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for May

I tried my hand at a Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for the first time recently. But I was rushed. I didn't do justice to recognizing the dear host of this wonderful theme. Carol, at May Dream Gardens, invites gardeners from around the globe to share what is blooming on the 15th of each month where they live. Thank you Carol for helping us to be positive even when the weather is brutal! And brutal it was for the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. this winter. However, as the seasons change, so it seems we have finally turned the corner on the worst of the wicked weather, and the plants are exploding with that celebration. Here are a few of those today...please click on any picture to see it bigger.

A wispy wisteria gently waves at the edge of the woodlands.

Trilium with epimedium blooms in background

Phormium with some sweet simple flowers

Solomon's Seal

A sea of Armeria with Lupine in background

Lovely Lilac

Columbine

Chocolate Chip Ajuga

Barberry blooms

Inside the house - Various African Violets

All live in Zone 8a.
Check here for your USDA hardiness zone.
You can also check here for your Sunset Garden Zone.

Have a wonderful GBBD!

Dedicated to Moms

Dedicated to Mothers who taught us everything we needed to know...

How to make meals palatable :)
Oh, and to 'slow down, and chew your food!'
(Click on any picture to see it bigger.)

How to relax...

The comfort of home...
(Where Mom Rabbit and bunnies were - click on the picture - see the fur?)...

The meaning of family, sticking together, and ultimately,
becoming independent...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to two very special Moms!

Eagles Soaring on a Skywatch Friday

The eagles are very active now, with eaglet(s) in the nest, defending against other predators, and chasing away (returning?) juveniles.
(Please click on any of the images for a better view.)

Above is the photo of a juvenile eagle as it flew overhead after the close pass with an adult,
pictured in the photo below.

Another day, both adult bald eagles chased away this possible intruder in the picture below.

Eagles on high in the blue, blue sky

Happy Friday, one and all!

Restart...and go local!

So I was going to write a nice long post today. I even got up at 6 a.m. so I could fit everything in this morning. I took some photos and then when I went to download them, the computer wouldn't read the disc drive. Argh.
Restart, restart, restart.
Never mind. Let's just go with photos that are already downloaded
from last weekend's outing.

Starting out Saturday morning, our first stop was
at a local glass blower's open house.
Above is a photo of some of the great pieces she makes.

After the garden art stop, we headed on to FlorAbundance,
a plant sale which is held to support the local
Washington Park Arboretum Foundation.

There were lots of different vendors, with all sorts of offerings to choose from.

And there were lots of people who flocked to this annual plant sale.

Here are the treasures I found.

I will be attending a preview party tonight for the
Master Gardener Plant Sale,
where I will select tomato plants for my garden.
Karen, over at Greenwalks, has information about
the Seattle Tilth plant sale, which is also held this weekend.
Then next weekend is at least one other plant sale (always awesome)
at Lake Wilderness Arboretum.

Love keeping it local...don't you?

~Aerie-el