May in Sequim

I forgot to show you the Irrigation Parade.  Yes, we celebrate Irrigation because 

Sequim gets less than 20 inches of rain a year so irrigation is very important to the farmers.  

It's the longest running festival in Washington.  I love a parade!

Al got this shot yesterday morning.  It's like a nursery in the neighborhood.  Without the crying.

 This is just part of the peony patch but I'm very sad to tell you that these beauties were only glorious for a couple days because a gigantic windstorm (gusts around 50 mph) knocked some of them right over, broke their little necks, or sent their gorgeous petals next door.  Bummer.

Another Petal Puddle.

 Just another day in Paradise.  

Lots of Lookin'

Life has been rather quiet, but there some nifty things happening.

 That Peony and her sisters are putting on their show with more to come.  They are right outside the Patch window so it's hard to concentrate on the sewing machine when they distract me with the glory.

 A petal puddle in downtown Sequim.  Almost as wonderful as when all the 

blooms were clinging tenaciously to the trees.

 A couple months ago Al trimmed the hardy kiwi bush/shrub/vine and I finally wired some of them together for a rustic wreath.  It was a challenge sort of like untangling a snarl of yarn but in the opposite direction.  The plant is now sprouting new leaves and soon will go through the cycle again.  Next year I might just let him burn those darn branches.

 More blooms on Rhodie Island.

Okay, this might be the ultimate example of a Woman With Too Much Time on Her Hands.

  Or maybe it should be Never Throw Anything Away.

This is my favorite picture of Al from many many years ago at my 50th birthday party.  (Let's not say just how many, okay?)  Lo and behold, I came across the very tie he is wearing at the celebration.  Too bad that his napkin bib is covering most of it.  A few hours of swearing creativity and a dollar store frame later and the memory will last forever.  How to take a picture of a picture without glare?  Not something I know how to do, but you get the idea.

 The 25-year old lavender plant is gearing up for productivity.

 And blue star creeper.

 And the new version of the bucket garden.  Maybe Al will 'splain it to you next time.

A Bloomin' Post

Remember that peony we've been watching?  They are slow coming, but look like they
will be worth the wait.  This is the very same blossom a few days apart popping out of the confinement.  Doesn't it look like a flamenco dancer eager to twirl her skirts?  

 The Olympic Mountains to the South.

 The Dungeness Spit to the North on a rare calm day.

 If only Lily of the Valley lasted for weeks and weeks.  They are so tiny and special.

 We don't know who left this on the steps of the orphanage but it's the only lonely one on the property, but a little too showy to hide among the peonies

 I'll start churning the butter for all this corn come harvest time. 

Rhode Island will be stunning when more of these open and show off their glory.

  

It's May!

Lerner and Lowe wrote an entire song about the joys of May, but even though I know all the words, I won't subject you to my singing.  You'll have to look it up for yourself.  Hint - Camelot.

It was delightful to spend a weekend with Jeane and John.  We dragged them to the local symphony and they were also impressed with all the talent that lives among us.  

 These are pears and apples from the neighbor but he generously shares,

 especially the fruit that hang over our fence.

Mr. Green Jeans has a new system for the bucket garden.  I'll be back with updates as it happens.  Aren't you glad you didn't get recruited to cut all those holes?

 The cherry tree just might produce, in spite of the aggressive pruning last year.

 The apple tree that Al pruned the crap out of also pruned aggressively might survive,

 especially now that it gets more sunshine without those scrawny trees. 

Maybe we'll have a dozen apples.  Maybe not.

 Come back in a few days to see the progress of the peonies.