Spring Beauties

My favorite rhodie...love the outlined edges of the petals.

 I don't know what this is...but I want it for my yard!  The blossoms are abut the size of your thumbnail, and so delicate and pretty.  I love the way the backside of the petals are pink outlined with white. 

The Benefit of Rain

We are enjoying some sun and warm weather right now, which is so welcome after all our recent rain.  One of the benefits, though, of that rain are the opportunities to find refractions in the raindrops.  I end up with wet knees at the very least, but it is worth it!

Sunny at Rattlesnake

Went out to Rattlesnake today--me and a zillion of my closest friends!  Parking lots full, people parked on both sides of the road for at least 1/4 mile before you even reached RS.  Fortunately I know a little-known parking area and headed straight there.

 

Gorgeous weather today--warm, sunny, a little breeze, bright blue skies--just the kind of weather that we live for here in the NW. 

 The little falls that runs down to the lake was full and gushing from all the rain we've had recently.   Hard to get nice slow shots in full sun, but I tried.

 I couldn't resist focusing in closely on this section of the falls with the underlying color...

 ..and this little larch leaf, caught on a rock and bobbing in the current, resisting being swept away.

Sidetracked

On our way up to Granite Falls, ML and I were sidetracked by this barn with the charming attached mini-barn.  Don't know what the purpose of the smaller building was, but it certainly caught our eyes and caused us to take an unplanned side trip.  Well worth it!

 Across the road was another old barn...not as charming, but one that was showing the patina of the years.

 Next door to the dual barn was this barn; I really liked the windows set on point flanking the loft doors.  Even with a metal roof this barn had character.

 A hawthorne tree was blooming profusely in the front yard of an abandoned house.  So gorgeous!

 Purple iris and yellow buttercups---what a perfectly lovely combination!!

Granite Falls

ML and I decided on a spur-of-the-moment ramble, and ended up in Granite Falls.  We had perfect weather for a little hike and seeing the Stillaguamish River racing through the canyon.

 

The view down-canyon

 

The view up-canyon, towards the "falls" themselves (more of cascades than falls, but with the river high it was pretty impressive)

All kinds of shades of green along the river 

High on the cliffs, a fir stands by itself, while smaller ones huddle near 

 A small rivulet, running under an arched tree limb, reflected the color of the cliffs on the opposite side of the river

 I moved about 12" to the left and now the reflected color was shades of green.  It always pays to move around and see a scene from more than one angle.

 I love the way these leaves are backlit and illuminated against the darker background.  Surrounded by tall Doug firs, this branch was spotlighted by a ray of light cutting through the canopy and glowed in the darkness like a jewel.

Abstract

I spy with my "abstract eye"....

...condensation inside a water bottle

Exciting Exburies

Exbury azaleas are a deciduous variety of spring-blooming azaleas.  They usually have brighter-hued flowers, some almost neon in intensity.  This combo of the yellow and bright orange varieties was a welcome splash of color and warmth on a cool rainy day.

A different view

A softer focus on a dandelion makes it look like fireworks!

Dandy

I know they are weeds, but I love dandelion season, particularly when they get to the fly-away stage.

 I especially enjoy finding the spent dandelions where just a few tenacious seed heads are left behind, swaying in the breeze like limber ballerinas.  I also get a chuckle from the look on peoples' faces as they see me laying in the grass taking photos of weeds.  Fun is where you find it!

Timing is everything

Last week when I drove by this old fence, the dandelions were in bloom, but the wood hyacinths hadn't opened up yet.  This week, the hyacinths showed up just as the dandelions turned to wishes.  Too bad the timing was off--this would've been beautiful with the blues and yellows together!

 

                

Soft

Pink-a-licous

Had a color challenge over at Peas for the color pink.  Normally pink is not a color I enjoy, but strangely enough I can't get enough of it in gardens and flowers.  So, here are my takes on Pink!