Abloom!

A field of poppies at Blue Mountain Lavender Farm                     © Diane B. Reed

Despite a late spring, the Walla Walla Valley is finally in bloom. Everything seems to be several weeks behind schedule. I stopped out at Blue Mountain Lavender Farm in Lowden, WA a few weeks ago and the lavender was just beginning to bloom. Now, they're in full swing.

Lavender "Hidcote"                                    © Diane B. Reed

But I don't have to stray out of our yard to find beautiful blooms. Our lavender is in full bloom too, as are a number of the flowers in the garden.

Lily                                                          © Diane B. Reed

 I try to pick plants that will bloom all season, like blanket flowers and Coreopsis. But there are a few plants that bloom ever so briefly (like some of the lilies) but are so beautiful that their place in the garden is assured.

Coreopsis "Jive"                     © Diane B. Reed

Some people spend their time shopping at the malls, I head for the nurseries to see if they have any new plants that I want to add to the garden. This year I found a Coreopsis "Jive" that was so unusual that I had to have it.




Every year we add a few plants, but this year we also had to replace some that succumbed to the precipitous temperature drop last November. But it's always nice to welcome new plants to the ever-evolving garden.

I leave you with a quote from New England poet and writer Celia Thaxter  (1835-1934), as true today as then.

"He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared to that of the happy mortal who enters this world with a passion for flowers in his soul."  

I feel fortunate, indeed.

Life over the Pond

Sunset at the pond at Lions Park, College Place, Washington               © Diane B. Reed

There's always something happening at the pond, from the sublime to the silly. Our vantage point is in the treetops, and we're able to see all the beauty and dramas unfold virtually unnoticed. I've written a bit about the Osprey that makes regular visits to the pond to fish. When he takes off from the pond and flies over the house he comes at us right at eye level.

Osprey                                                                            © Diane B. Reed

This morning there was a Swallowtail butterfly perched high on the top of one of our arborvitae, one of a number that are flitting around in the yard and down the bank to the pond.

       Swallowtail Butterfly                                     © Diane B. Reed            

Lots of folks are out enjoying the park and the pond, particularly now that school is out. But even at that, there are many times when the park is quiet, and nature takes over. An Anna's Hummingbird lands at the tip of the dead poplar tree. A Belted Kingfisher swoops low over the pond, then lands on the bridge railing. A Red Winged Blackbird chases a Crow that must be too close to his nest. A Great Blue Heron glides in, searching for a snack, stalking back and forth along the edge of the pond.

A bad feather day                  © Diane B. Reed

 The baby ducks are always entertaining, darting back and forth as their mother tries to keep them in tow. House Finch fledglings have begun to show up at the bird feeder with their parents, who try to teach them to take seed from the holes and not just peck at the transparent sides. It takes them awhile, but eventually they get it.

If I haven't said it before, all this going on makes it hard to get any real work done! But I'm not complaining!

Cats I have known and loved

Luna Negra basks in the kitchen window   © Diane B. Reed

Over the years I've had some remarkable cats. I've written about our current cat, Luna Negra, before (see my blog from February 24, "A Day in the Life of the Cat"). She is beautiful, smart, and fully engaged in life. She is the latest cat in a long line of cats who we've adopted, or rather who have adopted us.

Miss Puff                                                   © Diane B. Reed

We had dogs when I was growing up. I wasn't exposed to cats until I moved to a rural area in Massachusetts. A friend gave me a black kitten with white paws, which I named Socks. That pretty much hooked me on cats. My next cat was Spike, an intellectually challenged orange cat with a wacky look, half a tail and an abundance of affection. He was joined by Miss Puff, a fluffy calico. She had a sweet disposition which belied her alter ego as a world-class mouser. After a run-in with a rabbit resulting in a fat lip (rabbits can kick hard), she set out for revenge. This went on for quite a while. One morning she showed up at the door with a good-sized rabbit as a "present." Mission accomplished!

Spike                © Diane B. Reed

C.C. wants attention                     © Diane B. Reed

After Spike went to kitty heaven, Puff was joined by C.C. (for Country Cat) who was found along a country road in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Unlike Puff, C.C. had no interest in hunting anything. She liked to hang out with us and get lots of loving. When she didn't get what she wanted, she could be very vocal. She had such a luxuriant gray coat, and had a habit of striking a pose like a cat from ancient Egypt.

When I opened a used bookstore in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in the 80s I decided that the store needed a bookstore cat, so we adopted Eleanor Roosevelt from the local SPCA. She was a suitably mellow tabby and took her job seriously, greeting everyone who came to the store. She also liked to hang out in the window and lure people in by rubbing up against the window.

Eleanor in the bookstore window © Diane B. Reed

Eleanor appeared in the local newspaper several times, and attracted a loyal following. When we closed the bookstore she "retired" to the house and joined Puff and C.C. until they passed on. On Eleanor's 20th birthday we had a party which was written up in the local newspaper and was attended by many of her old friends from the bookstore. When she passed away at age 21, the newspaper ran an obituary for her, complete with photograph. It was the only obituary for an animal that I ever saw in the local paper.

After Eleanor passed on we waited quite a while to get another cat. Then one day I saw a picture of a cat on the Web site of the local SPCA and I somehow knew this was our new cat. We went to see her and she came home with us. We named her Luna Negra because she has black moons on each flank. (We're also fans of musician Ottmar Liebert and his group Luna Negra, an additional reason).

Luna Negra                                                 © Diane B. Reed

A few short years later we moved across the country. Luna and I made the 2700-mile trip in three days. She slept most of the way, with nary a complaint and took up residence in the West with her family continuing to cater to her every whim. In return she provides unlimited entertainment and lots of love.

Think Locavore and More

The bounty of the Walla Walla Farmers' Market                   © Diane B. Reed

 Every time I pass a field of Walla Walla sweet onions, my mouth begins to water in anticipation. I found a recipe for sweet onion pie at www.sweetonions.org  that’s to die for! What could be better than a recipe prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients that come from the Valley? The answer is, not much. Yet because produce is available year round, we’ve become used to paying the price for out-of-season fruits and vegetables from distant places instead of tailoring our menus to use the produce that’s in season right here in the Valley. Have you ever noticed that during the season you can buy blueberries in large quantities for a remarkably reasonable price? A month later, the same money buys a paltry few.  

Local honey at the Farmers' Market       © Diane B. Reed

The Walla Walla Valley Farmers’ Market is a cornucopia of seasonal produce, not to mention cheese, honey, breads and much more. I love the heirloom and hard-to-find vegetables and fruits, goat cheese, honey and organic produce. The market also offers plants, crafts, artwork, garden art, fun stuff for kids to do and some of the finest music in the area. There’s something wonderful going on every Saturday and Sunday. You can check out the schedule and vendors at www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com. And don’t forget our local coop, the Daily Market Cooperative, Klicker’sStrawberry Acres, and all the local farm stands that sprout up during the summer.

heirloom beans                                        © Diane B. Reed

I’ve been reading a bit about the locavore movement recently and it makes me realize how lucky we are to live in a place with such bounty. Fruits, vegetables, meat, wine, art, music, theater . . . Yes, art, music, wine and theater! I firmly believe that being a locavore should include supporting local artists, opting for Walla Walla Valley wines, enjoying the myriad of local events and shopping at local stores.

Kids enjoy the Farmers' Market        © Diane B. Reed

If you want real customer service, you can’t beat local businesses. When I’m struggling with an appropriate gift for a one-year-old, I know that Inland Octopus can suggest what I need. My nephew likes music that escapes me, so I head off to Hot Poop where they’ll know what he’d like. Then there’s grass-fed meats from Blue Valley Meats (successor to Thundering Hooves), yummy scones from John’s Wheatland Bakery, the fabulous lavash from Walla Walla Bread Company — it just goes on and on. Our world-class wineries offer wines for all pocketbooks and palates. And as we’ve learned from recent issues of Lifestyles, you don’t have to go to Seattle or Portland to find the perfect outfit or little black dress. 

We can take advantage of a terrific music scene, seasonal events and theater offerings that astonish (can’t wait for “Hairspray” this summer and more offerings from Shakespeare Walla Walla www.shakespeareuncorked.org). There are so many activities to choose from any given week that it’s hard to plan a trip out of town. All these activities are not only good for our local economy; they’re good for our Valley’s psyche. 

Keep in mind that whether it’s produce or plays, when we buy locally more of our money stays in the community. So it makes good sense to buy, experience and enjoy the bounty of our Valley while we support our local economy and culture. Think locavore and more!