Greetings People of Earth. It did not rain today, if feels like it has been raining forever. I employ hyperbole; however, we've had the kind of rain where it sounds like roaring on the roof. We are in eastern Washington, separated from western WA by the Cascade mountain range, which normally acts to wring water from the clouds, which is why we're the dry side. It's so dry in southeast Washington, that unless the land you buy comes with water rights you can't plant crops. Anyway, the recent multi-day weather system here was a sneaky devil, and came up from the Pacific via the Columbia Gorge, which is at the very base of the Cascades, where they flatten out. It is Western WA that gives the state the reputation of being perpetually wet.
So, it did not rain today, but it was cloudy. The air mass is still cold, so when the sun is obscured it feels cold. We went to a nursery to look at plants. The next photo is the current bane of my existence - the "back yard." Note the two dead or dying arborvitae. There are stumps of the other three corpses we've already removed that you can't see. Look between the two short arborvitae, see the brick? That's the property line. We'd really like to have some screening there, we like the neighbors, but it's awkward to be on the deck when the kids are out making kid noises. We have spent a lot of time looking on the web for a good replacement for arborvitae and there really aren't any. The bulk of screening evergreens are too wide and will encroach next door. Today I had an epiphany. We will cut down the two dying trees with a chain saw. We will also level the stumps already there. Then we will plant something behind the short arborvitae on the left because there is room closer to the deck to plant something with a trunk. To the right of the large dying tree we will plant one or two Black Lace Elderberries. They're an interesting looking plant and will give the eye some respite from all the green around here. Then we will be done until the next arborvitae dies.
The nursery is good, they sell to a lot of landscaping contractors. I don't know what this is, but it has an interesting blossom.
The ever popular Foxglove.
Last night, in celebration of the end of the recent storm system, we had a pretty good sunset.
Later...
Later still.....
That's it! That's all I have on offer.
google told me that the flower is Shimadaijin tree peony. The plant that you are choosing, the lace one sounds sexy and looks wonderful! Exotic! You skies are fab!
ReplyDeleteI love the sunset! Rain is good. I prefer it to a drought so I'm thankful to see it although we've sometimes had too much of a good thing over here in the west.
ReplyDeleteSomebody here in AZ is going to win the money for picking our first 110* day. It's going to happen this week. And no rain in sight. So no pretty plants like yours. We don't even have those gorgeous sunsets anymore. Is it Fall yet???
ReplyDeleteIt's been pretty rainy west of Mt. Ranier. One of the things that I have really appreciated has been the beautiful flowers this state has all summer long.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation of the rain/weather! That mystery flower is definitely a peony of some type. Good plan on the deck plantings!
ReplyDeleteExcellent sunset. I'm trying to come up with some large evergreen shrubs to plant along the back property line to block out the bright lights at the RV park on the other side of the field that shine into my bedroom at night. You wouldn't think that them being that far away that it would be a problem. I don't really want curtains because those are the etched glass windows and I like seeing them.
ReplyDeleteLovely sunset. And, when you get tired of the rain, send it down here!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sunset! My neighbour is currently on his second set of trees in an attempt to gain some privacy from me. My sun room is raised so I see quite clearly over his fence. There used to be shed in my yard that blocked the view but that has been removed. His first round of junipers didn't last a year. These appear to be some type of poplar (I hope not because I can't stand the fluff).
ReplyDeleteI hope the elderberry do the trick for you.
Yes, that sunset is glorious. And your garden plans sound lovely.
ReplyDeleteThose sunset shots are beautiful. It sounds like you have a good plan for the garden.
ReplyDeleteI like the looks of that Elderberry. I hope they grow and prosper for you! Beautiful sunset! We have tall trees to the west so only get to see sunsets during the non-leafed times of year (i.e., late fall to early spring). But the leaves provide 100% screening from the neighbors. We can't see any houses from ours at the moment, which is such a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteIt has rained on and off and on most of the last month, for which we can thank the Gulf of Mexico and the Ohio River Valley. Good job deducing a solution to your property line problem.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for that being a peony.
ReplyDeleteAn elderberry sounds a good idea..nice looks. Quick growing, and flowers and fruit you can crop and use!
Not being able to plant crops where there isn't a water supply is brilliant...that should be done a lot more...plus no building on flood plains or good agricultural land!!