~ Pussy Willow & Daffodil ~ In A Vase On Monday ~

It was a mild weekend at Long Beach — the marsh is shrinking at a time when I expect it to be growing. On a walk yesterday, I picked a few miniature daffodils growing where they appeared to have naturalized in the dunes.  In addition, pussy willows —  a plant I loved as a child — are in full fur!

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Narcissus ‘Tete- a-Tete’ and Salix discolor in champaign stem.

As the sun set over the Pacific Ocean it back-lit the bouquet — a lovely sight!

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Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, for inspiration as the northern hemisphere exits winter and enters early spring!

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~ Whither Shall I Wander? ~ WPC: Story ~

Finally a challenge just right for this series of photos I took at Beach Haven in July, 2012!

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Orcas Island, WA. USA

Story

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~ Familiar Strangers ~ WPC: Out Of This World ~

For this week’s photo challenge I’m digging into my recent and ancient archives for shots I’ve taken with just this sort of theme in mind. So often when I see something in nature it strikes me as “other worldly” – here are three favorites!

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Praying Mantis

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Beach Life

Tubular moss.

Tubular Moss

 Out of This World

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~ Bittersweet ~ Wordless Wednesday + WPC: Sweet ~

 

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Sweet

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~ Big Clouds & Rainbows ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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“Big clouds tumbling high, the amazing flying sky…”  Donovan Leitch

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~ Frosty Dunes ~

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only caws of crows 

disturb this windless morning 

no ducks or geese ply these ponds –

          a thin glaze of ice at their edges

at berm’s crest dark waves sound ocean’s roar

as golden light kisses frosted dunes 

stark shadows stretch over sand

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~ Winter Garden Joys ~ WPC: Tour Guide ~

On a warm 59f (15c) afternoon this week my back yard beckoned. While raking up branches and fir cones, I found some little lovelies offering color along the way.

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Cyclamen coum

Many primroses have been blooming all winter. These white ones look especially pretty.

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Primula

Over the years I have introduced and transplanted Lenten Roses for their characteristics as shade-tolerant evergreen ground cover and long-lasting early bloomers. Now I enjoy many stands of white and purple hellebores from winter through spring.

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Helleborus

As part of my bird habitat regimen, I leave dry hydrangea blossoms on through winter.  While trimming the remaining heads, I found this outlier!

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With more mild weather predicted this week-end, I’ll be outside playing rather than inside blogging!

 Tour Guide

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~ Darlin’ Companion ~ Take 1 ~ WPC: Beloved ~

 

More to come!

Beloved

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~ Inside-Out ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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Variations on a Theme

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~ Beach Haven View ~ WPC: Variations On A Theme ~

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For this week’s challenge, I offer a slideshow of the view toward Waldron and Saturna Islands, from Cabin 1 at Beach Haven, Orcas Island, WA – USA.  For thirty years this was my go to place to center and ground myself in the beauty of nature.  

May the images brighten your day and provide inspiration for the upcoming week!

 Variations on a Theme

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