Friday, April 28, 2017
Western Adventure!
The seasons are bursting here; I'll have to mow the grass any day. But I'm going to take you on our western adventure to southern British Columbia and a bit of Washington State for a couple of weeks instead of describing the seasons here. So if you'd prefer to really see what the season is like here in the valley, click back to late April in 2015 or 2016 and follow along as spring unfolds. Meantime, we had a great adventure out west.
The most obvious difference we noticed travelling west in mid-April was the number of flowering trees and shrubs, most of which wouldn't even survive here in the valley, let alone bloom. This is a bright Rhododendron outside a house.
There were streets lined with Cherry trees in bloom. Just stunning.
At our daughter's house the heather was in full bloom. I don't think I've ever actually seen heather in bloom like this up close.
And the street where they bought their house is lined with Magnolia trees! The odd ornamental Magnolia survives here in gardens, but a whole street lined with them!? And they were just coming into full bloom the day we left.
On our little adventure while out there we got to Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, just a stunning place to visit!
And we got to see those amazing Tulip fields in the Skagit Valley, in northwest Washington State. They're barely out of the ground here at home. Lots more to come on that little adventure! Hope you're enjoying the spring weather wherever you are.
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Wotcha, FG! Great post, fab pictures. The cherry blossom is about fading over here, but the rhododendrons and azaleas will gradually take off, starting in the deep south and working north. In fact, they have already. Can't believe you've never seen heather bloomin, given your occasional partisan comments about Scotland (where we're heading next week incidentally). Tulips - ah - small rodents, sugar, pectin - and you get... Tulips from Hamsterjam (oh dear, sorry...!)
ReplyDeletePS - I notice you've got A Bit About Britain in your blog list, which is great (I'm still figuring how to do that in WordPress). But it's the old blog you've got there - you might want to update it to http://bitaboutbritain.com/blog-2/ - but you might not, of course.
ReplyDeleteThat heather is incredible. My hugs the ground and is a tiny patch. The blooms are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThings are blooming big time here that's for sure. I am glad you had a wonderful time with your family. We all tend to think what we have and see is what everyone else sees too. Took me a long time to learn that isn't true. Even tho we don't live far from BC our Rhodys are not blooming yet. I think some bloom later. Aren't the Tulips wonderful! And I love the Saucer Magnolias. We have one n our yard. It is fun to visit other places just to compare differences.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to be home for sure.
MB
Oh, my what a glorious feeling seeing all of these blooms would have created in me. Shoot, I half way get it seeing your photos. So glad to see your posts!
ReplyDeletethose tulip fields, gorgeous, as are all the other blossoms, Guess a wonderful time for you all.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the scenery out west and mild temperatures, and Butchart Gardens amazing.
ReplyDeleteWow, FG, you are so circumspect with your pictures, I am impressed. Wonderful bloom shots, and that picture of the tulips took my breath away! Very beautiful selection of shots. Thank you so much or sharing. One of these days we will get a chance to have coffee together. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe tulips are a joy to see. My parents and one set of grandparents have seen the Butchart Gardens.
ReplyDeleteOh those colors are just fabulous. Wonderful photos of all the blooms.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous of all those flowering trees. We just don't plant enough of those in our area. I like the tulips fields. It reminds me of the shots in the fields in Holland.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful blossoms.
ReplyDeleteA pleasure to look at all your lovely photographs.
All the best Jan
Beautiful! We've got the same flowers blooming where I live too. Glad you were able to experience spring on the west coast.
ReplyDeletegorgeous captures - looks like washington state is feeling spring - in a big and beautiful way. i'm so happy you got to see and photograph all of this beauty and color!!!
ReplyDelete