Gardens - Fort Vancouver, Washington

Fort Vancouver Gardens

The Fort Vancouver garden is amazing in early summer. There are tons of things flowering including hollyhocks, dahlia’s, stock, zinnias, Iceland poppies, giant sunflowers and much more. There's also alot of things getting ready to bloom which makes it a fun place to visit periodically to see what’s new. Love this place.

Fort Vancouver Gardens

Iceland Poppy

Iceland Poppy

Iceland Poppy

Hollyhock

Hollyhock

Zinnias

Stock and Rose Campion

Earth Day - Cherry Trees

Just recently discovered these 100 awesome Shirofugen cherry trees in full bloom on the Clark College campus in Vancouver, WA. The trees were planted on April 11, 1990, in celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day. John Kageyama, President of America Kotobuki Electronics, Inc., presented the cherry trees to the City of Vancouver to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington's statehood. 

Source: http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/sakura/history.php

Cherry Blossoms - Haiku

Cherry trees along Tom McCall Waterfront, Portland, OR 

Portland, Oregon comes alive around mid-April to May when the cherry trees bloom. The most famous group of cherry trees are located on the northern end of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in the Japanese American Historical Plaza. These 100 Akebono cherry trees were donated in 1990 by the Japanese Grain Importers Association and were planted as a memorial to the 120,000 men, women and children who were held in internment against their will during World War II. 

Cherry blossoms along Tom McCall Waterfront, Portland, OR

Following are a couple haiku to celebrate spring and flowering of the cherry trees.

Cherry blossoms bring

Thoughts of rejuvenation

And life's brevity

Sakura petals

Like so many of life's dreams
Scatter to the wind

Plants - Daphne odora

Daphne odora

I wish I could describe the smell of winter daphne (Daphne odora).  It has the most intoxicating smell of any plant I know. It's an early bloomer and is such a welcome harbinger of spring. Especially after a long,  cold, gray winter.  When it's in full bloom, the entire yard is filled with a spicy fragrance that's indescribable.  We originally planted two Daphne on each side of a small seating area where people can sit and enjoy its amazing fragrance.  

Daphne odora

I had heard that Daphne is hard to grow. However up until a year ago, we've had no problems.  Then one of the Daphne mysteriously died so I'm thinking there may be some truth to that now.