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The Newt (Somerset, England)

After Stourhead , the second garden on the tour that day was "The Newt". Talk about a change in garden styles! As I review my photos, I can appreciate the beauty and style of this garden, but I must confess, it was one of my least favorites.  I remember mostly the heat (it was one of our warmer days), the glaring sun with few trees in sight, and the commercial feel of the whole enterprise. But then again, this was mainly a vegetable garden and I was having an "off" day (I had just toured Stourhead, where I missed some of the main landmarks). The entrance took us through an area with gift shops and display areas (nice thing about photos is you see things you missed - I had not noticed the intricate ceiling design) - We did have an actual tour guide at this one, and he led us through the entire garden - Down a winding, blinding white walkway, towards the large vegetable garden - Leaving one vegetable garden, we headed up a grassy avenue with water features.  Along th...
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Mt. St. Helens

Mt. St. Helens (Washington) 
I finally made it all the way up to see Mt. St. Helens last week. On a clear day, you can see it from various locations around Vancouver (and Portland for that matter). It is about a 1 hour drive from our house, located slightly to the northeast. It is still an active volcano, which is a bit frightening when you think about it. Or I could worry about North Korea's missiles reaching us. Danger lurks all about. I think I will just enjoy the incredible beauty this region has to offer and try not to dwell on the unpleasantness.

Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
This is a view from a Visitor's Center located just off I-5 in Castle Rock, about 45 miles from Mt. St. Helens.

Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
Along the drive up the mountain, there are lots of places to pull over and see great views.


Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
The area has abundant wildflowers.


Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
A native Penstemon

Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
When Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, it resulted in mass destruction, eliminating entire lakes and totally reconstructed the landscape. It is a fascinating story. The Visitor's Center is filled with artifacts and exhibits that illustrate the event. It is a "must-see" if you are visiting the area.

Mt. St. Helens (Washington)
Evidence of the big event are everywhere.
Mt. St. Helens (Washington)


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Endah MurniyatiJuly 6, 2017 at 12:33 AM

    Beautiful scenery! Thank you for sharing

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowJuly 6, 2017 at 3:49 AM

    What a beautiful area. That penstemon is sweet. Such a pretty color.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RebeccaJuly 6, 2017 at 6:36 PM

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJuly 6, 2017 at 6:58 PM

    You got some beautiful shots of this fascinating area.

    ReplyDelete
  5. klaraau01July 9, 2017 at 1:39 PM

    Thank you for sharing such a beautiful place, it's a treat to see it

    ReplyDelete
  6. AaronJuly 10, 2017 at 3:23 PM

    Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hoover BooJuly 11, 2017 at 11:48 AM

    Great shots. All the empty area with wildflowers was forest before the eruption. The land is healing slowly--the ash must be hundreds of feet deep in some places.

    Still, it's beautiful!

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