Dirt Therapy

I just got a wide-angle camera lens a few days ago and I am playing around with it and trying to decide if I like it and if it was worth the pricey investment. I don't think there are many situations in our garden where a wide-angle is useful but I always wish I had one when I'm out photographing big scenic areas. I also don't think Blogger is the best place to do an assessment as I always feel like images lose some quality here - if anyone uses Blogger and can offer any insight, I would be interested. I've never determined the best sizes to use on this platform for optimal quality. Enough about that. We just had a few hot days (close to 100 on Thursday) and I hope that is the end of it. It is milder today and the long-range forecast is showing cooler temperatures. The above shot is the front pathway that I usually photograph from the opposite side. The lens is not fully extended here.  Deodar Cedar 'Feelin' Blue'  The photo below has the lens fully open. Th...

I've been wanting to visit Lux Perennials for years now and finally got a chance last week. In a word - Wow! The nursery is located at the owner's home, located west of Portland, up in the hills on Skyline Blvd. The property is breathtaking with fantastic views. A small nursery features perennials propagated from plants in the garden. There were also some plants from commercial sources, notably Proven Winners. I mainly was interested in the display garden but of course I did end up buying some plants. Of course! The nursery is located on the front side of the house and the garden is behind it. Taking the path leading back to the garden, the first thing I spotted was this stunning Monkey Puzzle Tree. Michael has wanted one of them for ages. I finally bought one last year and have it in a pot. I have no idea where such a thing would fit in our garden. Fact - the first time I ever heard of the Monkey Puzzle Tree was in one of my all-time favorite films (and one of the few films ...

The weather has been glorious, and we even got rain twice last week. I ordered a chip drop on Friday and it arrived on Monday. It isn't always that fast. The amount we received was astounding - I don't remember it being this much, but we don't have as many blank spots to cover now. Needless to say, this is way too much, and we've been pleading with neighbors to take some. We worked all day Saturday spreading as much as we could and both ended up with severe back pain. And after all that work, there is still this much left - Rainfall always makes a difference, and this time was no exception. I could actually see new growth overnight.  Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' - my favorite annual. The fuchsias also look great this time of year. 'Lady Boothby', a climber looks especially good this year.  Another beautiful fuchsia, even though there are no blooms, is 'Autumnale'. Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' Agastache 'Navajo Sunset' Clematis 'C...

Georgian Fleabane ( Inula orientalis ) Lots of blooms for August, mostly from annuals, but I will begin with the perennials. Heliopsis 'Fire Twister' - much happier now that I moved it. Peruvian Lily 'Indian Summer' ( Alstroemeria ) Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Leycesteria formosa ) Aster 'Kickin' Purple' and Ornamental Fountain Grass 'Karley Rose' Phlox 'Jeana' Pineapple Lily Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' Sedum 'Autumn Joy' Echinacea 'White Swan' A few shrubs.. Abelia 'Frances Mason' Heather 'Multi-color' and Wiegela 'Wings of Fire' More heathers ('Firefly' and 'Multi-color') with Snapdragon Hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers' Hydrangea 'Vanilla Strawberry' Rose 'Marjorie Fair' And finally, the annuals... Celosia (I forget the name) Celosia 'Burning Embers' Fuchsia 'La Campanella' and Coleus 'Wasabi' Geranium 'Vancouver Centennial' Snapd...