Photo by Angie Quantrell
Selah Ridge Lavender Farm, Selah, WA
Sunday Inspiration
Category Archives: Gardens
Haiku Moment: uncurl
summer arrives! what
lies beneath forest litter?
time to stretch, uncurl
nod heads, reach for sun;
fling out your arms and grow tall
shade shelter below
by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell
Lodge Lake trail, Snoqualmie Pass, Cascades
Sunday Inspiration
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Selah Ridge Lavender Farm, Selah, WA
Sunday Inspiration
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley, WA
Thwarting the Invaders (Garden Tails)
Just look at all of that corn, beans, and radishes!
Oh. Wait. You can’t see anything but a few stems and missing row of radishes. That’s because we have invaders. Of the rabbit-y sort. The ones who LOVE almost everything in my garden: corn, radishes, green beans, parsley, kale (they really adore kale), and another leafy green similar to chard. All gone.
Plus. Holes. They love excavating as well. I think they can smell the new corn kernel seeds I planted, because several holes line up exactly where I replanted (and replanted).
Ignore the weeds. I gave up in frustration.
We have bunnies (formerly known as pets). People have dumped them. So now between the neighbors and us, we have a colony. A fluffle. We are happy that most of them live beneath the neighbor’s outbuildings (while 4 live at Taylor and Jamie’s as actual pets). But the green pasture is alluring. And the used-to-be growing garden a delight.
Two black bunnies edge nearer to the the pot of gold at the end of the garden rainbow. Grrrrr.
So today. Take that. And that. And THAT!
We installed a bunny barrier. It’s not tall, but we only need to deter Peter Rabbit, Cottontail, Flopsy, Mopsy, Benjamin, and their buds from free ranging the garden beds. We hope.
The question is, besides onions, garlic, basil, several chocolate cherry sunflowers, a few green beans, and a marigold or two, what is there time to replant (time number 4 for some items) that will mature before the frost?
Sigh. It was looking so good! Grumble grumble. Back to the drawing board.
Sunday Inspiration
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Sunday Inspiration
Photo by Angie Quantrell
The Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay (near Victoria), BC
Happy Mother’s Day!
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Sunday Inspiration
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Book Review: In the Garden with Flori by Sonja Danowski
In the Garden with Flori
Written and illustrated by Sonja Danowski
Translated from German by Marshall Yarbrough
NorthSouth Books Inc., 2022
Friends, we are talking gorgeous. I was initially drawn to this oversized picture book just by seeing some of the illustrations. The illustrations, plus the garden theme, put this book right on my want-to-read list. I love gardens.
After receiving In the Garden with Flori from NorthSouth Books, I was indeed enchanted with both the richly detailed illustrations and the gardening, trouble-filled story. Thank you, NorthSouth Books!
Why I like this book:
~ Gorgeous, detailed, full-page illustrations
~ Flori, the adorable sidekick, who as dogs do, causes a certain amount of trouble
~ Child-centered story
~ Friendship
~ Love the garden! Both the wild outdoor garden and the protected inside garden
~ The endpapers – check out the detail!
~ The nature theme
Congratulations, Sonja, for creating this beautiful picture book!
Amazon Blurb:
Batchelder Honor recipient Sonja Danowski has created a new story reminding us that love, patience, and a sense of humor help any garden to flower.
What a fuss! Linn’s grandfather broke his leg. Fortunately, his granddaughter Linn offers to take care of his spectacular garden. After all, Linn has helped out in the garden many times and knows a lot about plants. With Linn’s dog, Flori, and her good friend, Emi, by her side what could go wrong? But when mischievous Flori causes a mess, Linn has to learn to deal with a difficult situation. Taking responsibility for the first time is a big step. Together with Linn, we experience pride in the trust placed in us as well as self-doubts along the way. Sonja Danowski’s lovingly detailed illustrations appear almost lifelike and unfold with incomparable magic.
Love, Laughter, and Life 