Butterfly Sighting

Over the weekend a fine gentleman I know by the name of Terry Koch snapped this photo of a gorgeous white butterfly perched on a dandelion flower in his yard. He was gracious enough to allow me to use the photo for this blog, as he resides in the Walla Walla Valley. Though he's not sure, he thinks this might either be a Western White Butterfly or a Spring White Butterfly. Any butterfly experts out there care to try their hand at identifying this beauty?

Languages of Rainbows

My first poetry/photography edit. These flowers grow on a small bush beside our driveway; my parents have matching ones overhanging their back fence, though the plant belongs to their neighbour. I love the stark contrast between the soft purple petals and the loud blood red near the center.

Summer Puffball

This is commonly known as a weed, though its flower is quite attractive. It's a dandelion and blooms bright yellow in yards across America in the spring and summer. When the flower dies, it turns into this puffball of seeds, which scatter and create new little yellow flower plants in yards across America. This is my first attempt at a super macro shot.

Nasturtium

These little white flowers popped up in my garden this year and I had no idea what they were, as I didn't plant them, nor remember them being there last year. When seeing them in a vase on my dining table, someone asked if they were nasturtium. I shrugged, not knowing, but later looked it up. Sure enough; that's what they are. Gorgeous flowers, and they smell amazing, too. I wish I could post scents for all ya'll on here!

Fields of Gold

I wish I could claim this picture as my own, but a friend of mine, Marci, went walking with her family on a Saturday afternoon and took this fantastic photo. This is a canola field outside of Milton-Freewater. Canola is turned into oil, which is actually healthier for you than vegetable oil, though not as good as olive oil.

Discovering Spring

In honor of May Day I share with you a shot of my Little Miss checking out the daffodils outside our house. She absolutely loves flowers, and has to point them out whenever she sees any. (It comes out more like, "wa-wee" but we know it's "flowers.") If she can, she'll walk over and "smell" them, which is actually her putting her nose down by the petals and blowing out of her nose instead of sniffing, but she will figure it out eventually. the hat she's wearing was an Easter gift from her auntie.

The Cycle

I love how spring has a predictable cycle. In my part of the world, there is an order to how the pieces of spring fall into place, starting with the crocuses near the end of February or beginning of March. The daffodils are next, bobbing their white and yellow heads across town and soaking in the inevitable spring rains. Tulips follow, in bright yellows, purples, reds, oranges, pinks, whites, and everything in-between, accompanied by hyacinths - pink, white, purple, red and more. As the last of the daffodils shrivel and brown and dry, the dogwoods begin to blossom. And that is where we are today - I've noticed small pink blooms on the trees lining one particular section of College Avenue in College Place, and the infant dogwood pictured here is just a block or so from my office. I also noticed this morning that the lilac outside my office window has tiny dark purple balls ready to pop open any day - that happened over the weekend because last week that bush was still all green! The lilacs will last only about two weeks, the dogwoods about the same, and then come June we'll be blessed with roses that greet us through the summer.

Another Perspective

I posted the original of this picture earlier this spring; I promise this is my last edited photo for a while, but I'm really trying to learn basic photo editing and have been playing around with different effects. Thanks for putting up with me!

Backyard Flower

A small tree bearing these white blooms has taken up residence along the fence in our backyard. I'm not sure where it came from because no other tree like it is nearby; I suppose that's the beauty of nature; wind, the unseen force, carries whatever it likes and drops them wherever it prefers. No telling where this came from, but I think in early spring it's lovely.

If's Official

Well March 21 was the first day of spring, so it's officially here. The plants seem to realize it, too; every morning I see more buds, more blooms and more green. The valley is returning to life! I found this little beauty on a walk in College Place.

Pour Ciel

This post is special, just for my friend Cieldequimper over at Versailles Daily Photo. I told her a week or so ago that the daffodils should bloom in time for her arrival in the valley, and LOOK! Here they are, Ciel! Ready to welcome you home. Happy Spring, everyone (now that it officially IS spring...)

Signs of Spring 4

Tree flowers! I love this tree, which I pass on my way to most meetings outside my office. In just a few weeks (perhaps even a few days), this tree will be covered in delicate white flowers such as these early arrivals. I just love the lacy look of them and the fragile beauty of the petals on each bloom. I'm not sure what kind of tree this is, but it is probably related to the dogwood.

Multiplication

Okay, are you ready for some wonderful springtime shots from around the WW Valley? Some beautiful new companions have joined what was my single white crocus only a week and a half ago. Aren't they lovely? I love being greeted by this brilliant flash of colour every evening when I pull into my driveway after work. I'm looking forward to taking pictures of the dogwoods again this spring! Their flowers are the prettiest of the season, I think. Also, behind these small blooms you can see the tops of the tulips and hyacinths pushing their way through the warming soil. They were absolutely gorgeous last year; I can't wait to see them again soon! Three cheers for spring!

Signs of Spring

My front garden is very unfortunately situated in terms of growing plants and raising flowers. While I love the shade when I want to eat a summer dinner out on the front porch, my bulbs take twice as long as anyone else's to push through the damp spring earth because they don't get the sun they need. So while crocuses are popping up in droves across town, this is the lone flower in my front garden. But I can't tell you how thrilled I was to discover it this past weekend! Spring has arrived, ladies and gentlemen - no matter what the weather forecast says!

Perseverance

Yes, the snow hit the valley this weekend. We are forecast to have eight inches by tomorrow morning, and I believe it might just happen. I love the way the summer's last flowers look covered in snow. Their colours look even more vivid this way. This particular flower is determined to survive as long as possible on the Walla Walla U. campus this winter.

A Different Kind of Colour

Believe it or not there are still a few flowers blooming around the WW Valley. These gorgeous daisy-style flowers (I know, I'm terrible -I don't know my flora!) were quite prolific around a local front yard - in two different colours.

Lovely Flora

Flowers found along the path around Jubilee Lake: Pipsissewa, I believe. Not that great of a shot, but you get the idea, right?

Poland 10

In Kolobrzeg, it was spring at the end of May. The flowers were in full bloom, it rained frequently, and I never did leave the apartment without a jacket. Back home in Walla Walla, it was already in the 80s (F) and folks were wearing shorts, t-shirts and sandals. I was amazed to see such gorgeous flowers in the middle of downtown Kolobrzeg.

Beauty in Every Corner

Even in summer there are bright colours that catch my eye from time to time - sometimes in the most unexpected places. These California Poppies were growing in cracks in the asphalt of a parking lot. I love the colour of these flowers.

More Tulips

Yesterday I showed you a full bank of beautiful tulips. These are my two favourites: the blushing yellows and sharp deep purples. Spring is such a lovely time of year in the Pacific Northwest.