Flowers, gardens and more

My beginning flower garden

Since I've got a garden now and spend a fair amount of time in garden stores these days, I have been overwhelmed with the beauty of potted flowers, as well as being unable to keep from purchasing them. I've got these two as the beginning of potted plants for my new front porch. We get more sunlight here than we received in our old apartment, and I'm excited to have lots of pretty flowers greet me as I come and go. Everything is also green and blooming everywhere I look. The Pacific Northwest receives a lot of rain, but we get an abundance of lush greenery in return.

Clint's plot, mine in the middle, and Nate's

More and more of my garden plot is being filled in. I've got beets, cabbage, lettuce, and sugar snap peas coming up, with edible flowers taking up the rest of the room. I learned from a gardening book about borage, an edible herb. Never having heard of it before, I went to the garden store and got the last start they had.

Borage in front, nasturtiums behind

The borage plant is interesting. It should attract bees and beneficial insects. It grows the prettiest star-shaped flowers (which taste like cucumbers, they say). The little fuzzy purple things on the top will be flowers quite soon, I think. Here's what I found on line about the herb:

Borage is actually a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice it because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant. They’re a true blue, hanging in downward facing clusters. Even the fuzzy white buds are attractive. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible, with a cucumber-like flavor. Use the leaves while they are young, because as the plant matures, the stalks and leaves become covered with a prickly fuzz.

The most attractive part about the plant (other than the flowers) is the fact that it is virtually problem- and pest-free. It's also supposed to discourage aphids, which were the bane of my gardening existence last year. Nasturtiums are also edible flowers, and I surreptitiously foraged some from one of my garden neighbors last year. Now I should have plenty of my own.

I don't know when I will be able to get down to Snohomish to make another skydive, since the bridge on I-5 collapsed just a few miles south of Bellingham on Thursday. The 71,000 vehicles that travel on that part of the interstate will be forced to use one of three narrow roads as a detour. Here's an interesting article about the collapse. I have driven over the span many times and was astounded when this happened. The Ski to Sea event is being held here in Bellingham tomorrow, and I wonder how people will manage who are coming from the Seattle area. I'll stay off the interstate myself, at least as long as I can. On that link I see they have alerted participants.

The event is really fun, a relay race with seven different events. The canoe part has two paddlers; the other parts are all one person. From that link:

A team consists of 8 racers (2 in the canoe leg) for the seven race legs (Cross Country Ski; Downhill Ski/Snowboard; Running; Road Bike; Canoe; Mountain Bike; Kayak).  A racer can only be on one team, and only complete one leg.  

I know some of my long-time followers have thought I would probably end up doing one of those legs on a non-competitive team some day, but I've decided I would MUCH rather cheer on the winners, drink beer, and take pictures as they finish and ring the bell. Here's my post from last year's race. Please, stay safe this holiday weekend. I'll be remembering my missing loved ones.
:-)